Model Of Scale Research Articles

Validation of the Measurement Model of the Grief Support Healthcare Scale Among the Intensive Care Unit Nurses in Malaysia.

This study aimed to establish the validity and reliability of the measurement model of the Grief Support Healthcare Scale sub-constructs among the intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. This methodological study in January 2015 uses the TRIPOD checklist for model validation. A two-order confirmatory factor analysis involving 655 nurses from the adult ICUs of nine hospitals confirmed the validity and reliability of the sub-constructs of grief support. The evaluation of the measurement model was based on the multi-category model fit indices. The convergent and discriminant validities and reliability of the grief support sub-constructs, recognition of the relationship, acknowledgment of the loss, and inclusion of the griever were confirmed, with eight indicators. The measurement model of the revised Grief Support Healthcare Scale had a good model-fit (chi-square (df) = 67.586(17); p = .000; relative chi-square = 3.976; AGFI = 0.947; GFI = 0.975; CFI = 0.990; IFI = 0.990; TLI = 0.984; RMSEA = 0.067; SRMR = 0.020). The validated grief support measurement model allows measurement of grief support for future intensive care unit nurses and the structural model analysis. Nurse managers and co-workers provide support to the grieving intensive care unit nurses based on the essential components of grief support.

Psychometric properties of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 scale among frontline nursing professionals working in the COVID-19 inpatients ward.

This study examined the reliability and validity of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-9 (SAVE-9) scale among nursing professionals working in a COVID-19 inpatient ward. An anonymous, online survey was conducted among working frontline nursing professionals between April 7 and 18, 2022. We collected information about the participants' age, sex, years of employment, shift work, and marital status. In addition, the participants were asked whether they had dealt with infected patients recently, and whether they had been quarantined, infected, or vaccinated. SAVE-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to evaluate symptoms. We used the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to determine the validity of the two-factor model of the SAVE-9 scale. We also tested reliability and convergent validity using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales. A total of 136 responses was analyzed, and CFA for two-factors model of the SAVE-9 scale showed a good model fit among frontline nursing professionals (CFI = 1.000, TLI = 1.040, RMSEA = 0.000, RSMR = 0.060). Multi-group CFAs revealed that the SAVE-9 scale can measure work-related stress and viral anxiety in the same way across sex, having depression, or having generalized anxiety. The internal consistency was shown to be good, and the SAVE-9 scale was significantly correlated with the GAD-7 (r = 0.328, p < 0.001) and PHQ-9 score (r = 0.361, p < 0.001). The two-factor model of the SAVE-9 is a valid and reliable scale for frontline nursing professionals.

Omnichannel facility location and fulfillment optimization

E-commerce has been evolving towards omnichannel as we have witnessed many once pure e-retailers opening physical stores or showrooms to enable customers to inspect the product and quickly assess product fit. In omnichannel transportation operations, these stores can strategically fulfill online orders to improve delivery efficiency and reduce transportation costs. Motivated by this trend, this paper studies a pure e-retail company that plans to introduce the offline channel with physical stores and practice omnichannel distribution. For the e-retailer, opening stores can benefit from the reduced transportation cost and the increased revenue, both of which inherently depend on how customers choose channels and stores to make purchases. To this end, we employ a discrete choice model to estimate customers’ choices and then propose a modeling framework that jointly optimizes the location of stores and the omnichannel fulfillment strategy to maximize the profit, accounting for the revenue, the transportation cost, and the fixed operating cost of stores. To solve the model of practical scale, we develop a branch-and-cut algorithm, which leverages Benders cuts that are generated on-the-fly using two analytical separation functions. Our computational studies suggest that the proposed algorithm is efficient for solving large-scale problems. Finally, we conduct sensitivity analysis and draw insightful observations.

Spanish Validation of the Self-Perceived Food Literacy Scale: A Five-Factor Model Proposition.

