Media Channels Research Articles

Sleep Quality Among a Sample of Medical Students and the Association with Academic Performance: An Updated Data

Sleep is influenced by various factors, including social, economic, genetic, and medical factors, and work and study schedules. Medical students are highly susceptible to sleep-related problems. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the sleep patterns and quality of medical students and determine their correlation with academic achievement. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the King Abdulaziz University between November 2022 and April 2023. The participants completed an online questionnaire distributed to all medical students via social media channels. The questionnaire included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep quality and Epworth Sleepiness Scale to measure excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Academic performance was self-reported by students based on their grade point average. Of the 274 participants, 54.0% were males with a mean age of 22.81 years. Only 21.5% of students reported normal sleep quality during the previous month, with almost 78.5% reporting poor sleep quality and 40.9% experiencing EDS. Notably, no associations were observed between the sleep quality and sleep–wake patterns and academic performance of the students (p = 0.324 and 0.784, respectively). These findings highlight the substantial prevalence of poor sleep quality and EDS among Saudi medical students, consistent with global trends. Unexpectedly, no significant correlation was observed between sleep quality and student academic performance. These findings suggest that the demanding nature of medical education significantly impacts the sleep patterns and overall well-being of students.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Personal and Work-related Burnout among Primary Health Care Physicians in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Physician burnout is a growing concern worldwide, including in Arab nations. Physicians working in primary health care settings are increasingly experiencing it. The study aimed to assess the status and determinants of burnout among primary health care physicians in the Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a Google Form questionnaire, based on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. The questionnaire was distributed among primary health care physicians through the Ministry of Health’s email and social media channels. The responses were collected using a five-point Likert scale, and the overall mean scores for personal and work-related burnout were calculated. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0 and OpenEpi Version 3.01. Results: A total of 92 primary health care physicians responded to the survey. The overall mean scores for personal and work-related burnout were 38.99 and 41.41, respectively. The most common response category for both types of burnout was “Sometimes” or “Somewhat”. Physicians experienced personal burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion (92.4%), feelings of being worn out (88%), tiredness (79.3%), and a sense of weakness and vulnerability to illness (69.6%). Similarly, they reported work-related burnout, manifested by feeling worn out after work (91.3%), feeling exhausted before work (83.7%), feeling burnt out by their work (82.6%), and feeling frustrated by their work (82.6%). Both personal and work-related burnout showed significant associations (p < 0.05) with age group, gender, years of experience, marital status, and professional category. Moreover, nationality, hours of work per week, and duty schedule were significantly associated with work-related burnout (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Physician burnout, both personal and work-related, is prevalent in primary healthcare settings in the Tabuk Region. It is significantly associated with various demographic and professional characteristics. Healthcare administrators and policymakers should develop and implement effective strategies to mitigate burnout and its detrimental effects on healthcare providers and the quality of care.

Feedback, difference, and remediation: post-war Taiwanese covers of Shanghai shidaiqu

ABSTRACT Shidaiqu, a popular music genre prominent in 1920s to 1940s Shanghai, exerted significant influence on Taiwan’s music scene during the 1950s and 1960s. Disseminated through various media channels, shidaiqu inspired Taiwanese artists, leading to a proliferation of commercially recorded covers. However, scholarly analyses often depict this influence as unidirectional, portraying Taiwan as a passive recipient. This article argues that the circulation of shidaiqu in post-war Taiwan transcended mere revival and instead functioned as generative renewal. By examining Taiwanese cover records and drawing upon David Novak’s concepts of ‘feedback’ and ‘remediation,’ as well as Gilles Deleuze’s philosophy of ‘difference,’ this article delves into the creative adaptations and reinterpretations of shidaiqu within the Taiwanese context. These adaptations were shaped by a complex ‘assemblage,’ as Deleuze would argue, including the artists’ individual aesthetics and the broader socio-cultural milieu. Changes in pronunciation were influenced by national language policies, and the incorporation of American popular music elements reflected the pro-American atmosphere in Taiwanese society during the Cold War. These adaptations infused shidaiqu with new layers of significance. One outcome was a collage-like ‘alternative modernity,’ achieved through fusion with American cultural influences. Additionally, the adaptation into the Hokkien language contributed to shaping a sense of place-basedness.

