Volunteer Respondents Research Articles

Practice and challenges related to regional anesthesia in Amhara regional hospitals, Northwest-Ethiopia: a web-based survey study

BackgroundRegional anesthesia (RA) can improve patient outcomes and reduce perioperative complications including deaths. Despite its benefits, RA is less utilised in low-resource settings. The purpose of this study was to assess practice and challenges related to RA in Amhara Regional Hospitals, Northwest-Ethiopia.MethodsA web- based survey was distributed among 360 anesthetists working in Amhara Regional Hospitals, Northwest-Ethiopia from November 15 - January 30, 2023. An English, semi-structure, self-administered questionnaire was disseminated by email and telegram following ethical clearance. The survey included questions about the use of RA, socio-demographic characteristics of anesthetist, types of practiced regional blocks, and barriers to perform RA. All volunteer respondents who filled online questionnaire during study period were included. The data were coded and analyzed using statistical package for social Sciences (SPSS) software-version 20. Both inferential and descriptive statistics were used to describe the results.ResultsThe overall response rate was 63.3% (223 out of 360 completed surveys). A total of 132 respondents (36.7%) did not provide a response, and 5 respondents (1.4%) submitted incomplete) surveys. The most frequently self-reported barriers to performing peripheral nerve blocks were a lack of equipment (regional procedure kit including block needle, ultrasound, nerve stimulator, or epidural set) 185 (82.9%), lack of knowledge 171(76.7%), lack of practical skills 112 (50.2%), and lack of drugs/medication 50 (22.4%).ConclusionsThe principal findings indicate that all respondents perform spinal anaesthesia, while the practice of peripheral RA varies. Reported barriers to performing RA are related to knowledge and training, as well as a lack of equipment (there aren’t enough regional procedure kits available that include an epidural set, block needle, nerve stimulator, and ultrasound). A more stringent approach with specific requirements, distinguishing between neuraxial and peripheral blocks, enhance training opportunities for peripheral nerve blocks are required in Ethiopia.

Elevated Novice Developer Productivity and Self-efficacy by Promoting UX Journey in Software Requirement Elicitation

This study explores the effectiveness of the UX Journey methodology in increasing developer productivity and self-efficacy. Materials: The UX journey, consisting of around 30 activities, offers a user-centric approach to developing solutions, with 86 volunteer respondents from 505 populations. Method: Through a comparative analysis of developer productivity metrics and the General Self-Efficacy Scale questionnaire, this study investigates the impact of UX Journey on self-efficacy before and after implementation. Results: The study's findings reveal a significant positive correlation between UX Journey and increased productivity and an association between self-efficacy variables. By incorporating a comprehensive set of activities and a user-centric approach, the UX Journey enables developers to navigate the design process efficiently while gaining a deeper understanding of user needs. The positive correlation between the UX Journey and increased productivity, as well as the relationships between self-efficacy variables, emphasize the value of this methodology in fostering practical design thinking. Implication for Further Research: While this study has limitations regarding sample size and contextual specificity, it provides valuable insight into the benefits of UX Journey and paves the way for further research. In addition, the study focused on specific design projects within a particular context, which might restrict the broader applicability of the results. Significant results indicate that the proposed method is as effective as the elicitation method in general, with the advantage that the developer can understand the needs and empathy of the users. UX journeys can enhance the design process and foster a deeper understanding of users' needs across multiple domains.

A New Modification of 3 in 1 Standing Frame for Children with Cerebral Palsy

Standing Frame (SF) is commonly used in rehab training for children with cerebral palsy (CP), but the design regarding patients’ needs, conditions, and environments is rarely investigated. In this study, the researchers modified the standing frame by adding a controlling and monitoring system and included a 3 in 1 design that consisted of lying down, sitting, and standing postures. Six (6) volunteer respondents answered the questionnaire, and three (3) participants with CP were involved in this research to determine the usability of the modified 3 in 1 SF. The result of the questionnaire found that the 3-in-1 SF developed were interesting products, easy to use, safe, creative, and innovative products. Furniture Testing Laboratory results are: there are no fractures of any member, joint, or component, there is no loosening of joints intended to be rigid, seating fulfills its functions after removal of the best loads, and seating fulfills the stability requirement. Overall, 3 in 1 SF is well-developed, but a little bit of improvement is still needed for further research. Hopefully, the 3 in 1 SF will help the children with CP develop self-reliance and assist them in their everyday activities at home and school.

