General Experience Research Articles

Machine learning-based model for customer emotion detection in hotel booking services

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to expand and analyze deeply customer emotions, concretize the levels of positive or negative emotions with the aim of using machine learning methods, and build a model to identify customer emotions.Design/methodology/approachThe study proposed a customer emotion detection model and data mining method based on the collected dataset, including 80,593 online reviews on agoda.com and booking.com from 2009 to 2022.FindingsBy discerning specific emotions expressed in customers' comments, emotion detection, which refers to the process of identifying users' emotional states, assumes a crucial role in evaluating the brand value of a product. The research capitalizes on the vast and diverse data sources available on hotel booking websites, which, despite their richness, remain largely unexplored and unanalyzed. The outcomes of the model, pertaining to the detection and classification of customer emotions based on ratings and reviews into four distinct emotional states, offer a means to address the challenge of determining customer satisfaction regarding their actual service experiences. These findings hold substantial value for businesses operating in this domain, as the findings facilitate the evaluation and formulation of improvement strategies within their business models. The experimental study reveals that the proposed model attains an exact match ratio, precision, and recall rates of up to 81%, 90% and 90%, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThe study has yet to mine real-time data. Prediction results may be influenced because the amount of data collected from the web is insufficient and preprocessing is not completely suppressed. Furthermore, the model in the study was not tested using all algorithms and multi-label classifiers. Future research should build databases to mine data in real-time and collect more data and enhance the current model.Practical implicationsThe study's results suggest that the emotion detection models can be applied to the real world to quickly analyze customer feedback. The proposed models enable the identification of customers' emotions, the discovery of customer demand, the enhancement of service, and the general customer experience. The established models can be used by many service sectors to learn more about customer satisfaction with the offered goods and services from customer reviews.Social implicationsThe research paper helps businesses in the hospitality area analyze customer emotions in each specific aspect to ensure customer satisfaction. In addition, managers can come up with appropriate strategies to bring better products and services to society and people. Subsequently, fostering the growth of the hotel tourism sector within the nation, thereby facilitating sustainable economic development on a national scale.Originality/valueThis study developed a customer emotions detection model for detecting and classifying customer ratings and reviews as 4 specific emotions: happy, angry, depressed and hopeful based on online booking hotel websites agoda.com and booking.com that contains 80,593 reviews in Vietnamese. The research results help businesses check and evaluate the quality of their services, thereby offering appropriate improvement strategies to increase customers' satisfaction and demand more effectively.

Maternal postpartum depressive symptoms: The predictive role of objective and subjective birth experience and hair glucocorticoids

BackgroundHaving a negative childbirth experience is a known risk-factor for developing postpartum depression (PPD). Alterations of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis have been discussed as a potential underlying mechanism. However, research on the association between negative birth experiences and long-term integrated glucocorticoids (GCs) is lacking. This study aimed to examine whether objective and subjective birth experience predicted long-term GCs and PPD symptoms. MethodsMeasures of objective and subjective birth experience, PPD symptoms, and hair strands for the assessment of hair cortisol concentrations (HairF), hair cortisone concentrations (HairE), and HairF/HairE ratio, were provided eight weeks after childbirth by 235 mothers participating in the study DREAMHAIR. ResultsA negative objective birth experience predicted a higher HairF/HairE ratio but was not associated with HairF or HairE. The subjective birth experience did not explain additional variance in hair GCs but was a significant predictor for PPD symptoms. A higher HairF/HairE ratio predicted PPD symptoms when controlling for prepartum depressive symptoms and number of lifetime traumatic events. LimitationsAnalyses were based on a relatively homogeneous sample and women reported in general positive birth experiences and low levels of depressive symptoms. Therefore, results should be applied to the broader population with caution. ConclusionsOur results suggest that negative objective birth experience is associated with an altered HairF/HairE ratio, which in turn, seems to be a promising biomarker to identify women at risk for developing PPD. A negative subjective birth experience may be less critical for alterations of the HPA-axis but remains an essential risk factor for PPD.

