SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item Restricted Exploring Online Learning and the Digital Divide: Perceptions and Challenges Among Students at Saudi Universities Post-Covid-19(The university of Sheffield, 2024) Altuwaijri, Njoud; Wagg, SharonBackground: The digital divide limits opportunities for individuals with limited internet access and digital literacy. The COVID-19 pandemic's increased reliance on digital technologies meant that the pre-existing disparities in digital access and utilisation were exacerbated, especially for disadvantaged populations. Aims: This study aimed to establish the nature, extent, and impact of the digital divide on e- learning experiences among Saudi university students based on students’ perspectives. Methods: Through a mixed study approach, utilising a questionnaire with both open-ended and closed-ended questions data was collected via WhatsApp. Results: Findings reveal that, although most university students have access to digital devices, the quality of these devices varied, and the quality of access varied. Additionally, most students had a high digital literacy rate. However, despite the convenience of online learning, the respondents revealed that online learning was not as effective. Conclusion: To improve learning effectiveness, digital equality needs to focus not only on technology access but also on the quality of access. Overall, this study echoes concerns about the effectiveness of online education due to rapid digitisation during the pandemic, as successful online education depends on access, quality of access, and digital literacy.11 0Item Restricted The Public's Perceptions of Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates in Saudi Arabia: trust, responsibility and the state Protection.(king's Collage London, 2024-08-29) Baamour, Shikah; Rothstein, HenryThe imposition of COVID-19 vaccination mandates is commonly advocated as a measure to enhance vaccination coverage. However, the effectiveness of such mandates is contingent not only upon navigating potential legal, ethical, and psychological obstacles but also on the degree of public support and acceptance. This study employs a naturalist approach within the social sciences, utilizing self-administered online surveys as the primary data collection method. It examines public perceptions of COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Saudi Arabia, with a particular emphasis on how variables such as trust in government, cultural attitudes towards collective responsibility, and the perceived protective role of the state shape public attitudes towards these mandates. Data was collected from 22 July 2024 to 4 August 2024 through Outlook Forums survey platform utilizing nonprobability convince sampling to assess the sample level of agreement to statements related to attitudes toward vaccine mandate, trust, the state protective role, autonomy, and collective reasonability. The study results highlight that, in collectivist societies like Saudi Arabia, many view vaccination as a social obligation, aligning with Islamic teachings that prioritize communal welfare over individual autonomy. Additionally, trust in the government plays a crucial role in public acceptance of vaccine mandates, with higher levels of trust correlating with greater acceptance. This correlation is stronger than the influence of the perception of the state's protective role in supporting vaccine mandates.12 0Item Restricted Impact of the COVID-19 on the digital health transformation in Saudi Arabia(University of Strathclyde, 2024-08-13) Shafi, Lina; Smith, MarisaSaudi Arabia has implemented on an ambitious transformation of its healthcare system under Vision 2030 national development goals. This research investigated how the unexpected COVID-19 health crisis impacted and accelerated the adoption of digital health tools across Saudi healthcare facilities. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was adopted to assess this emerging phenomenon. Secondary quantitative datasets from Saudi government reports provided objective adoption metrics indicating technology uptake before, during and after the pandemic, secondary qualitative analysis of academic literature and news articles offered contextual insights into user experiences, outcomes, and strategic responses. After collecting the data, findings revealed that while Saudi Arabia had made early investments in isolated digital health projects prior to 2016, efforts varied, and adoption rates were gradual. The Vision 2030 agenda recognised healthcare's centrality and made its digitisation a national priority. However, the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak became an unexpected inflection point that urgently catalysed innovation. New mobile health applications were rapidly developed and deployed for infection monitoring, sustaining virtual care access during lockdowns, and managing mass vaccination campaigns. Official statistics indicated over 20 million Saudi citizens registered on platforms like “Sehhaty” and “Tawakkalna” during the crisis. However, findings also highlighted persisting fragmentation between applications, interoperability issues impeding data exchange, physician readiness gaps limiting advanced analytics adoption, and ethical risks from swift digitisation without corresponding cybersecurity and privacy safeguards. As it enters post-pandemic recovery, progress is focusing on addressing these challenges by recommending unified governance frameworks, workforce upskilling programmes and localised regulations adapted from global best practices. In conclusion, COVID-19 accelerated Saudi Arabia's digital health transformation while revealing adoption challenges requiring concerted action. This research offers data-driven assessments of achievements, user outcomes, persisting limitations and forward-looking recommendations to inform ongoing strategic efforts to establish itself as a leading model of patient-centric, technology-enabled healthcare by 2030 in fulfilment of Vision 2030 goals.22 0Item Restricted The Impact of COVID-19 Cases on S&P 500 Firms' Response to Quarterly Earnings Announcements(Cardiff University, 2024-01-24) Altamimi, Abdulrahman Abdullah; Wang, QThis study examines the relationship between macro-level COVID-19 news and the stock market's processing of firm-level earnings announcements among S&P 500 companies. Contrary to the prevailing theories positing that macro-news diverts attention from firm-specific developments, our findings suggest a contradictory enhancement of market sensitivity to earnings information during the pandemic. We observe that the market's immediate reaction to earnings surprises, as measured by cumulative abnormal returns (CAR) 0,1, does not significantly deviate across sectors in the presence of COVID-19 news. However, in the health sector, the sensitivity to earnings news is 3.06 times higher, implying an increased