Determinants of continuous intention to use FinTech services: the moderating role of COVID-19

The current work seeks to explore the relevant factors that influence intention to use FinTech, i.e., perceived risk, benefit and trust keeping perceived effect of COVID-19 as moderator in India. Data have been collected using a structured questionnaire. The data collected have been validated using the validity and reliability techniques. Factor analysis and path analysis have been performed to test the research model, and finally, interactive moderation effects of the COVID-19 have been examined. Outcomes of the study showed that intention to use FinTech services has positively significant impact with perceived benefits and trust and negatively significant impact with perceived risk. The findings identify the key dimensions related to factors effecting intention to use FinTech and therefore, must be paid attention to by service providers in motivating their consumer to use financial technology. In addition, results will assist managers at FinTech companies to understand the importance of these services during COVID-19 pandemic. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.

The Man-Machine Relationship on the Web: Motivation to Use the Internet

In an environment characterized by turmoil and unpredictability, by the digital transition and transformation, and by the economic and social effects caused by the global public crisis (COVID19), this study aims to analyze the motivations for using the internet and making online purchases, identifying the perceived benefits and consumer satisfaction. For this, an exploratory study with descriptive design was carried out, through the administration of a questionnaire (google forms). 385 consumers responded. The data show that there are significant differences between groups (buyers and non-buyers) in terms of motivation, perceptions of benefits and satisfaction. The use of online shopping platforms fosters a relationship that favors efficiency and enhances feelings of control and freedom in purchasing behavior. The experiences lived through technological intermediation, given the possibility of interaction and personalization, add value to brands, create an innovative identity, while contributing to obtaining a memorable and satisfying experience. © 2023, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.

Factors affecting customer intention to use online food delivery services before and during the COVID-19 pandemic

With the emerging popularity of online food delivery (OFD) services, this research examined predictors affecting customer intention to use OFD services amid the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Specifically, Study 1 examined the moderating effect of the pandemic on the relationship between six predictors (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, price saving benefit, time saving benefit, food safety risk perception, and trust) and OFD usage intention, and Study 2 extended the model by adding customer perceptions of COVID-19 (perceived severity and vulnerability) during the pandemic. Study 1 showed that all of the predictors except food safety risk perception significantly affected OFD usage intention, but no moderation effect of COVID-19 was found. In Study 2, while perceived severity and vulnerability had no significant impact on OFD usage intention, the altered effects of socio-demographic variables during the COVID-19 pandemic were found. Theoretical and managerial implications are provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Privacy concerns with COVID-19 tracking apps: a privacy calculus approach

Purpose>The COVID-19 pandemic represents a unique challenge for public health worldwide. In this context, smartphone-based tracking apps play an important role in controlling transmission. However, privacy concerns may compromise the population's willingness to adopt this mobile health (mHealth) technology. Based on the privacy calculus theory, this study aims to examine what factors drive or hinder adoption and disclosure, considering the moderating role of age and health status.Design/methodology/approach>A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a European country hit by the pandemic that has recently launched a COVID-19 contact-tracing app. Data from 504 potential users was analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling.Findings>Results indicate that perceived benefits and privacy concerns impact adoption and disclosure and confirm the existence of a privacy paradox. However, for young and healthy users, only benefits have a significant effect. Moreover, older people value more personal than societal benefits while for respondents with a chronical disease privacy concerns outweigh personal benefits.Originality/value>The study contributes to consumer privacy research and to the mHealth literature, where privacy issues have been rarely explored, particularly regarding COVID-19 contact-tracing apps. The study re-examines the privacy calculus by incorporating societal benefits and moving from a traditional "self-focus” approach to an "other-focus” perspective. This study further adds to prior research by examining the moderating role of age and health condition, two COVID-19 risk factors. This study thus offers critical insights for governments and health organizations aiming to use these tools to reduce COVID-19 transmission rates.

Mediation analysis of students' perceived benefits in predicting their satisfaction to technology-enhanced learning

Purpose: Students' perception towards learning technologies in the disruptive times like coronavirus disease (2019) COVID-19 is what the educational institutes are striving to know so that the educational institutes could provide the best learning experiences to students. The present study attempts to identify the technology-enhanced learning (TEL) factors (i.e. informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and informational quality) with the mediation effect of perceived benefits on student satisfaction to TEL amongst non-technical students of different college/universities at Chhattisgarh state. Design/methodology/approach: Purposive sampling technique with "criterion variable” was applied to collect responses from 600 participants. Students, who are enrolled in non-technical courses at different colleges/universities, were participated in the present study. The data collection process was completed during April–November 2019. Findings: The results revealed that perceived benefits to TEL were significantly and positively mediated between all the TEL factors (i.e. information quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding) and student satisfaction to TEL. Originality/value: The present study itself is a novel study by taking TEL factors such as informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding by considering perceived benefits as mediator to examine the influence on student satisfaction to TEL. © 2022, Pushkar Dubey and Kailash Kumar Sahu.

