Convenience Sample Research Articles

Fear, death anxiety, and religious coping in response to COVID-19 among older adults in Turkey

ABSTRACT This study examined fear, death anxiety, and religious coping in older adults during COVID-19, emphasizing the pandemic’s psychological impact. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and April 2022 at a university-affiliated Research and Training Hospital Family Medicine polyclinic. The study included 284 voluntary participants aged 65 and above, with no communication issues, recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Socio-Demographic Information Form, COVID-19 Fear Scale, Religious Coping Scale, and Templer Death Anxiety Scale, and analyzed with SPSS software for descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated a medium level of COVID-19 fear, with singles, those living alone, and individuals who had contracted COVID-19 showing higher fear levels. Female participants reported significantly higher death anxiety. Primary and secondary education graduates relied more on religious coping, which was less common among those who had experienced COVID-19. A negative correlation was found between social-religious coping and death anxiety, while a positive correlation existed between death anxiety and COVID-19 fear. The study highlights that older adults continue to experience moderate levels of COVID-19-related fear and death anxiety. High reliance on religious coping strategies effectively reduces death anxiety. Based on these findings, integrating spiritual support services in healthcare and implementing gender-sensitive mental health interventions are recommended to better support older adults’ psychological needs.

Heterogeneous experiences of people with bipolar disorder during euthymia: Profiles of global remission and personal recovery.

Clinical heterogeneity is a major problem in mental health, referring to wide clinical variability among people with the same diagnosis. In bipolar disorders (BD), an heterogeneity was found both in global remission (symptomatic and functional) and in personal recovery during euthymia. This heterogeneity is a challenge for clinicians, who have to adapt their care to the individuals' characteristics. This preliminary study aimed at identifying profiles of experiences during euthymia by considering global remission (manic and depressive symptomatology, and functional impairment) and personal recovery, and exploring personal and contextual correlates associated with the heterogeneity of experiences. A convenience sample of 58 participants in euthymia of BD was recruited. Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Consistent with a person-oriented approach, clustering was performed to identify profiles by simultaneously considering symptomatology, functional impairment, and personal recovery. Associations between the identified profiles and socio-demographic, clinical, and family characteristics were explored using analysis of variance, Fisher's exact tests, and post hoc tests. Five profiles were identified when considering both global remission and personal recovery: adverse experience (20.69%), slightly adverse experience (22.41%), unbalanced experience (10.34%), positive experience (22.14%), and hyperthymic positive experience (24.14%). Among the correlates, only current family functioning was significantly associated with the identified profiles through cohesion, communication, and satisfaction dimensions. These results highlight that personal recovery and family dynamics of people with BD should be more considered in the clinical practice to better understand their experience during euthymia and adapt therapeutic care accordingly.

Arenicolidae (Annelida) in Norwegian waters: Species occurrence, bathymetric distribution and identification of juvenile specimens

The two species of Arenicolidae, Arenicola marina and Arenicolides ecaudata, are common along the Norwegian coast. Juveniles and anterior fragments are often encountered when grab sampling, making traditional morphological characteristics insufficient for species identification. This study examined the robustness of the characteristics and development of branchiae in juvenile specimens of Arenicolides ecaudata (n = 109) and Arenicola (n = 44) (A. marina and Arenicola sp.) and additional specimens to assess geographic and bathymetric distribution. Neuropodia were discovered to be efficient in distinguishing the species. Branchiae of A. ecaudata appear when specimens measure between 7–13 mm, while in A. marina they appear in specimens measuring between 3–5 mm. The ring formula in anterior chaetigers is a key characteristic in differentiating between Arenicola species. This characteristic alone is insufficient for reliable species identifications, as study findings corroborated error rates in identification based on the ring formula. The bathymetric range of both species has increased considerably. Arenicola marina was documented at 194 m depth and A. ecaudata at 387 m depth. DNA barcodes with the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were produced for three specimens of Arenicolides ecaudata, representing the first publicly available COI barcode sequences for this species. Five specimens of Arenicola marina, with similar sequences to specimens from other north-eastern Atlantic localities were also barcoded in BOLDsystems.

