"No more COVID-19 messages via social media, please": the mediating role of COVID-19 message fatigue between information overload, message avoidance, and behavioral intention.

Employing the stressor-strain-outcome framework, this study demonstrates that COVID-19 information overload on social media exerts a significant effect on the level of fatigue toward COVID-19-related messages. This feeling of message fatigue also makes people avoid another exposure to similar types of messages while diminishing their intentions to adopt protective behaviors in response to the pandemic. Information overload regarding COVID-19 on social media also has indirect effects on message avoidance and protective behavioral intention against COVID-19, respectively, through the feeling of fatigue toward COVID-19 messages on social media. This study emphasizes the need to consider message fatigue as a significant barrier in delivering effective risk communication.

"We are out of toilet paper”: Testing the mediating effect of product scarcity on consumers' competitive arousal in family firms

Drawing on Lemon and Verhoef's customer journey, this study examines the context of local family businesses to investigate product scarcity's role as a mediator between information overload and competitive arousal in affecting consumers' behavioural intentions during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected regarding purchases in three famous local family businesses operating in the Food and Beverage sector in the North of Italy. Results reveal that during a sanitary emergency, the consumer in family firms are less inclined to react impulsively than those in large distribution, except when they perceive product scarcity, which increases their level of competitiveness towards the market and other consumers. This behaviour towards other businesses is due to the family business efficacy, which pushes family firms in reinventing themselves and takes care of their trusted consumers. The paper ends by highlighting the main theoretical and managerial contributions, delineating new paths of analysis.

Can You Spare 100 Days? Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Caregiver Requirements from the Perspective of Recipients and Caregivers

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is a potentially curative treatment for individuals diagnosed with blood cancers (e.g., acute myeloid leukemia) and blood disorders (e.g., sickle cell disease). Most transplant centers (TCs) require a caregiver to proceed with alloHCT. Caregiver requirements can be one of many barriers to alloHCT, as individuals without a caregiver can have limited or no access to this treatment. Few studies have described TC caregiver requirements, particularly from the perspective of recipients and caregivers. To learn more about alloHCT caregiver requirements and perspectives on those requirements, we conducted web-based interviews with adult alloHCT recipients and adult caregivers of adult alloHCT recipients in the United States (US) starting in May 2022. Recipients needed to be between 100 days and 1-year post-HCT and in remission;Table 1 describes participant demographics.(Table Presented)The majority of participants noted that their TC required a caregiver to proceed to alloHCT;however, there was variation in the length of time required to have a caregiver. When asked their perspective on the amount of time the TC required, the majority of participants noted that the actual length of time depended on the recipient's recovery (with some noting more time was needed and others noting less). Participants were also asked to share barriers they faced regarding the caregiver role. A common barrier included not fully understanding the specifics of the caregiver requirements, or what it would entail. Some recipients described being provided with too much information, making it difficult to sort through, while others reported feeling like they did not receive enough information. Other barriers identified by recipients included competing priorities of the caregiver (such as work/ home responsibilities and childcare), language barriers, and finances. Common barriers identified by caregivers included: feeling like they could not take time for themselves/their own health suffered and needing to be trained to perform medical tasks. Many recipients and caregivers also noted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., postponing alloHCT, trepidation about going to the TC, post-alloHCT housing restrictions, and increased telework for caregivers). Preliminary analysis of recipients and caregivers interviews showed variation in caregiver requirements across TCs. There is a need for clear, accessible information to help recipients and caregivers understand the caregiver role and requirements. This study included recipients and caregivers;further research is needed to identify barriers faced by individuals unable to access alloHCT. Results from this study will help facilitate the development of programs to help improve access to alloHCT.Copyright © 2023 American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Youth resilience in front of hyperconnectivity during the pandemic in Catalonia

The purpose of this article is to present the results of four discussion groups between young people, experts, and professionals in various fields in Catalonia. Participatory and critical action research was carried out on the issues on which the effects of COVID-19 had a huge impact: 1) Mental health and youth violence;2) Hypercon-nectivity and information overload;3) Health and climate emergency;4) Unem-ployment and youth emancipation. The diversity of effects on youth has been mostly negative, however, there is also evidence of a series of positive effects or resilience by youngsters. © GKA Ediciones, authors.