Food literacy is a combination of functional, critical, and relational skills that pave the way for navigating the food system properly, taking personally and contextually available resources into account. The aim was to validate the Spanish version of the self-perceived food literacy scale in university students to explore the factorial structure of it and to correlate food literacy with other variables. The sample was composed of 362 Spanish university students (314 women). The full questionnaire was administered online and also assessed adherence to a Mediterranean diet, impulsivity, and health-related quality of life for convergent validity testing purposes. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine the factor structure of the food literacy scale. The Spanish version of the scale showed good indices of internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.894). Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a five-factor model that had a better fit index than the seven-factor model of the original scale. External validity was assessed by showing significant correlations with the rest of the variables. Therefore, the Spanish version of the scale is a reliable and valid measure of food literacy. It could be used to promote policies at Spanish universities to improve the food-related behaviors of students.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale for Chinese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: fear of COVID-19 is widespread among the population, especially among college students because of their increased exposure to the media information overload of the COVID-19 outbreak. The Fear of COVID-19 scale (FCV-19 S) is a relatively short instrument used to evaluate fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the validity and reliability of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale have not been fully investigated in Chinese university student groups. Objectives: this study assessed the cross-cultural adaptability and reliability of the FCV-19S for Chinese university students. Methods: a Chinese version of Fear of COVID-19 Scale (C-FCV-19S) was generated using the translation-backward translation method. Psychometric properties of the C-FCV-19S, including internal consistency, split-half reliability, construct reliability, convergent validity, and diagnostic accuracy, were evaluated. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7) scales were also used to evaluate participants for depression and anxiety. Results: the C-FCV-19S has acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.872) and satisfactory split-half reliability (correlation coefficient: 0.799). Using the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), we examined the construct reliability (KMO = 0.920). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirmed that the bifactor model of scale (including general factor, factor1: the awareness of COVID-19 and physiological arousal, factor 2: fear-related thinking) had a good fit index (χ2/df =6.18, RMSEA= 0.067, SRMR = 0.028, GFI = 0.986, TLI = 0.970 and CFI= 0.988). Using depression-positive and anxiety-positive scores as reference criteria, we found that the areas under the curve were 0.70 and 0.68, respectively, and that the optimal cutoff scores of the C-FCV-19S was 17.5 (sensitivity: 66.3% and 58.7%, respectively). Conclusions: the validity and reliability of C-FCV-19S are satisfactory, and the optimal cutoff point was 17.5. The C-FCV-19S can be applied adopted in Chinese university students.

The Pain-Invalidation Scale: Measuring Patient Perceptions of Invalidation Toward Chronic Pain

Increasing evidence reveals the damaging impact of having one's chronic pain symptoms invalidated through disbelief, discrediting, and critical judgement. In other instances, a caregiver's over-attentiveness to the daily tasks of individuals with pain can be problematic, potentially undermining rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to develop an instrument to measure different aspects of invalidation perceived by people with chronic pain. Item generation was informed through literature review and a thematic analysis of narratives from 431 peer-reviewed articles. The crowdsourcing platform Prolific was used to distribute survey items to participants. In Study 1A, Principal Component Analysis was performed on data from 302 respondents, giving rise to 4 subscales, including: Invalidation by the Self, Invalidation by Immediate Others, Invalidation by Healthcare Professionals, and Invalidation by Over-attentive Others. Confirmatory Factor Analysis of data collected from another 308 individuals in Study 1B supported the 4-factor model of the Pain-Invalidation Scale (Pain-IS) and identified a best-fit model with 24 items. The Pain-IS was further validated in another 300 individuals in Study 2. The Pain-IS demonstrates sound psychometric properties and may serve as a valuable tool for use by clinicians in the detection of pain-invalidation issues, as a first step in patient pain management. PerspectiveLinks between pain-invalidation and pain levels, as well as functional detriment, highlight the importance of having one's chronic pain experience heard, believed, and accepted. The Pain-Invalidation Scale is designed to identify domains where invalidation of the patient's pain should be addressed to promote emotional processing, treatment adherence, and improved outcomes.

Bifactor Modelling, Reliability, and Validity of the Material Values Scale in Chinese Youth.

