scholarly journals Analysing the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on everyday travel behaviour in Germany and potential implications for future travel patterns

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktoriya Kolarova ◽  
Christine Eisenmann ◽  
Claudia Nobis ◽  
Christian Winkler ◽  
Barbara Lenz

Abstract Introduction The global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is having a great impact on all areas of the everyday life, including travel behaviour. Various measures that focus on restricting social contacts have been implemented in order to reduce the spread of the virus. Understanding how daily activities and travel behaviour change during such global crisis and the reasons behind is crucial for developing suitable strategies for similar future events and analysing potential mid- and long-term impacts. Methods In order to provide empirical insights into changes in travel behaviour during the first Coronavirus-related lockdown in 2020 for Germany, an online survey with a relative representative sample for the German population was conducted a week after the start of the nationwide contact ban. The data was analysed performing descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Results and Discussion The results suggest in general an increase in car use and decrease in public transport use as well as more negative perception of public transport as a transport alternative during the pandemic. Regarding activity-related travel patterns, the findings show firstly, that the majority of people go less frequent shopping; simultaneously, an increase in online shopping can be seen and characteristics of this group were analysed. Secondly, half of the adult population still left their home for leisure or to run errands; young adults were more active than all other age groups. Thirdly, the majority of the working population still went to work; one out of four people worked in home-office. Lastly, potential implications for travel behaviour and activity patterns as well as policy measures are discussed.

Author(s):  
Veronique Van Acker ◽  
Sazkia Sandoval ◽  
Mario Cools

Travel behavior research has long been dominated by a rational perspective considering primarily objective factors such as price, travel time, and speed. Only at the end of the 1990s was attention also paid to subjective factors such as perceptions and attitudes. Since then, a growing number of studies combine objective and subjective factors in explaining travel behavior. This paper adds to this by focusing on the influence of lifestyles on mode share. To this end, an online survey was carried out in Belgium, completed successfully by 334 respondents. Lifestyles were measured based on a psychographic or value-based approach using the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) developed by Schwartz. Results of a structural equation model (SEM) indicate that using value-based lifestyles adds new insights to the analysis of mode share. Personal values have not only a direct effect on mode share but also an indirect effect because of interactions with urban residential location choices, car ownership decisions, and activity patterns. The findings suggest that public transport use could be encouraged by promoting it as an act of caring for others. At the same time, policy-makers should invest in creating positive experiences for travelers using public transport.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Steffen C. Eickemeyer ◽  
Jan Busch ◽  
Chia-Te Liu ◽  
Sonia Lippke

The increasing implementation of digital technologies has various positive impacts on companies. However, many companies often rush into such an implementation of technological trends without sufficient preparation and pay insufficient attention to the human factors involved in digitization. This phenomenon can be exacerbated when these technologies become highly dependent, as during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to better understand challenges and to propose solutions for a successful implementation of digitized technology. A literature review is combined with survey results and specific consulting strategies. Data from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany were collected by means of an online survey, with a representative sample of the German population. However, we did not reveal any correlation between home office and suffering, mental health, and physical health (indicators of digitization usage to cope with COVID-19 pandemic), but rather that younger workers are more prone to using digitized technology. Based on previous findings that older individuals tend to have negative attitudes toward digital transformation, appropriate countermeasures are needed to help them become more tech-savvy. Accordingly, a software tool is proposed. The tool can help the management team to manage digitization efficiently. Employee well-being can be increased as companies are made aware of necessary measures such as training for individuals and groups at an early stage.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Alan Vigersky ◽  
Michael Stone ◽  
Pratik Agrawal ◽  
Alex Zhong ◽  
Kevin Velado ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: The MiniMed™ 670G system was FDA-approved in 2016 for adults and adolescents ≥14yrs, and in 2018 for children ages 7-13yrs with T1D. Since then, use of the system has grown to over 180,000 people in the U.S. The glycemic control benefits of real-world MiniMed™ 670G system Auto Mode use in the U.S. were assessed. Methods: System data (aggregated five-minute instances of sensor glucose [SG]) uploaded from March 2017 to July 2019 by individuals (N=118,737) with T1D and ≥7yrs of age who enabled Auto Mode were analyzed to determine the mean % of overall time spent <54mg/dL/<70mg/dL (TBR); between 70-180mg/dL (TIR); and >180mg/dL/>250mg/dL (TAR). The impact of Auto Mode was further assessed in a sub-group of individuals (N=51,254) with, at least, 7 days of SG data for both Auto Mode turned ON and turned OFF. The % of TIR, TBR and TAR, and the associated glucose management indicator (GMI) were evaluated for the overall OFF (2,524,570 days) and ON (6,308,806 days) periods, and across different age groups. Results: System data TIR was 71.3%; TBR was 0.4% and 1.9%, respectively; and TAR was 26.8% and 6.2%, respectively. User-wise data of Auto Mode OFF versus ON showed a mean of 70.3% of the time spent in Auto Mode, that TIR increased from 60.9% to 69.9%; and that both TBR and TAR decreased. For those 7-13yrs (N=1,417), TIR increased from 48.7% to 61.5%; TBR increased from 0.5% to 0.6% and from 2.0% to 2.2%, respectively; and TAR decreased from 49.3% to 36.3% and from 20.5% to 13.0%, respectively. For those 14-21yrs (N=4,194), TIR increased from 51.0% to 61.5%; TBR decreased from 0.7% to 0.6% and from 2.3% to 2.0%, respectively; and TAR decreased from 46.7% to 36.5% and from 18.5% to 12.5%, respectively. For those ≥22yrs (N=45,643), TIR increased from 62.2% to 70.9%; TBR decreased from 0.7% to 0.5% and from 2.6% to 1.9%, respectively; and TAR decreased from 35.2% to 27.3% and from 9.9% to 6.3%, respectively. The mean GMI decreased by 0.23% (overall), 0.48% (7-13yrs), 0.35% (14-21yrs), and 0.22% (≥22yrs), respectively, with Auto Mode ON versus OFF. Discussion: In over 6 million days of real-world MiniMed™ 670G system Auto Mode use in the U.S., TIR of a large pediatric and adult population with T1D improved by 9% compared to when Auto Mode was OFF, which was comparable to or exceeded the TIR observed in the smaller pivotal trials. These results further support outcomes of the pivotal trials and increased glycemic control with system use.


