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Purpose: Phenomenology is a branch of philosophy that focuses on human lived experience. Illness including dental diseases can affect this living experience. Within the dental literature, there is very little reported on the use of phenomenology compared to other healthcare sciences. Hence, the aim was to review the literature and provide an overview of various applications of phenomenology in dental research. Methods: This study was a narrative review using literature in the last 10 years identified by web-based search on PubMed and Scopus using keywords. A total of 33 articles that were closely related to the field and application in dentistry were included. The methodology, main results, and future research recommendations, if applicable, were extracted and reviewed. Results: The authors in this study had identified several areas such as orofacial pain and pain control research, dental anxiety, dental education, oral healthcare perceptions and access, living with dental diseases and dental treatment experience in which the phenomenological method was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the topic. Conclusions: There are several advantages of using the phenomenological research method, such as the small sample size needed, the diverse and unique perspective that can be obtained and the ability to improve current understanding, especially from the first-person perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Ecosystem services are fundamental for the well-being of residents and are an important basis for making regional sustainable development decisions. Existing studies mainly capture ecosystem services perceived by residents through questionnaires, or quantify the provision of regional ecosystem services through economic evaluation and biophysical evaluation. However, the discrepancy between model calculations and residents' perceptions remains lacking. Objectives: Rapidly urbanizing watersheds can serve as a prime example for exploring the differences in ecosystem service outcomes between the two perspectives. Methods: In this study, we quantified the potential supply of nine ecosystem services and residents' perceptions of these services in the Guanting Reservoir basin through biophysical modelling and questionnaire surveys. We then analyzed the discrepancies between the two perspectives through the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: The results showed that among the vast majority of the population, half of the nine ecosystem services exhibited significant differences in comparisons between perceived values and model-calculated ones. The differences were more prominent for regulating and supporting services among urban residents, while for provisioning and cultural services among rural residents. Conclusions: These differences highlight the necessity to consider quantitative results from diverse perspectives as well as on the benefits of different groups of interest. In rapidly urbanizing watersheds, infrastructure should be reinforced in rural areas to enhance rural residents’ accessibility of ecosystem services. With regard to urban areas, particular attention should be directed towards changes in regulating and supporting services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Phenomenology is a branch of philosophy that focuses on human lived experience. Illness including dental diseases can affect this living experience. Within the dental literature, there is very little reported on the use of phenomenology compared to other healthcare sciences. Hence, the aim was to review the literature and provide an overview of various applications of phenomenology in dental research. Methods This study was a narrative review using literature in the last 10 years identified by web-based search on PubMed and Scopus using keywords. A total of 33 articles that were closely related to the field and application in dentistry were included. The methodology, main results, and future research recommendations, if applicable, were extracted and reviewed. Results The authors in this study had identified several areas such as orofacial pain and pain control research, dental anxiety, dental education, oral healthcare perceptions and access, living with dental diseases and dental treatment experience in which the phenomenological method was used to gain an in-depth understanding of the topic. Conclusions There are several advantages of using the phenomenological research method, such as the small sample size needed, the diverse and unique perspective that can be obtained and the ability to improve current understanding, especially from the first-person perspective.

Abstract Background Social support provided by a family member has been found to have a buffering effect on distress and is associated with better diabetes self-care. This study explores the meaning of social support, as described by close family members of foreign-born people living with type 2 diabetes (PWDM) in Sweden. It also explores the support provided by family members, and the support they need to be able to support the PWDM. Methods Qualitative explorative study, semi-structured interviews for data collection. Qualitative content analysis based on a theoretical framework on social support. Purposive sample of 13 family members, 18–52-years-old, born in countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Russia. Results The meaning of support was described as social and emotional. Most participants described a stressful situation; feelings of sadness/worry about the risk of the PWDM developing complications added to a strained life situation from which one could not opt out. Frequent daily contacts in a family network were evident, particularly by children trained as healthcare professionals. Caring for a family member was considered a filial piety, but it was also a chance to reciprocate. The support provided was mainly informational (e.g., reminders about nutritional intake), but it was also instrumental/practical (administering medicines, helping with economy/logistics, planning/cooking meals, basic care) and emotional (sharing meals, thoughts, and activities). The support the family members needed was getting first-hand information by attending the physician visits, being able to book appointments themselves at suitable times, and preventing the withholding of important information about the PWDM. They also desired an open telephone-line, oral and written information, particularly on diet. Conclusions To family-members, supporting the PWDM was normal and a filial piety. Support provided and needed was not only informational but also instrumental/practical and emotional. In diabetes care, addressing foreign-born individuals, diabetes education needs to be developed, also including family members. Informational material, particularly on diet, and improved access to healthcare and information about the healthcare system have the potential to increase family members’ control over the situation and prevent a negative trajectory in caregiving with perceived demands causing high levels of stress.

