Search Results (2,071)

Background/Objectives: The transformation of nursing and midwifery education through digital technologies has gained momentum worldwide, with algorithm-based video instruction and virtual reality (VR) emerging as promising tools for improving clinical learning. This quasi-experimental study explores the impact of an enhanced flipped classroom model on Bulgarian nursing and midwifery students’ self-perceived competence. Methods: A total of 228 participants were divided into a control group receiving traditional instruction (lectures and simulations with manikins) and an experimental group engaged in a digitally enhanced preparatory phase. The latter included pre-class video algorithms, VR, and clinical problem-solving tasks for learning and improving nursing skills. A 25-item self-report questionnaire was administered before and after the intervention to measure perceived competence in injection techniques, hygiene care, midwifery skills, and digital readiness. Results: Statistical analysis using Welch’s t-test revealed significant improvements in the experimental group in all domains (p < 0.001). Qualitative data from focus group interviews further confirmed increased student engagement, motivation, and receptiveness to digital learning tools. Conclusions: The findings highlight the pedagogical value of integrating structured video learning, VR components, and case-based learning within flipped classrooms. The study advocates for the wider adoption of blended learning models to foster clinical confidence and digital competence in healthcare education. The results of the study may be useful for curriculum developers aiming to improve clinical readiness through technology-enhanced learning. Full article

The sustainable development of teaching expertise in research-intensive universities remains a critical global challenge. This study investigates the distinctive characteristics of expert teachers—exemplary faculty in research universities—addressing their developmental trajectories and motivational mechanisms within prevailing incentive systems that prioritize research productivity over pedagogical excellence. Employing grounded theory methodology, we conducted iterative coding of 20,000-word interview transcripts from 13 teaching-awarded professors at Chinese “Double First-Class” universities. Key findings reveal the following: (1) Compared to the original K-12 expert teacher model, university-level teaching experts exhibit distinctive disciplinary mastery—characterized by systematic knowledge structuring and cross-disciplinary integration capabilities. (2) Their developmental trajectory transcends linear expertise acquisition, instead manifesting as a problem-solving continuum across four nonlinear phases: career initiation, dilemma adaptation, theoretical consciousness, and leadership expansion. (3) Sustainable teaching excellence relies fundamentally on teachers’ professional passion, sustained through a virtuous cycle of high-quality instructional engagement and external validation (including positive student feedback, institutional recognition, and peer collaboration). Universities must establish comprehensive support systems—including (a) fostering a supportive and flexible learning atmosphere, (b) reforming evaluation mechanisms, and (c) facilitating interdisciplinary collaboration through teaching development communities—to institutionalize this developmental ecosystem. Full article

This study investigates the effectiveness of contact and online biology teaching by assessing student performance and gathering perceptions from students, teachers, and parents. Conducted in autumn 2021 with 3035 students, 124 biology teachers, and 719 parents, this study combined post-instruction assessments of student performance in knowledge reproduction and conceptual understanding with questionnaires examining perceptions of contact and online biology teaching effectiveness across students, teachers, and parents. To investigate how various teaching-related factors influence perceived understanding of biological content, we applied a CHAID-based decision tree model to questionnaire responses from students, teachers, and parents. Results indicated that students value engaging, flexible instruction, sufficient time to complete tasks and support for independent thinking. Teachers emphasized their satisfaction with teaching and efforts to support student understanding. In contact lessons, students preferred problem-solving, teacher guidance, and a stimulating environment. In online learning, they preferred low-stress, interesting lessons with room for independent work. Parents emphasized satisfaction with their child’s learning and the importance of a focused, stimulating environment. This comparative analysis highlights the need for student-centered, research-based biology teaching in both formats, supported by teachers and delivered in a motivating environment. The results offer practical insights for improving biology instruction in different teaching modalities. Full article

The recent surge in the popularity of brachycephalic dog breeds has raised concerns about their predisposition to serious health issues linked to breed-specific morphological traits. This study examined the demographic characteristics, motivations, and awareness of owners regarding welfare issues in four brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Pugs, Boston Terriers). Methods: A total of 497 owners of brachycephalic dogs examined over six years at an Italian university veterinary hospital were considered; a subset of 75 owners completed a structured questionnaire. Based on responses to a key multiple-choice question about the main reason for breed choice, owners were classified into three groups: trend-driven (aesthetics/fashion), value-oriented (intelligence/behavior), and indeterminate. Results: Gender distribution did not differ significantly compared to the overall population, but brachycephalic owners were significantly younger (p < 0.001). Value-oriented owners were significantly more likely (p < 0.01) to consult a veterinarian before acquisition and showed better understanding of typical respiratory issues, which did not affect their purchasing decision. Trend-driven owners were more influenced by public figures (p < 0.05) and less engaged in preventive care. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need for pre-acquisition veterinary counseling. Veterinarians can also assist breeders by promoting awareness of the ethical risks of selecting extreme traits in dogs. Full article