Impacts of Information Source and Perceived Health on Information Behavior

This preliminary study revisits a fundamental information problem of information behavior, focusing on needs, overload, and information source use, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The associations between the impact of information source use on the extent of information needs, being exposed to information, and feeling of overload was examined. Furthermore, to understand the impact of context on information behavior, the differences in the degree of information resource use, needs, exposure, and overload between the two groups with different levels of health were investigated. 85th Annual Meeting of the Association for Information Science & Technology ;Oct. 29 – Nov. 1, 2022 ;Pittsburgh, PA. Author(s) retain copyright, but ASIS&T receives an exclusive publication license.

Qualitative analysis of a community pharmacy practice transformation initiative

Objective: To evaluate practice transformation team (PTT) members' perceptions of the Flip the Pharmacy (FtP) initiative as a strategy for implementing and improving community pharmacy-based patient care. Method(s): FtP is a national 2-year practice transformation initiative for implementing enhanced patient care and medication optimization services at community pharmacies, launched in 2019 with 28 PTTs including over 500 pharmacy locations. Key informant interviews were conducted with team leads, coaches, and pharmacy champions from four PTTs that participated in the first FtP cohort. The interviews were conducted using semistructured interview guides based on the RE-AIM framework and focused on participants' experiences in the first year of FtP. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a rapid content analysis approach. Result(s): Four leads, 8 coaches, and 8 pharmacy champions were interviewed from 4 PTTs from May to October 2021 and resulted in 10 themes: (1) community pharmacy practice experience is important when selecting coaches;(2) team readiness supports successful pharmacy practice transformation;(3) measures of patient care quality are needed;(4) payment and practice transformation opportunities happen in parallel;(5) successful practice transformation requires strategic involvement of the entire pharmacy team;(6) FtP practice transformation domains are synergistic;(7) change packages, coaching, and performance monitoring are core practice transformation supports;(8) pharmacy teams value opportunities to share and learn from each other;(9) sustaining patient care services is continuous;and (10) COVID-19 accelerated practice transformation while creating new stress points. Conclusion(s): Participants in this study perceived the FtP initiative as a helpful strategy implementing and improving community pharmacy-based patient care. Future research should explore the sustainability of the FtP initiative and similar community pharmacy practice transformation efforts.Copyright © 2022 Pharmacotherapy Publications, Inc.

Why did people avoid information during the COVID-19 pandemic? Understanding information sources' dynamics among Pakistani Z generation

Purpose: Grounded in the stressor-strain-outcome model, this study aims to examine the impact of different information sources on information behavior among the Pakistani Z generation during the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The study was quantitative, with 344 responses collected from Gen Z (those born in the late 1990s) using an online survey. The proposed structural model was tested with the help of SmartPLS 3.3. Information sources were divided into four categories, i.e. conventional media, personal networks, social media and Internet use through official health websites. Findings: In the Pakistani context, conventional media was found to develop information overload among Zers, whereas social media and personal networks were positively associated with information anxiety. However, Internet use (official and medical websites) for health-related information-seeking significantly reduced information anxiety among people. None of these information sources are the reason for information avoidance but the sources affect either the independent predictor of information avoidance or the mediators. Whereas information overload is a predictor of information anxiety and information, anxiety is a mediator between information overload and avoidance behavior. Research limitations/implications: To avoid the negative consequences of abundant information, the authors need to promote and encourage the use of authentic information sources to make Gen Z skeptical, independent, critical and scientific thinkers. Originality/value: Information sources' dynamics in terms of negative consequences of abundant information has not been explored previously at this magnitude, particularly from the perspective of a developing country. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Melting the Psychological Boundary: How Interactive and Sensory Affordance Influence Users' Adoption of Digital Heritage Service

As a result of the post-pandemic situation, enhancing digital heritage services has become one of the key issues for the recovery of tourism. Disruptive innovation in human–computer interaction technology has brought new opportunities for digitalization and intelligent transformation in the contemporary cultural tourism industry. Existing research on the adoption behavior of digital heritage services primarily focuses on users' assessments of behavior results. There is a considerable gap in research about the interaction and value co-creation between users and digital intelligence services and users' cognitive construction logic of digital heritage services. Following reciprocal determinism, we propose a conceptual model to deconstruct the detailed transmission path of interactive affordance and sensory affordance to digital heritage adoption. In Study 1, a lab experiment in an AI-assisted smart screen digital heritage service context revealed that interactive affordance and user adoption of digital heritage services were partially mediated by psychological distance. Findings from a between-subject online experiment in Study 2 confirmed that embodied cognition and psychological distance play a parallel intermediary role in the impact of sensory affordance on adoption. In Study 3, a lab experiment in a VR-based digital museum context further verified that information overload moderates the influence of embodied cognition on psychological distance. This research reveals the deep-bounded, rational decision-making logic of digital heritage service adoption and provides significant practical enlightenment for the optimization of the affordance experience.

