Perceived Health Threat Research Articles

Patient reported colonoscopy barriers: A cross sectional survey.

e23149 Background: As a leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is an acceptable cost-effective strategy to reducing mortality indices in the country. 10-yearly colonoscopy screening is the most effective with a mortality reduction of 73%. Despite this, CRC screening rates remain low. The purpose of this study was to describe barriers associated with colonoscopy screening in primary care settings. Methods: Postage pre-paid return envelopes and surveys were sent to all established patients aged > 50 from primary care practices (n = 4) in an employed physician group; the group also serves as a residency continuity clinic for a community teaching hospital. Variables included demographics and literature-reported barriers to colonoscopy screening. Whether or not a patient had a colonoscopy (including if > 10 years since a colonoscopy) was compared to patient reported barriers and demographics. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05; strength of association was measured by Cramer’s V. Results: Average age of patients was 62 + 6 years; 61.4% were female; 35.3% were privately insured; and 10.3% were non-white. Older patients were slightly more likely to get screened, 63 + 6 years vs. 60 + 7 years (p = 0.006). Neither race, sex, insurance guarantor, education, marital status or income were associated with screening. Rate of colonoscopy screening in this series was 76.7% (n = 276/360), which was greater than rates reported by CDC for Ohio. In those screened, the rate of colonic or rectal polyps was remarkably noted to be up to 47.5% (131/276). The most important barriers to colonoscopy screening were knowledge of insurance coverage (p < 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.216, p < 0.001); transportation to procedure (p = 0.001; Cramer’s V = 0.172, p = 0.001); someone to accompany patient (p = 0.002; Cramer’s V = 0.164, p = 0.002); and unaware of screening or lack of perceived health threat (p = 0.019; Cramer’s V = 0.150, p = 0.019). The remaining barriers were not associated with increased likelihood of colonoscopy: fear of finding cancer, belief in screening effectiveness, embarrassment or anxiety, or fear of invasive test. While bowel prep is often cited as a barrier to colonoscopy, this factor was not statistically significant. Likewise, physician-initiated discussion and time off from employment were not associated with screening. The most important colonoscopy barrier was patient knowledge regarding insurance for the procedure; overall, 29% of patients reported that they were unsure if colonoscopy was covered. Among those not screened, the rate rose to 47%. Conclusions: The most important colonoscopy barrier identified was patient knowledge regarding insurance for the procedure. While physician counseling for colonoscopy needs to include bowel prep and procedure risks, greater awareness of insurance coverage and social factors may facilitate physician understanding of colonoscopy screening hesitancy.

Skip the checking step: Investigating the pathways from online health information scanning to unverified health information sharing

Health misinformation has become rampant in the digital age, because people often share unauthenticated health messages on online platforms. While previous studies have pinpointed different factors that influence the dissemination of such unverified health content, few have delved into the transition from exposure to online health information to its unverified sharing. Drawing upon the theory of motivated information management, this study proposes a research model that connects online health information scanning to unverified health information sharing. Using two-wave survey data in China, we found a positive association between online health information scanning and uncertainty discrepancy in Time 1. Such discrepancy subsequently led to perceived health threat and health anxiety in Time 2, which ultimately increased unverified health information sharing in Time 2. Overall, this study enriches the information management literature by theorizing the pathways from information scanning to unverified information sharing through cognitive and emotional responses. Moreover, the findings offer practical insights for social media operators and health professionals to propose informed strategies to curb the spread of unverified health information on the internet.

Factors influencing the continuance intention of the women's health WeChat public account: an integrated model of UTAUT2 and HBM.

