post-COVID Era Research Articles

Promoting inclusivity in education amid the post-COVID-19 challenges: An interval-valued fuzzy model for pedagogy method selection

The advent of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented disruptions in the field of education, necessitating a reevaluation of pedagogical approaches in the post-COVID era. This research paper introduces a novel interval-valued fuzzy simple additive weighting (SAW), weighted product model (WPM), and weighted aggregates sum product assessment (WASPAS) multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework to address the challenge of promoting inclusivity in education amidst the post-COVID era. Leveraging the uncertainty inherent in the post-pandemic educational landscape, the proposed method offers a comprehensive pedagogy selection approach incorporating interval-valued fuzzy sets to account for imprecise and ambiguous data. By integrating the principles of inclusivity and diversity, the method evaluates various pedagogical approaches and their effectiveness in fostering an inclusive learning environment for diverse student populations. The study showcases the application of pedagogy selection in real-world educational scenarios, demonstrating its potential to inform policy decisions and enable educational institutions to adapt and cater to the evolving needs of learners in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The relationship between telemedicine tools and physician satisfaction, quality of care, and patient visits during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveThe objective of our study is to investigate the impacts of telemedicine technology and its specific tools on physicians’ overall satisfaction, quality of care, and percentage of patient visits in ambulatory care settings after the COVID-19 lockdowns. Materials and methodsData for our analysis was sourced from the 2021 annual National Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS), which included 1,875 complete questionnaire responses from physicians in the 2021 NEHRS. We used regression models to test the effects of telemedicine on physicians’ overall satisfaction, quality of care, and percentage of patients’ visits. ResultsWe report that telemedicine technology has significant positive effects on physicians’ satisfaction with telemedicine and quality of care evaluation, both at an aggregate level and at the disaggregate levels of individual telemedicine features, and partially significant effects on patients’ telemedicine visits. DiscussionTelemedicine features that contributed significantly to physician satisfaction and quality of care evaluation were telephone, videoconferencing, standalone telemedicine platform, and telemedicine platform integrated with EHR, while only telephone and integrated telemedicine platform contributed significantly to patients’ telemedicine visits. ConclusionFor telemedicine research and practice, this study confirms that telemedicine improves physician satisfaction and quality of care perceptions and will therefore be preferred by physicians. However, telemedicine has a mixed impact on percentage of patient visits, which suggests that providers may have to work harder to regularize telemedicine acceptance among patients in the post-COVID era.

Post-Covid challenges and opportunities: rethinking ESG performance in the logistics sector

In the post-COVID era, the logistics sector faces significant challenges and opportunities. These are mostly due to disruptions in global supply chains and a rise in e-commerce demand. To overcome these issues, companies need to adopt digital technologies, reshape consumer demand, and implement flexible work arrangements, with a focus on sustainability. This transition bolstered attention on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations. In this study, we introduce new metrics to evaluate ESG performance in the logistics sector. To resolve inconsistencies in existing approaches, we propose the Standardised Unitless Rating (SUR) methodology, which combines satisfaction scores and criterion relevance. We employed the Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (IT2FAHP) to calculate the relative weights of ESG criteria. The results show that newly established companies with innovative technology have performed better than traditional companies. This proposed method has been validated by comparing it with existing methods. Additionally, we observed the importance of relative weight as compared to criteria with equal weight. The findings suggest that incorporating process metrics could help companies enhance their ESG performance.

Diagnostic and therapeutic delays in lung cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single center experience at a German Cancer center