The Impact of Social Media Influencers on Consumer Behaviour: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges

Social media influencers (SMIs) have become key players in digital marketing, significantly influencing consumer behaviour. By fostering personal connections and trust, influencers shape consumer preferences, drive purchasing decisions, and enhance brand engagement. The rise of micro- and nano-influencers has led brands to prioritise authentic, niche-focused marketing, while platforms like Instagram and TikTok have amplified engagement through video content. However, challenges remain, particularly in measuring the return on investment (ROI) and maintaining authenticity in influencer-brand relationships. Engagement metrics used by social media channels such as likes and comments do not always translate into direct sales, complicating ROI evaluation. Additionally, transparency concerns, including the need for influencers to disclose sponsored content, may impact consumer trust. This study examines these trends and challenges, concluding that effective influencer marketing requires careful selection of influencers, transparent collaborations, and improved metrics to assess success. Future research should explore long-term effects on brand loyalty and refine tools for measuring campaign effectiveness. Keywords: Consumer behaviour, influencer, social media, marketing

Exploring Web-Based Support for Suicidal Ideation in the Scottish Population: Usability Study.

Suicide is a global health concern. In the United Kingdom, Scotland has the highest suicide rate. Lived experience and suicide prevention stakeholders in Scotland have identified a key gap in suicide prevention activities: the lack of 24-hour peer-driven web-based support for people who are suicidal. This usability study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, utility, and reach of a suicide prevention website (Surviving Suicidal Thoughts) specifically designed to support residents in Scotland who are experiencing suicidal thoughts themselves or suspect or know someone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. Intended support was delivered through the provision of personal testimony videos of individuals with lived experience. A peer-driven website was developed specifically to support residents of Scotland experiencing suicidal thoughts. The website included resources (eg, videos from lived experience and written guidance about how to respond to someone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts) to help reduce distress, normalize experiences, and challenge distressing thoughts. The website was promoted via leading web-based social media channels and Google Ads. Evaluation of the website was based on website engagement, marketing strategy, and direct web user feedback via a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected for 41 weeks (June 2022 to February 2023) spanning the launch of the website and the conclusion of the second marketing campaign. On average, the website received 99.9 visitors per day. A total of 56% (n=14,439) of visitors were female, ages ranged from younger than 18 years to older than 70 years (commonly between 25 and 34 years) and originated from all regions of Scotland. According to Google Search terms of Scottish residents, of the individuals indicated to be experiencing suicidal thoughts but not looking for help, 5.3% (n=920) engaged with the website compared to 10.5% (n=2898) who were indicated to be looking for help for themselves. Based on participant responses to the evaluation survey (n=101), the website was associated with a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts (P=.03). Reasons for visiting the website varied. Marketing data implied that people were more likely to engage with advertisements, which they felt were more personal, and visitors to the website were more likely to engage with videos, which corresponded to their age. A peer-led website may help residents of Scotland who are experiencing suicidal thoughts. Web-based interventions may have considerable reach in Scotland both in terms of age and geographic area. Engagement with the website was similar to other self-help websites for suicidal ideation; however, more nuanced methods of analyzing website engagement for help-seeking behavior are recommended. Future work would benefit from exploring the effectiveness of this website based on a larger participant sample with website modifications guided by the principles of social learning theory.

