Aid Effectiveness Research Articles

Laws, Aid, and Change: The Effect of Gender-Mainstreamed Aid on Legal Provisions Shaping Women’s Economic Opportunities

This study examines the relationship between gender-related aid and legal frameworks governing women’s economic opportunities. Using data from 116 countries (2009–2022), we analyze how significant (SGRA) and principal (PGRA) gender-related aid influence the Women, Business, and Law (WBL) Index, which measures women’s access to employment, credit, and entrepreneurship. Results from fixed-effects models show that SGRA consistently improves WBL Index components, while PGRA significantly impacts marriage, parenthood, and mobility regulations, with modest effects on workplace and entrepreneurship measures. PGRA substantially affects marriage, parenthood, and mobility regulations while demonstrating more modest impacts on workplace conditions and entrepreneurship measures. These observations underscore the complexity of addressing gender inequality and the necessity of targeted, multifaceted approaches to overcome legal restrictions, entrenched social norms, and economic barriers. The research offers valuable insights for policymakers and donors on the transformative potential of gender-mainstreamed aid initiatives in fostering a more equitable world.

Mapping Disaster Hazards and Risks – A Case Study in Kuala Lumpur City (KLC)

Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, is vulnerable to various natural and man-made disasters. Kuala Lumpur City (KLC) encounters distinctive difficulties in managing urban disasters, mainly because of its dense population, critical infrastructure, and economic importance. Mapping the hazards and risks of disasters in KLC is crucial for enhancing its resilience against disasters and ensuring the effectiveness of emergency response, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief efforts. The objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive master plan for the management of disasters in KLC. The plan will serve as the initial phase in the civil-military coordinating response architecture for humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR). The approach entails creating a hazard map delineating regions susceptible to flash fl oods and landslides, frequently occurring in KLC. In addition, a vulnerability map was generated to evaluate the region’s proneness to disasters and identify safe areas within KLC. Additionally, road vulnerability assessments were performed to determine the most direct route for HADR activities. Furthermore, a customised disaster risk map was created exclusively for the KLC. This work contributes to the growing body of literature on urban disaster management, offering valuable insights for other metropolitan areas facing similar challenges.

Effect of dose administration aids on adherence of self‐administered medications: a systematic review

AbstractAimFailure to self‐administer a medication is the most common reason for non‐adherence. Dose administration aids (DAAs) are a simple and common solution to improve unintentional non‐adherence for oral tablets. They range from compartmentalised pill boxes and automated medication dispensing devices to blister packs. The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the current literature assessing the impact of DAAs on medication adherence.Data sourcesA search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was conducted from the beginning of each database until April 2023.Study selectionA search strategy and keywords list were developed with a medical research librarian. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted data. The primary outcome was to assess the effects of DAAs on medication adherence. The secondary outcome was to evaluate the changes in any health outcomes documented. The study was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement and registered with PROSPERO (Study registration: CRD42018096087).ResultsTwenty‐two randomised controlled trials were included. Median adherence improved within the intervention groups for self‐reported (95.5%, range: 88%–100% vs 84.5%, range: 83%–98%) and non‐self‐reported (88%, range: 54%–100% vs 70%, range: 83%–98%) adherence compared to usual care. However, self‐reported adherence was higher in both intervention and control groups than non‐self‐reported adherence. Measured changes to health outcomes included cardiovascular outcomes, plasma levels, cure rates for malaria, hospital admissions, venous thromboembolism, and anaemia. Even though self‐reported adherence levels were high, included studies did not report many statistically significant improvements in health outcomes with DAAs.ConclusionThe use of DAAs can considerably improve medication adherence, with limited data suggesting positive effects on patient outcomes. Healthcare providers should consider the use of these aids as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for patients who struggle with medication adherence.

The Impact of Digital Entrepreneurial Competencies, Digital Literacy and Government Support on Digital Entrepreneurship Using Regression Analysis

Abstract Digital entrepreneurship in rural Malaysia is limited, with small businesses struggling to use digital tools and develop entrepreneurial skills. This study explores the impact of digital literacy, entrepreneurial skills, and government support on small businesses, areas that have not been fully studied. It also looks at the role of youth in Terengganu in promoting digital entrepreneurship, in line with Malaysia’s National Entrepreneurship Policy. The study found that digital literacy and entrepreneurial competencies explain 37.3% of digital entrepreneurship, with government support and interaction effects increasing this effect by an additional 5%. Digital literacy and entrepreneurial competencies significantly impact digital entrepreneurship, with entrepreneurial competencies having a stronger influence. Government support does not impact digital entrepreneurship, but combining digital literacy with government support does. In rural areas, limited resources and knowledge may reduce the effectiveness of government aid. The government should prioritize training programs, like workshops and mentorships, to improve digital skills and business capabilities, in collaboration with academic institutions. This strategy would assist business owners in acquiring the useful abilities required for success in the digital economy. It highlights the importance of continuous learning and offers key insights for educators and policymakers to foster skills.