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have gained great attention, and individual expectations and perceptions influence attitudes toward them. Combined with the consumer satisfaction index, a latent congruence path model is established to study how the consistency or inconsistency of individual expectations and perceptions affects people's behavior intention. SmartPLS is used to calculate the difference value. Data collected from 877 respondents in China show that the more consistent the individual's expectations and perceptions are, the more likely it is to promote the use of AVs, but this effect has an upper limit. Enjoyment plays a key role in promoting AVs. In addition, utilitarian motivation can positively influence behavior intention through hedonic motivation. The findings provide insights into understanding how individual perceptions affect people's behavior toward using AVs and developing better travel services for AVs, and more importantly, how government agencies and vehicle designers can attract more people to use AVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To answer this question, this paper reviews the huge and growing body of empirical literature on climate change awareness and summarizes insights emerging from a critical review of about 220 papers. It provides (i) a historical overview of climate change awareness worldwide, (ii) a guide to the most widely used datasets, with particular attention to the wording of questions used to measure climate change awareness when the analysis is performed at individual level; (iii) a detailed analysis of the main socio‐economic and climatological determinants of climate change awareness, such as age, gender, education, political values, the use of mass media and social media, social and institutional trust, experience of extreme weather conditions and the stage of development of the country where people live; and (iv) a summary of the main implications of these findings in terms of public policy responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maramureș, due to its rich cultural and natural heritage, is a well-known region in Romania for thriving rural tourism. The connection between humans and nature has always been exceptional in Maramureș, which is reflected in the existing crafts and traditions. This connection has materialized in the villages of Maramureș through the presence of traditional elements such as wooden gates, wooden churches, and wooden houses. The opinion regarding the importance of these elements varies among the local population, and significant changes in Romanian society in terms of politics, social issues, and economics in recent years pose a threat to traditional Maramureș architecture in all its aspects. The objective of this study is to identify ways in which rural tourism can contribute to the preservation and awareness of the value of traditional architecture in Maramureș. We conducted an online survey to collect information from young people in various areas of the county. We initially analyzed the obtained results directly on the platform, and then we generated decision trees using SAS Enterprise Miner. The interpretations were made from the perspective of the characteristics identified as the most relevant, based on the perception of the younger generation regarding the analyzed subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the evaluation of telework through anonym questionnaire addressed to different conditional groups of 185 teleworkers in Romania. Through a correlation analysis between the variables, using SAS Enterprise Miner we obtained a relevant decision tree. The results suggest that there are differences in the evaluation of factors affecting work at home efficiency and the qualities required from a remote worker, depending on gender, age, education and experience of telework. The results are discussed in terms of the characteristics of the most satisfied and the most dissatisfied teleworkers perception.