Abundance of fecal indicator bacteria and diversity of Escherichia coli associated with poultry farms and pasture land cover in streams of northwestern South Carolina

Livestock can contribute fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) to waterbodies. However, few studies have examined the relationship between watershed land use or land cover involving livestock production and the genetic diversity of Escherichia coli in freshwater ecosystems. Our major goal was to determine if FIB abundance and E. coli phylogenetic group distributions in headwater streams are related to livestock production in rural watersheds in South Carolina. In both 2017 and 2018, grab samples were collected from streams at summer baseflow. In 2017, we collected samples from watersheds with or without poultry rearing facilities (PRFs). In 2018, we collected samples from streams draining watersheds with mixed forest and pasture cover and from streams in mostly forested watersheds. In both summers, we measured concentrations of total coliforms, E. coli, and Enterococcus. We also categorized E. coli isolates into one of four phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2, D). Streams with PRFs in their watersheds had significantly higher concentrations of Enterococcus but not total coliforms or E. coli than streams in watersheds without PRFs. Also, B2 isolates were less frequent and B1 isolates were more frequent in watersheds with PRFs than in those without. Streams draining mixed forest/pasture watersheds had significantly higher concentrations of total coliforms and E. coli but not Enterococcus, as well as higher frequencies of B1 isolates, than streams in mostly forested watersheds. Overall, the most frequent E. coli phylogenetic groups in watersheds with animal production appeared consistent with the phylogenetic groups that are especially abundant in poultry or mammalian livestock feces.

Social-Ecological Correlates of Physical Activity Among Older Adults With Subjective Cognitive Decline in Chinese Community: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) is an important time window for early prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Regular physical activity (PA) has positive effects on cognitive functions. Little is known about the actual PA levels and social-ecological correlates in people with SCD. This study aimed to describe PA level and examine the individual, interpersonal, and neighborhood environmental correlates of PA among older adults with SCD in the Chinese community. A total of 246 older adults with SCD who participated in community physical examinations in three community health service centers in Baoding City from May to July 2023 were selected as the investigation subjects through convenience sampling. Questionnaires were conducted on PA, self-efficacy, self-regulation, social support, and community environment of older adults. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to analyze the factors influencing PA in older adults with SCD. Only 25.2% of older adults with SCD were physically active enough. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PA was positively correlated with self-reported health status, self-efficacy, self-regulation, social support, and community facilities. It was negatively associated with age, income, and overweight/obesity. Factors on three levels were all significantly associated with PA. Interventions that incorporate individual, interpersonal, and social factors may be considered to promote PA in older adults with SCD. However, only a few older adults achieve the goal of 150min/week of moderate activity.

Factors affecting the specialty choice among medical students of Saudi Arabia; an exploratory study

BackgroundCareer or specialty choice is one of the crucial steps of a medical student’s life. It’s a difficult yet important decision that is hard to reverse after getting into the residency program. The recent catastrophic experience of shortage and maldistribution of the health workforce among different specialties during the recent pandemic has made it critical for the authorities to look into the motivators and determinants for the specialty choice from the undergraduate medical student’s perspective. Therefore, the study aimed to find out the major factors affecting career choice and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the specialty choice of medical students in Saudi Arabia.MethodThis qualitative exploratory study was carried out to explore the factors affecting the specialty choice and effects of COVID-19 on the specialty choice of senior medical students and interns of Saudi Arabia by utilizing semi-structured audio-recoded interviews. Participants of the study were enrolled by convenient sampling after informed written consent. Data were transcribed and thematic analysis was done to extract the themes.ResultA total of 28 medical students and 14 interns participated in the study. The study identified five major themes with 18 relevant subthemes. The subthemes derived from the transcribed data were arranged under the following key themes; recognizing the determinants for specialty choice, financial expectation, gender specificity/stereotype, the impact of COVID-19, and concomitant motivation factors.ConclusionThe right selection of a suitable future career is pivotal and strongly associated with future job success and satisfaction for a medical graduate. The study has provided insight to the regulatory bodies about student’s fears and factors affecting them to choose or avoid certain specialties to formulate a future resource management plan accordingly.

Electrocardiograms from different types of exercise in Eventing horses with and without cardiac signs.