A socio-economic examination of participation in socially innovative energy projects

This paper aims to examine the role of citizen investment in scaling up renewable generation through participating or investing in social innovation in energy. It presents an explorative study demonstrating results of large-scale surveys of the general public across twelve countries (11 European plus the USA), representing the views of over 10,000 individuals. These surveys focus on three types of innovative energy business models, namely: energy cooperatives, crowdfunding and peer-to-peer platforms. In particular, we study the socioeconomic, demographic and attitudinal attributes of self-reported early participants in similar energy organizations, and also separately among those who express an unwillingness to participate in the above business models. The findings suggest that factors such as age, education, gender, risk preferences, previous general investment experience and trust in the carbon saving claims of organizations are important in explaining both self-reported previous and future participation in energy initiatives.

Museum-based art therapy and wellbeing programme: experiences of veterans with PTSD

ABSTRACT Background Engaging in creative arts and heritage have both been shown to improve wellbeing. Aim: The aim of the current study was to explore veterans’ experiences of attending the Creative Wellbeing Programme programme (CWP) in a military museum. Methods Seven veterans who attended the CWP programme were invited to share their experiences through a qualitative, semi-structured interview. The interview explored experiences of engaging in this type of programme and the impact this had on them. The interview was transcribed, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Results Themes concerned three stages of involvement: Pre-programme, Programme experiences, and Post-programme. Pre-Programme themes concerned reasons for participation, pre-programmes feelings, hopes and expectations. Programme Experiences concerned general experiences, the role of social support, the role of the museum, and the art therapy process. Post-Programme themes concerned perceived outcomes. Overall, the museum created a relaxed and informal environment, and the familiar items in the museum stimulated the creative process. However, for some this led to disengagement due to fear that objects may prompt negative emotions. Conclusions The findings suggest that engaging veterans in art therapy in a museum environment is beneficial. Future programmes should aim to focus on support post intervention. Implications: The study provides insight into the acceptability of art therapy within a military museum environment. It also adds to the growing international evidence concerning the role museums have in supporting mental health and wellbeing. Plain language summary This study aimed to explore the experiences of veterans who took part in a Creative Wellbeing Programme (CWP). This programme involved using art and discussion in a museum environment as a way of supporting veterans with potentially traumatic memories. The group environment facilitated connection and a sense of belonging through discussion of museum items. Seven veterans were interviewed via MS Teams about their experiences engaging in the programme, exploring potentially positive and negative aspects of participating. The transcripts were transcribed by MS Teams and anonymized before being analysed for potential themes. Themes were identified relating to pre-programme, during the programme and following the programme. Pre-programme themes were centred on the reasons veterans participated, and their hopes and expectations about the programme. Programme themes were the role of social support in the groups, the role of the museum, art therapy process. Post-programme themes centred on the outcomes veterans felt had resulted from taking part in the programme. Overall, the familiar items in the museum facilitated discussion and creativity despite some veterans feeling that the items prompted negative emotions. The study findings indicate the potential benefits of a museum group environment for veterans experiencing mental health difficulties.

Exploring the Opportunities, Challenges, and Ways Forward of Women in STEM Fields: A Case Study

The underrepresentation of women in STEM fields impacts their participation in a male- dominated workplace. Moreover, gender discrimination and biases that affect their perceived abilities influence their decisions regarding their pursuit of STEM careers. Nonetheless, the involvement of women in STEM field continues to grow steadily. However, limited research exists to provide in-depth insights into the general experiences of women in STEM in the Philippines. Thus, this case study sought to explore the opportunities, challenges, and ways forward of women in STEM fields. The participant was selected through purposive sampling and underwent online interview via Zoom meeting. The recorded interview was transcribed and coded. Categories were clustered; then, emerging themes were derived. Based on the findings, despite the limited career advancement and gender discrimination in some aspects, women can still grow personally and professionally in STEM fields. Moreover, STEM fields offer equal job opportunities based on qualifications, and not on gender, enabling rewarding careers and driving technological advancement. However, women continue to encounter challenges caused by cultural traditions that favour men, even in the presence of opportunities. To overcome these challenges, women have adopted strategies aimed at empowering themselves, showcasing their capabilities, and challenging cultural norms within STEM fields. In conclusion, the challenges faced by women in STEM fields have diminished over time, while opportunities have expanded. Women have also demonstrated adaptability in their workplaces by employing strategic approaches and cultivating a positive mindset, allowing them to be treated equitably alongside their male counterparts.

Experiences of Technology-Facilitated Abuse Among Sexual and Gender Minorities.

Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) against sexual and gender minority (SGM) adults is a serious though understudied issue. Few studies have examined the types, extent, and perpetrators of TFA against SGMs, and those that have analyzed any of these phenomena have mostly done so with samples of youths. This article offers results of a nationally representative survey on experiences of TFA among a sample of 2,752 U.S. adults aged 18 to 35 years, including 504 SGMs. The prevalence and types of TFA against SGMs were examined using a 27-item inventory capturing six general types of TFA, including surveillance, cyber-interference/communications, reputational harm, monitoring/tracking, fraud, and controlling/limiting access. Respondents could also indicate their relationship to the perpetrator. Results revealed significant differences in the prevalence, types, and perpetrators of TFA against SMGs (compared to non-SGMs), such that SGMs experienced greater levels of TFA victimization, were more likely to be victimized by perpetrators who were not intimate or ex-intimate partners, and were more likely to experience all forms of TFA, except for monitoring/tracking. No significant differences were found for general experiences of TFA victimization between cisgender and non-cisgender individuals or between sexual minority males and sexual minority females. Results thus show that although SGMs and non-SGMs experience similar types of TFA, SGMs experience TFA at higher rates. These findings provide a vital foundation for future work on TFA victimization among SGMs and offer insights for policy and practice, particularly for practitioners and clinicians working with SGMs. Findings indicate a potential need for greater access to health care, victim services, technological support, and legal aid for SGMs due to their increased risk of TFA victimization.

Implementation of a workplace protection system and its correlation with experiences of workplace violence: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundWhile customer interactions are inherent and essential aspects of the service industry, instances of violence against service workers have brought social attention to the need for a system to ensure their protection. In South Korea, a protection system for the health of service workers has been implemented to prevent this type of violence and its negative consequences. This study conducted a comparative analysis to clarify the impacts of this protection system across a sample of service workers. We collected data on their general characteristics, occupational characteristics, and experiences with the service protection system to determine how those factors were related to workplace violence, with a focus on whether the system has reduced such occurrences.MethodsWe collected self-reported survey data over 28 days (March 2 to March 30, 2020), resulting in 1,349 (99.3%) responses for our final analysis. We conducted a chi-square test and logistic regression analysis to investigate the general and occupational characteristics, experiences of violence, and experiences with the worker protection system.ResultsWe found workplace violence is more observed among males, older workers, electronic equipment repairers, irregular workers, and those who worked for extended periods. On the other hand, we found a reduction in the occurrence of workplace violence in businesses that provided service workers with regular counseling from professional counselors, had designated persons responsible for grievance procedures, and/or had grievance procedure committees. We found the lowest likelihood of workplace violence in businesses that operated stress relaxation programs (all p < 0.01).ConclusionsThis study identified a correlation between the adoption of the protection system for service workers and the prevalence of workplace violence. We also clarified the effects of the service protection system and developed a plan for its expansion.Key pointsThis study clarified the correlation between the adoption of the protection system for service workers and the occurrence of workplace violence. Along with our investigation of the protection system’s effects, these findings provide a basis for expanding Korea’s existing worker protection system.

Implementation determinants of HIV Self-Testing among young sexual minority men

BackgroundHIV self-testing (HIVST) has shown the potential for reaching people with heightened vulnerability to HIV, including young sexual minority men (YSMM), yet implementation of HIVST among YSMM aged 17–24 is scarce as a prevention method. Moreover, despite the consistent finding that offering HIVST increases HIV testing rates, barriers remain that need to be reduced in order to maximize the potential of this biomedical technology. Such information is necessary to direct implementation efforts to increase HIVST among YSMM, including HIV counseling and linkage to care. The current study was therefore intended to investigate perspectives for HIVST among YSMM and how HIVST can be marketed to increase implementation.MethodsBetween March and September 2020, we enrolled 41 YSMM to participate in one of nine online synchronous focus group discussions about their general experience with HIV preventive services. Guided by the Consolidated Framework (CFIR) for Implementation Research, we explored YSMM perspectives on facilitators and barriers to HIVST implementation. Data were analyzed using a deductive thematic content analysis approach.ResultsMany participants had never used HIVST before their participation in this study (n = 30; 73.2%). Qualitative results exhibited a variety of implementation determinants across the five CFIR 2.0 domains. Barriers included concerns about the format in which the testing materials would be provided (i.e., nature of packaging) and about the method in which the sample would need to be collected, particularly for those who had the testing kit mailed to their home address. These reservations were nested in the fear of unwanted disclosure of their sexual behavior, namely among the respondents who had to cohabitate with family due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants also discussed the limited local resources for HIVST. Many participants suggested programs that could be implemented to support HIVST, such as collaborations with trusted community agencies.ConclusionsUnderstanding YSMM’ perspectives of HIVST may help identify implementation deficiencies within the delivery system and aid the development of implementation strategies to promote reach of HIVST.

