scholarly journals How have governments supported citizens stranded abroad due to COVID-19 travel restrictions? A comparative analysis of the financial and health support in eleven countries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pippa McDermid ◽  
Adam Craig ◽  
Meru Sheel ◽  
Holly Seale
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Website Design ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Health Support ◽  
Content Accessibility

Abstract Background: In response to the continuing threat of COVID-19, many countries have implemented some form of border restriction. A repercussion of these restrictions has been that some travellers have been stranded abroad unable to return to their country of residence, and in need for government support. Our analysis explores the COVID-19-related information and support options provided by 11 countries to their citizens stranded overseas due to travel restrictions. We also examined the quality (i.e., readability, accessibility, and useability) of the information that was available from selected governments’ web-based resources.Methods: Between June 18 to June 30, 2021, COVID-19-related webpages from 11 countries (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Canada, United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK), France, Spain, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand) were reviewed and content relating to information and support for citizens stuck overseas analysed. Government assistance-related data from each webpage was extracted and coded for the following themes: travel arrangements, health and wellbeing, finance and accommodation, information needs, and sources. Readability was examined using the Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) and the Flesch Kincaid readability tests; content ‘accessibility’ was measured using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) Version 2.1; and content ‘usability’ assessed using the usability heuristics for website design tool.Results: Ninety-eight webpages from 34 websites were evaluated. No country assessed covered all themes analysed. Most provided information and some level of support regarding repatriation options; border control and re-entry measures; medical assistance; and traveller registration. Only three countries provided information or support for emergency housing while abroad, and six provided some form of mental health support for their citizens. Our analysis of the quality of COVID-19-related information available on a subset of four countries’ websites found poor readability and multiple accessibility and usability issues.Conclusion: With large variance in the information and services available across the countries analysed, our results highlight gaps, inconsistencies, and potential inequities in support available, and raise issues pertinent to the quality, accessibility, and usability of information. This study will assist policymakers plan and communicate comprehensive support packages for citizens stuck abroad due to the COVID-19 situation and design future efforts to prepare for global public health emergencies.

scholarly journals “I actually got my first job through my ex-colleague”: Employment-related information seeking behavior of Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada

2021 ◽  
pp. 096100062199280
Author(s):  
Nafiz Zaman Shuva
Keyword(s):  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Information Sources ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Occupational Status ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Immigrant Professionals ◽  
Government Of Canada ◽  
First Job

This study explores the employment-related information seeking behaviour of Bangladeshi immigrants in Canada. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with 60 Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario, Canada, and obtained 205 survey responses. The study highlights the centrality of employment-related settlement among Bangladeshi immigrants in Ontario and reports many immigrants not being able to utilize their education and skills after arrival in Canada. The results show that Bangladeshi immigrants utilize various information sources for their employment in Canada, including friends and professional colleagues, online searchers, and settlement agencies. Although Bangladeshi immigrants utilized a large array of information sources for meeting their employment-related information needs, many interview participants emphasized that the employment-related benefits they received was because of their access to friends and professional colleagues in Canada. The survey results echoed the interview findings. The cross-tabulation results on post-arrival information sources and occupation status as well as first job information sources and occupational status in Canada show a significant association among the use of the information source “friends and professional colleagues in Canada” and immigrants’ occupational status. The study highlights the benefits of professional colleagues among immigrants in employment-related settlement contexts. It also reports the challenges faced by many immigrant professionals related to employment-related settlement because of the lack of access to their professional friends and colleagues in Canada. The author urges the Federal Government of Canada, provincial governments, and settlement agencies working with newcomers to offer services that would connect highly skilled immigrants with their professional networks in Canada, in order to get proper guidance related to obtaining a professional job or alternative career. The author calls for further studies on employment-related information seeking by immigrants to better understand the role information plays in their settlement in a new country.

scholarly journals Employment information needs and information behaviour of North Korean refugees

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jieun Yeon ◽  
Jee Yeon Lee ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Korea ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Public Libraries ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Job Seeking ◽  
Related Information ◽  
North Korean Refugees ◽  
Social Accessibility ◽  
Group Interviews