Stuttering is a puzzling disorder which involves voluntary repetition, prolongation along with blocking and other interruptions to the flow of speech. Stuttering impacts on quality of life of individuals with difficulties in overall social behavior and performance. The present study focuses on perception of stuttering by individual with stuttering and their experiences toward their stuttering among family and society. The present study was carried out in two phases. Phase 1 included the development of questionnaire and phase 2 incorporated the administration of questionnaire and analysis of the results. Total of 20 participants (16 males and 4 females) between the age ranges of 15–50 years (SD = 8.33) were included in the study. The results of present study consisted of perception of the individual with stuttering, their family members and other people regarding the probable cause, effects and treatment of stuttering. The causes were than categorized into psychological, superstitious, genetic, physiological and unknown. Likewise the treatment was categorized into speech therapy, medical treatment, self management strategies, superstitious beliefs and unknown. Many of the participants, their family members and other people had inappropriate, irrational and superstitious believes about the cause and treatment of stuttering due to which they faced many difficulties in their life. Hence from this study we conclude that there is requirement of awareness regarding the etiologies of stuttering and its consequences in hazarding the quality of life. It was also observed the urgent need of awareness regarding the speech therapy and its beneficial outcome in enhancing the fluency of individuals with stuttering, therefore, avoiding the consequence of the condition in their life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the evaluation of telework through anonym questionnaire addressed to different conditional groups of 185 teleworkers in Romania. Through a correlation analysis between the variables, using SAS Enterprise Miner we obtained a relevant decision tree. The results suggest that there are differences in the evaluation of factors affecting work at home efficiency and the qualities required from a remote worker, depending on gender, age, education and experience of telework. The results are discussed in terms of the characteristics of the most satisfied and the most dissatisfied teleworkers perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: No consensus exists about the optimal duration of the low-iodine diet (LID) in the preparation of 131I therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. Objective: This work aimed to investigate if a LID of 4 days is enough to achieve adequate iodine depletion in preparation for 131I therapy. In addition, the nutritional status of the LID was evaluated. Methods: In this prospective study, 65 DTC patients treated at 2 university medical centers were included between 2018 and 2021. The patients collected 24-hour urine on days 4 and 7 of the LID and kept a food diary before and during the LID. The primary outcome was the difference between the 24-hour urinary iodine excretion (UIE) on both days. Results: The median 24-hour UIE on days 4 and 7 of the LID were not significantly different (36.1 mcg [interquartile range, 25.4-51.2 mcg] and 36.5 mcg [interquartile range, 23.9-47.7 mcg], respectively, P = .43). On day 4 of the LID, 72.1% of the DTC patients were adequately prepared (24-hour UIE < 50 mcg), and 82.0% of the DTC patients on day 7 (P = .18). Compared to the self-reported regular diet, DTC patients showed a significantly (P < .01) lower percentage of nutrient intake (calories, protein, calcium, iodine, and water) during the LID. Conclusion: The 24-hour UIE on day 4 of the LID did not differ from day 7, and therefore shortening the LID from 7 to 4 days seems justified to prepare DTC patients for 131I therapy in areas with sufficient iodine intake and may be beneficial to maintain a sufficient nutritional intake during DTC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishers aim to optimise cost-- benefit ratios of their behaviour when exploiting resources. Avoidance of interactions with marine predators (i.e. their feeding on catches in fishing gear, known as depredation) has recently become an important component of their decisions. How fishers minimise these interactions whilst maximising fishing success is poorly understood. This issue is addressed in a sub- Antarctic, long- line fishery confronted with extensive depredation by sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus and killer whales Orcinus orca by examining a 15- year data set. Whereas a broad range of behaviours was identified from spatio- temporal and operational descriptors, none combined high fishing success with low frequency of interactions. With experience, fishers favoured exploitation of productive patches with high frequencies of interactions over avoidance behaviours. Such decisions, although potentially optimal in the short term, are likely to intensify pressures on fish stocks and impact depredating whales. Therefore, the present study provides additional evidence to inform management decisions pertaining to the coexistence between fisheries and marine predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the contribution of plastics to total waste generation in Jashore district, Bangladesh. With a staggering daily production of 3000 tons of plastic waste in Bangladesh, the district of Jashore emerges as a significant contributor. A descriptive survey was conducted among 450 respondents of Jashore Sadar Upazila. Factor analysis was used based on the Likert scale to determine the people's awareness issues. The study reveals that the predominant types of plastic wastes are Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at 