Search results

1 – 10 of over 118000
Article
Publication date: 20 September 2022

Angelo Rossi Mori

The author is introducing a toolkit that can assist stakeholders to design, compare and replicate integrated care programmes, by making explicit their view on the transformations…

Abstract

Purpose

The author is introducing a toolkit that can assist stakeholders to design, compare and replicate integrated care programmes, by making explicit their view on the transformations of care and cure services, according to a structured template. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The toolkit is made of two elements: a classification and a template. The author adopted a step-wise approach of semantic modelling to work out three layers of a classification in the domain of integration needs related to care and cure services. The third layer consists of 23 non-overlapping classes that fully cover that semantic domain. The classes are used to build a template to elicit the stakeholder's standpoint about the transformations involved in the deployment of a programme. The result is the «Outline» of the programme.

Findings

So far, in eight years the author applied the toolkit to 100+ programmes either to design, simulate or evaluate them, either to compare them to similar ones in the same or in different jurisdictions, and we refined the description of the classes according to that experience.

Research limitations/implications

The objective of the toolkit is not to provide solutions, but to stimulate reflections on the transformations involved in a programme and their practical consequences in a precise context. In fact, the Outlines cannot be generalized: they are conceived to reflect the perspective of the stakeholders and thus are intrinsically subjective; in addition, they must be contingent, as they must depend on the local context in the particular timeframe. In case of similar initiatives in other localities, the Outlines must be filled in again by the local stakeholders; however, a subsequent comparison could help to explore similarities and motivated differences.

Practical implications

Ideally the stakeholders should use the Outline of the actual transformations in a programme as a reference to mediate between the principles and the methodologies provided by the «Models» and «Conceptual Frameworks» in the literature (e.g. Chronic Care Model, Rainbow Model, Development Model of Integrated Care Patient-Centered Medical Home and Maturity Models) and the deeper studies using the specific tools developed in their disciplines (e.g. on information modelling, process modelling, cost–benefit analysis and health technology assessment). The toolkit could have its role also in a multi-annual roadmap made of a sequence of programmes to cope with the urgent challenges on ageing, social changes and technological evolution, in synergy with regulations, budget, context maturity, critical success factors and local priorities.

Originality/value

The author argues that the approach of the structured Outline is unique, as the scoring mechanism to assess the relevance of the transformation within each class on the overall change brought by the whole programme into the health systems.

Article
Publication date: 21 September 2015

Lynn Stewart and Renée Gobeil

A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) determined the effectiveness of correctional programmes for women offenders and examined features of programmes providing the strongest outcomes…

Abstract

Purpose

A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) determined the effectiveness of correctional programmes for women offenders and examined features of programmes providing the strongest outcomes. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Electronic databases and web sites were reviewed to identify literature focused on interventions with female offenders published since 2006, the end point of the last REA conducted in the area. The following retention criteria were applied: participants were over age 18; sample included women and results are reported separately for women; study included an appropriate comparison group; study included recidivism as an outcome measure. Studies’ methodological design quality was assessed using the Maryland Scientific Methods Scale.

Findings

In total, one meta-analysis and 22 studies reflecting 17 unique samples, published from 2006 to December 2014, were identified. Overall, the best evidence suggests that the following programmes and approaches have an evidence base: first, substance abuse treatment, in particular in-custody or hierarchical therapeutic community programmes; second, gender-responsive programmes that emphasize existing strengths and competencies, as well as skills acquisition; and third, following in-custody programme treatment with participation in community follow-up sessions. There is also promising evidence for the use of community opioid maintenance among heroin addicted women.

Originality/value

This review demonstrated that since 2006 the number of high-quality research studies assessing women’s correctional outcomes has grown considerably. The results provide guidance to programme designers and administrators on programmes for women offenders likely to be effective in promoting public safety goals and offender reintegration.