1986 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Hay

In this paper, changes in travel behaviour in Sheffield-Rotherham (1972-1981) and Manchester-Salford (1976–1982) are compared with special reference to the effect of bus fare levels in real terms, which fell by about 70% in Sheffield-Rotherham but remained constant in Manchester-Salford. The analysis is directed to seven distinct household types, and overall changes in bus trip rates, estimated elasticities, effects on traffic congestion, city centre use, mobility of low mobility groups, and income redistribution are examined. The conclusion is made that although reducing real fares resulted in higher levels of bus patronage, evidence for the other beneficial effects was absent.


1982 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Chakraverty ◽  
P. Cunningham ◽  
M. S. Pereira

SUMMARYThe epidemiology in the United Kingdom of the influenza A H1N1 subtype which returned in 1977 after an absence of 20 years is described for the four winter seasons from 1977/8 to 1980/1. The age distribution of virus isolates and the evidence for antigenic variation is presented. The impact in the susceptible age groups year by year is shown by the change in the population with specific antibody. There was the expected increase of antibody in those under the age of 21 but also evidence for a significant amount of infection or re-infection in the older adult population.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ria Angeline Martins ◽  
Russell Seth Martins ◽  
Syeda Maryam Zehra Zaidi ◽  
Scheryar Saqib ◽  
Aiman Ahmed ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a large majority of Pakistan’s population, with one particular demographic of stakeholders being the country’s young adult population. Our study looks to understand levels COVID-19-related awareness, perceptions, and behaviors, and sources of COVID-19-related knowledge, amongst Pakistan’s young adult population.Methods:This survey was conducted by the Aga Khan University over July-October 2020, via a Google Form disseminated on multiple social media platforms. All respondents aged between 18-35 years and currently residing in Pakistan were included.Results:The questionnaire received a total of 406 responses with the respondents having a mean age of 25.15 ± 5.80 years. 52.5% of the respondents were currently students. The vast majority relied on social media (83.7%), internet blogs/websites (83.3%) and newspapers/television (70.7%) as major sources of information regarding COVID-19. The highest percentage of individuals believed spread was possible through contaminated surfaces (95.3%), while 86.4% believed spread was possible via inhalation of droplets, and 52.0% via close contact with asymptomatic individuals. Alarmingly, 21.9% believed that transmission was possible through contact with packages shipped from China, and 16% believed COVID-19 could be contracted by eating food in Chinese restaurants. Moreover, 24.1% believed COVID-19 to be a biological weapon designed in a laboratory, while 23.9% were unsure.Conclusions: Our survey revealed some deficiencies in the understanding of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, along with racial biases and the prevalence of misinformation. Since young adults play an important role in the global response to the pandemic, our study suggests interventions that target the young adults in Pakistan in an attempt to increase their awareness about the pandemic and help them cope with its effects.


Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Soojung Chang ◽  
Kyeongsook Nam

Despite the various benefits offered by smart homes, they have not yet been widely adopted by mainstream users. This study was designed to identify user perceptions in the association between smart home service preference and adoption and to identify factors affecting the adoption and service preferences of smart homes. In order to achieve the goal of the study, an online survey was conducted among 400 potential users in the Republic of Korea. The main findings are as follows: First, there were considerable needs for the services that can support the independent lives of residents, such as safety and convenience services, among all age groups. Second, the study findings suggested that those who preferred environmental control service most were more likely to become relatively active adopters. Third, a significant association between the preference for smart home services and the intention to use was identified. Finally, the study findings suggested that the number of service preferences and adoption was not directly proportional. The findings reported in this study can improve the overall understanding of the process of adopting smart homes, and can provide important insights into user-centered strategies to promote the adoption of smart home services.


