Gender Of Respondents Research Articles

Bangladeshi parents’ knowledge and awareness about cervical cancer and willingness to vaccinate female family members against human papilloma virus: a cross sectional study

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is an important cause of cancer death among Bangladeshi women and human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative factor for developing CC. HPV vaccination is yet to be implemented as part of national immunization programme in Bangladesh. Method: The objective of this cross-sectional research was to evaluate the understanding of CC, HPV, and the willingness to accept HPV vaccination among parents of school-aged children (between 5-16 years) from grades 1-10 in the capital city of Bangladesh, Dhaka. The study was conducted from February 2020 to January 2021 by paper-based survey. Results: This study showed 86.6% of participants knew that CC is preventable and 98.6% knew that vaccine can prevent CC. Only 1.3% of the participants heard about HPV. Majority (97.1%) were interested in HPV vaccination to female family members. Knowledge about visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) test, CC prevention and HPV vaccine were significantly associated with willingness to give vaccine. Gender, age, educational level and socioeconomic condition of respondents have no relation with vaccine acceptance (p>0.05). This study showed that total 1319 (45%) respondents sought the vaccine free of cost and personal relation as friends and family were major source of information (64.8%). Conclusions: The study's results revealed that a significant number of Bangladeshi parents were aware of CC, CC prevention, and HPV vaccination. Nonetheless, most participants expressed a willingness to vaccinate their female family members against HPV.

Удовлетворенность медицинской помощью в Российской Федерации: факторы, влияющие на оценку.

One of the primary indicators of the efficiency of the healthcare system is the patient’s experience and his individual evaluation of the medical care given. With the development and launch of the Federal project “Modernization of primary health care”, a methodology for assessing the satisfaction of the population with medical care has been formed. The survey evaluates not only the general indicator of public satisfaction with medical care, but also a number of individual domains and parameters of respondents. The aim of the study: was to determine the relationship between the level of satisfaction with medical care and its domains with the gender and age characteristics of respondents, the timing of receiving medical care, the place of residence of the study participants and preferences in choosing medical organizations. Materials and methods. The data were obtained by conducting a survey by medical insurance organizations operating in 85 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The satisfaction level was calculated as the ratio of the number of respondents who chose the answers “Mostly satisfied” and “Absolutely satisfied” to the total number of respondents who answered the corresponding question, translated into a percentage. To test the hypothesis about the impact of factors on the level of satisfaction, a generalized linear mixed model with a binomial error distribution function was used. Results. The total number of respondents is 254488. The maximum level of satisfaction is 45,8% (April 2023), the minimum is 40,0% (September 2022). Living in rural areas and the private type of medical organization were factors that increase the level of both overall satisfaction (OSH=1,12 and OSH=2,81) and all its domains. The age of the respondents was inversely proportional to the specified parameters. In men, compared with women, the chance of getting into the group satisfied with the general expectation and the solution of the problem increased by 1,04 and 1,09 times, respectively (p<0,001), and in the group satisfied with the comfort in a medical organization – decreased (OR=0,97, p<0,001). Conclusion. The data obtained during the study allowed us to determine the relationship between the level of satisfaction with medical care and its domains with the gender and age characteristics of respondents, the timing of receiving medical care, the place of residence of study participants and preferences in choosing medical organizations, which can become the basis for the development of measures aimed at achieving and maintaining a high level of the parameter under study.

Perbedaan Kejadian Penurunan Fungsi Kognitif pada Individu Normotensi dan Hipertensi dari Populasi Pesisir di Kecamatan Pemenang Kabupaten Lombok Utara

