Search results

This paper aims to compute the Malmquist Index of Islamic and conventional banks to compare their performance in the sample period of 2005-2009. Islamic banks have been showing tremendous growth throughout the world in recent past. Their progress is exceptional in Islamic countries on account of patronization for religious reasons. There existed vacuum in research of their productivity change over the years.

This study tries to apply the Malmquist Index. The Malmquist Total Factor Productivity Index has been further divided into Efficiency Change Index, Technological Change Index, Pure Efficiency Change Index and Scale Efficiency Change Index to obtain an insight about the reasons for the change in productivity.

Results indicate that the productivity of Islamic banks decreased in 2007 but it increased in 2008 to 2009. Islamic banks had higher productivity growth from 2005 to 2006, but they experienced lower growth in subsequent years as compared to their conventional counterparts.

Data were not available before 2005 in Pakistan.

This study is helpful for the investors and bankers for formulating the future policy.

This study also provides a guideline for establishing the ethical financial institutions.

This is an original attempt.

Seasonal influenza epidemics accounted for significant morbidity and mortality loads worldwide despite the availability of a safe vaccine as an efficient tool against severity of the disease. However, the uptake of the latter was sub-optimal. This study aims to identify predictors and barriers related to seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

A cross-sectional study enrolled 502 individuals attending primary healthcare centers in Bahrain for ambulatory care between July and August 2022. The data were collected using an interviews-based questionnaire which included questions on demographic data, knowledge and attitudes and practices toward influenza vaccine. The authors identified the barriers as well as the determinants of the vaccine uptake and its recommendation to others.

The mean age of participants was 35.07 years (SD = 13.9). Most of the respondents were Bahraini (86.5%) and 53.4 % were females. The results revealed that 34.1% have previous information about the influenza vaccine and 36.9% versus 69.9% are willing to receive the vaccine or advice it to others, respectively. Determinants of vaccine uptake were identified.

This study confirmed a sub-optimal influenza vaccine acceptance in the general community of Bahrain despite a global access in primary care. Health professionals need to be more proactive in mobilizing the community and particularly females toward influenza vaccination.

This study aims to examine the effect of job stress on perceived organizational support (POS) and organizational commitment in hospitals in Amman, Jordan. It also investigated the mediating role of POS on the relationship between job stress and organizational commitment.

The study used a cross-sectional, quantitative survey design to collect data from 500 employees in six hospitals in Amman, Jordan. An Arabic version of a reliable and valid measurement instrument was used. A convenience sample was selected from employees in the targeted hospitals. Mediating effect was tested using the approach proposed by Baron and Kenny (1986). Validity and reliability tests were applied, and regression analyses were used to test the study hypotheses.

The results revealed a significant negative effect of job stress on POS and organizational commitment. The results also indicated full negative mediating effect of POS on the relationship between job stress and organizational commitment.

This research promotes hospitals to implement strategies that reduce employees’ job stress, increase levels of POS among employees working at hospitals, which, in turn, will enhance employees’ commitment to their hospitals.

This study is one of the first to investigate the proposed effects in Jordan in particular, and the Middle East in general. In addition, it contributes to the literature by examining the mediating effect of POS on the relationship between job stress and organizational commitment. Recommendations are provided to practitioners in hospitals based on the study results.