Collection Of Economic Data Research Articles

Komunikasi Persuasif Petugas Sensus Badan Pusat Statistik Kabupaten Tangerang Dalam Melaksanakan Sensus Penduduk Registrasi Sosial Ekonomi

Communications is very important and must be mastered properly by workers working in the field, such as for example population census officers. When working on conducting censuses, census officers were usually trained in job training beforehand. The aim is none other than, so that census workers understand what they have to do in the field, and what has to be conveyed or explained when they are dealing with the public. Because the image or reputation of the Central Bureau of Statistics as the pioneer or executor of the Population Census is tested or at stake there. This study aims to find out how the Persuasive Communication of census officers at the Central Bureau of Statistics of Tangerang Regency in carrying out social and economic registration censuses in Tangerang Regency, especially in Balaraja District. The research method used is a qualitative research method with data collection methods namely Observation, Interview and Documentation. Interviews were conducted with the Kecamatan Sector Coordinator and some of the census officers themselves. The results of this study are the stages of the persuasive communication process in an effort to find out the communication process of census officers in conducting data collection in the field to the community. In addition, objections that become obstacles for census officials are usually objections made by the public based on distrust of the government or fear that the data will be misused by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Therefore, census officers must be able to anticipate or have their own way of overcoming obstacles or resistance by the community during the social and economic registration census data collection process. maximum and the data obtained will also be maximized, of course.

Informing development of a socioeconomic data collection toolkit for marine energy: a literature review

Marine energy projects have the potential to create significant benefits by stimulating economic growth, improving local infrastructure and services, and providing energy security and resilience. Collecting social and economic data is necessary to anticipate potential benefits or adverse impacts, and to develop and appropriately site marine energy projects that suitably address community needs, incorporate and align with community values, and satisfy consenting requirements. Despite the importance of this information, consistent methodology for social and economic data collection to inform marine energy development is lacking. We review the literature from marine energy, other renewable energy industries, and relevant coastal sectors to identify common metrics, methods, and applicable tools for collecting data on social and economic effects. From this, we synthesize our findings and identify lessons learned that will form the foundations of a methods toolkit and template for data collection. This literature review and the eventual development of the toolkit will enable marine energy projects to identify, avoid, and mitigate potential negative effects at the forefront. By sharing findings from the literature and the lessons learned in the process of creating the toolkit, we hope to continue to advance the marine energy industry in a way that promotes energy equity, ensures environmental justice, and centers community values and needs.

Collection of economic data using UB-04s: Is it worth the effort? Evidence from two clinical trials.

Cost collection using UB-04 forms for economic evaluation is challenging, as UB-04 collection is time and effort intensive and compliance is imperfect. Alternative data sources could overcome those challenges. The objective of this study is to determine the usefulness of UB-04 data in estimating hospital costs compared to clinical case report form (CRF) data. Health care utilization costs were compared from financial information in UB-04s and from an assignment process using CRF data, from the WRAP-IT (23 infections) and the Micra IDE trials (61 adverse events and 108 implants). Charge-based costs were calculated by multiplying charges in UB-04s and hospital-specific Cost-to-Charge ratios from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services cost reports. The cost assignment process used clinical information to find comparable encounters in real world data and assigned an average cost. Paired difference tests evaluated whether both methods yield similar results. The mean difference in total infection related costs between methods in the WRAP-IT trial was $152 +/-$22,565. In the Micra IDE trial, the mean difference in total adverse event related costs between methods was -$355 +/-$8,298 while the mean difference in total implant related costs between methods was $-3,488 +/-$13,859. Wilcoxon tests and generalized linear models could not reject the difference in costs between methods in the first two cases. Cost assignment methods achieve results similar to costs obtained through UB-04s, without the additional investment in time and effort. The use of UB-04 information for services that are not mature in a health care system may present unexpected challenges, necessitating a tradeoff with other methods of cost assignment.

