Cost Information Research Articles

Letter to the Editor: “Effect of grape seed extract on β-catenin gene expression and hyperglycemia in rats induced by streptozotocin”

This letter is related to the article titled "Effect of grape seed extract on β-catenin gene expression and hyperglycemia in rats induced by streptozotocin" published in Volume 39, Is sue 2 of the Eurasian Journal of Veterinary Sciences in 2023. First of all, we would like to thank you for the study whose aim was to determine the effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on body weight, blood glucose, and β-catenin gene expres sion in experimental Type 2 diabetic rats. We read this ar ticle with interest and have one suggestion for the authors. The authors reported that the effect of grape seed extract on blood glucose, body weight, and B-catenin gene expression levels determined in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Instead of examining the expression levels of the tissue ma terials obtained due to the experimental design at a single gene level, next-generation sequencing, and total transcrip tome level will allow the expression levels of many genes expressed in the relevant pathway to be determined. In this regard, a literature search on the Web of Science with the keywords "streptozotocin", "diabetes", and "RNA-seq" reve aled 29 studies in the last four years. Among these studies; there is a study on RNA-seq analysis in diabetic male mouse liver (Ge et al 2020). Again, different functional, cellular, and molecular models of diabetic cardiomyopathy were exami ned in Type I and Type II mouse models administered with Streptozotocin (Marino et al 2023). Elzinga et al. (2023) reported research results in which diabetic kidney disease and neuropathy were examined at the transcriptome level in type I and type II diabetic mice. In the currently planned and realized experimental design, it is recommended that next-generation sequencing analyses in liver and pancre atic tissues be performed in a short time in terms of cost, time, and more information content. It is envisaged that further investigation of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus disease at the transcriptome level in animal experimental models with grape seed extract and publication of the analysis results in international journals will have a serious interest potential for researchers working on this subject

Budget impact analysis of participating in sponsored clinical trials in cancer within the Colombian healthcare system: A real-world evidence approach.

e23031 Background: Clinical trials (CTs) are a key element in researching and developing new technologies for cancer. Assessing the economic impact of CTs and the potential savings for healthcare systems in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) is vital to guide healthcare decision-making. This research aims to quantify the budget impact for the Colombian Health System of including hematology and oncology patients in sponsored clinical trials. Methods: This study uses real-world data (RWD) from CTIC, a high-complexity cancer center from Bogotá, Colombia. We followed the Budget Impact Analysis methodology defined by the local HTA agency using data for five tumors retrieved from an institutional data lake resource using clinical information and related costs. Tumors were selected based on their prevalence and economic burden. CTIC’s clinical experts validated the cost-generating events for each disease. The eligible population for phase 3 clinical trials was estimated from the literature and CTIC oncology units’ leaders’ opinions. Prevalent and incident population data were obtained from the Colombian High-Cost Account (CAC). Results: There are 7,703 potential patients to be included in CTs, representing a total cost of 217,544,023 for 2023 USD (1 USD = 4,325 COP). If at least 25% of patients with these tumors were included in CTs in 2023, the approximate cost would be 54,386,006 USD. Advanced prostate cancer represented the highest cost, given its prevalence and CT inclusion opportunity. Conclusions: With approximately USD 24 billion spent on healthcare (USD 5 billion in drugs), Colombia could save around 4% of its drug expenditure if all potential candidates were to be included in cancer CTs. Furthermore, assuming similar average costs per patient, inclusion rates, and population growth for 5-years, this could represent savings of around USD 1.1 billion. These savings would ease the reimbursement and access to innovation for Colombian patients, improving health outcomes and enhancing long-term financial sustainability. [Table: see text]

