Public Context Research Articles

The influence of religious institutional logic in frontline work

AbstractThis research analyses the influence of religion—as an institutional logic—on the work of frontline workers (FLWs) in hybrid public policy implementation contexts. We conducted semi‐structured interviews and used vignettes with 37 therapeutic communities (TCs) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, which provide care for individuals with problematic drug use. Through our analysis, we discovered variations in how FLWs from faith‐based and secular organisations categorise their clients and provide them with alternative services. These differences were evident in their perceptions of problematic drug use, desired outcomes for clients, and the methods they utilise to achieve these goals. In practice, faith‐based TCs prioritise behavioural categories and emphasise support from family and work as treatment alternatives, whereas secular TCs employ professional language and offer alternatives based on psychological and medical support. This study enhances the understanding of religion as an institutional logic and underscores the significance of analysing institutional logics to comprehend the actions of FLWs in cases of hybridity, particularly the role of faith‐based organisations in service delivery.Points for practitioners The religion of organisations can have an impact on the work of frontline workers (FLWs). This impact becomes especially clear in the categorisation process, as it shapes FLWs’ understanding of their work and the referrals they make based on that understanding.

Consumer response to visual harmony: When is a gender difference not a gender difference?

ABSTRACT Past marketing research has consistently shown that consumers prefer high harmony over low harmony in visual design, with females perceiving harmonious designs as more attractive than do males. Previous consumer studies also show that social expectations play a role in gendered response to visual communication. This research aims to explore possible reasons for divergence from historically established gendered responses to visual harmony. To investigate the role of social expectations in gendered response to visual harmony, we extend previous design research through (1) a multidimensional Implicit Association Test (md-IAT), (2) a social context study, and (3) combining both an IAT and a social desirability study. Contrasting widely published explicit results, our IAT results show no gender effects on implicit identification with harmony and implicit harmony attractiveness. In addition, the social context study demonstrates that gender effects depend on the private versus public context of consumption. In line with these results, Study 3 shows no effects of gender and social desirability on implicit harmony attractiveness, whereas gender differences in explicit attractiveness evaluation depend on social desirability (i.e., self-deceptive enhancement). Together, the findings suggest that previously reported systematic gender differences in (explicit) preferences for visual harmony trace back to social expectation effects.

Chain of Risks Evaluation (CORE): A framework for safer large language models in public mental health.

Large language models (LLMs) have gained significant attention for their capabilities in natural language understanding and generation. However, their widespread adoption potentially raises public mental health concerns, including issues related to inequity, stigma, dependence, medical risks, and security threats. This review aims to offer a perspective within the actor-network framework, exploring the technical architectures, linguistic dynamics, and psychological effects underlying human-LLMs interactions. Based on this theoretical foundation, we propose four categories of risks, presenting increasing challenges in identification and mitigation: universal, context-specific, user-specific, and user-context-specific risks. Correspondingly, we introduce CORE: Chain of Risk Evaluation, a structured conceptual framework for assessing and mitigating the risks associated with LLMs in public mental health contexts. Our approach suggests viewing the development of responsible LLMs as a continuum from technical to public efforts. We summarize technical approaches and potential contributions from mental health practitioners that could help evaluate and regulate risks in human-LLMs interactions. We propose that mental health practitioners could play a crucial role in this emerging field by collaborating with LLMs developers, conducting empirical studies to better understand the psychological impacts on human-LLMs interactions, developing guidelines for LLMs use in mental health contexts, and engaging in public education.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of antimicrobial resistance and virulence profiles of Salmonella enterica serotypes isolated from necropsied horses in Kentucky.

This study focuses on understanding how Salmonella, specifically isolated from horses, can resist antibiotics and cause disease. Salmonella is a well-known foodborne pathogen that can pose risks not only to animals but also to humans. By studying the bacteria from necropsied horses, the research aims to uncover how certain Salmonella strains develop resistance to antibiotics and which genetic factors make them more dangerous. In addition to antibiotic resistance, the research explores the biofilm-forming ability of these strains, which enhances their survival in harsh environments. The study also investigates their motility, a factor that contributes to the spread of infection. The findings can improve treatment strategies for horses and help prevent the transmission of resistant bacteria to other animals as well as humans. Ultimately, the research could contribute to better management of antibiotic resistance in both veterinary and public health contexts, helping to safeguard animal welfare and public health.