A study of psychological violence in intimate partner relationships among university students: a mixed-methods research

The aim of this study is to examine university students’ attitudes and experiences regarding psychological violence in intimate partner relationships in the context of attachment styles, gender roles, and parasocial interactions. In this study, a mixed-methods research design, specifically the explanatory sequential design, was employed. In the quantitative phase, the attitudes of 508 university student participants towards dating violence were examined with structural equation modeling in terms of attachment styles, parasocial interaction levels and gender roles perceptions. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 university students who had experienced psychological violence in their romantic relationships, and the interviews were analyzed with the interpretive phenomenological analysis method. According to the conducted structural equation model, anxious attachment and avoidant attachment predict attitudes towards female psychological dating violence, while anxious attachment predicts attitudes towards male psychological dating violence. In the qualitative phase, the analysis revealed four main themes concerning perceptions of attachment styles: self, attitudes in relationships, evaluation tendencies in relationships, and relationship maintenance styles. Regarding perceptions of gender roles, two main themes emerged: gender equality and relationship roles. Media interactions yielded three main themes: interaction engagement, social learning effects, and the role of media within relationships. Lastly, perceptions of romantic relationship experiences were organized into four main themes: relationship encounters, relationship expectations, relationship issues, and dating violence. The findings suggest that people’s attachment styles, gender roles and interactions with different media channels are effective in their attitudes and experiences towards psychological violence in dating. The results emphasize that personal and social patterns are important in attitudes towards dating violence and that further studies on this subject should be increased.

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНИЙ ШУМ ТА МАРКЕТИНГОВІ ІНСТРУМЕНТИ ДЛЯ ЙОГО ПОДОЛАННЯ

Introduction. In the modern conditions of the formation of the digital economy and the intensive growth of the volume of information to be processed by analysts, fundamentally new requirements are being formed for consumers and businesses. At the same time, data processing tools do not always provide adequate analytical information regarding changes occurring both in the global and local markets. The reason for this is information noise, which is an excessive flow of data that complicates the perception of important messages and affects the effectiveness of marketing strategies. All this requires the formation of a systematic approach to managing information flows and optimizing communications between the enterprise and the target audience. The purpose of the article. The purpose of the study is to analyze information noise as a barrier to the effective perception of marketing communications, as well as to identify tools and strategies that allow minimizing its impact on consumers and increasing the effectiveness of marketing activities. Methods. The research is based on the use of an interdisciplinary approach, which includes content analysis, abstract modeling methods for studying consumer perception of information, as well as empirical methods for studying the effectiveness of modern marketing technologies, based on the analysis of approaches to managing specialized marketing tools for interacting with consumers. Results. The article considers the conceptual aspects of information noise and its functional impact on consumer behavior. The effectiveness of using various marketing tools based on the automation of business processes, the use of communication platforms and data for analyzing consumer behavior is analyzed, which results in increasing the efficiency of communications and reducing noise effects. Key strategies for combating information noise are identified, which contribute to strengthening the communication interaction of the enterprise in the context of dynamic changes in market conditions. The need for implementing innovative approaches to developing advertising campaigns that take into account the specifics of modern media channels and consumer behavioral models is proven. Conclusions. It has been proven that minimizing information noise is an important factor in ensuring the long-term effectiveness of a company's marketing communications. It has been determined that the use of modern data analysis tools, process automation, and an individual approach to the consumer allows a company to increase the level of trust and loyalty from customers, which results in an increase in sales and profitability of the business entity.

What do citizens think of central bank digital currencies in the euro context? A Twitter sentiment analysis