Substantial increase in perceived benefits over harms of COVID-19 outbreak but persistent socioeconomic disparities: Comparison of two cross-sectional surveys in Hong Kong from 2020 to 2021.

Background: We have reported both perceived benefits and harms of the COVID-19 outbreak and their socioeconomic disparities amid the pandemic in Hong Kong. We further investigated whether such perceptions and disparities had changed after 10 months. Methods: Under the Hong Kong Jockey Club SMART Family-Link Project, we conducted two cross-sectional surveys online on perceived personal and family benefits and harms of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong adults in May 2020 (after Wave 2 was under control; N = 4,891) and in February and March 2021 (after Wave 4 was under control; N = 6,013). We collected sociodemographic information, including sex, age, education, household income, and housing. Using multivariate models of analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), we compared perceived benefits and harms and socioeconomic disparities between the two surveys. Results: Adjusting for sex and age, the prevalence of 17 out of 18 perceived personal and family benefits of COVID-19 outbreak increased (Ps < 0.001). Six of 11 perceived personal and family harms decreased (Ps < 0.001) and 4 increased (Ps < 0.001). The total number of perceived personal and family benefits increased substantially (Ps < 0.001), whereas that of perceived personal harms decreased (P = 0.01) and family harms remained stable (P > 0.05). Socioeconomic disparities, however, persisted-more perceived benefits in those with higher socioeconomic status (Ps < 0.001) and more perceived harms in those with lower (Ps ≤ 0.005). Conclusion: We have first reported that perceived personal and family benefits of the COVID-19 outbreak increased substantially over 10 months amid the pandemic, while perceived personal and family harms were lower and stable, respectively. Socioeconomic disparities of the perceived benefits and harms persisted, which need to be monitored and addressed urgently.

Consumer perception of clean food labels

Purpose>This study puts forth a consumer-oriented concept of clean labels and attempts to empirically investigate consumer perceptions of these labels.Design/methodology/approach>A self-administered survey (n = 346) was used as the research instrument for data collection in the current study.Findings>Results from an online survey indicate that consumers perceived less processed, elimination of undesired ingredients and ethical concerns as salient attributes associated with clean labels. Consumer-perceived benefits of these attributes include healthiness, social responsibility, sensory appeal, reliable product and low calorie. Additionally, canonical correlation analysis yields two significant associations between clean label attributes and the corresponding benefits. Attributes of elimination of undesired ingredients and utilization of familiar elements drive the benefits of healthiness, low calorie and social responsibility. Attributes of being less processed and with simple ingredients are associated with the benefit of sensory appeal.Originality/value>This study systematically investigates the discrete clean halo effect by empirically examining the associations between the clean label attributes and the dimensionalities of benefits as perceived by consumers.

COVID-19 information seeking pattern and perceived benefits in Nigeria: a cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: access to COVID-19 related information is fundamental to making accurate decisions and performing evidence-based actions aimed to control its spread and improve health. This study assessed pattern and perceived benefits of COVID-19 related information in Nigeria. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among adult Nigerian residents aged 18-years and above in the geopolitical zones using multistage sampling strategy. Questionnaire developed by World Health Organization (WHO) was adapted and pretested. Descriptive statistics were carried on the data and presented in frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics (Chi-square) was used to test differences between some categorical variables. Data obtained were analysed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) software version 22. Results: from responses, 498 (47.9%) of participants highly desired information on COVID-19, while 311 (29.9%) frequently sought COVID-19 information. Majority 647 (62.3%) were interested in getting information on treatment protocols/home remedies for COVID-19 prevention. Also, 934 (89.9%) found information on COVID-19 beneficial. A significant difference existed between male and female respondents regarding government guidelines on public interaction (p=0.026) and home remedies to prevent COVID-19 infection (p=0.013). Consistently, more urban residents than rural sought information on majority of the COVID-19 related information. Conclusion: information on COVID-19 is highly sought by Nigerian residents and such should be widely disseminated regularly through authentic and verified social media channels. Nigerians are highly desirous of information on treatment protocols and home remedies to prevent COVID-19. Adequate provision of accurate and timely information by authorities through trusted sources will improve health literacy and help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Changing Trends of Consumers' Online Buying Behavior During COVID-19 Pandemic With Moderating Role of Payment Mode and Gender.