DIGITAL LITERACY AMONG TEACHERS IN SINGKAWANG CITY: AN ANALYSIS OF GENDER, AGE, AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS

<em>One of the demands of teachers in Generation Z is being able to have digital literacy content that supports their functions and work. There is no research related to the influence of gender, age, and socioeconomic status on digital literacy competency teachers in Singkawang City. This study aims to review whether there are significant differences in teachers' digital literacy abilities in terms of gender, socioeconomic status aspects of those who are able, moderate, or poor, and the age of teachers in different generations. This research method includes the descriptive quantitative inferential survey method. The number of volunteer respondents as research subjects was 200 teachers from 50 elementary and junior high schools who taught in Singkawang City and were selected by the voluntary response sampling technique. Data collection used a questionnaire instrument for teachers that contained 17 items that had been proven valid. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney test for gender and the Kruskal-Wallish H test for age and socioeconomic status. The results showed that (1) the significance value was 0.063 > 0.005, which did not show a significant difference between teachers' digital literacy skills based on gender; (2) the significance value was 0.075 > 0.05, meaning that there was no difference in teachers' digital literacy seen from socioeconomic status (able, moderate, and underprivileged); and (3) the significance value is 0.106 > 0.05, indicating that there is no difference between teachers whose age includes the baby boomers generation, generation X, and the millennial generation</em>

Women and working in healthcare during the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil: bullying of colleagues

BackgroundBased on a feminist approach, we analyzed the experiences of workplace bullying suffered by women front-line healthcare professionals dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. We start from studies that show that women make up 70% of the global health workforce, 85% in the area of nursing, and 90% in the case of social care workers. An unequivocal need thus exists to address gender issues regarding the composition of the labor force in the health area. The pandemic has aggravated recurring problems involving healthcare professionals at the various caregiving levels, such as mental harassment (bullying) and its effects on mental health.MethodsData were gathered from an online survey of a convenience (non-probability) sample composed of 1,430 volunteer respondents, all women that work in the public health system in Brazil. The analyses and discussions involved the responses to a questionnaire containing 12 closed-ended questions and one open-ended question.ResultsThe results revealed a context of workplace bullying aggravated by precarious material, institutional and organizational conditions in the area of health services against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil. This context has variously led to aggression, isolation, heavy workloads, and invasion of privacy, humiliation, persecution and fear as it was possible to see, mainly, in the answers to the study’s open-ended question. This situation degrades both work relations and the integrity of the healthcare professionals who work on the front line to treat Covid-19 cases.ConclusionWe conclude that bullying is a psychosocial phenomenon that heightens the oppression and subordination still experienced by women in the contemporary context, but with new hues in a scenario of frontline response to Covid-19.

A study on meaning in life in relation to family closeness, strength of faith, community involvement and social media activity

Having experienced a great deal of social isolation due to the pandemic health restrictions, this study sought to discover what factors now influence Filipino respondents’ meaning in life. It attempted to ascertain whether relationships between family closeness, strength of faith, community involvement and social media activity and meaning in life exist. 105 volunteer respondents from Quezon City, Marikina City in Metro Manila and Antipolo City, San Mateo, Rodriguez in the Province of Rizal took part in this study. The MLQ questionnaire and researcher made items were administered through Google Forms. The study found that Meaning in Life had moderate positive correlations with family closeness, strength of faith, community involvement and a low positive correlation with social media activity.