Women's health WeChat public accounts play a crucial role in enhancing health literacy and fostering the development of healthy behaviors among women by disseminating women's health knowledge. Improving users' continuous usage behavior and retention rates for the women's health WeChat public account is vital for influencing the overall effectiveness of health communication on WeChat. This study aimed to construct a comprehensive model, delving into the key factors influencing women's continuance intention of the women's health public accounts from the perspectives of perceived health threats, individual abilities, and technological perceptions. The goal is to provide valuable insights for enhancing user stickiness and the effectiveness of health communication on WeChat public accounts. An online survey was conducted among women receiving gynecological care at a certain hospital to gage their willingness for sustained use of the women's health WeChat public accounts. Through structural equation modeling, the study investigated the influencing factors on women's sustained intention to use the women's health WeChat public accounts. The study included a total of 853 adult women. Among them, 241 (28.3%) women had followed women's health official accounts in the past but do not currently follow them, 240 (28.1%) women had followed women's health official accounts in the past and are still following them, and 372 (43.6%) women had never followed women's health official accounts. Currently, 240 women are still browsing women's health public accounts, 52 of whom read women's health public accounts every day, and most of them read women's health public accounts for 10-20 min at a time (100, 11.7%). The results of the structural equation model revealed that performance expectancy, social influence, hedonic motivation, habit, and e-health literacy had significantly positive effects on women's sustained intention to use public accounts (performance expectancy: β = 0.341, p < 0.001; social influence: β = 0.087, p = 0.047; hedonic motivation: β = 0.119, p = 0.048; habit: β = 0.102, p < 0.001; e-health literacy: β = 0.158, p < 0.001). E-health literacy and self-efficacy indirectly influence sustained intention by affecting performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, and habit. The effect sizes of e-health literacy on performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, and habit were 0.244 (p < 0.001), 0.316 (p < 0.001), 0.188 (p < 0.001), 0.226(p < 0.001), 0.154 (p < 0.001), and 0.073 (p = 0.046). The effect sizes of self-efficacy on performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, and habit were 0.502 (p < 0.001), 0.559 (p < 0.001), 0.454 (p < 0.001), 0.662 (p < 0.001), 0.707 (p < 0.001), and 0.682 (p < 0.001). Additionally, perceived severity and perceived susceptibility indirectly affected sustained intention by influencing performance expectancy and social influence. The effect sizes of perceived severity on performance expectancy and social influence were 0.223 (p < 0.001) and 0.146 (p < 0.001). The effect size of perceived susceptibility to social influence was 0.069 (p = 0.042). Users' e-health literacy, self-efficacy, perception of disease threat, and users' technological perceptions of the WeChat public accounts are critical factors influencing women's continuance intention of using the WeChat public accounts. Therefore, for female users, attention should be given to improving user experience and enhancing the professionalism and credibility of health information in public account design and promotion. Simultaneously, efforts should be made to strengthen users' health awareness and cultivate e-health literacy, ultimately promoting sustained attention and usage behavior among women toward health-focused public accounts.

Continue staying in online health platforms or not: the moderating role of threat appraisal

PurposeThis study aims to study the mechanisms and conditions of users' intention to continue to use online health platforms from an information technology (IT) affordance perspective.Design/methodology/approachb This research proposes that a critical affordance effect on an online health platform, users' intention to continue the use of the platform, is affected by five platform affordances via two actualized affordances (i.e. perceived benefits (PBs) and online engagement (OE)). Perceived health threat moderates the effect generated by affordance actualization. A dataset involving 409 users from the “Ping An Health” platform was collected through an online survey and analyzed to validate the research hypotheses.FindingsThe data analysis results confirm that the proposed online health platform affordances affect users' PBs and OE, which influence users' intentions to continue using the platform. Perceived threats (perceived vulnerability (PVU) and perceived severity (PSE)) moderate the relationship between PBs and continuance intention (CI) and between OE and CI.Practical implicationsThe research provides important recommendations for online health platform designers to develop IT affordances that can support users' needs for healthcare services.Originality/valueLimited studies investigated why users continue participating in online diagnosis and treatment. This study provides a new perspective to expand the affordance framework by combining technology features and user health behavior. The study also emphasizes the importance of perceived threats in IT use.

Correlates and trajectories of loneliness among community-dwelling older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Canadian longitudinal study

The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to examine the contributions of social interaction and other non-social factors to loneliness among older adults in the context of confinement measures constraining opportunities for in-person social interactions. This study aims to identify groups of individuals with heterogeneous trajectories of loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore the sociodemographic, health, psychological and social interaction-related factors associated with these trajectories. In this 12-month longitudinal study, 614 community‐dwelling individuals aged 60+ years completed telephone-based interviews on four occasions between May 2020 and May 2021. Loneliness was evaluated using the three-item version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Multilevel modelling assessed average changes in loneliness over time. Group‐based trajectory modelling was performed to identify distinct trajectories of loneliness over time. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to explore the predictors of these trajectories. On average, there was a curvilinear change in loneliness that tracked the stringency of the COVID-19-related confinement measures. In this convenience sample, three heterogeneous trajectories were identified: a stable-low (17.2%), a fluctuating-moderate (48.8%) and a sustained-elevated (34.0%) trajectory. Participants in the sustained-elevated loneliness trajectory were more likely to live alone and experience elevated psychological distress and greater COVID-19 perceived health threat compared to those in the stable-low trajectory. Participants in the fluctuating-moderate loneliness group were more likely to have multimorbidity, experience greater psychological distress, and have less frequent in-person interactions than the stable-low loneliness group. Assessing the combination of sociodemographic, health, psychological and social factors may help identify individuals at higher risk for chronic loneliness.

