COVID-19 Disruption Research Articles

Withering COVID 19 Storm: Survival Strategies Employed by Informal Traders in Masvingo Urban, Zimbabwe

COVID 19 has shaken and destabilized the whole world and caused untold suffering of the human kind. It has caused serious business and social tremors that have resulted in several huge financial, materials, psychological and social losses throughout the world. The main thrust of this study was to explore the survival strategies that were employed by informal traders in Masvingo urban, Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach, which utilized a multiple case design, was utilized to carry out the study. The study population comprised all cross border traders in Masvingo urban. A sample of 15, 9 female and 6 Male, informal traders were selected using the snow balling sampling technique. All the selected participants were in the business of buying and selling clothes, electrical goods, groceries and foreign currency trading. A 13 item interview guide was used to solicit data from participants. Data was analysed using the thematic data analysis method. The study found out that flexibility and use online applications enabled informal traders to remain afloat during the COVID-19 disruptions. Traders sold their goods in foreign currency mainly the USD and South African rand, ICT aided trading systems. The other strategy adopted to survive included relocation of businesses to growth points and other business centres in rural areas and high density suburbs. Future studies should quantitatively assess the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on the informal sector.

Disruptions to agricultural activities, income loss and food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from farm households in a developing country

PurposeIn the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam imposed many drastic restrictions to curb the outbreak of this virus. Such restrictions interrupted the normal functioning of various economic sectors, including agriculture. This research examined disruptions to agricultural activities, income loss and perceived food insecurity among farm households during the pandemic, and then explored the relationships among these economic factors.Design/methodology/approachHousehold data from Vietnam and Generalized Structural Equation Model (GSEM) were used for empirical analysis.FindingsDescriptive analyses found that only a small proportion of farm households suffered from the COVID-19 disruptions to their agricultural activities, a large percentage experienced income loss, and a medium number were worried about their food insecurity. GSEM results also revealed that the COVID-19 disruptions to agricultural activities significantly increased the likelihood of worrying about food insecurity, mediated by income loss.Research limitations/implicationsDue to data limitations, the authors could not use better indicators to define and measure the variables of interest (e.g. COVID-19 disruptions to agricultural activities, income loss and food insecurity). Another similar concern was that our models did not account for unobservables, causing some estimation biases.Originality/valueThis research is among the first attempts that examined the direct and indirect (mediated by income loss) effects of the COVID-19 disruptions to agricultural activities on food insecurity.

COVID-19 disruption to cervical cancer screening in England.

IntroductionIn England, routine invitations for cervical screening were reduced between April 2020 and June 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We quantify the impact of COVID-19 disruptions on attendance and excess diagnoses of cervical cancer (CC).MethodsUsing Public Health England CC screening data on laboratory samples received in 2018 as a baseline we quantify the reduction in screening attendances due to the COVID-19 pandemic between April 2020 and March 2021 for women aged 25–64. We model the impact on excess CC diagnoses assuming once invitations resume 87.5% of women attend within 12 months and 12.5% delay screening for 3 or 5 years (depending on age).ResultsThe number of samples received at laboratories was 91% lower than expected during April, 85% during May and 43% during June 2020 compared to the same period in 2018. Although on average laboratories received 12.6% more samples between August 2020 and April 2021 than over the same months in 2018, by April 2021 there was a short fall of 200,949 samples (6.4% fewer than in 2018). An excess of 41 CC (4.0 per 100,000 women with a maximum screening delay of 12 months) are predicted to occur among the estimated 1,024,794 women attending this screening round with a delay. An excess of 60 CC (41.0 per 100,000 women) are predicted to occur among the estimated 146,391 women who do not attend this screening round.ConclusionPrompt restoration of cervical screening services limited the impact on excess CC diagnoses. However, in 2020 a 6.4% shortfall of screening samples was observed. Every effort should be made to reassure these women that services are open and safe to attend.

COVID-19 disruptions to elective postoperative care did not adversely affect early complications or patient reported outcomes of primary TKA.

