Live-Streamed Faith: Diffusion of Live Streaming in the Protestant Church

The coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home advisories issued by many states encouraged many houses of worship to begin live streaming or to improve existing capabilities. Even as restrictions on gathering loosened, many people continued to avoid large gatherings out of an abundance of caution, causing many religious institutions to have split congregations: part in person and part virtual. This study examined the motivations and decisions made by U.S.-based Protestant churches of various sizes regarding starting, improving, and continuing live streaming in the face of sudden changes in their ability to reach their congregations. The diffusion of innovations theory was used as a framework to understand how live streaming spread through the Protestant church and how the crisis of the pandemic accelerated that diffusion. © 2023 Brill. All rights reserved.

INTERNET DIFFUSION AND INTERREGIONAL DIGITAL DIVIDE IN RUSSIA: TRENDS, FACTORS, AND THE INFLUENCE OF THE PANDEMIC

The demand for digital technologies has been growing due to a shift in the technological and economic paradigm. The need for online services has increased since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. There are significant disparities between Russian regions in the digital technology accessibility and the development of computer skills. In 2020, the Internet diffused rapidly in most regions, although previously, there had been a slowdown. As markets got saturated with digital services, the digital divide between Russian regions narrowed. Overall, the Internet use patterns are consistent with those of the spatial diffusion of innovations. Amongst the leaders, there are regions home to the largest agglomerations and northern territories of Russia, whereas those having a high proportion of rural population lag behind. Coastal and border regions (St. Petersburg, the Kaliningrad region, Karelia, Primorsky Krai, etc.) have better access to the Internet due to their proximity to the centres of technological innovations as well as the high intensity of external relations. Leading regions have an impact on their neighbours through spatial diffusion. Econometrically, access to the Internet depends on income, the average age and level of education, and its use depends on the business climate and Internet accessibility factors. Regional markets are gradually getting more saturated with digital services and technologies. The difference between regions in terms of access to the Internet is twofold, whereas, in terms of digital technology use, the gap is manifold. In many regions, the share of online commerce, which became the driver of economic development during the lockdown, is minimal. Based on the results of the study, several recommendations have been formulated © Zemtsov, S. P., Demidova, K. V., Kichaev, D. Yu., 2022

Caregivers' Perspectives of Pharmacist Intervention in Children's Antibiotic Prescriptions for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections.

Background: Community pharmacists can help fight antimicrobial resistance by intervening in children's antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). However, caregivers' attitudes and perspectives on this are unknown. Objective: To evaluate children's caregivers' acceptability of pharmacists intervening in their antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs with respect to their knowledge of and attitude toward pharmacists and knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors related to antibiotics. Methods: A 69-item survey was created and sent to a panel of caregivers. ANCOVA and path analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between caregiver characteristics and their acceptability of pharmacists intervening in children's antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs. Results: Responses from 246 caregivers who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed. Mean caregivers' acceptability of pharmacists intervening in children's antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs was 3.25 out of 5 (±1.01). The ANCOVA model (adjusted R2 = .636) showed positive attitude toward pharmacists and being more accepting of health advice from pharmacists since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with higher caregiver acceptability of pharmacists intervening in children's antibiotic prescriptions. Caregivers with better relationships with their pharmacist also tend to have better attitudes toward pharmacists. Not wanting antibiotics for symptom relief was associated with decreased acceptability scores. Conclusion: Overall caregiver acceptability of pharmacists intervening in antibiotic prescriptions was slightly above neutral. Building a relationship with caregivers could help change their attitude and increase the acceptability of pharmacists intervening in children's antibiotic prescriptions. Caregivers seeking symptomatic relief may be more open to non-antibiotic alternatives.

The burden of COVID-19 in French Guiana: Vaccine-averted deaths, hospitalizations and costs.