Revitalizing General Practice: The Critical Role of Medical Schools in Addressing the Primary Care Physician Shortage

The shortage of primary care physicians is a growing crisis that threatens the stability and effectiveness of healthcare systems. This paper explores a multi-pronged approach to addressing this issue by focusing on the modernization of medical curricula, the establishment of new medical schools, fostering collaboration between institutions, and implementing policy innovations. The cases of South Tyrol, Italy, and Tyrol, Austria, are examined to highlight the challenges faced in establishing new medical schools. This paper proposes that a comprehensive strategy, including the incorporation of general practice content and experience in medical education, is crucial for preparing future physicians for careers in primary care. Furthermore, intensifying efforts to establish new medical schools, particularly in regions such as South Tyrol, which lack native-language medical university education, can provide additional benefits in addressing regional needs and augmenting the number of graduates. Collaboration between existing and new medical schools, regional partnerships, and policy innovations are essential to support the establishment of institutions with a particular focus on general practice and the modernization of curricula at existing universities. By embracing this approach, stakeholders can collectively shape the medical education landscape and address the growing crisis of physician shortages in primary care.

405 Understanding patient experience and factors influencing patient preference in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis through in-depth qualitative patient interviews

Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) can enormously affect the lives of patients and their caregivers. Treatments for moderate-to-severe AD include phototherapy, topical and systemic corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive agents and biologic therapies. These treatments offer varied levels of efficacy, safety, response times and modes of administration. Patient preferences for these treatment options and attributes influencing their treatment choice are not well characterized. This qualitative interview-based study evaluated treatment attributes important to adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD providing a basis for a future quantitative discrete choice experiment (DCE). Semi-structured interviews were conducted in adults (≥18 years) recruited via a panel of geographically and demographically diverse patients with AD in the USA. Inclusion required (i) diagnosis of AD for at least one year, (ii) inadequate response to prior topical therapy and (iii) self-reported moderate-to-severe AD or experience with systemic therapy. One-on-one, in-depth 60-min phone interviews were conducted by a trained interviewer in AD real-word evidence studies. Subjects with experience with systemic therapy for AD were queried concerning their involvement in initiating, logistics of and general experience with their most recent systemic treatment. Finally, participants were asked to rate the importance (on a 1–5 scale with 5 being the most important) of 17 attributes that could play a role in their treatment decision-making; these attributes were identified from a targeted literature review and expert dermatologist clinical input. Attributes included treatment efficacy, adverse events and treatment logistics. Interviews are ongoing, and results will be ready and presented in the poster upon acceptance. Findings from the interviews will shed light on recent patient experience with treatments for moderate-to-severe AD and elucidate the treatment attributes that most impact patient treatment preferences. These results will guide the design of a subsequent DCE survey, which will help quantify the relative importance of the treatment attributes identified herein.

1051-P: Provider Diabetes Diagnosis Predicts Prescribing Bias towards Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices

Methods: The EMR was queried to identify patients with type 1 diabetes identified by ICD 10 codes (E10.xx) seen in the diabetes clinic from January 2019 to Dec 2019. We defined use of a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) as documentation of ICD-10 code Z96.49 (presence of other endocrine implant) or documentation of CGM start in the EMR's health manager, the two ways staff identified CGM use in 2019. Statistical analysis performed using SAS 9.4 (R). Results: In 2019, we analyzed our baseline CGM prescribing data in preparation for an equity project. We found that pediatric providers (MD and CRNP) who carried a diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes were prescribing these devices to patients at a higher rate (25.41%) than those without diabetes (14.72%) at UAB. If your diabetes provider had diabetes: your odds of having a CGM prescribed were 1.7 (CI: 1.4-2.1) times higher than if your provider did not have diabetes (p&amp;lt;0.0001). At the time, 6 of our 22 providers had T1D. Discussion: One may postulate that familiarity with the disease and its impact on everyday life as well as general experience with the use of these devices were major contributors to the prescribing bias. We discussed this data with our division and distributed it to providers via email in an effort to improve overall rates of CGM use for our patients. Hands on tutorials were also done with our pump nurses to help providers better understand the technology. Disclosure M.L.Scott: None. J.Schmitt: None.

