Background and aims:The COVID-19 pandemic represents a source of stress and potential burnout for many physicians. This single-site survey aimed at assessing perceived stress and risk to develop burnout syndrome among physicians operating in COVID wards.Methods: This longitudinal survey evaluated stress and burnout in 51 physicians operating in the COVID team of Gemelli Hospital, Italy.Participants were asked to complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire on a short run (PSQs) (referring to the past 7 days) at baseline (T0) and then for four weeks (T1-T4). Perceived Stress Questionnaire on a long run (PSQl) (referring to the past 2 years) was completed only at T0. Results:Compared with physicians board-certified in internal medicine, those boardcertified in other disciplines showed higher scores for the Emotional Exhaustion (EE) score of the MBI scale (P < .001). Depersonalisation (DP) score showed a reduction over time (P = .002). Attending physicians scored lower than the resident physicians on the DP scale (P = .048) and higher than resident physicians on the Personal Accomplishment (PA) scale (P = .04). PSQl predicted higher scores on the EE scale (P = .003), DP scale (P = .003) and lower scores on the PA scale (P < .001). PSQs showed a reduction over time (P = .03). Attending physicians had a lower PSQs score compared with the resident physicians (P = .04).

No abstract

This case study provides a critical understanding of the connection between start-up investment and the development of a loyal brand community. Learners develop an appreciation of how engagement in crowdfunding campaigns can lead to the creation of engaged partners. This is explored through applying the Business Model Canvas to the case of BrewDog, a company that has expanded beyond the niche market of craft brewing to become an international brand. The use of crowdfunding has not only enabled Brewdog to raise the capital to finance expansion but also to develop a special relationship with some of their customers, who through investment and engagement can become partners in the product development process.

The Western Balkans are former communist countries which have made the transition to capitalist economies. As part of this they continue to develop their entrepreneurial ecosystems to support private business and innovation. The region overall has a relatively high level of entrepreneurship which has led the Western Balkans to be labelled as the next frontier of start-ups in Europe. However, previous research has identified that challenges in obtaining finance, the need for high collateral, high interest rates and banks' inexperience of lending to start-ups has been a constraining factor in the region. Such a scenario provides potential for crowdfunding to be a useful tool to support the financing of entrepreneurship in the region. In the light of such potential, this chapter reviews the business and entrepreneurship data in the region and explores the limitations within the current crowdfunding ecosystem in the region to espouse how the Western Balkans can utilize crowdfunding to continue and sustain economic development by supporting the financing of entrepreneurial startups. This book chapter posits that whilst crowdfunding could provide valuable support to start-ups in the regions, the platforms operating in the region and the ecosystem is currently underdeveloped.