Analysis of the Motivation and Game of Akcome Guobin's Anti-Takeover Strategy

With the continuous improvement of China's economic level, the living standard of the residents has been improving, so that people pay more attention to health. At the same time, the rising economic status of China has also made mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as one of the important means of capital market operation, while M&A and counter-mergers and acquisitions (CMA) are occurring frequently in China, and M&A and counter-mergers and acquisitions (CMA) are gradually becoming active in the health service industry. As a leading health management service provider, Aikang Guobin, in the face of fierce market competition and the wave of M&A in the industry, has adopted "poison pill plan", "white knight", "economic litigation" and other anti-M&A strategies against Meinian Health. In order to protect its own interests, it has adopted "poison pill plan", "white knight" and "economic litigation" against MNH. In this paper, we will analyse the motivation of Akcome's anti-M&A, the reasons why it decided to implement anti-M&A, and the strategies of the anti-M&A measures implemented. In order to investigate the anti-merger and acquisition (M&A) strategies adopted by enterprises in the face of M&A threats and their effects, we take the example of Akcome Guobin Health Checkup Management Group, analyze its anti-takeover motivation and adopt the game theory to study its anti-merger and acquisition strategies such as "Poisoned Pill", "White Knight" and "White Knight" from the perspectives of law, technology, stock market and so on." The research results indicate that the company's anti acquisition strategy is a good strategy. Akkang's anti merger strategy has a positive impact on maintaining market share, improving financial performance, and enhancing brand value. The game process between Akkang and Meinian is somewhat complex, involving information collection, risk management, cost considerations, and time dimensions.

Multimodal cross-examination of progressive apraxia of speech by diffusion tensor imaging-based tractography and Tau-PET scans.

Progressive apraxia of speech (PAOS) is a 4R tauopathy characterized by difficulties with motor speech planning. Neurodegeneration in PAOS targets the premotor cortex, particularly the supplementary motor area (SMA), with degeneration of white matter (WM) tracts connecting premotor and motor cortices and Broca's area observed on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We aimed to assess flortaucipir uptake across speech-language-related WM tracts identified using DTI tractography in PAOS. Twenty-two patients with PAOS and 26 matched healthy controls were recruited by the Neurodegenerative Research Group (NRG) and underwent MRI and flortaucipir-PET. The patient population included patients with primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) and non-fluent variant/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia (agPPA). Flortaucipir PET scans and DTI were coregistered using rigid registration with a mutual information cost function in subject space. Alignments between DTI and flortaucipir PET were inspected in all cases. Whole-brain tractography was calculated using deterministic algorithms by a tractography reconstruction tool (DSI-studio) and specific tracts were identified using an automatic fiber tracking atlas-based method. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and flortaucipir standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) were averaged across the frontal aslant tract, arcuate fasciculi, inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus, inferior and middle longitudinal fasciculi, as well as the SMA commissural fibers. Reduced FA (p < .0001) and elevated flortaucipir SUVR (p = .0012) were observed in PAOS cases compared to controls across all combined WM tracts. For flortaucipir SUVR, the greatest differentiation of PAOS from controls was achieved with the SMA commissural fibers (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve [AUROC] = 0.83), followed by the left arcuate fasciculus (AUROC = 0.75) and left frontal aslant tract (AUROC = 0.71). Our findings demonstrate that flortaucipir uptake is increased across WM tracts related to speech/language difficulties in PAOS.

Who Does the Public Blame for Inequities in Public Service Provision? Examining the Effect of Contracting and Cost Information in a Survey Experiment

Research assessing blame attribution in third-party governance views public service performance as a function of efficiency and effectiveness but overlooks equity. We address this gap in the literature by asking two questions: (1) Does contracting out lessen the blame assigned to the government for inequitable service provision? and (2) Is the public less critical of inequitable service provision when told it results in greater efficiency? To answer these questions, a survey experiment was conducted using a representative sample of United States residents (n = 1034). The results show that, while the government still bears responsibility for inequitable service provision, contracting out diminishes some of the responsibility placed on the government, shifting it toward the contractor instead. In addition, citizens’ blame attribution patterns do not change when told inequitable service provision results from efforts to improve efficiency, which suggests that the public does not excuse inequitable service provision even when told it saves money. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of blame dynamics in third-party governance and bring implications to democratic accountability.

Health care cost accounting in the Indian hospital sector.

