11237 research outputs found
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Utilizing social media to promote responsible tourism: applying the technology acceptance model and source credibility theory
No full textBackground and Objectives: The rapid growth of social media has significantly influenced tourist behavior, presenting an opportunity to promote responsible tourism. However, limited studies have explored the factors influencing tourists’ intention to use social media for responsible tourism. This study integrates the Technology Acceptance Model and Source Credibility Theory to examine key determinants affecting tourists’ behavioral intentions. Methods: A quantitative research approach was adopted, utilizing an online survey to collect data from 400 Thai tourists using social media. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was employed to analyze the relationships between Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Expertise, and Trustworthiness on the intention to use social media for responsible tourism. Findings: The results indicate that Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Expertise, and Trustworthiness all have a significant and positive influence on tourists’ intention to utilize social media for responsible tourism. The structural model demonstrated strong explanatory power with a coefficient of determination value of 0.701, supporting the relevance of the proposed framework. These findings highlight the crucial role of social media in promoting responsible tourism and provide valuable insights for developing targeted interventions and awareness campaigns to foster sustainable tourism practices. Conclusion: This study provides empirical evidence supporting the integration of the Technology Acceptance Model and Source Credibility Theory in explaining social media adoption for responsible tourism. This study serves as a foundation for advancing conceptual models and frameworks to support responsible tourism.</p
Adaptive feeding robot with multisensor feedback and predictive control using autoregressive integrated moving average–feed-forward neural network: simulation study
No full textBackground: Eating is a primary daily activity crucial for maintaining independence and quality of life. Individuals with neuromuscular impairments often struggle with eating due to limitations in current assistive devices, which are predominantly passive and lack adaptive capabilities.Objective: This study aims to introduce an adaptive feeding robot that integrates time series decomposition, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), and feed-forward neural networks (FFNN). The goal is to enhance feeding precision, efficiency, and personalization, thereby promoting autonomy for individuals with motor impairments.Methods: The proposed feeding robot combines information from sensors and actuators to collect real-time data, that is, facial landmarks, mouth status (open or closed), fork-to-mouth and plate distances, as well as the force and angle required for food handling based on the food type. ARIMA and FFNN algorithms analyze data to predict user behavior and adjust feeding actions dynamically. A strain gauge sensor ensures precise force regulation, an ultrasonic sensor optimizes positioning, and facial recognition algorithms verify safety by monitoring mouth conditions and plate contents.Results: The combined ARIMA+FFNN model achieved a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.008 and an R2 of 94%, significantly outperforming the standalone ARIMA (MSE=0.015; R2=85%) and FFNN (MSE=0.012; R2=88%). Feeding success rate improved from 75% to 90% over 150 iterations (PConclusions: Combining predictive algorithms and adaptive learning mechanisms enables the feeding robot to demonstrate substantial improvements in precision, responsiveness, and personalization. These advancements underline its potential to revolutionize assistive technology in rehabilitation, delivering safe and highly personalized feeding assistance to individuals with motor impairments, thereby enhancing their independence.</p
Standards for Hospital Falls Prevention and Management: An International Comparative Analysis.
No full textBackground Hospital falls and associated injuries are a global issue associated with harm
and significant costs to individuals and society, especially for older adults. Hospital standards specify the minimum level of care required to optimise patient safety, quality and outcomes. Standards are often used during hospital accreditation. This investigation analysed the content and quality of hospital falls standards across the globe.
Methods Hospital standards were located by searching online databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Medline), AI using Chat GPT, the grey literature via internet search engines, and websites of accreditation agencies, government agencies and other relevant organisations. We searched for standards from the 60 largest countries by population plus the 60 countries with highest gross domestic product (n=82 after accounting for duplicates). For inclusion, hospital standards had to mention ‘fall/s’. Data were analysed using a deductive framework synthesis and content analysis to identify emergent themes.
Results Forty-one standards used by at least 72 countries were identified from our search. Sixteen were excluded from detailed analysis because they did not mention falls and a further three could not be accessed. A total of 22 standards covering 60 countries were included in the final detailed analysis. Included standards showed wide variations in content and quality. Six were assessed as high quality, 13 medium quality and 3 were deemed to be of low quality. Some lacked details on hospital falls screening, assessment, prevention, and management. Consumer engagement in development, implementation or evaluation was not mentioned in all standards. Procedures for falls data collection and reporting were seldom documented. Hospital standards infrequently referred readers to contemporary research or clinical practice guidelines.