This study examines how teacher–student relationships and school engagement change across online and in-school learning, based on the experiences of 105 cross-regional secondary vocational students in China. Using questionnaire surveys, the study explores students’ perceptions and learning needs in both settings. The findings confirm that teachers play a consistently positive role in promoting student engagement across both online and in-school learning modalities. While affective engagement was higher during online learning, driven by stronger teacher responsiveness and improved student–teacher relationships, students reported increased pride in their schools after returning home, reflecting a renewed appreciation. In-school learning was associated with higher behavioral engagement and greater motivation, despite tensions over intensified academic tasks. Online learning facilitated cognitive engagement through easier vocabulary searches; nevertheless, poor home environments reduced motivation. Enhancing engagement may require offering students autonomy, valuing their input, and clarifying the relevance of the learning content. Full article

As ad-supported subscription models proliferate across over-the-top (OTT) media platforms, understanding the psychological mechanisms and perceptual factors that underlie consumers’ transition decisions becomes increasingly consequential. This study integrates the Uses and Gratifications framework with a contemporary motivation-based perspective to examine how users’ media consumption motivations and advertising attitudes predict intentions to adopt ad-supported OTT plans. Data were collected via a nationally representative online survey in South Korea (N = 813). The sample included both premium subscribers (n = 708) and non-subscribers (n = 105). The findings reveal distinct segmentation in decision-making patterns. Among premium subscribers, switching intentions were predominantly driven by intrinsic motivations—particularly identity alignment with content—and by the perceived informational value of advertisements. These individuals are more likely to consider ad-supported plans when ad content is personally relevant and cognitively enriching. Conversely, non-subscribers exhibited greater sensitivity to extrinsic cues such as the entertainment value of ads and the presence of tangible incentives (e.g., discounts), suggesting a hedonic-reward orientation. By advancing a dual-pathway explanatory model, this study contributes to the theoretical discourse on digital subscription behavior and offers actionable insights for OTT service providers. The results underscore the necessity of segment-specific advertising strategies: premium subscribers may be engaged through informative and identity-consistent advertising, while non-subscribers respond more favorably to enjoyable and benefit-laden ad experiences. These insights inform platform monetization efforts amid the evolving dynamics of consumer attention and subscription fatigue. Full article

This study investigates how young Chinese consumers across generational lines engage with wine, addressing three key research questions: What motivates their wine purchases? What sensory preferences do they exhibit? And through which channels do they prefer to buy wine? Based on a qualitative design combining focus groups and semi-structured interviews, the study identifies significant generational differences between millennials and post-millennials. Millennials treat wine as a social tool for networking and status, while post-millennials view wine as a medium of personal identity shaped by digital culture. Similarly, millennials prefer a balance of traditional and digital retail, whereas post-millennials favour online platforms. Experiential consumption follows the same pattern, from formal tourism to virtual tastings. By linking these findings to institutional and cultural theories of consumer behaviour, the study contributes to a nuanced understanding of wine consumption in an emerging market. It provides practical implications for wine marketers aiming to localize their strategies for younger Chinese segments. Full article

In distance learning environments, learner engagement directly impacts attention, motivation, and academic performance. Signs of fatigue, negative affect, or critical remarks can warn of growing disengagement and potential dropout. However, most existing approaches rely on a single modality, visual or text-based, without providing a general view of learners’ cognitive and affective states. We propose a multimodal system that integrates three complementary analyzes: (1) a CNN-LSTM model augmented with warning signs such as PERCLOS and yawning frequency for fatigue detection, (2) facial emotion recognition by EmoNet and an LSTM to handle temporal dynamics, and (3) sentiment analysis of feedback by a fine-tuned BERT model. It was evaluated on three public benchmarks: DAiSEE for fatigue, AffectNet for emotion, and MOOC Review (Coursera) for sentiment analysis. The results show a precision of 88.5% for fatigue detection, 70% for emotion detection, and 91.5% for sentiment analysis. Aggregating these cues enables an accurate identification of disengagement periods and triggers individualized pedagogical interventions. These results, although based on independently sourced datasets, demonstrate the feasibility of an integrated approach to detecting disengagement and open the door to emotionally intelligent learning systems with potential for future work in real-time content personalization and adaptive learning assistance. Full article