Details

Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, vol. 1 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-3841

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 8 April 2010

Gregory G. Justis and Steven Chermak

Purpose – The CSI effect, as it is referenced in mainstream media, is a purported effect on public perceptions caused by the portrayal of forensics and investigations in popular…

Abstract

Purpose – The CSI effect, as it is referenced in mainstream media, is a purported effect on public perceptions caused by the portrayal of forensics and investigations in popular entertainment programming. Despite the obvious popularity of the programs – a common source of blame for such effects and the focus of limited prior research – impacts on perceptions by way of media content must be viewed as a product of multiple internal and external factors, rather than a result of popularity and viewership alone.

Methodology – By examining the portrayal of programming within the context of contemporary news publications, this project focuses on the value and context of presentations of forensics television programming across media genres, highlighting the bidirectional flow of popular media cues through various influential media outlets and outlining the potential for resulting public effects.

Findings – The authors find that an increase in the overall media visibility of entertainment images of forensic science, coupled with news media's tendency to tie such images to real-world forensics on the local and national scenes given an absence of alternative sources for news-oriented stories, speak to the importance of the holistic examination of the role of CSI-related programming in influencing popular perceptions.

Details

Popular Culture, Crime and Social Control
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-733-2

Article
Publication date: 1 September 1995

M.B. Robinson

Substantial investments are now being made in quality assuranceprogrammes throughout the developed world. Proposes that economicevaluation is one approach to justifying these in…

597

Abstract

Substantial investments are now being made in quality assurance programmes throughout the developed world. Proposes that economic evaluation is one approach to justifying these in terms of value for money. Three key elements are: comparison with some alternative course of action; measurement of costs; and measurement of consequences. Illustrates the difficulties of addressing these by a case‐study – an audit programme aiming to increase the use of intravenous thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction. Discusses the production of accurate costings; the wide confidence limits associated with regression analysis; and the numerous assumptions required in the modelling of effectiveness. Economic evaluation of quality assurance programmes may be useful in future, if the required data can be collected.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 8 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 August 2014

Ruhanita Maelah, Zakiah Muhammaddun Mohamed, Rosiati Ramli and Aini Aman

This study utilises an internship framework to justify the need for feedback from all three groups of internship stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to determine the…

2908

Abstract

Purpose

This study utilises an internship framework to justify the need for feedback from all three groups of internship stakeholders. The purpose of this paper is to determine the benefits, skills, and outcomes students gained through internships from the perspective of students, university and employers.

Design/methodology/approach

A set of structured questionnaires was used to survey the perceptions of students, university and employers of an accounting internship. A total of 172 responses were analysed.

Findings

Findings show that all three groups of stakeholders perceived that students benefit from the internship programme. They also perceived that an internship provides the students with both the technical and soft skills required in the marketplace. However, the mean score and ranking differ among the students, university and employers.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted based on feedback on a single accounting programme. Therefore any characteristics inherent in this sample that differ from the overall population of accounting programmes could bias the results and limit its generalisability and any associated inferences. Questionnaire responses should be interpreted with caution as perceptions and self-insights are subjective and may or may not be reflective of reality. This study falls short of putting forward any reasons why results differ from previous studies or why the mean scores of the three stakeholders all differ. Further research may take into consideration a comparison of internship programmes across institutions and disciplines. Future studies can also use the reflection approach and interview to better explain the benefits and skills developed through accounting internship programmes.

Practical implications

Practically, findings from this study provide feedback to the students, university and employers to continuously improve accounting internship for undergraduate accounting programmes.

Social implications

Social implications lie within the research framework that emphasises the student learning experience, university support through theoretical understanding and employer contribution through the practical component.

Originality/value

Internships have become part of an accounting curriculum in many universities globally. To date, most studies on internship practices are limited in scope and focus on feedback from a single perspective. This study fills the gap in the literature by conducting a perception-based survey of internship stakeholders: students, university and employers, on benefits and skills acquired through internship.