Objectives: French Guiana, the least-vaccinated French territory, also has the lowest COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Latin America. We aimed to estimate how many deaths, hospitalizations and costs the vaccines had and could have avoided. Methods: We calculated the Number Needed to Vaccinate to prevent one death per year, 1 standard hospitalization, 1 Intensive Care Unit admission given the mean incidence numbers of the past 6 months, and divided the number of persons vaccinated to estimate how many deaths and hospitalizations had been avoided in French Guiana at that time. Results: The crude number needed to vaccinate to prevent one death per year, the crude number needed to vaccinate to prevent one hospitalization per 6 months were computed Based on our observed incidence and ICU admission rate, the crude number needed to vaccinate to prevent one ICU admission per 6 months.After 6 months with an incidence exceeding 400 per million inhabitants, and 148 observed deaths, we estimate that vaccination avoided 46 deaths (IC95%=43.5-48.7). If the number of vaccinated persons had reached the same proportion as mainland France, 141 deaths per year could have been prevented (IC95%=131.9-147.6).With 2085 hospitalization and 370 ICU admissions during the same period, we estimate that the current albeit low vaccination rate avoided 300 hospital (IC95%=280-313) and 77 (IC95%=72-81) ICU admissions. With the same vaccination rates as mainland France, we estimate that 900 hospitalizations and 231 ICU admissions would have been avoided.Similarly, there would have been 139 ICU admission (instead of 370). Conclusions: In sparsely populated French Guiana these numbers are quite substantial and framing the vaccine benefits and wasted opportunities using such concrete numbers may help convincing undecided persons to get vaccinated.

The discontinuance of low carbon digital products and services

Digital consumer innovations offer low-carbon alternatives to mainstream consumption practices. We address a lack of research on the factors influencing post-adoption decisions of discontinuance for this important class of innovations. We conducted a repeat survey with UK consumers (n = 995) in 2019 and 2020 to investigate 16 digital products and services across mobility, food, homes, and energy domains. Our survey captured temporal changes in adoption, personal and contextual characteristics, social influences, innovation experiences and perceived attributes. We also provide a unique contribution by assessing the impacts of Covid-19 on post-adoption processes. Our results indicate that discontinuance is associated with: 1) services more than products;2) perceived functional attributes not met by experienced attributes;3) a lack of positive social influence, including word-of-mouth;4) a lack of social network connections to other adopters;and 5) a decline in an individual's financial situation. Covid-19 was not found to be a significant factor influencing innovation discontinuance. Findings highlight generalisable insights regarding issues that need addressing to overcome discontinuance. For example, while digital services offer low-carbon promise, continued adoption is sensitive to their strong performance attributes. There is a need for continued innovation to sustain market position relative to more familiar incumbents.

Factors Affecting the Adoption of Remote Auditing During the Times of COVID-19: An Integrated Perspective of Diffusion of Innovations Model and the Technology Acceptance Model

During the COVID-19 pandemic period, external auditors have used technological solutions to complete their job tasks due to the lockdown ramifications. Therefore, many external auditors have opted to work remotely. Nevertheless, the abrupt adoption of remote auditing received mixed feedback from those auditors due to different determining factors. Therefore, this article intends to examine these factors in the Jordanian external auditor context. To do so, a model combining the critical factors from the diffusion of innovation model and technology acceptance model has been utilized. The model was tested using data collected from 109 external auditors from public accounting firms working in Jordan. The results expand our understanding of remote auditing adoption decisions, providing empirical support that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and trialability are the important determinants to adopt remote auditing systems. Based on these results, further discussion, implications, and recommendations have been provided. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Science gateway adoption using plug-in middleware for evidence-based healthcare data management

There is a growing need for next-generation science gateways to increase the accessibility of emerging large-scale datasets for data consumers (e.g., clinicians, researchers) who aim to combat COVID-19-related challenges. Such science gateways that enable access to distributed computing resources for large-scale data management need to be made more programmable, extensible, and scalable. In this article, we propose a novel socio-technical approach for developing a next-generation healthcare science gateway, namely, OnTimeEvidence that addresses data consumer challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic related data analytics. OnTimeEvidence implements an intelligent agent, namely, Vidura Advisor that integrates an evidence-based filtering method to transform manual practices and improve scalability of data analytics. It also features a plug-in management middleware that improves the programmability and extensibility of the science gateway capabilities using microservices. Lastly, we present a usability study that shows the important factors from data consumers' perspective to adopt OnTimeEvidence with chatbot-assisted middleware support to increase their productivity and collaborations to access vast publication archives for rapid knowledge discovery tasks. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Clinician Perspectives on Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for High-Risk Outpatients with COVID-19: Implications for Implementation and Equitable Access.