Insomnia symptoms among older adults during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal study

ObjectiveTo identify sociodemographic, psychological, and health factors related to trajectories of insomnia symptoms in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsFrom May 2020 to May 2021, 644 older adults (mean age = 78.73, SD = 5.60) completed telephone-administered self-reported measures (ie, Insomnia Severity Index, consensus sleep diaries, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, Post-Traumatic Checklist, perceived health threat, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and provided sociodemographic data at 4 timepoints. Using the Insomnia Severity Index score at each timepoint, group-based trajectory modeling was conducted to identify groups with distinct insomnia trajectories. ResultsOn average, there was no significant change in insomnia symptoms over time. Three groups with distinct sleep trajectories were identified: clinical (11.8%), subthreshold (25.3%), and good sleepers (62.9%). Older adults who were younger, male, had elevated psychological distress and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, perceived more SARS-CoV-2 health threat, spent more time in bed, and had shorter sleep duration during the first wave of the pandemic were more likely to belong to the clinical than to the good sleepers group. Those who were younger, female, had elevated psychological distress and PTSD symptoms, greater loneliness, spent more time in bed, and had reduced sleep duration during the first wave were more likely to belong to the subthreshold than to the good sleepers group. ConclusionsOver 1 in 3 older adults experienced persistent subthreshold or clinically significant insomnia symptoms. Both sleep-related behaviors as well as general and COVID-19-related psychological factors were associated with insomnia trajectories.

Exploring Cybersecurity Awareness and Resilience of SMEs amid the Sudden Shift to Remote Work during the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Exploring Cybersecurity Awareness and Resilience of SMEs amid the Sudden Shift to Remote Work during the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Pilot Study

Fear appeals and coping appeals for health product promotion: Impulsive purchasing or psychological distancing?

The prevalence of online health communities (OHCs) motivates health product companies to manipulate persuasion-based marketing strategies, including fear appeals and coping appeals, to promote health products. However, whether such a practice is effective remains unclear. Respondents may either impulsively purchase the recommended health products or simply distance themselves psychologically from the information. Building on protection motivation theory (PMT), this study uncovers the mechanisms behind these two coping responses to persuasive messages, namely, the impulsive purchasing and psychological distancing of OHC users. Correspondingly, we evaluated 366 valid questionnaires, and the results reveal that (1) when encountering fear appeals, perceived health threat can evoke cyberchondria, leading to psychological distancing; and (2) when encountering coping appeals, perceived response efficacy leads to product affection, fostering impulsive purchasing. This study provides new insights into the effects of persuasive messages for health product promotion in social commerce. Marketers should design appropriate persuasive messages to foster impulsive purchasing by generating individuals’ product affection and avoiding cyberchondria.

Effect of COVID-19 health threat on consumer’s perceived value towards mobile payments in India: a means-end model

Shifting to mobile payments from offline payments can be considered as a social distancing measure in times of a pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak is currently entering its ‘endemic’ stage; continued usage of mobile-based payment services is thereby warranted as a social distancing mechanism. This could be true in case of any other pandemic/endemic outbreaks like SARS/Nipah virus outbreaks. The current study examines how the ‘perceived’ health threat posed by COVID-19 and mobile payment service quality (MPSQ) influence consumers' perceived value toward continuous usage of mobile payment services (MPS) in India. In addition, the investigation considers other factors that prompt consumers to continue using the service. Customers, who used mobile payment applications for making cashless transactions during the pandemic, formed the subjects of the study. Data were collected from 720 mobile payment users. The research model integrates the concept of health threat in health belief model to means-end chain model to explain why a customer opts to choose m-payment at times of a pandemic, and what prompts him/her to continue with its usage. The model was empirically tested with structural equation modeling, along with mediation and moderation analysis. It was found that MPSQ, perceived susceptibility, and perceived severity of COVID-19 significantly enhanced consumers’ value perceptions regarding MPS, which leads to satisfaction and continuance intention of using the same. In addition, the study also found a significant positive moderating role of consumer involvement on the relationship between perceived health threat, perceived value, and MPSQ. The threat of COVID-19, being an endemic, or occurrence of similar pandemics persists, and adopting contactless transactions via MPS to comply with social distancing norms may improve customer value perceptions that could aid in the persistence of MPS usage. Also, derivation of value perceptions out of the service quality acts as a driver to continuous usage.