Frequency and characteristics of patients with bispectral index values of 60 or higher during the induction and maintenance of general anesthesia with remimazolam

In Korea, the approved anesthetic regimen of remimazolam starts with 6 mg/kg/h or 12 mg/kg/h until loss of consciousness, followed by maintenance at 1–2 mg/kg/h. Some patients receiving remimazolam for general anesthesia experience occasional difficulty maintaining bispectral index (BIS) value ˂ 60. This retrospective study aimed to analyze the data from patients undergoing elective surgery under remimazolam based-general anesthesia to determine the frequency and physical characteristics of patients with BIS values ˂ 60. The criterion was established for patients with a poorly maintained BIS value < 60. The frequency and physical characteristics of patients who satisfied this criterion were investigated through their medical records. The modified Brice interview was conducted within 24 h after surgery. Among the 1500 patients included in the analysis, 61 (4.1%) met the criteria for BIS ˂ 60. Based on the modified Brice interview, none of the patients with poorly maintained BIS ˂ 60 complained of intraoperative awareness based on the modified Brice interview or exhibit specific physical characteristics. These patients accounted for less than 5% of the total population studied. Notably, physical characteristics alone are insufficient to predict such patients before surgery.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Bloating: Results From the Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study

Bloating is a common symptom in the general population and among disorders of gut-brain interaction, although its prevalence has not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of bloating as a symptom in the worldwide population and to identify factors associated with this symptom in the general population. Rome Foundation Global Epidemiology Study internet survey data were analyzed. After excluding respondents with potential organic causes of bowel symptoms, the current analysis included 51,425 individuals in 26 countries. Data included diet, medical history, quality of life, and Rome IV diagnostic questions. Presence of bloating was defined as experiencing bloating at least once per week for the last 3 months. Descriptive statistics estimated prevalence by country, region, and disorder of gut-brain interaction diagnosis. Logistic regression evaluated predictors of bloating. Nearly 18% of the global study population reported bloating (ranging from 11% in East Asia to 20% in Latin America). Prevalence decreased with age and women were approximately twice as likely as men to report bloating. More than one-half of respondents who reported weekly epigastric pain (71.39%), nausea (59.7%), or abdominal pain (61.69%) also reported bloating at least once per week. In logistic regression, the strongest associations were with abdominal pain (odds ratio, 2.90) and epigastric pain (odds ratio, 2.07). Bloating is common throughout the world. Nearly 18% of the general population experience bloating at least once per week. Reported bloating prevalence is lower in older age groups, most common in women, and strongly associated with abdominal pain.

More Than Language: The Learning Experience of Chinese International English Language Learners (ELLs) at a Canadian University

This study examines the learning experience of Chinese international undergraduate students taking a large core first-year anthropological science course (ANT101) by distance learning during the Winter of 2021 at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). By analyzing qualitative and quantitative data collected from self-report pre- and post- course surveys (n=587), we review the general learning experience of Chinese international students (n=30) in comparison to other international students (n=34) and domestic students (n=523). Our study shows support, but at the same time undermines some prevailing notions about Chinese international student experiences of studying in Western universities. Our data suggests that while many Chinese international students may feel a lack of English language proficiency is a barrier to their learning, it does not significantly impact their performance when compared with domestic students. The preliminary results suggest that educational research and policy makers should move beyond a focus on language proficiency and examine the role of other factors when developing strategies to facilitate supportive learning environments for English Language learners (ELL) and international students in a university setting.

Acceptability & Usability of a Wearable Device for Sleep Health Among English- and Spanish-Speaking Patients in the Safety-Net: Qualitative Analysis.

