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1.
Pravention und Gesundheitsforderung ; 2023.
Article in German | Scopus | ID: covidwho-20235162

ABSTRACT

Background: The risk of a severe or fatal course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is greatly increased especially in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For this risk group, it is therefore essential to actively, continuously, and consciously deal with health information on the topic of COVID-19 in order to be able to assess the risks and possible consequences of a disease and to know and weigh up possible courses of action. Question: How do people with a COPD diagnosis deal with health information on the topic of COVID-19? Methods: An explorative qualitative study was conducted with COPD patients. The guided interviews focused on competencies following the health literacy model of Sørensen et al. and the occasions for health information seeking on COVID-19. The interviews were analyzed using content-structuring content analysis according to Mayring. Results: Seven interviews were conducted with COPD patients between March and July 2021. Reasons for the participants to inform themselves about the coronavirus pandemic were especially the fear of becoming infected with COVID-19 as well as the need to find trustworthy information, e.g., about infection figures and measures to contain the pandemic. In this regard, the use of various sources of information about COVID-19 was crucial for respondents. Critical reflection of found information took place at least partially. Measures to protect against infection were implemented by the respondents. Conclusion: In view of the existing uncertainties associated with the pandemic, the use of different sources of information and a reflective handling of available health information on COVID-19 appears essential. Consequently, low-threshold access to reliable and target group-specific health information, e.g., from medical professionals, is of particular importance for people with COPD. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Der/die Autor(en), exklusiv lizenziert an Springer-Verlag GmbH Deutschland, ein Teil von Springer Nature.

2.
Nurs Crit Care ; 2023 May 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-20243055

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) broke out worldwide, leading to a pandemic. Studies have shown that COVID-19 patients in intensive care units (ICUs) require more nursing care than other patients. ICU nurses who care for patients with COVID-19 have shown signs of psychological and physical strain. AIM: The aim of this study was to illuminate ICU nurses' experiences of caring for patients with COVID-19 in ICUs during the first wave of the pandemic. DESIGN: A qualitative, descriptive and inductive approach was used. METHOD: A total of 70 blog posts from 13 bloggers in the United States, Great Britain, Finland and Sweden were analysed using qualitative inductive manifest content analysis. RESULTS: The results reveal an overall theme: 'An overturned existence under extreme conditions'. Furthermore, three categories-'the virus caused changes in work and private lives', 'unreasonable demands', and to hold on to caring ideals thanks to the support of others'-and seven subcategories were identified. CONCLUSION: Caring for patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic was demanding because of a lack of knowledge about the disease and the severity of the illness. This led to ICU nurses experiencing extreme conditions that affected various aspects of their lives. Support from colleagues and teamwork were revealed to be particularly important for how nurses dealt with the demands of working during a pandemic, as was sufficient recovery time between work shifts. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Work in ICUs was challenging and demanding, even before the pandemic. This study contributes to an understanding of the complex work environment that existed in hospitals during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The knowledge obtained from this study can be used to revise working conditions and identify health interventions for ICU nurses.