Ethical Imperatives in Marketing Analytics: A Framework for Responsible Data Practice in the Digital Age

This article examines the ethical challenges and considerations in data analytics within marketing and public relations contexts, focusing on the intersection of technological advancement and professional responsibility. Through analysis of current practices, regulatory frameworks, and industry cases, the article explores critical issues including privacy protection, algorithmic bias, transparency in data collection, and professional accountability in automated decision-making. The article addresses the tension between leveraging detailed consumer insights and maintaining ethical boundaries, particularly in an era of increasing reliance on artificial intelligence and machine learning tools. The article proposes a comprehensive framework for ethical data analytics that encompasses privacy protection, bias mitigation, and transparent practices while acknowledging the evolving nature of digital marketing landscapes. The findings suggest that while regulatory compliance provides a foundation, organizations must develop robust ethical guidelines that go beyond basic requirements to build trust and ensure responsible data usage. This article contributes to the growing body of literature on digital ethics and provides practical recommendations for professionals navigating the complex relationship between data-driven decision-making and ethical responsibility in marketing and public relations.

The teachers' perceptions about the use of the English books in teaching and learning process

This article was developed with the objective of identifying the perceptions of teachers about the use of English books in the teaching and learning process in educational institutions in Latacunga, where the data obtained through the use of an interview were in a public and private context using statistical-descriptive analysis, which allowed concluding that teachers consider the English book as an essential resource in the classroom, but need to be complemented with additional didactic resources. Another additional point is that the contents are not complete, so an improvement in the planning of contents is necessary. Finally, it is important to provide training on the use of textbooks, both for teachers in training and in-service teachers. Finally, in the fiscal context, the use of textbooks provided by the Ministry of Education is mostly used, as opposed to the private context in which textbooks from the market are mostly used, indicating that in both contexts textbooks have great influence in the development of the teaching and learning process, but in spite of this, they value different areas of the textbooks.

Pharmacovigilance and patient safety as a daily practice in nursing in two Latin-American countries

The study was conducted in Argentina and Peru, and focused on the settings of Nursing daily practice in the administration of safe medication on the axes of Pharmacovigilance and/or Patient Safety. The objective was to determine and compare Pharmacovigilance and Patient Safety as Nursing daily practices in public and private healthcare contexts, in order to identify settings that could lead to errors. This research was quantitative, relational, observational, prospective, cross-sectional, and analytical, with a comparative-relational design. Two validated and reliable instruments were used. Sample size: 230 nurses (Argentina =140, Peru = 90). Results: 81.8% of Huancavelica nurses, 68.6% of Chachapoyas (Peru), 73.7% of Buenos Aires, and 60.8% of Rosario (Argentina), indicated efficient Pharmacovigilance; whereas 71.4% of Chachapoyas nurses, 65.5% of Huancavelica (Peru); 52.6% of Buenos Aires, and 44.1% of Rosario (Argentina) indicated a secured Patient Safety. In both countries, 66% of nurses took the 10 correct steps for administering the medications. Additionally, 82% indicated that the medical prescription was illegible, and 86% expressed that the prescription was filled by the doctor in full. Conclusion: In both countries, Pharmacovigilance is applied efficiently and Patient Safety is secured. A contrast was made with the alternative hypothesis where both variables were interrelated, where: X2 = 16.807, gl = 2, p = 0.000. At the same time, there are significant differences between Argentina and Peru, with a Student’s t = 3.770, gl = 229, p = 0.000.

Local Television, Public Service Broadcasting and Local Community Climate Action

The media have been struggling to represent climate change, particularly in ways that inspire more people to do more. At the same time as reliable information and education about this topic is becoming more important, public service broadcasters find themselves under renewed threat. This article examines whether local television, if it was reimagined as community-led and operating within a public service context, could provide a solution for both problems: a source of inspiring stories about climate action and a means to democratise public service broadcasting. Using our research project on community-led television and climate action as a critical case study for a discussion of British public service television and its representation of climate change, we introduce our conceptualisation of a sustainable community which relies on key public service ideals to remain so. We show that television can play a key role in supporting communities in creating sustainable futures by creating community bonds and providing information and education.

SPREAD: Spatiotemporal Pathogen Relationships and Epidemiological Analysis Dashboard.