The present study validated the bifactor model of the Material Values Scale (MVS) and examined the association between materialism and subjective well-being (SWB). Study 1 utilized a material values questionnaire that 1673 college students completed. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that the bifactor model of the MVS had a better fit than other models. Likewise, the findings were replicated in Study 2 using a larger sample size (N = 2627). Through structural equation modeling, only the general and specific factors of success were found to be negative predictors of SWB. Our study both provides a methodological reference for measuring the MVS and compensates for the limitations of MVS measurement results.

Adaptation of The Triarchic Model of Grit Scale and Perceived Academic Underachievement Scale into Turkish

This study aimed to adapt the Triarchic Model of Grit Scale (TMGS) and Perceived Academic Underachievement Scale (PAUS) to a Turkish state university context and provide evidence of its validity.. The relationships between the scales were also examined. The data of this study was obtained from three different study groups consisting of college students attending a state university located in the Middle Black Sea Region of Turkey. The psychometric properties of the PAUS were examined with the first study group, the psychometric properties of the TMGS were examined with the second study group, and the relationships between both scales and their relations to academic self-efficacy were examined with the third study group. Exploratory Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient were used to analyze data. Results showed that both scales have sufficient validity and reliability. Furthermore, there was a negative relationship between grit and perceived underachievement, a positive relationship between grit and academic self-efficacy, and a negative relationship between perceived underachievement and academic self-efficacy. These findings suggest that adapted scales are valid and reliable measurement tools that can be used to determine perceived academic underachievement and grit levels among adults and teacher candidates.

Psychometric properties of the Czech version of the brief Older People Quality of Life questionnaire (OPQoL-brief)

BackgroundTo evaluate the established interventions used for older adults, it is appropriate to use validated questionnaires for quality-of-life assessment. For older people, it is suitable to use specific questionnaires designed for old age and aging, with a lower number of questions. The aim of this research was to verify the psychometric properties of the Czech version of the OPQoL-brief questionnaire for seniors living in home environment in a community so that it can be used within the Czech Republic.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed on older adults in the Moravian-Silesian Region living at home. The study included 954 senior citizens (≥ 65 years, cognitively intact) (without diagnosed dementia, able to sign an informed consent). To test the psychometric properties of the created questionnaire, we tested the validity (construct validity, discriminant validity, convergent validity) and reliability (internal consistency, test–retest reliability).ResultsThe single-factor model of the OPQoL-brief scale (CFI = 0.971, TLI = 0.959, RMSEA = 0.061, SRMR = 0.034, GFI = 0.960) was confirmed, for which excellent reliability was found (α = 0.921, ICC = 0.904). An inter-item correlation exceeding 0.5 was found for all items. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between the overall score of OPQoL-brief and the scales measuring depression (r = − 0.520; p < 0.001), anxiety (r = − 0.355; p < 0.001), sense of coherence (r = 0.427; p < 0.001), and self-esteem (r = 0.428; p < 0.001).ConclusionThe results of our research revealed that the shorter Czech version of the OPQoL-brief questionnaire has appropriate reliability and validity and can be recommended for both health and social services to assess the quality of life of senior citizens in a community.

Psychometric Properties of Turkish Version of Hypoglycemia Attitudes and Behavior Scale

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Hypoglycemia Attitudes and Behavior Scale (HABS) for the Turkish population. Method: The study was conducted with 153 individuals with Type 2 diabetes mellitus who used insulin. In evaluating data, content validity index, Cronbach α, test-retest testing, item total score correlation, explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis and concordance statistics were used. Results: Cronbach alpha values for the subscales were determined as 0.71 for avoidance, 0.72 for confidence, and 0.85 for anxiety. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the factor structure of the adapted scale was in accordance with the three-factor model of the original scale. It was found that the 11-item Hypoglycemia Attitudes and Behavior Scale consisted of three factors: avoidance of hypoglycemia, confidence in hypoglycemia, and anxiety concerning hypoglycemia. Three items in the original scale were removed because their error variances were negative and they did not have significant t values. Conclusion: The results showed that the HABS was a valid and reliable scale instrument for the Turkish population.

