Expected and perceived service quality at basketball stadiums in Greece

Abstract The purpose of the current research was to examine the differences between expected quality of service and the perceived quality of service experienced by spectators at selected professional basketball stadiums in Northern Greece. Five hundred spectators filled in the evaluation instrument created for the purpose of the study. The Wilcoxon's matched-pairs signed-ranks test showed a statistically significant difference in all 23 items between expectations and perceptions of service quality and in all cases only organizational weaknesses were proved to exist and no strengths. The exploratory factor analysis revealed nine factors: "show time expectotions", "instollation's evaluation", "convenience ond employee evoluation", "show time evoluation", "employee expectations", "convenience expectotions", "instollotion's expectotions", "comfort evaluation" and "comfort expectations". The challenge of providing o high quality sport and recreation service becomes less difficult when sport managers know what their customers expect from a service and what they feel i s important to quality. From a managerial perspective, identifying the dimensions and knowing both a spectator's evaluations and expectations of a provided service indicates the direction that management should take in investing its efforts and resources to increase the probability of the customer experiencing a positive outcome from watching

Investigating the marketing strategies of the health and fitness sector in Greece; the managers' perspective

The health and fitness sector is systematically growing worldwide and is considered a vibrant business area shaped by many innovations while showing great potential for professional development and marketing strategies. In Greece, low-cost and budget gyms as well as boutique fitness studios emerged as a popular business model among health club operators demonstrating a remarkable increase nationwide following the global fitness industry trends. However, previous research focusing on implementing marketing strategies to attract and retain customers in the Greek fitness industry is scarce. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate: I) which are the marketing strategies implemented in order to attract and retain customers, ii) whether these marketing actions are differentiated depending on whether: A) the fitness companies are multipurpose gyms, boutique/personal training studios or CrossFit-like clubs and b) they operate in metropolitan areas (e.g., Athens and Thessaloniki) or in the province of Greece. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between May 15 and June 5, 2020. The questionnaire used a 4-point Likert scale and was validated internally as required. A total of 631 questionnaires were collected corresponding approximately to 25% of all companies operating in the fitness sector nationwide. Results showed that promotion through social media was the primary customer attraction action. Attractive prices as well as frequent equipment renewal and facilities' renovation/ maintenance were the most popular members' retention strategies. Top marketing attraction and retention strategies were mediated by the different fitness centers' business type and location. Much needs to be done in order for the fitness industry in Greece to grow in terms of marketing. © 2021 Federacion Espanola de Docentes de Educacion Fisica. All rights reserved

Motricidade Motricidade Motricidade Motricidade Assessing adolescents' sport participation motives: psychomet- ric evaluation of BRSQ Avaliação dos motivos de participação desportiva entre os jovens: Avalia- ção psicométrica do BRSQ

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to examine the factorial structure and validity of Behavioral Regulation in Sports Questionnaire (BRSQ -Lonsdale Hodge & Rose, 2008). The proposed nine dimensional motivation model by Key-words: adolescents, self-determination theory, motivation, team sports RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar a estrutura fatorial e validade do Behavioral Regulation in Sports Questionnaire (BRSQ). O modelo motivacional com 9 dimensões proposto por Lonsdale et al. Palavras-chave: adolescents, teoria da autodeterminação, motivação, desportos coletivos Manuscrip

Employers’ expectations of the employability skills needed in the sport and recreation environment

This study aimed to test the applicability of the Survey of Employability Skills Needed in the Workforce (SESNW) (Robinson, 2006) in Greek sport employers. One hundred ninety three employers from three sectors participated in the study. Consecutive EFAs led to six robust factors of employability skills, labeled Professional Behavior & Development, Leadership & Influence, Problem Solving, Organization & Time Management, Communication Ability and (Inter)Personal skills. All factors were highly rated by the employers were no differences occurred between employment sectors. By understanding the competencies expected by employers, Universities may better align undergraduate programs with industry needs, enhancing the graduates' employability. © 2016 Elsevier Lt

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome patients: Results from a single center

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS). Patients and Methods: Fourteen patients (11 female, mean age 45.8 years), with symptomatic BCS refractory to conventional therapy, were treated with TIPS placement in our department within a period of 9 years. Stent grafts were primarily used in 12 patients. Mean follow-up time was 38.1 ± 36.1 months (range 7-114). Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, BCS Rotterdam index, and Child-Pugh score were calculated for all patients. In addition, the recently suggested BCS-TIPS prognostic index score (BSC-TIPS PI) was applied. Results: BCS-TIPS PI score was ≤7 in all patients. Most of our patients (12 of 14) had good or intermediate prognosis according to MELD, Rotterdam and Child-Pugh scores. Technical success was achieved in all 14 patients and was accompanied by complete resolution of the symptoms. In 3 patients, the procedure was complicated by hemoperitoneum, which was successfully treated in two patients with coils or stent-graft placement, whereas 1 patient was managed in the operating room. Thirteen patients are symptom and orthotopic liver transplantation-free. Primary patency was 92.8, 84.7, and 58.7 % at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Secondary patency was 100, 100 and 84.6 % at 6, 12, and 24 months respectively. Conclusion: In symptomatic BCS patients with moderate prognosis according to MELD, Child-Pugh, and BCS Rotterdam scores, as well as BCS-TIPS PI score ≤7, TIPS has high clinical success, low morbidity, and no mortality, and it offers durable mid-term resolution of the symptoms and OLT-free survival. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE)

Recanalization of Occluded Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts Using the Rösch-Uchida Stiffening Cannula

Purpose: To report the safety and efficacy of occluded transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) recanalization using the stiffening cannula (SC) technique. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective, single-centre, single-arm study, investigating the safety and efficacy of transjugular recanalization of occluded TIPS using the SC (Cook, Ind. USA), in cases of failure to cross the occlusion with standard angiographic catheters and balloons. Between October 2015 and October 2017, a total of 15 TIPS revisions have been performed due to shunt occlusion. In all cases in which the initial standard approach to cross the lesion failed, the SC technique was used. The study’s primary efficacy outcome measure was technical success, and primary safety outcome measure was immediate procedure-related complications rate. Secondary outcome measures included restenosis and peri-procedural adverse events rates. Results: Among 15 patients with shunt occlusion, seven (7/15; 46.5%) were successfully crossed via transjugular access, using standard angiographic catheters. In the remaining eight patients (nine procedures), recanalization with the SC technique was performed. Technical success was 100%. No complications or peri-procedural adverse events were noted. Restenosis rate was 11.1% (1/9 cases) as only one case of re-occlusion was noted, 3 months following recanalization using sole balloon angioplasty and successfully retreated using the SC technique and stent graft deployment. Conclusions: The SC technique is a safe and efficient option for the recanalization of occluded TIPS, in cases in which conventional lesion crossing is not feasible, in order to avoid percutaneous transhepatic access or new TIPS creation. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE)