63477 research outputs found
Sort by
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT ENDORSEMENT IN PUBLIC ONLINE CAMPAIGNS: A STUDY OF THREE CRISES CASES THAT AFFECTED THE GULF REGION
No full textThis study investigates the use of social media-based campaigns in the Gulf region and examines the extent to which government participation in such campaigns affects their outcomes. Three online public campaigns that affected Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) over the last decade are selected for this research: the GCC Crisis of 2014, the Qatar Crisis of 2017, and the France Crisis of 2020. Using secondary data in the form of newspaper reports and published literature, this study found that in all three cases, social media platforms became the vehicles of either political propaganda, political consumerism, social movement, or a combination of these. However, not all campaigns had similar outcomes, thanks to government participation in/ endorsement of these campaigns. Ultimately, the findings revealed that the three studied online campaigns are unsuccessful in the long term, despite the endorsement or involvement of various governments
MERCURY AND METHYL MERCURY IN FISH: CONTAMINATION LEVELS AND HEALTH RISKS
Full text linkThis study aims to assess the risks that mercury and methyl mercury would be posing on the health of fish consumers. The fish consumption patterns of Qatar residents aged 18 years and above were obtained using a fish frequency questionnaire. The Mercury contamination levels of the most consumed fish species were determined using a validated ICP-MS method. Total Mercury average concentration were 0.077 mg/kg ww and ranged between 0.001 mg/kg ww in Safi and 0.443 mg/kg ww in Hamour. PCA analysis was done for the contamination and the exposure. Results demonstrated that contamination levels are primarily affected by protein-lipid content in predatory species. Exposure to Mercury and Methyl mercury was determined via the deterministic approach, using both aggregated and disaggregated fish consumption data and simple distribution. Two scenarios were used to determine methyl mercury level from measured mercury level (MeHg100% and MeHg based on values reported in the literature). Hamour, Chanad, and canned tuna contributed significantly to the mercury exposure. The aggregated method revealed that the high fish consumption was the main source of the risk exposure. The median, 75th, and 95th percentile using the Hazard Quotient index (HQ) compared to the TWI and PTWI for all cohorts. Exposure to mercury from fish using aggregated method poses a risk on the health of Qatari women of the child-bearing age, and for all high fish consumers (P95)
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMPETENCE AND ENTREPRENEURIAL PERFORMANCE: THE CASE OF QATAR
Full text linkInformation and communication technologies have revolutionized how business is conducted in the twenty-first century. Information and communication technologies are the intricate bundles of IT resources which facilitate entrepreneurs' efforts to coordinate business activities competently through the utilization of these IT-based resources. This review aims to explore how entrepreneurial traits affect technology acceptance and use. Additionally, it aims to comprehend the connection between entrepreneurial performance and information technology. A proposed framework that guides the research method was built based on the integrated Task-technology Fit (TTF) and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The model postulates that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and task technology fit predict an entrepreneur's technology acceptance behavior. Additionally, the model presupposes an association between task-technology fit and entrepreneurial performance. The results of this study found that entrepreneurial traits including, working with uncertainties in decision making process, the ability to be creative and innovative, decisiveness, the need for achievement and willingness to take advantage of new opportunities to have a positive effect on task-technology fit, making entrepreneurial traits an important factor in future discussions relating to technology acceptance and entrepreneurial performance. Additionally, findings in this study revealed that tasktechnology fit is an important indicator of entrepreneurial performance and behavioral intentions, with R2 values 0.733 and 0.794 respectively. The one-way ANOVA test performed to investigate the effects of educational qualifications on adoption and usage of information technologies found that entrepreneurial traits (n2= 0.070), task characteristics (n2= 0.037) and behavioral intentions (n2= 0.070) are affected by the level of education an entrepreneur holds. The findings of this study established that educated entrepreneurs in Qatar can navigate the complexities of information technologies, making the concept perceived of ease of use immaterial. Additionally, this study discovered that highly educated entrepreneurs are more inclined to embrace information technologies to improve their entrepreneurial success, implying that programs that foster a tech-friendly environment during the formal schooling years may be a critical catalyst for widespread technology use
EFFECTS OF BUSINESS ANALYTICS CAPABILITIES ON BUDGET GOAL COMMITMENT: THE MEDIATING ROLES OF FORECAST ACCURACY AND BUDGET ADEQUACY
