Acceptance and Preferences of Using Ambient Sensor-Based Lifelogging Technologies in Home Environments

Diverse sensor-based technologies can be used to track (older and frail) people’s movements and behaviors in order to detect anomalies and emergencies. Using several ambient sensors and integrating them into an assisting ambient system allows for the early identification of emergency situations and health-related changes. Typical examples are passive infrared sensors (PIR), humidity and temperature sensors (H&T) as well as magnetic sensors (MAG). So far, it is not known whether and to what extent these three specific sensor types are perceived and accepted differently by future users. Therefore, the present study analyzed the perception of benefits and barriers as well as acceptance of these specific sensor-based technologies using an online survey (reaching N=312 German participants). The results show technology-related differences, especially regarding the perception of benefits. Furthermore, the participants estimated the costs of these sensors to be higher than they are, but at the same time showed a relatively high willingness to pay for the implementation of sensor-based technologies in their home environment. The results enable the derivation of guidelines for both the technical development and the communication and information of assisting sensor-based technologies and systems.

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Health related quality of life of rosacea patients in China assessed by DLQI and willingness to pay: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.24185 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yaqun Huang ◽

Sha Yan ◽

Hongfu Xie ◽

Ben Wang ◽

Zhixiang Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Disease Duration ◽

Life Quality ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Health Related Quality ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Related Quality ◽

Health Related

BACKGROUND Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis with facial skin involved, leading to physical and emotional problems, which greatly affected quality of life (QoL) of patients. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and willingness to pay (WTP) are well-established instruments assessing the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), while very few studies have been focused on this topic about rosacea in China. OBJECTIVE To investigate HRQoL in Chinese rosacea patients assessed by DLQI and WTP and investigate potential predictors for patients with HRQoL severely affected. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted on 973 patients with rosacea. Sociodemographic data, clinical features and DLQI were collected, and WTP was assessed by three standardized items. Multivariable logistic analysis was performed to investigate independent factors influencing QoL. RESULTS 921 questionnaires were accomplished by participants. The mean DLQI score was 11.6 (median 11). Patients were willing to pay an average of $1050.2 or € 896.2 (median $431.4 or € 368.1) for complete cure. 33.3% would like to pay more than 20% of their monthly income to achieve sustainable control. There were positive correlations between WTP with DLQI (P < .05). DLQI could be independently impacted by age (21-30 and 31-40, OR = 3.242 and 3.617, respectively), the occupational requirement of appearance (high, OR = 4.410), disease duration (< 2 years, OR = 1.582), oedema (OR = 1.844) and severity of flushing, burning, stinging and pruritus (severe, OR = 2.003, 1.981, 2.491, 2.249, respectively). There were no significant associations between WTP and most of the clinical factors. CONCLUSIONS The QoL was negatively affected and should not be ignored among rosacea patients in China. Patients aged 21-40y, having occupational requirement of appearance, with the disease duration less than 2 years, and suffering severe flushing and related symptoms were more likely to have severe or very severe limitation of QoL.

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Measurement Invariance of the Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale: Comparison between Taiwanese and Mainland Chinese-Speaking Populations

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9030297 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 297

Author(s):

Ya-Chin Yeh ◽

I-Hua Chen ◽

Daniel K. Ahorsu ◽

Nai-Ying Ko ◽

Kuan-Lin Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Online Survey ◽

Mainland Chinese ◽

Chinese University ◽

Vaccination Acceptance ◽

Health Related ◽

Acceptance Scale ◽

Chinese University Students

The impacts of novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) on human life continue to be serious. To control the spread of COVID-19, the production of effective vaccines is likely to be one of the best solutions. However, vaccination hesitancy may decrease individuals’ willingness to get vaccinated. The Drivers of COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Scale (DrVac-COVID19S) was recently developed to help healthcare professionals and researchers better understand vaccination acceptance. The present study examined whether DrVac-COVID19S is measurement invariant across different subgroups (Taiwanese vs. mainland Chinese university students; males vs. females; and health-related program majors vs. non-health-related program majors). Taiwanese (n = 761; mean age = 25.51 years; standard deviation (SD) = 6.42; 63.5% females) and mainland Chinese university students (n = 3145; mean age = 20.72 years; SD = 2.06; 50.2% females) were recruited using an online survey between 5 January and 21 February 2021. Factor structure and measurement invariance of the two DrVac-COVID19S scales (nine-item and 12-item) were tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings indicated that the DrVac-COVID19S had a four-factor structure and was measurement invariant across the subgroups. The DrVac-COVID19S’s four-factor structure was supported by the CFA results is a practical and valid instrument to quickly capture university students’ willingness to get COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, the DrVac-COVID19S can be used to compare university students’ underlying reasons to get COVID-19 vaccination among different subgroups.

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Consumer Preferences and Willingness to Pay for Potting Mix with Biochar

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14123432 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (12) ◽

pp. 3432

Author(s):

McKenzie Thomas ◽

Kimberly L. Jensen ◽

Dayton M. Lambert ◽

Burton C. English ◽

Christopher D. Clark ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Willingness To Pay ◽

Online Survey ◽

Product Information ◽

Consumer Preferences ◽

Market Potential ◽

Marginal Costs ◽

Consumer Demographics ◽

Market Shares ◽

Potential Market ◽

Dedicated Energy Crops

Biochar is a co-product of advanced biofuels production from feedstocks including food, agricultural, wood wastes, or dedicated energy crops. Markets for soil amendments using biochar are emerging, but little is known about consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for these products or the depth of the products’ market potential for this product. This research provides WTP estimates for potting mix amended with 25% biochar, conditioned on consumer demographics and attitudes about product information labeling. Data were collected with an online survey of 577 Tennessee home gardeners. WTP was elicited through a referendum contingent valuation. Consumer WTP for an 8.81 L bag of 25% biochar potting mix is $8.52; a premium of $3.53 over conventional potting mix. Demographics and attitudes toward biofuels and the environment influence WTP. Biochar amounts demanded are projected for the study area’s potential market. Optimal prices, profits, and market shares are estimated across different marginal costs of producing biochar potting mix.

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Avoidance of Healthcare Utilization in South Korea during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18084363 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (8) ◽

pp. 4363

Author(s):

Minjung Lee ◽

Myoungsoon You

Keyword(s):

General Population ◽

South Korea ◽

Healthcare Utilization ◽

Online Survey ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽

Related Factors ◽

First Case ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Health Related

Avoidance of healthcare utilization among the general population during pandemic outbreaks has been observed and it can lead to a negative impact on population health. The object of this study is to examine the influence of socio-demographic and health-related factors on the avoidance of healthcare utilization during the global outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in 2020. Data were collected through an online survey four weeks after the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed the first case in South Korea; 1000 subjects were included in the analysis. The logit model for regression was used to analyze the associations between sociodemographic and health-related factors regarding the avoidance of healthcare utilization. Among the participants, 73.2% avoided healthcare utilization, and there was no significant difference in the prevalence of healthcare avoidance between groups with (72.0%) and without (74.9%) an underlying disease. Sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., gender, age, income level, and residential area) were related to healthcare avoidance. Among the investigated influencing factors, residential areas highly affected by COVID-19 (i.e., Daegu/Gyeoungbuk region) had the most significant effect on healthcare avoidance. This study found a high prevalence of healthcare avoidance among the general population who under-utilized healthcare resources during the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the results reveal that not all societal groups share the burden of healthcare avoidance equally, with it disproportionately affecting those with certain sociodemographic characteristics. This study can inform healthcare under-utilization patterns during emerging infectious disease outbreaks and provide information to public health emergency management for implementing strategies necessary to improve the preparedness of the healthcare system.

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Organic Beekeeping Practices in Romania: Status and Perspectives towards a Sustainable Development

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11040281 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 281

Author(s):

Cristina Bianca Pocol ◽

Peter Šedík ◽

Ioan Sebastian Brumă ◽

Antonio Amuza ◽

Aurica Chirsanova

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Primary Data ◽

Organic System ◽

Environmental Aspect ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Travel Restrictions ◽

Health Related ◽

Social Components ◽

Demand For Health ◽

Organic Principles

Romanian beekeeping faces a lot of challenges nowadays due to the problems related to climate change, the use of pesticides in agriculture, but also to the pandemic crisis. In this context, organic beekeeping represents an important alternative to traditional apicultural practices. The purpose of the study was to present the current situation of organic beekeeping in Romania, but also to identify some aspects related to sustainability. The research methodology was based on secondary and primary data. An online survey was conducted in 2020 on a sample of 433 Romanian beekeepers. The main findings showed that the majority of participants were aware of organic principles and were familiar with the concept of sustainability in beekeeping. However, only a small percentage of beekeepers were certified in the organic system. The evaluation of the concept of sustainability showed that the most important factor for the surveyed beekeepers was the environmental aspect, followed by the economic and social components. The pandemic crisis has negatively impacted the beekeepers’ activities due to travel restrictions and the limited access to the apiaries. If, in economic terms, they were affected by the sales drop in the first months of the crisis, there were also some positive effects such as the increase in demand for health-related products.