It was not long ago when technological emergence fundamentally changed the landscape of global businesses. Following that, business operations started shifting away from traditional to advance digitalized processes. These digitalized processes gave a further boost to the e-commerce industry, making the online environment more competitive. Despite the growing trend, there has always been a consumer market that is not involved in online shopping, and this gap is huge when it comes to consumers from developing countries, specifically Pakistan. On contrary, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought drastic changes to the way consumers used to form their intention and behave toward digitalized solutions in pre COVID-19 times. Evidence shows that the global e-commerce industry has touched phenomenal growth during COVID-19, whereas Pakistan's e-commerce industry still holds a huge potential and has not fully boomed yet. These facts pave new avenues for marketers to cater to this consumer market for long-term growth. Hence, the study provides insights into how consumers' online buying behavior has transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of Pakistan. The study presents a framework based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Furthermore, the moderating role of gender and payment mode has also been examined. For the analysis of variables, the partial least squares (PLS) method was used to conduct structural equation modeling (SEM) by collecting data from 266 respondents. The results show a significant and positive impact of perceived benefits, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, and social influence on consumers' intention, but they also show an insignificant impact of gender and payment mode as a moderating variable on PEOU-BI and BI-AB, respectively. The results are of utmost significance for Pakistani businesses, marketers, and e-traders to streamline their business practices accordingly. Lastly, the proposed framework demonstrates new directions for future research to work upon.

The Health Belief Model Applied to COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Systematic Review.

This study systematically analyzes the research that used the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a theoretical basis to examine the influence of HBM constructs on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Following PRISMA guidelines, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus were searched for quantitative studies. Sixteen studies with 30,242 participants met inclusion criteria. The prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was 33.23% (95% CI 24.71-41.39%). Perceived barriers and perceived benefits were the most common HBM constructs that were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. While perceived benefits was inversely associated, a positive association was found between perceived barriers and vaccine hesitancy. Other HBM constructs that were frequently examined and inversely associated were perceived susceptibility, cues to action, perceived severity, and self-efficacy. The most common HBM modifying factor that was directly associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was gender, followed by education, age, geographical locations, occupation, income, employment, marital status, race, and ethnicity; however, a few studies report inconsistent results. Other modifying variables that influenced vaccine hesitancy were knowledge of COVID-19, prior diagnosis of COVID-19, history of flu vaccination, religion, nationality, and political affiliation. The results show that HBM is useful in predicting COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Unpacking Intention and Behavior: Explaining Contact Tracing App Adoption and Hesitancy in the United States

COVID-19 has demonstrated the importance of digital contact tracing apps in reducing the spread of disease. Despite people widely expressing interest in using contact tracing apps, actual installation rates have been low in many parts of the world. Prior studies suggest that decisions to use these apps are largely shaped by pandemic beliefs, social influences, perceived benefits and harms, and other factors. However, there is a gap in understanding what factors motivate intention, but not subsequent behavior of actual adoption. Reporting on a survey of 290 U.S. residents, we disentangle the intention-behavior gap by investigating factors associated with installing a contact tracing app from those associated with intending to install, but not actually installing. Our results suggest that social norms can be leveraged to span the intention-behavior gap, and that a privacy paradox may influence people's adoption decisions. We present recommendations for technologies that enlist individuals to address collective challenges. © 2022 ACM.

Perceived Benefits and Forest Tourists Consumption Intention: Environmental Protection Attitude and Resource Utilization Attitude as Mediators

Establishing a relationship model between environmental protection and resource utilization attitude and consumption intention is the key to promoting the sustainable development of forest tourism. From the standpoint of the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework, the purpose of this study is to explore the complex causal relationships between perceived benefits, attitudes toward environmental protection, resource utilization attitudes, and consumption intentions in the context of forest tourism. The research data have been collected using a questionnaire survey of 436 tourists at Siming Mountain in the suburbs of Ningbo city, China. Furthermore, it is analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results indicate a positive correlation between the perceived benefits and tourists’ consumption intention that is mediated by the tourists’ attitude toward resource utilization. Although the independent mediating effect of environmental protection attitude is not supported in this study, both attitudes have played a chain-mediating role between perceived benefit and consumption intention. This study contributes to the existing knowledge by measuring the impact of perceived benefits and environmental attitudes of forest tourists on consumption intentions.