IntroductionElective orthopedic care, including in-person office visits and physical therapy (PT), was halted on March 16, 2020, at a large, urban hospital at the onset of the local COVID-19 surge. Post-discharge care was provided predominantly through a virtual format. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of postoperative care disruptions on early total knee arthroplasty (TKA) outcomes, specifically 90-day complications, 120-day rate of manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) and 1-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).Materials and methodsInstitutional records were queried to identify 624 patients who underwent primary, unilateral TKA for osteoarthritis and who were discharged home between 1/1/20 and 3/15/20. These patients were compared to 558 controls discharged between 1/1/19 and 3/15/2019. Cohort demographics and in-hospital characteristics were equivalent apart from inpatient morphine milligram equivalent (MME) consumption. Patient-reported access to PT (p < 0.001) and post-discharge care (p < 0.001) were worse among study patients. Study patients were prescribed fewer post-discharge PT sessions (19.8 vs. 23.5; p < 0.001) and utilized telehealth more frequently (p < 0.001). Mann–Whitney U, T, Fisher’s Exact, and chi-squared tests were used to compare outcomes.ResultsNinety-day CMS complications were lower among study patients (3.5% vs. 5.9%; p = 0.05). Rates of MUA were similar between groups. Study patients reported similar PROMs and marginally inferior VR-12 mental and LEAS functional outcomes at 1 year.ConclusionDisruptions to elective orthopedic care in March 2020 seemed to have had no major consequences on clinical outcomes for TKA patients. Our findings question the usefulness of pre-pandemic post-discharge protocols, which may over-emphasize in-person visits and PT.

Engaging patients in the HIV care continuum through referral-making behaviours and patterns: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Introduction: HIV continuum of care consists of five steps needed to effectively treat and prevent the spread of HIV. Linkage to and retention of patients to this Continuum of Care is a global priority. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the quality of this Continuum, as people living with HIV, have had to shelter reducing their access to services. As well, HIV agencies have had to close, reduce hours, and shift personnel. Purpose and Methods: The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to examine the person-centered referral-making behaviors and patterns used by providers to engage patients in the care continuum. Three classes of linkage behaviors among 285 providers in 34 community agencies in New York City were identified using latent class analysis. Results: These linkage behaviors include High (48%); Moderate (34%); and Low (18%). Both High and Moderate consisted of a blend of active and passive strategies and tracking systems. The High included more active strategies such as escorting patients to appointments. Linkage class membership was significantly associated with frequency of linkages to primary care (p=.020). COVID-19 disruptions demonstrate how the Care Continuum has been undermined by insufficient organizational resources. Conclusion: Findings suggest, addresses gaps in linkages should enhance the overall Continuum of Care provided to individuals diagnosed and living with HIV.

IDF21-0489 Effect of COVID-19 disruption on Clinical study of Patients with Diabetic Macular Oedema Who Wore a Home-Use Sleep Mask

Background: Treatments for Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Oedema are typically clinically based, including intravitreal injections and laser photocoagulation. Use of a light mask worn overnight in a home setting has been proposed as a possible alternative, however patient adherence to home based treatment of chronic conditions is typically low, and thus methods have been sought to improve adherence and patient outcomes. The RENDER study was one such intervention, that was already underway when the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lockdowns and significant disruption to clinic services in England.

Covid-19 and Immune Response on Our Lifestyle

Abstract: Covid-19 (Pandemic) not only agitated physical health, but mental health has also taken a toll in last 2 years however, it impacts on our lifestyle . The aim of this review is to disclose about the lifestyle changes due to the disruption of Covid-19 and how humans are approaching this global pandemic. A survey was conducted online, in which we prepared a questioner chart asking about different lifestyles problems including increased screen-time, lack of body movement, eating disorder, dietary health, depression, sleeping pattern, in lockdown period due to coronaviruses. Total 138 people were involved, aged 16- 50 in this survey about 70% respondent in elevation of screen-time, and about 30 % people increased their fruit &amp; vegetable intake after the outbreak of covid19. Keywords: Covid-19, lifestyle, health, obesity, pandemic

Educational adaptation to clinical training during the COVID-19 pandemic: a process analysis

