COVID-19 Era Research Articles

Effectiveness of yoga interventions on stress and anxiety levels of school teachers during COVID-19 era in Anand district, Gujarat

Effectiveness of yoga interventions on stress and anxiety levels of school teachers during COVID-19 era in Anand district, Gujarat

Assessing Tax Accountants Proficiency in Corporate Income Tax Law During the COVID-19 Era

Assessing Tax Accountants Proficiency in Corporate Income Tax Law During the COVID-19 Era

Exploring the factors that influence academic performance in Jordanian higher education institutions

Since the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hit the world, many universities have used digital asynchronous learning tools such as Digital Learning Management Systems (DLMS) to continue the educational process. Despite its global usage, only a few studies have investigated its quality in the Jordanian context during the COVID-19 period from a quantitative and qualitative approach perspective. Thus, the current study aims to explore the factors that influence academic performance in Jordanian higher education institutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed methods research approach was employed to evaluate the quality of the teaching-learning process for Jordanian students in higher education institutions. The triangulated data focused on three core pillars namely if students saw a difference in their grades prior to, during, and after the pandemic, the challenges faced and improvement suggestions. Accordingly, the quantitative approach with an online questionnaire and the qualitative approach with structured interviews were applied to collect the required data from Jordanian students in higher education institutions. The results of the current study revealed that the evaluation of the teaching-learning process quality during the pandemic period affected students’ academic performance in different proportions based on their specialization area. In addition, the study results also identified the most important challenges that faced the students during this period and suggested procedures to overcome them and improve the distance learning process. The current study offers empirical evidence on critical success factors underlying digital learning management systems in the COVID-19 era, which can help policymakers in Jordanian universities and the ministry of higher education and scientific research to improve the quality of the teaching-learning process in the Jordanian context.

A Meta-Model Of E-Collaboration In Classroom Organization And Cbc Learners Performance In Public Primary Schools In Kilifi County

Classroom management is a significant aspect that matters a great deal to enhance student learning. Past studies have established a link between classroom management and student performance. Specifically, this study intends to fill existing knowledge gap on classroom organization and arrangement and classroom management time. This paper seeks to establish the effect of classroom layout of the seating patterns on students’ outcomes on improving CBC learners’ performance in primary schools in Kilifi County. The study also aims at finding out the effect of organization of classroom occurrences on improving CBC learners’ performance in primary schools in Kilifi South Sub-County. Two independent variables will guide this study and a dependent variable. This study was significant in providing support to both public and private schools during this COVID-19 era where learners are using more technologically based learning equipment and materials. This study will also provide novel insights to the Ministry of Education and policy makers in enacting suitable polices to enhance teaching and learning in primary schools. and Eison’s Active Learning Continuum and Classroom-Based Model of Student Engagement were the foundational theories of this study. Descriptive research design was applicable for this study a nd t he target population of the study was 65 public primary schools in Kilifi Sub-Counties. Sampling was carried out by use of simple random sampling and convenience sampling where a sample size of 30% of the population was achieved hence a 20 Public primary schools form Kilifi County. Structured questionnaires were used as the focal data collection instrument. Classification of data was done and data analysis was carried out by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), (version 22.0). Data was presented by descriptive and inferential statistics for simplification purposes. One of the findings of this study was that most primary schools in Kilifi Sub-Counties had similarities and differences in the classroom organization and arrangements patterns for the entire of terms of the year. The implication of this phenomenon was that classrooms are arranged to enhance student’s learning. This reflects the significance of primary school teachers with appropriate materials and equipment to establish appropriate classroom arrangements to enhance learner performance. One of the findings from this study was the diversity efforts in enhancing CBC learners team learning. It was concluded that efforts used by CBC teachers to ignite creativity through sharing of opinions and experiences provided new ways of learning. The study recommends that CBC teachers should be facilitated in order to share online space organization and enhance e-collaboration with teachers from other environments. This was significant as it would aid in enhancing learner’ concentration enhancing the ability of good time management. This was projected to improve overall learner’ outcomes.