Hypertension occurs due to vasoconstriction and impaired vasodilation which causes increased vascular resistance. Hypertension is the risk factor of Cognitive impairment decreased cognitive function through the mechanism of vascular damage and toxicity. Cognitive function is a complex function in the human brain. Cognitive impairment is also influenced by age, gender, physical activity, health factors, and education. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of blood pressure on cognitive impairment in coastal populations in the working area of ​​the Pemenang Health Center, North Lombok Regency. The research method used a cross sectional approach. The sampling method was purposive sampling. Measurement of cognitive function status using the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) questionnaire. Univariate data analysis to determine the frequency distribution of variables; BMI, age, gender, educational, and occupation of respondents. Test the hypothesis using the Chi-Square test, with a probability value (p) <0.05. The total number of respondents were 188, in the hypertension group was 88 (47%) and the normotensive group was 100 (53%) respondents. The age of the dominant respondent is in the range of 36-45 years, namely 96 (51.1%). As many as 158 (84%) of respondents experienced cognitive impairment and 82 (43.6%) of them had hypertension. There was a significant difference in the incidence of cognitive impairment in the hypertension and normotensive groups (p=0.001). There was a difference in the frequency of cognitive impairment in normotensive and hypertensive respondents in coastal populations in the working area of ​​the Pemenang Health Center, North Lombok Regency.

Acceptability of restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based survey in Denmark and Sweden.

Denmark and Sweden initially adopted different responses to the COVID-19 pandemic although the two countries share many characteristics. Denmark responded swiftly with many mandatory restrictions. In contrast, Sweden relied on voluntary restrictions and a more "relaxed" response during the first wave of the pandemic. However, increased rates of COVID-19 cases led to a new approach that involved many more mandatory restrictions, thus making Sweden's response similar to Denmark's in the second wave of the pandemic. The aim was to investigate and compare the extent to which the populations in Denmark and Sweden considered the COVID-19 restrictions to be acceptable during the first two waves of the pandemic. The study also aimed to identify the characteristics of those who were least accepting of the restrictions in the two countries. Cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Denmark and Sweden in 2021. The study population was sampled from nationally representative web panels in the two countries, consisting of 2,619 individuals from Denmark and 2,633 from Sweden. The questionnaire captured key socio-demographic characteristics. Acceptability was operationalized based on a theoretical framework consisting of seven constructs and one overarching construct. The respondents' age and gender patterns were similar in the two countries. The proportion of respondents in Denmark who agreed with the statements ("agree" alternative) that captured various acceptability constructs was generally higher for the first wave than the second wave of the pandemic. The opposite pattern was seen for Sweden. In Denmark, 66% in the first wave and 50% in the second wave were accepting of the restrictions. The corresponding figures for Sweden was 42% (first wave) and 47% (second wave). Low acceptance of the restrictions, defined as the 25% with the lowest total score on the seven acceptability statements, was associated with younger age, male gender and lower education levels. Respondents in Sweden were more accepting of the restrictions in the second wave, when the country used many mandatory restrictions. In contrast, respondents in Denmark were more accepting of the restrictions in the first wave than in the second wave, implying an increased weariness to comply with the restrictions over time. There were considerable socio-demographic differences between those who expressed low acceptance of the restrictions and the others in both countries, suggesting the importance of tailoring communication about the pandemic to different segments of the population.

Insights into abusive workplace behavior.

Insights into abusive workplace behavior.

Examining differences in perceived usability of Google Drive among public library users

PurposeThis study aims to explore differences in the usability of the Google Drive application based on demographic characteristics, computer skills and use frequency of Google Drive among public library users of Lahore.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted a quantitative approach and survey-based research method to achieve the study's objectives. The cloud usability model (user perspective) has been used as a theoretical lens to guide the study objectives. It comprises five dimensions of usability – capable, personal, reliable, valuable and secure.FindingsThe findings of the study revealed that the usability of Google Drive varied statistically significantly on the basis of depending on the respondents gender, age, academic qualification, computer skills and Google Drive use frequency.Practical implicationsIt is a valuable study since it and adds knowledge to existing literature and has implications for practice.Originality/valueThe findings might be helpful for cloud support teams including Google Drive as they can notice the demographic and other differences among users' perceived usability of Google Drive and can enhance certain features of usability which leads attributes to increase its usage among users.