Setting reimbursement rates in national insurance schemes requires robust cost data. Collecting provider-generated cost accounting information is a potential mechanism for improving the cost evidence. To inform strategies for obtaining cost data to set reimbursement rates, this analysis aims to describe the role of cost accounting in public and private health sectors in India and describe the importance, perceived barriers and facilitators to improving cost accounting systems. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 key informants. The interview tool guide was informed by a review of published and grey literature and government websites. The interviews were recorded as both audio and video and transcribed. A thematic coding framework was developed for the analysis. Multiple discussions were held to add, delete, classify or merge the themes. The themes identified were as follows: the status of cost accounting in the Indian hospital sector, legal and regulatory requirements for cost reporting, challenges to implementing cost accounting and recommendations for improving cost reporting by health care providers. The findings indicate that the sector lacks maturity in cost accounting due to a lack of understanding of its benefits, limited capacity and weak enforcement of cost reporting regulations. Providers recognize the value of cost analysis for investment decisions but have mixed opinions on the willingness to gather and report cost information, citing resource constraints and a lack of trust in payers. Additionally, heterogeneity among providers will require tailored approaches in developing cost accounting reporting frameworks and regulations. Health care cost accounting systems in India are rudimentary with a few exceptions, raising questions about how to source these data sustainably. Strengthening cost accounting systems in India will require standardized data formats, integrated into existing data management systems, that both meet the needs of policy makers and are acceptable to hospital providers.

How consumers with hedonic (vs utilitarian) purchase motive use item-price (vs price-item) presentation order as a mechanism to justify their hedonic purchase

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the moderating role of hedonic and utilitarian purchase motives for the presentation order effect. Although past research finds that presenting item first and price later (e.g. 70 items for $29) increases consumers’ purchase intention more than presenting the information in the opposite order (e.g. $29 for 70 items), the effect was mostly examined in a hedonic consumption context. This study examines whether the effect is applicable for hedonic purchases but is less applicable for utilitarian purchases, and why.Design/methodology/approachSeven experiments tested the moderating effect of purchase motives for the presentation order effect. Two serial mediation analyses were conducted to examine the underlying mechanism.FindingsThe “item-price” (vs “price-item”) order increases hedonic purchases, but not utilitarian purchases. Because consumers feel guilty about hedonic purchases, they engage in motivated information processing to perceive greater value from their hedonic purchase when item (benefit) information is presented first and price (cost) information is presented later. Perceiving greater value reduces guilt, which consequently increases hedonic purchases. In contrast, the order effect is not observed for utilitarian purchases that do not elicit guilt. When a price discount is offered, the order effect is reversed because actual savings justify hedonic purchases better than perceived savings resulting from motivated information processing.Practical implicationsWhen promoting hedonic products, marketers are recommended to present item information before price information, unless a price discount is offered, in which case the price should be presented first.Originality/valueThis research introduces a novel moderator for the presentation order effect and a novel underlying mechanism, driven by the motivation to alleviate guilt associated with hedonic purchases.

Optimal Revision Rules of Cost-Based Transfer Prices in a Multi-Period Production Setting

This paper investigates standard cost-based transfer prices in a two-period setting. We analyze whether and how firms should use cost information observed after the first period to revise the transfer price for the second period. Updating the transfer price improves trading decisions if realized cost helps predict future costs, but it causes underinvestment in cost reduction. We find that firms benefit from revising the transfer price based on realized cost instead of keeping it fixed for both periods. Moreover, optimally balancing trade and investment efficiency requires that the firm commits ex ante to a transfer price that does not fully use the information contained in past cost observations to update expected costs in future periods.

