Do guidelines influence breathlessness management in advanced lung diseases? A multinational survey of respiratory medicine and palliative care physicians

Background: Respiratory medicine (RM) and palliative care (PC) physicians’ management of chronic breathlessness in advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) and lung cancer (LC), and the influence of practice guidelines was explored via an online survey. Methods: A voluntary, online survey was distributed to RM and PC physicians via society newsletter mailing lists. Results: 450 evaluable questionnaires (348 (77%) RM and 102 (23%) PC) were analysed. Significantly more PC physicians indicated routine use (often/always) of opioids across conditions (COPD: 92% vs. 39%, fILD: 83% vs. 36%, LC: 95% vs. 76%; all p < 0.001) and significantly more PC physicians indicated routine use of benzodiazepines for COPD (33% vs. 10%) and fILD (25% vs. 12%) (both p < 0.001). Significantly more RM physicians reported routine use of a breathlessness score (62% vs. 13%, p < 0.001) and prioritised exercise training/rehabilitation for COPD (49% vs. 7%) and fILD (30% vs. 18%) (both p < 0.001). Overall, 40% of all respondents reported reading non-cancer palliative care guidelines (either carefully or looked at them briefly). Respondents who reported reading these guidelines were more likely to: routinely use a breathlessness score (χ2 = 13.8; p < 0.001), use opioids (χ2 = 12.58, p < 0.001) and refer to pulmonary rehabilitation (χ2 = 6.41, p = 0.011) in COPD; use antidepressants (χ2 = 6.25; p = 0.044) and refer to PC (χ2 = 5.83; p = 0.016) in fILD; and use a handheld fan in COPD (χ2 = 8.75, p = 0.003), fILD (χ2 = 4.85, p = 0.028) and LC (χ2 = 5.63; p = 0.018). Conclusions: These findings suggest a need for improved dissemination and uptake of jointly developed breathlessness management guidelines in order to encourage appropriate use of existing, evidence-based therapies. The lack of opioid use by RM, and continued benzodiazepine use in PC, suggest that a wider range of acceptable therapies need to be developed and trialled

B2B green marketing and innovation theory for competitive advantage

Purpose In these economically and ecologically challenging times, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how innovation theory can be used to design more effective, proactive B2B green marketing strategies in order to meet the triple bottom line of economic, social, and ecological sustainability. Design-methodology-approach This conceptual paper provides a literature review of green marketing strategies and competitive advantage, and relates it to diffusion of innovation theory in a new way. First, a brief overview is described of corporate social responsibility (CSR) theories related to green marketing, with this paper providing value by adding innovation theory to address the gap in the literature. Next, a discussion is provided on reactive and proactive B2B green marketing strategies, degrees of innovation, and diffusion theory research, and propositions are developed. Then, a new model is presented on B2B green marketing innovation strategies and competitive advantage. Next, a conceptual analysis is presented using a diffusion of innovation characteristics framework to show relationships of the innovation characteristics with proactive B2B green marketing strategies and competitive advantage. Findings Five propositions are developed to reflect the relationship of B2B green marketing strategies with types of innovations and competitive advantage. In addition, a conceptual analysis found seven areas of B2B proactive green marketing strategies related to the diffusion of innovation characteristics. Findings also showed diffusion characteristics are associated with 11 key benefits of sustainable B2B green marketing competitive advantage. Research limitations-implications Limitations and managerial implications are discussed. Also, this paper suggests recommendations related to diffusion of innovation characteristics in future research. Practical implications This paper provides a diffusion of innovation characteristics framework to test the effectiveness of B2B green marketing strategies and to help generate competitive advantages in an ecologically-sustainable way. Managerial implications are discussed on how organisations can achieve successful competitive advantage while contributing to environmental sustainability for the common good of society. Originality-value This study addresses a gap in the literature on environmental-green marketing by being the first study to expand the CSR category of instrumental theories to include diffusion of innovation theory. Diffusion of innovation theory is applicable to green marketing because it includes new innovations (products, services, processes, etc.). An application of diffusion of innovation characteristics and their relationship to proactive B2B green marketing strategies can help shed light on how to increase the rate of adoption for green products, services, and processes to create a competitive advantage, and at the same time, help move the world toward greater ecological sustainability. © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limite

Multichannel retailing and the internet: prospects, problems and strategic options

While the internet holds several benefits for current catalogue and store retailers to pursue multichannel strategies, many firms have not achieved high levels of success in the integration of the internet channel in multichannel retailing. We take stock of the benefits of the internet in multichannel retailing, identify some problems and strategic options that affect the success of multichannel retail strategies using the internet, and offer a decision making framework that identifies critical issues in pursuing a multichannel retail strategy. © 2005 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