No full textBudgeting processes rely on the use of existing data to forecast future activities, identify predictable resource consumption and provision patterns, and facilitate resource allocation decisions. Prior research suggests that business analytics capabilities hold some promise in enabling effective budget processes. However, little empirical research examines the processes by which business analytics capabilities are implicated in budget processes and how they translate into performance. This study aims to examine the relationships among business analytics capabilities and budget goal commitment and explore the intervening roles of forecast accuracy and budget adequacy in these relationships. The study adopts a quantitative strategy to collect data through surveys distributed to a sample of managers working in a cross-section of organizations located in the State of Qatar. Results from partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling fails to show a direct positive relationship between business analytics capabilities and budget goal commitment. However, the effects of business analytics capabilities on budget goal commitment are generated by mediating variables; particularly, forecast accuracy and budget adequacy. The study results make theoretical and practical contributions to enhance our understanding of how the recent development in information technology affects budget processes in organizations. Besides, it demonstrated the significant role of business analytics capabilities in forecast accuracy, budget adequacy, and subsequently, budget goal commitment
Usability Testing of The International Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry
No full textBackground: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a comprehensive model of secondary preventive care for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, there is a wide variety of implementation characteristics globally, specifically in low-and-middle-income countries. Thus, the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR) was urged to develop a CR registry to establish the quality of CR services in such settings. Aim: To explore the usability of the newly developed International Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry (ICRR) in the World Health Organization's six-designated regions of the world to ensure the applicability and optimal utility of the registry before its launch. Methods: This was a mixed methods study comprised of Think-Aloud method to elicit feedback on the ICRR while end-users were entering patient data, followed by semi-structured interviews and SUS survey. The Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 framework (UTAUT 2) informed the analysis. During the interview, participants were asked to log in to the ICRR demonstration site and share their screen and enter the patient's data anonymously while thinking and talking aloud. Notes including facial expressions and gestures ideas raised by the participants were taken. After that, a semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the topic in depth.. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, thematic analysis was undertaken to categorize the content using NVIVO software. Finally, participants were asked to fill out the System Usability scale survey (SUS), which provides a global measure of system satisfaction. SUS score was calculated based on Brooke's standard scoring method. Results: Four major themes emerged from the interviews and Think-Aloud method: (1) ease of approvals, adoption, and implementation; (2) benefits for programs, (3) variables and their definitions, as well as (4) patient report & follow-up assessment. Based on participant feedback and utterances, suggestions for changes to the ICRR were implemented, including changes to the program survey, on-boarding processes, navigational instructions, inclusion of program logos, direction on handling unavailable data, and optimizing data completeness, as well as policies for program certification. System usability score (SUS) was (83.75) indicating that the registry was "excellent" and rated as class "A" technology. Conclusions: Results of this study proved that ICRR is relevant, user-friendly with high end-user satisfaction, and showed high perceived usefulness to support CR service quality. The usability of the ICRR was enhanced based on participants' feedback. The ICRR is ready for the next stage, which is the pilot testing before the final launch
Burden of 375 diseases and injuries, risk-attributable burden of 88 risk factors, and healthy life expectancy in 204 countries and territories, including 660 subnational locations, 1990–2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
No full textBackground
For more than three decades, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) has provided a framework to quantify health loss due to diseases, injuries, and associated risk factors. This paper presents GBD 2023 findings on disease and injury burden and risk-attributable health loss, offering a global audit of the state of world health to inform public health priorities. This work captures the evolving landscape of health metrics across age groups, sexes, and locations, while reflecting on the remaining post-COVID-19 challenges to achieving our collective global health ambitions.
Methods
The GBD 2023 combined analysis estimated years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 375 diseases and injuries, and risk-attributable burden associated with 88 modifiable risk factors. Of the more than 310 000 total data sources used for all GBD 2023 (about 30% of which were new to this estimation round), more than 120 000 sources were used for estimation of disease and injury burden and 59 000 for risk factor estimation, and included vital registration systems, surveys, disease registries, and published scientific literature. Data were analysed using previously established modelling approaches, such as disease modelling meta-regression version 2.1 (DisMod-MR 2.1) and comparative risk assessment methods. Diseases and injuries were categorised into four levels on the basis of the established GBD cause hierarchy, as were risk factors using the GBD risk hierarchy. Estimates stratified by age, sex, location, and year from 1990 to 2023 were focused on disease-specific time trends over the 2010–23 period and presented as counts (to three significant figures) and age-standardised rates per 100 000 person-years (to one decimal place). For each measure, 95% uncertainty intervals [UIs] were calculated with the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile ordered values from a 250-draw distribution.