A review of approaches to the integration of humanitarian and development aid: the case of drought management in the Horn of Africa

Whether and how to link humanitarian assistance and long-term development aid are questions that have underlain polarized debates in policy, practical, and theoretical spaces over recent years. This is due in large part to the diversity of actors, institutional mandates, funding sources, programmes (themselves always changing), and operational dynamics that exist between the two domains. In pastoral areas of the Horn of Africa, which experience recurrent drought emergencies, integrating the two forms of assistance has been attempted in several instances, which have often been disjointed and have sought to grapple with an unpredictable terrain of shifting policies and program designs. Such challenges have been further compounded by a substantial disconnect between programming (across humanitarian aid and resilience building) and existing pastoralist practices and strategies comprising local social safety nets. Using a comprehensive literature review, this paper explores some of the practical strategies that have been implemented to integrate these two forms of assistance over recent years. It surveys implications that arise in relation to the question of how best to address persistent drought in the Horn of Africa. Interrogating mechanisms for enhancing aid efficiency and effectiveness including crisis modifiers and contingency planning, the paper examines what progress has been made in transitioning from reactive, short-term emergency response to long-term development and what barriers still exist. It also considers Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR), a modality envisaged by many as a bridge for enhancing local ownership and thus sustainability of both kinds of intervention. In doing so, the paper argues that despite multiple policy shifts and the adoption of new frameworks (including, recently, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative - IDDRSI), when it comes to practical implementation, there has been little progress. We suggest that this is due in part to the well documented complexity of the aid system, and the forms of bureaucracy and upward accountability that make change extremely difficult, and in part to a lack of meaningful community participation in planning and practice.

Does Peacekeeping Mitigate the Impact of Aid on Conflict? Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Aid and Violence Against Civilians

Peacekeeping has been found to be effective in containing conflict and civilian victimization, while the findings for the effect of aid on violence are indeterminate. So far the effects of peacekeeping and aid on violence have mainly been studied separately, this article investigates, at the subnational level, the effect of humanitarian aid on one-sided violence conditional on the deployment of peacekeeping forces. Although humanitarian aid can occasionally exacerbate violence, it is argued that peacekeepers reverse this unintended consequence of the provision of aid. We argue that they do so by means of sharing information and the provision of security bubbles. Empirically, we look at the coincidence of subnational location of humanitarian agencies and peacekeeping troops and find support for the idea that the effect of aid on violence against civilians is conditional on the presence of peacekeepers.

Usefulness of Large Language Models (LLMs) for Student Feedback on H&P During Clerkship: Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Learning

Large Language Models (LLMs) notably GPT-4, demonstrate exceptional language generation and comprehension abilities, and they have potential uses in clinical practice, learning, and medical research. In this study, we explore practical use of Large Language Models (LLMs) in enhancing case-based learning in medical education. The study employes a designed mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative metrics with qualitative feedback from 100 medical students, providing comprehensive insights into both the technical performance and educational value of LLM-based feedback systems. Our results indicate that LLMs can enhance medical students’ History and Physical (H&P) skills by providing personalized insights, fostering critical thinking, and improving their abilities to analyze, diagnose, and present clinical cases. This study has surfaced significant insights into the potential benefits and limitations of integrating LLMs into medical education. Our findings show the positive impact of LLMs on enhancing personalized learning experiences, critical thinking, and the effectiveness of case-based learning aids and highlighting its limitations.

Cost-effectiveness of hearing aids in South Korea: a multistate Markov model analysis.