Author(s):  
Karina Conde ◽  
Paula Victoria Gimenez ◽  
Tomás Salomón ◽  
Raquel Inés Peltzer ◽  
Sebastián Laspiur ◽  
...  

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and isolation measures on alcohol consumption remains unknown among Latin-American countries. This paper characterizes differences in alcohol consumption and related problems before and after the pandemic among Argentinians from different genders, age groups, income levels, and behaviors regarding the acquisition of alcoholic beverages. Through an online survey 1446 participants were assessed regarding four alcohol consumption dimensions (frequency, quantity, heavy episodic drinking -HED- and alcohol-related problems) three months prior and after the first cases in the country and subsequent lockdown measures. Overall, participants reported small reductions for usual consumption and moderate ones for HED and related problems. As expected, very high reductions were found for those underage (14 to 18 years), and young adults (19 to 24 years). Those who had an increase in income after the pandemic did not report changes in consumption, while those whose income remained equal or lowered reported reductions. Those who did not report special behaviors to acquire alcohol (e.g. pre-stocking) informed decreases in consumption compared to those who did. This study provides new evidence on the impact of environmental factors in public health, suggesting restricted access to alcohol generates a significant decrease in alcohol consumption and related problems.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omid V. Ebrahimi ◽  
Miriam S. Johnson ◽  
Sara Ebling ◽  
Ole Myklebust Amundsen ◽  
Øyvind Halsøy ◽  
...  

Background: The pace at which the present pandemic and future public health crises involving viral infections are eradicated heavily depends on the availability and routine implementation of vaccines. This process is further affected by a willingness to vaccinate, embedded in the phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy. The World Health Organization has listed vaccine hesitancy among the greatest threats to global health, calling for research to identify the factors associated with this phenomenon. Methods: The present study seeks to investigate the psychological, contextual, and sociodemographic factors associated with vaccination hesitancy in a large sample of the adult population. 4571 Norwegian adults were recruited through an online survey between January 23 to February 2, 2021. Subgroup analyses and multiple logistic regression was utilized to identify the covariates of vaccine hesitancy. Results: Several subgroups hesitant toward vaccination were identified, including males, rural residents, and parents with children below 18 years of age. No differences were found between natives and non-natives, across education or age groups. Individuals preferring unmonitored media platforms (e.g., information from peers, social media, online forums, and blogs) more frequently reported hesitance towards vaccination than those relying on information obtainment from source-verified platforms. Perceived risk of vaccination, belief in the superiority of natural immunity, fear concerning significant others being infected by the virus, and trust in health officials’ dissemination of vaccine-related information were identified as key variables related to vaccine hesitancy. Conclusions: Given the heterogeneous range of variables associated with vaccine hesitancy, additional strategies to eradicate vaccination fears are called for aside from campaigns targeting the spread of false information. Responding to affective reactions in addition to involving other community leaders besides government and health officials present promising approaches that may aid in combating vaccination hesitation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (48) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Bosetti ◽  
Bich-Tram Huynh ◽  
Armiya Youssouf Abdou ◽  
Marie Sanchez ◽  
Catherine Eisenhauer ◽  
...  

Background Many countries implemented national lockdowns to contain the rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 and avoid overburdening healthcare capacity. Aim We aimed to quantify how the French lockdown impacted population mixing, contact patterns and behaviours. Methods We conducted an online survey using convenience sampling and collected information from participants aged 18 years and older between 10 April and 28 April 2020. Result Among the 42,036 survey participants, 72% normally worked outside their home, and of these, 68% changed to telework during lockdown and 17% reported being unemployed during lockdown. A decrease in public transport use was reported from 37% to 2%. Participants reported increased frequency of hand washing and changes in greeting behaviour. Wearing masks in public was generally limited. A total of 138,934 contacts were reported, with an average of 3.3 contacts per individual per day; 1.7 in the participants aged 65 years and older compared with 3.6 for younger age groups. This represented a 70% reduction compared with previous surveys, consistent with SARS-CoV2 transmission reduction measured during the lockdown. For those who maintained a professional activity outside home, the frequency of contacts at work dropped by 79%. Conclusion The lockdown affected the population's behaviour, work, risk perception and contact patterns. The frequency and heterogeneity of contacts, both of which are critical factors in determining how viruses spread, were affected. Such surveys are essential to evaluate the impact of lockdowns more accurately and anticipate epidemic dynamics in these conditions.


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