Relevansi Peran Financial Literacy dan Proactive Market Orientation (PMO) Terhadap Kinerja Keuangan UKM

<em>This study examines the relationship between financial literacy and proactive market orientation to the financial performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the economic crisis landscape Data collection was done by distributing questionnaires. A total of 550 questionnaires were distributed, and a total of 285 questionnaires were returned but only 157 questionnaires could be further analyzed. The results showed that financial literacy and proactive market orientation have a positive and significant influence on the financial performance of SMEs. The implications of this study show that companies that have good financial literacy and proactive market orientation will have the ability to survive and face crisis-stricken economic conditions, use effective financial resources and be able to adapt to a dynamic external environment.</em>

Regulatory Policy of Tax Revenues Efficiency Assurance as the Dominant of State Economic Security

The scientific research is devoted to the development of methodological proposals for assessing the effectiveness of tax revenues of the countries of Eastern Europe through the system of economic indicators, the presentation of measures of the regulatory impact of increasing tax revenues in the future and strengthening the economic security of the countries. The methodological basis of the study is a comprehensive approach, thanks to which the tasks and tools of the regulatory policy are established through the prism of the components of tax security of Eastern European countries. The methodological toolkit for assessing the effectiveness of tax revenues in the system of regulatory policy in the direction of guaranteeing the economic security of the state provided for the following stages: collection of economic data, selection of analysis indicators, assessment methods and determination of the system of stimulating and destructive factors influencing the volume of tax payments. Having carried out the analysis, the author's vision of priority tasks and tools of regulatory influence on tax revenues with the aim of increasing the level of economic security of Eastern European countries is presented.

Convergence and divergence in the economic performance of wildlife tourism within multi-reserve landscapes

The economic performance, through wildlife tourism, of African protected areas (PAs) varies widely. Though proximal management level factors responsible for economic performance and conservation outcomes are well known, underlying institutional, governance and organizational factors, which influence management regimes, have not been as extensively studied. In this paper, an institutional-economic framework forms the basis of a cross-sectional comparison of the local economic contributions of state, private, and communal PAs of the Lower Luangwa Valley in the institutionally centralized country of Zambia, and of the Greater Kruger National Park system in the institutionally devolved country of South Africa. Whereas in South Africa, private reserves neighboring the national park generate the majority of economic benefits, in Zambia, wildlife-related benefits from private and communal PAs are few relative to the neighboring national park. The contrast underscores the role of property regimes and other policies in the economic integration of public parks with surrounding landscapes. From an organizational and governance perspective, the performance of state-managed parks in both settings is tied to an ability to retain revenue, while the performance of co-governed PAs is undermined by power inequities between governing partners. These observations and their implications for policy reform are made clearer through the systematic collection and analysis of PA economic data, which our framework can guide.

Structural and Operating Features of the Creation of an Interstate Electric Power Interconnection in North-East Asia with Large-Scale Penetration of Renewables

Transition to green energy is the dominant process in the electricity sector globally, including in North-East Asia (NEA). The interstate power grid expansion in the NEA will facilitate the large-scale development of intermittent and uncertain green generation. This paper is aimed at considering the structural and operating features and effectiveness of a potential NEA power grid with large-scale penetration of renewables. A computing and geo-information system provides collection, processing, storage, and geo-visualization of technical and economic data. It incorporates a mathematical model for the optimization of the expansion and operation of power systems. Benefits (including saving the capacity, investment, fuel cost, and total cost) of power interconnection have been estimated in the study. Transfer capability required for the interstate electric ties was calculated and proved quite significant. A tax on greenhouse gases emission from thermal power plants, including carbon dioxide (CO2), has been used in the study as an economic incentive to facilitate the penetration of renewable energy sources in NEA power interconnection. An installed capacity, power generation mix, power exchange among countries, and operating modes (dispatching) have been calculated for different levels of CO2 emission tax. This study has shown the economic viability of the interconnection, defined major indices of interstate transmission grid infrastructure, revealed the changes in the mix of generating capacities and their operation under conditions of large-scale expansion of renewables, and found out the roles of various countries with different levels of CO2 tax, detailed the impact of CO2 emission tax in encouraging capacity additions and power generation growth from renewables. These capacities altogether suppress the expansion of coal-fired power plants in the potential North-East Asia power grid and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly SDG 7, to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.