Sleep disorders are common and disproportionately affect marginalized populations. Technology such as wearable devices holds the potential to improve sleep quality and reduce sleep disparities, but most devices have not been designed or tested with racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse patients. Inclusion and engagement of diverse patients throughout digital health development and implementation are critical to achieving health equity. This study aims to evaluate the usability and acceptability of a wearable sleep monitoring device - SomnoRing® - and its accompanying mobile application among patients treated in a safety net clinic. The study team recruited English- and Spanish-speaking patients from a mid-sized pulmonary and sleep medicine practice serving publicly insured patients. Eligibility criteria included initial evaluation of obstructed sleep apnea which is most appropriate for limited cardiopulmonary testing. Patients with primary insomnia or other suspected sleep disorders were not included. Patients tested the SomnoRing® over a seven-night period and participated in a one-hour semi-structured virtual qualitative interview covering perceptions of the device, motivators and barriers to use, and general experiences with digital health tools. The study team used inductive/deductive processes to code interview transcripts, guided by the Technology Acceptance Model. Twenty-one individuals participated in the study. All participants owned a smartphone, almost all (19/21) felt comfortable using their phone, and few already owned a wearable (6/21). Almost all participants wore the SomnoRing® for seven nights and found it comfortable. Four themes emerged from qualitative data: 1) the SomnoRing® was easy to use compared to other wearable devices or traditional home sleep testing alternatives such as the standard polysomnogram technology for sleep studies; 2) the patient's context and environment such as family and peer influence, housing status, access to insurance, and device cost affected overall acceptance of the SomnoRing®; 3) clinical champions motivated use in supporting effective onboarding, interpretation of data, and, ongoing technical support; and 4) participants desired more assistance and information to best interpret their own sleep data summarized in the companion app. Racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse patients with sleep disorders perceived a wearable as useful and acceptable for sleep health. Participants also uncovered external barriers related to the perceived usefulness of the technology, such as housing status, insurance coverage, and clinical support. Future studies should further examine how to best address these barriers so that wearables, such as the SomnoRing®, can be successfully implemented in the safety-net health setting. This manuscript does not report on a clinical trial.

Concert experiences in virtual reality environments

Spurred by recent advances in digital technologies, virtual concerts have become established modes for event attendance and represent a rapidly growing segment of the music industry. Yet, up to now, general experience of virtual concert attendees remains largely underexplored. Here, we focus on a subcategory in this domain: music concerts in virtual reality (VR). Our approach is situated within the theoretical framework of embodied music cognition and entailed investigation through a survey study. Responses of seventy-four VR concert attendees were collected, consisting of demographics, motivations, experiences, and future perspectives. In contrast to previous research, which generally identified social connectedness as a main motivator for concert attendance, our sample regarded it as one of the least important incentives. On the other hand, in line with previous studies, ‘seeing specific artists perform’ and ‘uniqueness of the experience’, were pivotal. The latter was mostly fueled by the possibility to experience/interact with visuals and environments considered as unconceivable in the real world. Furthermore, 70% of our sample regarded VR concerts as ‘the future of the music industry’, mainly relating to the accessibility of such events. Positive evaluations of VR concert experiences, as well as future perspectives regarding the medium, were significantly influenced by the level of experienced immersivity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide such an account.

After the first lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Perceptions, experiences, and effects on well-being in Italian people.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent measures of containment, multiple studies have been conducted aimed at assessing the impacts on people's psychophysical well-being; however, few studies have investigated the general population's perceptions, experiences, and effects by adopting a mixed-method approach. A total of 855 Italian participants completed an online survey, conducted in the period following the first lockdown in Italy. Psychological well-being, perceived stress and COVID-19-related fears were assessed by standardized questionnaires (Psychological General Well-Being Index-Short version, Perceived Stress Scale 10, and Multidimensional Assessment of COVID-19-Related Fears). The process of sense-making of the experience during the lockdown period was also evaluated by means of an open-ended question. Participants reported a lower level of general well-being, and a higher level of both perceived stress and COVID-19-related fear during the lockdown period compared to the time of the survey (1 month after the resumption of activities). The thematic analysis of responses to the open-ended question revealed two factors and five clusters, which explain the thematic variance among the narratives: the first factor refers to the type of experience (emotional states and feelings vs. objective descriptions of daily activities), while the second concerns positive or negative connotations of the experiences reported. This study explored the psychological impact of the first lockdown on people's well-being, and described the process of making sense of the experience during the lockdown 1 month after going back to previous habits. Results highlighted the effectiveness of the mixed-method approach for an in-depth and exhaustive investigation of people's psychological condition during and after the first lockdown.

