RESUMO
Objective: Alarmingly, the individuals' reach and coverage to get vaccinated in developing regions during the pandemic is a massive challenge for concerned authorities. This study aimed to demonstrate how cyberchondria play a significant role in a classical health belief model. Cyberchondria may influence cognitive factors (e.g. self-efficacy), which may contribute to an increase in attitude-behavior gap. Especially in the context of a health-centric scenario, it may discourage individuals to take protective measures. Method: By using the cross-sectional research design, the authors conducted a quantitative survey in Pakistan and collected 563 responses from 303 male respondents (rural = 91; urban = 212) with (Urban M:35.5, standard deviation (SD):13.4) and rural M:37.5, SD:8.4). Result: The findings indicate that decision self-efficacy among males is stronger than that in females. It dominates other determinants, which can dampen the individuals' intentions to get vaccinated. For instance, the effect of conspiracies and perceived seriousness was noted nonsignificant and weak. In females, perceived seriousness was stronger determinant than in males. In addition, the negative effect of decision self-efficacy was noted in the case of females, and conspiracy and cyberchondria had a negative role. Conclusion: This study highlights valuable implications for future research in infodemic, health communication and health literacy, and practical implications for regulatory bodies and public administration.
RESUMO
Vaccination is a vital component in the battle against outbreaks of infectious diseases. Recognizing parents' reluctance to vaccinate their children is even more critical now, given the ongoing threat of a COVID-19 pandemic. Conspiracy theories, vaccination safety concerns, parental efficacy and risk perception, and a lack of confidence in science all influence intention. To investigate how these variables interact with vaccination behavior against COVID-19, we developed a model with psychosocial factors serving as the predictor and mistrust in science and vaccine knowledge serving as the mediator. In order to validate the model, the parents' intentions regarding their children's vaccination with COVID-19 were used. The study included 454 Pakistani parents who completed an online questionnaire assessing their intention to vaccinate their children. We analyzed the data using structural equation modeling (SEM). A significant level of vaccine hesitation is due to belief in vaccine conspiracy theories, and vaccine safety concerns were investigated. A surprising correlation exists between risk perception and vaccination intentions, followed by parental self-efficacy. It is significant to note that vaccine knowledge mediated conspiracy beliefs, risk perceptions, and intentions fully but partially mediated parental self-efficacy. Conspiracy theories were mediated by a mistrust in science, while perceptions of risk and vaccine safety were partially mediated. The findings of this research were used to develop sensible policy reforms and public health campaigns to encourage vaccination against both common infections such as measles, human papillomaviruses, or pertussis, and novel diseases such as COVID-19.
RESUMO
Introduction: The mobile digital culture (MDC) supports individual lives, communities, and real-time organizational surveillance during COVID-19 emergencies. Hence, the study examined the advancement in smart health devices evidence in smartphone apps technologies in surveillance, control, and tracking potential virus areas among high-risk populations. Objective: The study explored how environmental condition and MDC mediates between knowledge of App and mobile usability in the prevention of COVID-19 infection in high-risk areas. Methods: Using the concept of UTAUT, the study conceptualized that mobile usability, MDC, knowledge of App and environmental condition, are essential for COVID-19 mitigation. A cross-sectional method was adopted through an online survey to assess data from n = 459 mobile users. The association of the study models was appraised through structural equation models (Amos v.24.0). Result: We found mobile usability, knowledge of App, and MDC were statistically significant to COVID-19 mitigation. Environment condition as mediator had no effect in the study models. However, moderating effect of MDC shows a negative influence on the association between COVID-19 mitigation and knowledge of apps. Conclusion: Future policies should consider the development of mHealth technology to improve end-user experience. Also, future policies should entail data privacy to reduce the infringement of data collected. This approach will lead to a confidential, high acceptance of usability of mHealth apps infectious disease prevention.
RESUMO
Purpose: Drawing on the growing emphasis in the literature on the importance of creativity in the workplace, the present study examines the effect of personal and organizational level factors that influences employee creativity. Precisely, we examine how grit, work engagement, person-organization fit, and feedback influence creativity in the workplace. Design/methodology/approach: We sampled data from 422 research assistants who are professional workers at top-notch Universities in China. They were recruited to participate in the survey through an online medium known as WeChat. We empirically tested the effect of grit, work engagement, person-organization fit, and feedback on employee creativity. These hypotheses were supported by confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, and path analysis. Findings: The results show that work engagement strengthens the relationship between grit and creativity. In addition, the results proved that person-organization fit positively moderates the link between grit and work engagement. Feedback also had a positive mediating effect on the link between work engagement and creativity. Practical implications: Based on the appropriateness of an individual work environment, a gritty person will likely become engaged and creative with task execution. Consequently, a person's organizational fit will strongly interact with grit, work engagement, and creativity. Originality/value: We shed light on the blended value of personal and organizational-level factors that positively affect creativity in the workplace. Specifically, grit being both a personal and organizational factor influences employee creativity via work engagement. This research explored the effect of work engagement as a mechanism that serves as a motivational feature enhancing creativity. We also simultaneously identify the moderation conditions of person-organization fit and feedback. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in detail. The study makes a theoretical contribution through its assessment of the impact of grit on employee creativity. The trait activation theory portrays how grit can be expressed through feedback and person-organization fit. In terms of practice, grit can be an important consideration in hiring decisions, and feedback should be given to make the workplace more creative.