Findings
Total numbers of global DALYs grew 6·1% (95% UI 4·0–8·1), from 2·64 billion (2·46–2·86) in 2010 to 2·80 billion (2·57–3·08) in 2023, but age-standardised DALY rates, which account for population growth and ageing, decreased by 12·6% (11·0–14·1), revealing large long-term health improvements. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contributed 1·45 billion (1·31–1·61) global DALYs in 2010, increasing to 1·80 billion (1·63–2·03) in 2023, alongside a concurrent 4·1% (1·9–6·3) reduction in age-standardised rates. Based on DALY counts, the leading level 3 NCDs in 2023 were ischaemic heart disease (193 million [176–209] DALYs), stroke (157 million [141–172]), and diabetes (90·2 million [75·2–107]), with the largest increases in age-standardised rates since 2010 occurring for anxiety disorders (62·8% [34·0–107·5]), depressive disorders (26·3% [11·6–42·9]), and diabetes (14·9% [7·5–25·6]). Remarkable health gains were made for communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) diseases, with DALYs falling from 874 million (837–917) in 2010 to 681 million (642–736) in 2023, and a 25·8% (22·6–28·7) reduction in age-standardised DALY rates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DALYs due to CMNN diseases rose but returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2023. From 2010 to 2023, decreases in age-standardised rates for CMNN diseases were led by rate decreases of 49·1% (32·7–61·0) for diarrhoeal diseases, 42·9% (38·0–48·0) for HIV/AIDS, and 42·2% (23·6–56·6) for tuberculosis. Neonatal disorders and lower respiratory infections remained the leading level 3 CMNN causes globally in 2023, although both showed notable rate decreases from 2010, declining by 16·5% (10·6–22·0) and 24·8% (7·4–36·7), respectively. Injury-related age-standardised DALY rates decreased by 15·6% (10·7–19·8) over the same period. Differences in burden due to NCDs, CMNN diseases, and injuries persisted across age, sex, time, and location. Based on our risk analysis, nearly 50% (1·27 billion [1·18–1·38]) of the roughly 2·80 billion total global DALYs in 2023 were attributable to the 88 risk factors analysed in GBD. Globally, the five level 3 risk factors contributing the highest proportion of risk-attributable DALYs were high systolic blood pressure (SBP), particulate matter pollution, high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), smoking, and low birthweight and short gestation—with high SBP accounting for 8·4% (6·9–10·0) of total DALYs. Of the three overarching level 1 GBD risk factor categories—behavioural, metabolic, and environmental and occupational—risk-attributable DALYs rose between 2010 and 2023 only for metabolic risks, increasing by 30·7% (24·8–37·3); however, age-standardised DALY rates attributable to metabolic risks decreased by 6·7% (2·0–11·0) over the same period. For all but three of the 25 leading level 3 risk factors, age-standardised rates dropped between 2010 and 2023—eg, declining by 54·4% (38·7–65·3) for unsafe sanitation, 50·5% (33·3–63·1) for unsafe water source, and 45·2% (25·6–72·0) for no access to handwashing facility, and by 44·9% (37·3–53·5) for child growth failure. The three leading level 3 risk factors for which age-standardised attributable DALY rates rose were high BMI (10·5% [0·1 to 20·9]), drug use (8·4% [2·6 to 15·3]), and high FPG (6·2% [–2·7 to 15·6]; non-significant).
Interpretation
Our findings underscore the complex and dynamic nature of global health challenges. Since 2010, there have been large decreases in burden due to CMNN diseases and many environmental and behavioural risk factors, juxtaposed with sizeable increases in DALYs attributable to metabolic risk factors and NCDs in growing and ageing populations. This long-observed consequence of the global epidemiological transition was only temporarily interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The substantially decreasing CMNN disease burden, despite the 2008 global financial crisis and pandemic-related disruptions, is one of the greatest collective public health successes known. However, these achievements are at risk of being reversed due to major cuts to development assistance for health globally, the effects of which will hit low-income countries with high burden the hardest. Without sustained investment in evidence-based interventions and policies, progress could stall or reverse, leading to widespread human costs and geopolitical instability. Moreover, the rising NCD burden necessitates intensified efforts to mitigate exposure to leading risk factors—eg, air pollution, smoking, and metabolic risks, such as high SBP, BMI, and FPG—including policies that promote food security, healthier diets, physical activity, and equitable and expanded access to potential treatments, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Decisive, coordinated action is needed to address long-standing yet growing health challenges, including depressive and anxiety disorders. Yet this can be only part of the solution. Our response to the NCD syndemic—the complex interaction of multiple health risks, social determinants, and systemic challenges—will define the future landscape of global health. To ensure human wellbeing, economic stability, and social equity, global action to sustain and advance health gains must prioritise reducing disparities by addressing socioeconomic and demographic determinants, ensuring equitable health-care access, tackling malnutrition, strengthening health systems, and improving vaccination coverage. We live in times of great opportunity
لطلاب جامعة قطر كجزء من حملة ((حياكم ))
No full textلقاء شركة قطرغاز بطلاب كلية الإدارة الاقتصاد بهدف الرد على أسالتهم واستفساراته