Behavior of Internal Customer in Family Business: Strategies and Actions for Improving Their Satisfaction.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Gutierrez-Broncano S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5524889 | biostudies-other | 2017
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
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Project description:BackgroundThe experiences and satisfaction of family members of patients are important indicators of healthcare quality in the intensive care unit. The family satisfaction in the intensive care unit (FS-ICU-24) questionnaire, developed in Canada and now validated in the UK, is becoming the gold standard measure to evaluate family members' satisfaction with the intensive care unit. To inform future use of the UK FS-ICU-24 to evaluate quality improvement strategies aimed at improving family satisfaction with the intensive care unit, we set out to explore the extent to which the 24-scored items and domains of the UK FS-ICU-24 reflect common suggestions and priorities for quality improvement self-reported as important to family members in the UK.MethodsTwo data sources were thematically analysed - (1) open-text responses from family members who completed the UK FS-ICU-24 in a large observational cohort study; (2) a set of quality improvement activities generated by patients, family members and staff through experience-based co-design in a mixed-methods' intensive care unit quality improvement study. Summarised themes were then mapped to the 24-scored items and domains of the UK FS-ICU-24 to assess coverage by the UK FS-ICU-24.ResultsWe found a good degree of coverage between the topics and themes identified as important to family members with the 24-scored items and domains of the UK FS-ICU-24.ConclusionOur study confirms the face validity of the UK FS-ICU-24 and indicates that its inclusion as an outcome measure for evaluating quality improvement strategies aimed at improving family satisfaction with the intensive care unit is appropriate.
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Project description:The paper investigates whether standard innovation and different types of eco-innovation activities have different effects on firm employment growth. Heterogeneity in terms of growth effects is analyzed by considering how the influence of different innovation strategies varies across firms grouped by their pace of growth. Relying on a sample of 3000 Italian manufacturing firms observed between 2012 and 2016, we find that innovative companies tend to grow faster than their non-innovative counterparts. However, when distinct paces of growth are taken into account, the employment growth impact of innovation will depend on the specific types of innovation strategies pursued by companies. In particular, more complex eco-innovation activities have no impact on employment growth for high-growth firms. This finding suggests that, on average, high-growth firms tend to be too small and too young to be able to expand through more complex EI strategies which, to be handled, require a wide range of cognitive, technological, and financial capabilities.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40888-022-00263-x.
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Project description:BackgroundLong waiting times result in low satisfaction. Although several methods are used to shorten the actual waiting time (AWT) in large hospitals of China, the outpatients still have a long actual waiting time. This study aimed to explore whether satisfaction could be improved by extending the expected waiting time (EWT) instead of shortening the AWT.MethodsIn October 2016, 257 students in grade one voluntarily participated in this study. They came from 6 classes, which were randomly divided into two groups: 3 classes comprised the control group (n?=?125) and 3 classes comprised the experimental group (n?=?132). Unfavorable information (UI) was given to the experimental group alone. Six distinct questionnaires were designed to explore the effects of UI on EWT and the effects of an extended EWT on satisfaction. Satisfaction scores ranged from 0 to 100: 0-25, very dissatisfied; 26-50, dissatisfied; 51-75, satisfied; 76-100, very satisfied. Each participant finished one of the 6 questionnaires online. Of the 257 questionnaires, 233 were valid.ResultsBefore UI was given, the initial EWT (T0) was similar between the control and experimental groups (Z?=?-1.924, P?=?0.054). Under the effects of UI, individuals in the experimental group extended their EWT (T1) from 121.0 to 180.0?min (Z?=?-6.367, P?<?0.001). Females prolonged their EWT longer than males did (Z?=?-2.239, P?=?0.025). Then, this study defined T0?=?1.5?h and T1?=?2.5?h, and compared the satisfaction scores between the control and experimental groups: a significant difference was found when AWT =2.0?h (t?=?-?3.568, P?=?0.001), but not when AWT =3.0?h (t?=?-?0.718, P?=?0.475) or when AWT =1.0?h (t?=?-?1.088, P?=?0.280). When AWT =3.0?h, fewer individuals felt "very dissatisfied" in the experimental group (21.2%) than in the control group (44.7%) (?2?=?4.368, P?=?0.037).ConclusionsEWT was found to be extended greatly by UI. An extended EWT could improve satisfaction scores.