Investment incentives attract foreign direct investment: evidence from the great recession

Do investment incentives influence private firms’ location decisions? Whereas prior research emphasizes tax incentives, we focus on incentives that require real-time government spending including job training and infrastructure. Real incentives influence where firms invest by resolving costly information asymmetries, and are subject to budget constraints that give rise to political targeting. This paper evaluates how real incentives shape the location decisions of foreign firms, investors who suffer from acute information asymmetries. We leverage features of the Great Recession and the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus, which temporarily increased states’ fiscal capacity to fund real incentives. During the narrow stimulus spending window, states that received more federal Medicaid stimulus—instrumented with the exogenous component of the Act’s funding formula—attracted more foreign direct investment (FDI) and increased state spending on real incentives. The stimulus window approximately coincides with FDI’s temporary geographic expansion into US counties that lacked a history of these investments. On average, these counties had narrow vote margins in the prior gubernatorial election and garnered more state real incentive spending. These correlates are pronounced in counties with idle industrial capacity and in states whose governors sought re-election. Tax incentives had no effect on FDI. These findings have important implications for the efficacy of investment incentives and the political economy of industrial policy.

Improvements in technology and the expanding role of time-driven, activity-based costing to increase value in healthcare provider organizations: a literature review.

This study evaluated the influence of technology on accurately measuring costs using time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) in healthcare provider organizations by identifying the most recent scientific evidence of how it contributed to increasing the value of surgical care. This is a literature-based analysis that mainly used two data sources: first, the most recent systematic reviews that specifically evaluated TDABC studies in the surgical field and, second, all articles that mentioned the use of CareMeasurement (CM) software to implement TDABC, which started to be published after the publication of the systematic review. The articles from the systematic review were grouped as manually performed TDABC, while those using CM were grouped as technology-based studies of TDABC implementations. The analyses focused on evaluating the impact of using technology to apply TDABC. A general description was followed by three levels of information extraction: the number of cases included, the number of articles published per year, and the contributions of TDABC to achieve cost savings and other improvements. Fourteen studies using real-world patient-level data to evaluate costs comprised the manual group of studies. Thirteen studies that reported the use of CM comprised the technology-based group of articles. In the manual studies, the average number of cases included per study was 160, while in the technology-based studies, the average number of cases included was 4,767. Technology-based studies, on average, have a more comprehensive impact than manual ones in providing accurate cost information from larger samples. TDABC studies supported by technologies such as CM register more cases, identify cost-saving opportunities, and are frequently used to support reimbursement strategies based on value. The findings suggest that using TDABC with the support of technology can increase healthcare value.

How consumers evaluate costs in complex services: the case of mutual fund fees

PurposeIn modern societies, consumer well-being is dependent on choices regarding complex services, such as investments, health care, insurance and lending. However, evaluating costs of such services is often difficult for consumers due to a combination of limited cognitive resources and complexity of the service. The purpose of this study is to empirically examine to what extent three specific consequences of complexity influence consumer tendencies to make mistakes when evaluating the costs (or price) of complex services.Design/methodology/approachThree studies were conducted (survey: n = 153, experiment: n = 332 and conjoint analysis: n = 225), all focusing on how consumers evaluate costs in the complex mutual fund setting.FindingsThe authors find that consumers struggle with estimating and using cost information in decision-making in the complex services setting. Consumers of complex services frequently underestimate the costs over the long-term, may see costs as a signal of service quality and are susceptible to influence from presentation formats when evaluating costs.Research limitations/implicationsThe study investigates mutual funds, which is one example of a complex service. In order to get a full picture of how consumers deal with costs in complex setting, future research needs to expand this focus to other types of complex services.Practical implicationsThe results have implications for both marketers of complex services and policymakers. For marketers, this paper highlights that competing with a low-cost strategy may be difficult in the complex services setting as consumers may lack the ability to actually evaluate what they pay over the long term. For policymakers, increased simplification of prices may be an attractive option. However, it is important that this simplification is done in a way that increases the possibility to compare prices.Originality/valueAs complexity influences several aspects of decision-making, an understanding of how consumers evaluate costs in complex settings is dependent on taking a multidimensional research approach. This paper makes a novel contribution to the literature on pricing by showing that consumers struggle with multiple aspects when evaluating costs in complex contexts. Understanding these effects is important to policy, as well as to research on the cognitive value of simplicity that is currently gaining traction in marketing research.