Medico-economic evaluation of the impact of measures to adapt to the switch to surgery robot-assisted in urology

The development of robot-assisted urological surgery is held back by the lack of robust medico-economic analyses and their heterogeneity. We conducted a medico-economic study to evaluate the implementation of measures to optimize the transition to robotic surgery. We carried out a single-center, controlled study from the point of view of the public healthcare establishment for 4 years. Economic data collection was based on a micro-costing method and revenues from stay-related groups. Clinical data corresponded to mean lengths of stay, operating duration, complications and stays in intensive care. The measures to optimize the transition to robotic, implemented mid-study period, enabled before/after comparison. Altogether, 668 patients undergoing robotic surgery were included. Robotic activity increased significantly from periods 1 to 2 to 256% (P=<0.001) as did the overall proportion of robotic by 45% to 85% (P=<0.001). The mean lengths of stay fell significantly, 6.8 d vs. 5.1 d (P<0.001). Costs and revenues increased significantly, resulting in a persistent deficit for the activity €226K vs. €382K (P=<0.001). With increased volume of activity, the deficit per operation and the cost per minute of robotic operating room fell significantly, €3,284 vs. €1,474/procedure (P=<0.001) and €27 vs €24/min (P=<0.029), tending towards a break-even point (=zero deficit) at 430 operations per year. Robotic-assisted surgery can be significantly optimized by implementing measures for the robotic turn to reach a break-even point at 430 operations per year. A better multidisciplinary case mix could lower the break-even volume of activity in short term. 3.

An Investigation on Consumer Switching Behavior in an Asian Telecommunication Market

The paper investigates the determinants of consumer switching behavior in the Indian telecom industry, overcoming the scarcity of research from emerging economies. The study collected data using a questionnaire instrument directly from the customers and was selected through purposive sampling. Binomial probit regression technique was used for modeling purposes. The study concludes that the critical services, service specification, loyalty, and user engagement-related factors influence customer churn. The study specified the key sub-factors directly influencing these four factors. The findings are presented as a set of four different models. The article is the first exploration of the idea of proposing function-specific models and the use of purposive sampling. The study attempts to provide models that are convenient to administer, require specific data, specific to functional area, economic data collection, and may be used based on the context of an investigation. The paper suggests how to perform a convenient investigation using a small dataset.

Data Needs for Economic Evaluations of Screening in Pediatric Primary Care: A Research Framework.

Data Needs for Economic Evaluations of Screening in Pediatric Primary Care: A Research Framework.

Antimicrobial Activity of Necklace Orchids is Phylogenetically Clustered and can be Predicted With a Biological Response Method.

Necklace orchids (Coelogyninae, Epidendroideae) have been used in traditional medicine practices for centuries. Previous studies on a subset of unrelated orchid species utilized in these traditional practices revealed they possessed antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant activity, providing experimental proof for their medicinal properties. To date however none of these species have been investigated ethno-botanically in a phylogenetic context. This study carried out comparative bioprospecting for a group of wild orchids using EBDCS (the Economic Botany Data Collection Standards) organ targeted and biological response methods. The traditional medicinal use of necklace orchids was recorded from books and journals published between 1984 and 2016. Two orchids, Coelogyne cristata and Coelogyne fimbriata, were selected, cultivated both indoors and outdoors, and the antimicrobial properties on extracts from their leaves and pseudobulbs tested against a selection of human pathogens. A molecular phylogeny of Coelogyninae based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid matK DNA sequences obtained from 148 species was reconstructed with Maximum Likelihood (ML) using RAxML, Maximum Parsimony (MP) using PAUP and Bayesian Inference using MrBayes. Bioprospecting comparison of EBDCS and biological response was carried out using customized R scripts. Ethanolic extracts obtained from leaves of C. fimbriata inhibited growth of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Yersinia enterocolitica, confirming the antimicrobial properties of these extracts. Leaf extracts were found to have slightly stronger antimicrobial properties for plants cultivated outdoors than indoors. These differences were not found to be statistically significant though. Three hot nodes with high potency for antimicrobial activities were detected with the EBDCS organ targeted classification method, and eight hot nodes were detected with the biological response classification method. The biological response classification method is thus a more effective tool in finding hot nodes amongst clades of species with high medicinal potential.