The Effect of Intolerance of Uncertainty on State Anxiety in the Regular Epidemic Prevention and Control Phase in the Context of Informatization: A Moderated Chain Mediation Model.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a generally high level of state anxiety resulting from the high contagiousness of the disease and strict prevention and control policies. The present study mainly focused on the relationship between the individual intolerance of uncertainty and state anxiety in the regular epidemic prevention and control phase in China, and aimed to investigate the mediating role of information overload and rumination, as well as the moderating role of self-compassion. A total of 992 Chinese residents from 31 provinces participated in this study, and completed questionnaires regarding intolerance of uncertainty, information overload, self-compassion, rumination, and state anxiety. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses, as well as tests for mediating effects and moderated chain mediating effects, were performed on the data using SPSS 26.0 and Process 3.5 macro program. The findings indicated that intolerance of uncertainty significantly predicted individual state anxiety. Information overload mediates the effects of intolerance of uncertainty and state anxiety. Rumination also mediates the effect of uncertainty intolerance on state anxiety. Information overload and rumination have a chain mediation effect on the link between intolerance of uncertainty and state anxiety. Self-compassion mediates the effect of information overload on rumination. The results illuminate theoretical and practical implications in the regular epidemic prevention and control phases and reveal the protective role of self-compassion.

Understanding individual psychological and behavioral responses during COVID-19: Application of stimulus-organism-response model.

To comprehend the nature, implications, risks and consequences of the events of the COVID-19 crisis, individuals largely relied on various online information sources. The features of online information exchange (e.g., conducted on a massive scale, with an abundance of information and unverified sources) led to various behavioral and psychological responses that are not fully understood. This study therefore investigated the relationship between exposure to online information sources and how individuals sought, forwarded, and provided COVID-19 related information. Anchored in the stimulus-organism-response model, cognitive load theory, and the theory of fear appeal, this study examined the link between the online consumption of COVID-19-related information and psychological and behavioral responses. In the theory development process, we hypothesized the moderating role of levels of fear. The research model included six hypotheses and was empirically verified on self-reported data (N = 425), which was collected in early 2021. The results indicate that continuous exposure to online information sources led to perceived information overload, which further heightened the psychological state of cyberchondria. Moreover, the act of seeking and providing COVID-19 information was significantly predicted by perceived cyberchondria. The results also suggest that higher levels of fear led to increased levels of seeking and providing COVID-19-related information. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are presented, along with promising areas for future research.

Assessment of COVID-19 Information Overload Among the General Public.

BACKGROUND: A relentless flood of information accompanied the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. False news, conspiracy theories, and magical cures were shared with the general public at an alarming rate, which may lead to increased anxiety and stress levels and associated debilitating consequences. OBJECTIVES: To measure the level of COVID-19 information overload (COVIO) and assess the association between COVIO and sociodemographic characteristics among the general public. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between April and May 2020 using a modified Cancer Information Overload scale. The survey was developed and posted on four social media platforms. The data were only collected from those who consented to participate. COVIO score was classified into high vs. low using the asymmetrical distribution as a guide and conducted a binary logistic regression to examine the factors associated with COVIO. RESULTS: A total number of 584 respondents participated in this study. The mean COVIO score of the respondents was 19.4 (± 4.0). Sources and frequency of receiving COVID-19 information were found to be significant predictors of COVIO. Participants who received information via the broadcast media were more likely to have high COVIO than those who received information via the social media (adjusted odds ratio ([aOR],14.599; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.608-132.559; p = 0.017). Also, participants who received COVID-19 information every minute (aOR, 3.892; 95% CI, 1.124-13.480; p = 0.032) were more likely to have high COVIO than those who received information every week. CONCLUSION: The source of information and the frequency of receiving COVID-19 information were significantly associated with COVIO. The COVID-19 information is often conflicting, leading to confusion and overload of information in the general population. This can have unfavorable effects on the measures taken to control the transmission and management of COVID-19 infection.

Social Media Overload and Anxiety Among University Students During the COVID-19 Omicron Wave Lockdown: A Cross-Sectional Study in Shanghai, China, 2022.