The Evaluation of the Local Beer Industry during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Relationship with Open Innovation

The beer industry is one of the businesses affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the exponential growth of the beer industry throughout the years, this aspect of the beverage industry has gained limited attention and has been underexplored. This study aimed to provide a better and up-to-date understanding of Philippine-beer consumers to speed up its recovery. An online survey with 853 volunteer respondents was conducted to investigate Filipinos’ local beer consumption considering frequency, intake, expenses, and preference. A descriptive analysis of the consumers’ self-perceived evaluation of the changes in drinking showed a slight decrease in frequency, intake, and expenses and a minor change in preference. Somers’ d and the chi-squared test results indicated significant relationships between each demographic information (age, sex, and income) and frequency, intake, and expenses. In addition, a conjoint analysis with an orthogonal design indicated that price was the most important attribute (58.025%), followed by primary taste (12.452%), alcohol content (9.706%), mouthfeel (6.445%), aftertaste (6.355%), aroma (5.189%), and, lastly, color (1.827%). The findings of this study could be used as a baseline for improved product offerings, customized advertisements, and market segmentation. Moreover, the results of this study could be applied and extended by breweries to promote and create strategies. Lastly, this study could be extended and utilized by other beverage industries worldwide.

Incorporation of Standard Operating Procedures for Leadership and Volunteer Transitions in a Student-Run Free Clinic

At the Saint Louis University Health Resource Center, all student leadership roles transition yearly, requiring a robust method to maintain institutional knowledge. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are written documents containing detailed instructions for the completion of functions within a greater organization. SOPs are utilized in clinical settings and may be useful for student-run free clinics (SRFCs). This project sought to formally establish clinic procedures into centralized documents and assess the utility of these documents. We created SOPs for all leader and volunteer positions which were then assembled into Leadership and Volunteer Handbooks for increased accessibility. Two surveys, one for leaders and one for volunteers, were distributed after the 2020-2021 leadership transition period to investigate the utility of the SOPs. Although the response rates were insufficient, results suggest that leader and volunteer respondents found confidence in utilizing the SOPs during the transition period and beyond. SOPs allow our volunteers and leaders to enhance the performance of their roles despite frequent turnover of positions. Per constructive feedback from survey respondents, we plan to improve awareness of SOPs and increase the frequency of updating SOPs to reflect current clinic operations. Future research should evaluate the utility and efficacy of SOPs in other SRFCs through multiple transition cycles of active leaders and volunteers.

Face-to-Face, Hybrid and Online English as a Foreign Language Learning Efficiency in Higher Education (Georgian and Italian students’ views)

COVID-19 pandemic and its waves have resulted in transitions from face-to-face activities to completely online learning, then to hybrid learning, and then to a peculiar face-to-face COVID-19-time learning (with masks, distance-keeping, etc.). As the situation tends to continue for an indefinite time, it is important to study the existing experience and to take the obtained results into consideration in the future practice. Therefore, the presented research attempted to study students’ view on the experience of face-to-face (F-2-F), hybrid and online EFL teaching in universities during 2019-2021. With this purpose, a quantitative study was carried out through questioning the opinions of English as a foreign language (EFL) students in Georgia and Italy. The advantages and disadvantages of the three modes were assessed by 466 (430 of them from Georgia and 36 from Italy) volunteer respondents. The outcomes of the study were analyzed and elaborated in the forms of practical recommendations for more effective planning and implementation of EFL teaching during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
 Keywords: F2F; Hybrid; Distance Education; EFL

Evaluating people's awareness about climate changes and environmental issues: A case study

In the last decade, environmental issues have become a major topic of public opinion. People have begun to develop increasing environmental awareness and positive attitudes toward ecological matters. In particular, young people have begun to actively participate in environmental challenges by organizing green movements and engaging with policymakers. In this perspective, this study explores two main aspects: 1) awareness of the potential impacts of climate change and of environmental issues in each individual's daily life, and 2) the relationship between attitudes and pro-environmental actions. To this end, we analyse qualitative data obtained from a tailored online survey involving either students from a selected group of Italian High schools or volunteer respondents from the students' acquaintances. A total of 1834 responses are analysed using statistical tools to assess the multiple objectives of the survey. We distinguish between young and adult respondents and examine the relationships between awareness, personal experience, and risk perception in the two groups. We then propose a Multiple Correspondence Analysis that focuses on youth attitudes to examine the factors that influence their propensity to environmental issues and to determine the impact of global green movements on the onset or acceleration of their environmental awareness. Although the results show a more pessimistic view of the threats posed by environmental crises, our results highlight that younger generations have a deeper awareness of environmental conditions and are committed to environmental recovery by adopting “good ecological practices” and “active ecological behaviors."