Analysing adherence to guidelines for time-lapse imaging information on UK fertility clinic websites

This study aims to systematically analyze the provision of information on Time-lapse Imaging (TLI) by UK fertility clinic websites. We conducted an analysis of 106 clinic websites that offer fertility treatment to self-funded patients. The analysis aimed to examine whether these clinics offer TLI, the associated cost for patients, and the clarity and quality of the provided information. Out of the 106 websites analysed, 71 (67%) claimed to offer TLI. Among these websites, 25 (35.2%) mentioned charging patients between £300 and £850, 25 (35.8%) claimed not to charge patients, and 21 (29.6%) did not provide any cost information for TLI. Furthermore, 64 (90.1%) websites made claims or implied that TLI leads to improved clinical outcomes by enhancing embryo selection. Notably, 34 (47.9%) websites did not mention or provide any links to the HFEA rating system. It is crucial to provide patients with clear and accurate information to enable them to make fully informed decisions about TLI, particularly when they are responsible for the associated costs. The findings of this study raise concerns about the reliability and accuracy of the information available on fertility clinic websites, which are typically the primary source of information for patients.

Information cost and securitization

Securitization increases the complexity of assets while incurring associated costs, which enhances asset liquidity by curbing private information production and facilitating asset resale. The liquidity improvement reduces the immediate financing costs for firms, incentivizing them to engage in securitization. Firms have stronger incentive to securitize when the cost of securitization is lower or the underlying assets are less liquid.

Money matters: a critique of 'informed financial consent'.

In recent years, concerns about the financial burdens of health care and growing recognition of the relevance of cost to decision making and patient experience have increasingly focused attention on financial 'transparency' and disclosure of costs to patients. In some jurisdictions, there have been calls not only for timely disclosure of costs information, but also for 'informed financial consent'. However, simply putting the 'financial' into 'informed consent' and invoking an informed consent standard for cost information encounters several ethical, legal, and practical difficulties. This article will examine the viability and desirability of 'informed financial consent', and whether it is possible to derive ideas from traditional informed consent that may improve decision making and the patient experience. We argue that, while there are important legal, ethical, and practical challenges to consider, some of the principles of informed consent to treatment can usefully guide financial communication. We also argue that, while medical practitioners (and their delegates) have an important role to play in bridging the gap between disclosure and enabling informed (financial) decision making, this must be part of a multi-faceted approach to financial communication that acknowledges the influence of non-clinical providers and other structural forces on discharging such obligations.

SMART SHOPPING CART USING ESP

The Smart Shopping Cart is an innovative project that leverages the capabilities of the ESP32 microcontroller, along with various sensors and displays, to create a convenient and intelligent shopping experience. The system is designed to streamline the process of in-store shopping by automatically tracking and managing products as they are placed in the cart. ESP32-CAM: The heart of the system, responsible for controlling other components and performing QR code scanning. Ultrasonic Sensor: Used for object detection, triggering the camera to scan QR codes on products when they are placed in the cart. Buzzer: Provides audible feedback to indicate successful QR code scans and other system events. 128x64 OLED Display: Displays product information, scan status, and other relevant data to the shopper. Initialization: Upon starting, the ESP32-CAM connects to Wi-Fi and initializes the ultrasonic sensor, buzzer, and OLED display. Object Detection: The ultrasonic sensor continuously measures the distance between the sensor and objects. When a product is placed in the cart, the sensor triggers the camera. QR Code Scanning: The ESP32-CAM camera scans the QR code on the product, extracting its information such as name, price, and other details. Feedback: Upon successful QR code scanning, the buzzer provides an audible confirmation, and the OLED display shows product information and total cost. Key Words: Buzzer,ESP-32CAM, Ultrasonic Sensor, 128*64 OLED Display

The applications of building information modeling in the life-cycle of green buildings: a comprehensive review