Exercising arrhythmias can be clinically irrelevant or associated with poor performance, collapse and sudden cardiac death. To test if readable exercising ECGs can be recorded by grooms or riders and to describe arrhythmias in ECGs from different types of exercise in Eventing horses and investigate associations with type of workout, the presence of previous cardiac signs and intensity of exercise. Cohort study. Single lead exercising ECGs were obtained by riders or grooms during training and competition from a convenience sample of horses in training for Eventing competitions. Arrhythmias were described, and associations between different arrhythmia categories and variables that described the horse and the workouts were sought. There were 1002 ECGs from 62 horses (median [range] 7 [2-97] ECGs/horse) evaluated and 737 workouts (73.6%) were >95% readable and included in the analysis. There were arrhythmias in 250 (33.9%) of the workouts, complex arrhythmias in 13 (1.8%) and the number of premature complexes was median (range) 0 (0-118). Peak heart rate and duration of exercise were associated with the number of premature complexes, the presence of arrhythmias and complex arrhythmias and were colinear with the type of exercise. Having previous signs of cardiac disease and the type of workout were associated with higher odds of having arrhythmias. Monitoring the rhythm of equine athletes with ECGs obtained by riders and transmitted to an online cloud was feasible. Arrhythmias were frequent, and complex arrhythmias were rare. The presence of cardiac signs, type of exercise and peak heart rate were associated with the presence of arrhythmias. None of the horses developed poor performance or collapse attributed to cardiac disease. The arrhythmias that should be concerning for equine veterinarians need further definition.

Transforming community-based primary health care delivery through comprehensive performance measurement and reporting: examining the influence of context

BackgroundCommunity-based primary health care represents various community-based health care (CBPHC) models that incorporate health promotion and community development to deliver first-contact health services. Learning health systems (LHSs) are essential for improving CBPHC in which feedback from relevant stakeholders is used to continuously improve health systems with the goal of achieving population health and health equity. Performance reporting is one way to present data to clinicians and decision makers to facilitate a process of reflection, participation, and collaboration among partners to improve CBPHC.MethodsOur objective was to obtain feedback on a regional CBPHC performance portrait through key informant interviews. We used purposive convenience sampling to recruit participants who were clinicians in primary care and/or decision-makers in primary care at a regional level. The performance portrait summarized results of survey questions asked of patients, providers, and primary care organizations. The portrait was organized by the 10 pillars of the Patient’s Medical Home (PMH) model. Interview questions specifically asked about portrait content, formatting, interpretability, utility, and dissemination strategies. Content analysis was used to analyze interview data.ResultsWe completed 19 interviews with key informants from the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia (n = 8), Ontario (n = 6) and British Columbia (n = 5). We coded transcripts into four content areas: (1) Usability as influenced by content and interpretability, (2) Formatting, (3) Utility, and (4) Dissemination. Using data and reporting back to clinicians and decision-makers about how their practices and jurisdictions are performing in primary care in meaningful ways is important. Our results suggest having available methodology notes, including the analysis used to develop any scoring, sampling and sample sizes, and interpretation of the statistics is necessary.ConclusionsThis research was the first to create a comprehensive performance portrait using data driven by factors that are important to primary care partners. We obtained important feedback on the portrait in the context of usability, formatting, utility, and dissemination. This data needs to be used to provide feedback in continuous cycles to evaluate and improve CBPHC models as part of a LHS.

Awareness, attendance, and attitudes toward cervical cancer screening among HIV-positive Chinese women in Yunnan province: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCervical cancer is a major health threat in the female population. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women encounter a higher risk of cervical cancer. It is significant to promote cervical cancer screening attendance among HIV-positive women. Little is known about the awareness, attendance, and attitudes toward cervical cancer screening, as well as the associated factors, among Chinese HIV-positive women.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 411 HIV-positive women attending a large ART clinic in Yunnan, an HIV-endemic province in China. Participants were recruited using the convenient sampling method from January 2019 to August 2020. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was utilized to collect information on socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics, clinical characteristics related to HIV infection, awareness, attendance, and attitudes toward cervical cancer screening. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with awareness, attendance, and attitude toward cervical cancer screening.ResultsSome 69.8% (287) of the participants were aware of cervical cancer screening, but only 27.7% (114) had attended screening within 3 years. After receiving a brief health education, 72.3% (297) of the participants exhibited a positive attitude toward cervical cancer screening. Participants with a higher education background and longer duration of antiretroviral therapy were more likely to be aware of cervical cancer screening and have up-to-date screening. The up-to-date screening attendance was also influenced by age, smoking status, and health insurance. Single participants were less likely to show a positive attitude toward cervical cancer screening compared married or cohabiting counterparts. The main facilitators to attending cervical cancer screening were health promotion activity and well-organized programs, while the main barriers were high costs of the service and inadequate awareness.ConclusionsAlthough most HIV-positive women attending a large ART clinic in Yunnan were aware of cervical cancer screening, the up-to-date attendance was low. It is crucial to conduct health education and promotion through efficient channels to improve awareness and attendance. The discrepancy between awareness and attendance also emphasized the importance of adopting appropriate screening strategies and powerful health policies that can foster the attendance of cervical cancer screening among HIV-positive women. Efforts should be devoted to constructing a comprehensive healthcare system with high accessibility in China for cervical cancer prevention and management for HIV-positive women.