Objectives: The increase in the intensity of social media use during the COVID-19 lockdown has affected mental health. Therefore, it is of practical implications to explore the association between social media overload and anxiety and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Using data from 644 university students during the COVID-19 blockade in Shanghai from March to April 2022, the chain mediation model of information strain and risk perception of omicron between social media overload and anxiety was then tested using the macro PROCESS4.0 tool. Results: The findings showed that social media overload (including information overload and social overload) was positively associated with anxiety. This relationship was mediated by information strain and risk perception of Omicron. A chain mediating role of information strain and risk perception of Omicron has also been proved in this study. Conclusion: Social media overload has a positive effect on anxiety by increasing information strain and risk perception of Omicron. This study provides some implications for future interventions on how to use social media properly for mental health during the pandemic and health management of urban governance.

Qualitative Analysis of System Feature Overload Impacting Discontinuous Usage from the Perspective of S-O-R (Stimulus-Organism-Response) Theory

The Social Network Site (SNS) feature continues to be developed so users can quickly spread COVID-19 information. Unfortunately, the number of features or system feature overload can impact discontinuous usage because the feature design makes it difficult for users. Discontinuous usage is a phenomenon that reduces the intensity of SNS use. This research aimed to bring a new system feature overload that leads to discontinuous usage from the perspective of human opinion and behavior. Therefore, the researchers analyzed the role of SNS feature design on discontinuous usage from the perspective of the qualitative Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) theory. This research was conducted in Indonesia, the country with the largest SNS users, on subjects affected by information overload and SNS exhaustion. The research objective was to comprehend the phenomenon's impact and the driving factors of discontinuous usage. This research had two contributions to understanding the effects of SNS feature design on user behavior. It showed a conceptual model of discontinuous usage related to the driving factors of information overload and SNS exhaustion. © 2022 ACM.

Information overload in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: A repeated cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the psychometric properties of the Coronavirus Information Overload scale (CovIO) and explore relationships between CovIO, its predictors and several health behaviours related to the COVID-19 pandemic, using Cancer Information Overload (CIO) scale results as a reference for comparison. METHODS: 2003 participants representative of the French adult population answered a self-administered questionnaire over two waves of polling (N1(June 2020)= 1003, N2(January 2021)= 1000). Respondents were randomized to fill CovIO or CIO scale. Psychometric properties of scales were evaluated with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Predictors were assessed using multivariate linear regression. RESULTS: CovIO scale showed satisfactory psychometric properties (α=0.86, ω=0.86, RMSEA=0.050) without any measurement invariance issue. CovIO increased between waves of sampling and was significantly linked to education, health literacy and trust in institutions among other variables. A negative relationship between information overload and preventive behaviours was also observed. CONCLUSION: The CovIO scale is a valid tool for assessing COVID-19 information overload. The dynamical formation of information overload and links with theorised predictors, especially, health literacy are confirmed. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Longitudinal designs could help better understand the potential detrimental effect of information overload and improving public health campaigns. Interventions to reduce the degree of overload are needed.

Adaption of the Cancer Information Overload Scale for pandemics and assessment of infodemic levels among nurses and midwives.

AIM: This study was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 aimed to adapt the Cancer Information Overload Scale and conduct content validity testing. Phase 2 aimed to conduct factorial validity testing of the scale. Phase 3 aimed to assess information overload and the sources of information used by nurses and midwives to keep up-to-date about COVID-19. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey of nurses and midwives working in a metropolitan Local Health District in Sydney, Australia, was conducted from May to June 2020. METHODS: Adaptation of the Cancer Information Overload Scale and content validity of the modified scale (as the Pandemic Information Overload Scale) was undertaken by an expert panel comprising of senior nurses and researchers. Factorial validity and reliability of the Pandemic Information Overload Scale were evaluated using exploratory factor analyses using one subsample of the data. Using the second subsample of the data, information overload and sources of information used by nurses and midwives to keep up-to-date about COVID-19 were examined. RESULTS: The Pandemic Information Overload Scale is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring information overload among nurses during a pandemic. Its internal consistency was high (α = 0.81, M = 3.84). CONCLUSION: The 8-item PIO scale is a brief, reliable and psychometrically sound instrument for measuring nurses' and midwives' perceptions of information overload during COVID-19. Mean scores across this study indicated that participants were experiencing above average information overload. Implementing strategies to reduce this overload would optimize clinical decision making and promote patient safety.

