RESUMEN
Misinformation, conspiracy theories, and negative comments on social networks affect the availability of accurate health information and attitudes toward vaccination. The aim of this paper is to explore the opinions and attitudes of the public, i.e. misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccination and the vaccine against the disease caused by the COVID-19 virus on Internet portals and the social network Facebook. From November 9, 2020 to January 30, 2021, a total of 4,576 comments were analyzed, i.e. 113 posts in the topic of vaccination and vaccines categorized according to sentiment (positive, neutral, irrelevant, and negative). Among the negative comments (20,60 %), 13 main thematic categories were identified. The most represented were in the category of conspiracy theories (35,84 %) and the category of expression of distrust in the composition, effectiveness, safety, and side effects of vaccines (19,93 %), while the percentage of misinformation was 20,90 %. The results highlight the necessity of designing a timely plan and strategy of health campaigns and content for online educational materials and platforms, as well as the initiation of nationwide health education programs.
RESUMEN
Misinformation, conspiracy theories, and negative comments on social networks affect the availability of accurate health information and attitudes toward vaccination. The aim of this paper is to explore the opinions and attitudes of the public, i.e. misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccination and the vaccine against the disease caused by the COVID-19 virus on Internet portals and the social network Facebook. From November 9, 2020 to January 30, 2021, a total of 4,576 comments were analyzed, i.e. 113 posts in the topic of vaccination and vaccines categorized according to sentiment (positive, neutral, irrelevant, and negative). Among the negative comments (20,60 %), 13 main thematic categories were identified. The most represented were in the category of conspiracy theories (35,84 %) and the category of expression of distrust in the composition, effectiveness, safety, and side effects of vaccines (19,93 %), while the percentage of misinformation was 20,90 %. The results highlight the necessity of designing a timely plan and strategy of health campaigns and content for online educational materials and platforms, as well as the initiation of nationwide health education programs. © 2022, University of Zagreb, Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering. All rights reserved.
RESUMEN
Purpose. The aim of this research is to examine the undergraduate students' perception and experiences, i.e. to determine their attitudes, opinions and experience in terms of different aspects of digital education and online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Approach/methodology/design. In March and May 2022 three focus groups were held with information (and communication) sciences undergraduate students at three Croatian universities (N=18). After transcribing the audio recordings, a content analysis was performed. Findings. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digital transformation of higher education system substantially. The disruptive changes and ad hoc implementation of online teaching and distance learning had a significant impact on students. The results have shown that the participants adapted to the new setting of studying quite quickly and successfully. The classes were mostly successfully organized, and almost all participants had access to digital education materials. Despite the advantages of digital education and online teaching, the participants eventually felt less motivated, experienced lack of concentration, experienced stress and worry due to the increased work overload and situation in general. The most common challenges refer to the process of examination and evaluation, technical issues, issues with time and space organization, lack of personal contact and insufficient institutional support system. In order to improve digital education ecosystem and online teaching process in future crisis situations, the participants suggest video recording the lectures, providing students with lower socioeconomic status with suitable hardware and software, having more asynchronous activities, having less group activities, and improving organisation at the institution when choosing digital tools for work, studying and communication. Originality/value. This study provides a deeper insight into the policies and practices of digital education during COVID-19 pandemic from the students' point of view thus reinforcing their active role in the higher education system and in the process of education policy creation. Furthermore, besides the issue of digital technology and digital skills and competencies, this study is focused on other aspects of digital education, like organization of the teaching process, providing access to digital educational materials, providing support systems, etc. The results could be used by policy creators, decision makers and internal and external stakeholders of higher education institutions for the purpose of ensuring sustainability and quality of the digital education ecosystem in Croatia, in general and in possible future crisis situations. © 2022, Hrvatsko Knjiznicarsko Drustvo. All rights reserved.