Research on the blowing-spraying synergistic dust removal technology for clean environment in large-scale mechanization coal mine

In this study, we developed a blowing–spraying synergistic dust collector installed on a hydraulic support with the aim of reducing dust pollution at fully mechanized faces. A high-speed airflow in the same direction of the dust collector’s spray improved its effective range and created high-quality spray and wind curtains. These curtains covered the space between the fully mechanized face coal wall and the hydraulic support column, thus promoting dust removal. A numerical simulation of the spray of the blowing-spraying synergistic dust collector was conducted based on a local model of the full scale fully mechanized face. The results showed that, when the hydraulic motor was disabled and the spray pressure increased from 2 to 5 MPa, the proportion of area covered by the high-quality spray field (where the concentration was > 10 g/m3) in Section Q rapidly increased from 3.62% (2 MPa) to 32.47% (5 MPa). When the hydraulic motor was enabled, the proportion of area covered by the high-quality spray field in Section Q increased to 85.6%: indicating that the effective coverage of the spray field in the fully mechanized face was greatly enhanced under the action of the high-speed airflow. Application and dust measurements were conducted in the 22,104 fully mechanized face of Shangwan Coal Mine. After the activation of blowing–spraying synergistic dust collectors at the front and rear drums of the shearer, the respirable dust concentration at the place of the shearer driver’s location diminished to 19.7 mg/m3 and the dust removal rate became 90.3%, indicating an effective dust removal.

Developing and validating Precursors of Students’ boredom in EFL classes: an exploratory sequential mixed-methods study

ABSTRACT Given the significance of boredom and its detrimental effects on the English as a foreign language (EFL) students’ academic achievements, this study utilised an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design to initially explore the boredom factors in EFL classes among a sample of 139 university students and then develop and validate the Precursors of Students’ Boredom in EFL Classes (PSBEC) in the context of Iran. Confirmatory factor analysis, based on the data from 991 university students, resulted in the confirmation of eleven-factor model of the PSBEC scales introducing eleven factors as the main precursors: (a) teaching practices, (b) excessive class control, (c) inattentive behaviour, (d) overchallenge, (e) underchallenge, (f) intrinsic values, (g) extrinsic values, (h) negative affective factors, (i) boredom proneness, (j) classroom-related factors, and (k) curriculum design. Moreover, the PSBEC scales showed good convergent validity with the Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) and the Perceived Teachers’ Enthusiasm (PTE) scales. The PSBEC scales also negatively correlated with students’ academic achievements except for boredom due to underchallenge, supporting the ecological validity. The findings help teachers assess the boredom-inducing factors in EFL classes and find ways to avoid boredom and its detrimental effects on their EFL students.

Awareness Is Bliss: How Acquiescence Affects Exploratory Factor Analysis.

Assessing the measurement model (MM) of self-report scales is crucial to obtain valid measurements of individuals' latent psychological constructs. This entails evaluating the number of measured constructs and determining which construct is measured by which item. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is the most-used method to evaluate these psychometric properties, where the number of measured constructs (i.e., factors) is assessed, and, afterward, rotational freedom is resolved to interpret these factors. This study assessed the effects of an acquiescence response style (ARS) on EFA for unidimensional and multidimensional (un)balanced scales. Specifically, we evaluated (a) whether ARS is captured as an additional factor, (b) the effect of different rotation approaches on the content and ARS factors recovery, and (c) the effect of extracting the additional ARS factor on the recovery of factor loadings. ARS was often captured as an additional factor in balanced scales when it was strong. For these scales, ignoring extracting this additional ARS factor, or rotating to simple structure when extracting it, harmed the recovery of the original MM by introducing bias in loadings and cross-loadings. These issues were avoided by using informed rotation approaches (i.e., target rotation), where (part of) the rotation target is specified according to a priori expectations on the MM. Not extracting the additional ARS factor did not affect the loading recovery in unbalanced scales. Researchers should consider the potential presence of ARS when assessing the psychometric properties of balanced scales and use informed rotation approaches when suspecting that an additional factor is an ARS factor.