Employees’ Perception Regarding In-House Training Programs in Pakistani Organizations

This study examines employees’ perception regarding quality of in-house training programs in different organizations of Lahore city, Pakistan. These Organizations have in-house training facilities and conduct training programs in coordination with HR department on regular basis. Purpose of study is to find employees perception and satisfaction level regarding various training variables and difference of opinion among groups of respondents (gender, designation, and work experience). Data sample consists of 123 employees through structured questionnaire. The research tool consists of 32 items and 6 factors including training material, trainer, need-based training, facilities, timing, & schedule, and benefits of training. Questionnaire includes 30 close-ended questions on Likert’s five point rating scale. Research design uses quantitative approach. Data Analysis tool used for interpretation is SPSS 23.0 applying frequency distributions/percent, mean, standard deviation and t-tests/ANOVA for analysis. Survey method was used to collect data. A structure questionnaire was used as primary data collection tool using random sampling technique. Total 175 questionnaires were distributed to respondents by the researcher, out of which 123 completed questionnaires were found usable. The study provides conclusions about employees perception and satisfaction level regarding various training factors surveyed in the research tool. It also provides conclusions about difference of opinion among various groups of employees (like gender, designation and work experience groups). Study findings shows overall satisfaction level among employees of organizations. The study also represents recommendations for managerial implication and directions for future researchers for training and development practices.

What defines a great surgeon? A survey study confronting perspectives.

The definition of a great surgeon is usually reported by surgeons themselves. The objective of the study was to define a multifaceted definition of a great surgeon, by confronting patients', healthcare workers', and surgeons' perspectives. An online open-ended questionnaire was created to identify three qualities and three shortcomings defining a great surgeon. Age, gender, and profession of respondents were collected. Responses with a similar meaning were combined into word groups and labeled within four themes: human qualities, technical surgical skills (TSS), non-technical skills (NTS), and knowledge. Multivariate analyses were conducted between themes and respondent characteristics. Four thousand seven hundred and sixty qualities and 4,374 shortcomings were obtained from 1,620 respondents including 385 surgeons, 291 patients, 565 operating theater (OT) health professionals, and 379 non-OT health professionals. The main three qualities were dexterity (54% of respondents), meticulousness (18%), and empathy (18%). There was no significant difference between professional categories for TSS. Compared with surgeons, non-OT health professionals and patients put more emphasis on human qualities (29 vs. 39% and 42%, respectively, p < .001). OT health professionals referred more to NTS than surgeons (35 vs. 22%, p < 0.001). Knowledge was more important for surgeons (19%) than for all other professional categories (p < 0.001). This survey illustrates the multifaceted definition of a great surgeon. Even if dexterity is a major quality, human qualities are of paramount importance. Knowledge seems to be underestimated by non-surgeons, although it essential to understand the disease and preparing the patient and OT team for the procedure.

The hidden curriculum across medical disciplines: an examination of scope, impact, and context.

While research suggests that manifestations of the hidden curriculum (HC) phenomenon have the potential to reinforce or undermine the values of an institution, very few studies have comprehensively measured its scope, impact, and the varied clinical teaching and learning contexts within which they occur. We explored the HC and examined the validity of newly developed constructs and determined the influence of context on the HC. We surveyed medical students (n =182), residents (n =148), and faculty (n = 140) from all disciplines at our institution between 2019 and 2020. Based on prior research and expertise, we measured participants' experience with the HC including perceptions of respect and disrespect for different medical disciplines, settings in which the HC is experienced, impact of the HC, personal actions, efficacy, and their institutional perceptions. We examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the HC constructs using exploratory factor analysis Cronbach's alpha, regression analysis and Pearson's correlations. Expert judges (physician faculty and medical learners) confirmed the content validity of the items used and the analysis revealed new HC constructs reflecting negative expressions, positive impacts and expressions, negative impacts, personal actions, and positive institutional perceptions of the HC. Evidence for criterion validity was found for the negative impacts and the personal actions constructs and were significantly associated with the stage of respondents' career and gender. Support for convergent validity was obtained for HC constructs that were significantly correlated with certain contexts within which the HC occurs. More unique dimensions and contexts of the HC exist than have been previously documented. The findings demonstrate that specific clinical contexts can be targeted to improve negative expressions and impacts of the HC.