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has had negative drawbacks on the healthcare system worldwide and on individuals other than those directly affected by the virus. Delays in cancer therapy and diagnosis have been reported in the literature. We hypothesized similar effects on patients with lung cancer at our center.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data of patients referred to our center with newly diagnosed lung cancer from 2018 to 2022. We considered distribution of UICC Stages and time from case presentation in our multidisciplinary tumor board or from therapeutic indication from treating physician to therapy initiation (surgery, systemic therapies and radiation) to define delays in diagnosis and treatment.Results1020 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer were referred to our center from 2018 to 2022, with a median of 206 cases yearly (range: 200–208). Cases with Stage IV in 2020–2022 were significantly higher than in 2018–2019 (57% vs. 46%, p = 0,001). 228 operative resections took place between 2018 and 2022, 100 from January 2018 to February 2020 and 128 from March 2020 to December 2022. Median time from presentation in our tumor board to resection was also significantly longer after the beginning of the pandemic than before (22 days vs. 15,5 days, p = 0,013). No significant delays were observed for administration of systemic treatment and initiation of radiation.ConclusionsDuring the pandemic higher disease stages were reported for patients with lung cancer, yet there were no clinically relevant delays in treatment. In the context of the post-covid era new diagnostic strategies are necessary to facilitate early diagnosis of lung cancer. Despite the pandemic, for patients with suspicious symptoms prompt access to healthcare facilities is essential for early diagnosis.

A Framework of Customer Service Training Competencies for Proactive Business Recovery in a Post-COVID Era: A Case Study

Abstract Customer service is a core competitive edge in any service industry, including the retail banking sector. However, retail bank customers, especially in Angola, often complained of standing in long queues waiting to be served and difficulty handling technology while transitioning to online banking. This qualitative single-case study used competency-based theory to develop a framework for the customer service training competencies of a selected retail bank in Angola. Purposeful sampling was employed to select eight participants, including bank employees and customers who voluntarily participated in this study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews using WhatsApp calls and audio recordings. It was thematically analyzed using the HyperResearch software. The emerging themes included change, customer service, responsiveness, human resource process improvement, managerial competency, customer relationship management, and online banking. The findings have implications for bank employees’ training and development of the identified competencies needed to redefine the future of customer relationship management and different dimensions of managing customer satisfaction for proactive business recovery.

The Greatest Challenges of Pediatric Critical Care Pulmonology in the After-COVID Era: A Narrative Review

Abstract The COVID pandemic has had a profound effect on pediatric intensive care and especially on pediatric critical care pulmonology. The indirect impacts caused by the most profound global healthcare challenge in a generation continue to define the current post-COVID era. This era is characterized by postpandemic surges in acute pediatric respiratory illness, disruption of seasonal disease patterns, and an apparent increase in disease severity with a rise in complicated pneumonia as well as associated severe sepsis and septic shock. The consequent demand is met by pediatric intensive care units that are recovering from the strain of the pandemic but also building on progress made during a time of great challenges.

Job Characteristics and Task Performance: The Role of Technostress among Teleworkers

Task performance remains a main issue for teleworkers in organizations during theCOVID-19 and post-COVID era. The unique demands and challenges faced byteleworkers result in increased stress and decreased task performance. This studyfocuses on the relatively overlooked indirect effect of technostress during postcovid and between job characteristics and task performance. The survey approachwas used to collect the data from 248 employees from teleworkers working in theIT and telecom sectors of Pakistan's twin cities (Rawalpindi and Islamabad). Thepurposive sampling technique was used to collect data. The findings suggested thatTask Autonomy and Task Identity had a significant positive impact on TaskPerformance. The research provides a unique set of lessons that the IT sectorshould implement to increase the task performance of teleworkers, whichultimately leads to achieving goals and gaining a competitive advantage. The studycontributes to the existing literature on the contributing factor that improves theeffectiveness of teleworkers in the IT sector of Pakistan. The study is unique in itsscope and implications, focusing on the IT sector. This research will provideuseful insight to better understand how task autonomy and task identity arenecessary for the effectiveness of teleworkers’ task performance where technologyis the only source of communication between all the employees.

Exploring the psychological and social motivations for aesthetic treatments in the post-COVID era

Exploring the psychological and social motivations for aesthetic treatments in the post-COVID era

Expert panel opinion on adult pneumococcal vaccination in the post-COVID era (NAP- EXPO Recommendations-2024).