40.75%, followed by Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) at 28.15%, and High-density polyethylene (HDPE) at 28.10%, with the remaining 3.0% comprising other types. The most common waste management practices in both urban and rural areas of Jashore Sadar Upazila include burying (3.9%), open dumping (41.4%), open burning (32.4%), recycling (approximately 7.65%), and waste disposal in designated bins (approximately 14.7%). The open dumping of plastic remains in the environment and deteriorates the environmental quality. Descriptive analysis was done using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model. Attitudes of the respondents were determined considering the plastic use and disposal pattern. Fourteen factors were used in this case and Eigenvalues (EVs) were considered. About 58% of the EVs were <0.5, indicating that recycling was highly encouraged. On the contrary, about 42% of the EVs were >0.5, indicating that reusing plastic waste was not beneficial for the environment. The study proposes that reusing plastic waste could play a pivotal role in reducing environmental pollution. • Urban people produces higher concentration of plastic compared to the rural people. • Recycling of plastic is higher in urban area compared to rural areas. • The production of LDPE types of plastics is more higher compared to the other types of plastic. • Females are more likely to produce plastic wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strengthening individual rights, enhancing control over one's data and raising awareness were among the main aims the European Commission set for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). In order to assess whether these aims have been met, research into individual perceptions, awareness, and understanding of the Regulation is necessary. This study thus examines individual reactions to the GDPR in order to provide insights into user agency in relation to the Regulation. More specifically, it discusses empirical data (survey with N = 1288) on individual knowledge of, reactions to, and rights exercised under the GDPR in the Netherlands. The results show high awareness of the GDPR and knowledge of individual rights. At the same time, the Dutch show substantial reactance to the Regulation and doubt the effectiveness of their individual rights. These findings point to several issues obstructing the GDPR's effectiveness, and constitute useful signposts for policy-makers and enforcement agencies to prioritise their strategies in achieving the original aims of the Regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how individual characteristics and national-level variables affect perceptions toward whether individual success depends on luck and connections or hard work. Drawing on five waves of World Values Survey (WVS) data on more than 175,000 respondents in 85 countries, we find that demographic factors and socioeconomic variables such as age, gender, income, and employment status are strongly associated with an individual's view on luck versus hard work. For example, women are more likely to view luck as the primary factor determining success in the long run. In addition, individuals in countries with better macroeconomic conditions measured by GDP per capita and its growth rate seem to associate success more with luck than with hard work compared to individuals in other countries. Our results from multilevel ordered logistic regressions also suggest that differences in personal traits account for approximately 90% of the variations in respondents' perceptions observed in our sample. The remaining 10% is due to differences in various country-level traits other than our GDP controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study positions of children as social and moral actors who can tell about their understanding and experiences of well-being. In this sense, we try to capture variations in children's welfare experiences and to show how researchers can conceptualize and build on children's narrative perspectives in order to achieve a better understanding of the signification they attribute to well-being. During the four focus group meetings of the Children's Understanding of Well-Being- Global and Local Contexts project, we investigated the dimensions of well-being with students in the lower secondary public system (Gymnasium). By making such qualitative approaches, we hope to contribute to the information and further development of useful policies and practices for investigating and monitoring child welfare beyond the cultural and social context in which they live. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore compassion from the perceptions of individuals with personal experience of nursing care. Background: Although compassion is considered integral to professional nursing, increasing reports of care experiences illustrating a lack of compassion have challenged this. Despite political and professional guidance to reaffirm compassion as an underpinning philosophy of contemporary nursing practice, this provides limited insight into what compassion may involve. Contemporary evidence to inform understanding of compassion predominately arises from the professional perspective. This knowledge gap supported the rationale to explore compassion from the individual perspective. Design: Constructivist grounded theory, underpinned by the theoretical perspectives of symbolic interactionism and social constructionism. Methods: Data were collected via 11 individual interviews, a focus group discussion and three additional individual interviews during 2013–2015. Initial and focused coding, constant comparative analysis, conceptual mapping, theoretical memos and diagrams supported data analysis until theoretical sufficiency was determined. Findings: Inter‐related data categories emerged: Self‐Propensity for Compassion, Attributes for Compassion, Socialising for Compassion, Conditions for Compassion; and Humanising for Compassion (core category). Conclusion: Compassion is a complex phenomenon, constructed by individuals through their personal experiences of nursing care and life experiences in the social world. In this study, participants perceived that compassion was fundamentally embodied by experiences of a humanising approach to nursing care. These humanising experiences were thought to be influenced by biological, psychological and socio‐contextual factors. The study provides additional insight into compassion that requires further investigation with individuals in other care contexts, nurses and healthcare professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing building information modeling (BIM) application in the construction industry worldwide has driven research in both the technological and managerial aspects. Existing managerial studies have not fully addressed individual perceptions of BIM implementation, especially architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) students' opinions related to BIM implementation or industry practice. As future industry professionals, AEC students' perceptions and expectations have not been compared with those of industry professionals. Adopting the student population from Swinburne University of Technology as the case study, this research initiated a questionnaire-based approach followed by statistical analysis. In all, responses of 257 AEC students to three major perception-based categories, namely BIM's usefulness, students' desired BIM-related jobs, and challenges during BIM implementation, were collected. The overall sample analysis revealed that students favored BIM-based jobs related to engineering design and project management, and they perceived less usefulness of BIM in assisting facility management and quantity surveying. Subgroup analysis showed that certain perceptions in BIMpractice would be affected by students' field of study, prior industry experience, and gender. For example, male students generally held more positive views on BIM's applicability and usefulness. AEC students in this study showed certain discernment in identifying certain contemporary BIM-related practices. However, they also had different views on challenges compared to industry professionals due to AEC students having less industry experience. In-depth discussions were provided on how these subgroup factors affected students' perceptions. This empirical study of student perceptions in BIM practice provides insights to both BIM educators and AEC employers in terms of optimizing BIM education resources between industry practice and academic research, awareness of subgroup differences in their perceptions and motivations, and similarities and differences between AEC students and industry practitioners. Based on the current findings, future research could focus on cross-institutional comparison of students' BIM-based perceptions by considering more subgroup factors. This study could also lead to future pedagogical research in adopting BIM in different project sectors (e.g., building and infrastructure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of automation on seven different professional sectors, and the degree of uncertainty this creates among current and soonto- be professionals It then looks at whether or not the individuals concerned make decisions accordingly, and if so, what the nature of these decisions are. A mixed method approach was chosen, incorporating a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews. The survey investigated 106 students' decisions regarding future career prospects and if they intend to develop skills relevant to automation. The interviews were conducted with 11 individuals working in fields affected by automation, or in which they have knowledge of the development of this technology. Comparing these two groups: workers and students entering the workforce within 0-5 years, demonstrated that students were more adaptive to automation (44% were learning to code or considering it vs 0% of professionals), despite a clear sample size limitation. Due to time constraints, a quantitative survey with professionals was not possible. All interviewees acknowledged that automation will replace their job or change it significantly. However, only the teacher was subsequently concerned about job security. The other interviewees' relaxed view may be explained by proximity to pension or strong unions. All interviewees acknowledged that automation will replace their job or change it significantly. However, only the teacher was subsequently concerned about job security. The other interviewees' relaxed view may be explained by proximity to pension or strong unions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As countries like Turkey rapidly develop their technology sectors, there is significant interest in whether knowledge management (KM) can help companies gain competitive advantages. However, individual perceptions as to the effectiveness of KM or information systems, which ultimately determine company-wide usage, may vary by individual preferences, as well as by tasks and department. This study compares a sample of 61 survey responses from 61 firms operating in Turkey, to an auxiliary sample of 34 responses from a single firm. The populations of the responses for the two surveys were statistically the same. Furthermore, the responses in the auxiliary survey provided similar relationships between the regression factors as the cross-company responses. This suggests a potential reinterpretation of cross-company survey results, and furthermore that KM and information technology measures for firms could be treated as distributions instead of single values. Perceptions also