Paradigm shift in transfusion practices during early COVID-19 pandemic: A single center retrospective study

BACKGROUND The advent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) unveiled the worst national blood crisis that the United States had witnessed in over a decade. With the pandemic influencing the different stages of the acquisition of blood products outside the hospital setting, we aimed to explore the possible barriers contributing to the shortage of blood products within the medical community. AIM To assess the adherence to restrictive blood transfusion practices for patients in the COVID era and pre-COVID era. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study on hospitalized patients distinguishing the pattern of blood transfusion during the COVID and pre-COVID era in a community hospital. Data was tabulated to include the number of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and if transfusions met restrictive blood transfusion criteria as per institutional guidelines. Chi-square was applied to test the statistical association between qualitative variables. Unpaired t test and Mann Whitney U test were applied respectively to test the mean difference of quantitative variables. RESULTS A total of 208 patients were included in the study, of which 108 were during COVID era and 100 were during pre-COVID era. The leading reason for admission in both the COVID era and pre-COVID era transfused patients was shortness of breath (53.7% and 36% P = 0.001), followed by gastrointestinal bleeding (25.9% and 21% P = 0.001). There was a higher percentage of RBC transfusions in the intensive care unit in the COVID-era group than in the pre-COVID era group (38.9% vs 22%, P = 0.008). The restrictive transfusion criteria were met in 62% vs 79% in the COVID and pre-COVID eras, respectively (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION The COVID-era group received RBC transfusions with less stringent adherence to restrictive blood transfusion practices in comparison to pre-COVID era group.

Shopping Products Online After the COVID-19 Era

Shopping Products Online After the COVID-19 Era

Remote employee work performance in the meta COVID-19 era: evidence from Greece

PurposeBy drawing on the reciprocity norm and the employee engagement theory, the aim of this study is to investigate the influence of workplace characteristics (e.g. individual, job, group and organizational levels) on remote employee work performance (i.e. task, adaptive and proactive) and to examine the potential role of work engagement.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through a phased investigation in a branch of a multinational telecommunication company located in Greece. The research was carried out from September 2022 to December 2022. Firstly, 364 exclusively remote employees completed questionnaires examining work-related characteristics (i.e. change self-efficacy, work autonomy and perceived organizational support (POS)) as well as their work engagement. Consequently, their supervisors evaluated their work performance. The research model was tested with the use of structural equation modeling (SEM).FindingsThe research findings suggest that change self-efficacy, work autonomy, support from supervisors and organizational support positively influence employee work engagement as well as that work engagement mediates the relationship among change self-efficacy, support from supervisors, organizational support and employee work performance (i.e. task and adaptive). Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that if organizations manage to influence positively their employees’ work engagement by providing them with the necessary conditions and support (i.e. individual, group and organizational levels), they may increase their work performance in changing and complex times.Originality/valueThe research findings provide new insights into how workplace characteristics and work engagement may influence employee performance during turbulent times. The originality of this study lies in the finding that employees’ work engagement mediates the relationship among change self-efficacy, support from supervisors, organizational support and employee work performance (i.e. task and adaptive). Further, the study refers to exclusively remote employees, and it was conducted in the meta coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) era.

Emotional Expression of Public Communication Post COVID-19 Era In Educational Context

This research aims to examine the emotional expression of nonverbal communication performed by scholars during presentations as a post-pandemic public communication practice. In the age of globalization, one of the necessary talents is public communication. A presentation that tries to transmit knowledge about a topic to the audience effectively is a familiar public communication technique scholars perform. Building a connection with the audience is one way to create effective communication, one of which is emotional expression in the form of nonverbal communication through gestures and microexpressions. Public communication skills have deteriorated, particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic, as have emotional expressions in nonverbal communication. With previous theoretical perspectives in gesture and microexpression, this study employed a quantitative-descriptive content analysis technique with categorical analysis units. Researchers examined 49 video recordings of scholars’ presentations from February to March 2023. The study's findings revealed that when scholars practiced public communication in class, they employed scared emotions for gestures and calm emotions for microexpressions. This study suggests the significance of public communication training or coaching, particularly for nonverbal emotional displays in presentations, to fulfill communication goals.