Information Needs of Essential Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 has been a sustained and global crisis with a strong continual impact on daily life. Staying accurately informed about COVID-19 has been key to personal and communal safety, especially for essential workers-individuals whose jobs have required them to go into work throughout the pandemic-As their employment has exposed them to higher risks of contracting the virus. Through 14 semi-structured interviews, we explore how essential workers across industries navigated the COVID-19 information landscape to get up-To-date information in the early months of the pandemic. We find that essential workers living through a sustained crisis have a broad set of information needs. We summarize these needs in a framework that centers 1) fulfilling job requirements, 2) assessing personal risk, and 3) keeping up with crisis news coverage. Our findings also show that the sustained nature of COVID-19 crisis coverage led essential workers to experience breaking points and develop coping strategies. Additionally, we show how workplace communications may act as a mediating force in this process: lack of adequate information in the workplace caused workers to struggle with navigating a contested information landscape, while consistent updates and information exchanges at work could ease the stress of information overload. Our findings extend the crisis informatics field by providing contextual knowledge about the information needs of essential workers during a sustained crisis. © 2022 ACM.

Perceived Information Overload and Intention to Discontinue Use of Short-Form Video: The Mediating Roles of Cognitive and Psychological Factors.

The current study investigated the effects of Chinese young adult users' perceived information overload (i.e., the daily perception of exposure to excessive information) on their intention to stop using short-form video applications. Specifically, this study accomplished this by measuring the direct and indirect effects of social media fatigue, maladaptive coping, and life dissatisfaction in relation to users' intention to discontinue their use of short-form video applications. The data were collected using a web-based survey and validated questionnaire, with a sample of 340 young adult (18-26 years old) respondents. The results indicated that perceived information overload had a direct effect on the intention to discontinue the use of short-form video applications. Moreover, short-form video fatigue, maladaptive coping, and life dissatisfaction all played mediating roles in the relationship between perceived information overload and the intention to discontinue the use of short-form video applications among young adults in China.

Job demands and technology overload influencing work stress in organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeThis study is based on the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) model to examine how job demands and technology overload affect work stress for workers using video conferencing apps (VCAs) in organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the moderating effect of technology self-efficacy was tested in the model on the relationship between technology overload and work stress.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted to investigate workers on PTT forums in Taiwan. A sample was obtained of 253 workers, and structural equation modeling was conducted using AMOS to test the hypotheses.FindingsJob demands positively affect work stress through information overload, communication overload and system feature overload. Moreover, high technology self-efficacy may weaken the relationship between technology overload and work stress.Research limitations/implicationsThe study may have sample bias because our sample was obtained from an online survey on social networking sites. Regarding the theoretical implications, this study demonstrated that technology overload, as an internal organism, is a critical mediator influencing the relationship between job demands (stimulus) and work stress (response). Thus, this study extended the applicability of the SOR model in the context of working with VCAs in organizations.Practical implicationsCompany managers need to effectively control the information amount, communication interruptions and system features of social media at optimum levels for workers. Moreover, companies should recruit workers with high technology self-efficacy or provide technology training and technology-related consulting to those with low technology self-efficacy.Originality/valueThe extant work stress knowledge is extended to workers using VCAs in organizations.

Will the Pandemic Change How Researchers Keep Up With the Literature?

The flood of publications during the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the challenge of information overload. The pandemic heightened the need for technologies that can assist researchers in keeping up with the literature. Approaches to organizing the COVID-19 literature included curation of specialized databases, aggregation of articles into a repository of machine-readable data, and application of text mining to the literature search process. Technologies developed for keeping up with the COVID-19 literature may have potential for improving in general the ability of researchers to keep up with the literature. [ FROM AUTHOR]

Experiences of patients with Covid-19 admitted to the hospitals amid information overload on pandemic: A Qualitative Study

Since there is a lot of uncertainty and ambiguity on how to control the COVID-19 virus epidemic, news media play a vital role in assisting people in trying to cope with the situation. However, there comes a point where the news may also just be "too much," which can have detrimental effects including deteriorating people's mental health and making them tune it out. Confusion and mental stress are symptoms of information overload. This study intends to describe the experiences of patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospital amid information overload from the media. This study uses the methodology of grounded theory to investigate the patients’ experience with COVID-19 amid an overload of information on the pandemic spread out by the media. In this study, data from some 12 patients with COVID-19 with a history of hospitalization were recorded. The participants were those who had completed a quarantine period after discharge from the hospital. Based on interview transcript, several initial codes were extracted (open coding) and combine the codes with similar meanings for simplification (axial coding). Then, the initial codes were classified into subcategories and categories based on meaning and conceptual similarity. Data analysis led to the extraction of subcategories and main categories. The main categories were ‘close to dying’, ‘concern for the family’, ‘stressful’, ‘psychic disorder’, ‘feeling optimistic’, ‘positive thinking, ‘feeling helped’ which were grouped into two categories negative and positive feeling and then conceptualized into a theme “mixed feeling or emotion”. © 2022, Association Res Militaris. All rights reserved.