Pneumococcal diseases pose a significant public health concern in India, with substantial morbidity and mortality, with the elderly and those with coexisting medical conditions being most at risk. Pneumococcus was also seen to be one of the main reasons for co-infection, pneumonia and complications in COVID. Current guidelines recommend vaccination for specific adult populations, but there is a lack of uniformity and guidance on risk stratification, prioritisation and optimal timing. Nation Against Pneumococcal Infections - Expert Panel Opinion (NAP-EXPO) is a panel convened to review and update recommendations for adult pneumococcal vaccination in India. The panel of 23 experts from various medical specialties engaged in discussions and evidence-based reviews, discussed appropriate age for vaccination, risk stratification for COPD and asthma patients, vaccination strategies for post-COVID patients, smokers and diabetics, as well as methods to improve vaccine awareness and uptake. The NAP-EXPO recommends the following for adults: All healthy individuals 60 years of age and above should receive the pneumococcal vaccine; all COPD patients, regardless of severity, high-risk asthma patients, post-COVID cases with lung fibrosis or significant lung damage, should be vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine; all current smokers and passive smokers should be educated and offered the pneumococcal vaccine, regardless of their age or health condition; all diabetic individuals should receive the pneumococcal vaccine, irrespective of their diabetes control. Strategies to improve vaccine awareness and uptake should involve general practitioners (GPs), primary health physicians (PHPs) and physicians treating patients at high risk of pneumococcal disease. Advocacy campaigns should involve media, including social media platforms. These recommendations aim to enhance pneumococcal vaccination coverage among high-risk populations in India in order to ensure a reduction in the burden of pneumococcal diseases, in the post-COVID era. There is a need to create more evidence and data to support the recommendations that the vaccine will be useful to a wider range of populations, as suggested in our consensus.

Turkeys Monetary Policy in the Post-Covid Era

Turkeys Monetary Policy in the Post-Covid Era

Evaluating the impact of a 2-week Peer Enhanced E-Placement (PEEP) on pre-registration physiotherapy students’ attitudes, self-perceived confidence, and competence in delivering telerehabilitation.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about rapid digital transformation of physiotherapy practice and education. Previous studies have suggested a lack of knowledge, beliefs, and clinical acceptance of telerehabilitation as barriers to implementation and sustainability of telerehabilitation. Providing pre-registration specific teaching and practical experience of telerehabilitation may improve physiotherapy student confidence and competence in delivering telerehabilitation and support clinical acceptance of telerehabilitation in practice. A 2-week Peer Enhanced E-Placement (PEEP) was developed and evaluated to explore its impact on third year physiotherapy student attitudes, and perceived competence and confidence in delivering telerehabilitation. Students completed a Likert scale questionnaire, immediately pre and post the PEEP placement, rating their perceived confidence and competence in four key areas of telerehabilitation: assessment, intervention, communication, and problem solving. In addition, students participated in group discussions to explore the impact of the PEEP on their attitudes towards telerehabilitation. 59 students completed the PEEP, 49 (mean age 25±6.6 years, 41% male) completed both the pre and post placement questionnaire. 55 students participated in group discussions (n=8). Following the PEEP, self-perceived confidence and competence increased in all four key areas assessed. Analysis of the group discussions identified three core themes: Prior experience and assumptions of telerehabilitation, Opportunities and barriers, and Experience of the PEEP. Participation in a 2-week PEEP had a positive impact on physiotherapy student confidence and perceived competence in delivering telerehabilitation. Student attitudes towards telerehabilitation generally improved, with increased acceptance and recognition of its clinical value for physiotherapy practice. Students’ concerns echoed those of clinicians identified in prior research related to the opportunities and barriers facing telerehabilitation. The intensive structure of the PEEP, peer interaction and simulation appeared to positively impact on outcomes related to confidence and acceptance of telerehabilitation. Further research is required to understand and evaluate the effectiveness of pre-registration telerehabilitation training as a means of preparing students for practice and supporting sustainability of telerehabilitation in the post-COVID era.

An interview with Gerald Cupchik: Equity, diversity and inclusion

How should we address equity, diversity, and inclusion issues in the ‘Post-COVID era’? Some students just want the degree, whereas others miss the social intimacy of classroom experiences. In this interview, we address a dissociation between university administrations with top-down, ideologically driven agendas, and the lived experiences of students. Students become immersed in diversity by participating in classes based on shared interests that cut across backgrounds and reflect experiential learning; moving from ‘cliques to networks.’ Inclusion cannot be mandated by the university and formally required of lecturers. Rather, it reflects a student’s feeling of belonging based on acceptance by others in the classroom setting and this is something that lecturers can foster. Equity is a more delicate theme tied to past exclusions that touch many communities. Gatekeepers have historically excluded students based on race or cultural affiliation. Attempts to redress this imbalance for specific communities can forget the historical exclusion of others. My approach favors ‘inclusive authenticity,’ whereby students are in touch with their heritage, and ‘reflective awareness,’ a sensitivity to the political dynamics that surround them. We can move from ‘surface to depth,’ both as institutions and individuals by fostering critical thinking and listening to the voices of students.