Workplace violence, occupational commitment and intention among emergency room nurses: A mixed-methods study.

This study aimed to determine the correlations between the violence experienced by emergency nurses in the work environment, their occupational commitment and their intention to resign. The emergency service, when compared with other hospital departments, is the unit where violence against healthcare workers is most common. A multi-method design was used. The research was carried out between 15January 2020 and 15May 2021. The sample of the study consisted of 202 emergency service nurses. The first stage of the research was reserved for the validity and reliability study of the Turkish version of the Perceptions of the Prevalence of Aggression Scale (POPAS). Quantitative data were collected using the POPAS, the Three-Component Model of Commitment Scale. A qualitative method was used to determine in-depth the causes and effects of the violence the nurses were exposed to and what they thought and felt about the factors affecting their commitment to the occupation and their intention to resign. The Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) were used for this paper. The fit index values of the POPAS, which were confirmed with 15 items and four subdimensions, were determined to be acceptable and highly reliable. It was determined that 96.5% of the nurses were exposed to verbal violence. Qualitative interviews with nurses revealed that the violence they were subjected to in the working environment affected the nurses physically, psychologically, socially and caused them to consider leaving their jobs. The increasing incidence of exposure to violent behaviours and verbal violence was found to decrease nurses' emotional commitment to their occupation. Nurses' working conditions and work environments should be improved and their workload should be reduced in order to maximise their level of occupational commitment and prevent them from thinking about resigning.

Factorial Validity and Psychometric Properties of Exercise Dependence Scale Revised Among Lebanese Exercisers.

The aim of this manuscript is to discuss the reliability and the factorial, convergent and discriminant validities in measurement model of the 21-item Exercise Dependence Scale Revised (EDS-R) used for diagnosing exercise addiction. A study was conducted among 695 (364 male and 331 female) Lebanese bilingual young adults (aged 18–25) who filled the English version of this questionnaire, along with a general questionnaire. This study showed that, despite an acceptable fit index confirming the 7-factor structure and invariance across gender, exercise duration and age groups; the EDS-R lacks in reliability and convergent and discriminant validities in measurement model, due particularly to the “Reduction in other activities” subscale. The construction of the EDS-R is then to be discussed.

Design of Intelligent Rehabilitation Evaluation Scale for Stroke Patients Based on Genetic Algorithm and Extreme Learning Machine

The rehabilitation of stroke patients is a long-term process. To realize the automation and quantification of upper limb rehabilitation assessment of stroke patients, an automatic prediction model of rehabilitation evaluation scale was established by extreme learning machine (ELM) according to Fugl-Meyer motor function assessment (FMA). Four movements in the shoulder and elbow joints of FMA were selected. Two acceleration sensors fixed on the forearm and upper arm of the hemiplegic side were used to collect the motion data of 35 patients. After preprocessing and feature extraction, the feature selection was carried out based on genetic algorithm and ELM, and the single-action model and comprehensive prediction model were established, respectively. The results show that the model can accurately and automatically predict the shoulder and elbow score of FMA, and the root mean square error of prediction is 2.16. This method breaks through the limitations of subjectivity, time-consuming and dependence on rehabilitation doctors in the traditional evaluation. It can be easily used in the assessment of long-term rehabilitation.

Tracer Tests For Heterogeneity Characterization And Saturation Determination On Core Flooding

Low sweep efficiency is the common problem in displacement process due to heterogeneity, high permeability streaks, fractures, and thief zones existing in the formation. Similarly, the success or failure of EOR implementations are always affected by those problems which causes displacing fluids fingering and early breakthrough. Factors of this type, unless properly identified and understood before the start of EOR process, will likely cause a project failure. Core flooding as the model of small scale of fluids movements in reservoir undergoes similar circumstances. Approximately one foot long of four 3.5 inches stacked native and synthetic cores are normally used in core flooding experiment. Tracer test was performed to characterize the core in addition of CT scan analysis. On this experiment, lithium solution was selected as tracer solution to be then injected into core at constant rate, 4 ft/day. Afterwards, the effluents were collected by Gilson sample collector in each tube for further determinination its concentration using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Response curves of lithium tracer were able to determine core heterogeneities and this should be done to avoid misleading interpretation of core flooding results. Besides, lithium concentration reported in some extent and subsequently analyzed by employing method of temporal moments. This method provides numerical calculation to estimate effective core pore volume (PV) and fluid saturation. Weighing method was also used to compare the PV with aforementioned method and the results were comparable.

