An empirical investigation on the impact of attitudes towards organ donation in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Organ shortage is a global issue and it is imperative to take steps to bridge this gap. In the Indian context, despite its demographic dividend, the rate of organ donation has been abysmally low. This emphasizes a need to demystify the antecedents of organ donation intention among the Indian population. Methods: Using a cross-sectional research design and adopting a post-positivism research philosophy, this study identified 259 respondents by adopting a purposive sampling approach and data on knowledge of organ donation was collected using a structured, pretested questionnaire. Results: Awareness of organ donation law in India is low on specific issues and respondents from the health science & medicine discipline scored better on knowledge about organ donation. The findings show that most participants had heard about organ donation and had a favourable attitude toward it. The primary sources of information on organ donation were television and newspapers, and healthcare service providers. A complementary partial median is established (β = .217, t = 5.889, p < .001) which implies that willingness to discuss with family significantly mediates the association between attitude towards organ & tissue donation and willingness to sign the donor card. Conclusion: This study revealed that there is a general awareness of organ and tissue donation among the Indian population, but they lack clarity on certain specific issues. Mass media has to be effectively used to build awareness campaigns revolving around enhancing knowledge on a specific issue and building acceptance of the concept of organ and tissue donation

Exploring the sustainable effect of mediational role of brand commitment and brand trust on brand loyalty: an empirical study

The study focus on the role of self-expressive branding, brand love, brand trust and brand commitment on brand loyalty. It also identifies the strength of mediating effect of variable brand commitment between brand love and brand trust. Also measures the strength of mediating effect of variable brand commitment between brand trust and brand loyalty. The data is gathered by using a structured questionnaire and a sample size of 101 respondents in a cross-sectional study. Statistical analysis has been done through SMART PLS 3.0 software. In the analysis part, PLS algorithms, bootstrapping, blindfolding, Importance performance matrix, FIMIX, Multi-Group analysis have been undertaken. A reflective model has been developed. The path coefficient value and empirical t-values of all direct relationships of variables above 0.2 and 1.96 respectively and substantiate the hypothesis. The results have shown that brand commitment is partially mediates the association between brand love and brand trust and also between brand trust and brand loyalty. The four-segment solution’s FIMIX-PLS path coefficient shows that brand love and brand trust are more relevant in segment 3, followed by segment 2, segment 1 and segment 4, respectively. Companies should focus on improving their brand trust displayed by consumers followed by brand commitment which strengthens brand loyalty in the automobile sector. This industry could consider implementing this creating trustworthiness about the brand, by developing strong psychological connectedness between the customer and brand by the retail outlet by offering the best quality product, and by incorporating strategies to reduce cognitive dissonance among the buyers

Exploring the antecedents of institutional effectiveness: a case study of higher education universities in India

The significance of Institutional Effectiveness is pivotal to the functioning of an academic institution. The mushrooming of private institutions in the Indian higher education space necessitates exploring its antecedents to ensure quality higher education is imparted by the institution. The purpose of this research endeavor is to explore the impact of Academic Leadership on Institutional Effectiveness with a mediating role of Campus Culture and Faculty Involvement in Decision Making. The study employed a cross-sectional research design and implemented a purposive sampling technique to collet primary data from 80 permanent faculties and 249 students of private engineering colleges located in the Karnataka state of India. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling. Hypothesis shows academic leadership and campus culture has high influence on institutional effectiveness. Faculty in decision making and campus culture partially mediates between academic leadership and institutional effectiveness. The results of FIMIX-PLS and PLS-MGA analysis shows the similarity in the results of total effect and path relationships. This paper provides theoretical foundations and empirical findings on conceptualizing the antecedents of institutional effectiveness. The outcomes of this research serve as significant input to policy makers and higher education institutions to facilitate enhancement of institutional effectiveness