Cost savings from use of a neonatal sepsis calculator in Australia: A modelled economic analysis.

To estimate the change in average cost and length of stay (LOS) for the neonatal birth admission resulting from use of the neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) calculator compared to guideline-based management, in an Australian perinatal health-care setting. A decision-analytic model (decision tree) was constructed to assess admission cost and LOS with EOS calculator use compared to guideline-based management. Probabilities of clinical sepsis-related outcomes were obtained via review of published literature. Costs and average LOS were obtained from Australia's Independent Hospital Pricing Authority. EOS calculator use was associated with a reduction in costs of AUD$25806 and in average LOS of 25.4 days per 1000 babies born. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated greater net benefits could be expected for services where there is a higher baseline rate of antibiotic use. This model demonstrates a significant cost reduction for the neonatal birth admission, associated with use of the EOS calculator as compared to existing guidelines. The net benefit may be greater in Australia, where rates of empiric antibiotic use are reportedly high, compared to some European countries and the United States. Future research opportunities include prospective collection of economic data alongside the introduction of the EOS calculator.

Dental therapists compared with general dental practitioners for undertaking check-ups in low-risk patients: pilot RCT with realist evaluation

BackgroundMany dental ‘check-ups’ in the NHS result in no further treatment. The patient is examined by a dentist and returned to the recall list for a further check-up, commonly in 6 or 12 months’ time. As the oral health of regular dental attenders continues to improve, it is likely that an increasing number of these patients will be low risk and will require only a simple check-up in the future, with no further treatment. This care could be delivered by dental therapists. In 2013, the body responsible for regulating the dental profession, the General Dental Council, ruled that dental therapists could see patients directly and undertake check-ups and routine dental treatments (e.g. fillings). Using dental therapists to undertake check-ups on low-risk patients could help free resources to meet the future challenges for NHS dentistry.ObjectivesThe objectives were to determine the most appropriate design for a definitive study, the most appropriate primary outcome measure and recruitment and retention rates, and the non-inferiority margin. We also undertook a realist-informed process evaluation and rehearsed the health economic data collection tool and analysis.DesignA pilot randomised controlled trial over a 15-month period, with a realist-informed process evaluation. In parallel, we rehearsed the health economic evaluation and explored patients’ preferences to inform a preference elicitation exercise for a definitive study.SettingThe setting was NHS dental practices in North West England.ParticipantsA total of 217 low-risk patients in eight high-street dental practices participated.InterventionsThe current practice of using dentists to provide NHS dental check-ups (treatment as usual; the control arm) was compared with using dental therapists to provide NHS dental check-ups (the intervention arm).Main outcome measureThe main outcome measure was difference in the proportion of sites with bleeding on probing among low-risk patients. We also recorded the number of ‘cross-over’ referrals between dentists and dental therapists.ResultsNo differences were found in the health status of patients over the 15 months of the pilot trial, suggesting that non-inferiority is the most appropriate design. However, bleeding on probing suffered from ‘floor effects’ among low-risk patients, and recruitment rates were moderately low (39.7%), which suggests that an experimental design might not be the most appropriate. The theory areas that emerged from the realist-informed process evaluation were contractual, regulatory, institutional logistics, patients’ experience and logistics. The economic evaluation was rehearsed and estimates of cost-effectiveness made; potential attributes and levels that can form the basis of preference elicitation work in a definitive study were determined.LimitationsThe pilot was conducted over a 15-month period only, and bleeding on probing appeared to have floor effects. The number of participating dental practices was a limitation and the recruitment rate was moderate.ConclusionsNon-inferiority, floor effects and moderate recruitment rates suggest that a randomised controlled trial might not be the best evaluative design for a definitive study in this population. The process evaluation identified multiple barriers to the use of dental therapists in ‘high-street’ practices and added real value.Future workQuasi-experimental designs may offer more promise for a definitive study alongside further realist evaluation.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN70032696.FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full inHealth Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 9, No. 3. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Clinical Translation of Cell Therapies in Stroke (CT2S) Checklist\u2014a pragmatic tool to accelerate development of cell therapy products