In the scope of public health, the rapid identification and control of infectious disease outbreaks are a paramount concern. Traditional surveillance methods often face challenges in effectively combining genetic, geographical, and temporal data, which is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of disease transmission dynamics. Addressing this critical need, the Spatiotemporal Phylogenomic Research and Epidemiological Analysis Dashboard (SPREAD) emerges as an innovative standalone web-based application. SPREAD integrates several modules for detailed genomic relationships, pinpointing genetically close pathogens, and spatial mapping, providing in-depth views of how diseases spread across populations and territories, with significant advantage to manage both bacteria and viruses based on allele and variant calling, respectively. Designed for broad accessibility, SPREAD operates seamlessly within web browsers, eliminating the need for sophisticated IT infrastructure and facilitating its use across various public health contexts. Its intuitive interface ensures that users can effortlessly navigate complex datasets, facilitating widespread access to advanced surveillance capabilities. Through its initial deployments, SPREAD has proven instrumental in quickly identifying transmission clusters, significantly aiding in the formulation of prompt and targeted public health responses. Through the integration of state-of-the-art technology with a focus on user-centered design, SPREAD offers a promising solution that highlights the potential of digital health innovations.

Effects of Narrative-Based Group Language Intervention on Spoken Narrative Skills of Preschoolers who are Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing in One-to-one and Public Speaking Interactions

Objectives: Previous research has shown that narrative-based language intervention (NBLI) is a viable approach for enhancing the narrative skills of children who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of NBLI in enhancing productivity, lexical and grammatical processing, and reducing the use of mazes in the spoken narratives of children with DHH. Methods: Ten children aged 5 to 6 years participated in this study. These children attended twelve 50-minute sessions of NBLI group therapy. Storytelling skills of children were elicited using carefully selected picture prompts designed to evoke specific narrative elements. The efficacy of the NBLI program was assessed using a pretest-posttest design, focusing on both one-to-one and public speaking interactions. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the total number of C-units and the diversity of words in the spoken narratives of children, both in one-on-one interactions and public speaking contexts, underscoring the effectiveness of NBLI across various communication settings. Conclusion: Improvements in spoken narrative skills in one-to-one and public speaking interactions were observed in children with DHH, supporting the effectiveness of NBLI for this population. These findings underscore the importance of language interventions that are specifically tailored to the characteristics and developmental stages of children with DHH, as they significantly improve spoken narrative skills across diverse communication contexts.

SUSTAINABLE DEMENTIA CARE: CLINICAL, PROGRAMMATIC, AND PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVES

Abstract When considering the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based innovations in aging, sustainability is a driving concern but understudied outcome. Sustainability refers to “is the extent to which a newly implemented intervention is maintained or institutionalized within a service setting’s ongoing, stable operations” (Lewis et al., 2017). Although attention in dementia care is beginning to pivot to issues related to successful dissemination and implementation of a growing number of evidence-based innovations, concerns related to the maintenance of long-term care adoption of dementia care interventions in clinical, community, and public health contexts remain pressing. Beyond dementia care and in the broader field of implementation science, available research on sustainability is limited with challenges ranging from heterogeneity in definitions, measurement, follow-up periods and similar issues. The objective of this symposium is to initiate a scientific and practice agenda as it relates to sustainability for dementia care interventions. We will feature presentations on dementia care sustainability from public health, community, clinical, and scientific perspectives. Following this symposium, we aim to establish a framework to better achieve sustainability of evidence-based and evidence-informed dementia care innovations across key settings and communities.

Research landscape of satisfaction in the public procurement context: a bibliometric analysis

This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of publications in the context of satisfaction in public procurement research, as retrieved from the Scopus database on 8th July 2024. The study includes publications that link aspects of satisfaction and public procurement. Data were analysed using VOSviewer and Harzing’s Publish or Perish software to conduct both performance analysis and science mapping. These are relevant for analysing performance metrics and visualisation of patterns from keyword co-occurrence analysis and bibliographic coupling. The findings reveal limited research publications related to satisfaction in the context of public procurement, with only 54 publications retrieved during the search. The trend shows fluctuations in the number of publications from 1997 to 2024. Key contributors include authors such as Kalinzi, C.; Muhwezi, M.; Munene, J.K.; and Warman, G., and institutions like Universitas Indonesia, alongside global participation from countries like China, Indonesia, and the United States. Keyword analysis highlights themes related to customer satisfaction, public procurement, and e-Government, emphasizing the pursuit of enhanced service quality and efficiency. Bibliographic coupling reveals interconnected research clusters focusing on impact of e-procurement system on satisfaction, influence of technology on performance, and user satisfaction with e-procurement system implementation. This structured analysis underscores diverse global contributions and identifies pathways for future research in the research domains of satisfaction in public procurement undertakings.