This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of using hearing aids among individuals aged 50 and older with varying levels of hearing loss in South Korea. A state-transition Markov model was employed to assess the cost-effectiveness of hearing aid utilization from a societal perspective. We simulated a cohort of patients aged 50, tracking their progression through normal, mild, moderate, and severe stages of hearing loss until death or age 80. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per quality-adjusted life year gained was determined using both published and calculated data on the costs and effectiveness of hearing aids. The respective ICERs were $8,571 for men and $10,635 for women. These figures are significantly below the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $31,721, which corresponds to the per capita gross domestic product in 2020. The probabilities of cost-effectiveness were 83.6% for men and 73.4% for women at this WTP threshold. The lower ICERs observed in men can likely be attributed to the earlier onset of hearing loss and the rapid progression from normal, mild, moderate, and severe stages of hearing loss to death. Hearing aids represent a highly cost-effective intervention for adults aged 50 and older in Korea, regardless of the degree of hearing loss, even in mild cases. In light of the rapidly aging population, it would be prudent for government policymakers to consider the costeffectiveness of hearing aids in their decision-making processes.

Effects of Hearing Aids on Static and Subjective Balance in Patients With Hearing Loss: A Pilot Study

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of hearing aids (HAs) on reducing symptoms of dizziness in patients with hearing loss (HL) and dizziness.Subjects and Methods: A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted between February 2022 and July 2022 at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Ten participants (four males and six females) with HL and dizziness were recruited. Participants were screened using pure-tone audiometry and visual analog scale scores at baseline. Selected participants underwent the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) and Korean Dizziness Handicap Inventory (K-DHI) in the unaided state. Thereafter, participants were provided HAs and instructed to use them for at least 6 hours every day. At the 1-month follow-up, all participants were assessed in the aided state using the same tests as at baseline. All tests were performed bilaterally.Results: In the mCTSIB, a significant difference was observed in the foam surface-eyes closed score before (median=2.35) and after (median=2.2) HA use (<i>p</i>=0.049). No significant differences were observed in the K-DHI scores before and after HA use.Conclusions: HA use may improve the static and subjective perception of balance in patients with HL and dizziness. Future research should explore the benefits of HAs under various balance conditions such as dynamic balance and gait.

Can Hearing Aids Improve Physical Activity in Adults with Hearing Loss? A Feasibility Study.

Background/Objectives: Adults with hearing loss demonstrate poorer overall health outcomes (e.g., physical health, cognitive functioning and wellbeing) and lower levels of physical activity/function compared to those without hearing loss. Hearing aids have the potential to improve cognitive and wellbeing factors, but there is a dearth of evidence on their impact on physical health outcomes. Evidence on the association between hearing aid provision and physical activity is mostly limited to cross-sectional studies. This research aimed to assess whether a study can be performed to identify whether the provision of hearing aids can improve physical activity. Methods: This study employed a preregistered observational (prospective cohort) study design of ten older adults (51-75 years) completed assessments at baseline and again at a six-week follow-up. The participants wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT9X) without feedback for the full duration of the study. Feasibility was determined using pre-defined criteria, including study drop-out, adherence to accelerometer use and willingness. A battery of health outcomes was also assessed at baseline and follow-up. Conclusions: Overall, this study was perceived favourably, with all participants reporting that they enjoyed taking part. Participant retention was 100%, and adherence to the wrist-worn accelerometers was "good" (70%). However, recruitment was challenging, and some participants found the accelerometers to be burdensome. Descriptive statistics for all outcome measures showed non-significant changes in the expected direction (e.g., improved physical activity, cognition and wellbeing). Although the study was well received by participants, modifications to the recruitment strategy and activity tracking procedures are necessary before future large-scale trials assessing the effectiveness of hearing aids on physical activity can be undertaken.

Resilience first aid: Primary prevention through a strength-based peer support programme

Orientation: Peer support and resilience are crucial for mental health, particularly in high-stress occupations such as healthcare and emergency services. Existing interventions primarily focus on reactive measures, leaving a gap in proactive mental health strategies.Research purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Resilience First Aid (RFA) programme, incorporating the Predictive 6 Factor Resilience (PR6) model and the ALL Protocol, in enhancing resilience and peer support.Motivation for the study: There is a pressing need for primary prevention strategies to address the growing mental health challenges in high-stress professions. These challenges include burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicide, among others. This study addresses the knowledge gap by exploring a strength-based, proactive approach to peer support.Research approach/design and method: A literature review was conducted to examine gaps in peer support and explore the theoretical framework of RFA. The study draws on neurobiological insights and integrates psychotherapeutic principles to develop a resilience-focused intervention.Main findings: Resilience First Aid training significantly improved participants’ personal resilience, peer support skills and ability to recognise suicide risk factors. The ALL Protocol facilitated emotional regulation and constructive problem-solving in peer support interactions, aligning with neuroscience-based insights.Implications for practice: Implementing RFA in high-stress environments could enhance workforce resilience and reduce the prevalence of acute mental health crises. The programme’s structured, proactive approach addresses current gaps in mental health support systems.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes by presenting a comprehensive, proactive model for peer support and resilience, offering a structured conversational tool (ALL Protocol) that can be applied across various professional settings.