Conclusion There are variations in the quality and content of standards on hospital falls. International collaboration is recommended to increase the consistency and validity of hospital falls standards across nations, in order to optimise healthcare outcomes.</p
Reversal of tetracycline resistance by clove and peony extracts in a multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli
No full textInfections with Gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics are increasingly prevalent and challenging to treat. We sought to identify compounds with potential to reverse resistance to tetracycline and tobramycin in a multi-drug resistant isolate of Escherichia coli (NCTC 13400). A screen of 800 extracts of traditional herbs and medicines revealed that polar extracts of cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and Peony flowers (Paeonia lactiflora) significantly increased sensitivity to both antibiotics in this strain. Fractionation of clove and peony extracts by high performance liquid chromatography revealed activity within the fractions comprising mainly phenolic acids and flavonoids, respectively. Sampling candidate compounds from these fractions revealed that while no tested compound enhanced the activity of tobramycin, myricetin significantly increased the sensitivity of this strain to tetracycline. Myricetin alone inhibited growth, but was not bactericidal and did not induce membrane permeability or inhibit Nile red efflux. In vitro MTT assays using mammalian HEK-293 cells revealed no significant toxicity of myricetin, or most of the other tested compounds, at up to 100 µM. The results suggest that the screening of plant secondary metabolites has potential for the identification of antibiotic resistance reversers with potentially favourable in vitro toxicity profiles.</p
Redefining service convenience: developing and validating the inclusive service convenience (INSCON) scale
No full textPurpose
This study redefines service convenience through the development and validation of the inclusive service convenience (INSCON) scale, a multidimensional construct that operationalizes accessibility, social inclusion, assistance, safety and empowerment within service delivery for individuals with mobility-related disabilities. The purpose of this study is to extend traditional convenience models by embedding principles of equity and capability expansion.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-phase mixed-method design was used. In study one, scale items were generated through semistructured interviews and a literature review, followed by exploratory factor analysis. In study two, the scale was validated through confirmatory factor analysis using partial least squares structural equation modeling, assessing a second-order reflective–formative model. Nomological and predictive validity were confirmed via the scale’s relationship with tourist satisfaction.
Findings
The final INSCON scale consists of 19 items across five conceptually defined dimensions: accessibility, social inclusion, assistance, safety and empowerment. The model demonstrated strong psychometric properties, theoretical coherence with capability theory and a significant positive effect on tourist satisfaction, confirming both its validity and practical relevance.
Originality/value
INSCON is the first empirically validated scale to conceptualize service convenience through the lens of inclusion and capability. It offers a novel contribution by bridging gaps in service literature, extending the service convenience (SERVCON) model and providing a structured tool for service audits, inclusive design and policymaking in tourism and related sectors.</p
Elevating the allied health professions workforce: leadership’s role in shaping professional identity
No full textBackgroundAs global healthcare systems contend with rising pressures, strengthening the Allied Health Professions (AHP) workforce has become a strategic priority. In England, national reforms have promoted AHP leadership to unify a historically fragmented workforce and enhance collective influence. While these reforms have established strategic leadership roles and outlined a national AHP strategy, the impact of AHP leadership on shaping a collective AHP identity remains underexplored. This article addresses this gap by examining how AHP leadership influences the development of a shared identity across the AHP workforce.MethodsUsing a grounded theory methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 registered AHPs. Participants represented 11 of the 14 professions recognised as AHPs in the National Health Service (NHS) in England and represented a diversity of experience and health sectors. Constant comparative analysis was used to develop key categories grounded in participants’ perspectives and experiences.ResultsThe findings identified four interrelated concepts that explain how AHP leadership enhances or constrains the development of a collective identity: broadening perspective, connecting across AHPs, experiencing inequality within the AHP collective, and experiencing underrepresentation. Findings established that inclusive and visible leadership helped expand awareness beyond individual professions and enabled cross-professional connection. In contrast, inconsistent leadership practices, unequal representation, and the absence of effective, senior AHP leadership reinforce professional silos, undermine belonging, and diminished the perceived value of the AHP collective.ConclusionsAHP leadership plays a central role in shaping collective professional identity. Where leadership is inclusive, engaged, and prototypical, it promotes cohesion, strategic alignment, and a stronger collective voice. Conversely, limited leadership visibility or inequitable representation exacerbates fragmentation and weakens identity development. To support workforce retention and system impact, policy and practice must prioritise the development of effective, adaptable and inclusive AHP leaders who can create the conditions for meaningful connection, equity, and engagement. These findings offer transferable insights for healthcare systems and a conceptual synthesis of leadership practices that can guide future leadership development and policy.</p
The making of a funding call text: How funding professionals craft interdisciplinary research opportunities for Social Sciences and Humanities