Increasing the Anaerobic Capacity Resulting from the Improvement of Buffering and Hypoxia Indicators in Healthy Men

Background: Increasing anaerobic capacity is a crucial factor in enhancing performance in strength sports. Objectives: This study investigated the effect of 10 weeks of weightlifting training with increased respiratory dead space on buffering capacity and anaerobic capacity in healthy men. Methods: Eighteen male weightlifters (mean age: 28.2 ± 3.02 years, BMI: 24.27 ± 1.34 kg/m²) were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two training groups: With and without masks. Both groups performed selected weightlifting exercises three times per week for 10 weeks at 80% of their one-repetition maximum. The mask group trained using a mask and tube to increase respiratory dead space throughout the training period. The Borg scale was used to measure perceived effort, and the Wingate test assessed anaerobic power and Fatigue Index (FI). Blood samples were taken to measure lactate, CO₂, and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) levels. Data analysis was conducted using ANOVA with repeated measures (P ≤ 0.05). Results: Ten weeks of weightlifting training with a mask led to a significant increase in bicarbonate levels (P = 0.029), lactate (P ≤ 0.001), FI (P ≤ 0.001), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (P = 0.041) compared to the group without a mask. There was no significant difference between the groups in HIF-1α levels (P = 0.079) or anaerobic power (P = 0.534). However, the percentage changes were greater in the mask group (anaerobic power = 5.9%, HIF-1α = 1.97%) compared to the group without a mask (anaerobic power = -0.9%, HIF-1α = 1.07%). Conclusions: Using the strategy of increasing respiratory dead space during weightlifting training has proven beneficial for enhancing buffering capacity and anaerobic power.

The Role of Resilience and Defense Styles in Caregiver Burden Among the Mothers of Children with Cancer: A Descriptive-Correlational Study

Background: The diagnosis of childhood cancer can be considered a multidimensional crisis for parents, particularly mothers. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the predictive role of defense styles and resilience in the caregiver burden experienced by mothers of children with cancer. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study focuses on mothers of children with cancer who were hospitalized in the pediatric wards of Seyed al-Shohada Hospital in Isfahan, Iran. A total of 136 participants were selected using convenience sampling. The study utilized the Defense Styles Questionnaire (DSQ-40), the Zarit Burden Scale (ZBS), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) to collect data. The data were analyzed using STATA16. Results: On average, mothers had a caregiver burden score of 38.65 and a resilience score of 93.51. The majority of mothers (62.5%) exhibited neurotic defensive styles. The regression test results indicated a significant inverse relationship between caregiver burden and resilience (P = 0.002), as well as a significant relationship between the child’s sex and caregiver burden (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the study's findings, it is recommended that counseling and psycho-cognitive programs be designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated to enhance the resilience of mothers of children with cancer and thereby reduce their caregiver burden.