3.
Front Public Health ; 11: 952069, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2308023

ABSTRACT

Background: On March 16, 2021, a white man shot and killed eight victims, six of whom were Asian women at Atlanta-area spa and massage parlors. The aims of the study were to: (1) qualitatively summarize themes of tweets related to race, ethnicity, and racism immediately following the Atlanta spa shootings, and (2) examine temporal trends in expressions hate speech and solidarity before and after the Atlanta spa shootings using a new methodology for hate speech analysis. Methods: A random 1% sample of publicly available tweets was collected from January to April 2021. The analytic sample included 708,933 tweets using race-related keywords. This sample was analyzed for hate speech using a newly developed method for combining faceted item response theory with deep learning to measure a continuum of hate speech, from solidarity race-related speech to use of violent, racist language. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on random samples of 1,000 tweets referencing Asians before the Atlanta spa shootings from January to March 15, 2021 and 2,000 tweets referencing Asians after the shooting from March 17 to 28 to capture the immediate reactions and discussions following the shootings. Results: Qualitative themes that emerged included solidarity (4% before the shootings vs. 17% after), condemnation of the shootings (9% after), racism (10% before vs. 18% after), role of racist language during the pandemic (2 vs. 6%), intersectional vulnerabilities (4 vs. 6%), relationship between Asian and Black struggles against racism (5 vs. 7%), and discussions not related (74 vs. 37%). The quantitative hate speech model showed a decrease in the proportion of tweets referencing Asians that expressed racism (from 1.4% 7 days prior to the event from to 1.0% in the 3 days after). The percent of tweets referencing Asians that expressed solidarity speech increased by 20% (from 22.7 to 27.2% during the same time period) (p < 0.001) and returned to its earlier rate within about 2 weeks. Discussion: Our analysis highlights some complexities of discrimination and the importance of nuanced evaluation of online speech. Findings suggest the importance of tracking hate and solidarity speech. By understanding the conversations emerging from social media, we may learn about possible ways to produce solidarity promoting messages and dampen hate messages.


Subject(s)
Social Media , Male , Humans , Female , Machine Learning , Ethnicity
4.
BMC Med Educ ; 23(1): 264, 2023 Apr 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2291896

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ensuring that children and young people (CYP) can obtain mental health support from a broad variety of sources is of upmost importance. This is especially true given the increasing prevalence of mental health difficulties in this population, and the associated challenges with receiving support from specialised healthcare services. Equipping professionals, from a wide range of sectors, with the skills needed to provide this support is a vital starting point. This study explored the experiences of professionals who had participated in CYP mental health training modules that related directly to the local implementation of the THRIVE Framework for System Change in Greater Manchester, UK (GM i-THRIVE) to establish the perceived barriers and facilitators behind the implementation of this training programme. METHODS: Directed qualitative content analysis of semi-structured interview data from nine CYP-facing professionals was conducted. Both the interview schedule and initial deductive coding strategy were developed using the findings of a systematic literature review by the authors, that was conducted to explore wider CYP mental health training experiences. This methodology was used to establish the presence or absence of these findings within GM i-THRIVE, before generating tailored recommendations for their training programme. RESULTS: When the interview data were coded and analysed, a strong level of thematic similarity with the authors' review was found. However, we deduced that the emergence of additional themes might reflect the contextual uniqueness of GM i-THRIVE, that is likely to be further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Six recommendations were made for further improvement. These included the facilitation of unstructured peer interaction during training, and ensuring that jargon and key words are fully clarified. CONCLUSIONS: Methodological limitations, guidance for usage, and potential applications of the study's findings are explored. Whilst the findings were largely akin to those of the review, subtle yet important differences were found. These are likely to reflect the nuances of the training programme discussed, however, we tentatively suggest that our findings are transferable to similar training interventions. This study provides a valuable example of how qualitative evidence syntheses can be used to aid study design and analysis: an underused approach.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Mental Health , Humans , Child , Adolescent , Pandemics , Qualitative Research
5.
Education 3-13 ; 2023.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2277341

ABSTRACT

As part of the large-scale ‘COVID-19, Building Back Better'-project, primary school (grade 0-6) stakeholders (students (N = 2.427), parents (N = 153), school staff (N = 176) and school leaders (N = 14)) answered the open-ended survey-question: ‘What have you learned during the COVID-19 pandemic that could be used to make school and teaching better in the future?'. The responses are inductively organised. The analysis points at several learning potentials from COVID-19 and suggests different politically and ethically feasible focus points for quality teaching and education after COVID-19 (e.g. more efficient teaching/worktime, a focus on students' and school staff's well-being in school, outdoor teaching/outdoor time, movement in teaching, online teaching, new and creative teaching methods, clear and simple structure, shorter school days, no parents at school, improved school-home collaboration and information/communication from school). We discuss the feasibility of implementing the suggestions and argue for cooperative procedures paying attention to contradicting perceptions when reimagining education in the future. © 2023 ASPE.

