scholarly journals The cooperation between kindergartens and families during the kindergarten closure in Slovenia due to the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-236
Author(s):  
Tina Mervic ◽  
Petra Zgonec
Keyword(s):  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Partial Closure ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
New Situation ◽  
Insight Into

During 2020, kindergartens in Slovenia were fully closed in the first and partially closed in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the kindergarten practice of cooperation with the families changed. In order to obtain an insight into the new situation in this field, our research focused on the organization of the cooperation between kindergartens and families during the kindergarten closure. In November 2020, we developed an online questionnaire for parents who had at least one child enrolled in kindergarten. The questionnaire was filled in by 944 parents. More than half of the parents answered that contacts with preschool professionals had supported them during the full and/or partial closure of their kindergarten. About one half of parents answered that the kindergarten had contacted them once a week, mainly with proposals for activities and information in case the kindergarten remained closed. Most parents answered that the additional contact with the professionals had not represented an additional workload. Three quarters of parents believe that it is necessary to maintain contact even during the closure. Still, as the pandemic situation is completely new, it is still difficult to assess in what way it makes sense to maintain cooperation during the closure. With the study, we obtained insight into the importance of cooperation from the parents' perspective, which we need to consider in similar situations ahead.

scholarly journals Student engagement with sustainability: understanding the value–action gap

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 404-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gareth Chaplin ◽  
Paul Wyton
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Sustainable Living ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Significant Barrier ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of research that aimed to determine what university students living in Unite accommodation in the UK understand about the concept of sustainable living. It considers what barriers they perceive to be standing in the way of following sustainable living practices. In particular, the research aimed to explore any value–action gap for the student population with a view to informing future actions to help close any gap. Design/methodology/approach – The study was completed through an online questionnaire survey of students living in halls of residence operated by provider The Unite Group Plc. The survey informed semi-structured interviews and focus groups that explored the issues raised in greater detail. Findings – It was found that students living in Unite properties believed sustainable living to be important, yet levels of understanding were very low and there appeared to be a wide value–action gap. Reasons for this are varied; however, an unexpected theme emerged around the association of effort and importance. There was a very strong association between sustainable living and recycling, which, therefore, saw the lack of adequate recycling facilities as a significant barrier to sustainable living. There were also issues around a lack of information, cost and respondents’ flatmates as further barriers. However, the most significant barrier was the displacement of responsibility for sustainable living to other people or organisations. Originality/value – Gaining an insight into the complexity of attitude and behaviour of students with the sustainability agenda will enable understanding that can be applied to activities that promote sustainability.

scholarly journals Understanding the patient voice in gout: a quantitative study conducted in Europe

BJGP Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen20X101003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc De Meulemeester ◽  
Elsa Mateus ◽  
Hilda Wieberneit-Tolman ◽  
Neil Betteridge ◽  
Lucy Ireland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Pain ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Social Burden ◽  
Long Term Effect ◽  
Key Barrier ◽  
Treatment Expectation ◽  
Insight Into

BackgroundAlthough commonly diagnosed, gout often remains a poorly managed disease. This is partially due to a lack of awareness of the long-term effect of gout among patients and healthcare professionals.AimTo understand unmet needs for patients and provide insight into achieving better treatment.Design & settingA quantitative online questionnaire collected from 1100 people with gout from 14 countries within Europe.MethodPatients were recruited to complete an online survey via healthcare professional (HCP) referral, patient associations, or market research panels. Patients were included if they had been diagnosed with gout by a physician. Prior to commencement, patients were made aware that this study was sponsored by Grünenthal. The responses collected were collated and analyses were performed.ResultsPatients had an average of 2.9 gout flares within a 12-month period. Although 79% of patients were satisfied with treatment, inadequate gout control was also reported by 71% of patients. Furthermore, 84% experienced moderate-to-severe pain with their most recent flare. Of those who acknowledged treatment dissatisfaction, only 24% discussed other options with their GP. Most patients reported irregular follow-up and serum uric acid (sUA) monitoring. In addition, loss of belief that more can be done was a key barrier for patients.ConclusionPatients reported severe pain and social burden, coupled with low treatment expectation and lack of awareness of target sUA. Education around knowing and reaching sUA target is needed so that patients can receive and GPs can deliver higher quality management.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Variants on the Second Wave in India and Subsequent Discretion of Possibilities of the Third Wave

