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1 – 3 of 3Chih-An Lin, Yu-Ming Hsu and Homin Chen
During COVID-19 restrictions, people spent more time in cyberspace and consuming health-related information. An increase was also observed in mediated caring messages or…
Abstract
Purpose
During COVID-19 restrictions, people spent more time in cyberspace and consuming health-related information. An increase was also observed in mediated caring messages or health-relevant information sent to one another. This study aims to explore how the information and interactions around COVID-19 can provide a good learning opportunity for public health, specifically related to eHealth literacy and eHealth promotion.
Design/methodology/approach
While mainstream literature has concentrated on experimental designs and a priming effect, this study inspects psychological distance related to a health threat under real-life circumstances. The article adopted a survey approach and utilized PLS-SEM techniques to examine the proposed hypotheses.
Findings
Results indicated that whereas closer social support correlates with closer psychological distance and less usage of the social media approach, more substantial COVID-19 impacts were associated with closer psychological distance but greater use of social media. Since both closer psychological distance and social media approach contribute to eHealth literacy, social support from closer and virtual social networks should be embraced but utilized through different routes and for different purposes. The timing of messages but not psychological distance affects people's social media approach, indicating that morning messages should be employed. Moreover, eHealth literacy mediates timing preferences and leads to a preference for eHealth communication earlier in the day. Overall, morning messages create a virtuous circle during a health crisis.
Originality/value
This paper establishes a mechanism of virtuous cycles for eHealth communication during a health threat. Additionally, it bridges existing research gaps by expanding chronopsychology and CLT in the health domain using an empirical approach, a real-life case and an extension of performance regarding information-seeking and utilization.
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Balraj Verma and Urvashi Tandon
The purpose of this study is to examine diverse risks and barriers that influence customers' attitude leading to their actual use of wearable devices in India. This study used…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine diverse risks and barriers that influence customers' attitude leading to their actual use of wearable devices in India. This study used technological literacy as a moderating variable to understand the relationship between barriers and attitudes toward adoption of wearable device.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey questionnaire was developed through focused group discussions with field experts. Data were collected through online as well as offline modes. A Google form was created and its weblink was shared with the respondents using wearable devices. Both online as well as offline modes were used for data collection. Several reminders through telephone and revisits were undertaken to approach the respondents.
Findings
The results of this study indicated that psychological risk and financial risk emerged strongest barriers of wearable technologies. This was followed by infrastructure barriers and performance risk. The strength of the relationship between technological anxiety and attitudes was lower but still significant. Surprisingly, privacy risk and social risk were not statistically significant. This study also validated the impact of technological literacy as a moderator between risks and attitudes.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the research by validating numerous risks and barriers in the adoption of wearable devices. This study not only offers a novel perspective on researching diverse barriers but also elucidates the moderating role of technological literacy which has not been covered in extant literature.
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Blended learning (BL) is becoming more popular as a method of welcoming a progressively diverse range of students while adding value to the learning environment through the…
Abstract
Purpose
Blended learning (BL) is becoming more popular as a method of welcoming a progressively diverse range of students while adding value to the learning environment through the integration of online teaching resources. However, BL's approach of combining online instruction with conventional classroom strategies has received attention and expressed reservations over the years. While several research works have been conducted and draw attention to the global challenges of the BL mode of delivering instruction in BL's entirety, there is still no full idea of the challenges and prospects that exist regarding teacher educators' usage of the approach in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the context of developing countries. As a result, this study investigates the prospects and challenges of BL implementation in HEIs from the perspective of educators.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing from the technology acceptance model (TAM), qualitative research methods and semi-structured interviews were used to gather insights from 10 educators. The data were analyzed using a thematic data analysis technique to arrive at the outcome of the study.
Findings
The findings reveal that educators deeply comprehend the BL approach and perceive the approach's effectiveness in delivering instruction and student learning. Conversely, educators' challenges are inadequate technology resources, poor internet connections, inadequate professional development training and a dearth of incentives. The study has implications for theory, research, policy enactment and practice regarding the improvement of the BL agenda in HEIs.
Originality/value
The explanatory framework presented here is the qualitative approach to the study of themes regarding the perceptions, prospects and challenges educators experience in their use of the BL approach in teaching and learning in the HEIs.
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