The effectiveness of humanitarian aid in conflict zones: practitioner views on the transition from in-kind assistance to multi-purpose cash transfers

The views of humanitarian practitioners in Somalia, South Sudan, Tigray and Yemen are gathered to enlarge understanding on the extent to which multi-purpose cash transfers (CTs) are superseding in-kind assistance in meeting the needs of beneficiaries. The reasons for the choice between the two forms of assistance are exposed together with the identification of the constraints faced when planning and delivering aid in the context of on-going conflict. Key areas of concern for agencies are identified on achieving effective targeting, ensuring internal arrangements support cash transfers, maximising coordination between agencies, upholding human dignity and enhancing the role of women as beneficiaries. Overall, the findings suggest that multi-purpose cash transfers can be an effective form of assistance in conflict zones, and recommendations are made for agencies as they contemplate an expansion of this form of assistance.

The effect and mechanism of mutual aid on the subjective well-being of participants under the COVID-19 pandemic

The outbreak of COVID-19 led to the emergence of various forms of mutual aid. While prior research has demonstrated that mutual aid can contribute to participants’ subjective well-being, the majority of these studies are qualitative and lack clear understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Using a questionnaire survey and structural equation modeling, this study finds that mutual aid significantly enhances the subjective well-being of participants in China. Bootstrap chained mediation analysis shows that this is mainly because mutual aid not only provides material resources to participants but also helps to expand their social networks, thereby enhancing their self-esteem and self-efficacy, and ultimately improving their subjective well-being. In the chain mediation mechanism, the total effect of social network is significantly higher than that of material resources. Our study identifies social psychological mechanisms by which mutual aid acts on participant’s subjective well-being, and it has important implications for community governance.

What Can We Learn From Qualitative Impact Evaluations About the Effectiveness of Lobby and Advocacy? A Meta-Evaluation of Dutch aid Programmes and Assessment Tool.

Official development agencies are increasingly supporting civil society lobby and advocacy (L&A) to address poverty and human rights. However, there are challenges in evaluating L&A. As programme objectives are often to change policies or practices in a single institution like a Government Ministry, L&A programmes are often not amenable to large-n impact evaluation methods. They often work in strategic partnerships to foster change; hence, contribution may be a more relevant evaluation question than attribution. Small-n qualitative approaches are available to measure the effectiveness of L&A which use the theory of change as their analytical framework. We conducted a meta-evaluation of 36 evaluations of multi-component international programmes to support civil society L&A across Asia, Africa and Latin America, comprising the majority of programmatic support from one international donor. We assessed the confidence in causal claims in the evaluations using a new tool that we developed. Assessments of the contribution of the programmes to the changes in outcomes were not provided in many of the evaluations, nor were predictable sources of bias addressed. Given that L&A programmes are likely to adopt an influencing approach where many different inside-track and outside-track engagement objectives, opportunities and strategies are attempted, many of which might be expected to fail, there appeared to be a clear bias in the evaluations towards reporting outcomes that were achieved, ignoring those that were not. We provide guidance on how to improve the design, conduct and reporting of small-n qualitative evaluations of aid effectiveness.

Effectiveness of shared decision making strategies for stroke prevention among patients with atrial fibrillation: cluster randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of multiple decision aid strategies in promoting high quality shared decision making for prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.DesignCluster randomized controlled trial.SettingSix academic...

Enhancing gait mechanics: The effectiveness of a novel walking aid.

A walking support orthosis known as the e-foot®, a rubber orthotic worn from the hip to the forefoot to enhance joint flexibility and movement, has been developed to assist elderly people and individuals with walking impairments. Despite its widespread acceptance and positive reception in some care settings, the precise impact of this device on gait dynamics remains unexplored. This study aims to bridge this gap by comparing the walking speeds of healthy volunteers using the e-foot® against their normal walking speeds. Furthermore, it seeks to elucidate the biomechanical alterations induced by the e-foot® on their gait patterns. In this intervention study, 51 healthy volunteers underwent a 10-m walk test, both with and without the e-foot®, to measure its effect on walking speed. Gait changes were biomechanically compared by analyzing marker positions and accelerations of the lower extremities during the walk tests. The e-foot® orthotic device significantly improved walking times for both men and women in the 10-m walk test. Biomechanical testing showed a consistent trend of higher marker positions of the knees, heels, and toes when participants were using the e-foot®. Additionally, marker acceleration during the first half of the swing phase was greater with the e-foot®, indicating a faster gait initiation. The e-foot® increased the walking speed of healthy volunteers. Also, there were changes to knee, heel and toe positions during gait, and comparative increase in acceleration was recorded in these three parts during swinging gait.