Systematic analysis for clinical characteristics and outcomes of IgG4-related disease patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To systematically describe clinical characteristics and investigate factors associated with COVID-19-related infection, hospital admission, and IgG4-related disease relapse in IgG4-RD patients. Physician-reported IgG4-RD patients were included in this retrospective study. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis to determine factors for primary outcome (COVID-19-related IgG4-RD relapse) and secondary outcome (COVID-19-related infection and hospital admission). Covariates included age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, comorbidities, IgG4-RD clinical features, and treatment strategies. Among 649 patients, 530 had a diagnosis of COVID-19, 25 had COVID-19-related hospital admission, and 69 had COVID-19-related IgG4-RD relapse. Independent factors associated with COVID-19 infection were age (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-1.00), body mass index (1.10, 1.03-1.18), and tofacitinib (0.34, 0.14-0.79). Further analysis indicated that age (1.10, 1.03-1.16), coronary heart disease (24.38, 3.33-178.33), COVID-19-related dyspnea (7.11, 1.85-27.34), pulmonary infection (73.63, 16.22-4615.34), and methotrexate (17.15, 1.93-157.79) were associated with a higher risk of COVID-19-related hospital admission. Importantly, age (0.93, 0.89-0.98), male sex (0.16, 0.03-0.80), ever/current smoking (19.23, 3.78-97.80), COVID-19-related headache (2.98, 1.09-8.17)andpsychiatric symptoms (3.12, 1.07-9.10), disease activity before COVID-19 (1.89, 1.02-3.51), number of involved organs (1.38, 1.08-1.76), glucocorticoid dosage (1.08, 1.03-1.13), and methotrexate (5.56, 1.40-22.08) were strong factors for COVID-19-related IgG4-RD relapse. Our data add to evidence that smoking and disease-specific factors (disease activity, number of involved organs, and specific medications) were risk factors of COVID-19-related IgG4-RD relapse. The results highlight the importance of adequate disease control with b/tsDMARDs, preferably without using methotrexate and increasing glucocorticoid dosages in the COVID-19 era. Key Points • COVID-19-related infection or hospital admission were associated with known general factors (age, body mass index, specific comorbidities and methotrexate) among IgG4-RD patients. • Smoking and disease-specific factors (disease activity, number of involved organs and specific medications) were associated with higher odds of COVID-19-related IgG4-RD relapse. • The results highlight the importance of adequate disease control with b/tsDMARDs, preferably without using methotrexate or increasing glucocorticoid dosages.

Prevalence and Treatment Outcomes of Syphilis among People with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Engaging in High-Risk Sexual Behavior: Real World Data from Northern Greece, 2019-2022.

In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of syphilis among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PWH) engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, determine the stage of syphilis, and evaluate treatment efficacy. A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted at the AHEPA University General Hospital of Thessaloniki, focusing on PWH at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) attending outpatient care from January 2019 to December 2022. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, incident syphilis rates were identified, associations with HIV-related characteristics were explored, and the treatment response was assessed. Among 991 participants, 94 PWH were diagnosed with syphilis, representing 9.4% of the cohort. Incident syphilis cases experienced a decrease in the early COVID-19 era compared to 2019, followed by a gradual increase leading up to 2022. The majority of syphilis cases were asymptomatic latent syphilis (71.1%). Men who have sex with men (MSM) and younger individuals exhibited higher rates of co-infection during the study period. No significant association was found between incident syphilis and HIV-related factors. Most syphilis cases (86%) were treated with benzathine penicillin G (BPG). Treatment with BPG and doxycycline showed an increased success rate (96.7% vs. 92.9%), with no statistically significant difference observed between them (p = 0.438). This study highlights the alarming incidence of syphilis among PWH engaging in high-risk sexual behavior, particularly among younger MSM. BPG remains effective, and alternative regimens like doxycycline show promise, especially in settings with penicillin shortages or patient allergies.