Organic Toddler Food – an Analysis of the Perception of Users

Objective: Understanding the factors influencing the rising levels of organic toddler food consumption, such as motivation, is essential to maximizing the market's potential for organic toddler food. Theoretical framework: Perception and attitude of organic toddler food customers with reference to the perceived benefits. This study involves the investigation of perception and attitude towards organic toddler food of the customer in the context of India and the analogy worldwide. Method: Purposive sampling procedure has been used to collect data. With a sample size of 384. Researcher has used the following tools: Correlation Multiple regression Chi-square test Results and conclusion: Age and gender of respondents and users perception are associated with each other. The users perception and perceived risk are related. The perceived benefits have a greater impact on user’s perception towards organic food than the perceived benefits. Implications of the research: majority of people know about the term organic, its understanding and usage and their health benefits. Now the responsibility lies on the shoulder of the marketers to use the best source of information cropped by this study and by the mediums such as through internet, print media and through specialized organic stores to influence the perception of customers. Originality/value: Educated retailers can easily persuade the customers by upgrading the knowledge and convincing about the associated benefits of organic food. Marketer should expand their distribution channel using National or local retail chain store and provide more variety in organic products as per the consumer demand.

Evaluation of the Perceived Ecosystem Services Provided by Selected Sites: the Imo River, Rivers State, Nigeria

The wetlands of the Niger Delta are home to a wide range of ecosystem services and are rich in biodiversity. The ecosystem services of selected sites along the Imo River, Rivers State were evaluated over the course of a year (April 2021 – March 2022) using structured questionnaires divided into two sections; Socio-economic characteristics of respondents (age group, gender, marital status, religion and occupation) and their perceived ecosystem services of the water bodies aside from fishing. The findings showed that the largest age range of respondents in Kono (25 (50%) fell between 31 and 40 years old, while Opuoko (23 (46%) and Oyigbo’s (27 (67.5%) age range fell between 41 and 50 years old. In Kono, Opuoko and Oyigbo respectively, males (50 (100%), 50 (100%), and 40 (100%) predominated. The majority of respondents were married; Kono 47, (94%), Opuoko 49, (98%), and Oyigbo 37, (92.5%). All respondents at the three selected sites were Christians (Kono 50, (100%), Opuoko 50 (100%), and Oyigbo 40 (100%); the majority of respondents were fishermen (Kono 47, (94%), Opuoko 49 (98%) and Oyigbo (37, (95%). In addition to fishing, respondents believed that Kono’s ecosystems provided transportation, fuel wood production and recreation. Sand mining, fuel wood production, recreation and transportation were the main ecosystem services provided in Opuoko. In Oyigbo the ecosystem provided recreation, fuel wood production and palm wine tapping. In conclusion, the Imo river provides a variety of ecosystem services to its residents; however, some of these services have not been fully utilized. As a result, it is recommended that residents be properly informed about the ecosystem services provided by the river as well as the need for proper monitoring and protection of the ecosystem from deterioration.

The Interaction of Display Advertisement and E-Wom on Omnichannel Purchase Intention Using Sem: an Age Moderation Effect

Purpose: This study looks at how display advertisements affect customers' Omni-buy intentions and the impact of e-WOM in determining if this influence is reflected in their purchase intentions. Theoretical framework: Consumers' daily lives have grown more reliant on display advertising. Consumers depend on the Internet as a source of readily accessible information regarding advertising and businesses. Consequently, a customer becomes linked and an omnichannel shopper, intending to purchase products both online and offline. Electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) has also emerged as a powerful force that must be understood in the context of the omnichannel buyer. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was performed to confirm the study's assumptions. Consumers who purchase fashion products omnichannel were polled for information. A questionnaire of 28 questions was developed for the study. The questionnaire includes questions about the respondent's age, gender, and educational level. Findings: The results of the study show that there is a link between display advertising, e-WOM, and Omni-Online Purchase Intention. Several suggestions are produced to assist managers in navigating their brand's online presence in a manner that fits their customers' Omni-purchase intention. Research, Practical &amp; Social Implication: Through this investigation, the prevalence of many display ads on consumer purchase intention on the omnichannel market is determined, which contributes to the literature on advertising efficiency. Originality/value: This study would most likely propose a method for market communication to determine how different types of display advertisements influence consumer purchase intentions, allowing firms to better manage the customer experience.