Women in Surgery Italia: National Survey Assessing Gender-Related Challenges

In 2019, women accounted for 46% of surgical residents. Despite the international debate on gender disparities, no literature regarding the experience in Italy is available. The aim of this survey study was to assess satisfaction among female surgeons in Italy, and determine whether they encounter gender-based discrimination. An anonymous, 83-item web-based survey was distributed among female surgeons working in Italy, from November 18 to December 31, 2020. Gender equity, satisfaction, and factors associated with higher satisfaction and work-life balance were explored. There were 3,242 volunteer respondents, 1,833 of whom completed at least 50% of the specific questions and were included in the study. Approximately 54% of female Italian surgeons reported being satisfied with their job, but only 34% with their work-life balance. Among residents, 67% thought they were not adequately trained. The majority of respondents were responsible for most of the housekeeping (60%) and childcare duties (53%), regardless of their partner's workload, and 62% reported that gender affects the way they are treated at work, with most of them experiencing microaggressions. Sexual harassment was common (59%), but only 10% of women reported it. Most Italian female surgeons are satisfied with their professional choice. However, they face gender discrimination, including incidents of sexual harassment and microaggression. Due to the fact that half of surgeons working in Italian hospitals will be females in the next few years, actions are urgently required to build a culture that supports a gender-neutral environment.

Motivations of international volunteer tourists working with elephants in Thailand

ABSTRACT This study examines the motivations of Western volunteer tourists at ElephantsWorld, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. An interpretive paradigm utilizing a qualitative research approach was adopted. The informants included 24 volunteer participants. Data were collected through a combination of semi-structured interviews and participant observation, and were analysed by thematic analysis. The findings of the research identify six main motivations: (i) to have close interactions with elephants; (ii) to gain in-depth understanding of local culture; (iii) to have new experiences; (iv) to relax; (v) a good match between the project/objective of the host organization and the tourists’ needs and conditions; and (vi) the image and attractiveness of Thailand. These six motivations represent the co-existence of altruistic and self-interested motivations and their roles in influencing the decisions of animal-related volunteer tourists. They also indicate that while some volunteer respondents were driven by motivational factors related to the protection and well-being of the elephants (which is the objective of the volunteer tourism project), others were motivated by other, more self-interested factors that were not related to the main objective of the project at all.

Assessment of Detection of Potential Dog-Bite Risks in the Home Using a Real-Time Hazard Perception Test

ABSTRACT Dog bites are a serious public health concern internationally and children are often at particular risk of them. Because bites to children often occur during apparently benign interactions with a parent present, the need for dog-bite prevention approaches to address adults’ awareness of, and supervision of, child–dog interactions has been highlighted. The aim of this study was to evaluate a hazard perception test of potential dog-bite hazards within a home setting. Six hazards were incorporated in a 2-minute 41-second video, which was embedded into a web-based interface that enabled respondents to identify hazards by clicking the mouse button or tapping the screen of a tablet computer as the video played. The 268 volunteer respondents also completed a short questionnaire. These respondents were predominantly female and appeared more likely to have undertaken higher education and have greater experience with dogs than the general population. Almost one-third (31.8%) of respondents identified all six hazards, and a further quarter (24.5%) missed only one; a quarter (25.2%) identified 3 or fewer; and 43.8% identified 4 or fewer hazards. No one scored zero, and 5.5% and 6.9% identified 1 and 2 hazards, respectively. A range of factors was associated with the identification of specific hazards. Participants with professional or long-term experience with dogs and those with higher educational attainment were more likely to detect some hazards. Older respondents were less likely to identify several of the hazards, and those living with children were less likely to identify cuddling a dog as a hazard. We find that hazard perception testing could be a useful tool for the assessment of knowledge regarding dog-bite risk situations and potentially an educational tool for increasing knowledge and changing practices around dogs.