Public Administration Education During the Covid-19 Pandemic. Teaching Experiences and Policy Implications

Although multiple studies focused on the effects that the Covid-19 pandemic had on students and the strategies adopted for dealing with the effects, few authors looked at what was on the other side of the educational process – teachers. The pandemic had the same influence on teachers as it had on any other social or professional group, leading to increased levels of stress, insomnia, anxiety, uncertainty, fatigue or burnout. However, even faced with these issues, educators had to continue their activity and adapt at a moment’s notice to a different paradigm of doing their job and shift from on-site to online teaching. The current qualitative research looks at the multiple effects the public health crisis had on professors in terms of personal and professional life. The paper reviews the measures adopted by educators to adapt to online education, ranging from updates of the course Syllabuses, educational contents, new evaluation methods, video services, and educational platforms used, to communicate and motivate students or the positive and negative facets of e-learning. The interview guide also includes elements related to the future of teaching PA in the post Covid-19 era, the sustainability of online education, and the prospects of returning to the previous paradigm. The empirical research was conducted using semi-structured interviews, the respondents being educators from the Public Administration programs of Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Male and female respondents (N=19) ranged from PhD students at the beginning of their teaching activity to full professors with more than two decades of experience. The lessons derived from the Covid-19 pandemic are useful for understanding how universities as a whole and professors in particular deal with the uncertainties and turbulence generated by crises, focusing on systemic and individual resilience.

Prevalence of depression and anxiety among healthcare providers during the COVID-19 era in Egypt – a cross-sectional study

Prevalence of depression and anxiety among healthcare providers during the COVID-19 era in Egypt – a cross-sectional study

Pengembangan Video Praktikum Sederhana Materi Redoks Sebagai Praktikum Alternatif Selama Pandemi COVID-19

Due to COVID-19, media is needed so that students can continue to carry out practical activities at home to improve their understanding of chemical concepts. This study aimed to develop and determine the quality of a simple practicum video on redox material. This research is development research (R&D) with a 4D model (Define, Design, Development, and Disseminate), but this research is only up to the development stage. This simple video practicum on redox material contains the redox process on nail corrosion, the redox process on betadine with vitamin C, and the redox process on Onions with potassium permanganates. The product is assessed by one material expert, one media expert, four reviewers, and ten class X students respond. The results of the product quality assessment by material experts, media experts, and reviewers (senior high school chemistry teachers) get a percentage of 97.14%, 90%, and 91.81%, with a very good category. Then, the results of student responses obtained a percentage of 95% with a very good category. Based on this assessment, it can be concluded that simple practicum videos on redox material can be used as an alternative source of practicum during the COVID-19 era.

Identification of Yeast and Yeast-Like Fungi at a Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Study.

Background Fungal infections pose a significant global health challenge. Despite their substantial impact, these ubiquitous fungi can become pathogenic but have not received adequate attention in public health, leading to infections that are often underestimated by the general public and healthcare professionals. Candida species and Cryptococcus species play a key role in these infections, with emerging multidrug resistance in Candida species posing considerable challenges. This study aimed to understand the prevalence of yeast and yeast-like infections, particularly in the COVID-19 era, and to assess the antifungal susceptibility pattern. Methodology A retrospective observational study was conducted at a rural tertiary care medical college in Maharashtra, India. Retrospective records of samples processed for fungal culture were analyzed in the microbiology department. Yeast identification and antifungal susceptibility were performed using the VITEK-2 automated system. Results Among 95 fungal isolates, 86 (90.52%) were yeast isolates, primarily non-albicans Candida (NAC) species. Candida albicans accounted for 41 (47.67%) yeast isolates. In 14 isolates, NAC species were not identified by the VITEK-2 system up to the species level. Isolates from urine samples contributed the highest percentage of 61% (58) of yeast isolates. C. albicans showed high sensitivity to most antifungal agents. Other Candida species, such as Candida famata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida guilliermondii, were sensitive to all antifungal agents. Candida auris showed complete resistance to amphotericin B and fluconazole but sensitivity to other agents. Mixed sensitivity patterns were observed in Candida ciferri and Candida lusitaniae, with some resistance to voriconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin. Conclusions This study shows the increasing prevalence of yeast and yeast-like infections, particularly NAC, during the COVID-19 era. Improved yeast identification and susceptibility testing are crucial for guiding the appropriate treatment and mitigating the impact of these infections, emphasizing the need for comprehensive future studies in this area.