BACKGROUND: There is an urgent need to identify and address factors influencing uptake and equitable access to monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for high-risk outpatients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To assess clinician knowledge, beliefs, and experiences regarding obtaining mAb treatment for eligible patients. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Survey of clinicians (N = 374) practicing in the state of Colorado who care for patients with COVID-19 in primary care, emergency medicine, and other clinical settings. MAIN MEASURE(S): Diffusion of innovation theory concepts including knowledge, perceived strength of evidence, barriers, and experience with, ease of use, preparedness, and feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of mAb referral systems and processes. KEY RESULTS: Most respondents indicated little to no knowledge about mAb therapies for COVID-19 (67%, 74%, 77%, for bamlanivimab, bamlanivimab+etesivimab, and casirivimab+imdevimab, respectively). About half reported little to no familiarity with eligibility criteria (50.9%) and did not know the strength of evidence (31%, 43%, 52%, for bamlanivimab, bamlanivimab+etesivimab, and casirivimab+imdevimab, respectively). Lack of knowledge or confidence in treatment was a top barrier to mAbs use; other barriers included complicated referral processes, patients not eligible when seen, and out-of-pocket costs concerns. Respondents rated four mAb referral steps as generally acceptable, appropriate, and feasible to complete in their primary outpatient clinical setting. Only 24% indicated their clinical setting was very prepared to facilitate referrals, 40% had ever referred a patient for mAbs, and 43% intended to refer a patient in the next month. CONCLUSIONS: Clinician education on strength of evidence and eligibility criteria for mAbs is needed. However, education alone is not sufficient. Given the urgent need to rapidly scale up access to treatment and reduce hospitalizations and death from COVID-19, more efficient, equitable systems and processes for referral and delivery of care, such as those coordinated by health systems, public health departments, or disaster management services, are warranted.

Applying diffusion of innovations theory to social networks to understand the stages of adoption in connective action campaigns

This research proposes a conceptual framework for determining the adoption trajectory of information diffusion in connective action campaigns. This approach reveals whether an information campaign is accelerating, reached critical mass, or decelerating during its life cycle. The experimental approach taken in this study builds on the diffusion of innovations theory, critical mass theory, and previous s-shaped production function research to provide ideas for modeling future connective action campaigns. Most social science research on connective action has taken a qualitative approach. There are limited quantitative studies, but most focus on statistical validation of the qualitative approach, such as surveys, or only focus on one aspect of connective action. In this study, we extend the social science research on connective action theory by applying a mixed-method computational analysis to examine the affordances and features offered through online social networks (OSNs) and then present a new method to quantify the emergence of these action networks. Using the s-curves revealed through plotting the information campaigns usage, we apply a diffusion of innovations lens to the analysis to categorize users into different stages of adoption of information campaigns. We then categorize the users in each campaign by examining their affordance and interdependence relationships by assigning retweets, mentions, and original tweets to the type of relationship they exhibit. The contribution of this analysis provides a foundation for mathematical characterization of connective action signatures, and further, offers policymakers insights about campaigns as they evolve. To evaluate our framework, we present a comprehensive analysis of COVID-19 Twitter data. Establishing this theoretical framework will help researchers develop predictive models to more accurately model campaign dynamics. © 2022

Ideas welcome: innovating to improve patient care: All nurses can be leaders in innovation, whatever their job title, pay scale or experience

Nurses have always developed innovative ideas aimed at improving patient care. As a profession, nurses are closest to the delivery of healthcare, spend the most time with patients and are ideally placed to identify changes in practice that could have a real impact on patient experience. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Nursing Management - UK is the property of RNCi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Moving Beyond the Enormity Problem: Tackling the Global Refugee Crisis

The article discusses the mental health issues linked to the global refugee crisis. Also cited are the scientific and cultural advances that led to reduced cost of care for common illnesses like anxiety, depression and stigma due to mental health disorders, and other topics like ecocide, climate change, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Has Covid-19 accelerated opportunities for digital entrepreneurship? An Indian perspective.