A treatable traits approach for asthma in a post-COVID era

A treatable traits approach for asthma in a post-COVID era

Audit Quality and Its Impact on the Earnings Management in the Post-COVID Era: Evidence from Sri Lanka

Audit Quality and Its Impact on the Earnings Management in the Post-COVID Era: Evidence from Sri Lanka

An investigation of the impact of intellectual capital on entrepreneurial performance: A moderated mediation analysis on global firms

The stability of multinational corporations is under threat due to the intensifying turbulence of global competition, which prevents intellectual capital from actively promoting performance. To meet the challenges brought by diverse and tumultuous environmental contexts, multinationals urgently need to develop new approaches that will resolve risks at headquarters and mitigate the adverse effects of the crisis on cross-border business operations. Building on the resource-based theory and dynamic capabilities theory, this research aims to seek possible solutions that would optimize the structure of intellectual capital in various subsidiary regions so as to maximize their effectiveness in sustaining parent company performance in the presence of turmoil. Taking listed multinational corporations (MNCs) as the research subject, this paper explored the impact of intellectual capital of foreign subsidiaries on their parent company performance through the mediating and moderating dynamics of slack resources and institutional distance respectively. Furthermore, we explored the above mechanism by comparing a developed-economy MNC and a developing-economy MNC contexts. Through investigating a dataset of 1237 listed foreign subsidiaries during the period 2012 to 2021, we found that foreign subsidiaries' intellectual capital behaved in largely different mechanisms comparing developed and developing economies such that, subsidiaries' intellectual capital in developed economies was found to be contributing to parent company performance, whereas, subsidiaries' intellectual capital in developing economies fail to play a positive role on parent company performance. Meanwhile, the results showed that, absorbed slack played an indirect-only mediating role on the relationship between subsidiaries' intellectual capital and parent company performance in developing countries, and unabsorbed slack resources played a competitive mediating role for the full sample. Whereas, institutional distance fails to play moderate role in the effect of foreign subsidiaries' intellectual capital on parent company performance. Our study has implications for MNCs in the post-COVID era. It can help them minimize external threat and develop strategies and measures to maximize the structure of intellectual capital in different host locations, thereby enhancing their multinational performance.

Mortality in Amputees with Peripheral Artery Disease during the Post-COVID Era: A Three-Year Analysis.

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) have 40-70% higher three-year mortality after lower limb amputation compared to non-amputees. In this study, we examined the consequences of delayed treatment for patients with PAD during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study employed a retrospective single-centre cohort design at a large tertiary care hospital. We compared amputees with PAD during the initial COVID-19 outbreak period in 2020 with a control group of amputees from 2019 after a three-year follow-up. In total, 134 amputees with PAD were included due to unsuccessful revascularization (n = 84 in 2020 vs. n = 50 in 2019). Patients in 2020 were significantly younger than those in 2019 (p = 0.01) and mostly admitted with advanced stages of PAD (p < 0.03). The proportion of major limb amputations increased significantly in 2020 (p = 0.03). Non-COVID-19-related deaths among patients in 2020 were more than twice as many as those in 2019, and long-term mortality in 2020 was 49% compared to 39% in 2019 (p = 0.04). Diabetes and renal insufficiency had a significantly negative impact on the survival of amputees with PAD (p < 0.01). Delayed treatment in patients with PAD leads to high long-term mortality risk after amputation, especially in PAD patients with diabetes and renal insufficiency. Therefore, in future pandemics, continuously monitoring patients with PAD will be crucial to prevent delayed treatment and severe short-term and long-term consequences.

Mental Health in Healthcare Workers Post-COVID-19: A Latin American Review and Insights into Personalized Management Strategies.