varied by employee turnover and workforce size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on group cohesion often relies on individual perceptions, which may not reflect the actual social structure of groups. This study draws on social network theory to examine the relationship between observable structural group characteristics and individual perceptions of group cohesion. Leveraging Facebook data, we extracted and partitioned the social networks of 109 participants into groups using a modularity algorithm. We then surveyed perceptions of cohesion, and computed group density and size using social network analysis. Out of six linear mixed effects models specified, a random intercept and fixed slope model with group size as a predictor of perceived group cohesion emerged as best fitting. Whereas group density was not linked to perceived cohesion, size had a small negative effect on perceived cohesion, suggesting that people perceive smaller groups as more cohesive. We discuss the potential of social network analysis, visualization tools, and Facebook data for advancing research on groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In established democracies perceptions about police effectiveness and procedural fairness are the main individual-level determinants of trust in police. However, very little is known about whether this is also the case in different circumstances. By analysing trust in police in Hungary, in an East Central European context, the paper finds that the same micro-level factors have a similar relationship with trust in police there as in established democracies. Both the perceptions of police performance and fairness are significant contributors to trust as well as individual judgements about the country's current affairs. However, people attribute different salience to distinct aspects of procedural fairness: Hungarians are sensitive to police corruption, but less so to discriminative police behaviour. Finally, the overall effect of personal contact with the police on trust is negative, but distinguishing those who reported negative personal experiences from those who were satisfied with how the police treated them shows that only bad contacts have a detrimental effect on trust. Our findings suggest that while positive personal experiences with the police do not improve trust judgements, negative ones damage people's perceptions about the police in virtually every dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish consumption is a lifestyle in fishing communities influenced by individual and communal perceptions. However, information about individual perceptions about fish consumption in the vulnerable fishing community in a developing country is lacking. Without this study, the benefits of fish consumption in a vulnerable community may not be realized. Data collection was executed using key informant interviews and survey structured questionnaires. The key informants include fisheries, community development, veterinary, community and environmental officers. The household heads were the respondents. The Qualitative data was organized and queried using QSR Nvivo 10 and quantitative data analyzed with SPSS version 22. The perceived benefits of eating fish are health, income, nutrition and manhood. The perceived risks are Stigma and ill health. The factors increasing fish consumption are heedless of fish consumption benefits (p = 0.041) and household size i.e. number of adults more than seven (p = 0.020). Those decreasing are methods of preparation of fish i.e. boiling and frying (p = 0.019 and p = 0.010) and oblivious about organizations dealing with fishing activities (p = 0.029). An awareness campaign is needed to demystify the health benefits and fallacies of fish consumption. The knowledge on individual perceptions associated with fish consumption will increase fish consumption but with fewer risks.

Social responsibility (SR) has been of continuing interest in the United States and around the world. Organizations make a wide variety of SR decisions that represent differing viewpoints. While a number of definitions of SR exist, many of these definitions indicate that SR decisions may be viewed as existing of various facets, such as legal/regulatory, financial/economic, ethical, environmental, and voluntary. While drivers of SR have been proposed, there has been limited research at a micro-level on how individuals perceive SR activities by the organizations where they work. Based on a prior qualitative study (Thornton and Byrd, 2013) that found SR decisions are related to several traits and influenced by relationships, a model was proposed and tested in this research. The traits found relevant in the qualitative research were conscientiousness, especially in the sense of being responsible, and self-efficacy. Relationship quality was assessed based on positive and negative emotional attractors (PNEA) as proposed in Intentional Change Theory (ICT). Perceptions of individuals in management and non-management showed that relationship quality mediated the effect of conscientiousness and general self-efficacy on the SR. Because there are multiple facets, the author made use of Carroll’s (1991) pyramid of social responsibility to identify activities that business owners and managers consider relevant. The findings indicate that conscientiousness is related to specific SR activities in the areas of legal/regulatory, ethical and discretionary dimensions while general self-efficacy is related to financial/economic and legal/regulatory dimensions. The presence of relationship quality enhanced the effects of both conscientiousness and general self-efficacy on the various SR dimensions. This suggests that individuals perceived SR activities along different traits and that enhancing these traits might improve perceptions of SR decisions.