Evaluation of Health Education Based on Pictograms and Video Sequences in the Prevention of Hand Eczema Among Hospital Cleaners: A Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial With 24 Weeks Follow-Up.

Hand eczema (HE) is common among hospital cleaners, yet no specific prevention programme exists for this group in Denmark. To evaluate the effectiveness of visual aids (pictograms and video scenes) based on evidence-based skin care and protection recommendations on HE outcomes, focusing on disease severity, point prevalence and skin care and protection knowledge. A cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted in professional cleaners from three Danish hospitals. Intervention Group A received pictograms, video clips and a short group-based educational session. Intervention Group B received only pictograms and video clips. The control group received treatment as usual. HE severity and prevalence were assessed clinically, while knowledge was measured using self-reported data. Out of 234 invited cleaners, 224 (96%) participated (Intervention Group A: 73, Intervention Group B: 78, Control Group: 73). After 24 weeks, both intervention groups showed significant reductions in HE severity and prevalence compared to the control group. Knowledge of skin care and protection also improved significantly in both intervention groups. Visual aids effectively reduced HE prevalence and severity in hospital cleaners. Pictograms are a cost-effective strategy that can be widely implemented, addressing the substantial burden of HE in the cleaning industry across diverse settings.

Emergency Airway Management: A Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of Cognitive Aids in Improving Outcomes and Provider Performance.

Background/Objectives: Emergency airway management is a critical skill for healthcare professionals, particularly in life-threatening situations like "cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate" (CICO) scenarios. Errors and delays in airway management can lead to adverse outcomes, including hypoxia and death. Cognitive aids, such as checklists and algorithms, have been proposed as tools to improve decision-making, procedural competency, and non-technical skills in these high-stakes environments. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive aids in enhancing emergency airway management skills among health professionals and trainees. Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted from February to March 2024. Studies examining the use of cognitive aids, such as the Vortex method, the ASA difficult airway algorithm, and visual airway aids, in emergency airway scenarios were included. Outcomes assessed included decision-making speed, procedural success rates, and non-technical skills. Data were extracted using standardized protocols, and the quality of included studies was appraised. Results: Five studies met inclusion criteria, encompassing randomized controlled trials, controlled studies, and mixed-methods research. Cognitive aids improved decision-making times (reduced by 44.6 s), increased procedural success rates, and enhanced non-technical skills such as teamwork and crisis management. Participants reported reduced anxiety and improved confidence levels (self-efficacy scores increased by 1.9 points). The Vortex method and visual cognitive aids demonstrated particular effectiveness in simulated scenarios. Conclusions: Cognitive aids significantly enhance emergency airway management skills, improving performance, reducing errors, and increasing provider confidence. Integrating cognitive aids into training programs has the potential to improve patient safety and outcomes. Further research is needed to validate these findings in clinical settings and optimize cognitive aid design and implementation.

The effect of media aids in genetic carrier screening education among infertility patients

The effect of media aids in genetic carrier screening education among infertility patients

The Effect of Visual Aids on Reading Numeric Data Tables.

Data tables are one of the most common ways in which people encounter data. Although mostly built with text and numbers, data tables have a spatial layout and often exhibit visual elements meant to facilitate their reading. Surprisingly, there is an empirical knowledge gap on how people read tables and how different visual aids affect people's reading of tables. In this work, we seek to address this vacuum through a controlled study. We asked participants to repeatedly perform four different tasks with four table representation conditions (plain tables, tables with zebra striping, tables with cell background color encoding cell value, and tables with in-cell bars with lengths encoding cell value). We analyzed completion time, error rate, gaze-tracking data, mouse movement and participant preferences. We found that color and bar encodings help for finding maximum values. For a more complex task (comparison of proportional differences) color and bar helped less than zebra striping. We also characterize typical human behavior for the four tasks. These findings inform the design of tables and research directions for improving presentation of data in tabular form.