Evaluation of antibiotic resistance changes in Acinetobacter baumannii in the era of COVID-19 in Northern Iran.

During the coronavirus pandemic, the overuse of antibiotics to reduce coinfections and mortality may be contributing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, we aim to investigate the antibiotic resistance changes of Acinetobacter baumannii post-COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Iran. The current study is a cross-sectional study. Between 2022 and 2023, 2190 clinical samples were collected from patients with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) at four hospitals in Sari, which served as corona centers after the COVID-19 pandemic. Antimicrobial sensitivity was determined using standard broth macro-dilution, and resistance genes were detected using multiplex PCR. Based on the results co-amoxiclav had a resistance rate of 100%, while piperacillin/tazobactam showed the least resistance rate of 29.82%. In terms of GM MIC values, colistin was the most potent against multi-drug resistant isolates. The frequency of bla OXA-51 , ampC, aphA6, and bla NDM genes were 100%, 99.12%, 90.35%, and 69.30% respectively. Our study revealed high multi-drug resistance rates. Piperacillin/tazobactam recommended for treating multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections in Northern Iran.

Examining Monetary Policy Measures and Their Impacts during and after the COVID Era: OECD Perspectives

Governments worldwide implemented various fiscal and monetary measures to address the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on their economies. The paper aims to examine the changes in the monetary policy measures due to COVID-19 and their impact on macroeconomic variables. To explore this relationship, this study utilizes fortnightly data from 2020 to 2023 on the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. The study employs a Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyze the effects of the monetary policy responses of the OECD governments, and the obtained results reveal that within OECD countries, the prevailing trend of lower interest rate policies emerged during the pandemic. This policy approach yielded a dual effect: lowering both output growth and inflation rates, while concurrently exacerbating unemployment rates throughout the COVID-19 period. Consequently, it is clear that monetary policies have played a pivotal role in facilitating the recovery from a profound economic shock such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the significant economic repercussions of a pandemic and the crucial role that monetary policy plays in sustaining economic stability, the apparent lack of attention underscores the urgent necessity for additional discourse on this vital subject.

Mapping of Government’s Communication Strategies in the COVID-19 Era on Social Media

This study explores the changing government communication methods throughout the unusual COVID-19 epidemic, with a focus on using social media as the main instrument for engaging with the public. We utilize a bibliometric methodology, examining an extensive dataset of articles obtained from journals indexed in Scopus. Using VOSviewer software, we provide a visual representation of the main theme clusters in this research. NVivo 12 Plus also supports word cloud analysis, which allows for the discovery of commonly used phrases and patterns within the analyzed material. The results of study reveals a range of communication strategies adopted by governments globally in response to the pandemic. These measures involve promoting communication in both directions, utilizing social media platforms to spread information, and using efficient strategies to communicate risks. The data demonstrates a predominance of research that specifically examines risk communication driven by the government, emphasizing its vital role in crisis management. In addition, the VOSviewer mapping reveals the presence of four unique theme clusters. The "government communication" cluster focuses on subjects such as communication strategy, the ongoing epidemic, the challenge of fake news, and the influence on public anxiety. These areas are key to the research and investigation within this cluster. This comprehensive analysis illuminates the complex correlation between social media communication techniques and successful public health actions amidst a worldwide crisis.