Introduction. The employment-related information needs and behaviour of North Korean refugees during their settlement in South Korea were analysed, and provisions that public libraries should consider when providing employment-related information to North Korean refugees were suggested. Method. Semi-structured group interviews were conducted with twenty-one North Korean refugees who had job-seeking experience or who wanted to be employed. Also, five public and NGO workers that aid the employment seeking process for employment support services to North Korean refugees provided field data on the services provided and characteristics of North Korean refugees’ information behaviour. Analysis. The results were examined using content analysis according to the factors of Dervin’s sense-making theory—situation, gap, and use. We used NVIVO 12 to extract codes from interview parts according to the factors. Results. The employment situation of North Korean refugees in South Korea can largely be categorised into two types: employment-related and education-related. The frequent subjects of employment information needs were job posting, vocational education, and career. Participants suffered from a lack of intellectual, psychological, and social accessibility. North Korean refugees were most likely to get information from interpersonal sources, the Internet, and public institutions. Conclusion. We developed a model of North Korean refugees’ information behaviour based on the findings and provided guidance for public libraries on serving job-seeking North Korean refugees.

scholarly journals Utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Tools for Sharing of Agricultural Related Information in Osun State: Implications for Rural Information Needs

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Saheed Ige Adetunbi ◽  
A. T. Kareem ◽  
B. A. Oyebamiji
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Shared Information ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Ict Tools

The study was motivated by the need to harness technological advancement to enhance agricultural production in Osun State. The study assessed the utilization of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) tools for sharing of agricultural related information in Osun State, Nigeria. The study illustrated the socio economic characteristics of the Respondent, identified the available ICT tools for sharing of various agricultural related information, identified agricultural related information shared through various available ICT tools, measured the frequency of utilization of the identified ICT tools and assessed the severity of challenges encountered by Respondent in the utilization of ICT tools in the study area. Sixty percent of Extension Agents in each of the three zones in the study area were sampled. The data collected were examined using descriptive statistics tools while regression analysis was used to test the significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of Respondents and their frequency of utilization of ICT Tools for sharing of agricultural related information in the study areas. The analysis of the data was carried out with the use of SPSS version 22. The findings revealed that the average age of Respondents was 39 years; more than half of the respondent (67.1%) were male; most (81.4%) of the respondent were married; majority (68.6%) of the respondent were Christian; about (70%) of the respondent had tertiary education. The mean household size was 5 members per household; majority of the respondents belonged to one association or the other and they access the internet with their own data plan. Radio (wms 2.7) was ranked first as most available ICT tools for sharing information in the study area. Furthermore, information on availability and sources of farm inputs (wms2.3) was ranked most shared information while information on storage facilities (wms1.0) was ranked the least shared information by the Respondents. Also, the initial cost of procurement of ICT gadgets, cost of maintenance, risk of theft of gadget, and fluctuating power supply were the major challenges encountered with the use of various ICT tools. Regression analysis identified a significant relationship between selected socio-economic characteristics of the Respondents and frequency of Utilization of ICT Tools for sharing Agriculture related information. The study recommended use of Radio as medium through which agricultural related information should be shared bearing in mind its ease of access, little cost of procurement and maintenance, extent of reach and frequency of usage among the respondents. Provision of access to internet facility was recommended in order to afford respondents a limitless right to use information on the World Wide Web. Finally, alternative source of power to enable respondents recharge their ICT gadgets was recommended to make up for unreliable electricity supply.

Information Seeking Behaviour of Post Graduate Students of Government Science College, Bangalore: A Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
K. V. Jayamma ◽  
G. T. Mahesh
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Post Graduate ◽  
Information Usage ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Information Seeking Behaviour ◽  
Science College ◽  
College Library

This Study was designed to examine information seeking behaviour of PG Students at Government Science College Library, Bangalore. The study intended with an aim to explore the information usage among PG students. Closed ended questionnaire was used to collect the data from respondents. A total of 200 samples out of 319 students. Among the200 hundred questionnaires distributed, 127 were completely answered and returned. The findings of this study revealed the information needs of PG students in Government Science College. The majority of students who are visiting library are females; also, the majority of the PG students are visiting library once in a week. The main purpose of the visit to the library is for accessing exam related information for their study.

A Wireless System for Secure Electronic Healthcare Records Management

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 16-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petros Belsis ◽  
Christos Skourlas ◽  
Stefanos Gritzalis
Keyword(s):  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Records Management ◽  
Wireless Devices ◽  
Wireless System ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Related Data ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Efficient Management ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Wireless Computing

Recent advances in wireless computing and in the hardware of wireless devices has opened new directions in many domains; for example in the medical domain the medical personnel in hospitals is able to use wireless devices to gain ubiquitous access to medical related information. However the sensitivity of medical related data poses many challenges in the effort to securely manage these data. In this paper the authors present an agent based architecture for efficient management of medical data. The authors present the security choices and also provide experimental details about the flexibility of our approach.