Using Health Belief Model for predicting COVID-19 prevention practices among university student and staff

Large-scale social restriction (PSBB-Pembatasan Sosial Berkala Besar) is a policy aimed at reducing the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The purpose of this study was to determine the respondents' compliance behaviors towards the PSBB regulations according to the Health Belief Model. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a private university in Jakarta using quantitative methods. Data collection was carried out on July 2020, where 116 respondents were selected and recruited in the study using convenience non-probability sampling. Online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The independent variables were adopted from Health Belief Model theory. These included;perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, health motivation, perceived benefit, perceived barrier and cues to action. The dependent variable was COVID-19 prevention behavior. Results showed that variables of health motivation (p-value=0.001), perceived benefits (p-value=0.008), and perceived barriers (p-value=0.007), advertising (p-value=0.027), counseling (p-value=0.001), and media access (p-value=0.000) had significant effects on the respondents' compliance to COVID-19 prevention behaviors. Multivariate analysis showed significant association of health motivation and perceived benefits with COVID-19 prevention behavior. An intervention is required to improve the community’s perception and belief towards the benefits and effectiveness of COVID-19 prevention behavior in preventing the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022, Intelektual Pustaka Media Utama. All rights reserved.

Research on the Impacts of the COVID-19 on Individual's Leisure Travel

This paper aims to study the impacts of the COVID-19 on individual's leisure travel preference, the influencing factors of leisure travel intention, and the influencing mechanism. A structural equation model based on the theory of planned behavior and benefit-risk analysis was carried out to study the influencing mechanism. The influencing mechanism of individual's perceived risks, perceived benefits, travel attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavior control, and leisure travel intention after the COVID-19 was analyzed. The impacts of individual's genders, age groups, and income levels were also excavated by One-Way ANOVA analysis and independent t-test. The fitting result of the structural equation model was acceptable (CMIN/DF is 1.902<3.000, RMSEA is 0.047<0.080). Results show that the perceived behavior control (0.391), attitude (0.608) and perceived benefits (0.296) have a direct positive effect on leisure travel intention. Subjective norms (0.621) have an indirect positive impact on leisure travel intention. Perceived risks (-0.081) have an indirect negative impact on leisure travel intention. The COVID-19 has a significant impact on individual's leisure travel preferences and characteristics. Road trips with family members will become more popular. The COVID-19 has a greater impact on people whose age is under 26 or between 41-50 years old, whose job is relatively unstable and have low-income. Those people perceive lower travel utility and higher obstacles, and have lower leisure travel intention. The result of this study can provide necessary data support for the recovery of tourism. © 2022, Editorial Department of China Journal of Highway and Transport. All right reserved.

Study on the influencing factors of health information sharing behavior of the elderly under the background of normalization of pandemic situation

This study aims to solve the problem of unwise judgment, decisions, and correspondingly dangerous behaviors caused by error health information to the elderly. Based on the MOA model and self-determination theory, this paper constructs a health information sharing model for the elderly and analyzes it with Amos's structural equation model. The study finds that media richness, health information literacy, perceived benefits, and negative emotions of the coronavirus epidemic positively influence health information sharing behavior. In contrast, perceived risks have a significant negative impact on health information sharing behavior. At the same time, media richness positively affects health information literacy, perceived benefits, and negative emotions of the coronavirus epidemic but has no significant impact on perceived risks. Health literacy positively affects perceived benefits but does not significantly affect the perceived risks and negative emotions of the coronavirus epidemic. This study aims to assist government and online social platforms in taking relevant measures under the background of normalization of the pandemic situation, controlling the spread of error health information among the elderly, and guiding the elderly to share health information better. © 2021 International Consortium for Electronic Business. All rights reserved.

Investigating factors that affect the adoption of COVID-19 contact-tracing apps: A privacy calculus perspective

On June 16, 2020, the German government issued a coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) contact-tracing app whose privacy settings were fiercely debated in advance. Contrary, potential benefits regarding the acceleration of contact tracing were advertised. This study investigated the relative importance of privacy concerns and perceived benefits in relation to the decision to use the app adopting a privacy calculus perspective extended by trust in app privacy and technological knowledge about the app. Results of a representative German sample (N = 952) revealed that privacy concerns were negatively related to app usage, and perceived benefits and knowledge were positively related to actual app adoption. Additionally, perceiving app benefits was the most important factor for (continued) usage intention, while privacy concerns did not play a role anymore. Trust was strongly negatively associated with privacy concerns and strongly positively with perceived benefits. Results are discussed concerning consequences for communication strategies when launching technology whose adoption should help in mitigating dangers of pandemics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Government Communication, Perceptions of COVID-19, and Vaccination Intention: A Multi-Group Comparison in China.