PurposeThis paper delves into the discourse surrounding central bank digital currencies (CBDC) from the perspective of citizens’ views expressed on Twitter, on the potential implementation of a digital euro. The paper sheds light on citizens’ sentiments regarding CBDCs in relation to the euro and the euro area.Design/methodology/approachUsing “TextBlob” sentiment analysis, this paper analyzes 4,462 Tweets containing the keywords “cbdc” and “euro” posted between September 14, 2018, and June 19, 2023. It explores citizens’ perceptions and concerns, as well as the general sentiment conveyed by the Tweets, through sentiment analysis and word-cloud generation. Text analysis and the “KMeans algorithm” are used to identify similar groups of Tweets. Statistical analysis of Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) keyword values in each cluster provides information about the relative distribution of words within clusters. In a further step, sentiment analysis is performed on each cluster by rating it positively, neutrally or negatively to identify the relevant dominant themes.FindingsThis paper reveals the evolving nature of CBDC-related discourse on Twitter over a four-year period, demonstrating a slight overall trend of positive sentiments. The distribution includes Tweets with a pronounced negative and positive sentiment, highlighting the need for clear and citizen-friendly communication through social media channels (such as Twitter or LinkedIn) in addition to the traditional channels used by official institutions.Research limitations/implicationsThe extraction of Tweets was limited to English; bilingual Tweets containing English words were also considered. Future research could be expanded to include Tweets in additional languages and compare them to English Tweets. Geographical data on the origin of the Tweets were not considered due to potential inaccuracies resulting from the use of VPNs.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight citizens’ views, expectations and perceptions on the digital euro as a type of CBDC, suggesting ways in which the European Central Bank (ECB) can ensure customer satisfaction with its successful implementation.Originality/valueThe originality of the article revolves around the focus on the digital euro and on analyzing European citizens’ opinions regarding its implementation. In contrast to previous literature, this research discusses critically the pros and cons and possible design aspects of the new digital euro, by taking a citizen-centric approach and focusing solely on one type of currency. Technological advances and the digital era have left their mark on how society communicates and behaves. The implementation of CBDCs will affect the digital society. Therefore, the paper sparks a debate about European citizens’ sentiments toward adopting the digital euro, as a new digital currency, which will impact their lifestyle and financial decisions.

How French alternative media channels on YouTube portray the government and mainstream media on YouTube

In an increasingly fragmented media landscape, YouTube has become a pivotal platform for alternative media channels that challenge mainstream media and governmental narratives. This study investigates how French alternative media channels on YouTube shape their identities and discourse regarding the government. The study analyzes content from these channels to understand their impact on the media ecosystem. Using word embedding and correspondence analysis, the study reveals a strong antagonistic stance toward mainstream media and government. Findings show that alternative media channels function as new gatekeepers, using decentralized mechanisms to disseminate information, thus redefining traditional gatekeeping roles. They simultaneously provide factual content and amplify skeptical narratives, contributing to public mistrust in journalism and governmental institutions. The implications are discussed along the evolving role of alternative media in shaping public perceptions and the need for ongoing research to capture these complex interactions in an ever-changing media landscape.

Unveiling Sociocultural Barriers to Breast Cancer Awareness Among the South Asian Population: Case Study of Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.

Bangladesh and West Bengal, India, are 2 densely populated South Asian neighboring regions with many socioeconomic and cultural similarities. In dealing with breast cancer (BC)-related issues, statistics show that people from these regions are having similar problems and fates. According to the Global Cancer Statistics 2020 and 2012 reports, for BC (particularly female BC), the age-standardized incidence rate is approximately 22 to 25 per 100,000 people, and the age-standardized mortality rate is approximately 11 to 13 per 100,000 for these areas. In Bangladesh, approximately 90% of patients are at stages III or IV, compared with 60% in India. For the broader South Asian population, this figure is 16%, while it is 11% in the United States and the United Kingdom.These statistics highlight the need for an urgent investigation into the reasons behind these regions' late diagnoses and treatment. Early detection is essential for managing BC and reducing its impact on individuals. However, raising awareness in diverse societies is challenging due to differing cultural norms and socioeconomic conditions. We aimed to interview residents to identify barriers to BC awareness in specific regions. We conducted semistructured interviews with 17 participants from West Bengal and Bangladesh through Zoom (Zoom Video Communications). These were later transcribed and translated into English for qualitative data analysis. All our participants were older than 18 years, primarily identified as female, and most were married. We have identified 20 significant barriers to effective BC care across 5 levels-individual, family, local society, health care system, and country or region. Key obstacles include neglect of early symptoms, reluctance to communicate, societal stigma, financial fears, uncertainty about treatment costs, inadequate mental health support, and lack of comprehensive health insurance. To address these issues, we recommend context-specific solutions such as integrating BC education into middle and high-school curricula, providing updates through media channels like talk shows and podcasts, promoting family health budgeting, enhancing communication at cultural events and religious gatherings, offering installment payment plans from health care providers, encouraging regular self-examination, and organizing statewide awareness campaigns. In addition, social media can be a powerful tool for raising mass awareness while respecting cultural and socioeconomic norms. Fighting BC or any fatal disease is challenging and requires support from various dimensions. However, studies showthat raising mass awareness is crucial for theearly detection of BC. By adopting a sensitive and well-informed approach, we aim to improve the early detection of BC and help reduce its impact on South Asian communities.

