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Drawing upon the stimuli-organism-response framework, we investigate the effects of the possible actions and self-location of virtual reality experiences on perceived enjoyment, affecting millennials' attitude changes and visit intentions. The results show a significant influence of possible actions on perceived enjoyment, leading to attitude change and visit intention, while self-location leads to perceived enjoyment and thus attitude change. Through two independent samples (i.e., pre- and post-COVID-19), we examine the moderating effects of a change in circumstances on structural relationships. Our findings suggest that self-location is critical to changing attitudes toward destinations during the pandemic. Thus, we demonstrate that VR plays a critical role in helping tourism destinations recover and building tourism resilience. This study extends current knowledge of spatial presence by examining the respective roles of self-location and possible actions in tourism destinations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)
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Since the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) swept the world, many countries face a problem that is a shortage of medical resources. The role of emergency medical facilities in response to the epidemic is beginning to arouse public attention, and the construction of the urban resilient emergency response framework has become the critical way to resist the epidemic. Today, China has controlled the domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases through multiple emergency medical facilities and inclusive patient admission criteria. Most of the existing literature focuses on case studies or characterizations of individual facilities. This paper constructs an evaluation system to measure urban hospital resilience from the spatial perspective and deciphered the layout patterns and regularities of emergency medical facilities in Wuhan, the city most affected by the epidemic in China. Findings indicate that the pattern of one center and two circles are a more compelling layout structure for urban emergency medical facilities in terms of accessibility and service coverage for residents. Meanwhile, the Fangcang shelter hospital has an extraordinary performance in terms of emergency response time, and it is a sustainable facility utilization approach in the post-epidemic era. This study bolsters areas of the research on the urban resilient emergency response framework. Moreover, the paper summarizes new medical facilities' planning and location characteristics and hopes to provide policy-makers and urban planners with valuable empirical evidence.
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Initiatives for marine conservation are funded by revenue from marine sites. However, the emergence of COVID-19 has restricted travelling, thus leading to decreased revenue and weakening conservation efforts. Virtual reality technology to support marine conservation efforts is explored as it allows users to experience marine sites, without having to be there physically. This study examines factors influencing users' desire to adopt virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. With the integration of Stimulus-Organism-Response framework and three behavioural theories (i.e. health belief model, attitude, and eTrust), a hypothetical model was constructed to investigate consumers' intention to adopt virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism amidst the pandemic. The data were analysed and interpreted using structural equation modelling after 451 survey responses were obtained via an online questionnaire. Outcome expectation, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, and cues to action exhibit significant positive effects on attitude towards virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. Consequently, attitude has a direct and indirect influence on use intention via eTrust. Post hoc analysis revealed that self-efficacy has a direct impact on eTrust and use intention. Total effect analysis further concluded that attitude has the greatest influence on use intention of virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. This research contributes to the existing literature by utilizing health belief factors to explain use intention of technology towards marine conservation efforts. Recommendations including policy formulation and marketing initiatives were generated for marine ecotourism operators and policymakers. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
ABSTRACT
Initiatives for marine conservation are funded by revenue from marine sites. However, the emergence of COVID-19 has restricted travelling, thus leading to decreased revenue and weakening conservation efforts. Virtual reality technology to support marine conservation efforts is explored as it allows users to experience marine sites, without having to be there physically. This study examines factors influencing users' desire to adopt virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. With the integration of Stimulus-Organism-Response framework and three behavioural theories (i.e. health belief model, attitude, and eTrust), a hypothetical model was constructed to investigate consumers’ intention to adopt virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism amidst the pandemic. The data were analysed and interpreted using structural equation modelling after 451 survey responses were obtained via an online questionnaire. Outcome expectation, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, and cues to action exhibit significant positive effects on attitude towards virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. Consequently, attitude has a direct and indirect influence on use intention via eTrust. Post hoc analysis revealed that self-efficacy has a direct impact on eTrust and use intention. Total effect analysis further concluded that attitude has the greatest influence on use intention of virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. This research contributes to the existing literature by utilizing health belief factors to explain use intention of technology towards marine conservation efforts. Recommendations including policy formulation and marketing initiatives were generated for marine ecotourism operators and policymakers.