Details

Education + Training, vol. 56 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 April 2011

Amir Hossein Alavi and Amir Hossein Gandomi

The complexity of analysis of geotechnical behavior is due to multivariable dependencies of soil and rock responses. In order to cope with this complex behavior, traditional forms…

3793

Abstract

Purpose

The complexity of analysis of geotechnical behavior is due to multivariable dependencies of soil and rock responses. In order to cope with this complex behavior, traditional forms of engineering design solutions are reasonably simplified. Incorporating simplifying assumptions into the development of the traditional models may lead to very large errors. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate capabilities of promising variants of genetic programming (GP), namely linear genetic programming (LGP), gene expression programming (GEP), and multi‐expression programming (MEP) by applying them to the formulation of several complex geotechnical engineering problems.

Design/methodology/approach

LGP, GEP, and MEP are new variants of GP that make a clear distinction between the genotype and the phenotype of an individual. Compared with the traditional GP, the LGP, GEP, and MEP techniques are more compatible with computer architectures. This results in a significant speedup in their execution. These methods have a great ability to directly capture the knowledge contained in the experimental data without making assumptions about the underlying rules governing the system. This is one of their major advantages over most of the traditional constitutive modeling methods.

Findings

In order to demonstrate the simulation capabilities of LGP, GEP, and MEP, they were applied to the prediction of: relative crest settlement of concrete‐faced rockfill dams; slope stability; settlement around tunnels; and soil liquefaction. The results are compared with those obtained by other models presented in the literature and found to be more accurate. LGP has the best overall behavior for the analysis of the considered problems in comparison with GEP and MEP. The simple and straightforward constitutive models developed using LGP, GEP and MEP provide valuable analysis tools accessible to practicing engineers.

Originality/value

The LGP, GEP, and MEP approaches overcome the shortcomings of different methods previously presented in the literature for the analysis of geotechnical engineering systems. Contrary to artificial neural networks and many other soft computing tools, LGP, GEP, and MEP provide prediction equations that can readily be used for routine design practice. The constitutive models derived using these methods can efficiently be incorporated into the finite element or finite difference analyses as material models. They may also be used as a quick check on solutions developed by more time consuming and in‐depth deterministic analyses.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 28 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 September 2010

José Manuel Ponzoa Casado and Pedro Reinares Lara

The relevance of this study lies in the search for alternative sales channels, not originally intended for this end, at a time of general crisis within the tourism sector. In…

1237

Abstract

Purpose

The relevance of this study lies in the search for alternative sales channels, not originally intended for this end, at a time of general crisis within the tourism sector. In spite of the great number of companies from the tourism sector that join multi‐sponsor loyalty platforms and the high volume of tourism service offers (flights, journeys, hotel accommodation, etc.) made and accepted through this medium, little is known about basic aspects for the management of such companies' participation. The paper aims to investigate this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from a leading programme in the Spanish market over a wide period of time – ten years and nearly 100,000 point redemptions have been analysed – additional sales in different tourism service categories, related with the redemption of points, have been evaluated by comparing them with other offers made.

Findings

Tourism service offers are indeed one of the reward choices most popular among cardholders. In order to obtain tourism offers the consumer usually makes up their points total in the programme to the required level by making additional payments. It is important to classify cardholders according to their point credit‐rating (the rate at which they accumulate points in the programme) and make them offers in accordance with their preferences.

Practical implications

The benefits that a tourism service provider may obtain by joining a multi‐sponsor loyalty programme and including its services as reward offers are discussed. For programme managers information and conclusions relevant to reward catalogue design are also expounded.

Originality/value

This paper helps tourism service providers to take decisions with regard to joining a multi‐sponsor loyalty programme by reviewing important issues relating to both point redemption and sales.

Details

Tourism Review, vol. 65 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1660-5373

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 June 2008

Eva Skärstrand, Jörgen Larsson and Sven Andréasson

The purpose of this paper is to describe the adaptation and programme development of the Strengthening Families Programme to a Swedish setting.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the adaptation and programme development of the Strengthening Families Programme to a Swedish setting.

Design/methodology/approach

A descriptive approach was employed with a focus on the cultural adaptation and programme development. This included meetings with two reference groups, a telephone interview with parents, translation of materials and production of videos and manuals. A pilot study was conducted which included course evaluations by students and parents, meetings with teachers and group leaders and a focus group interview with parents.