Non-invasive telemonitoring and quality of life in heart failure: part two—a qualitative systematic review

Heart failure is a major public health concern, with patients experiencing a high symptomatic burden and functional limitations, with repercussions for their mental and psychosocial wellbeing. Non-invasive telemonitoring has the potential to improve disease management by enabling rapid adjustment of medications, allowing detection of early signs and symptoms of disease deterioration, and promoting self-care behaviours. Part one of this series outlined a mixed-methods systematic review protocol for exploring the impact of telemonitoring on quality of life for patients with heart failure. The present systematic review explores the general experiences of patients with heart failure who had used telemonitoring systems in the community as part of follow up and self-care. Qualitative studies published between 2010 and 2022 were located from Medline (Ovid), CINHAL (Ebsco), Embase (Ovid), APA PsychInfo (Ebsco) and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. A total of 11 qualitative studies involving 212 patients with heart failure were included. Overall, 123 findings were identified and extracted, with 14 categories generated from the aggregation of at least two similar findings. Four synthesised findings were identified regarding patients' experiences with telemonitoring: ease of use, education features, self-care prompts and patient empowerment. Ultimately, personal factors such as functional limitations and comorbidities were not found to prevent patients from engaging with this technology. When incorporated into a daily routine, telemonitoring has the potential to enhance self-care, promote autonomy, improve disease-specific knowledge and empower patients living with heart failure.

TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION WITH COMBINATION OF IRBESARTAN AND AMLODIPINE: A REAL-LIFE OBSERVATION STUDY (ON-TRACK STUDY)

Objective: The On-Track study (Old versus New blood pressure TaRget Achievement under Irbesatan/Amlodipine Combination: General Practice WorK experience) is a real life study conducted to evaluate the fixed combination of Irbesartan and Amlodipine. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the fixed combination Irbesartan/Amlodipine in reducing blood pressure (BP) and achieving target BP and its safety profile. Design and method: This is an observational, prospective, multicenter study which included patients with newly diagnosed and untreated hypertension (BP higher or equal to 140/90 mmHg) or uncontrolled hypertension on monotherapy or uncontrolled hypertension with any two-drug combination other than irbesartan/Amlodipine. Patients included were prescribed the combination drug Irbesartan/Amlodipin at different doses and followed up for 6 months. Results: A total of 1012 patients were included in this study in the intention-to-treat analysis. 536 patients were treated with Irbesartan/Amlodipine 150/5, 421 patients with Irbesartan/Amlodipine 300/5, and 55 patients with Irbesartan/Amlodipine 300/10. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) values were recorded for patients at inclusion and at each study visit. There was a significant decrease of mean SBP at 6 months compared to SBP at inclusion ( 167.4±16.8 mm Hg 128.6±8.5 mm Hg, p&lt;0.001) and of DBP ( 91.7±10.0 mmHg vs 76.4±6.2 mmHg p &lt; 0.001). At six months the target BP of &lt; 140/90 mm Hg was achieved in 87.1 % of patients, and the target BP &lt; 130/80 mm Hg was achieved in 39.5 % of patients. The rate of adherence to treatment was 88.5 %. Adverse events were reported in 22.3 % of patients mainly oedema in 11 % of cases. None of the patients in the study reported a serious adverse event that would have led to discontinuation of treatment Conclusions: This study confirms the efficacy of the irbesartan-amlodipine fixed-dose combination when applying the old targets of BP but more efforts should be done to achieve new target BP. We noticed a good tolerability and adherence to treatment of patients under this drug combination.

Tourism: A Unique Character Strengths Incubator

In response to the challenges yet importance to promote the eudaimonic benefits of general tourism experiences, cultivating character strengths in tourism experiences emerges as a promising solution. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach to examine the potential of general tourism experiences for eudaimonia promotion through strengths cultivation. With online survey data collected from 389 US adults, McNemar's tests first quantitatively identify the unique advantage of tourism in the tendency of cultivating each of 24 strengths for its rare users in daily life, and the weakness of tourism in the likelihood cultivating 11 strengths for their regular users. Qualitative thematic analyses then develop a more nuanced understanding by revealing the approaches and five contextual catalysts of strengths cultivation in tourism. The connected interpretation of quantitative and qualitative findings further sheds light on the generative mechanisms shaping the strength-cultivating potential of tourism. Besides being the first attempt investigating strengths cultivation patterns in general tourism experiences, this study identifies tourism as a unique strengths incubator complementing the daily strengths cultivation, which introduces a novel angle to examine the eudaimonic benefits of tourism. Practical implications further guide the strength-based tourism experience design to boost eudaimonia.