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Project description:Many dogs are relinquished worldwide, so it is important to enhance adoptions' success. We aimed at investigating factors associated with owners' satisfaction with adopted dogs, both in general and focusing on galgos. Data on 392 dogs (191 galgos) were gathered using an online survey, investigating dogs' and owners' demographics, satisfaction with the adopted dog and post-adoption behavior. Satisfaction was affected by different variables in galgos' owners as compared to non-sighthound non-podenco dogs' ones, with only the presence of disobedience on walks negatively affecting satisfaction in both samples. Depending on dogs' type, the presence of some behavioral problems was associated with decreased satisfaction with the dog (e.g., destructiveness for galgos, or separation problems for non-sighthound non-podenco dogs), whereas that of others increased it (e.g., not being interested in social interactions with dogs for galgos, and shadowing for non-sighthound non-podenco dogs). The variables most often being predictors of the behaviors influencing satisfaction were dog type, with being a galgo as a negative predictor, and dog's age, with being older as a negative predictor. Further studies on dog adopters' satisfaction are needed.
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Project description:INTRODUCTION: Patients with complex conditions account for a disproportionate share of health care spending. Although evidence indicates that care for these patients could be provided more efficiently, the financial impact of mechanisms to improve the care they receive is unclear. DESIGN/METHODS: Numerous mechanisms-emphasizing patient self-management, care coordination, and evidence-based guidelines-aim to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients with complex conditions. Assessing the overall "business case" for these mechanisms requires carefully estimating all relevant costs and financial benefits, then comparing them in present value terms. Mechanisms that are not cost-saving may still be implemented if they are cost-effective. We reviewed articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as reports available on publicly accessible websites, which contained data about the business case for mechanisms to improve care for patients with complex conditions. MAIN RESULTS: Published studies do not provide clear evidence that current mechanisms are cost saving. This literature also has several major methodological shortcomings with respect to providing an understanding of the business case for these mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS: Further research using standardized methodologies is needed to understand the business case for mechanisms to improve care for patients with complex conditions. Implications for VA business case analyses include the necessity of establishing appropriate time horizons, scope of services, and target populations, as well as considering the impact of existing VA systems.
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Project description:Methods for increasing the proteolytic stability of EFK17 (EFKRIVQRIKDFLRNLV), a new peptide sequence with antimicrobial properties derived from LL-37, were evaluated. EFK17 was modified by four d-enantiomer or tryptophan (W) substitutions at known protease cleavage sites as well as by terminal amidation and acetylation. The peptide variants were studied in terms of proteolytic resistance, antibacterial potency, and cytotoxicity but also in terms their adsorption at model lipid membranes, liposomal leakage generation, and secondary-structure behavior. The W substitutions resulted in a marked reduction in the proteolytic degradation caused by human neutrophil elastase, Staphylococcus aureus aureolysin, and V8 protease but not in the degradation caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa elastase. For the former two endoproteases, amidation and acetylation of the terminals also reduced proteolytic degradation but only when used in combination with W substitutions. The d-enantiomer substitutions rendered the peptides indigestible by all four proteases; however, those peptides displayed little antimicrobial potency. The W- and end-modified peptides, on the other hand, showed an increased bactericidal potency compared to that of the native peptide sequence, coupled with a moderate cytotoxicity that was largely absent in serum. The bactericidal, cytotoxic, and liposome lytic properties correlated with each other as well as with the amount of peptide adsorbed at the lipid membrane and the extent of helix formation associated with the adsorption. The lytic properties of the W-substituted peptides were less impaired by increased ionic strength, presumably by a combination of W-mediated stabilization of the largely amphiphilic helix conformation and a nonelectrostatic W affinity for the bilayer interface. Overall, W substitutions constitute an interesting means to reduce the proteolytic susceptibility of EFK17 while also improving antimicrobial performance.
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