Improving primary healthcare quality in China through training needs analysis

The diagnosis and treatment capability levels of healthcare professionals directly affect the overall quality of medical services. Enhancing these capability levels requires strengthening the professional skill training of healthcare workers, especially those in primary care settings in economically underdeveloped areas. To understand the actual needs for professional skill training among primary healthcare workers, thereby providing data support for targeted training initiatives. An online survey was conducted using convenience sampling and subsequently, snowball sampling from May 10, 2023 to January 31, 2024. The survey included 3811 healthcare workers across China, and 3617 valid questionnaires were recovered. Descriptive analysis was used to compare the professional backgrounds and training needs of healthcare workers at different medical facility levels. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to explore factors influencing the training of primary healthcare workers. The survey revealed that 70.1% of respondents were female, and 94.2% were from medical facilities below the provincial level, with 43.2% from township-level or lower medical facilities. Significant differences were found in age distribution, work experience, professional titles, educational levels, and training needs among provincial/national, prefectural/county, and township levels (P < 0.05). Busy clinical work schedules were the primary barrier to training participation. Most healthcare workers (78.7%) expected more than four training sessions per year, with the optimal frequency being quarterly. The most anticipated training topics among primary care workers were latest medical guidelines, new technologies/skills, and advanced management concepts, with over 80% interest. Compared with prefectural/county-level facilities, primary care workers at grassroots facilities are more significantly impacted by lower professional titles, lower education levels, weaker medical/technical skills, and insufficient specialized funding (odds ratio > 1, P < 0.001). Training should be tailored to the needs of healthcare workers at different medical facility levels. Particularly for primary care settings, providing special funding support and training in the latest medical guidelines, new technologies/skills, and advanced management concepts are important to improve the composition of titles, education, and professional technicians.

Positive Coping Style and Family Resilience of Caregivers of COPD Patients: The Chain Mediating Roles of Caregiver Burden and Resilience.

To investigate the association between positive coping style and family resilience, considering the mediating factors of burden and individual resilience within caregivers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. A cross-sectional survey. A total of, 204 caregivers of COPD patients were recruited using convenient sampling from April 2023 to May 2024 to investigate general information, family resilience, individual resilience, caregiver burden and positive coping styles on caregivers of COPD patients. Influencing factors were primarily identified using Mann-whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation between family resilience, positive coping, caregiver burden and resilience. Linear regression was used to analyse the influencing factors of family resilience of caregiver. Structural equation modelling was used to detect the mediating effects of caregiver burden and resilience. The STROBE checklist was followed. The family resilience of caregivers was positively correlated with positive coping styles and individual resilience, and negatively correlated with caregiver burden. The family resilience of caregivers increased with the improvement positive coping style and individual resilience, and decreased with the increase of caregiver burden. Caregiver burden and resilience played the chain mediating roles between positive coping style and family resilience. Family caregivers of COPD patient with higher education levels also have higher family resilience. Higher positive coping style may lead to higher family resilience of caregivers of COPD patients by reducing caregiver burden and promoting resilience. There are individual differences in the level of family resilience of caregivers of COPD patients, and nurses can provide personalised interventions to different family caregivers by understanding their characteristics and needs. Nurses can improve the family resilience of caregivers by guiding them to adopt positive coping styles, reducing burdens and promoting resilience. This study was conducted with the participation of caregivers of COPD patients who contributed data by completing study questionnaires.

Innovative behavior and structural empowerment among the Chinese clinical nurses: the mediating role of decent work perception

BackgroundClinical nurses play a vital role in healthcare. Their innovative behavior is crucial for improving patient care, advancing the profession, and ensuring the healthcare industry’s continued success. Many studies have highlighted the importance of nurse innovative behavior, but the link between their innovative behavior, structural empowerment, and decent work perception remains unclear.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between innovative behavior, structural empowerment, and decent work perception among the Chinese clinical nurses and identify the mediating role of decent work perception.MethodsA cross-sectional correlational design was employed, and from July 2023 to April 2024, 1,513 clinical nurses were recruited from 8 tertiary grade-A hospitals across three cities in China. Data from the Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, the Nurse Innovation Behavior Scale, the Conditions of Work Effectiveness Questionnaire-II, and the Decent Work Perception Scale were collected through convenience sampling and analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate correlation, and process plug-in mediation effect analyses.ResultsThe total scores of innovative behavior, structural empowerment, and decent work perception were 28.36 ± 6.25, 51.15 ± 12.63, and 42.97 ± 9.25, respectively. Innovative behavior was significantly, moderately and positively correlated with structural empowerment (r = 0.657, p < 0.01) and decent work perception (r = 0.618, p < 0.01); decent work perception played a partial mediating role between innovative behavior and structural empowerment (52.5%).ConclusionThe innovative behavior, structural empowerment, and decent work perception among the Chinese clinical nurses were relatively moderate, indicating a need for improvement. Structural empowerment perception can, directly and indirectly, impact innovative behavior through decent work perception among Chinese clinical nurses. Nursing managers should promote innovative behavior of clinical nurses by raising structural empowerment and decent work perception to improve the quality of clinical nursing. Thus, it can be improved by creating a positive empowerment climate for clinical nurses and providing them with the information, resources, support, and opportunities for their jobs and improving their level of structural empowerment and decent work perception.