6.
Bodenkultur ; 73(2):75-95, 2022.
Article in German | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2277279

ABSTRACT

Summary: Measures taken to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to changes in consumer attitudes and behavior have impacted food supply chains globally. In order to examine the effects of COVID-19 on Austrian agriculture, interviews with 34 farmers were conducted in early 2021. The results of a qualitative content analysis show that the diverse and heterogeneous impacts of COVID-19 on farms create opportunities as well as challenges. Negative impacts include sales difficulties due to the closure of restaurants and markets, the ban on non-agricultural activities, the disrupted availability of workers and agricultural inputs, and burdens on farmers. Mitigation of negative effects through political measures and interest groups showed limited effectiveness. Nevertheless, the functionality of agricultural production was maintained as direct impacts were minimal and adjustments adequate. Positive effects result from the increased demand in direct marketing and food retailing, the improved perception of agriculture in society and advantages in the farmers' private lives. Long-term changes of farms are mainly driven by digitization, investments and adjustments concerning marketing. © 2022 Henriette Elisabeth Quehl et al., published by Sciendo.

7.
Jurnal Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik ; 26(2):183-196, 2022.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2277098

ABSTRACT

The question of what kind of content people share on social media is brought up by the COVID-19 pandemic and new normal policy. The government's well-coordinated campaign and the opposition's harsh comments are two of the reasons Indonesians actively utilize Twitter in relation to the new normal. This study intends to characterize and evaluate the presentation of new normal messages by opinion leaders on Twitter between May 16 and 29, 2020, since opinion leaders have historically been the network's active pioneers on a topic. The theories used for this study are self-presentation, opinion leaders, and the social media approach. The accounts of opinion leaders are determined through Drone Emprit's release of Top 100 New Normal Influencers, which then, generated six profiles: @haikal_hassan, @haris_azhar, @msaid_didu, @ridwankamil, @ismailfahmi, and @kurawa. The qualitative content analysis method was employed in this study with inductive reasoning. The findings revealed seven categories of new normal statements by opinion leaders, which corresponded to three key speech themes: 1) economic issues, 2) the implementation order of new normal life, and 3) negative sentiments. Additionally, we discovered that when opinion leaders create online personas, they do not aim to transcend the most fundamental parts of their backstage selves. Instead, they establish personas and personalities that are based on the same characters from the offline world. Meanwhile, this study suggests how the data might be useful for the Government, to consider the capacity of text-based platforms to help them learn about behaviors and needs during or even post-pandemic. © 2022 The Author(s).

8.
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice ; 2023.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2283220

ABSTRACT

The rise in illicit drug trafficking on darknet markets (DNMs) was boosted by those restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to put this trend into context by exploring the characteristics of vendors' services and reputations and understand how products are advertised and what customers tend to value. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on a sample (n = 100) randomly selected from 6,357 product descriptions and a sample (n = 500) randomly selected from 34,619 reviews. Both samples are from products found in the drug category of the darknet market Dark0de Reborn. On the supply side, vendors tended to provide basic information on the drugs, a mention of their high quality, the speed and stealth of delivery, their availability for responding to messages, the effects of the drugs, and sometimes even instructions for use. Regarding the demand side, customers usually praised the quality of the product, mentioned the speed and stealth-secure packaging of delivery as essentials, and expressed only a small number of issues. These results support the applicability of Norbert Elias' social figuration theory in which the interdependencies of the actors are fueled by trust. This theoretical frame sheds light on the social value of the community of DNMs. Furthermore, the findings formulate a robust hypothesis for future research about the previously undervalued role of delivery providers. © The Author(s) 2023.