The implication of the illness metaphors of In America: Mitigating negative effects of metaphors through illness narratives in the postpandemic era of COVID-19

Susan Sontag’s cancer experience made her realize the harm that the inappropriate use of illness metaphors might do to patients. After recovering from breast cancer, she wrote in Illness as Metaphor that illness has been romanticized and stigmatized. She also elaborated on some illness metaphors, such as the military metaphors for illness, which are still the subject of debate. Her novel In America could be regarded as an elaboration on the consequences of such metaphors. The phenomena she depicts in her novel are now visible twenty years later in the real world. Through analysing the personal experiences of the protagonists Maryna and Ryszard of In America, three levels of trauma caused by the illness metaphors used in negative ways are elucidated in this paper: the personal level, the social level, and the national level. Patients and their relations, health care workers, and even countries, such as China, have been hurt by these metaphors. Therefore, to avoid causing harm to more people, it is necessary to alleviate the negative effects of the inappropriate use of illness metaphors, especially in the postpandemic era of COVID-19. The illness narrative is a good way to mitigate the traumas caused by the inappropriate use of illness metaphors. This article attempts to explore the metaphorization of illness, the traumas caused by the inappropriate use of illness metaphors, and the occurrence of similar phenomena during and after COVID-19. The plot of In America is also explored as an illness narrative, and the illness narrative genre is examined as a way to mitigate the negative effects of the inappropriate use of illness metaphors.

Psychological wellbeing with music therapy: the moderating role of health awareness, and strategic health management in post Covid-19 era

BackgroundPsychological problems are common among the people of every community. These psychological issues are leading people to mental health issues. Human well-being is required to be improved appropriately for the better health of the public. The objective of this research is to determine the influence of music therapy on the sustainable psychological well-being of the Chinese community. Furthermore, this research determines that moderating role of health awareness and strategic health management between music therapy and sustainable psychological well-being.MethodThe research used a sample of 384 collected with a random sampling method. For data collection, a cross-sectional method was adopted to collect data on a Likert scale questionnaire. The Health Awareness Scale, Music Therapy Scale, Sustainable Health Management Scale and Sustainable Psychological Wellbeing Scale was used in this research.ResultsThe findings of the research highlighted that there is a significant and positive influence of music therapy on the sustainable psychological well-being of the Chinese community. This research also concluded that there is a significant and positive moderating role of health awareness and strategic health management between music therapy and sustainable psychological well-being. The findings of this research are new and novel in the literature on psychological well-being.ConclusionThis research has some theoretical and practical implications to advance the literature and practice for sustainable psychological well-being respectively. In clinical practice, music therapy can be effectively used to improve the psychological well-being of individuals with sustainability. The information related to health awareness and practice for strategic health management is also necessary for the clinical patients to improve their psychological well-being.

Knowledge management of MNCs in the post-COVID era: the role of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the mechanism of knowledge management within multinationals during the post COVID-19 era, with particular consideration given to the relationship between the cultural intelligence of top managers and knowledge-oriented leadership using fear of COVID-19 as a moderating factor.Design/methodology/approachDerived from upper echelons’ theory and research on knowledge management success (KMS), a theoretical model and associated hypotheses have been developed and tested. Structural equation modeling was used with statistics collected from 288 top managers and executives of multinational corporations dominated by knowledge-intensive industries through a network investigation.FindingsResults indicate that the levels of executives’ cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership contribute to KMS, while knowledge-oriented leadership acts as a mediator between them. In addition, the fear of COVID-19 of senior executives negatively affects both the direct and mediated influence of cultural intelligence on KMS.Research limitations/implicationsThe current research uses an empirical approach to examine cross-border KMS. Further research is needed to develop more comprehensive measurement tools for KMS and more detailed research by further developing the subdimensions of cultural intelligence. In addition, this paper used cross-sectional research that limits the capability to establish causal relationships over time.Originality/valueThe research explores the “human side” of the key antecedents of KMS, fills the gap in research about the impact of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership on the achievement of KMS, paves the way for emerging knowledge-oriented leadership from the initial phase to the mature phase and contributes to the literature on environmental uncertainty and crisis, using the COVID-19 as a representative context.