Previous research indicates that Building Information Modeling (BIM) serves as a digital platform for integrating pertinent data across all stages of construction, enhancing data management capabilities. This is notably crucial during initial investment planning and throughout project execution, facilitating efficient engineering information management, practice, quality assurance, and cost control concurrently. BIM contributes novel insights into green building development while posing significant challenges. The complexity of optimizing multiple performance indicators using BIM has hindered its widespread adoption in design practice, confining its application primarily to academic research. Therefore, this paper reviewed 168 previous studies from the past ten years, conducted an in-depth review and comparison, and provides suggestions for possible future research direction for BIM research. Specifically, the paper systematically reviews the application of BIM in design, construction, operation and maintenance, retrofit and demolition, and all the assessment phases of green buildings, and discusses the advantages of the BIM application in green buildings as well as an analysis of the current research gaps. This research enhances practitioners’ understanding of BIM and green buildings’ current trends and development status. It elucidates BIM's role in fostering green building development, guiding future industry professionals and researchers in effectively integrating BIM into sustainable construction practices.

Factors affecting the profitability of wheat production in the states of Guanajuato and Nuevo Leon, Mexico

The objective of this research was the analysis of the main factors involved in the profitability of bread wheat in the states of Guanajuato and Nuevo León, Mexico. To obtain the information, semi-structured interviews were applied to key informants who indicated the context of the crop in their region. In order to estimate profitability, production performance and costs production were determined. The production cost information, for the two Mexican states, was obtained through the producer panels methodology in 2019. Producers were asked about the costs expended in land preparation, cultivation inputs, harvest and others such as water, electricity and financial rights. In addition, wheat yields and the price received per ton sold at the market. It was noticed that Nuevo León and Guanajuato have an agro-industrial infrastructure that demands Mexican wheat. In each state, the profitability of the crop depends on a number of factors such as the planting system and the production technology used; but in all the places studied, bread wheat had positive profitability. However, there are high production costs and a continuous deterioration of the real prices of the product. It is necessary to develop soft wheat varieties that adapt to rainfall conditions for agricultural regions where wheat cultivation is under those conditions. Although Mexico is self-sufficient in the production of flour, each year it is necessary to import an additional volume of bread-making wheat since Mexican industry is deficient facing the high demand for bread production.

The Costs of Straw in Germany: Development of Regional Straw Supply Costs between 2010 and 2020

BackgroundThe bioeconomy relies strongly on the availability of biomass, including biogenic waste, residues and by-products. The cost of supply often represents a significant proportion of the total value of the resource. However, there is limited insight into the current supply costs of wastes, residues and by-products. This includes straw, which is the most important agricultural by-product in Germany. Despite its importance, standardised information on supply costs or market prices, as well as their temporal and spatial variation, is missing.AimTherefore, there is an urgent need for the temporal and spatial monitoring of individual cost components within total supply costs. This is essential to identify the most cost-effective options for the utilisation of agricultural by-products. Therefore, this study focuses on the case of straw to develop a model capable of visualising and mapping regional supply costs over time.MethodWe use an activity-based costing approach to calculate and monitor regional supply costs, defined as the monetary expenditure required to make straw available at the farm level. Our methodology combines typical technical and operational aspects of straw collection and transport with regional wage statistics, yield data, farm sizes, fuel prices and labour costs. We also consider storage costs and opportunity costs associated with nutrient replacement and conduct sensitivity analyses to measure their impact. To validate our calculations, we compare them with actual straw prices. To establish a reliable cost monitoring system, we propose an approach to assess the quality of input data.ResultIn 2011, the regional supply costs for straw varied from 45.72 EUR/Mg[FM] to 92.92 EUR/Mg[FM], showing a wide range. Over the years, the German average supply cost for straw increased from 56.78 EUR/Mg[FM] in 2010 to 58.79 EUR/Mg[FM] in 2020, with a peak of 61.24 EUR/Mg[FM] in 2018. This suggests that the temporal impact on mass-specific costs is relatively moderate compared to the spatial distribution of supply costs. The sensitivity analysis highlights storage time and costs, straw yield and wage levels as the main drivers of supply costs. Doubling the storage period from 3 to 6 months increases total costs by 20%. On average, the costs explain 75% of the straw price across all federal states, depending on annual price and cost levels. The quality assessment of input data shows that currently 68% of the data cannot be automatically extracted for continuous monitoring. Detailed results are available in a corresponding data publication: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8145082.ConclusionIn the absence of standardised market prices, the model presented provides an approach to estimating the supply costs of straw, expressed in terms of the monetary cost to farmers of mobilising straw. This cost information could be a valid database for further techno-economic assessments or models to evaluate the economic feasibility of straw valorisation. Due to the modular structure of the model, the future development of supply costs can be considered if the input data are adapted to future scenarios.Graphical