Sentiment analysis of social media data: Business insights and consumer behavior trends in the USA

The digital age has reformed how organizations in the USA reach out to their consumers and has opened up more avenues for understanding consumer sentiment and behavior. This research explored consumer sentiment and behavior trends through social media data with particular emphasis on platforms popular in the USA. By analyzing various social media channels, the study aimed to determine leading trends that drive consumer perception and behavior in real-time. The present research focused on the main social media platforms used in the USA: X-Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Sentiment analysis data was gathered using the usage of different social media platforms for their unique features and APIs. X-Twitter, being the most useful social media platform for real-time microblogging, provided a very strong API for the analyst to access the tweets, user profiles, and engagement metrics, which is very good for gathering public sentiment and trending topics. With the high volume of users, Facebook exposed the Graph API, which allowed fetching user interactions, comments, and reactions on public posts, giving insight into consumer opinions and brand perception. Also, Instagram's API enabled the collection of visual content along with captions and engagement data, enriching the analysis with multimodal sentiment insights. Three machine learning models were used, most notably, logistic regression, random forest classifier, and XG-Boost. Strategic metrics were used to evaluate the performance of the model: accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score. With a perfect score for the two algorithms, XG-Boost and Logistic Regression were perfectly able to classify on all metrics, while Random Forest Classifier had high scores close to the other two models, though a little lower in some metrics than the other two. The results of sentiment analysis will provide actionable insights for businesses that want to improve their positioning in the market. By interpreting the data on sentiment, companies in the USA can identify strengths and weaknesses in their offerings and make targeted improvements. Sentiment analysis has proved a crucial tool for US businesses in further improving marketing and customer engagement. Sentiment analysis will help companies in the USA create a meaningful understanding of the perceptions of the general public about its products and services.

Analysis of Pinduoduo's Advertising Strategy from the Perspective of Communication Channels

This paper analyzes Pinduoduos comprehensive advertising strategy, which integrates both digital and traditional media channels to optimize reach, engagement, and brand awareness across diverse consumer segments. Pinduoduo effectively leverages digital platforms, particularly social media, through innovative strategies such as group purchasing, gamification, influencer marketing, and data-driven targeting. These personalized and interactive approaches foster strong user engagement and drive organic growth. Simultaneously, traditional advertising channelstelevision, print, and outdoor advertisingremain central to Pinduoduos strategy, especially in reaching consumers in lower-tier cities and rural areas. The paper further explores how Pinduoduo adheres to the principles of integrated marketing communication (IMC) by delivering consistent messaging across diverse channels, enhancing brand credibility and consumer trust. By combining the precision of digital marketing with the broad reach of traditional media, Pinduoduo has positioned itself as a leading e-commerce platform, capable of appealing to a wide-ranging audience while maintaining a cohesive brand identity in an increasingly competitive market.

Physical activities, sedentary behavior, sleep quality, and quality of life among female medical versus nonmedical college students: A cross-sectional study