scholarly journals Leveraging Conversational Technology to Answer Common COVID-19 Questions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mollie McKillop ◽  
Brett R South ◽  
Anita Preininger ◽  
Mitch Mason ◽  
Gretchen Purcell Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Health Information ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
One Health ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Governmental Agencies ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Pandemic Response ◽  
Conversational Turns

Abstract The rapidly evolving science about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created unprecedented health information needs and dramatic changes in policies globally. We describe a platform, Watson AssistantTM (WA), which has been used to develop conversational agents to deliver COVID-19 related information. We characterized the diverse use cases and implementations during the early pandemic and measured adoption through number of users, messages sent, and conversational turns (i.e., pairs of interactions between users and agents). Thirty-seven institutions in nine countries deployed COVID-19 conversational agents with WA between March 30 and August 10, 2020, including 24 governmental agencies, seven employers, five provider organizations, and one health plan. Over 6.8 million messages were delivered through the platform. The mean number of conversational turns per session ranged between 1.9 and 3.5. Our experience demonstrates that conversational technologies can be rapidly deployed for pandemic response and are adopted globally by a wide range of users.

scholarly journals Deciphering the Signal From the Noise: Caregivers’ Information Appraisal and Credibility Assessment of Cancer-Related Information Exchanged on Social Networking Sites

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 107327481984160
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Gage-Bouchard ◽  
Susan LaValley ◽  
Julia A. Devonish
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Cancer Information ◽  
Specific Information ◽  
Credibility Assessment ◽  
Cancer Communication ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Cancer Caregivers

With the rise in the use of the Internet for health-related purposes, social networking sites (SNSs) have become a prominent platform for cancer communication and information exchange. Studies of cancer communication on SNS have mostly focused on understanding the quantity, content, quality, and user engagement (eg, likes and comments) with cancer-related information on SNS. There is less of an understanding of when and why people coping with cancer turn to SNS for cancer-related information, and how users appraise the credibility of cancer-related information obtained on SNS. In this study, we use data from in-depth qualitative interviews with 40 primary caregivers of pediatric patients with cancer to examine how cancer caregivers engage in information appraisal and credibility assessment of cancer-related information obtained on SNS. Findings show that cancer caregivers turned to SNS for cancer-related information because information on SNS was immediate, targeted in response to specific caregiver questions and concerns, and tailored to the specific information needs of cancer caregivers. Cancer caregivers evaluated the credibility of cancer-related information obtained on SNS through assessment of the SNS user who posted the information, frequency the same information was shared, and external corroboration. Findings have important implications for cancer communication and information interventions and point to elements of SNS cancer communication that can be integrated into health professional–facilitated communication and cancer information strategies.

scholarly journals Identifying Carbon Reduction Potentials in Road Transportation: Creating a Carbon-Tracking Tool for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-110
Author(s):  
Wolfram Groschopf ◽  
Elmar Fuerst ◽  
Sebastian Kummer ◽  
David Herold
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Road Transportation ◽  
Carbon Reduction ◽  
Reduction Potentials ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Corporate Practice

Abstract Improving environmental performance of road transport through carbon reduction initiatives can be a demand challenge, in particular for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Whether existing carbon reduction potentials are effectively and efficiently uncovered largely depends on the availability of information as well as on how to make use of it. An often-observed problem is the lack of tools for SMEs to obtain useful carbon-related information from road transport. Against the background of a case study of the carbon-tracking tool CO2-Tec, this paper highlights the importance of decision-making information and demonstrates how carbon reduction potentials in road transportation can be uncovered for SMEs. Particular attention is paid to the information needs of the SMEs and how these needs can be fulfilled. The analysis of the results suggests a pattern of action that increases the efficacy and efficiency of information management and use in corporate practice.

The fertility- and menopause-related information needs of younger women with a diagnosis of breast cancer: A qualitative study

2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 500-511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda Thewes ◽  
Bettina Meiser ◽  
Judy Rickard ◽  
Michael Friedlander
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Younger Women ◽  
Related Information

scholarly journals University Professional and Managerial Staff: Information Needs and Seeking

1997 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 561-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janie L. Hassard Wilkins ◽  
Gloria J. Leckie
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Report Writing ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Library Use ◽  
Managerial Staff

This study examines the work-related information needed and sought by professional and managerial staff of a large university. Through personal contacts, the Internet, and departmental sources, professional staff are able to readily satisfy many of their daily and short-term work-related information needs with minimal use of the library. However, because their jobs are multifaceted and complex, these staff members frequently are engaged in longer-term activities (such as project development, report writing) requiring more intensive library use, which often is perceived to be frustrating and time-consuming. The implications of these findings for academic libraries are discussed.

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