Beyond standard treatment: A qualitative descriptive study of cancer patients' perceptions of hypnotherapy in cancer care

Background and purposeCancer remains a leading cause of death in Australia. The number of new cancer cases diagnosed each year is expected to surpass 200,000 by 2033. This marks a significant increase from about 88,000 cases in 2000 to an estimated 165,000 cases in 2023. Despite advancements in treatment, emotional and psychological challenges in cancer care are often overlooked. This study focuses on hypnotherapy, a complementary therapy recognized for its efficacy for physical and emotional symptoms, yet underutilized in Australian cancer care. The research aims to explore patients' perceptions of hypnotherapy and identify barriers to its integration, contributing to the development of holistic, patient-centered cancer care models. Materials and methodsA qualitative study employing semi-structured interviews was conducted with 14 adult cancer patients (breast, lung, and colorectal) undergoing active treatment, selected through convenience sampling. The interviews were carried out from May 2022 to August 2023, focusing on participants' experiences and attitudes toward hypnotherapy among other complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's six-step framework was applied to the data. ResultsFive themes were developed following analysis: 1) emotional roller coaster of cancer diagnosis, 2) participants’ perspectives on hypnotherapy among other CAM modalities, 3) hypnotherapy as a psychological vs physiological support, 4) fringe benefits of hypnosis, and 5) the main hurdles: cost and lack of information. Participants expressed a diverse range of experiences and attitudes towards hypnotherapy and CAM, with a strong emphasis on the need for emotional support in cancer care. Although hypnotherapy was recognized for its potential to address both emotional and physical symptoms, its predominant use was for emotional well-being. Participants also highlighted the importance of attitudes and endorsements from healthcare providers in their decision-making process about CAM therapies. ConclusionThe study findings emphasize the need for a more integrative and patient-centered approach in cancer care that includes hypnotherapy as a non-pharmacological intervention for physical and particularly emotional support. Healthcare providers should be aware of the potential value of hypnotherapy and consider patient preferences in their recommendations. In addition, addressing the identified barriers could improve the accessibility and integration of hypnotherapy into cancer care protocols in Australia.

Do Intra-industry Peer Effects Influence the Debt Financing Policy of Companies Listed in Thailand?

Rational imitation of financial policies, namely peer effects, was documented to prevail among firms within an industry in both developed and top emerging economies. Lacking evidence from medium-sized emerging Asian countries, this study examined intra-industry peer effects, i.e., imitation, on debt financing at Thai listed companies. The sample consisting of the firms listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) during the years 2001–2018 was incorporated to discover those effects. Numerous databases associated with the SET (e.g., SETSMART) and the firms’ websites were used to collect financial numbers. With 6,058 firm-year observations, unbalanced panel data was then analyzed by using the random-effects and fixed-effects ordinary least squares models as well as the two-stage least squares regression. The main findings show that a focal firm imitates the long-term debt financing of its industry peers. Using the instrument approach to address endogeneity, the key results are confirmed. Peers’ equity shock as the instrumental variable decreases their financing with debt, subsequently lowering debt levels at a focal firm. This mimicking was operated through peer action, not peer character, i.e., performance. In additional tests, severe market competition was found to strengthen the uniformity of decision-making on debt finance among industry peers. Meanwhile, the high cost of information embedded in innovation-driven businesses has not been found to both promote and reduce peer effects on debt finance. Including the extra control variables at firm-specific levels, the key results remain robust. This study highlights a vein of social learning theory and competition-based theory in discussing herding behaviors toward all member firms in a certain industry. The conclusions enrich the literature on peer effects on debt finance policy.