Over the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of enduring mental health on healthcare workers has become increasingly evident. This review focuses on post-pandemic mental health challenges faced by healthcare personnel in Latin America. This highlights the persistent burden on healthcare workers, especially women, which is exacerbated by economic disparities, inadequacies in the healthcare system, and ongoing occupational stressors. Our literature review, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, scrutinized the mental health status of healthcare professionals in the region after the pandemic's peak. The analysis indicated sustained levels of psychological distress, with frontline workers and women continuing to be affected disproportionately. These findings emphasize the urgent need for personalized interventions to effectively address the complex mental health challenges in this context. This review advocates strategic interventions, including tailored psychological support, innovative diagnostics, and technological solutions, integrated into patient-centered care models. Such approaches aim to enhance the mental resilience and overall well-being of healthcare professionals across Latin America in the post-COVID era.

Implementing PDSA Cycles to Expand Reach of Self-Management Education in the Post-COVID Era

ABSTRACT Background COVID-19 reduced participation in our region’s evidence-based chronic disease self-management program (SMP), despite having expanded offerings to include diverse delivery modes (e.g. virtual, mailed toolkit, phone-based group support). Purpose The purpose was to test various approaches of disseminating the mailed toolkit (an independent study version of the SMP) to expand reach of the program. Methods We ran three process improvement (PDSA) cycles. We used electronic health record data, a participant survey, and implementer feedback to guide our decision-making process throughout the iterations. Results Toolkits reached populations that had not previously been exposed to SMPs: individuals with type 2 diabetes who did not attend diabetes education in the past year; individuals being discharged from acute care with an admitting diagnosis related to a chronic disease; and individuals referred by their provider to the program. Discussion Toolkit utilization will remain low for those who are not ready to make a behavior change. Running PDSA cycles provided the necessary information for our team to make decisions about future dissemination of the mailed toolkits. Translation to Health Education Practice Engaging in PDSA cycles can be a helpful tool for health educators when considering how to expand reach or engage new populations of interest.

Knowledge management of MNCs in the post-COVID era: the role of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the mechanism of knowledge management within multinationals during the post COVID-19 era, with particular consideration given to the relationship between the cultural intelligence of top managers and knowledge-oriented leadership using fear of COVID-19 as a moderating factor.Design/methodology/approachDerived from upper echelons’ theory and research on knowledge management success (KMS), a theoretical model and associated hypotheses have been developed and tested. Structural equation modeling was used with statistics collected from 288 top managers and executives of multinational corporations dominated by knowledge-intensive industries through a network investigation.FindingsResults indicate that the levels of executives’ cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership contribute to KMS, while knowledge-oriented leadership acts as a mediator between them. In addition, the fear of COVID-19 of senior executives negatively affects both the direct and mediated influence of cultural intelligence on KMS.Research limitations/implicationsThe current research uses an empirical approach to examine cross-border KMS. Further research is needed to develop more comprehensive measurement tools for KMS and more detailed research by further developing the subdimensions of cultural intelligence. In addition, this paper used cross-sectional research that limits the capability to establish causal relationships over time.Originality/valueThe research explores the “human side” of the key antecedents of KMS, fills the gap in research about the impact of cultural intelligence and knowledge-oriented leadership on the achievement of KMS, paves the way for emerging knowledge-oriented leadership from the initial phase to the mature phase and contributes to the literature on environmental uncertainty and crisis, using the COVID-19 as a representative context.

From Friends to Feedback: Effect of Social Influence on Mobile Shopping in the Post-COVID Era

Although mobile shopping is a new norm after the pandemic, its proliferation is still not very mature in developing nations. Drawing on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, this research employs the SEM technique to examine the effect of mobile shopping frequency and repurchase intent among 198 young mobile shopping consumers in Pakistan. Our findings suggest that purchase frequency is a key variable in consumer behavior and plays a significant role in building mobile shopping repurchase intentions. Findings further suggest that effort expectancy, unlike the performance expectancy, also strongly affects the relationship between purchase frequency and repurchase intention as an intervening mechanism, while a strong interaction effect from the social influence is also noted. This research offers insightful implications for researchers and marketers in the realm of e-commerce and mobile shopping domains.