Despite the numerous health benefits of physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and physical inactivity remain major public health concerns. A lack of PA increases the chance of developing some noncommunicable diseases that are on the rise worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the level of PA, SB, sleep quality (SQ), and quality of life (QOL) among Saudi female college students. A cross-sectional study was carried out among female students enrolled in various colleges, both medical and nonmedical, at King Saud University in Riyadh during the academic year 2018 to 2019. Participation posters were sent to colleges’ departments, and survey links were shared through university social media channels. The study utilized the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to evaluate PA and SQ and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument to evaluate QOL. In order to conduct statistical analyses, frequency counts, means, and standard deviations were calculated for PA, SQ, and QOL scores. In this study, 131 Saudi female college students were conveniently recruited from 223 who met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 20.4 ± 1.4. Most participants were from medical colleges (n = 86, 6, 5.6%) and the minority were nonmedical (n = 45, 34.4%). We have found that International Physical Activity Questionnaire indicated that most students had low PA (52% of the participants), about 35% had a moderate PA, and only 17% had high PA. SB was present among 22.9% of participants. Nearly 68.7% of the students scored poorly on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index for SQ. The students had high QOL, with a mean WHOQOL-BREF total score of 90.76 ± 12.77. Medical and nonmedical students showed no significant differences in PA, SB, or QOL. No apparent relationship was found between PA and SQ or QOL. This study shows that a significant proportion of female college students maintain an unfavorable lifestyle characterized by insufficient PA and subpar SQ. Implementing programs that encourage students to be more physically active, reduce sedentary time, and integrate sleep education programs to improve their sleep habits are necessary.

Analisis Isi Konten Media Sosial Instagram Pemerintah Indonesia di Tingkat Kementerian dan Lembaga

Government institutions need social media channels as a public communication tool to disseminate policies, programs and public information. The government needs to use social media channels to reach a wider community amidst the low level of public trust in government communications and information channels. The aim of the research is to analyze the substance of the content, namely the type and nature of the content, what the audience needs and what the content message needs to communicate to the audience. This research also seeks the content structure related to how content is prioritized, arranged, formatted and displayed in the media. The objects analyzed are Instagram social media in 100 ministries and agencies. This research uses a descriptive quantitative approach that focuses on analyzing the use of Instagram social media by ministries and government agencies in Indonesia. This method aims to provide a comprehensive picture of government digital activities and to analyze the effectiveness of the substance and structure of the content implemented. Instagram was chosen as the main focus because it is the social media platform most widely used by ministries/agencies. The research results show that each agency has various needs with different strategies for using Instagram social media. The ministry has optimized Instagram social media more than the government agencies. Interestingly, the agency produces more content than the ministry, but it is still not optimal. Meanwhile, on average, ministerial agencies still prioritize personal figures and institutional agencies prioritize public information, although they also still predominantly prioritize leadership elements. The results of this research suggest that the government, especially the Ministry of Communication and Informatics, can create standards in managing social media, especially in producing the structure and substance of content so that it can more optimally convey information and interact with the audience.

Three-dimensional mesoscopic numerical simulation of the rising behavior of bubbles with large density ratio in porous media channels

Three-dimensional mesoscopic numerical simulation of the rising behavior of bubbles with large density ratio in porous media channels

Health literacy and online pharmacy adoption by Saudi population using UTAUT

The field of online pharmacies is expanding rapidly and has become a crucial component in delivering pharmaceutical services across Saudi Arabia. This study aims to explore the factors influencing the adoption of online pharmacies by the Saudi population, utilizing an enhanced version of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) framework. This study employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing an online questionnaire that was pre-validated and shared via social media channels between August 2024 and October 2024. The study focused on Arabic-speaking individuals aged >18 years. The gathered data were examined through structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS software (v.22.0). The study found that the UTAUT model demonstrates strong applicability in explaining the adoption of online pharmacies, accounting for 62.4% (R² = 0.624) of the variance in behavioral intention. Among the key factors, effort expectancy (p < 0.001) emerges as the most influential predictor of behavioral intention, followed by facilitating conditions (p < 0.001) and health literacy (p < 0.001). However, the analysis reveals that perceived risk (p > 0.05) and personal innovativeness (p > 0.05) do not have a statistically significant impact on behavioral intention. The study results would help formulate more effective strategies for establishing online pharmacy operations in developing nations like Saudi Arabia. This study contributes to enhancing the traditional UTAUT model through the integration of additional factors such as health literacy, personal innovativeness, perceived risk, and perceived trust. These variables introduce new dimensions to the existing literature on online pharmacies.