Background and Objectives: Depression is a leading cause of disability globally, with treatment challenges including limited access, stigma, and poor adherence. Gamification, which applies game elements such as points, levels, and storytelling into non-game contexts, offers a promising strategy to enhance engagement and augment traditional treatments. Our research is the first study designed to explore the implementation of gamification within the Malaysian context. The objective was to explore the feasibility of implementation of gamification as an adjunctive treatment for adults with depression. Materials and Methods: Focus group discussions were held with five mental health professionals and ten patients diagnosed with moderate depression. The qualitative component assessed perceptions of gamified interventions, while quantitative measures evaluated participants’ depressive and anxiety symptomatology. Results: Three key themes were identified: (1) understanding of gamification as a treatment option, (2) factors influencing its acceptance, and (3) characteristics of a practical and feasible intervention. Clinicians saw potential in gamification to boost motivation, support psychoeducation, and encourage self-paced learning, but they expressed concerns about possible addiction, stigma, and the complexity of gameplay for some patients. Patients spoke of gaming as a source of comfort, escapism, and social connection. Acceptance was shaped by engaging storylines, intuitive design, balanced difficulty, therapist guidance, and clear safety measures. Both groups agreed that gamification should be used in conjunction with standard treatments, be culturally sensitive, and be presented as a meaningful therapeutic approach rather than merely as entertainment. Conclusions: Gamification emerges as an acceptable and feasible supplementary approach for managing depression in Malaysia. Its success depends on culturally sensitive design, robust clinical oversight, and seamless integration with existing care pathways. Future studies should investigate long-term outcomes and establish guidelines for the safe and effective implementation of this approach. We recommend targeted investment into culturally adapted gamified tools, including training, policy development, and collaboration with key stakeholders to realistically implement gamification as a mental health intervention in Malaysia. Full article

Sport volunteering plays an important role in achieving the goals of sustainable development by supporting the social dimension of sustainability, fostering social integration, and promoting a healthy lifestyle. However, there is a lack of systematic research in Poland on the motivations of sport volunteers, particularly in the context of mass endurance events. This study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional design involving 148 sport volunteers engaged in mass endurance events in Poznan, Poland. To measure motivation, the Polish adaptation of the VMS-ISE scale was used. Data analysis was conducted using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that volunteer motivations were relatively homogeneous regardless of gender and education level, with the exception of passion for sport, which was significantly stronger among men (p = 0.037). Significant differences were found based on place of residence: residents of medium-sized cities demonstrated the highest motivation for personal development (p < 0.001), whereas individuals from rural areas exhibited stronger patriotism, a greater need for interpersonal interaction, and a higher valuation of external rewards (p < 0.05). The motivations of sport volunteers in Poland are complex and sensitive to environmental factors. Understanding these differences allows for better alignment of recruitment and volunteer management strategies, which can enhance both the effectiveness and sustainability of volunteer engagement. It is recommended to develop volunteer programs that take into account the demographic and socio-cultural characteristics of participants. Full article

Background/Objectives: Physical activity is a cornerstone of diabetes mellitus (DM) management and is strongly recommended in the American Diabetes Association (ADA)’s guidelines. This study aims to investigate the self-reported physical activity levels of individuals with DM in Germany, as well as the barriers and facilitators they encounter. Methods: Individuals with type 1 DM (T1DM) and type 2 DM (T2DM) were asked to fill out an online questionnaire that was partly based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: The questionnaire was completed by 338 persons with either T1DM (57.1%) or T2DM (42.9%) (females: 56.2%, males: 42.0%, gender diverse persons: 1.8%) of all age groups (at least 18 years). In total, 80.5% of respondents were aware of the current physical activity recommendations. Among the respondents, 58% reported meeting the recommendations for endurance-type physical activity, while only 30.5% reported meeting those for strength training. The three most frequently cited barriers to physical activity were lack of time, lack of motivation and current state of health. Supporting factors included coverage of costs, availability of exercise programs in close proximity to the patient’s home and target group specific exercise programs. Conclusions: The results imply that many individuals with DM in Germany do not meet ADA’s physical activity recommendations, especially considering that self-reports often overestimate actual behavior. In particular, the actual number of individuals who regularly engage in strength training may be too low. There is a clear need to better communicate the benefits of different forms of physical training and to provide physical activity programs aligned with patients’ individual needs. Full article

