Implications of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Results of Online Bulletin Board Interviews

Reluctance to accept vaccination against COVID-19 poses a significant public health risk and is known to be a multi-determined phenomenon. We conducted online focus groups, or “bulletin boards,” in order to probe the nature of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its implications. Participants were 94 individuals from three distinct U.S. geographical areas and represented a range of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Six themes emerged from the 3 day-long bulletin boards: the most trusted source of health information sought is the personal physician; information about health is nevertheless obtained from a wide variety of sources; stories about adverse side effects are especially “sticky”; government health institutions like CDC and FDA are not trusted; most respondents engaged in individualistic reasoning; and there is a wide spectrum of attitudes toward vaccination.

Changing national health values of Russians

The publication is aimed at studying the attitude of middle-aged and older Russians to physical culture and sports. The scope of the results embraces studying the dynamics of perception of physical culture and sports in the minds of middle-aged and older Russians. The research subject is studying the dynamic changes in the system of value consciousness of Russians. The method of obtaining empirical data includes focused online interviews, traditional analysis of documents, including legislative acts of the Russian Federation. Conducting focused online interviews with respondents from Nizhny Novgorod and Volgograd is due to the conditions of self-isolation of Russians during the study period. The result of the study is presented as a description of the specifics of the perception of physical culture and sports by middle-aged and older Russians. The scientific novelty of the publication lies in the author's understanding of the influence of self-isolation on changes in the values of Russians in the perception of physical culture and sports worthiness by middle-aged and older people in Russian regions. During the interviewing online focus groups, respondents' suggestions on how to encourage middle-aged and older Russians to engage in physical culture and sports were revealed.

A Qualitative Understanding of Motivations, Preferences, and Attitudes Toward Adherence-Based Technology

The future of cognitive assessments and brain-training programs is very likely to involve mobile applications for phones and tablets. However, adherence to these programs over the long haul is notoriously low. In an effort to countervail this trend, we ran online focus groups with both older and younger adults to understand from a user-centered perspective how to better design apps to increase adherence. Using thematic content analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006) with an inductive bottom-up approach (Frith & Gleeson, 2004), we found a surprising number of common themes across older and younger adults that superseded many of their superficial differences. For instance, both younger and older adults were reluctant to engage in the program unless it had some obvious perceived benefit; both wanted the program personalized to their individual preferences; both wanted the ability to customize features and reminders; and both generally agreed that the tasks had to be fun.

Development of a locator device usability scale for persons with dementia at risk of getting lost

There is an increasing number of persons living with dementia who live alone. Recent COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have resulted in more persons receiving care remote through information and communication technologies. Locating technologies can be a tool to help care partners monitor their loved ones living with dementia. These devices can also mitigate risks associated with going missing, by reducing time for search and returning the lost person home safely. However, there is no clear, standardized approach to assess the usability of these devices. The purpose of this study was to develop a locator device usability scale for persons living with dementia at risk of getting lost. A two-phase study that utilized a multi-method design and included participatory and iterative strategies was conducted. In the first phase, an item pool was generated through online focus groups with service providers, technology developers, care partners and persons living with dementia. The second phase refined the item pool using an online survey and online focus groups with the same stakeholder groups. Five overarching categories were identified as important for the usability of locating device: features, inclusivity, simplicity, aesthetic appeal, and ethics. Participants identified the need for multiple versions of the usability scale including one specifically for persons living with dementia. The newly developed locator device usability scale can enhance the acceptance of these devices, thereby supporting remote caregiving and promote the safety and autonomy of persons living with dementia.

The use of WeChat in higher education: Investigation of Chinese students in Australia

With the increasing popularity of social technologies, many Chinese students use WeChat for their studies in Australia. However, there have been limited studies about how students effectively use WeChat for their academic activities and the impacts on students' academic achievements. Therefore, this study focuses on the relationship between WeChat usage and academic activities of university students in Australia. Using a modified Delphi technique, we conducted three online focus groups of 16 university students who had an experience of WeChat. A thematic analysis revealed that the usage of WeChat could impact their academic performance, and many international students had challenges to be familiarised with a new digital environment in Australia. The findings contribute to much clear understanding of how students utilise WeChat for academic activities to provide a better usage of social media for university students.

Exploring inequalities in health with young people through online focus groups: navigating the methodological and ethical challenges

PurposeThe use of online focus groups to explore children and young people's (CYP) perspectives of inequalities in health and associated “sensitive” topics raises important ethical and methodological issues to consider. The purpose of the paper is to discuss lessons learnt from navigating the authors' way through some of the key challenges the authors encountered when researching inequalities in health with CYP through online focus groups.Design/methodology/approachIn the paper, the authors draw on reflections and notes from the fieldwork design, public involvement and engagement (PIE) activities and data collection for their research project.FindingsCollecting data online influenced the authors' ability to develop rapport and relationships with CYP and to provide effective support when discussing sensitive topics. The authors note that building activities to develop rapport with participants during recruitment and data collection and establishing clear support and safeguarding protocols helped navigate challenges of online approaches around effective and supportive participant engagement.Originality/valueThe paper highlights that despite ethical and methodological challenges of conducting online focus groups with CYP on potentially sensitive topics, the adoption of practical steps and strategies before, during and following data collection can facilitate the safe participation of CYP and generate useful and valid data in meaningful and appropriate ways.

Using Videoconferencing Focus Groups in Sexual and Reproductive Health Research With Chinese Im/Migrants in Australia

Videoconferencing focus groups have emerged as a popular method for collecting qualitative data. However, its use in sexual and reproductive health research is still very much in its infancy. Based on participants’ feedback and researchers’ reflections on using videoconferencing focus groups to collect sexual and reproductive health data with 39 heterosexual and non-heterosexual Chinese im/migrants in Australia, we discuss some of the key lessons learned, and considerations involved in shifting from face-to-face to online focus groups. Overall, videoconferencing focus groups appeared to be a highly feasible and acceptable way to discuss “sensitive” topics with Chinese im/migrants. Importantly, researchers need to be both creative and reflexive during the research process and must not forget that the success of a study lies not only in troubleshooting technical issues but also in cultivating and maintaining a trusting relationship with research participants.

Public attitudes to COVID-19 ‘booster vaccinations and influenza vaccines: A qualitative focus group study

Objectives This study explored public attitudes to COVID-19 ‘booster’ vaccines and influenza vaccines, including participants intentions to have them or not, and their preferences on how and when they should be administered. Study design. Qualitative study using online focus groups and interviews.Methods Group and individual online interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of 21 adults in the United Kingdom to explore their views on the issue of COVID-19 booster and influenza vaccination. Data were analysed using a framework approach.Results Three themes emerged to unpack participants views on COVID-19 booster and flu vaccinations: (1) Booster intentions correspond with decisions around initial vaccination (2) Mixed views on booster and flu vaccines (3) Mixed views on whether to get COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines together or separately. Those who had been more willing to accept their initial COVID-19 vaccine were more willing to accept a booster and a flu vaccine, whereas those who had been more hesitant about their initial COVID-19 vaccine were more hesitant about getting a booster and a flu vaccine – including the idea of getting them together.Conclusions Public health messaging related to COVID-19 boosters might emphasise that they can be seen as: an extension of their initial decision to get vaccination; a way to maintain population immunity over the longer term; a collective act (to protect others); a way to maintain freedoms or ‘normality’. Messaging around boosters and influenza vaccines needs to emphasise they are safe and convenient to be taken together and that both are important, especially for those clinically vulnerable