Substance use prediction using artificial intelligence techniques

Substance use poses a significant public health challenge worldwide, including in Finland. This study seeks to predict patterns of substance use, aiming to identify the driving factors behind these trends using artificial intelligence techniques. This research utilizes data from the 2022 Finnish National Drug Survey, comprising 3,857 participants, to develop predictive models targeting the use of cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamine, cocaine, and non-prescribed medications. Analysis of 23 questionnaire items yielded 76 features across four substance use dimensions: demographic attributes, experience and preferences of drug use, health-related aspects of drug use, and social attributes of drug use. In addition to traditional machine learning (ML) approaches previously applied in this field, three sophisticated deep learning models—standard LSTM, BiLSTM, and Recursive LSTM—were employed to evaluate their predictive performance. These LSTM models were further augmented with SHAP analysis to identify the primary influences on substance use patterns. While all these artificial intelligence models demonstrated superior predictive performance, our focus was specifically on the outcomes of the LSTM models due to their novel application in this field. The results underscore the exceptional performance of both LSTM and ML models in unraveling complex substance use behaviors, underlining their applicability in diverse public health contexts. This study not only sheds light on the predictors of substance uses but also furthers methodological innovation in drug research, charting new directions for crafting targeted intervention strategies and policies. The observed variability in predictor significance across different substances indicates the necessity for tailored prevention programs catering to particular user groups. Integrating machine learning with social science and public health policy, our research deepens the understanding of the factors influencing substance use and promotes effective strategies for its mitigation. Despite some limitations, this investigation establishes a foundation for future studies and accentuates the critical role of advanced computational techniques in addressing intricate social issues.

Nexus of employability, work climate, and service charter’s effectiveness: USEM model and self-determination theory perspective

Abstract This study aims to understand how ‘employability’ factors and ‘work climate’ affect the effective implementation of service charter protocols in the public sector context. The study employed a quantitative method anchored on the Understanding-Skillfulness-Efficacy belief-metacognition (USEM) model and self-determination theory, utilising the convenience sampling method in surveying 402 graduate employees of the civil service in Ghana. The findings confirm that skillfulness, efficacy belief, and metacognition employability elements derived from the USEM employability model significantly influence the service charter’s effectiveness. Meanwhile, ‘work climate’ significantly moderates the ‘efficacy-belief-service charters’ effectiveness (SCE)’ relationship. However, understanding the subject matter did not significantly impact SCE. This study makes a novel contribution to the services literature by addressing how ‘employability’ elements and ‘work climate’ interact to influence service charters’ effectiveness, an area of study needing more attention in services literature.

A Stewardship Approach to Policy Practice and Capacity Renewal in Canada

AbstractOne of Canada's most significant public administration challenges is ensuring the public service possesses the capacity and modern practices needed for effective policymaking. This article argues that Canada's policy renewal efforts have been hampered by a lack of focused and coherent public service reform more generally. Informed by international best practice and an appreciation for Canada's unique public administration context and history, I argue that Canada must adopt a stewardship approach. I provide five actionable recommendations targeted at renewing and modernizing policy capacity. These include: creating a new unit responsible for managing public service renewal to be headed by a new deputy Clerk of the Privy Council, mandating regular systematic reviews of public service policy capacity, expanding the substantive focus of the Clerk's annual reports, developing an enterprise‐wide training strategy for policy professionals, and standardizing modern policymaking practices by embedding them in formal policymaking processes and instruments.

Indirect electrochemical detection of perfluoro decanoic acid from water

Electrochemical detection of perfluoro decanoic acid (PFDA) has gained significant interest due to the its environmental persistence and potential health risks. This study focuses on the development and utilization of a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) sensor for the selective and sensitive detection of PFDA in aqueous samples. Commercial boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode was modified with MIP by electro polymerization in 2:1 (v/v) mixture of 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer solution (pH = 5.8) and methanol containing 10 mM o-phenylenediamine (o-PD) and 1 mM PFDA concentration. The electro polymerization process was carried out using cyclic voltammetry (CV) by scanning 25 cyclic voltammograms in a potential range of 0.00 →1.00 V/SCE with a scan rate of 0.05 V·s-1. The electrochemical performance of the MIP-BDD sensor using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) was assessed. Considering both voltametric detections based on oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and the lack of electrochemical activity of PFDA, investigation of its signal in the presence of increased PFDA concentrations is exploited for development of indirect detection method. Linear dependence between signal decrease vs. increasing PFDA concentrations allowed determining sensitivity and the lowest limit of detection of 0.160 nM (0.08 µg·dm-3) PFDA. The integration of MIP technology with electrochemical sensors offers a robust platform for environmental monitoring of PFDA, combining high selectivity, sensitivity and rapid response time. This method holds promise for advancing detection techniques for persistent organic pollutants in environmental and public health contexts.