9.
31st Annual Conference on European Distance and E-Learning Network, EDEN 2022 ; 1639 CCIS:53-62, 2022.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-2148624

ABSTRACT

While the almost complete conversion of university teaching to digital formats in March 2020 initially had a disruptive effect, in the meantime almost all university teachers and learners can look back on numerous experiences with different forms of university learning and teaching. These experiences can contribute to the design of higher education teaching and learning of the future. The article describes an explorative analysis that asks from the students’ point of view which studies from Germany can be identified that give hints and statements about the future of studying from the students’ point of view and what wishes, requirements, preferences are articulated for future higher education teaching. For this purpose, this article collects evidence from studies on higher education teaching and learning of the future and presents the inductively formed category system as the first result of a structuring content analysis, which gives first indications of significant topics, statements and preferences. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

10.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 19(17)2022 Aug 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2023685

ABSTRACT

Knee pain is an early sign of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and a risk factor for chronic widespread pain (CWP). Early prevention is vital, and more research is needed to understand health-promoting activities for individuals with knee pain from a patient perspective. This study aimed to explore how individuals with knee pain experienced health-promoting activities. Explorative qualitative design with inductive approach was applied to explore the experiences of 22 individuals (13 women, 9 men; median age: 52). Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using latent qualitative content analysis. The results revealed health-promoting activities in individuals with knee pain and were interpreted in the overall theme, striving for balance in everyday life. Two categories explored the content in health-promoting activities: (1) Caring for the body-being physically active, having a healthy diet, and utilising support; and (2) Managing life stressors-allowing for recovery, promoting vitality, and safeguarding healthy relationships. In conclusion, individuals with knee pain described various health-promoting activities. They strived for balance in everyday life by caring for the body and managing life stressors. We suggest that a broader approach to everyday life can be helpful in treatment plans and health promotion to manage and prevent KOA and CWP, while striving for a healthy lifestyle.


Subject(s)
Chronic Pain , Osteoarthritis, Knee , Female , Health Promotion , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Osteoarthritis, Knee/therapy , Qualitative Research
11.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 19(14)2022 07 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1917492

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health and lifestyles of both the general population and of vulnerable groups. Individuals with knee pain are recommended to lead an active lifestyle to relieve pain but find it difficult to maintain health and lifestyle compared to the general population due to the cause of chronic pain, impaired physical function, and a diminished quality of life. This study aimed to explore experiences of how health and lifestyle among individuals with knee pain have been influenced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews (n = 19) were conducted in 2021 and analysed with qualitative content analysis. The results showed how individuals with knee pain adjusted their behaviour and revalued their life to maintain health and lifestyle during COVID-19. Adjusted behaviours emerged, such as spending more time at home, becoming digital, and spending more time outdoors, while revaluing life emerged as having a positive outlook on life and sharing responsibility. In conclusion, behaviour was adjusted, and life revalued to manage health and lifestyle during the pandemic. However, the findings are probably similar to the general population, i.e., individuals with knee pain live similar lives as the general population despite knee pain. The results may contribute to alternative ways of maintaining health and lifestyle in various vulnerable groups and may be applied in situations other than the pandemic.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Chronic Pain , COVID-19/epidemiology , Chronic Pain/epidemiology , Humans , Life Style , Pandemics , Quality of Life
12.
Gerontologist ; 62(8): 1185-1195, 2022 09 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1915629

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have linked coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to a rise in ageism. While a growing body of research examined hostile ageism during the pandemic, benevolent ageism received less attention. Drawing on the stereotype content theory and the classic tripartite model of attitudes, the current study explored how benevolent and hostile ageism are reflected in the cognitive, affective, and behavioral dimensions of attitudes toward older adults in German COVID-19-related tweets. The study examined the most prevalent attitudes as well as changes in prevalence between the first and second lockdown period in Germany. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Seven hundred and ninety-two German tweets concerning COVID-19 and aging were collected and coded using Mayring's qualitative content analysis with a dominantly inductive approach. Quantitative methods were used to identify the most prevalent subthemes as well as changes in prevalence. RESULTS: The coding resulted in 21 subthemes. Most tweets (60.73%) contained either hostile or benevolent ageist attitudes, with benevolent ageism being more prevalent. The top 5 subthemes in terms of prevalence and reach contained several opposing attitudes, such as devaluation and opposing devaluation. The chi-square tests revealed a shift from a promotion to an evaluation of COVID-19-related policies between the 2 lockdowns. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Results highlight social media's polarizing effect and its potential contribution to both hostile and benevolent ageism in the context of COVID-19 in Germany. Results indicate the need to consider the adverse effects of benevolent ageism and use of chronological age as risk factor, when designing COVID-19-related policies.