2021 ◽  
pp. 115-126
Author(s):  
Sudarshan Ramaswamy ◽  
Meera Dhuria ◽  
Sumedha M. Joshi ◽  
Deepa H Velankar
Keyword(s):  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Sir Model ◽  
The Other ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Focal Points ◽  
Current Analysis ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Insight Into

Introduction: Epidemiological comprehension of the COVID-19 situation in India can be of great help in early prediction of any such indications in other countries and possibilities of the third wave in India as well. It is essential to understand the impact of variant strains in the perspective of the rise in daily cases during the second wave – Whether the rise in cases witnessed is due to the reinfections or the surge is dominated by emergence of mutants/variants and reasons for the same. Overall objective of this study is to predict early epidemiological indicators which can potentially lead to COVID-19 third wave in India. Methodology: We analyzed both the first and second waves of COVID-19 in India and using the data of India’s SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequencing, we segregated the impact of the Older Variant (OV) and the other major variants (VOI / VOC).  Applying Kermack–McKendrick SIR model to the segregated data progression of the epidemic in India was plotted in the form of proportion of people infected. An equation to explain herd immunity thresholds was generated and further analyzed to predict the possibilities of the third wave. Results: Considerable difference in ate of progression of the first and second wave was seen. The study also ascertains that the rate of infection spread is higher in Delta variant and is expected to have a higher threshold (>2 times) for herd immunity as compared to the OV. Conclusion: Likelihood of the occurrence of the third wave seems unlikely based on the current analysis of the situation, however the possibilities cannot be ruled out. Understanding the epidemiological details of the first and second wave helped in understanding the focal points responsible for the surge in cases during the second wave and has given further insight into the future.

scholarly journals The Mechanism of Governments’ and Individuals’ Influence on Protective Behaviors during the Second Wave of COVID-19: A Multiple Mediation Model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bibing Dai ◽  
Xiaoya Zhang ◽  
Guangteng Meng ◽  
Ya Zheng ◽  
Kesong Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Growth ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Government Intervention ◽  
Individual Factors ◽  
Protective Behaviors ◽  
Multiple Mediation ◽  
Indirect Pathway ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Perceived Efficacy ◽  
Second Wave

Abstract The SARS-CoV-2 virus continues to spread and resurge globally with signs of a second wave, despite actions by governments to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. However, evidence-based strategies to combat COVID-19 recurrence are poorly documented. To reveal how governments and individuals should act to effectively cope with future waves, this study proposed a preventive model of COVID-19 epidemic resurgence. To verify the model, we conducted an online questionnaire survey assessing government intervention, perceived efficacy, positive emotions, posttraumatic growth (PTG) and protective behaviors among 1137 residents in Beijing, where the epidemic reoccurred. Data analysis revealed that during COVID-19 epidemic resurgence, government intervention could directly and indirectly influence protective behaviors through individual factors (i.e., perceived efficacy, positive emotions), and PTG could mediate the indirect pathway to protective behaviors. These findings implied that government intervention needs to be integrated with individual factors to effectively control repeated COVID-19 outbreaks.

What Is Cheating?