Characterization of Destructive Nodes and Analysing their Impact in Wireless Networks

Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANETs) are being used to meet new requirements for efficiency and coordination in a variety of new public and residential contexts. Certain essential functions, including as resource management among network nodes, trust-based routing, and security for network maintenance, are not performed as well as they should because of the dynamic nature of wireless networks. Ad-hoc networks can also be attacked from different tiers of a network stack, and they are susceptible to secure communications. Destructive nodes have the ability to alter or reject routing parameters. They may also provide bogus routes in an attempt to intercept source data packets and pass them through. To handle the complexity arising from secure data exchange, some protocols have been developed. However, not all attack types can be detected and eliminated by a secure protocol in every scenario. Since security is not a feature that is built into MANETs, new secure wireless protocols need to concentrate on these issues. Thus, the analysis of destructive nodes' characteristics and effects on wireless networks in this research paper examined the behaviour of multiple attacks, their activities through neighbour selection, the establishment of paths from sources to destinations, and the dissemination of attack presence detection information to regular devices during path discovery and data transmission mechanisms. In order to categorize as legitimate, nodes must be constructed with safe transmission knowledge to provide trustworthy communication, validation, honesty, and privacy.

My back: co-designing municipal rehabilitation with and for individuals with long-lasting back problems: study protocol

BackgroundIn Denmark, the organization and content of rehabilitation for people with back problems vary by municipality. Furthermore, there is no systematic evaluation of the overall effect and quality of municipal rehabilitation efforts. Since individuals with long-lasting back problems often receive multiple interventions delivered by various professionals, departments, and sectors, a coordinated effort is essential within complex systems, like municipal organizations. Therefore, the Municipality of Svendborg, the University of Southern Denmark, and UCL University College aim to co-design an improved municipal rehabilitation program with and for individuals with back problems, within the existing municipal context. The new practices developed in the program seek to better support individuals to manage everyday life with back problems, develop effective rehabilitation practices, and decrease the associated municipal costs.MethodsMy Back is a mixed-method research study, utilizing a Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) approach to ensure iterative development and continuous improvement of municipal rehabilitation practices. This study is structured into several work packages (WPs) that focus on identifying experiences (WP 1), mapping current practices (WP 2), summarizing relevant literature (WP 3), conducting co-design workshops (WP 4), and the development and implementation of new rehabilitation practices via PDSA cycles (WP 5). These WPs will inform the development and implementation of new rehabilitation practices, which will be evaluated for quality and effectiveness (WP 6), and system-level changes (WP 7), followed by dissemination of results (WP 8).DiscussionThrough a local co-design process involving individuals with back problems, municipal professionals, and leaders, we expect strong relevance and engagement, ensuring successful implementation. The new practices aim to better support people with back problems to manage everyday life through improved rehabilitation and interdisciplinary collaboration among municipal social and health professionals. A platform model for monitoring local rehabilitation will be introduced to evaluate workability and economic implications within the target population. The knowledge and results from this study can be disseminated and adapted to public contexts throughout Denmark and potentially other countries with similar municipal healthcare structures. Sharing best practices and lessons learned from the implementation process can inform rehabilitation practices in different international settings.

Key factors in complex public health interventions to address vaccine hesitancy using a multidisciplinary approach: the VAX-TRUST project.

The VAX-TRUST project addresses vaccine hesitancy in seven European countries with a systematic and evidence-based approach. Interventions, targeting healthcare professionals, draw from behavioural and social theories. A checklist, inspired by the TIDieR (Template for Intervention Description and Replication), ensures a detailed description of actions, transparency and replicability. The intervention development process begins with collaborative meetings and systematic revisions, concluding with external evaluations for replicability in diverse public health contexts. This study aims to provide valuable insights for future complex interventions in public health, based on lessons learnt to reduce the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. The analysis of educational interventions within the VAX-TRUST project has led to the definition of precise guidelines to ensure their replicability and adaptation to various contexts, attempting to establish a universally applicable approach. Active participant engagement and consideration of local social dynamics, beyond information transmission, have emerged as key factors to improve intervention effectiveness. Various educational tools and collaboration with academic institutions have contributed to strengthening credibility.

Fast-track health technology assessment for in vitro diagnostics—a design thinking case study

The evolution of diagnostic technologies, combined with the urgent need for efficient healthcare delivery in challenging public health contexts, calls for agile and empathetic innovation. This is particularly relevant in...