Participation in organized sport is widely encouraged for youth development, yet positive outcomes are not guaranteed. Parents play a pivotal role in shaping young athletes’ experiences, requiring emotional support, interpersonal skills, and self-regulation. This study examines the meanings parents attribute to their children’s sports participation and how young athletes construct their experiences under parental and coaching influences. An interpretive phenomenological methodology involved semi-structured interviews with coaches, focus groups with parents, and open-ended questionnaires to young athletes. Seventeen players (M = 11.2 years, SD = 0.59), nineteen parents (M = 47.6 years, SD = 3.61), and two coaches from the same football club volunteered to participate in the study. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure a homogeneous experience. The findings reveal that parental involvement balances support and pressure, while trust-building between parents and coaches significantly impacts the athletes’ experiences. The evolving role of technology and the importance of social dynamics within teams also emerged as critical factors. Intrinsic motivation, fostering emotional bonding through the sport, and adopting a developmental rather than purely competitive framework were emphasized factors identified as supporting positive youth sport experiences. These findings offer insights into how interconnected relationships among parents, coaches, and athletes influence children’s sports engagement and development. Full article

To enhance the performance of online food delivery (OFD) services, it is essential to strengthen consumers’ intentions to use OFD apps, which are the core interface of this business. Accordingly, this study aims to identify the cognitive mechanisms that shape consumers’ intentions to use OFD apps and explore strategies to encourage their adoption. To achieve this, the study develops a research model that incorporates segmented dimensions of service convenience as key motivational factors, along with variables from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A survey was conducted among OFD consumers in China, and the proposed research model was empirically tested using data from 478 valid responses. The analysis revealed that all six dimensions of service convenience serve as significant motivational drivers of OFD app usage. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that consumers’ coupon proneness and user-generated online reviews have significant moderating effects that reinforce the mechanism by which consumers adopt and use OFD apps. The findings and implications discussed in this study are expected to provide valuable insights and practical guidance for formulating effective strategies to promote more active consumer engagement with OFD apps in the future. Full article

As sustainable cultural heritage tourism increasingly demonstrates its unique value and appeal, effectively stimulating tourists’ emotional experiences and value co-creation behaviors has become a focal issue. This study investigates how multiple tourist motivations (self-enhancement, escapism, and social interaction) shape value co-creation through emotional mediators—namely aesthetic, nostalgic, and flow experiences. Data were collected from 470 valid responses from visitors to the UNESCO-listed Suzhou Classical Gardens in China and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that these emotional experiences significantly drive value co-creation behavior: self-enhancement motivation enhances all three experiences, escapism mainly promotes nostalgic and flow experiences, and social interaction primarily affects aesthetic experience. These findings clarify the psychological mechanisms through which tourists’ motivations and emotional experiences influence value co-creation behavior in cultural heritage tourism. This research advances our understanding of the motivation–experience–behavior framework and emphasizes that enhancing emotional engagement is key to fostering sustainable cultural heritage tourism practices. The study provides practical implications for designing experiences and strategies that balance visitor satisfaction with the long-term vitality of cultural heritage sites and local communities, thereby contributing to broader sustainable development goals. Full article

E-waste, a form of solid waste, contains many recyclable metals, but improper disposal can make it very harmful. Therefore, the recycling of e-waste is very important, and the willingness of residents to participate is crucial in e-waste recycling. Taking Jiangsu Province, China as an example, we used the theory of reasoned action (TRA) to construct a research model to investigate the factors influencing residents’ willingness to participate in e-waste recycling. The paper introduces impression management motivation and further reveals the application of the Hawthorne effect in e-waste recycling. The paper also introduces the awareness of benefits, which encompasses personal economic benefits, physical health benefits, and environmental benefits, with physical health benefits being ignored by most of the previous literature. In addition, knowledge and convenience are also introduced in this paper. A total of 400 valid responses were used to test the hypotheses of the structural equation model. It was found that all factors positively influenced residents’ willingness to engage in e-waste recycling. Attitude has a mediating role in the effects of convenience, knowledge, and awareness of benefits on willingness, and subjective norms have a mediating role in the effects of impression management motivation on willingness. The model explains 82.9% of the variance in residents’ willingness to recycle e-waste, surpassing the original TRA model’s explanatory power and confirming the strength of the extended framework. The study provides valuable policy implications for the government to promote e-waste recycling. Full article