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented in terms of the extent and rapidity of the disruption forced upon formal clinical education, most notably the extensive transition of clinical skills learning to interactive video-based clinical education.MethodsIn a phenomenologic study, we used thematic analysis to explore the COVID-19 disruption to clinical training and understand processes relating to adaptation in a large academic medical center. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 clinical teachers and 16 trainees representing all levels of clinical learning. Interviews occurred within the initial three months of the crisis, and data were analyzed following a thematic analysis coding process.ResultsWe constructed eight themes synthesizing our participants’ perceptions of the immediate unanticipated disruption, noting in the process their alignment with a change management framework. These included: urgency in adapting, with an obvious imperative for change; overcoming inconsistent involvement and support through the formation of self-organized frontline coalitions; attempts to develop strategy and vision via initially reactive but eventually consistent communication; empowering a volunteer army through co-creation and a flattened hierarchy; and efforts to sustain improvement and positive momentum with celebration of trial, error, and growth. The majority of participants found positive outcomes resulting from the tumultuous change process. Moreover, they were now more readily accepting of change, and tolerant of the ambiguous and iterative nature inherent in the education change process. Many anticipated that some innovation would, or would at least deserve to, continue post- crisis.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic afforded an opportunity to study the content and process of change during an active crisis. In this case of clinical education, our findings provide insight into the ways an academic medical system adapts to unanticipated circumstances. We found alignment with broader organizational change management models and that, compared with crisis management models (and their shorter term focus on resolving such crises), stakeholders self-organized in a reliable manner that carries the potential advantage of preserving such beneficial change.

Student Anxiety and Engagement with Online Instruction across Two Semesters of COVID-19 Disruptions.

ABSTRACTThe sudden shift to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic left many instructors wondering how to minimize anxiety while keeping students engaged in their virtual courses. In this study, we explored (i) specific online instructional tasks that caused students to experience anxiety, (ii) factors that hindered student engagement with online instruction, and (iii) changes in student anxiety and engagement between spring 2020 and fall 2020. Students enrolled in STEM classes were surveyed at the end of spring 2020 (N = 425) and fall 2020 (N = 347) semesters. Our results show that the majority of student respondents had more anxiety in fall 2020 than in spring 2020 with online learning in general, and less anonymous class activities tended to cause the greatest anxiety. Distractions from the environment and personal technologies commonly prevented engagement in both semesters, but no significant differences were observed between the spring and fall. In contrast, more students reported that health-related stress, work-related stress, and issues with technology prevented participation in fall 2020 than in spring 2020. As institutions consider expanding their online course offerings post-pandemic, these data provide valuable insight into the challenges students experienced with online instruction that can inform future pedagogical choices.

Navigating Education in the Context of COVID-19 Lockdowns and School Closures: Challenges and Resilience Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa

Gender related vulnerabilities and inequalities place female learners at high risk of school disengagement due to COVID-19 disruptions. Understanding the impacts of school closures and educational disruptions on female learners in South Africa is critical to inform appropriate, gender-sensitive policies, and programs, to mitigate further exacerbation of educational inequalities. We examined the effects that COVID-19 and lockdowns have had on the educational experiences of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15–24, in six districts of South Africa characterized by high rates of HIV, teenage pregnancy and socio-economic hardship. Following a concurrent triangulation mixed-methods approach, we conducted a cross-sectional survey with 515 AGYW, and qualitative interviews with 50 AGYW. More than half of survey participants enrolled in education had been unable to continue with their studies. Factors associated with educational disruption included low socio-economic status, lack of cell phone access and household food insecurity. Qualitative narratives included challenges with online learning and studying at home in resource restricted settings, and insufficient support from schools and teachers. However, despite multiple barriers to continuing education, some AGYW demonstrated educational resilience, enabled by psychosocial and structural support, and resource access. Our findings lend support to an emerging evidence base showing that the closure of schools and tertiary institutions, combined with challenging home environments, and a lack of access to appropriate technology, has disproportionately impacted the most vulnerable AGYW, exacerbating pre-existing educational inequalities within the South African education system. Addressing structural barriers to educational equity, particularly in the pandemic context, including access of technology and the internet, is urgent.

Intersection of health protection policy and sport during COVID-19: identifying and analyzing behavioral issues

ABSTRACT Purpose: This article explores the intersection of public health protection policy and sports. It reviews the strategic responses to restarting sports after the disruption of COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: The author explores interdisciplinary work between public health, health protection policy and the sports sector. In addition, the author examines strategies to restart sport during COVID-19. Findings: This research highlights balancing the health protection policy and the integrity of sports, the ability to implement certain strategies strongly influenced the acceptance of the resumption of the sport in a phased approach during COVID-19 period. Further, objective medical information is key to informing the process. Practical implications: This research will offer guidance to policy makers in the sport sector as they need to resolve challenges with solutions that are in alignment with evolving public health policies. Social implications: The changing landscape of sports has had a far-reaching social impact on how it's going to be administered and viewed in the future. Originality/value: This paper adds value to the discourse on interdisciplinary work between health protection policies and sport; with a specific focus of reviewing the strategic responses to restarting sport in a global pandemic like COVID-19.

