• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.38-52
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• 2022

Since older people are traditionally considered disadvantaged when it comes to Internet use, it is useful to examine whether older individuals use the Internet for health information seeking (HIS). This study aims to investigate digital inequalities in terms of Internet use by older population for HIS in the European region. As methods, we applied secondary data analysis (of Eurostat data) to investigate the influence of age, educational level, sex, and countries' wealth. Cluster analysis combined with multidimensional scaling was used to find out those countries exhibiting similarities in older people's online HIS. The main results are: Older individuals do not equally use the Internet in general and for HIS in particular. Older Internet users with higher level of education and of the female sex are more likely to use the Internet for health information.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.193-208
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• 2022

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is the key to getting out of the pandemic. However, acceptance of the vaccine has been affected by false information and rumors, which have kept people from getting the shot since it was rolled out. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to investigate the various misconceptions surfaced about the COVID-19 vaccines in Africa. We performed an online survey using an anonymous questionnaire to reach out to African respondents by social media and all possible online platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and so forth. The web-based questionnaires about the myths surrounding the vaccines were extracted from nonscientific information, unproven statements, social media posts, news reports, and people's concerns about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines. Participants indicated their level of agreement with each statement. Results: A total of 2,500 people responded to the online survey in Africa. The two common myths that respondents agreed with were that "since vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed, we can make vaccines for the common cold, human immunodeficiency viruses, and other diseases" (n=892, 35.7%) and that "researchers rushed the development of the COVID-19 vaccines; therefore, it is not very effective, safe and cannot be trusted" (n=595, 23.8%). The range of respondents who neither agreed nor disagreed with these myths was 12.4%-33.0%. The majority (1,931, 77.2%) indicated disagreement with the statement "after getting the COVID-19 vaccine, one can stop wearing a mask as well as taking safety precautions." Conclusion: Myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines have impact on acceptance. Exploring them helps public health authorities in Africa dispel them and provide accurate information to promote vaccination campaigns, education, and acceptance.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.432-452
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• 2020

This study explored the representation of risks from the controversial Lynas rare earth refining as a risk event by five Malaysian online mainstream and alternative newspapers using qualitative content analysis. The aim is to uncover the role of the news media in the social amplification and attenuation of risks within the literature evidence as those roles are still uncertain. Content analysis is used to explore the online newspapers' roles guided by the Social Amplification of Risk Framework (SARF). The representations typified environmental, financial, health, occupational, property, radioactive, and technological risks and established connections between four risk types (environmental, financial, radioactive, and health risks). Radioactive risk was repeatedly associated with other risks, suggesting that the volume and information flow focused on radioactive risk as a key ingredient for amplification. This connection shows that the nature of the relationship between risks is multidimensional, contradicting the unidirectional type found in previous studies. Alternative online newspapers amplified and attenuated more risks, thus, providing more diverse coverage than mainstream sources. Consequently, this study provides evidence that risk representation from rare earth refining in a digital news environment is multidimensional and intensified or weakened in a multi-layered pattern. The stakeholders are engaged in a contestation by positioning their narratives to oppose or support their interests, which are amplified or attenuated by the online newspapers as social amplification stations.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.697-704
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• 2007

Purpose: The objective of the study is to identify plastic surgeons' views on the effects of online communication between doctors and patients.Methods: Cross-sectional online survey of members of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons was made to identify their evaluation on the accuracy and the relevance of the internet health information and their perceptions of the effects of discussing the information with the patients on time-efficiency, requests for specific interventions, health outcomes, and the doctor-patient relationship. A questionnaire with 25 items was sent to the surgeons' e-mails, and 111 replied. SPSS Win version 12.0 was used to analyze the statistical differences and meanings among data.Results: The percentage of the plastic surgeons who were experiencing the online communication was 65.8%, and the most frequent medium used was homepage of the clinic/hospital. Even though the percentage of the plastic surgeons who were using the online communication for their everyday practice was high, the percentage of patients who visited the clinic/hospital after using the website of the clinic/hospital was relatively low. The effects of online communication on doctor-patient relationship were neutral in 40(36.0%) and positive in 39(35.1%). The effects on the efficiency of the practice was positive in 45(40.5%), and the effects on the quality of care and the patients' outcome were positive in 46(41.4%) respectively.Conclusion: The ratio of surgeons who are experiencing the online communication is relatively high, whereas the ratio of patients who are using online communication is low. Most of plastic surgeons are positive on the effects of the online communication on doctor-patient relationship, quality of care, and patients' outcome.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.3960-3975
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• 2022

To analyze and compare the most influencing factors on cloud computing adoption (CCA) in the healthcare organization, a systematic review and meta-analyses of studies was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Cochrane collaboration recommendations. A search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, Wiley Online, and Taylor & Francis Online digital libraries (From inception to January 19, 2022) was performed. A total of 17 studies met the defined studies' inclusion and exclusion criteria. Statistical significance difference favoring most influencing factors on CCA were (MD 0.76, 95% CI -1.48 - 3.01, p <0.00001, I² = 90%), (MD 1.40, 95% CI -4.76 - 7.55, p < 0.00007, I² = 97%) (MD 0.17, 95% CI -2.69 - 3.03, p<0.00001, I² = 96%) for technology vs. organizational, technology vs. environmental and business vs. human factors, respectively. Organizational and environmental factors had greater impacts on CCA compared with technological factors. Moreover, business factors were more influential than the human factors.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.405-415
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• 2020