Findings

The programme format was altered in the Swedish version so that the youth sessions were held earlier during the day and the parent sessions later in the evening. Instead of having one family session at every meeting, the Swedish version included two family sessions in all. In the Swedish version, the booster sessions were incorporated as a regular part of the programme. In addition, more emphasis on alcohol and other drugs was added as well as an extra session. Following the evaluation of the pilot study, the materials were revised, with the inclusion of a “milder” vocabulary concerning disciplinary matters.

Practical implications

It seems to be possible to disseminate the core elements in family programmes between different cultures, especially if care is taken to make adjustments to local conditions.

Originality/value

This paper makes a contribution to the research on how to culturally adapt prevention programmes.

Details

Health Education, vol. 108 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0965-4283

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 December 2021

Sara Nodoust, Mir Saman Pishvaee and Seyed Mohammad Seyedhosseini

Given the importance of estimating the demand for relief items in earthquake disaster, this research studies the complex nature of demand uncertainty in a vehicle routing problem…

Abstract

Purpose

Given the importance of estimating the demand for relief items in earthquake disaster, this research studies the complex nature of demand uncertainty in a vehicle routing problem in order to distribute first aid relief items in the post disaster phase, where routes are subject to disruption.

Design/methodology/approach

To cope with such kind of uncertainty, the demand rate of relief items is considered as a random fuzzy variable and a robust scenario-based possibilistic-stochastic programming model is elaborated. The results are presented and reported on a real case study of earthquake, along with sensitivity analysis through some important parameters.

Findings

The results show that the demand satisfaction level in the proposed model is significantly higher than the traditional scenario-based stochastic programming model.

Originality/value

In reality, in the occurrence of a disaster, demand rate has a mixture nature of objective and subjective and should be represented through possibility and probability theories simultaneously. But so far, in studies related to this domain, demand parameter is not considered in hybrid uncertainty. The worth of considering hybrid uncertainty in this study is clarified by supplementing the contribution with presenting a robust possibilistic programming approach and disruption assumption on roads.

Article
Publication date: 8 August 2019

Timo Dietrich, Sharyn Rundle-Thiele, Krzysztof Kubacki, James Durl, Matthew J. Gullo, Denni Arli and Jason P. Connor

The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative reflexive process evaluation method for a social marketing programme featuring an innovative virtual reality (VR) simulation…

1753

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an innovative reflexive process evaluation method for a social marketing programme featuring an innovative virtual reality (VR) simulation experience for adolescents.

Design/methodology/approach

A process evaluation framework focusing on three key elements – context, implementation and mechanisms of impact – was followed in this study. In total, 374 participants (mean age: 15.2 years, 58 per cent female) completed outcome evaluation surveys before and after the programme delivery, and 300 participants completed qualitative feedback forms following their participation in the VR component of the programme.

Findings

A process evaluation delivers insights beyond those attained in outcome evaluations, enhancing the understanding of factors contributing to programme success or failure that can be used to improve future programme iterations. The VR experience demonstrated high satisfaction scores with users, and the findings demonstrate the importance of a multi-disciplinary and industry partnered programme approach to support VR implementation and delivery.

Research limitations/implications

This research demonstrates that additional learnings are obtained from a process evaluation. The findings are limited to one specific research programme, and the outcome effects of the VR simulation have not been assessed in isolation.

Practical implications

The methods outlined in this paper offer a process evaluation tool that can be used by marketers and other practitioners to reflect on programme success or failure to enhance core offerings.

Originality/value

The application of Moore et al.’s (2015) process evaluation framework delivers a reflexive research tool that can be applied to critically consider three key elements: context, implementation and mechanisms of impact of developed programmes. VR’s capacity to provide a satisfying and highly valued programme resource that participants value for its realistic, novel and immersive experiential learning experience was demonstrated.

Details

Marketing Intelligence & Planning, vol. 37 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-4503

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 118000