The influence of global consumer values and perceived risk factors on green vehicle adoption

Marketers of green products face a serious challenge. Surveys show that although consumers around the world care about the environment, often a large gap exists between attitudes and actual sustainable consumption behavior. To address this issue, our study investigates the influence of global consumer values and perceived risk factors on the purchase of green (e.g. hybrid and electric) and non-green vehicles. Automobiles are a vital product category to consumers and countries’ economies, with important implications for business strategy, public policy, and the global economic and ecological environment. This paper begins with a literature review of consumer values and perceived risk factors related to product adoption. Next, we present an exploratory qualitative netnographic analysis of the influence of 5 global consumer values and 6 perceived risk factors on U.S. consumers’ purchase of green and non-green vehicles. Results show that ‘environmental concern’ was not the main motivation for green vehicle purchase; consumers were more influenced by other factors. The findings also revealed similar consumer reasons for the purchase of both environmentally-friendly and non-green vehicles. The study provides worthwhile new insights for the marketing of environmentally-friendly products to help reduce the gap between consumer attitudes and actual green purchase behavior for a more sustainable future

THE INFLUENCE OF GLOBAL CONSUMER VALUES AND PERCEIVED RISK FACTORS ON GREEN VEHICLE ADOPTION

Marketers of green products face a serious challenge. Surveys show that although consumers around the world care about the environment, often a large gap exists between attitudes and actual sustainable consumption behavior. To address this issue, our study investigates the influence of global consumer values and perceived risk factors on the purchase of green (e.g. hybrid and electric) and non-green vehicles. Automobiles are a vital product category to consumers and countries’ economies, with important implications for business strategy, public policy, and the global economic and ecological environment. This paper begins with a literature review of consumer values and perceived risk factors related to product adoption. Next, we present an exploratory qualitative netnographic analysis of the influence of 5 global consumer values and 6 perceived risk factors on U.S. consumers’ purchase of green and non-green vehicles. Results show that ‘environmental concern’ was not the main motivation for green vehicle purchase; consumers were more influenced by other factors. The findings also revealed similar consumer reasons for the purchase of both environmentally-friendly and non-green vehicles. The study provides worthwhile new insights for the marketing of environmentally-friendly products to help reduce the gap between consumer attitudes and actual green purchase behavior for a more sustainable future

A study of neutralisation theory\u27s application to global consumer ethics: P2P file-trading of musical intellectual property on the internet

This study applied neutralisation techniques from neutralisation theory (Sykes and Matza, 1957) to consumer perceptions to justify unethical distribution and acquisition of unauthorised free digital music on the internet. A two-stage multimethod and qualitative study was performed. One qualitative data set was developed with written protocols in 2000 at the start of the Napster phenomenon with a sample of consumers from nine nations. The second research phase was done in 2004 with a netnographic approach to studying weblogs. Results supported the Marks and Mayo (1991) extension of Hunt and Vitell\u27s (1986) General Theory of Marketing Ethics model and Fukukawa\u27s (2002) Framework for Ethically Questionable Behaviour in Consumption. The first stage of cross-cultural analysis revealed nations\u27 differences in neutralisation techniques used by subjects to justify unethical file-trading behaviour. Results from both research phases indicated global similarities among consumer values. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Social Entrepreneurial Intention Change by Gender during the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study investigated the change in social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) by gender before and during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In particular, we examined the effects of environmental and personal factors on SEI. The mediating effect of positive psychological capital (PsyCap) was tested on the relationship between environmental factors and SEI during COVID-19. Survey data were collected from two cohorts of graduating senior business college students at a Sino-American University in China. Two samples of responses were received before (249) and during (253) the pandemic. Results indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic affected SEI differently by gender. Females were more likely to change their perceptions of environmental factors than males. Also, results showed positive psychological capital served as a mediator in the relationship between environmental factors and self-efficacy improvement (SEI), irrespective of gender disparities and the context of a pandemic. Notably, the variable of hope emerged as a positive and universal psychological construct that created and sustained SEI regardless of the pandemic situation and gender. Our study makes new, valuable contributions to the literature on social entrepreneurship and provides meaningful implications and recommendations for developing important educational and public policies to promote and link social entrepreneurship with solving societal problems

The Effects of Morality and Positivity on Social Entrepreneurial Intention

This study investigated the dynamics of morality, positivity, and social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) of individuals. The ‘inconsistent mediation’ effects of morality and positivity were observed in relationship with SEI. The findings indicate that positive psychological capital (PsyCap) positively mediated the relationship between morality-as-cooperation (MAC) and SEI, β =.391, SE =.103, p \u3c.001, while the direct effect of MAC on SEI was negative, β = −.174, SE =.092, p =.032. These findings can contribute to the literature on social entrepreneurial intention