Measuring Lawyer Well‐Being Systematically: Evidence from the National Health Interview Survey

Conventional wisdom says that lawyers are uniquely unhappy. Unfortunately, this conventional wisdom rests on a weak empirical foundation. The “unhappy lawyers” narrative relies on nonrandom survey data collected from volunteer respondents. Instead of depending on such data, researchers should study lawyer mental health by relying on large microdatasets of public health data, such as the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) administered by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The NHIS includes data from 100–200 lawyers per year. By aggregating years, an adequate sample size of lawyers can readily be obtained, with much greater confidence that the lawyers in the sample resemble the true population of U.S. lawyers. When we examine the NHIS data, we find that, contrary to the conventional wisdom, lawyers are not particularly unhappy. Indeed, they suffer rates of mental illness much lower than the general population. Lawyer mental health is not significantly different than the mental health of similarly educated professionals, such as doctors and dentists. Rates of problematic alcohol use among lawyers, however, are high, even when compared to the general population. Moreover, problematic use of alcohol among lawyers has grown increasingly common over the last 15 years. These sometimes surprising and nuanced findings demonstrate the value of relying on more reliable data such as the NHIS.

Experiences of health care costs among people with employer-sponsored insurance and bipolar disorder

Background: Cost-sharing disproportionately affects people with chronic illnesses needing more care. Our qualitative study examined lived experiences navigating insurance benefits and treatment for bipolar disorder, which requires ongoing access to behavioral specialists and psychotropic medications.Methods: Forty semi-structured telephone interviews with individuals with bipolar disorder and employer-sponsored health insurance, or their family caregivers, explored health care needs, coverage details, out-of-pocket (OOP) costs, and perspectives on value. An iterative analytic approach identified salient themes.Results: Most individuals in our sample faced an annual insurance deductible, from $350-$10,000. OOP costs for specialist visits ranged from $0-$450 and for monthly psychotropic medications from $0-$1650. Acute episodes and care for comorbidities, including medication side effects, added to cost burdens. Medication nonadherence due to OOP costs was rare; respondents frequently pointed to the necessity of medications: “whatever it takes to get those”; “it's a life or death situation.” Respondents also prioritized visits to psychiatrist prescribers, though visits were maximally spaced because of cost. Psychotherapy was often deemed unaffordable and forgone, despite perceived need. Interviewees cited limited networks and high out-of-network costs as barriers to specialists. Cost-sharing sometimes led to debt, skimping on nonbehavioral care or other necessities, exacerbated or prolonged mood symptoms, and stress at home.Limitations: Volunteer respondents may not fully represent the target population.Conclusions: Many people with bipolar disorder in US employer-sponsored plans experience undertreatment, hardship, and adverse health consequences due to high cost-sharing. More nuanced insurance benefit designs should accommodate the needs of individuals with complex conditions.

Altair and Vega, The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl: An Analysis of a Living Sky-myth

This paper examines the elements that comprise the ancient Chinese legend of The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, a mythic tale that is played out against a cosmic background, and whose narrative has its basis in the astronomical cycle of the stars, Altair and Vega. The descent of the myth’s characters and subsequent ascent into the skies sets up a cosmic interplay, creating interaction between the mythic and the mortal, the heavens and the earth, the divine and the human. This paper will also discuss the cosmological symbolism of textile production at the centre of the myth’s storyline, whereby weaving is a means of manufacturing the cosmos and colouring the heavens. The legend can be considered living myth, in that it gives rise to contemporary festivals in several cultures in East Asia, which are inspired by folklore and traditional customs. Themes that are central to the myth’s narrative, such as love, weaving, and the movement of the stars, are acknowledged and celebrated in these festivals, themselves survivors of an earlier lunar calendar system. The paper goes on to assess the relevance and cultural interaction of both the myth and the festival amongst a small group of selected volunteer respondents, selected from the Chinese and Japanese communities residing in the UK.