Understanding Patient Beliefs in Using Technology to Manage Diabetes: Path Analysis Model From a National Web-Based Sample.

With 425 million individuals globally living with diabetes, it is critical to support the self-management of this life-threatening condition. However, adherence and engagement with existing technologies are inadequate and need further research. The objective of our study was to develop an integrated belief model that helps identify the significant constructs in predicting intention to use a diabetes self-management device for the detection of hypoglycemia. Adults with type 1 diabetes living in the United States were recruited through Qualtrics to take a web-based questionnaire that assessed their preferences for a device that monitors their tremors and alerts them of the onset of hypoglycemia. As part of this questionnaire, a section focused on eliciting their response to behavioral constructs from the Health Belief Model, Technology Acceptance Model, and others. A total of 212 eligible participants responded to the Qualtrics survey. Intention to use a device for the self-management of diabetes was well predicted (R2=0.65; F12,199=27.19; P<.001) by 4 main constructs. The most significant constructs were perceived usefulness (β=.33; P<.001) and perceived health threat (β=.55; P<.001) followed by cues to action (β=.17; P<.001) and a negative effect from resistance to change (β=-.19; P<.001). Older age (β=.025; P<.001) led to an increase in their perceived health threat. For individuals to use such a device, they need to perceive it as useful, perceive diabetes as life-threatening, regularly remember to perform actions to manage their condition, and exhibit less resistance to change. The model predicted the intention to use a diabetes self-management device as well, with several constructs found to be significant. This mental modeling approach can be complemented in future work by field-testing with physical prototype devices and assessing their interaction with the device longitudinally.

Nurses' coping strategies caring for patients during severe viral pandemics: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Nurses play an essential role in responding to severe viral disease which bring considerable challenges to their personal and professional well-being. This subsequently can affect the delivery of care and healthcare systems' organisational capacity to respond. Understanding nurses' experiences of these challenges will help inform healthcare policies. To explore the experiences and coping strategies of nurses caring for patients during severe viral disease pandemics. A mixed-methods systematic review informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. A mixed-methods systematic review. Five electronic databases Medline, CINAHL, PsychInfo, ASSIA and Scopus were searched on 4th April 2021. Results were reported in accordance with PRISMA. The findings were analysed and reported in the context of the Self-Regulatory Common-Sense Model. In total, 71 peer-review primary research articles describing nurses' experiences of caring for patients during SARS, MERS, Swine flu H1N1, Avian influenza or SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 published in English from 2003 to 2021 were included. We found links between nurses' perception of the health threats, their emotional reactions, and coping strategies. Perceived health threats were influenced by organisational factors including frequent changes in clinical guidelines and workplace protocols, onerous workloads and working hours, unavailability of PPE, and lack of knowledge and training in pandemic management. These impacted nurses' physical, psychological and social well-being. Nurses also reported helpful and unhelpful coping strategies to manage the health threats. It is vital for stakeholders, policymakers, government and healthcare institutions to recognise and monitor the wider impact on healthcare workers from health emergencies. In addition, support to develop and implement effective systems and individual mechanisms to offset the anticipated impact pre and post pandemics/epidemics is needed. Our findings can inform those strategies for similar future health emergencies. Nurses are often the first point of contact in providing direct care to patients, hence they are at high risk of being infected. The findings from this review can help managers and policymakers in developing programmes to enhance resilience in the nursing workforce. This was a literature review study.

