The impact of naturalness on affective response to logo design: A cross-national study

Literature concerned with logo strategy suggests that the aesthetic appeal of brand logos significantly influences consumer responses. Yet, despite the fact that companies invest significant amounts of time and money promoting, updating and changing their logos, empirical studies of logo design issues are rare. In particular, there is little systematic research on the effect of logo design across different cultures. The main purpose of this research is to address the communalities and asymmetries between consumer responses to logo design across cultures. In particular, we focus on the influences of different types of natural designs on consumers’ affective responses in three different countries, Portugal, Spain and The Netherlands. Findings should provide relevant contributions for multinational companies since logos are critical brand identity sings and they tend to be used in an unaltered form in new markets

Empathy of medical students and personality : evidences from the five factor model

The main aim of this study was to test hypothetical associations between personality dimensions and empathy scores in medical students. The Portuguese version of NEO-FFI was administered in order to characterize participants in terms of five personality traits: Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness to Experience and Conscientiousness. Self-reported empathy measures were obtained with the Portuguese version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE-spv), a Likert-type questionnaire specifically developed for administration in health sciences settings that measures domains such as compassionate care and perspective taking. Correlation analysis, multivariate analysis of covariance and logistic regression analysis were conducted. The results confirmed positive associations between agreeableness, openness to experience and empathy and did not support our hypothesis of negative associations between neuroticism and empathy. It is suggested that that the personality of students should be taken into account in programs to enhance empathy in undergraduate medical education.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PTDC/ESC/ 65116/2006

The mediator role of the perceived working conditions and safety leadership on the relationship between safety culture and safety performance: A case study in a Portuguese construction company

Occupational accidents in the construction sector are still a major concern with relevant costs at different levels, both individually and socially. We developed and tested two structural equation models to study, from the workers’ point of view, the mediator role of working conditions and safety leadership on the relationship between safety culture and safety performance, in a Portuguese firm. This quantitative and correlational case study applied a questionnaire to a convenience sample of 320 workers. A structural equation modeling analysis showed that safety culture was predominant in predicting safety performance and that working conditions mediated this relationship, but safety leadership did not. The results allow company’s managers gaining certain insights about the role of safety culture, working conditions and safety leadership on safety performance prediction and in the work accidents’ prevention. Furthermore, likely may help to understand what is going on in other firms, in construction sector in Portugal, and to identify problematic areas needing to be addressed.Os acidentes de trabalho no setor da construção constituem uma preocupação séria, com custos ao nível individual e social. Com base num questionário aplicado a uma amostra de conveniência com 320 trabalhadores de uma construtora portuguesa, desenvolvemos e testámos dois modelos para estudar, do ponto de vista dos trabalhadores, o papel mediador das condições de trabalho e da liderança de segurança, na relação entre a cultura de segurança e o desempenho em segurança. A análise baseada nos modelos de equações estruturais mostrou que a cultura de segurança foi sempre predominante na predição do desempenho em segurança e que as condições de trabalho mediaram essa relação, mas a liderança de segurança não mediou essa relação. Estes resultados enfatizaram a importância dos papéis da cultura de segurança, das condições de trabalho, e da liderança de segurança, na predição do desempenho em segurança e na prevenção de acidentes de trabalho na construtora. Poderão, ainda, contribuir para ajudar a compreender o que está a acontecer em outras empresas do sector da construção, em Portugal, e a identificar áreas problemáticas que necessitem de ser abordadasinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Occurrence of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) by Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and/or carbapenemases in portuguese long-term care facilities

Extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing bacteria are widespread in hospitals, but the extent of this problem in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) is poorly understood. We aimed to elucidate, in the Portuguese regional clinical context, the relevance of LTCFs as a reservoir of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. producing ESBL- and/or carbapenemases (Ec/Kp-ESBL/CARB). Fourteen LTCFs from Portugal, corresponding to units of convalescence (UC/n = 3), medium-term internment and rehabilitation (UMDR/ n = 5), or long-term internment and maintenance (ULDM/n = 6), were analyzed (2016–2019). All patients with Ec/Kp-ESBL/CARB infections acquired during LTCF stay were included, and detailed information was collected. Prevalence of patients with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) by Ec/Kp-ESBL/CARB did not vary significantly over time (1.48% in 2016–2017, 1.89% in 2017–2018, and 1.90% in 2018–2019), but a statistically significant association with the LTCF typology (ULDM, UMDR) was observed. HAIs were caused by K. pneumoniae (n = 51/54.3%), E. coli (n = 41/43.6%), or both (n = 2/2.1%), producing ESBL (96%) or carbapenemases (4%). Prior colonization (n = 14/16%) corresponded to seven Kp-CARB and seven Ec/Kp-ESBL. The worrying prevalence of patients acquiring HAIs by Ec/Kp-ESBL/CARB, associated with the estimated rates of those already colonized at admission, highlights a relevant role for LTCFs as a reservoir of Ec/Kp-ESBL/CARB. Epidemiological surveillance should be extended to the national level, and colonization screening at LTCF admission implemented systematically.This research received no external funding

Brand mergers: Examining consumer response to name and logo design

It is critical to investigate reactions to the various name and logo redeployment alternatives available in the context of a brand merger. Yet research on this topic is relatively limited. This paper aims to start filling this gap in the literature, by developing a typology of the visual identity structures that may be assumed in the context of a merger, as well as an exploratory study (n = 467) analysing consumers’ preferences regarding the alternative branding strategies. It uses an innovative design, which gives respondents freedom to choose their preferred solution. Results suggest that there is a clear preference for figurative logos. Furthermore, there is evidence that the logo may play a role as important as the name in a merger, ensuring consumers that there will be a connection with the brand’s past. Data also show that the choice of the logo reflects consumers’ aesthetic responses, whereas the choice of the name reflects consumers’ evaluation of the brand’s offer or off the brand’s presence in the market. These results should guide managers in the evaluation and choice of the post-merger branding strategy.brand identity, logos, brand mergers, consumer preferences