Psychological Benefits and Challenges of Ph.D. Entrance Exam Virtual Interviews During COVID-19 Pandemic: Does Gender Play a Role?

This study aimed to investigate the reflections of Iranian students on Ph.D. entrance exam interviews held virtually nationwide during the Pandemic. Two hundred thirty-one Ph.D. applicants were invited to fill out an anonymous online survey designed in Google Forms, 36 out of whom volunteered to participate in follow-up semi-structured interviews. Two ANOVA measures were used to investigate the possible influences of gender and prior virtual interview experience on the applicants' perceptions. Thematic analysis was also adopted to explore the participants' attitudes and perceptions toward virtual interviews (VI). Quantitative findings showed that Iranian Ph.D. applicants perceived VI as a flexible and helpful procedure that provided them with satisfactory interpersonal treatment. Still, they did not favor the procedure's perceived behavioral control and ability to communicate information to perform procedural justice. Moreover, neither their gender nor their prior experience of the virtual interview was a predictor of their perspectives' discrepancies. The thematic analysis of the qualitative data revealed that despite having some cognitive, personal, and financial benefits, VI posed some technical, communicative, and personal challenges. This study provides implications for universities and applicants who will use VI for different purposes in higher education.

Relationship Between Parental Stress and their Attitudes Towards Cochlear Implantation Outcomes in Children Referred to Besat Cochlear Implant Center in Hamadan 2018.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between parental stress and their attitudes towards post-cochlear implantation outcomes in children referred to Besat cochlear implant center in Hamadan during 2018. DESIGN AND METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 100 parents of children with cochlear implantation were selected from Besat cochlear implant center in Hamadan through census method from April to October 2018. The data were collected using a demographic characteristic questionnaire, parental stress scale developed by Berry and Jones, and Parental Attitudes of Various Aspects of Cochlear Implantation. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) through correlation coefficient, one-way ANOVA, and t-test. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The results of this study indicated that parental stress negatively correlated with their attitudes towards the outcomes of cochlear implantation (r = -0.420), including the aspects of communication (r = -0.462), educational (r = -0.398), and social skills (r = -0.445), as well as services provided by the health care centers (r = -0.277), and the efficiencies of cochlear implantation center (r = -0.118) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: According to the results, parents with more positive attitudes towards the areas of communication, educational, and social skills, as well as services provided by the health care centers, and the efficiencies of cochlear implantation center experienced lower levels of stress. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Nurses can measure the stress and attitudes towards cochlear implantation outcomes in children to accurately assess the needs of the family in order to improve their nursing process and advance the child's rehabilitation program.