THE ROLE OF FATHER’S PARENTING STYLE CHILDREN AGED 24–60 MONTHS

The quality of a father's knowledge about parenting is still low (27.9%), and the absence of a father can hinder a child's development, which may affect their adulthood. The absence of a father can hinder a child's development from infancy through childhood and into adulthood. Children are the buds, potential, and next generation of the nation's ideals. Children have a strategic role in ensuring the existence of the nation and state in the future. This study aims to determine the involvement of the father's role in the care of children aged 24-60 months in Bekasi City, West Java in 2023. This research is included in the type of descriptive research. The number of respondents used in this study are 40 respondents. The technique used in this study was accidental sampling. Data processing in this study used excel software. Father respondents in this study seen from the results answered by respondents, showed that fathers play a role in childcare. The role of the father in this research shows that the father plays a role as a provider or as a facilitator and protector in the family, the role of child specialist and educator is also visible in the father because he participates in caring for the child. Decision maker, building responsive communication, and being a nurturing mother is seen in the role of father in the family

Fish and invertebrate communities show greater day-night partitioning on tropical than temperate reefs.

Diel partitioning of animals within ecological communities is widely acknowledged, yet rarely quantified. Investigation of most ecological patterns and processes involves convenient daylight sampling, with little consideration of the contributions of nocturnal taxa, particularly in marine environments. Here we assess diel partitioning of reef faunal assemblages at a continental scale utilizing paired day and night visual census across 54 shallow tropical and temperate reefs around Australia. Day-night differences were most pronounced in the tropics, with fishes and invertebrates displaying distinct and opposing diel occupancy on coral reefs. Tropical reefs in daytime were occupied primarily by fishes not observed at night (64% of all species sighted across day and night, and 71% of all individuals). By night, substantial emergence of invertebrates not otherwise detected during sunlit hours occurred (56% of all species, and 45% of individuals). Nocturnal emergence of tropical invertebrates corresponded with significant declines in the richness and biomass of predatory and herbivorous diurnal fishes. In contrast, relatively small diel changes in fishes active on temperate reefs corresponded to limited nocturnal emergence of temperate invertebrates. This reduced partitioning may, at least in part, be a result of strong top-down pressures from fishes on invertebrate communities, either by predation or competitive interference. For shallow reefs, the diel cycle triggers distinct emergence and retreat of faunal assemblages and associated trophic patterns and processes, which otherwise go unnoticed during hours of regular scientific monitoring. Improved understanding of reef ecology, and management of reef ecosystems, requires greater consideration of nocturnal interactions. Without explicit sampling of nocturnal patterns and processes, we may be missing up to half of the story when assessing ecological interactions.

Niat Gen Z Berinvestasi pada Cryptocurrency: Apakah Profitability, Awareness, dan Compatibility Berpengaruh?

Abstract This study aims to examine the effect of profitability, awareness, and compatibility variables on Gen Z's intention to invest in cryptocurrency. This study used a survey method with a convenience sampling technique and obtained 141 Gen Z respondents in Surakarta City. The data was then analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings of this study indicate that profitability, awareness, and compatibility positively affect Gen Z's intention to invest in cryptocurrency. Understanding the Gen Z generation regarding the characteristics of cryptocurrency has an impact on the intention to invest. Keywords: cryptocurrency; Gen Z; profitability; awareness; compatibility