Mono- and multi-diameter approaches to predict stratified flow structure by means of CFD simulations in DAF systems

This paper presents a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of a pilot scale dissolved air flotation (DAF) tank. A Multiphase Mixture model was used to analyse the influence of bubble sizes on the formation of a stratified flow structure. Critical bubble diameter is defined as the size of the bubble that implies the equality of the bubble rising velocity and flow downward velocity in the separation zone (SZ). The fact as to whether using air bubble sizes which are greater or less than the critical diameter value significantly affects the air content, flow structure and the limit of the whitewater blanket inside the SZ is assessed. The study was carried out using two approaches, namely, mono- and multi-diameter. The results obtained via the mono-diameter approach proved to be closely in line with experimental data when air concentration in the SZ had almost, but not quite, a constant value. However, it failed to predict the case of the progressive decrease in air below half of SZ height. A combined effect of bubbles with different rising speed was required to reproduce a smooth air profile curve, as measured experimentally. In this context, a multi-diameter approach is deemed to be a suitable method for reproducing the stratified structure. In addition, this approach offers the chance to study bubble size distribution inside the SZ domain.

New insights into the measurement model of a new scale for evaluating restaurant service quality during major infectious disease outbreaks

PurposeConsumers prefer to choose restaurants that value hygiene and safety; therefore, appropriate epidemic prevention measures could restore 30% of lost customers and enhance a restaurant’s reputation during infectious disease outbreaks. Providing customers with safe epidemic prevention service quality is an important mission of the restaurant industry during an epidemic. This study aims to construct an epidemic prevention service quality scale for restaurants (REP-SERV scale).Design/methodology/approachThe REP-SERV scale was constructed through internet big data analytics and qualitative and quantitative research procedures.FindingsA total of 16 key service factors for restaurant epidemic prevention were extracted through internet big data analytics. The REP-SERV scale contained 28 items in six dimensions, including hygiene, empathy, flexible service, support service, personnel management and body temperature and seating arrangement.Practical implicationsThe REP-SERV scale can help many restaurant operators clearly determine the deficiencies and risks of restaurant epidemic prevention services.Originality/valueThe findings can provide references to effectively measure and improve the epidemic prevention service quality in restaurants, thereby providing customers with a comfortable and safe dining environment.

Validity and Reliability of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 (SAVE-6) Scale to Measure Viral Anxiety of Healthcare Workers in Spain During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study examined the validity and applicability of the Spanish version of the Stress and Anxiety to Viral Epidemics-6 items (SAVE-6) scale, which can be usually applied to the general population, to healthcare workers to briefly measure their anxiety responses to the viral epidemic. A total of 135 healthcare workers participated in this online survey from January to July 2021. Participants' sociodemographic characteristics were gathered, and their psychiatric symptoms were rated using SAVE-6, Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scale (GDAS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the validity of the scales. The single-structure model of the SAVE-6 scale was adopted based on the results of the parallel analysis. We decided on the SAVE-6 scale, as it proved to be a good fit to measure healthcare workers' anxiety response to the viral epidemic. SAVE-6 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.827 and McDonald's omega = 0.834) and good convergent validity with Goldberg anxiety (r = 0.434, p < 0.001) and depression (r = 0.193, p = 0.043) scores, and PSQI score (r = 0.262, p = 0.002). The Spanish version of SAVE-6 is a reliable and valid rating scale to assess the anxiety response of healthcare workers specifically to the viral epidemic as a brief measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.