Subject(s)
Ageism , COVID-19 , Aged , Ageism/psychology , Attitude , COVID-19/epidemiology , Communicable Disease Control , Hostility , Humans
13.
International Journal of Ethics and Systems ; : 25, 2022.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-1886555

ABSTRACT

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze Grameen America's response to COVID-19 pandemic. This is accomplished by identifying and analyzing the key initiatives implemented by Grameen America within the framework of selected United Nations' Sustainability Development Goals (UN's SD Goals). Design/methodology/approach - This study has used qualitative content analysis to analyze financial and nonfinancial information of Grameen Bank. Findings - This study follows a qualitative content analysis method to precisely gauge the shift in Grameen's strategy and focus, as well as to assess the impact of its initiatives on the small business community before and after the pandemic. The findings showcase that Grameen's longstanding mission to alleviate poverty is in line with the UN's SD Goal 1. Also, Grameen's commitment to create partnerships with external organizations to offer credit and noncredit services and support is consistent with UN's SD Goal 17. Research limitations/implications - Notwithstanding the significant contributions of this case study, the findings are limited in some respects. First, this case study focuses on the Grameen America's unique experience regarding its response to COVID-19 pandemic. This may affect the interpretation and generalization of the findings of this study. Performing comparative views across wide range of relevant microlending institutions could help improve the generalization of the findings. Also, this case study examines the impact on women and minority groups who were particularly affected by the pandemic. The results should, therefore, be interpreted with care as circumstances may change over time. Practical implications - The implication for practice is that policymakers should encourage the creation of more member-based financial and non-financial institutions that can help members integrate financially and socially into society. Also, practitioners should increase their ethical duties and responsibilities to their members in society in good and bad times as members tend to value the ethical aspect of financial businesses. Social implications - The social implication of the findings is that helping members of society to cope with the difficulties brought about by COVID increased the sense of belonging among members and made them feel cared for, thereby increasing financial and social inclusion among underserved people. Originality/value - Prior literature addressed the initiatives of microlending institutions such as Grameen Bank to achieve financial inclusion among financially vulnerable women. This case study contributes to the literature on financial inclusion and poverty alleviation by examining Grameen America's response to the pandemic by identifying and assessing Grameen America (GA's) key initiatives and their impact within the framework of the UN's SD Goals in the post COVID-19 world.

14.
Agronomy-Basel ; 12(5):19, 2022.
Article in English | English Web of Science | ID: covidwho-1883968

ABSTRACT

To assess the effects of COVID-19 on Austrian farmers, a qualitative study design including computer-aided, qualitative content analysis was applied. Interviews with 34 Austrian farmers covering a broad spectrum of the sector were conducted to identify the impacts, obstacles, and opportunities during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that the diverse and heterogeneous impacts of COVID-19 on farms created significant challenges but also opportunities. Negative impacts included sales difficulties due to the closure of the hospitality industry and farmers markets, the ban on non-agricultural activities, the disrupted availability of workers and agricultural inputs, and the related additional workload. Mitigation of negative effects through political measures and interest groups showed limited effectiveness. Nevertheless, the functionality of the agricultural sector was maintained. During the initial phase of the pandemic, direct impacts on agricultural production were minimal and adjustments were adequate. There were also positive effects on parts of the agricultural sector, such as a boost in direct sales, increased demand in the food retail sector, and improved public perception of agriculture and farmers. Long-term changes in farms have been triggered and/or reinforced by the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly driven by digitization, investments in product and/or process innovations, and adjustments concerning marketing.