Covid-19 has challenged many businesses to orient themselves towards digital solutions for their survival. Due to the rising digital wave during Covid-19, there has been a plethora of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to enter the market. Hence, this study focuses on understanding emerging areas and technologies for digital entrepreneurship. This study adopted a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews through the lens of the diffusion of innovations theory. A total of 23 entrepreneurs responded and presented their views on Covid-19-induced opportunities for digital entrepreneurship. A structured process of open, axial, and selective coding was adopted for the thematic analysis. The study presents a framework based on four promising propositions. Results of the thematic analysis indicate the emergence of digital entrepreneurship opportunities in technology (EdTech, FinTech, cybersecurity), healthcare (diagnostics, virtual care, fitness), entertainment (over the top, gaming, social media), and e-commerce (contactless delivery, payment methods, augmented reality). In this study, entrepreneurs presented their views based on their experience with the platform or technology they operated. To this end, the present study offers implications both for scholars and entrepreneurs working in and aspiring to digital entrepreneurship along with future scope of research.

Copyright as a Barrier to Music Therapy Telehealth Interventions: Qualitative Interview Study.

BACKGROUND: Music therapy is a multifaceted discipline that harnesses the power of music to treat a wide range of patient populations. A therapist who plays music in a private room for a patient is not subject to copyright restrictions on public performances. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, music therapy is no longer strictly confined to the face-to-face setting. This study explores music therapists' perceptions of copyright law with respect to their ability to provide mediated services to their clients. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of our study were two-fold. The first was to investigate whether concerns about copyright law are hampering the diffusion of telehealth innovations, and the second was whether these concerns are causing music therapists to avoid therapeutically beneficial telehealth interventions. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with credentialed music therapists (n=18) in the United States between May 2020 and June 2020. With participants' consent, we used video conference technology to record and transcribe the in-depth interviews. The median interview length was 45 (SD 16.37) minutes. This theoretically informed study employed thematic analysis of the interview data. RESULTS: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth interventions to facilitate therapy outside of private face-to-face environments: environments where music therapy practices are largely shielded from copyright infringement concerns. Five main themes emerged, including therapists' uncertainty about permissible uses of music and therapists' erring on the side of caution causing lost opportunities for care. Our interview data suggest music therapists have altered telehealth interventions in suboptimal ways to avoid copyright liability in a physically distanced environment. CONCLUSIONS: Some music therapists "drag their feet" on offering therapeutically appropriate telehealth services to clients because of copyright concerns. Our findings suggest innovative mediated therapies were shied away from or abandoned. These findings offer a novel contribution to the public health literature by highlighting copyright law as an unexpected and unwelcome barrier to the diffusion of music therapy practices in technology-mediated settings.

Intention to Receive the COVID-19 Vaccination in China: Application of the Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the Moderating Role of Openness to Experience.

COVID-19 has caused a devastating impact on public health and made the development of the COVID-19 vaccination a top priority. Herd immunity through vaccination requires a sufficient number of the population to be vaccinated. Research on factors that promote intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccination is warranted. Based on Diffusion of Innovations Theory, this study examines the association between the perceived efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination, use of social media for COVID-19 vaccine-related information, openness to experience and descriptive norm with the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccination, and the moderating role of openness to experience among 6922 university students in mainland China. The intention to receive the free and self-paid COVID-19 vaccination is 78.9% and 60.2%, respectively. Results from path analyses show that perceived efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination, use of social media for COVID-19 vaccine-related information, and openness to experience and descriptive norm are all positively associated with the intention to receive COVID-19 free and self-paid vaccination. The association between the perceived efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination and descriptive norm with the intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccination is stronger among those with a lower level of openness to experience. Our findings support the usefulness of Diffusion of Innovations Theory and the moderating role of openness of experience in explaining intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

Bringing New Meaning to the Term "Adaptive Trial": Challenges of Conducting Clinical Research During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic and Implications for Implementation Science.

Although implementation of evidence-based practices takes an average of 17 years, in the context of the global pandemic, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) interventions were adopted in a greatly compressed time frame. This rapid uptake creates major challenges for conducting COVID-19 clinical research studies, because quickly evolving standards make it difficult to adapt in real time. The rapid dissemination and implementation of COVID-19 interventions is the realization of goals long pursued by the implementation science community. However, the downside of the rapid implementation is that low-quality evidence with little to no scientific vetting may be quickly integrated into clinical care, resulting in lost opportunities to advance our scientific understanding about how to manage infected patients. In the future, novel adaptive designs embedded into electronic health records (Embedded Quantified, Integrated-into-Practice Trial [EQuIPT] designs) that allow for easier and better access to clinical trials may simultaneously improve care and advance healthcare innovations.