Integrating and Evaluating Interdisciplinary Sustainability and STEM Curriculum in Geographical Education: A Case of Three Teaching Modalities

The effectiveness of interdisciplinary sustainability curriculum remains understudied in geography education. Accordingly, we deployed and evaluated an interdisciplinary sustainability and STEM module for in-person and online sections of a fall 2018 Human Geography course. Results indicate that sustainability knowledge improved after the interdisciplinary curricular intervention irrespective of course modality. Another focus is to explore student reactions to teaching modality due to COVID-19 disruptions. Results indicate that online student sustainability knowledge also improved during COVID-19 (fall 2020). For students in a section converted from in-person to blended, sustainability knowledge did not improve. Implications are provided.

World Tuberculosis Day 2022: aligning COVID-19 and tuberculosis innovations to save lives and to end tuberculosis

World Tuberculosis Day 2022: aligning COVID-19 and tuberculosis innovations to save lives and to end tuberculosis

Factors influencing the adoption of ICT for remote work among Zimbabwean SMEs: A case study of Bulawayo Metropolitan province

The study’s purpose was to evaluate factors that influence Information and Communication Technology adoption to support remote working by SMEs in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean economy is excessively informal and has the largest informal economy globally, contributing 60.6 percent of the country’s national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Small and medium-sized enterprises are vital economic drivers in the developing world. Today’s knowledge society demands firms to intensively apply ICTs for competitive advantage and market share. SMEs face many challenges during the current COVID-19 lockdown, and their survival depends on how they can adopt ICT for remote work. COVID-19 disruptions are being counteracted by e-commerce applications across all other sectors of the global economy. The study adopted a quantitative approach, where a questionnaire was used to gather views from 145 SMEs randomly selected in Bulawayo metropolitan province. From the samples, 113 questionnaires were completed. The study found that ICTs play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of remote working programs. Results indicated that ICT support services positively correlate with remote working and that most SMEs lack appropriate ICT tools to support remote working. Furthermore, SMEs face poor and expensive Internet and erratic electricity supply challenges. The study deduced that firms owned or run by young people promoted ICT adoption for telework. The study recommends improved government support by lowering Internet tariffs and supporting SMEs’ ICT acquisition through import duty exemptions. Future work can evaluate the impact of ICT on the financial performance of SMEs after adopting various teleworking schemes.

COVID-19 disruptions: impact on athletic identity, career transitions, and life of a developmental tour golfer

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose The purpose of the study was to understand the lives and careers of developmental tour golfers through the lens of athletic identity and social identity theory (SIT), with emphasis on decisions related to transition out of golf caused by COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach Eight developmental tour golfers (4 male; 4 female) were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide during the COVID-19 shutdown of professional sport. Interviews went through a six-stage coding process by two of the authors to produce the final themes of the study. Findings Results indicated that developmental tour golfers (a) faced tougher competition during the lockdown; (b) financial difficulties of developmental tour life were exacerbated by COVID-19; and (c) consequential athletic identity and uncertainty of future career in golf due to COVID-19. Practical implications The study highlights the sometimes-impractical decisions and lifestyle choices golfers will make to achieve their dreams. From a governance standpoint, suggestions of tour consolidation, emergency financial assistance to players, and educational programming are recommended for more successful transitions out of golf. Research Contribution This study contributes to the growing body of athletic identity literature and provides empirical insight into how developmental tour golfers navigate tumultuous career paths, both in normal times and with the added constraints of COVID-19.

Competency-Based Medical Education: Considering Its Past, Present, and a Post-COVID-19 Era.