The role of ethics in technology acceptance: analysing resistance to new health technologies on the example of a COVID-19 contact-tracing app

ABSTRACT New health technologies promise enormous benefits for human wellbeing, yet their diffusion is often inhibited by potential users’ uncertainty about their consequences. Since ethics help individuals to cope with uncertainty, this study investigates the potential of ethics to promote technology acceptance. To this end, we test the influence of typical acceptance predictors (perceived health threat, privacy attitudes, and technology readiness) and two new ethics-related variables (‘ethical optimism’ and ‘perceived governmental responsibility’) on resistance to a government-issued COVID-19 contact-tracing app. Using structural equation modelling, we find significant effects of the typical acceptance predictors, and that ethical optimism and perceived governmental responsibility interact in determining the resistance to the tracing app. The paper highlights the relevance of ethics for the acceptance of new (health) technologies and suggests that the role of ethics is not confined to being a ‘moral watchdog’ but can serve as a powerful lever to promote their acceptance.

Investigating the effect of an mHealth coaching intervention on health beliefs, adherence and blood pressure of patients with hypertension: A longitudinal single group pilot study.

Mobile health technologies have shown promise as delivery platforms for digital health coaching for chronic conditions. However, the impacts of such strategies on users' health beliefs, intentions and ultimately clinical outcomes are understudied. This study sought (1) to evaluate the effects of a digital health coaching intervention on participants' belief constructs; and (2) to assess relationships between these belief constructs and intentions to utilize the technological intervention, actual adherence metrics and clinical outcomes related to hypertension. Thirty-four participants with hypertension were recruited from a university community from January to May 2021. They self-measured weight and blood pressure (BP) for 30 days followed by digital coaching delivered via a mobile application for 30 days. Surveys assessed constructs from the Health Belief Model and Technology Acceptance Model, compared to intention, health belief, BP self-monitoring adherence and BP outcomes. A path analysis model was used to assess the relationships between constructs and intention, adherence metrics and clinical outcomes. A Kruskal-Wallis test was used to identify changes in beliefs. Participant health beliefs significantly improved after coaching, including self-efficacy (H(1) = 15.12, p < 0.001), cues to action (H(1) = 5.33, p = 0.02), attitude (H(1) = 10.35, p = 0.002), perceived usefulness (H(1) = 15.02, p < 0.001) and decreased resistance to change (H(1) = 4.05, p = 0.04). Adherence to BP measurements positively correlated with perceived health threat (β = .033, p = 0.007) and perceived ease of use (β = .0277, p < 0.001). Self-efficacy (β = -2.92, p = 0.02) and perceived usefulness (β = -3.75, p = 0.01) were linked with a decrease in diastolic BP. A mobile health coaching intervention may help participants improve beliefs regarding hypertension self-management.

Using the ABC theory of emotion to examine the relationship between health anxiety and health information-seeking behavior among the rural population.

The aim of the current study was to explore the relationship between online and offline health information-seeking behaviors, as antecedents and consequences, and health anxiety and related belief factors in rural residents. Based on the ABC theory of emotions (ABC model), this study developed two theoretical models of the association between health anxiety and health information-seeking behavior: Placing health information-seeking behavior (both online and offline) as an outcome and antecedent, respectively, and setting three belief factors of the perceived health threat, intolerance of uncertainty, and catastrophic misinterpretations. We collected 730 self-reported data points from 20 June to 5 July 2022 for rural residents in China and empirically tested the research model and hypotheses using partial least squares-based structural equation modeling. The perceived health threat and intolerance of uncertainty are significant motivators of health anxiety, and health anxiety has a direct beneficial effect on both online and offline health information-seeking behaviors. Health anxiety is influenced either directly or indirectly by catastrophic misinterpretations resulting from online health information-seeking, while offline health information-seeking behavior does not contribute as strongly to health anxiety directly but mainly reinforces it through the mediating influence of catastrophic misinterpretations. Rural residents' health anxiety promotes their online and offline health information behaviors. And both their online and offline health information-seeking behaviors may promote health anxiety directly and through catastrophic misinterpretations. Comparing the two, online health information-seeking behaviors primarily exacerbate health anxiety through direct effects, whereas offline health information-seeking behaviors primarily affect health anxiety through catastrophic misinterpretations. We provide suggested guidelines for alleviating health anxiety and regulating health information behaviors among rural residents.

A randomised experimental study comparing perceptions of two energy drink health warning labels.