Background: The Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department and the Cobb2020 partnership, sponsored by the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnering program, facilitated six focus groups in Cobb County to ascertain residents’ perceptions of healthy behaviors. The purpose of the research was to assist in the development of programs to increase healthy behaviors. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to choose fifty-eight participants, who were divided into six groups in different geographic locations. The focus group questions concerned healthy living, health communications, and community health. Qualitative data analysis techniques were used to generate themes and categories across and within groups. Results: Six themes emerged: 1) need for education; 2) healthy food choices; 3) access to healthcare; 4) trust in health care providers; 5) affordable healthcare; and 6) need for local resources. The results show how community members’ perceptions regarding: a) policies that affect health, b) environments that promote healthier choices, and c) systems that allow individuals to be health consumers influence healthy living and community engagement. Other findings note different perceptions between those with and without health insurance. In addition, socio-economic status and ethnicity were seen as factors related to the perceptions of participants. Conclusions: The findings of this study informed a comprehensive, county-wide Community Health Improvement Plan. As a result of these studies, Cobb & Douglas Public Health established, as two chronic disease prevention interventions, the Cobb2020 Farm Fresh Market and, in the City of Kennesaw, the 100% Tobacco Free Parks and Cemeteries policy.

During the last decades, people with intellectual disabilities have moved to regular neighbourhoods and policies have incorporated goals related to social inclusion. However, people with intellectual disabilities are still experiencing social isolation. We investigated the role of group home staff members, on the assumption that neighbourhood social inclusion cannot be considered a standard element of their professional role identity. The aim of our study was to gain insight into the individual perceptions of staff and the institutional environment in relation to staff's professional role identity in dealing with neighbourhood social inclusion. We conducted semi-structured group interviews with staff from nine group homes in three neighbourhoods in the Netherlands. Our analysis yielded five themes: 1) staff perceptions of residents' neighbourhood contacts: positive and negative experiences; 2) staff perceptions of residents' needs and capabilities; 3) staff perceptions of neighbours and neighbourhood; 4) staff perceived role in social inclusion in the neighbourhood; and 5) staff perceived role of service provider. Our study showed that individual perceptions of a professional role identity primarily focused on care tasks, and the (lack of) experienced support from service providers hinders staff in creating opportunities for social inclusion in the neighbourhood. To enhance social inclusion in the neighbourhood we recommend service providers invest in supporting staff in acquiring the necessary skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated that, in a variety of settings, environmental factors influence migration. Yet much of the existing work examines objective indicators of environmental conditions as opposed to the environmental perceptions of potential migrants. This paper examines migration decision-making and individual perceptions of different types of environmental change (sudden vs. gradual environmental events) with a focus on five developing countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, Uganda, Nicaragua, and Peru. The survey data include both migrants and non-migrants, with the results suggesting that individual perceptions of long-term (gradual) environmental events, such as droughts, lower the likelihood of internal migration. However, sudden-onset events, such as floods, increase movement. These findings substantially improve our understanding of perceptions as related to internal migration and also suggest that a more differentiated perspective is needed on environmental migration as a form of adaptation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Change excessiveness is argued as a critical contextual aspect of change management. The purpose of this paper is to identify three major dimensions to change excessiveness: change frequency, extent, and impact. A three-factor structure is proposed to broaden the emerging study on the contextual aspects of change. Its pertinence is proposed in addressing healthcare employees’ exhaustion, change-related uncertainty, and support for change. Design/methodology/approach – Using questionnaires, a first pilot sample (n=131) was recruited to test the psychometric properties and validity of the three-factor structure, while controlling for affectivity. Structural equation modeling techniques following a two-step approach were used on a second sample (n=363). First a confirmatory assessment of the three-factor structure of excessive change is tested. Second, a full mediation effect of excessive change, as a second-order latent factor, regrouping change frequency, impact and extent as first-order factors, was modeled to predict a tripartite