Acceptance of new agricultural technology among small rural farmers

Amid China’s 2023 policy shift toward rural revitalization and agricultural modernization driven by a substantial agricultural population and the foundational role of agriculture in the national economy, there is an urgent need for the widespread adoption of new agricultural technologies to boost production quality, efficiency, and economic development. This study examines the determinants of technology adoption in agriculture among small rural farmers, focusing on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology framework. Using a cross-sectional survey approach and a convenience sampling method, the study ultimately collected 326 responses from rural farmers. The collected data were analyzed using a structural equation modeling method with SmartPLS 4 software. The results reveal significant determinants of the intention to use new agricultural technology and the use of new agricultural technology, with performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and hedonic motivation exhibiting positive effects. Facilitating conditions have emerged as key factors influencing both the intention and usage of new agricultural technology. Although age does not moderate any of the relationships, using years moderates the relationship between performance expectancy and intention to use new agricultural technology as well as price value and intention to use new agricultural technology. Intention to use new agricultural technology has significant and positive mediating effects on the proposed relationships. The theoretical implications of this study underscore the significance of understanding the complex interplay of determinants, moderating factors, and mediating pathways within the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology framework to advance the knowledge of agricultural technology adoption. This study provides valuable perspectives for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers dedicated to promoting the adoption of sustainable technology in the agricultural sector.

Talent management in volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) health environment, nurses’ psychological contract fulfillment, cordial relation and generation: moderation-mediation model

BackgroundThe VUCA in the healthcare environment requires combating volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity through highly talented employees and implementing a talent management strategy. This encompasses a range of operations designed to find, attract, nurture, and utilize competent workers that impact how well nurses fulfill their psychological contracts. However, as the researchers had anticipated, several factors, such as cordial relationships and generation differences, may mediate or influence this correlation.MethodsFor a cross-sectional study, a non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to include n = 375 nurses from among the 600 total nurses at three private hospitals in Alexandria, Egypt. Three validated measures were used to measure the study variables and develop a mediation-moderation structural equation model.ResultsThe result of this study revealed that nurses perceived a moderate level of talent management with a mean score of (48.91 ± 18.15), a low mean score (8.89 ± 3.93) of psychological contract fulfillment, and a moderate mean score (185.11 ± 27.02) of cordial relation. Additionally, more than half of the participants were in the Gen Z. Also, this study concluded that there is a positive mediation role of cordial relation and a negative moderation role of Gen between talent management and psychological contract fulfillment.ConclusionsUsing Gen as a moderating variable and cordial relations as a mediating factor, a moderating mediating structural equation model is created and validates the important influence of talent management on nurses’ psychological fulfillment, confirming the mediating effect of cordial relations and the moderating effect of genes in this relationship. GEN negatively predicted psychological contract fulfillment, meaning baby boomers predicted more psychological contract fulfillment than Z gen. Furthermore, talent management could positively predict cordial relations and psychological contract fulfillment, and cordial relations partially mediated the relationship between talent management and psychological contract fulfillment. Nurse mangers should be aware of and implement effective and talent management strategies with respecting gen difference, and apply tailored strategies for fostering nurses’ cordial relation and psychological contract fulfillment to deal with the VUCA challenging healthcare environment.

Enhancing the Sustainable Performance of Public–Private Partnership Projects: The Buffering Effect of Environmental Uncertainty

The purpose of this study was to investigate the buffering (moderating) effect of environmental uncertainty (EU) on the relationship between the critical success factors (CSFs) of public–private partnership projects (PPPPs) and sustainable performance. A survey approach was adopted to collect primary data from construction industries that have signed an agreement with the public sector. The public sector includes federal and provincial government departments such as the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for the construction of roads, and the private sector includes engineering companies registered with the Pakistan engineering council. The non-probability convenience sampling technique was used to select the sample, and the Krejcie and Morgan table was used to calculate the sample size. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed but 394 completed questionnaires were used in the analysis of the data, yielding a response rate of 78.8%. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to check the reliability and validity of the scales; the findings revealed that the scales met the threshold, and all the factor loadings, average variance extracted, composite reliability, Cronbach alpha, and discriminant validities met the cut-off level. Hence, the questionnaires were found to be reliable and valid. The results revealed that environmental uncertainty significantly moderates the CSFs (technical, procurement, and economic factors) of PPPs and the sustainable performance of PPPPs. Furthermore, the interaction terms of all moderating effects revealed negative beta values; this implies that a low level of uncertainty results in better economic performance, better technical and procurement factors, and highly sustainable performance. It is concluded from the findings that if EU is high, then the sustainability of PPPPs is low; moreover, fewer economic resources and no technical support and procurement also have a weak impact on enhancing sustainable performance. On the contrary, if EU is low, there is a high level of sustainability in PPPPs.