15.
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration ; 28(2):142-153, 2022.
Article in Korean | Scopus | ID: covidwho-1879646

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study aimed to explore nurses’ experience in caring for COVID-19 patients. Methods: A total of 10 nurses working in a COVID-19 ward of a public hospital in South Korea were recruited using purposeful sampling. Individual telephone interviews were conducted and then transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Two categories of nurses’ experience in caring for COVID-19 patients emerged;“unstable psychological status” and “adaptation and self-esteem”. “Shortage of staff due to the increase in infected people”, “poor environment due to the urgent construction of a COVID-19 ward”, “unstable operating system”, and “excessive demands and verbal abuse from patients” were “obstacles”, while “cooperation and consideration between colleagues” and “interest and support from the manager” were found to be “sources to boost morale” for nurses in caring for COVID-19 patients. Conclusion: This study can be fundamental data for a deeper understanding of the experiences and challenges faced by frontline nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. It is necessary to provide psychological support for nurses and establish a well-structured nursing care system in order to fight a pandemic such as COVID-19. © 2022 Korean Academy of Nursing Administration

16.
Eur J Psychotraumatol ; 13(1): 2065431, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1868213

ABSTRACT

Background: The complex system of stressors related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the global population, provoking a broad range of psychological reactions. Although numerous studies have investigated the mental health impact of COVID-19, qualitative research and cross-country comparisons are still rare. Objective: This qualitative study aimed to explore self-perceived challenges and opportunities related to COVID-19 across six European countries. The overall objective was to provide a differentiated picture of individual subjective experiences in the early stages of the pandemic. Method: The present study included 7309 participants from Austria, Croatia, Georgia, Greece, Poland, and Portugal. We performed qualitative content analysis according to Mayring analyse open-ended questions regarding stressful events, positive and negative aspects of the pandemic, and recommendations to cope with the pandemic situation. MAXQDA software was used for data management and analysis. Results: Participants' accounts were moderately consistent across the countries. The most prominent themes regarding stressful and negative pandemic aspects included: Restrictions and changes in daily life, Emotional distress, and Work and finances. Answers about positive pandemic consequences were mainly centred around the themes Reflection and growth, Opportunity for meaningful/enjoyable activities, and Benefits on interpersonal level. Key themes identified from participants' recommendations to cope with the pandemic included Beneficial behavioural adjustment, Beneficial cognitive-emotional strategies, and Social support. Conclusions: Participants experienced various challenges, but also shared several positive pandemic consequences and recommendations to cope with the pandemic. These first-hand data could inform mental health practices to promote well-being during COVID-19 and similar global challenges in the participating countries and possibly beyond. HIGHLIGHTS: We examined COVID-19-related experiences in 7309 adults from six European countries.Besides challenges, participants identified many positive pandemic consequences.Participants' recommendations to cope with COVID-19 included behavioural and cognitive-emotional strategies.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Pandemics , Adaptation, Psychological , Adult , COVID-19/epidemiology , Europe/epidemiology , Humans , Qualitative Research
17.
Political Economy of Communication ; 9(1):63-78, 2021.
Article in English | Scopus | ID: covidwho-1766842

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), first identified in 2019 and still raging at the time of writing in 2021, has impacted on every sphere of life in every country. This situation is almost unprecedented apart from the two World Wars of the 20th Century and has pervaded both the mainstream media (print, broadcast and online) and social media. This article surveys the media reporting and representation of various controversies in the first few months of the lockdown in South Africa, from 23 March to 17 August 2020. It is based on a content analysis of articles culled from two aggregated online news sites, News24.com (www.news24.com) and the South African Independent Online (IOL) (www.iol.co.za). After an initial survey of the material, three dominant themes were chosen on which to focus: the manner in which the security forces, made up of the South African Police (SAP) and sections of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), enforced the lockdown in its early phases;the ban placed on alcohol and tobacco products during the first three levels of the lockdown;and the highly controversial deployment of medical staff from Cuba who came to South Africa in order to aid South African medical personnel. These themes were purposely chosen for their dominance in the news coverage of COVID-19 related controversies. © 2021 The Author. All Rights Reserved.