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna M. Velliaris
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Academic Misconduct ◽  
Bachelor's Degree ◽  
First Year ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Business Information ◽  
Entry Requirements ◽  
New Students ◽  
Insight Into

The Eynesbury Institute of Business and Technology (EIBT) is one of a growing number of private providers partnering with universities to attract international students early in their commitment to tertiary studies. EIBT offers diploma programs that comprise the equivalent courses as the first-year of a Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology (IT), or Engineering at the destination Higher Education Institution (HEI). EIBT provides a period of academic acculturation for international students whose English proficiency and/or previous academic results are below direct entry requirements. In 2015, 200+ ‘new' students were required to complete a mandatory online questionnaire during orientation. First-person narrative data was derived from students' responses to the open-ended question: What is cheating and why is it wrong? The findings provide insight into their understandings, which has helped facilitate opportunities for faculty to mitigate opportunities for academic misconduct in the context of this Institute.

scholarly journals Changing radiotherapy review practice in response to COVID-19 in a radiotherapy satellite centre

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-314
Author(s):  
Tracy Mason ◽  
Rachael Bennett ◽  
Alison White ◽  
Agata Rembielak
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Optimal Care ◽  
Delivery Of Care ◽  
Safe Delivery ◽  
Satellite Centre ◽  
The World ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractBackground:The COVID-19 pandemic has required a rapid and evolving response in order to enable the continued delivery of radiotherapy, whilst effectively managing the risk of infection to patients and staff. In early March 2020, we were presented with the challenge of achieving safe delivery of care in clinical practice for a group of patients that are already at higher risk of morbidity from COVID-19 with only limited guidance.Purpose:This article outlines the adjustments made at The Christie at Oldham satellite centre in order to promote optimal care to our patients receiving radiotherapy, and to mitigate infection risk at the department for both patients and staff.Materials and Methods:We share insight into some of the evolving processes that our team have developed since March 2020 in promoting optimal care to patients receiving radiotherapy at The Christie at Oldham satellite centre. These include changes to the department floor, paper flow, supportive care and staffing.Results and Conclusions:As we continue to progress through this pandemic, we accept that there will be an ongoing journey of learning with adjustments to practice and evolving ‘new norm’, thereby ensuring we keep our patients and team safe and well. We also hoped that our experience would support radiotherapy-related practices in surges of the pandemic in other parts of the world or in case of the second wave.

scholarly journals First and Second Wave Dynamics of Emergency Department Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic: a retrospective study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robi Dijk ◽  
Patricia Plaum ◽  
Stan Tummers ◽  
Frits van Osch ◽  
Dennis Barten ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Urgent Care ◽  
Emergency Department Utilization ◽  
Reference Period ◽  
Wave Dynamics ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
High Urgency ◽  
Ed Visits ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Insight Into

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a decrease in emergency department(ED) utilization. Although this has been thoroughly characterized for the first wave(FW), studies during the second wave(SW) are limited. We examined the changes in ED utilization between the FW and SW, compared to 2019 reference periods. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of ED utilization in 3 Dutch hospitals in 2020. The FW and SW (March until June and September until December, respectively) were compared to the reference periods in 2019. ED visits were labeled as (non)COVID suspected. Findings: During the FW and SW ED visits decreased by 20.3% and 15.3%, respectively, when compared to reference periods in 2019. During both waves high urgency visits significantly increased with 3.1% and 2.1%, and admission rates (ARs) increased with 5.0% and 10.4%. Trauma related visits decreased by 5.2% and 3.4%. During the SW we observed less COVID-related visits compared to the FW (4,407 vs 3,102 patients). COVID related visits were significantly more often in higher need of urgent care and ARs where at least 24.0% higher compared to non COVID visits. Interpretation: During both COVID-19 waves ED visits were significantly reduced, with the most distinct decline during the FW. ED patients were more often triaged as high urgent and the ARs were increased compared to the reference period in 2019, reflecting a high burden on ED resources. These findings indicate the need to gain more insight into motives of patients to delay or avoid emergency care during pandemics and prepare EDs for future pandemics.

scholarly journals Relative Consolidation of the Kappa Variant Pre-Dates the Massive Second Wave of COVID-19 in India