Dismiss, distort, distract, dismay

A territorial entity within the former USSR, currently a ‘buffer’ zone in Eastern Europe between Russia and the West, the Republic of Moldova is facing pressure from the Russian Federation whose purpose is to strengthen its (geopolitical) position in the Eurasian region. Due to this complicated legacy, the citizens of the Republic of Moldova are divided between pro-Russian and pro-European feelings, a division that creates a fertile ground for propaganda through which Russia and its supporters can easily ‘dismiss, distort, distract, and dismay’ part of the electorate, in an attempt to weaponize information in a ‘hybrid war’. Relations between Russia and Moldova have deteriorated further after the election by Moldovans of a pro-European government, as well as after Russia’s war in Ukraine, which instilled worries and fears in the Moldovan civil society. Building on this information, the purpose of this study is, on the one hand, to analyse how the pro-Russian Moldovan political parties and media outlets spread pro-Kremlin propaganda via media channels generally, and social media in particular, to support Russia in exerting its influence in the region, and, on the other hand, to see how the civil society–with the support of the pro-European Moldovan government–reacts to and fights against this disinformation campaign. To do so, by focusing on more recent events, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we shall carry out a qualitative analysis (content analysis and discourse analysis) of discourses, news, and posts shared on social media platforms in Moldova by pro-Russian political parties and media outlets with a view to identifying the key themes (narratives) of the pro-Kremlin propaganda in Moldova, and the discursive strategies used to reject negative comments (dismiss), to twist information to serve their interests (distort), to turn Moldovans’ attention to other aspects (distract), and to strongly discourage any attempts to work against Russia and its interests (dismay). Furthermore, we shall also look at the measures taken by Moldovan authorities and NGOs to combat disinformation and protect the civil society from pro-Russian propaganda.

Integration of Educational Content in Social Media Platforms: Content Creators’ Experiences

Introduction: This study addresses the problem of understanding educational content creators' lived experiences and challenges in developing impactful social media content. Methods: The study employed a qualitative phenomenological research design involving 10 content creators. The inclusion criteria specified that participants must be educators who were content creators actively producing educational materials for social media platforms, with a minimum of one (1) year of experience in content creation and social media channels with 300,000 or more subscribers. It used the thematic analysis steps. Results: Through a phenomenological approach, the research identified several themes, including (1) designing user-centered content, (2) balancing educational values and engagement, (3) applying principles of accuracy and relevance, (4) considering ethics and fact-checking, (5) fostering community building and collaboration, (6) managing challenges on time management and limited resources, and (7) measuring effectiveness through engagement metrics. The findings reveal that creators prioritize audience needs and strive to balance entertaining and informative content while maintaining ethical standards. Conclusion: Despite facing significant challenges such as resource limitations and time management, creators were committed to producing meaningful educational content that enhanced student engagement and learning outcomes

Adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment in high compared to low TB burden countries: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis with a qualitative meta-synthesis of themes

IntroductionNon-adherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment poses a significant challenge to effective TB management globally and is a major contributor to the emergence of multidrug-resistant TB. Although adherence to TB treatment...

Stakeholder Dialogue in PT Telkom Indonesia's Corporate Social Responsibility Program

Stakeholder dialogue is an important element because it allows constructive participation with parties involved in Corporate Social Responsibility. PT Telkom Indonesia, which runs a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises development program as CSR, builds dialogue with business actors to jointly make the program a success. This study starts from problems that need to be communicated between the two parties, such as conveying complaints and aspirations. Thus, this study aims to examine stakeholder dialogue in MSME development as a CSR activity of Telkom Indonesia. This study uses a qualitative approach with a case study method. The results of the study show that stakeholder dialogue is carried out both internally and externally. The stakeholder dialogue that occurs is in the form of interaction through social media channels for coordination, as well as conducting company visits to fostered partners offline. In addition, dialogue occurs in monitoring and evaluation activities where the company discusses feedback provided by fostered partners as external parties.