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1 – 3 of 3Lieke H.H.M. Boonen, Stéphanie A. van der Geest, Frederik T. Schut and Marco Varkevisser
Purpose – To analyse the development of pharmaceutical policy in the Dutch market for outpatient prescription drugs since the early 1990s.Methodology – A literature review and…
Abstract
Purpose – To analyse the development of pharmaceutical policy in the Dutch market for outpatient prescription drugs since the early 1990s.
Methodology – A literature review and document analysis is performed to examine the effects of pharmaceutical policy on the performance of the Dutch market for outpatient prescription drugs since the early 1990s.
Findings – Government efforts to control prices of pharmaceuticals were effective in constraining prices of in-patent drugs, but had an opposite effect on the prices of generic drugs. The gradual transition towards managed competition – that particularly gained momentum after the introduction of the new universal health insurance scheme in 2006 – appears to be more effective in constraining prices of generic drugs than earlier government efforts to control these prices.
Originality – Comparative analysis of the impact of price regulation and managed competition on generic drug prices in the Netherlands.
Implications – Implications of the changing role of health insurers are discussed for the future market for prescription drugs and role of pharmacies in the Netherlands.
Lara Martin-Vicario, María Eugenia Martínez-Sánchez and Ruben Nicolas-Sans
The aim of this study was to observe how a user’s individual factors in a commercial weight-loss treatment app affect their perceived usefulness of its features and how they…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study was to observe how a user’s individual factors in a commercial weight-loss treatment app affect their perceived usefulness of its features and how they relate to each other.
Design/methodology/approach
The information was obtained from an online survey with a sample of 412 users from a branded app for a commercial weight-loss treatment using body mass index (BMI), self-efficacy, social support and perceived usefulness as variables.
Findings
Users with higher self-efficacy perceived the app’s features as more useful. However, BMI was not a factor except for the psycho-emotional support features, which individuals with obesity perceived as more useful. Likewise, it was found that there weren’t any significant differences in self-efficacy based on their BMI. Lastly, it was found that social support could not be used as a factor to predict self-efficacy.
Research limitations/implications
This study helps understand how individual factors for behavioural change may affect the perceived usefulness of a weight-loss app. Furthermore, the significance of self-efficacy as an influencing factor provides useful information for companies and app developers alike when developing their branded apps.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the body of knowledge on factors affecting user perceptions of weight-loss apps. It also adds to the literature of branded apps as complimentary resources for companies, which has not been studied in detail.
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