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1803
Author(s):  
Jitendra Singh ◽  
Anvita Gupta Malhotra ◽  
Debasis Biswas ◽  
Prem Shankar ◽  
Leena Lokhande ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Whole Genome Sequencing ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Insight Into

India experienced a tragic second wave after the end of March 2021, which was far more massive than the first wave and was driven by the emergence of the novel delta variant (B.1.617.2) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this study, we explored the local and national landscape of the viral variants in the period immediately preceding the second wave to gain insight into the mechanism of emergence of the delta variant and thus improve our understanding of the causation of the second wave. We randomly selected 20 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples diagnosed in our lab between 3 February and 8 March 2021 and subjected them to whole genome sequencing. Nine of the 20 sequenced genomes were classified as kappa variant (B.1.617.1). The phylogenetic analysis of pan-India SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences also suggested the gradual replacement of the α variant with the kappa variant during this period. This relative consolidation of the kappa variant was significant, since it shared 3 of the 4 signature mutations (L452R, E484Q and P681R) observed in the spike protein of delta variant and thus was likely to be the precursor in its evolution. This study demonstrates the predominance of the kappa variant in the period immediately prior to the second wave and underscores its role as the “bridging variant” between the α and delta variants that drove the first and second waves of COVID-19 in India, respectively.

scholarly journals Development of Corporate Sustainability in Enterprises through the Application of Selected Practices and Tools

Organizacija ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-126
Author(s):  
Petra Lesnikova ◽  
Jarmila Schmidtova
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Business World ◽  
Industrial Enterprises ◽  
Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test ◽  
Sustainability Concept ◽  
Key Drivers ◽  
Business Competitiveness ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Enterprise Size

AbstractBackground and Purpose: The research paper identifies practices and tools to support corporate sustainability concept that can lead to increased business competitiveness in a dynamically developing business world. The purpose of the paper is to provide insight into the practices and tools of corporate sustainability applied by the Slovak industrial enterprises and which barriers do exist. Moreover, the aim is also to identify factors influencing the application of tools such as company ownership, importance of sustainability concept, and company vision.Design/Methodology/Approach: In order to obtain the necessary data an online questionnaire was used. The sample of enterprises was selected on the basis of the enterprise size and the industry focus (n = 336). The following statistical methods were used 1) one-way ANOVA, 2) the Kruskal-Wallis test, and 3) the Wilcoxon rank-sum test.Results: This paper revealed some key insights: 1) foreign-owned enterprises are better at application of sustainability practices and tools, 2) still quite a few enterprises attribute the importance to the concept, 3) the existence of barriers, particularly in the form of a lack of financial resources, 4) one of the key drivers of sustainability is enterprise vision.Conclusion: The paper created and analyzed quite a comprehensive list of practices and tools suitable for enterprises in Slovakia. There was an effort to find out point at the ways how enterprises contribute to sustainable development. It was also found out that they attach importance to vision as a major trigger for the application of the tools.

scholarly journals Why not use empirically supported treatments (ESTs)? Attitudes of German and Dutch therapists

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Finja Marten ◽  
Leontien de Kwaadsteniet ◽  
Cilia Witteman
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Empirically Supported Treatments ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Insight Into

We enquired into attitudes towards empirically supported treatments (ESTs), with an online questionnaire completed by 190 German and 400 Dutch therapists. Therapists had different attitudes, ranging from very negative to very positive. Two dimensions could describe these attitudes. A negative one: ESTs are thought to have a negative effect on the process of treatment, and a positive one: ESTs are thought have a positive impact on the outcomes of treatment. We found these dimensions to be related to self-reported use of ESTs. Therapists with a cognitive-behavioural orientation, therapists who were less experienced, and Dutch therapists had more positive attitudes than therapists with other orientations, therapists who were more experienced, or German. In a focus group discussion, Dutch therapists gave further insight into their attitudes and provided several suggestions to improve the use of ESTs.

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