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Consumer-citizen willingness to pay for healthy eating messages

International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management ◽

10.1108/ijchm-08-2017-0490 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 890-909 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yuxia Ouyang ◽

Amit Sharma

Keyword(s):

Willingness To Pay ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Content Type ◽

Health Warning ◽

Warning Messages ◽

Related Information ◽

Warning Message ◽

Home Context ◽

Health Related ◽

Amazon's Mechanical Turk

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the preference of health-warning message labeling in an eating-away-from-home context. The authors assessed individuals’ preference valuation of such messaging from a dual – consumer and citizen – perspective and with associated expected risk reduction (RR) level.Design/methodology/approachIn an online stated choice experiment on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (N = 658), participants were asked to provide willingness to pay (WTP) preferences for health-warning messages and based on the expected RR from health-warning messages. Two types of multiple price list questions were used for consumer and citizen contexts. Interval regression and descriptive analysis methods were applied to analyze the data.FindingsThe study found that individuals placed a higher value (higher WTP) on health-warning message labeling when acting as citizens rather than as consumers. An RR expectation of 50 per cent was most effective in increasing participants’ WTP. Individuals who ate out frequently were more concerned about healthier food messages, and the influence of gender and age on WTP was conditional on individuals’ roles as consumers versus citizens.Originality/valueThis study extends the theory of consumer-citizen duality to the context of health-related information labeling, thus opening the discussion to extending such labeling from traditionally risky behavior such as alcohol and tobacco to also including food choice behavior. The authors also highlight implications on policy and industry practices to promote healthy food choices through such messages.

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Empathy and COVID-19: Study in Professionals and Students of the Social Health Field in Ecuador

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18010338 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 338

Author(s):

Ana J. Cañas-Lerma ◽

M. Elena Cuartero-Castañer ◽

Guido Mascialino ◽

Paula Hidalgo-Andrade

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Emotional Health ◽

Social Health ◽

Reactivity Index ◽

Personal Distress ◽

The Social ◽

Health Related ◽

And Gender ◽

Health Field ◽

Great Stress

Empathy plays a fundamental role in health related occupations. In this study, we analysed empathy levels in professionals (117) and students (170) from various healthcare fields in Ecuador during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Interpersonal Reactivity Index was used in an online survey. The results show high levels of empathy in both groups, influenced by age and gender. The students presented higher levels of personal distress, and their age was negatively correlated to empathy. Additionally, professionals working in physical health scored higher levels of personal distress compared to those in the field of emotional health. COVID-19 has placed social health systems in great stress. Despite this, the personal capacities for empathy of both students and health professionals have not been diminished.

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Economic feasibility of Campylobacter -reduced chicken: Do consumers have high willingness to pay?

Agribusiness ◽

10.1002/agr.21512 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 222-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yukichika Kawata ◽

Masahide Watanabe

Keyword(s):

Willingness To Pay ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

High Willingness

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Residents’ preferred measures and willingness-to-pay for improving urban air quality: A case study of Hanoi city, Vietnam

Journal of Economics and Development ◽

10.1108/jed-03-2021-0036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Thanh Cong Nguyen ◽

Hang Dieu Nguyen ◽

Hoa Thu Le ◽

Shinji Kaneko

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Air Quality ◽

Willingness To Pay ◽

Public Transportation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Urban Air Quality ◽

Multivariate Probit ◽

Urban Air ◽

Content Type ◽

Public Opinions

PurposeThis purpose of this paper is to understand residents’ choice of preferred measures and their willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the measures to improve the air quality of Hanoi city.Design/methodology/approachQuestionnaire surveys were conducted to collect the opinions of 212 household representatives living in Hanoi City. The survey tools were tested and adjusted through an online survey with 191 responses. Multivariate probit and linear regression models were used to identify determinants of respondents’ choices of measures and their WTP.FindingsRespondents expressed their strong preferences for three measures for air quality improvements, including: (1) increase of green spaces; (2) use of less polluting fuels; (3) expansion of public transportation. The mean WTP for the implementation of those measures was estimated at about 148,000–282,000 Vietnamese dong, equivalent to 0.09–0.16% of household income. The respondents’ choices appear to be consistent with their characteristics and needs, such as financial affordability, time on roads and their perceived impacts of air pollution. The WTP estimates increase with perception of air pollution impacts, time on roads, education and income; but are lower for older people.Originality/valueTo gain a better understanding of public opinions, we applied multivariate probit models to check whether respondents’ choices were consistent with their characteristics and perceptions. This appears to be the first attempt to test the validity of public opinions on choices of measures for improving urban air quality in Vietnam. Our WTP estimates also contribute to the database on the values of improved air quality in the developing world.

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