ABSTRACT
The livelihood recovery strategy is utilized for peasants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This strategy serves a salient role to help them recover from the relevant hazardous impacts. Disaster risk has been a major concern among hazards for the increasing likelihood of exposure and vulnerability, especially in the process of poverty alleviation in China. However, few studies have discussed the factors and mechanisms that influence peasants to adopt livelihood recovery strategies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Based on a case study of Ningqiang County, China, this study explores the mechanisms that catalyze the proactive recovery of peasants from the COVID-19 pandemic from a livelihood perspective. Methodologically, the study proposes a framework that integrates the modified pressure-state-response (PSR) framework and the sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA), and it employs structure equation modeling (SEM) approach to examine how specific factors affect peasants to proactively adopt livelihood strategies to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The results indicate that the COVID-19 pressure significantly increases the risk perception of peasants and decreases their livelihood capital. Further, the decreased livelihood capital, the improvement of risk perception and supportive policy will promote peasants to adopt livelihood recovery strategies. Moreover, the results specify that risk perception and supportive policy mediate the relation between livelihood capital and recovery strategy. The findings will be beneficial for policymakers and researchers to understand the mechanisms that peasants adopt livelihood strategies to recover from disasters, and can serve as references for formulating disaster risk reduction and resilience policies.
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Background: Hospital preparedness planning for natural and man-made disasters has become the pressing necessity of hospitals being the principal habitat of disaster victims. One of the most critical areas of consideration is hospital preparedness for epidemic and pandemic events. Objectives: To assess concerns, perceived impacts and preparedness of health care workers for epidemic and pandemic events in Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals, Jazan. 2021. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1st, to August 31st, 2021 in three Ministry of Health hospitals in Jazan city. All health care workers (HCWs) working at the three hospitals were eligible to participate if they were direct clinical care providers. A valid questionnaire consisting of five parts was used;including demographic data, work-related concerns of health care workers, non-work related concerns of health care workers, perceived impact of health care workers on personal life and work and preparedness of health care workers for epidemic and pandemic events. Results: The study included 307 healthcare workers. The age of 39.7% of them ranged between 31 and 40 years. Almost two-thirds (62.2%) were males. The total score of work-related concern of COVID-19 among the participants ranged between 7 and 28, out of a possible maximum of 35, with a median (IQR) of 18 (15-22). HCWs in the age group 31-40 years, master holders, and doctors expressed the highest concerns score. The total score of non-work-related concern of COVID-19 ranged between 7 and 35, out of a possible maximum of 35, with a median ("interquartile range "IQR") of 28 (22-28). HCWs who hold a master degree and doctors expressed the highest concerns. The total score of perceived impact on personal life and work health professionals ranged between 6 and 44, out of a possible maximum of 50, with a median (IQR) of 25 (21-30). HCWs in the age group 31-40, and Master holders had the highest score. The total score of preparedness for Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ranged between 15 and 75, out of a possible maximum of 75, with a median (IQR) of 56 (48-61). The highest score was observed among HCWs aged over 50 years. Conclusion: Some work-related and non-work-related concerns of HCWs in Jazan regarding COVID-19 pandemic have been identified. Also, perceived impact of the pandemic on HCWs' work and professional life has been documented. Their preparedness as well as that of the health care system to the COVID-19 pandemic was satisfactory in most aspects.
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This paper addresses the issue of fruit and vegetable purchases in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is motivated by the importance of fruit and vegetables for human nutrition, health and reduction of population obesity, especially in the UK where per capita consumption is still below recommended levels. A rich panel dataset was used reporting actual shopping places and quarterly expenditure for at-home consumption of fruit and vegetable purchases of 12,492 households in years 2019 and 2020. The unique dataset allowed us to compare expenditure for fruit and vegetables before and after the COVID-19 outbreak and to identify the main drivers of changes in purchases. Regression analysis found that expenditure increased ~3% less than what expected given the overall increase in the numbers of at-home meals during lockdown. Also, Online shopping was found to be an alternative source for fruit and vegetables purchase during the pandemic. However, the expenditure for processed products grew more than the one for fresh products, resulting in a reduction of the relative share of the latter and possible deterioration of the diet quality.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governments have implemented lockdown restrictions for maintaining social distancing. With more people getting stuck at home, the pandemic has forced consumers to modify their behaviors from dining in or shopping at a grocery store to online and digital platforms. There has been increasing demand for online ordering services during the COVID-19 throughout the world. As threats of instability in the consumer market began to circulate, this research investigated this activity in order to capture human behavior in this unfamiliar situation. Stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework is proposed as a structural model connecting the perceived severity of COVID-19 (environmental stimuli) to behavioral response' intention to use online food delivery service. This research collected data from 323 respondents via an online survey and carried out analysis using PLS-SEM. This study indicates that the perceived severity of COVID-19 has a significant influence on cyberchondria and intention to self-isolate. Furthermore, intention to self-isolate and perceived usefulness have a strong link to consumer behavioral intention. On the other hand, this research found that the impacts of cyberchondria and fear of missing out on consumer behavioral intention are not significant. Copyright © 2021 by Naudé Scribante. Permission granted to IAMOT to publish and use.