Extending the concept of financial literacy: A step toward a sustainable society

This study analyzes financial literacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina by considering three areas: interest, inflation, and diversification, with financial literacy as a multi-dimensional construct consisting of financial knowledge and financial skills. Using a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey, 638 valid responses were collected from working-age individuals (18-65 years old). Financial knowledge and skills were analyzed through a prism of several demographic factors, including age, education, household income, and gender. Welch's F tests, ANOVA with Brown-Forsythe, LSD post hoc tests, and Welch's t-tests were performed to test the hypotheses. The findings provide evidence of moderate financial literacy. Similarly to previous studies, financial knowledge and skills partially depend on the respondent's age, education, household income, and gender. The study contributes to the current literature by taking a much-needed non-functional approach to examining financial literacy, focusing not only on financial knowledge but also on often neglected financial skills and providing insight into the unique context of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Reciprocal self-disclosure: Although respondents are reluctant to steal the spotlight, self-disclosers feel validated, understood, and cared for when respondents share comparable experiences

People often self-disclose news about themselves. Respondents may have similar news and feel conflicted about whether to share that news in the moment – that is, to reciprocally self-disclose. On the one hand, reciprocally self-disclosing could enable them to convey that they understand the recipient’s experience. On the other hand, reciprocally self-disclosing could dishonor the recipient’s contribution in a manner akin to stealing the spotlight. What contextual variables do respondents consider when navigating this conflict? How do recipients perceive reciprocal self-disclosures (RSDs) relative to non-disclosures – and what contextual variables moderate recipients’ perceptions? In this paper, we report four studies ( N = 1200 Reddit conversations, 733 MTurk and 701 Prolific users) examining how people use and perceive RSD across a variety of contexts. We focus principally on context valence (positive vs. negative) and news similarity (similar vs. more extreme). Across experimental and naturalistic studies, respondents were highly context-sensitive and particularly reluctant to reciprocally self-disclose in positive contexts. Yet, recipients were less context-sensitive. Recipients evaluated similar RSDs as comparably responsive as non-disclosures in positive contexts and more responsive than non-disclosures in negative contexts. Furthermore, recipients perceived more extreme RSDs as more responsive than non-disclosures in negative contexts and less responsive than non-disclosures in positive contexts. Exploratory analyses suggested privacy, gender of respondent, and closeness predicted whether respondents used RSD but not whether recipients perceived RSD as responsive. In short, people often refrain from RSD to avoid committing communication errors – but our research suggests RSD can be highly responsive and incurs few costs relative to non-disclosure.

Attributions and perpetrators of incivility in academic surgery.

Although incivility has been described in other specialties, little is known about the attributes and perpetrators of it in academic surgery. The goal of this study was to identify attributes and commonly associated perpetrators of incivility experienced by trainees and faculty at academic surgery programs in the U.S. A web-based survey including the Workplace Incivility Scale (WIS) and questions regarding attributions and perpetrators of incivility was sent to trainees and faculty at academic institutions across the U.S. In addition to descriptive statistics, multivariable regression models were built to determine the impact of perpetrator type and number on overall incivility scores. We received 367 of 2,661 (13.8%) responses. Top three reasons for incivility were surgery hierarchy (50.1%), respondent's gender (33.8%) and intergenerational differences (28.1%). Faculty (58.6%), patients (36.8%), and nursing staff (31.9%) were the most reported parties responsible for incivility. Female surgeons reported experiencing incivility more frequently from all three top responsible parties (i.e., faculty, patients, and nurses) when compared to other gender identities. Additionally, those who reported faculty (β = 0.61, 95%CI 0.39-0.82) or nurses (β = 0.23, 95%CI 0.009-0.45) as perpetrators of incivility reported an increase in overall incivility scores. Incivility in surgery is frequently attributed to surgery hierarchy, gender, and intergenerational differences. Surgical trainees and faculty reported that faculty, patients, and nurses were the most commonly identified as responsible for uncivil events in the surgical workforce. Exposure to a greater variety of perpetrators of incivility increases overall levels of incivility, emphasizing the importance of eliminating incivility from all sources. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44186-023-00129-1.