Determinants of Satisfaction for Automotive After Sales Service Quality: A Preliminary Application of AutoSERVPERF Model

Successful delivery of customer satisfaction through excellent automotive after sales service quality (AASSQ) can drive long-term profits and reinforces the image of automakers. Customers are generally willing to pay a huge sum of money to secure guarantees and dependable after sales service. Based on this premise, this study determined the automotive after sales service quality dimensions (using AutoSERVPERF model) to deliver customer satisfaction. Data were solicited from 226 respondents who are customers of an automotive after sales service center in Selangor. Convenient sampling technique was used to select volunteer respondents for the survey and a self-administered questionnaire with a 5 point Likert scale was administered for data collection. The responsiveness, empathy, assurance and reliability dimensions of the AutoSERVPERF model were uncovered to be important in delivering satisfaction towards AASSQ. However, among these four dimensions, the empathy and assurance dimensions were perceived to have delivered high performance and are of high importance to customers. Hence, to deliver customer satisfaction towards automotive after sales service, periodic knowledge and skill enhancement training is essential. Instituting clear standard operating procedures, close monitoring and supervision of service staffs would help preserve the consistency and hence reliability of after sales service delivered.

Automatic Music Generator Using Recurrent Neural Network

In this paper, we developed an automatic music generator with midi as the input file. This study uses long short-term memory (LSTM) and gated recurrent units (GRUs) network to build the generator and evaluator model. First, a midi file is converted into a midi matrix in midi encoding process. Then, each midi is trained on a single layer and double stacked layer model of each network as a generator model. Next, classification model, based on LSTM and GRU, are trained and chosen as an objective evaluator to analyze the performance of each generator model which classify each midi based on its musical era. Subjective evaluation is conducted by an interview with volunteer respondents with various backgrounds such as classical music interest, performance, composer, and digital composer. The result shows that the double stacked layer GRU model perform better to resemble the composer pattern in music with 70% score of recall. Moreover, subjective evaluation shows that the generated music is listenable and interesting with the highest score of 6.85 out of 10 on double stacked layer GRU.

Symbolic Interactionism and the Perceived Style of Parenting

This article utilizes a symbolic interactionist approach in an investigation of perceived parenting during early adulthood. The aim is to explore the family environment and family relationships in the light of how parenting is constructed through the interaction of parents with their children and with society. The findings from semi-structured interviews conducted with adult volunteer respondents concerning their recollections of their relations with their parents are summarized. This provides the basis for outlining subjective experiences of the social environment and perceived parenting styles from a retrospective point of view in respect to gender and age differentiation.

General practitioners attitude and confidence scale for dementia (GPACS-D): confirmatory factor analysis and comparative subscale scores among GPs and supervisors

BackgroundThe attitude of General Practitioner’s (GP’s) towards dementia and confidence in their clinical abilities impacts on diagnosis rates and management of the condition. The purpose of the present research is to refine and confirm the reliability and validity of the General Practitioner Attitudes and Confidence Scale for Dementia (GPACS-D) as a tool to measure confidence and attitude.MethodsA sample of 194 GP volunteers attending dementia education workshops were recruited to complete the GPACS-D before and after the workshop. Volunteer respondents comprised both GP Registrars and GP Supervisors. Analyses included Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), measures of internal consistency, Pearson correlations, and a comparison of subscale scores between cohorts (T-Test for independent samples).ResultsFindings of the CFA support a 15-item, 3-factor model with four items removed due to poor performance and one item moved between factors. The resultant model exhibited good fit (x2 = 103.88; p = .105; RMSEA = .032; PCLOSE = .915; CFI = .967; TLI = 960), with acceptable internal consistency. Subscales exhibited clear discriminant validity with no underlying relationships between subscales. Finally, total and subscale scores exhibited good discrimination between groups who would be expected to score differently based on experience and level of exposure to dementia.ConclusionThe 15-item, 3-subscale GPACS-D is a reliable and valid measure of GP confidence and attitudes toward dementia. The subscales clearly distinguish between groups who might be expected to score differently from each other based on their training or professional experiences. The psychometric properties of the GPACS-D support its use as a research tool.