18.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapist ; 15:16, 2022.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-1758069

ABSTRACT

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) videoconferencing has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for anxiety disorders and an equal alternative to face-to-face CBT. However, qualitative patient and therapist experiences of CBT videoconferencing have been less researched. Due to COVID-19, mental health services have shifted to remote therapy methods;thus, understanding patient and therapist experiences are crucial to better inform service policies and best practices. The current study focused on patient and therapist experiences of CBT videoconferencing at the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT). Researchers used qualitative content analysis to explore patients' (n = 54) and therapists' (n = 15) responses to an online survey. Results yielded four themes: behavioural experiments work well if the problem lends itself to videoconferencing, overall practicalities but some home environment implications, privacy and technical issues, high telepresence and the negative impact on the therapeutic alliance, and COVID-19 influences attitude positively. The findings have clinical implications for CBT videoconferencing, including a need for specific training in assessment and intervention for therapists using videoconferencing. Key learning aims Readers of this paper will be able to: Describe patient and therapist qualitative experiences of CBT videoconferencing. Identify areas to consider when delivering CBT videoconferencing in anxiety disorders. Understand therapist training needs for CBT videoconferencing in anxiety disorders. Inform own service protocols and best practices for the delivery of CBT videoconferencing. Key learning aims Readers of this paper will be able to: (1) Describe patient and therapist qualitative experiences of CBT videoconferencing. (2) Identify areas to consider when delivering CBT videoconferencing in anxiety disorders. (3) Understand therapist training needs for CBT videoconferencing in anxiety disorders. (4) Inform own service protocols and best practices for the delivery of CBT videoconferencing.

19.
Business and Society Review ; n/a(n/a), 2022.
Article in English | Wiley | ID: covidwho-1731096

ABSTRACT

The financial sector plays a fundamental role in Canadian society;credit unions, in particular, cater to a specific group of stakeholders not commonly served by traditional financial institutions. This research investigates the social responsiveness (CSR2) approaches implemented by credit unions during the pandemic, the type of actions implemented, the stakeholders assisted, and whether the size of credit unions may affect their responses. Data were collected from the 100 largest credit unions from nine Canadian provinces and assessed through qualitative content analysis. Results show that Canadian credit unions have implemented accommodative and proactive approaches when addressing COVID-19, through more operational than financial actions directed to their clients and employees, and that those with larger assets implement a greater number of actions compared to credit unions with smaller assets. More importantly, results show that traditional CSR2 approaches (e.g., RDAP) do not fit unexpected crises, so novel approaches are required to face future crises and remain resilient. While we aim to contribute to the body of literature by examining how credit unions have assisted their stakeholders during the pandemic, we also, and most importantly, seek to provide material for discussing and reflecting on how organizations are prepared to face crises that will likely arise in the future.

20.
Ageing & Society ; : 17, 2022.
Article in English | Web of Science | ID: covidwho-1721314

ABSTRACT

Research shows that older people tend to not only be underrepresented on television (TV), but also to be represented within a number of fixed types. These correspond to cultural myths about ageing, which emphasise vulnerability and decline but also increasingly stress the individual's responsibility for successful ageing. This paper analyses the representation of older people on Flemish public TV, using qualitative content analysis to identify patterns of representation in a sample of 44 programmes broadcast in 2019 and 2020, including the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. To complement our own analysis, we also interviewed eight experts on ageing. Our research shows that representations of older people on Flemish public TV tend to gravitate towards two types related to different age groups: vulnerable and passive old-old people (over 80 years old), particularly those in nursing homes who feature prominently in reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic;and dynamic and active young-old people (65-80 years old), connected to the ideals of successful ageing. The two predominant types correspond to cultural myths about ageing and are also connected to recurrent themes: sexual intimacy, loneliness and death. Our research highlights the need for a more diverse representation, reflecting the variety of individual life conditions and the functional age of older people.

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