conception of change-related reactions: exhaustion, uncertainty, and support for change. Findings – The excessive change three-factor structure is validated, while showing its superiority over alternative models. The fully mediated model is confirmed. Therefore, the significant added effects of change frequency, impact, and extent are positively related to emotional exhaustion and cognitive uncertainty, while negatively related with behavioral support for change. Originality/value – This study contributes by proposing a three-factor structure to excessive change assessment based on previous and independent findings in the literature. It also contributes in modeling the added effect of change frequency, extent, and impact in the full mediation relationship of change excessiveness on a tripartite reactions to change in healthcare management settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to examine how perceptions of food quality are explained by demographic and socio-economic features at the individual level. We analyze data from the 2010 Eurobarometer Special Survey on Risk Perception. By estimating ordered logit models, we find that women, older and more educated individuals are more interested about calories, safety and taste. Moreover, parents are more conscious about price, hunger satisfaction and safety, while managers care more about conviviality. Manual workers, house-persons and unemployed individuals are especially careful regarding prices. We also perform a Principal Component Analysis to investigate the unobserved drivers of individual responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When coaches watch our athletes in the Olympic Games competing as the best in the world, we fill with pride in what we have nurtured and produced as a nation. However, often less visible, yet no less integral to this success is the Olympic coach. While defining what it means to be an effective coach is quite difficult and controversial, most would agree that to have reached Olympic coaching level is to have reached the pinnacle or ultimate level of your sport. What sets these coaches apart enabling them to be the best in the world, emerging to become leaders in their chosen field? This paper fills a gap in the current literature by identifying the most significant factors eight Olympic coaches attribute to their own success and fulfilment of goals. Analysis revealed that having a passion and commitment to wanting to succeed, past experience as an athlete, learning from other coaches/mentors, focusing on the needs of the athlete and a need to contribute were the key factors identified as helping them reach their dream of becoming an Olympic coach. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Some strategies for mitigating ordering inefficiencies in supply chains advise sharing information among decision-makers. However, there has been little consideration of how individual perceptions intervene in the use of available information in decision-making processes. This article reports the results of an experiment in which participants were instructed to minimize inventory holding and backlog costs for their supply chains as a whole. The analysis suggests that additional information affects supply chain inventory management costs only when rational decision-making processes are followed. Decreased costs are observed when rational decision-making is applied with backlog information. In contrast, increased costs are observed when consumer demand information is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The association between objective water quality indicators and subjective assessments by visitors to the waterfronts was evaluated and used to identify the most important factors for public perception of urban waters. The smell and turbidity, naturalness of the banks, and overall aesthetic quality of six standing and six running waters in Vienna (Austria) were assessed based on 540 interviews with visitors in summer 2000. These assessments were related to 5 personal parameters of the interviewees, 3 parameters of the actual weather conditions, and 20 objective, water-related parameters. Non-parametric statistics suggested that the subjective assessments improved with the improvement of most measured water quality indicators. The exceptions probably reflected hydrobiological effects of the comparatively hot weather during the sampling period, and partly also the preference of the interviewees for scenic beauty and comfortable bathing conditions. The assessments were also clearly influenced by personal and meteorological factors. Categorical regression analysis suggested that increasing values of the following physicochemical and microbiological indicators, in order of decreasing importance, negatively impacted public perception: ammonium levels, counts of Escherichia coli, suspended inorganic solid levels, electric conductivity, and chlorophyll-a levels. No clear relations were found for indicators with potential positive impact, such as oxygen content and water temperature. Among the hydromorphological factors, increasing water body width (cf. scenic beauty) and presence of bank vegetation showed the strongest positive effects on public perception, whereas negative effects were noted only for artificial bank modification. The implications of these findings for water management are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]