Vaccine Hesitancy in Women of Childbearing Age and Occupational Physicians: Results from a Cross-Sectional Study (Italy, 2022)

Italian occupational physicians (OPs) are instrumental in promoting vaccination practice in occupational settings, and this study aims to characterize their attitudes, knowledge, and practices (collectively, KAP) towards immunization practice in women of childbearing age. A convenience sample of 120 OPs (50.8% males, mean age of 48.2 ± 5.9 years old) completed a structured online questionnaire (potential recipients: 2034; response rate: 5.9%) assessing their understanding of official recommendations, their general knowledge of vaccine practice, their attitudes towards vaccines, and their risk perception about vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. The sampled OPs exhibited a good understanding of official recommendations, and they were largely favorable towards vaccination of pregnant women. Knowledge status was relatively good (potential range 0 to 100%, average score 22 74.5% ± 18.2), while risk perception towards sampled disorders was heterogenous: the greatest was the one for SARS-CoV-2 (52.7% ± 32.9), followed by seasonal influenza (45.3% ± 31.6), and pertussis (37.8% 24 ± 28.2). The main predictors for promoting vaccination were higher knowledge about seasonal influenza vaccine (SIV; adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 102.2, 95% Confidence Interval [95%CI] 9.68–1080.26), tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap; aOR 12.34, 95%CI 2.62; 58.22) 27 and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (aOR 14.76, 95%CI 2.74–79.69). A better attitude towards SIV was positively associated with previous vaccination of the respondent (aOR 4.90, 95%CI 1.19–20.14), while higher risk perception towards SIV was characterized as a negative predictor (aOR 0.04, 95%CI 0.01–0.35), as was working as an OP in healthcare facilities (aOR 0.03, 95%CI 0.01–0.43). Tdap was positively associated with male gender of respondents (aOR 10.22, 95%CI 2.60 to 40.24) and higher risk perception about pertussis (aOR 10.38, 95%CI 1.47 to 73.47). Overall, our data suggest that improving the understanding of OPs about the health burden of frequently encountered pathogens could be instrumental in increasing their involvement in the promotion of vaccine practice. Because of the low rate of response to our survey, our conclusions remain tentative.

Knowledge on Sexual Reproductive Health and Risk Behaviours of Adolescents in Abeokuta South Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria

This study assessed sexual risk behaviour and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health among adolescents in Abeokuta South Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 411 adolescents for the study. Data were analyzed using mean, frequency counts, percentages, and chi-square test. The findings show that the source of information on sexual and reproductive health was the mother (90.0%) with majority of respondents having high knowledge on the discourse. Only few of the respondents (18.0%) had ever had sexual intercourse while majority (82.0%) never had sexual intercourse. Of the 18% who had ever had sex, 9% were willing while others were either coerced, forced, or tricked. The mean age of respondents and partners at first sexual intercourse was 15 and 16 years respectively. Sexual risk behaviours among adolescents having multiple sex partners (96.0%) and unprotected sex without condom (95.0%). Respondents have high knowledge on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). However, knowledge of SRH is not associated with respondents gender. There is a significant association (p&lt;0.05) between respondents’ gender and their sexual risk behaviour (p=0.022). Adolescents engage in sexual risks behaviours despite their knowledge on SRH. The study has implication for policy.&#x0D; &#x0D; Received: 15 February 2023 / Accepted: 25 April 2023 / Published: 5 May 2023

Socio-economic impacts of Covid-19 through gender lens: A situational assessment in Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Global trends showed that men were somehow, more inclined to the infection and death by Covid-19 than women, which showed no exception in Bangladesh. This paper aims to focus on major socio-economic impacts (economic, education, health, gender power relation) and Covid-19-induced response measures in urban context, through gender lens. Qualitative and quantitative methods were blended for the study. A significant relationship was identified between respondent's gender and maintaining social distancing (χ2 (1, N = 110) = 12.2037, p = 0.000477), also in case of going in crowded places during the first wave of Covid-19 (χ2 (4, N = 110) = 18.8001, p = 0.00086), using chi-square test. Concerned with socio-economic impacts, the gender of respondents was found to have a moderate impact on domestic abuse (χ2 (1, N = 110) = 1.8442, p = 0.174454). As for other impacts, null hypotheses failed to be rejected. Regarding response and awareness level, researcher found that 71.6% of women were more skilled in isolation management, and food stocking, in contrast with 64% of men. Entrenched social prejudices and unequal gender-specific treatments toward women, could stimulate the gender-sensitive disproportion in preparedness, impact, and response phase since the Covid-19 emergence.

