Reduction of MERS-CoV Transmission among Healthcare Workers and Patients in Saudi Arabian Healthcare Settings: A Scoping Review

Background No review consolidating available evidence of the various interventions for preventing MERS-CoV transmission in healthcare settings has been published to inform practice. The MERS-CoV outbreak in Saudi Arabia led to wide-scale hospitalisations and, among other individuals at risk, healthcare workers (HCW) were one of the most affected groups. This study evaluates the effectiveness of various interventions implemented to prevent MERS-CoV transmission to HCW and MERS-negative patients in Saudi Arabian healthcare settings. Methods This review summarises and evaluates the effectiveness of MERS-CoV infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in Saudi Arabian hospital settings. Instead of using ‘best quality/evidence’ studies, the review has included as many relevant studies as possible. Results Various IPC measures were deemed effective. However, since no analysis of their effectiveness had been undertaken, it was not possible to determine the interventions’ level of effectiveness as applied in hospital settings. The studies appeared to rely on the assumption that the extent of MERS-CoV transmission control observed was a direct reflection of the implemented IPC measures. Conclusions Robust studies, using empirical methods, should be conducted to measure the effectiveness of the various IPC measures developed and implemented to control MERS-CoV transmission

The Relationship Between Behavioural Biases and Financial Wellbeing: Exploring Channels and Conditions in Pakistan

This study is aimed to investigate the moderating role of financial literacy and mediating role of financial behaviors on the relationship between behavioral biases and financial wellbeing by collecting evidence from Pakistan. The study is carried out on the presumption that human beings are not rational agents and they make decisions based on heuristics and mental shortcuts. It was believed that such heuristics, which are referred to as behavioral biases, could have implications towards the financial wellbeing of the individuals. A gap in existing literature was felt regarding the interrelationships of behavioral biases, financial behaviors, financial literacy and financial wellbeing. This study has filled this gap by following an explanatory sequential design through which a quantitative analysis followed by a qualitative analysis is carried out. During the quantitative phase, data collected through an online survey questionnaire (n=344) was analyzed through descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multicollinearity diagnostics and structural equation modelling (SEM) etc. Whereas, in qualitative phase, the findings of quantitative analysis were interpreted in the light of feedback of financial management experts, collected through in-depth interviews (n=16). From these results, it is found that framing effect have significant implications towards the financial wellbeing of the individuals. Moreover, higher income level increases financial wellbeing; having a big family decreases financial wellbeing. Moreover, the way the information is framed significantly affect the financial behaviors. It is less likely that individuals having exponential growth bias exercise negative investment behaviors. Mental budgeting results in healthy financial behaviors. However, the negative impact of mental budgeting cannot be ignored as the human beings have restricted ability to understand and absorb the information. The study also found that people behave differently towards investments, depending upon whether they do job or business. The level of education affects the investment behaviors. There exists a relationship between investment behaviors and financial wellbeing. People exercising positive investment behaviors could have better financial wellbeing and vice versa. Therefore, investment behaviors play a mediating role between framing effect, exponential growth bias and mental budgeting and financial wellbeing. Moreover, a moderating role of actual financial literacy between exponential growth bias and financial wellbeing is also found, however, it needs further investigation. Recommendations are made based on the findings of both quantitative and qualitative analysis; limitations of the study and future research directions are also discussed.