Spatial, temporal, and demographic patterns in prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019 : a systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Ending the global tobacco epidemic is a defining challenge in global health. Timely and comprehensive estimates of the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden are needed to guide tobacco control efforts nationally and globally. Methods We estimated the prevalence of smoking tobacco use and attributable disease burden for 204 countries and territories, by age and sex, from 1990 to 2019 as part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study. We modelled multiple smoking-related indicators from 3625 nationally representative surveys. We completed systematic reviews and did Bayesian meta-regressions for 36 causally linked health outcomes to estimate non-linear dose-response risk curves for current and former smokers. We used a direct estimation approach to estimate attributable burden, providing more comprehensive estimates of the health effects of smoking than previously available. Findings Globally in 2019, 1.14 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1.13-1.16) individuals were current smokers, who consumed 7.41 trillion (7.11-7.74) cigarette-equivalents of tobacco in 2019. Although prevalence of smoking had decreased significantly since 1990 among both males (27.5% [26. 5-28.5] reduction) and females (37.7% [35.4-39.9] reduction) aged 15 years and older, population growth has led to a significant increase in the total number of smokers from 0.99 billion (0.98-1.00) in 1990. Globally in 2019, smoking tobacco use accounted for 7.69 million (7.16-8.20) deaths and 200 million (185-214) disability-adjusted life-years, and was the leading risk factor for death among males (20.2% [19.3-21.1] of male deaths). 6.68 million [86.9%] of 7.69 million deaths attributable to smoking tobacco use were among current smokers. Interpretation In the absence of intervention, the annual toll of 7.69 million deaths and 200 million disability-adjusted life-years attributable to smoking will increase over the coming decades. Substantial progress in reducing the prevalence of smoking tobacco use has been observed in countries from all regions and at all stages of development, but a large implementation gap remains for tobacco control. Countries have a dear and urgent opportunity to pass strong, evidence-based policies to accelerate reductions in the prevalence of smoking and reap massive health benefits for their citizens. Copyright (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

A cross-sectional study on exploring the antecedents of patient’s revisit intention: Mediating role of trust in the hospital among patients in India [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: In the healthcare domain, patients’ trust in the hospital plays an instrumental role in determining the behavioral intention of the patient.  This article attempts to investigate the impact of service quality perception on behavioral intention with the mediating effect of trust in the hospital and patient satisfaction.  Methods: This research was carried out in multispecialty hospitals located in Bangalore Urban and Mysore districts of Karnataka during August 2021. This was a questionnaire-based study and the sample size was 242. Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) 27.0 and SmartPLS 3.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings revealed that perceived service quality significantly influences trust through patient satisfaction (observed partial mediation) and patient satisfaction significantly impacts behavioral intention through trust (observed partial mediation). Conclusion: This study empowers hospital managers to understand the factors influencing behavioral intention. Healthcare professionals must ensure that good quality service is delivered to enhance patient satisfaction and trust in adverse services, which influence behavioral intention among the patients

Laptop Induced Erythema Ab Igne

Erythema ab igne is a reticular, pigmented dermatosis caused by prolonged and repeated exposure to infrared radiation that is insufficient to produce a burn. The use of laptop computers has increased manifold in the recent past. Prolonged contact of the laptop with the skin can lead to the development of erythema ab igne. We present a case of erythema ab igne secondary to laptop use in an Indian student

Conceptualizing organic food consumption: a consumer motive perspective

AbstractThe primary research findings in the literature about what motivates consumers to purchase organic food items were mapped out in this scoping review. Researchers looked through the databases at ProQuest, Scopus, and Web of Science to find publications. A search was conducted from 2020 to April 2023. The Scoping review is undertaken to obtain insights on antecedents of organic food consumption among consumers. The pandemic’s effect on mental health, emotional stability, and mood may have an impact on dietary choices and intake. As a result, organic food intake purchase and consumption patterns have increased, and the study focuses on elaborating the motivating elements. Since 1940, the term ‘organic’ has been used in several studies addressing issues related to public health, social issues, food systems, and health. To close this gap and highlight the key trends in the scientific literature on this subject, a scoping study was carried out. The review took 76 studies in all into account. The ultimate result of this scoping review will focus solely on the factors that led people to consume organic food. This will serve as a conclusion for academics, executives, and decision-makers who want to comprehend concerns associated with the use of organic foods better. This review research identified various keywords underpinning the motivations for organic food consumption, and these motivations remain relevant in the post-pandemic era as well. Even though it is difficult to forecast and completely comprehend if the same motives will remain or change as a result of the index of customer changing motivations and satisfaction levels