Advancement toward competency-based medical education (CBME) has been hindered by inertia and a myriad of implementation challenges, including those associated with assessment of competency, accreditation/regulation, and logistical considerations. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted medical education at every level. Time-in-training sometimes was shortened or significantly altered and there were reductions in the number and variety of clinical exposures. These and other unanticipated changes to existing models highlighted the need to advance the core principles of CBME. This manuscript describes the impact of COVID-19 on the ongoing transition to CBME, including the effects on training, curricular, and assessment processes for medical school and graduate medical education programs. The authors outline consequences of the COVID-19 disruption on learner training and assessment of competency, such as conversion to virtual learning modalities in medical school, redeployment of residents within health systems, and early graduation of trainees based on achievement of competency. Finally, the authors reflect on what the COVID-19 pandemic taught them about realization of CBME as the medical education community looks forward to a postpandemic future.

Determining the Effects of Covid-19 on the Stock Prices of Public Enlisted Consumer and Goods Companies January 2020 – May 2020

The COVID-19 health crisis has been the most significant occurrence witnessed in practically all countries across the world since the beginning of 2020, especially in the Philippines. This study examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Philippine Stock Exchange daily prices of five IPO companies, focusing on the consumer and goods industry to identify its winners and losers. The literature review focused on the rapid spread of COVID-19 and its major impact on financial markets, as well as how the world responded with pandemic-like COVID-19 outbreaks. With the outbreak of the COVID-19, the world's stock markets were confronted with significant uncertainty. Furthermore, the COVID-19 crisis has been found to have damaged nearly every aspect of human life, and the strict approaches implemented, such as border closures, stay-at-home orders, and lockdowns, have greatly affected the economies and financial markets of many countries. It was also observed that even though the COVID-19 disruption was global, not all countries were impacted in the same way, and they did not respond in the same way.

Analysis of airline employees’ perceptions of corporate preparedness for COVID-19 disruptions to airline operations

The focus of this research is an analysis of U.S.-based airline employees' responses to corporate preparedness for the COVID-19 disruptions to domestic and international airline operations. A survey was issued during May and June 2020 to U.S.-based employees of major and national carriers and U.S.-based employees from foreign carriers. The research project consists of a questionnaire used to answer the key question: What is your perception of your company's preparedness for and response to the COVID-19 outbreak? Sub-questions address three key areas of employees' responses: 1) Was the airline prepared prior to the pandemic? 2). Did the airline respond appropriately to the pandemic? 3) Is the airline positioned well to recover from the pandemic? Findings indicate that airlines' risk management systems are recognized as a weakness in the organizations; however, they are taking steps to enhance their risk management protocols since dealing with the global coronavirus pandemic. Additional findings indicate that air transport companies need to move away from their reliance on the existing risk management system that is based on historical disruptions and toward a more proactive system. The last finding indicates that knowing and understanding the full potential of the impact of pandemics (or epidemics) may be advantageous in recovering business quickly.

Job demands and resources, teachers’ subjective vitality, and turnover intentions: an examination during COVID-19

This study examined the role of two job resources (relatedness with students, relatedness with colleagues), two job demands (time pressure and disruptive student behaviour), and their unique and moderated associations with subjective work vitality and, in turn, turnover intentions among teachers during COVID-19. Data were collected from 325 Australian teachers when many schools were closed or reopening after the initial COVID-19 lockdown. Structural equation modelling (SEM) showed that time pressure (negatively) and relatedness with teachers (positively) were associated with subjective vitality. Disruptive behaviour and time pressure (both positively), along with relatedness with students and subjective vitality (both negatively) were associated with turnover intentions. In addition to these main associations, there was one significant interaction providing evidence of the buffering role of relatedness with students on turnover intentions. The findings yield knowledge of job resources that may help support teachers during subsequent waves of COVID-19 and other future disruptions.

Family firm succession through the lens of technology intelligence

Succession is often a critical event in the lifecycle of any organization. Consequently, an extensive body of literature explores family firm succession, and includes studies on integrated succession frameworks. Notwithstanding the large, illuminating body of literature, we believe that family firm succession is worth a fresh reexamination and consolidation to translate the findings into a powerful planning and communication tool, especially as all firms are facing a ‘new normal’ and their leaders are seeking novel perspectives and approaches amidst the COVID-19 disruption. We thus offer a systemic and systematic framework for family firm succession planning, incorporating ideas from the technology intelligence literature. Since relationship building can ease the succession process and relationships are built through communication, we also present a succession roadmap as a communication tool that can assist in making this process part of the regular business routines.