Purpose: This study was undertaken to identify the mediating effect of family strengths in the relationship between e-learning readiness and learning management system-based online education learning outcomes. Our results provide basic data for proposing strategies to increase online education learning outcomes of nursing students. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was surveyed by 133 nursing students who took online education using a learning management system at three nursing colleges in Daejeon, Jeonbuk, and Gyeongbuk. The mediating effect of family strengths in the relationship between the e-learning readiness of the subject and online education learning outcomes, were analyzed by hierarchical multiple regression. Sobel test was performed to verify effectiveness of the pathway. Results: In the relationship between e-learning readiness and online education learning outcomes of nursing students, family strengths were determined to exert absolute mediating effect. Conclusions: Our results indicate that in order to improve e-learning readiness, the basic curriculum for nursing students should include web-based communication, cooperation, and the use of information technology, including interaction for online education. Improvements in family strengths can be achieved through home study activities, such as frequent conversations with members, monitoring achievements of the students, and sharing family leisure activities.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.55-60
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• 2015

This paper introduces a program structure that minimizes the client's business logic by reducing the client's specifications as a way of minimizing the limitations of online game platforms. The objective of this thesis is to design an online game that is based on a 3-tier client/server structure, and thus using this 3-tier structure to ultimately create an online Sutda game that anyone can enjoy. The progression of newly released games is highly based on the mobile market and the number of online games being launched is decreasing. As the mobile game market grows, more and more multi-platform games are being developed and target platforms within online games are greatly diversifying. Through these situations, this thesis minimizes the client's business logic through a 3-tier structure of application-middleware-database, and also proposes an online game client/server that allows three or more users to participate simultaneously through the server.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.291-296
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• 2007

Objectives : To explore the information sources and knowledge on infant vaccinations of pro-vaccination community members and anti-vaccination community members on the internet. Methods : An online survey of 245 parents from three pro-vaccination communities and 92 parents from one anti-vaccination community was conducted from June 7 to June 23, 2006. Results : Parents from pro-vaccination communities usually gained the information regarding vaccination efficacy and risk mainly from healthcare providers (49.8%) and mass media (47.7%). Pro-vaccination community members considered healthcare providers as the most credible sources of information on vaccination, whereas the anti-vaccination community members usually gained their information regarding vaccine efficiency and risk from Internet child-care cafes and online vaccination communities. Parents of the anti-vaccination community considered the internet as the most credible information source (77.6% for efficacy, 94.8% for risk). In addition, the major reason why anti-vaccination community members didn't vaccinate and, will not vaccinate, was concern about possible side effects of the vaccine. The knowledge level on infant vaccination, education and economic status was higher in the anti-vaccination community. Conclusions : On-line communities concerned with vaccination are getting popular. The influence of anti-vaccination parents on the Internet is expected to be high. The government and healthcare providers need to increase their efforts to improve the credibility of information about vaccination. Our findings suggest that online communication regarding vaccinations needs to be considered as a means to increase vaccination rates.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1099-1111
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• 2011

This study identified the types of consumer review information about apparel products based on consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction with the availability/non-availability of consumer review information for online stores. Data were collected from 318 females aged 20s' to 30s', who had significant experience in reading consumer reviews posted on online stores. Consumer satisfaction/dissatisfaction with availability or non-availability of review information on online stores is different for information in regards to apparel product attributes, product benefits, and store attributes. According to the concept of quality elements suggested by the Kano model, two types of consumer review information were determined: Must-have information (product attribute information about size, fabric, color and design of the apparel product; benefit information about washing & care and comport of the apparel product; store attribute information about responsiveness, disclosure, delivery and after service of the store) and attracting information (attribute information about price comparison; benefit information about coordination with other items, fashionability, price discounts, value for price, reaction from others, emotion experienced during transaction, symbolic features for status, health functionality, and eco-friendly feature; store attribute information about return/refund, damage compensation and reputation/credibility of online store and interactive and dynamic nature of reviews among customers). There were significant differences between the high and low involvement groups in their perceptions of consumer review information.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.389-409
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting female college students' behaviors in seeking reproductive health information on the Internet and to explore the relationships among these factors. Based on the Health Belief Model(HBM) and the Theory of Planned Behavior(TPB), perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefit, perceived barriers, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and affective evaluation were defined as key factors, and the study was designed accordingly. An online survey was distributed to female college students in Seoul through the university student's online community, 'Everytime.' The results showed that the intention of female college students to seek reproductive health information via the Internet was associated with higher perceived sensitivity, perceived benefit, and subjective norms, and lower perceived barriers. There were statistically significant differences between groups in terms of sexual experiences, experience with reproductive system disorders, and the level of health interest. We believe that this research outcome will contribute to assessing the level of awareness regarding reproductive health among female college students, thereby aiding in the development of online health information literacy education or related service programs by university libraries, health institutions, and similar entities targeting female college students.