Government communication has been playing an important role in mass vaccination to conduct the largest vaccination campaign of the world for COVID-19 and to counter vaccine hesitancy. This study employs the health belief model to examine the association between government communication and the COVID-19 vaccination intention. A survey of Chinese adults (N = 557) was conducted in March 2021, and partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to estimate the multi-construct relationships. The findings indicate that government communication has both direct positive association with vaccination intention and indirect association with vaccination intention through the mediation of perceived severity, benefits, and barriers. Multi-group comparisons suggest that individuals from private sectors are more easily mobilized to receive COVID-19 vaccination by government communication than those from public sectors. Similarly, the correlation between government communication and the vaccination intention of individuals with a good health status was stronger than that of those with a poor health status. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are further discussed.

Factors Affecting Consumers’ Purchasing of Suboptimal Foods during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, global food production and transportation have been largely impacted. Meanwhile, consumers have purchased and stockpiled large quantities of foods due to panic in the early stage of the pandemic, which has resulted in a lot of uneaten, expired foods and has reduced the varieties of foods available in the markets. Due to the lower prices, some consumers have chosen to buy those foods with an earlier production time or inferior quality (suboptimal foods), and the purchase rate of suboptimal foods has increased. Therefore, this study investigated consumer behavior during the pandemic as the research focus, explored the main dimensions that affect consumers’ purchasing of suboptimal foods during the COVID-19 pandemic, tested their correlations, and proposed suggestions for improvement. The results of this study showed that the impacts of Perceived Benefits on Attitude Toward Behavior, Perceived Behavioral Control, and Subject Norm rank 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in importance, respectively, which are all higher than the related impact of Environmental Concerns. For consumers, the most important thing is whether suboptimal foods have consumption motivation for them, which is also the most direct way to make consumers feel the value of suboptimal foods. Furthermore, for consumers, while the environmentally friendly attributes of suboptimal foods are less perceptible than the economic motivations, they still have considerable influence on consumers, and this is even more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many families have experienced a shock to their income during the pandemic, and consumers are more sensitive and concerned about commodity prices, which also makes lower-priced and more abundant suboptimal foods more popular. However, in the long term, suboptimal foods can have a positive impact on reducing food waste and protecting the environment. When consumers realize this, they will be more motivated to purchase and try suboptimal foods.

Testing the success of real-time online delivery channel adopted by higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates during the Covid-19 pandemic.

E-learning was mandated for all the higher education institutions (HEI) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to encounter the pandemic and practice social distancing in year 2020. This led education institutions to shift from face-to-face traditional classroom settings to online education channels for delivering education to their students despite being less familiar with the real-time remote learning. The current study attempts to measure the success of e-learning systems adopted by the HEIs in UAE. An e-learning system success measuring the framework based on DeLone and McLean (J Manage Inf Syst 19(4):9-30, 2003) was developed including the measures of quality, system use, perceptual benefits and future outcomes from students' perspective. A survey was conducted from more than 1200 students studying at different higher education institutions of the UAE region. The findings have implications for educators and policy-makers recommending the success factors of e-learning delivery channels in this region.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Perceived Risks Towards COVID-19 Pandemic and the Impact of Risk Communication Messages on Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia.

PURPOSE: To investigate knowledge, attitude, and perceived risks towards COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia. Besides, the impact of risk communication strategy on the attitude and practice of HCWs was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study that targeted HCWs from various Saudi health facilities. We utilized a self-administrated, online-based questionnaire designed to assess basic knowledge of COVID-19, attitude and disease perception, and the impact of risk communication messages among HCWs. RESULTS: A total of 1691 responses were received in the study. The HCWs exhibited good levels of knowledge (total maximum score is 1) of COVID-19 concerning the modes of transportation of COVID-19 (0.82±0.16), sample collection method for COVID-19 diagnosis (0.98±0.08), transmission of infection from asymptomatic individuals (0.99±0.11), and that antibiotics are not effective against the new COVID-19 (0.83±0.38). Nearly one-third of the participants considered a high/very high possibility of acquiring COVID-19 infection. HCWs had good attitude scores concerning their willingness to deal with new COVID-19 patients (0.87±0.33) and their beliefs in being educated on COVID-19 (0.99±0.11). Almost all participants strongly agree/agree that it is important to take action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities and received health information messages. Notably, 93.4% of the participants stated that the received messages changed their attitude towards COVID-19 and its preventive measures. Good knowledge scores were significantly associated with age > 49 years old, higher educational level, and physician occupation. Similarly, good attitude scores were higher among males, HCWs aged 40-49 years old, non-Saudi nationals, and physician and nurse occupations. CONCLUSION: HCWs have fair knowledge and attitude towards the COVID-19 pandemic. The risk communication is an effective strategy to improve the attitude and practice of HCWs towards COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.