BackgroundCell therapies present an exciting potential but there is a long history of expensive translational failures in stroke research. Researchers engaged in cell therapy research would benefit from a practical framework that can help in planning research and development of investigational cell therapies into viable medical products.MethodsWe developed a checklist using a mixed methodology approach to evaluate the impact of study design, regulatory policy, ethical, and health economic considerations for efficient implementation of early phase cell therapy studies.ResultsThe checklist comprises a series of questions arranged under four domains: the first concerns study design such as characterization of target study population, trial design, endpoints and operational fit of dosage, time, and route of administration to target populations. A second domain addresses the data package required for regulatory approval relevant to the intended use (allogeneic/autologous; homologous/non-homologous; nature of cell processing). The third domain comprises patient involvement to ensure relevant data is collected via targeted study design. The final domain requires the team to determine the critical data elements that could be built into study design to enable health economic data collection to be started at an early phase of the study.ConclusionsThe CT2S checklist can help to determine areas of expertise gaps and enable research groups to appropriately allocate resources for capacity building. Use of this checklist will allow identification of key areas where trial planning needs to be optimized, as well as helping to identify resources that need to be secured. The CT2S checklist can also serve as a general cell therapy research decision aid to improve research output and accelerate new cell therapy development.

Psychological intervention, antipsychotic medication or a combined treatment for adolescents with a first episode of psychosis: the MAPS feasibility three-arm RCT.

When psychosis emerges in young people there is a risk of poorer outcomes, and access to evidence-based treatments is paramount. The current evidence base is limited. Antipsychotic medications show only a small benefit over placebo, but young people experience more side effects than adults. There is sparse evidence for psychological intervention. Research is needed to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of psychological intervention versus antipsychotic medication versus a combined treatment for adolescents with psychosis. The objective of Managing Adolescent first-episode Psychosis: a feasibility Study (MAPS) was to determine the feasibility of conducting a definitive trial to answer the question of clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these three treatment options. This was a prospective, randomised, open-blinded, evaluation feasibility trial with a single blind. Participants were allocated 1 : 1 : 1 to receive antipsychotic medication, psychological intervention or a combination of both. A thematic qualitative study explored the acceptability and feasibility of the trial. Early intervention in psychosis services and child and adolescent mental health services in Manchester, Oxford, Lancashire, Sussex, Birmingham, Norfolk and Suffolk, and Northumberland, Tyne and Wear. People aged 14-18 years experiencing a first episode of psychosis either with an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis or meeting the entry criteria for early intervention in psychosis who had not received antipsychotic medication or psychological intervention within the last 3 months. Psychological intervention involved up to 26 hours of cognitive-behavioural therapy and six family intervention sessions over 6 months, with up to four booster sessions. Antipsychotic medication was prescribed by the participant's psychiatrist in line with usual practice. Combined treatment was a combination of psychological intervention and antipsychotic medication. The primary outcome was feasibility (recruitment, treatment adherence and retention). We used a three-stage progression criterion to determine feasibility. Secondary outcomes were psychosis symptoms, recovery, anxiety and depression, social and educational/occupational functioning, drug and alcohol use, health economics, adverse/metabolic side effects and adverse/serious adverse events. We recruited 61 out of 90 (67.8%; amber zone) potential participants (psychological intervention, n = 18; antipsychotic medication, n = 22; combined treatment, n = 21). Retention to follow-up was 51 out of 61 participants (83.6%; green zone). In the psychological intervention arm and the combined treatment arm, 32 out of 39 (82.1%) participants received six or more sessions of cognitive-behavioural therapy (green zone). In the combined treatment arm and the antipsychotic medication arm, 28 out of 43 (65.1%) participants received antipsychotic medication for 6 consecutive weeks (amber zone). There were no serious adverse events related to the trial and one related adverse event. Overall, the number of completed secondary outcome measures, including health economics, was small. Medication adherence was determined by clinician report, which can be biased. The response to secondary outcomes was low, including health economics. The small sample size obtained means that the study lacked statistical power and there will be considerable uncertainty regarding estimates of treatment effects. It is feasible to conduct a trial comparing psychological intervention with antipsychotic medication and a combination treatment in young people with psychosis with some adaptations to the design, including adaptations to collection of health economic data to determine cost-effectiveness. An adequately powered definitive trial is required to provide robust evidence. Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN80567433. This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 25, No. 4. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Перспектива глобалізації та капіталізації сільського господарства Європи в постковідний період

