6 research outputs found
Exploring Factors Associated with Citizens’ Perception of Their Political Environment: Evidence from Palestine
This study explores factors associated with citizens’ perception of their political environment in Palestine (N = 1270). Understanding these factors in this context has potential to enhance knowledge in relation to features that may be associated with dissatisfaction and civil unrest. This knowledge may help inform development of policies with greater potential to improve welfare. Overall, results of this study suggested that gender, government anti-corruption initiatives, and the country’s economic condition are important in explaining appraisal of the political environment as stable or unstable. Implications for welfare and scholarship are discussed
Identifying the research, advocacy, policy and implementation needs for the prevention and management of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in low- and middle-income countries
Introduction: The high burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in young children disproportionately occurs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The PROUD (Preventing RespiratOry syncytial virUs in unDerdeveloped countries) Taskforce of 24 RSV worldwide experts assessed key needs for RSV prevention in LMICs, including vaccine and newer preventive measures. Methods: A global, survey-based study was undertaken in 2021. An online questionnaire was developed following three meetings of the Taskforce panellists wherein factors related to RSV infection, its prevention and management were identified using iterative questioning. Each factor was scored, by non-panellists interested in RSV, on a scale of zero (very-low-relevance) to 100 (very-high-relevance) within two scenarios: (1) Current and (2) Future expectations for RSV management. Results: Ninety questionnaires were completed: 70 by respondents (71.4% physicians; 27.1% researchers/scientists) from 16 LMICs and 20 from nine high-income (HI) countries (90.0% physicians; 5.0% researchers/scientists), as a reference group. Within LMICs, RSV awareness was perceived to be low, and management was not prioritised. Of the 100 factors scored, those related to improved diagnosis particularly access to affordable point-of-care diagnostics, disease burden data generation, clinical and general education, prompt access to new interventions, and engagement with policymakers/payers were identified of paramount importance. There was a strong need for clinical education and local data generation in the lowest economies, whereas upper-middle income countries were more closely aligned with HI countries in terms of current RSV service provision. Conclusion: Seven key actions for improving RSV prevention and management in LMICs are proposed
Factors Related to Organisational Commitment amongst Social Workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories
This study examined the contribution of social–demographic characteristics, employee
attitudes and environmental factors in explaining levels of organisational commitment
amongst public sector social workers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Using a
cross-sectional design, data were collected in the summer of 2016 from employees at
twelve local directorates of the Ministry of Social Development (NÂĽ237) in the West
Bank. Palestinian social workers reported extremely high levels of overall organisational
commitment. Results of multiple regressions revealed predictors of this outcome,
including job stress, job satisfaction and service orientation. As hypothesised, job satisfaction
and service orientation were positively related to the dependent variable.
Surprisingly, higher levels of job stress were related to higher levels of organisational
commitment. Implications for organisational policies and future research are discussed.Financial support for this project was received from Boston College
through the Office of the Provost (Research Expense Grants) and the
School of Social Work