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Shopping through Live-Streaming Shopping Apps (LSSAs) as an emerging consumption phenomenon has increased dramatically in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown period. However, insufficient studies have focused on the psychological processes undergone in different customer demographics while shopping via LSSAs under pandemic conditions. This study integrated the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 with Flow Theory into a Stimulus-Organism-Response framework to investigate the psychological processes of different customer demographics during the COVID-19 lockdown period. A total of 374 validated data were analyzed by covariance-based structural equation modelling. The statistical results demonstrated by the proposed model showed a significant discrepancy between different gender groups, in which Flow, as a mediator, representing users' engagement and immersion in shopping via LSSAs, was significantly moderated by gender where connection between stimulus components, hedonic motivation, trust and social influence and response component perceived value are concerned. This study contributed a theoretical development and a practical framework to the explanation of the mental processes of different customer demographics when using an innovative e-commerce technology. Furthermore, the results can support the relevant stakeholders in e-commerce in their comprehensive understanding of customers' behavior, allowing better strategical and managerial development.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Intention , Communicable Disease Control , Humans , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
With the outbreak of COVID-19, online sharing of rumors about the disease is of growing concern worldwide. Drawing on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework, this study aims to explore the impacts of peer condition and peer communication on fear of COVID-19, and the impact of fear of COVID-19 on online rumor sharing behavior, by considering the contingency effect of health self-efficacy. Data from 1167 respondents to an online survey in China were adopted to test our research model. The results indicate that peer communication and peer condition induce fear of COVID-19, and fear of COVID-19 results in online rumor sharing. Fear of COVID-19 mediates the effects of peer communication and peer condition on online rumor sharing. Health self-efficacy alleviates the positive effect of peer communication on fear of COVID-19, and the positive effect of fear of COVID-19 on online rumor sharing. This study advances the literature on online rumor sharing and S-O-R, and provides practical implications to social media users and governments.
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With any new disease a framework for the development of preventative or treatment therapeutics is key; the absence of such in COVID-19 has enabled ineffective and potentially unsafe treatments to be taken up by governments and clinicians desperate to have options for patients. As we still have few therapies and nil vaccines yet available, the void of a clear framework for research and practice is increasingly clear. We describe a framework that has been used to prioritise therapeutic research in previous pandemics which could be used to progress clinical pharmacology and therapeutics research in COVID-19. This is particularly relevant as discussion has already moved on from antiviral therapeutics to delineating the treatment of the host from treatment and elimination of the infective agent. Focussing on the host brings together three concepts: host treatment, the damage response framework and therapeutic repurposing. The integration of these three areas plays to the traditional strength of pharmaceuticals in providing a period of stabilization to permit time for the development of novel antiviral drugs and vaccines. In integrating approaches to repurposing, host treatment and damage response we identified three key properties that a potentially effective repurposed drug must possess by way of a framework. There must be homology, i.e., the same or similar relation with the pathogenesis of the disease, ideally targeted to the conserved pathophysiological outcomes of the viral attack; there must be a defined locus within the spectrum to prevention to severe disease and the framework must draw upon the historical dose and safety experience of the repurposed drug. To illustrate, we have mapped therapeutics that impact upon a key dysregulated pathway in COVID-19 - the renin angiotensin system - using this approach. Collectively this type of analysis reveals the importance of existing data (repurposed information and administrative observational data) and the importance of the details of the known pathophysiological response to viruses in approaches to treating the host.