Consumption of energy drinks is a public health concern, particularly in adolescents and young adults. This study explored energy drink consumers' reactions to an energy drink-specific warning label (risk of cardiac effects) and a more general sugary drink warning label (risk of obesity). An online experimental study randomly allocated Australian energy drink consumers aged 18-39 years (N=435) to view one of two label conditions (cardiac effects or obesity). Participants were assessed on: intention to reduce energy drink consumption, perceived health threat, perceived label effectiveness and policy support for energy drink warning labels. Mean intentions to reduce consumption scores were similar across the two label conditions (Mobesity =2.5, Mcardiac =2.6) overall; and were higher for the cardiac label (compared to obesity label) for some subgroups: females (Mobesity =2.3, Mcardiac =2.8; p=.037), older (25-39 years; Mobesity =2.4, Mcardiac =2.8; p=.016); and higher education level (Mobesity =1.9, Mcardiac =2.7; p=.004). While perceived health threat measures were higher for obesity than cardiac effects, perceived label effectiveness measures of 'believable' and 'relevant to me' were higher for the cardiac label than the obesity label (believable: 71.0% vs 56.1%; relevant: 42.5% vs 29.4%). Participants who viewed the cardiac label were more likely to support policy than those shown the obesity label (OR=1.6, 95%CI [1.1, 2.3], p=.02). Health effect warnings labels were perceived by energy drink consumers to be impactful and are supported. Labels with energy drink-specific health effects may offer additional benefit. SO WHAT?: Policy makers can feel confident that warning labels on energy drinks will confer public health benefit.

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management in Racial/Ethnic Minorities: Application of the Extended Parallel Processing Model and Sensemaking Theory in a Qualitative Study.

The purpose of the study was to understand the role of perceived disease threat and self-efficacy in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients' self-management by using the extended parallel processing model (EPPM) and sensemaking theory. Semistructured interviews (n = 25) were conducted with T2DM patients from an urban safety-net hospital. Participants were 50% male/female median age was 55 years and 76% were Black. Participants were categorized by EPPM group based on validated questionnaires (high/low disease threat [HT/LT]; high/low self-efficacy [HE/LE]). Nine were HT/HE, 7 HT/LE, 6 LT/HE, and 3 LT/LE. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using inductive and deductive coding. Sensemaking theory was applied to contextualize and analyze data. Those with HT indicated threat fluctuated throughout diagnosis but that certain triggers (eg, diabetic complications) drove changes in disease view. Those in the HT/HE group more frequently expressed disease acceptance, whereas the HT/LE group more often expressed anger or denial. HT/HE participants expressed having adequate social support and higher trust in health care providers. HT/LE participants reported limited problem-solving skills. In those with LT, the HE group took more ownership of self-management behaviors. The LT/LE group had heightened positive and negative emotional responses that appeared to limit their ability to perform self-care. They also less frequently described problem-solving skills, instead expressing reliance on medical guidance from their providers. EPPM and sensemaking theory are effective frameworks for understanding how perceived health threat and self-efficacy may impede T2DM self-care. A greater focus on these constructs is needed to improve care among low-income minority patients, especially those with low threat and self-efficacy.

Asian Americans’ Lived Experiences with and Perceptions of Social Stigma during COVID-19

It has been well documented that Asian Americans have experienced increased social stigmatization related to COVID-19 since Donald Trump began referring to the virus as the “Chinese virus” and “kung flu” in March 2020. Stigma has negative social and health impacts on minority communities, such as labeling, avoiding, shame, disgust, and social exclusion. The health impacts include both physical and mental illness, and the acceleration of health disparities. This study seeks to understand these lived experiences and subsequent coping strategies. Using focus groups, 17 Asian American participants were interviewed to understand their experiences with stigmatization during the pandemic. The findings reveal that stigmatized behavior and attitudes of others did not deter Asian Americans from following the COVID-19 related health guidelines, likely because perceived health threats were high. Consumer behaviors of Asian Americans also changed dramatically toward buying almost everything online (due to both the pandemic and personal safety). This behavioral decisioning provides insights into the complex motivations for adopting health behaviors, and, in this case, social distancing can double as a means by which to avoid people, for fear of becoming victims of stigmatization in public areas.