Especially relevant at the present time is the study of the impact of the global crisis – a pandemic caused by the infection COVID-19 on the countries and the world's sustainable development. The consequences of the popular trend of globalization, a certain closedness of the principles of capitalization, and, of course, the impact of the global crisis caused by COVID-19 were investigated in the scientific work. The study aims to confirm the transformation of sustainable development trends and the transition from worldwide globalization to national capitalization of the agricultural entrepreneurship potential in the modern conditions of the global crisis of Covid-19. The goal will be achieved by tasks through accounting and analytical support and mathematical analysis of the quadratic correlation and regression dependence of the integrated indicator of sustainable development. Research methodology consist of analysis and collection of economic, environmental, and social data of agriculture in European countries. At this stage, the most significant indicators of six countries were selected: Ukraine, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Belarus. Index analysis was used for formation of an integral indicator – a sustainable development index. Also Microsoft Excel tools were used. An index analysis of the main indicators of sustainable development is provided in the paper. On the basis of the integrated index of sustainable development of agriculture, a trend line was built and a forecast of the vector of globalization/capitalization was made. An upward forecast of the integrated index of agriculture sustainable development, which indicates a continuous process of globalization was proved in the paper. This pattern corresponds to Belarus and Romania and was proved by the basis of imperial studies. The calculation and forecast of the transition from global globalization to national capitalization as a result of the impact of the pandemic and quarantine were presented in the scientific work too. This pattern is inherent in Hungary, Germany, Poland and Ukraine.

Economic valuation of environmental attributes of the Yanachaga–Chemillén National Park via contingent valuation and choice experiment

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the first economic valuation of four environmental attributes of the Yanachaga–Chemillén National Park (PNYCH – Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén) in Peru.Design/methodology/approachThis study included households in three cities adjacent to the PNYCH and assessed the willingness to pay (WTP) for preservation efforts of these natural services to avoid the predicted loss in forest area by 2030 (currently 143,425 hectares per year).FindingsThe results showed that the average WTP was US$0.695 (2.3197 soles) per household annually. Added to all households in Peru (9 million), this is equivalent to approximately 6.255 million dollars annually.Practical implicationsThe economic valuation of these attributes is complementary to the contingent valuation and can have a significant impact, as this data influences decision-making and public policies focused on conserving forests and biodiversity.Social implicationsUpon using the choice experiment (CE) model, the attributes that have the most significant impact on inhabitants’ well-being were economic benefits. The flora and fauna coverage attributes were beneficial for the inhabitants of the place because they valued the proposed recovery and conservation program in a positive and differential way.Originality/valueFrom the collection of valuable economic data, the novelty lies in using the CE method, which has not yet been applied in valuations of natural ecosystem services in Peru.

A randomised trial of social support group intervention for people with aphasia: A Novel application of virtual reality.

About a third of strokes cause aphasia, or language loss, with profound consequences for the person’s social participation and quality of life. These problems may be mitigated by group social support. But this intervention is not available to all individuals. This study investigated whether it is feasible to deliver group social support to people with aphasia via a multi-user, virtual reality platform. It also explored the indicative effects of intervention and the costs. Intervention aimed to promote wellbeing and communicative success. It enabled participants to form new social connections and share experiences of living with aphasia. It comprised 14 sessions delivered over 6 months and was led by community based co-ordinators and volunteers. Feasibility measures comprised: recruitment and retention rates, compliance with intervention and assessment of treatment fidelity. Effects of intervention were explored using a waitlist randomised controlled design, with outcome measures of wellbeing, communication, social connectedness and quality of life. Two intervention groups were randomised to an immediate condition and two were randomised to a delayed condition. The main analysis explored scores on the measures between two time points, between which those in the immediate condition had received intervention, but those in the delayed group had not (yet). A comprehensive approach to economic data collection ensured that all costs of treatment delivery were recorded. Feasibility findings showed that the recruitment target was met (N = 34) and 85.3% (29/34) of participants completed intervention. All groups ran the 14 sessions as planned, and participants attended a mean of 11.4 sessions (s.d. 2.8), which was 81.6% of the intended dose. Fidelity checking showed minimal drift from the manualised intervention. No significant change was observed on any of the outcome measures, although the study was not powered to detect these. Costs varied across the four groups, from £7,483 - £12,562 British Pounds Sterling ($10,972 - $18,419 US dollars), depending on travel costs, the relative contributions of volunteers and the number of hardware loans that were needed. The results suggest that a larger trial of remote group support, using virtual reality, would be merited. However the treatment content and regime, and the selection of outcome measures should be reviewed before conducting the trial.Trail registration: Study registered with ClinicalTrials.gov; Identifier: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/NCT03115268.