No full textWhilst it is well-known that research funding significantly shapes research landscapes, there is too little known about the processes that sit behind the funding opportunities — and specifically the publicly-shared funding call texts. The aim of this paper is therefore to investigate the processes experienced by EU funding professionals in authoring and operationalising funding call texts, to surface the different ways in which interdisciplinarity is understood. In seeing these texts as artefacts of situated practices, we conducted a case study on the European Union (EU) Cluster 5 Work Programmes (on climate, energy, mobility) as part of Horizon Europe, including its predecessor calls in Horizon2020. From our analysis of 15 semi-structured interviews, we identified 10 roles that funding professionals adopt, across three stages of a funding call text lifetime: within the Call Creation stage (led by European Commission Policy Officers), there was Steering, Feedback Integration, Quality Control, and Disruption; the Call Dissemination stage (led by EU National Contact Points) involved Awareness-raising, Matchmaking, and Gap-spotting; and the Proposal Selection stage (led by Commission Project Officers overseeing evaluations) involved Expertise Cultivation, Consensus-building, and being a Critical Friend. This study provides empirically-driven insights into the dynamic social processes and institutional interactions, through which funding calls are negotiated, interpreted and ultimately travel. As such, we also contribute to literature on interdisciplinarity, by examining the ways in which different forms of interdisciplinarity are imagined, designed-in, rewarded and excluded by funders. We make clear how integrating Social Sciences and Humanities, and doing interdisciplinarity, consistently represents hard work by funding professionals.</p
A qualitative study on the experiences of adult females with late diagnosis of ASD and ADHD in the UK
No full textBackground: Adult females with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are frequently underdiagnosed due to gender bias, overlapping symptoms, and limited awareness among healthcare professionals. The scarcity of research on this subject—particularly in the UK context—underscores the need for further investigation. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of adult females receiving a late diagnosis of ASD and/or ADHD and to identify key barriers within the UK diagnostic pathway. This study addresses a critical knowledge gap by examining the factors contributing to delayed diagnosis within the United Kingdom. Study Design and Method: The study employed a qualitative approach, utilising an anonymous online questionnaire survey comprising nine open-ended questions. Responses were obtained from 52 UK-based females aged 35–65 years who had either received or were awaiting a diagnosis of ASD and/or ADHD. Data were analysed thematically within a constructivist framework. Findings: The analysis revealed three overarching themes: (i) limited understanding and lack of empathy among healthcare professionals, (ii) insufficient post-diagnostic support, with most participants reporting no follow-up care, and (iii) a complex, protracted diagnostic process, often involving waiting periods exceeding three years. Gender bias and frequent misdiagnosis were recurrent issues, contributing to significant psychological distress. These findings underscore the need for systemic reforms and align closely with gaps identified in the existing literature. Conclusions: The findings emphasise the urgent need for gender-sensitive diagnostic frameworks, enhanced professional training, and a person-centred approach to care. Key recommendations include shortening diagnostic waiting times, strengthening healthcare professionals’ knowledge base, and ensuring equitable and consistent post-diagnostic support.</p
Exploring Brexit uncertainty and SME financing in the UK
No full textThe withdrawal of the UK from the European Union has raised significant economic concerns for various businesses (Abbott, 2019; Bloom et al., 2019; Brown et al., 2019). However, very little is known about the specific impact of Brexit on SMEs' financing, especially in light of the uncertainty following the referendum. To address this gap, this study investigates the effects of Brexit on bank loans and the experiences of UK business owners in accessing bank loans during this tumultuous period. Additionally, it examines the reasons behind the underutilisation of bank loans and explores potential gender-related influences. To delve into this complexity, this research employs a grounded theory strategy to develop a richer understanding of the phenomenon. Twenty UK business owners from key metropolitan areas in the UK were interviewed using semi-structured interview method, with questions centred around their financing needs and experiences in the post-Brexit referendum period between June 2016 and February 2020. The data was analysed using QUADAS (NVivo) software, utilising a multi-phased thematic analysis approach to facilitate inductive coding for a data-driven analysis. While existing literature suggests that Brexit's uncertainty did not significantly reduce the bank lending stock, current findings diverge and suggest that no credit was extended to certain businesses during this period. The uncertainty led to diminished productivity for some SMEs, resulting in poor financial performance and delayed business investment. Interestingly, we found that feelings of discouragement, i.e., stemming from imposter syndrome or inadequate financial literacy, hindered business owners from accessing available bank lending. The lack of financing to support SMEs due to the Brexit referendum led SMEs to explore alternative Fintech-backed options, such as peer-to-peer (P2P) lending and other innovative specialist lenders. Furthermore, although some female owners experienced gender-related discrimination, we found the differences between male and female business owners were less pronounced than anticipated. Nonetheless, there is a need for enhancements to ensure equitable access to finance, such as providing wider networking opportunities for female entrepreneurs. Overall, our findings suggest that many businesses missed out on growth opportunities, while banks lost potential earnings, which could have contributed to improved economic outcomes in the post-Brexit Referendum period.</p
Decarbonisation and Firm Financial Performance: The Roles of Supply Chain Transparency and Resilience
No full textThe main purpose of this study is to examine how decarbonisation affects a firm's financial performance through sustainable supply chain practices, focusing on the role of supply chain transparency and supply chain resilience. While opinions differ on the relationship between firm’s environmental performance, sustainable business practices, and financial performance, empirical research has not yet reached a consensus. In this research, we adopted the institutional theory (INT), transaction cost economics (TCE), and the practice-based view (PBV) to develop our conceptual model and attempt to decipher the relationship. The empirical data was collected from 264 UK manufacturing companies and was analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that decarbonisation efforts positively and significantly influence financial performance. More importantly, the impact of decarbonisation is mediated sequentially through both supply chain transparency and supply chain resilience. The study highlights the dual benefits of integrating decarbonisation strategies with transparent and resilient supply chain practices, which not only support environmental sustainability but also drive financial success in organisations.</p
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