Development and Validation of a Brief Version of the Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale for Adults: The VFS-A-10.

Listening-related fatigue can be a significant problem for adults who struggle to hear and understand, particularly adults with hearing loss. However, valid, sensitive, and clinically useful measures for listening-related fatigue do not currently exist. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a brief clinical tool for measuring listening-related fatigue in adults. The clinical scale was derived from the 40-item version of the Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale for Adults (VFS-A-40), an existing, reliable, and valid research tool for measuring listening-related fatigue. The study consisted of two phases. Phase 1 ( N = 580) and Phase 2 ( N = 607) participants consisted of convenience samples of adults recruited via online advertisements, clinical records review, and a pool of prior research participants. In Phase 1, results from item response theory (IRT) analyses of VFS-A-40 items were used to identify high-quality items for the brief (10-item) clinical scale: the VFS-A-10. In Phase 2, the characteristics and quality of the VFS-A-10 were evaluated in a separate sample of respondents. Dimensionality was evaluated using exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and item quality and characteristics were evaluated using IRT. VFS-A-10 reliability and validity were assessed in multiple ways. IRT reliability analysis was used to examine VFS-A-10 measurement fidelity. In addition, test-retest reliability was assessed in a subset of Phase 2 participants ( n = 145) who completed the VFS-A-10 a second time approximately one month after their initial measure (range 5 to 90 days). IRT differential item functioning (DIF) was used to assess item bias across different age, gender, and hearing loss subgroups. Convergent construct validity was evaluated by comparing VFS-A-10 responses to two other generic fatigue scales and a measure of hearing disability. Known-groups validity was assessed by comparing VFS-A-10 scores between adults with and without self-reported hearing loss. EFA suggested a unidimensional structure for the VFS-A-10. IRT analyses confirmed all test items were high quality. IRT reliability analysis revealed good measurement fidelity over a wide range of fatigue severities. Test-retest reliability was excellent ( rs = 0.88, collapsed across participants). IRT DIF analyses confirmed the VFS-A-10 provided a valid measure of listening-related fatigue regardless of respondent age, gender, or hearing status. An examination of associations between VFS-A-10 scores and generic fatigue/vigor measures revealed only weak-to-moderate correlations (Spearman's correlation coefficient, rs = -0.36 to 0.57). Stronger associations were seen between VFS-A-10 scores and a measure of perceived hearing difficulties ( rs = 0.79 to 0.81) providing evidence of convergent construct validity. In addition, the VFS-A-10 was more sensitive to fatigue associated with self-reported hearing difficulties than generic measures. It was also more sensitive than generic measures to variations in fatigue as a function of degree of hearing impairment. These findings suggest that the VFS-A-10 is a reliable, valid, and sensitive tool for measuring listening-related fatigue in adults. Its brevity, high sensitivity, and good reliability make it appropriate for clinical use. The scale will be useful for identifying those most affected by listening-related fatigue and for assessing benefits of interventions designed to reduce its negative effects.

Online Practicum Program during the Pandemic among COB Students of the Systems Plus College Foundation

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the online practicum program on students' professional development, personal growth, skills, and abilities at the College of Business, Systems Plus College Foundation in Angeles City, Philippines during the pandemic. The study included 28 practicum students from the College of Business of Systems Plus College Foundation, Angeles City, Philippines, who were studying Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and Bachelor of Science in Customs Administration. The research employed a structured questionnaire of 28 closed-ended items rated on a 5-point Likert scale on gender, course pursuing, reason and expectation from the practicum, and influence of practicum on the professional development, personal growth, skill, and abilities of the respondents. The gender, course pursuing, reasons, and expectations of respondents were analyzed using descriptive analysis. A reliability scale through Cronbach Alpha was used to assess the questionnaire's reliability. normality was evaluated employing univariate and multivariate normality of skewness and kurtosis, and a non-parametric test through Mann-Whitney test was used to calculate the p-value measuring the evidence against the null hypothesis. The evaluation on the influence of online practicum among the respondents was carried out through a non-parametric test using Mann Whitney test. The study's findings show the influence of internship programs on the professional and personal growth and skills of COB-SPCF business students.