investor focus on firm-specific information. Moreover, the long-term CAR (2,61) investigation indicates a 71% amplification of the market's response to earnings surprises during the pandemic, demonstrating a nuanced dynamic where macro-news events, rather than obscuring, may indeed sharpen the market's attention to corporate announcements. These counterintuitive results, suggesting a 17% stronger sensitivity on days with macro-news announcements, suggest a complementary rather than substitutive relationship between macro-news and micro-level information processing. Our findings contribute to the literature on market efficiency and investor behaviour by challenging the conventional understanding of information assimilation in times of macroeconomic stress.30 0Item Restricted The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Dental Health Practices and Oral Health Outcomes in Children: A Scoping Review(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-09-15) Alsadoon, Mashael; Lodder, Annemarie; Heilmann, AnjaBackground: Oral health is a critical aspect of overall well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected children's oral health through dental clinic closures, disrupted school-based oral health programs, increased sugary snack consumption, and changes in oral hygiene behaviours Aim: The aim of this study was to undertake a scoping review of the literature on the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental health practices and oral Health outcomes in children. Methods: A literature search was carried out using three online databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to select studies published between 2020 and 2023. The initial search included 516 results, which were subsequently screened based on their titles and abstracts. After screening process, 16 studies were considered for the final review. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted access to dental care for children, especially in lower income countries and among those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Health behaviours, such as brushing frequency and dietary habits, varied during the pandemic, with some children improving their oral care and food choices while others experienced declines. Dental caries prevalence increased, affecting children's quality of life, particularly when parents were distressed. Conclusion: The pandemic had adverse effects on the availability of dental clinics and has exacerbated inequality. It has also impacted children's Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQOL) and behaviour, leading to reduced brushing and increased sugar consumption. Parental involvement and education play a crucial role in addressing these issues.24 0Item Restricted NHS Communication Strategies through Twitter ( X ) during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the UK(Swansea University, 2023-11-28) Alrashid, Saad; Wu, YanThis study evaluates Twitter engagement and crisis communication strategies, particularly emphasising the National Health Service (NHS) and the Covid-19 epidemic. The study intends to shed light on the NHSUK Twitter account as a crucial medium for spreading lockdown and government announcements during Covid-19. The research opens by noting the exceptional difficulties that public health organisations globally had during the epidemic and the critical role that NHSUK played in informing the public. It examines how the account handled different pandemic phases, including preventive measures, lockdowns, and reopening efforts. The study prepares the ground for analysing user replies and sentiments on Twitter by providing a theoretical framework encompassing crisis communication theories, theoretical approaches to social media analysis, and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) model. It digs into the methodology, which includes data processing, sentiment analysis, and Twitter data acquisition. Key findings highlight the wide range of user responses, from thanks for timely information to discussions on governmental decisions and the lack of two-way communication. The research strongly emphasises the value of clear and prompt communication during crises, the necessity of combating false information and the difficulties of balancing optimism and caution while engaging the public. The research report highlights the importance of this study in boosting crisis communication strategy, raising public confidence in sources of health information, and teaching essential lessons for handling future health emergencies. It fills a vacuum in the literature addressing the precise effect of crisis communication on Twitter during medical emergencies, providing advice for practitioners and academics.82 0Item Restricted Examining the impact of COVID-19 on Business Continuity in Saudi Arabia’s Telecommunication Sector(Saudi Digital Library, 2022-12-01) Alem, Faris; Pescaroli, GianlucaThe COVID-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions to multiple sectors, resulting in businesses shutting down, job losses, and profit loss. In the telecommunication sector, the impact was slightly different because while other industries experienced a decrease in demand, the telecom sector experienced a surge which caused other challenges, compelling telecom-sector related companies to address the disruption and its concurrencies. Despite telecommunication being part of critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, there are few studies investigating the impact of the pandemic and strategies for business continuity. This study examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the telecommunication sector in Saudi Arabia, and the business continuity strategies used to manage it. To obtain a comprehensive view, level of disruption caused and processes affected were identified. Data was collected through survey questionnaires sent to telecom-related Saudi companies; twenty-four respondents from different companies at varying employment levels participated in the study. Data was analysed using a mixed approach combining quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Findings show that Saudi telecom industry was affected in its operations by interruptions in supply chain and surge in demand of services. Interactive operations such as HR management and customer services were affected by social distancing. This research found that organisations that successfully coped with the pandemic had well-formulated business continuity plans (70%) that were updated to stay relevant (75%) and well-integrated into organisational culture (67%). Major themes related to strategies used by organisations that successfully coped with the pandemic include leveraging digital technology, effective leadership, agility, and collaboration with government agencies. The study recommends recognising and developing strategies for the new reality created by the pandemic.18 0