Using ICPC-2 Standard to Identify Thai Zingiberaceae of Pharmacological Interest.

The Economic Botany Data Collection Standard (EBDCS) is a widely used standard among ethnobotanists. However, this standard classifies ethnomedicinal uses into categories based on local peoples’ perception. It is difficult to apply in pharmacological research. The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC), now updated to ICPC-2, is more related to medical terms, but is rarely used among ethnobotanists. This study aims to apply the ICPC-2 to classify metadata of the ethnomedicinal uses of Zingiberaceae plants in Thailand, in order to identify important medicinal taxa for future research. Data on the ethnomedicinal uses of Thai gingers were collected from 62 theses, journal articles, scientific reports and a book, published between 1990 and 2019. Scientific plant names were updated using The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) website. Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) was used to identify the medicinal issues commonly treated with gingers, and the Cultural Importance Index (CI) was used to identify species that might have pharmacological potential. We found records of 76 ginger species with ethnomedicinal uses, and together they had 771 use reports. The gingers were commonly used for treatments related to digestive system conditions, particularly abdominal pain and flatulence. Gingers remain exceedingly important in Thai ethnomedicine, with a high number of useful species. They are used to treat a variety of health conditions, but most commonly such ones that are related to the digestive system. Apart from the popular studied ginger, Curcuma longa, we identified a number of other useful gingers in Thailand.

Health and economic outcomes of treatment with extended-release naltrexone among pre-release prisoners with opioid use disorder (HOPPER): protocol for an evaluation of two randomized effectiveness trials

BackgroundPersons with an opioid use disorder (OUD) who were incarcerated face many challenges to remaining abstinent; concomitantly, opioid-overdose is the leading cause of death among this population, with the initial weeks following release proving especially fatal. Extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) is the most widely-accepted, evidence-based OUD pharmacotherapy in criminal justice settings, and ensures approximately 30 days of protection from opioid overdose. The high cost of XR-NTX serves as a barrier to uptake by many prison/jail systems; however, the cost of the medication should not be viewed in isolation. Prison/jail healthcare budgets are ultimately determined by policymakers, and the benefits/cost-offsets associated with effective OUD treatment will directly and indirectly affect their overall budgets, and society as a whole.MethodsThis protocol describes a study funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) to: evaluate changes in healthcare utilization, health-related quality-of-life, and other resources associated with different strategies of XR-NTX delivery to persons with OUD being released from incarceration; and estimate the relative “value” of each strategy. Data from two ongoing, publicly-funded, randomized-controlled trials will be used to evaluate these questions. In Study A, (XR-NTX Before vs. After Reentry), participants are randomized to receive their first XR-NTX dose before release, or at a nearby program post-release. In Study B, (enhanced XR-NTX vs. XR-NTX), both arms receive XR-NTX prior to release; the enhanced arm receives mobile medical (place of residence) XR-NTX treatment post-release, and the XR-NTX arm receives referral to a community treatment program post-release. The economic data collection instruments required to evaluate outcomes of interest were incorporated into both studies from baseline. Moreover, because the same instruments are being used in both trials on comparable populations, we have the opportunity to not only assess differences in outcomes between study arms within each trial, but also to merge the data sets and test for differences across trials.DiscussionInitiating XR-NTX for OUD prior to release from incarceration may improve patient health and well-being, while also producing downstream cost-offsets. This study offers the unique opportunity to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multiple strategies, according to different stakeholder perspectives.