The Effects of Drowsiness Detection Technology and Education on Nurses’ Beliefs and Attitudes Towards Drowsy Driving

Background: Drowsy driving is prevalent among night-shift nurses, yet there is a gap in understanding nurses’ beliefs and attitudes that may affect their intention to avoid drowsy driving. Objectives: The objectives of the study were twofold: 1) investigate how behavioral constructs such as beliefs and attitudes may affect nurses’ intention to avoid drowsy driving; and 2) assess changes in such beliefs and attitudes during a study that evaluated the effectiveness of educational and technological interventions. Methods: Three-hundred night-shift nurses were recruited from a large hospital in Texas to participate in a randomized control trial. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups: 1) control; 2) educational intervention; and 3) combined educational and technological intervention. The study utilized an integrated model drawing from the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Health Belief Model to elicit attitudes, beliefs, and intentions to use in-vehicle drowsiness detection technologies. Each group was surveyed pre- intervention and at post-intervention around 3 months later to assess changes in beliefs and attitudes. Structural equation models and path analysis were used to analyze changes in beliefs. Results: Seventy-nine participants completed the pre-intervention questionnaire, and 44 nurses completed the pre- and post-intervention surveys. Intention was predicted primarily by attitude and perceived health threat. Perceived health threat also mediated the relationship between behavioral intention and the influence of subjective norms as well as perceived behavioral control. Participants who received education about drowsy driving had positive changes in beliefs. Conclusions: Nurses’ perceived health threat from driving drowsy and their attitude towards our intervention were important motivators to avoid drowsy driving. Interventions aiming at raising awareness of the risks associated with drowsy driving may be effective at motivating nurses to avoid drowsy driving.

Exploring non-users' intention to adopt ride-sharing services: Taking into account increased risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic among other factors.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has a substantial negative effect on the global transportation industry. Ride-sharing is an innovative means of transportation that is also affected by the COVID-19. How and when individuals adopt ride-sharing services under the COVID-19 context should be explored to reduce the influence of the COVID-19 on ride-sharing and promote the development of ride-sharing services. This research investigates the effect of ambiguity tolerance and environmental concern on potential users’ intention toward adopting ride-sharing services and further examines how the COVID-19 affects their intention toward adopting ride-sharing services. Data from 964 potential users of ride-sharing services suggest that ambiguity tolerance and environmental concern directly and positively influence potential users’ intention toward adopting ride-sharing services. In addition, both indirectly affect consumers’ intention toward adopting ride-sharing services through perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Moreover, the perceived health threat negatively moderates the effect of ambiguity tolerance and environmental concern on consumers’ intention toward adopting ride-sharing services. This study enriches the research on how and when ambiguity tolerance and environmental concern influence consumers’ intention toward adopting ride-sharing services. Furthermore, this study highlights the moderating effect of perceived health threat under the COVID-19 context. Based on the empirical findings, practical implications are proposed for the providers and facilitators of ride-sharing services.

How Do Perceived Health Threats Affect the Junk Food Eating Behavior and Consequent Obesity? Moderating Role of Product Knowledge Hiding.

The predominant use of junk food in our societies is continuously held responsible for the obese body physiques and overweight among the kids and adolescents. The current supportive environments where organic foods are limited, and new processed foods have been brought to the market with more variant tastes and acceptability for the kids and adolescents that have diverged their eating patterns. It has significantly contributed to the health issues and growth discrepancies of the users. However, the awareness of the food contents is an important milestone for understanding the risks associated with the usage of junk foods. A quantitative approach has been used in this study to measure the effect of perceived severity, vulnerability and fear on the junk food eating behaviors and ultimately on the obesity. The moderating role of product knowledge hiding has also been measured on the relationship of junk food eating and obesity. Structural equation modeling is used using the software Smart-PLS for measuring the hypothesis with a sample size of 228 selected through purposive sampling. The sample consisted of kids and adolescents who were reached on purpose for data collection. The current study has explored the role of perceived severity, vulnerability and the fear of using junk foods which have been found as a negative effect on junk food eating behavior which is positively associated with obesity among the kids and adolescents. The result of study shows that perceived threat has a negative effect on the junk food eating behavior of the adolescents. However, the positive relationship of junk food eating behavior with obesity can be decreased if the information about the products is not hidden. This study will be useful for making the consumers aware of the product knowledge hiding of the junk food usage. Moreover, it will help the users in creating understanding of risks allied with the use of junk food which may be addressed in order to avoid obesity issues in the kids and adolescents globally.