Key Interest Groups Research Articles

Health Impact Assessment in Personalized Prevention: three applications on pharmacogenomic testing

Abstract Background In recent years, literature on the efficacy of genetic and genomic tests has expanded, yet the impact of personalized prevention programs that include such tests remains understudied. Our study aims to test the use of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) framework, traditionally applied in non-health policy evaluation, to assess the impacts of personalized prevention policies. Methods We selected a policy mandating dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) genetic test use before prescribing fluoropyrimidine for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Three HIAs are being conducted in Italy, Portugal, and Finland to assess the applicability across different contexts. The assessment involves literature review, comparative risk modeling, and stakeholder interviews. Three national steering committees, comprising representatives from key interest groups and experts, will evaluate evidence to gauge policy impacts and offer recommendations. Results The potential impacts identified include CRC patients’ outcomes, economic, organizational, patient experience, clinician workload, and equity. Preliminary results show a consensus in literature and national guidelines on the ability of the DPYD test to reduce adverse events and enhance the quality of life of CRC patients. However, the assessment reveals context-specific effects regarding equity, influenced by the prevalence of ethnic groups and variations in access to health services across regions. Differences also emerged on organizational aspects like the availability of resources such as laboratories and personnel. A lack of literature was observed on patient acceptability and clinician attitudes towards the test. Conclusions The use of HIA in personalized prevention might assist in identifying policy impacts often overlooked through the involvement of key interest groups in the assessment process. Such effort can further emphasize the significance of evaluating these programs while considering the geographical context. Key messages • Our study innovatively applies the Health Impact Assessment framework to evaluate personalized prevention programs in pharmacogenomic, addressing a critical research gap. • Preliminary findings underscore the importance of considering geographical factors in public health policy evaluation, highlighting nuanced context-specific effects.

Identifying and prioritizing recommendations to optimize transitions across the care journey for hip fractures: Results from a mixed-methods concept mapping study.

Individuals who experience a hip fracture have numerous care transitions. Improving the transition process is important for ensuring quality care; however, little is known about the priorities of different key interest groups. Our aim was to gather recommendations from these groups regarding care transitions for hip fracture. We conducted a concept mapping study, inviting persons with lived experience (PWLE) who had a hip fracture, care partners, healthcare providers, and decision-makers to share their thoughts about 'what is needed to improve care transitions for hip fracture'. Individuals were subsequently asked to sort the generated statements into conceptual piles, and then rate by importance and priority using a five-point scale. Participants decided on the final map, rearranged statements, and assigned a name to each conceptual cluster. A total of 35 participants took part in this concept mapping study, with some individuals participating in multiple steps. Participants included 22 healthcare providers, 7 care partners, 4 decision-makers, and 2 PWLE. The final map selected by participants was an 8-cluster map, with the following cluster labels: (1) access to inpatient services and supports across the care continuum (13 statements); (2) informed and collaborative discharge planning (13 statements); (3) access to transitional and outpatient services (3 statements); (4) communication, education and knowledge acquisition (9 statements); (5) support for care partners (2 statements); (6) person-centred care (13 statements); (7) physical, social, and cognitive activities and supports (13 statements); and (8) provider knowledge, skills, roles and behaviours (8 statements). Our study findings highlight the importance of person-centred care, with active involvement of PWLE and their care partners throughout the care journey. Many participant statements included specific ideas related to continuity of care, and clinical knowledge and skills. This study provides insights for future interventions and quality improvement initiatives for enhancing transitions in care among hip fracture populations.

Perspectives of key interest groups regarding supervised Consumption sites (SCS) and novel virtual harm reduction services / overdose response hotlines and applications: a qualitative Canadian study

BackgroundSupervised consumption sites (SCS) and overdose prevention sites (OPS) have been implemented across Canada to mitigate harms associated with illicit substance use. Despite their successes, they still contend with challenges that limit their accessibility and uptake. Overdose response hotlines and apps are novel virtual technologies reminiscent of informal “spotting” methods that may address some of the limitations. Here, we strove to qualitatively examine the factors that may encourage or deter utilization of these virtual services and SCS.MethodsA total of 52 participants across Canada were recruited using convenience and snowball sampling methods. These included people with lived and living experience of substance use, family members of people with lived experience, healthcare providers, community harm reduction workers, and virtual harm reduction operators. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted and inductive thematic analysis was performed to identify the themes pertaining to SCS and virtual harm reduction.ResultsParticipants viewed overdose response hotline and apps as an opportunity to consume substances without being hindered by logistical barriers (e.g., wait times), fear of law enforcement, invasion of privacy, and more. They also noted that these virtual services provided more flexibility for clients who opt for routes of consumption that are not supported by SCS, such as smoking. Overall, SCS was perceived to be better than virtual services at facilitating social connection, providing additional resources/referrals, as well as prompt response to overdose.ConclusionIn sum, participants viewed SCS and virtual services as filling different needs and gaps. This study adds to a growing body of literature which informs how virtual harm reduction services can serve as useful adjunct to more standard harm reduction methods.

Abstract PO2-10-02: 'Sharing Our Own Experience': A Qualitative Study of Black Women Diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Abstract Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is disproportionately prevalent among U.S. Black women. Black women diagnosed with TNBC are less likely to receive the primary treatment options for TNBC, and more likely to die from the disease compared to white patients with the same diagnosis. Given TNBC’s impact on Black women, there is an urgent need to better understand their needs for information and support and any unique barriers to care they may face. Thus, this study explored the perspectives, needs, and lived experiences of Black women diagnosed with TNBC. Methods: Our study was guided by the transformative paradigm and used a multi-method approach. Study-eligible participants self-identified as: a) Black or African American; b) 18 years or older; c) being diagnosed with TNBC within the previous 5-7 years; d) receiving TNBC treatment in the U.S.; and e) English-speaking. From August-October 2022, SHARE Cancer Support (a national nonprofit focused on cancer) and 15 partner organizations used social media and listservs to recruit potential participants from their constituencies to complete a quantitative survey (n=49). From the survey participants, a stratified, purposeful sample of 20 Black women diagnosed with TNBC completed in-depth interviews from November 2022-February 2023. Two Black women researchers conducted virtual interviews with the participants via Zoom. The research team performed thematic analysis on the professionally transcribed data using NVivo 12. A Black Feminist lens was used to analyze codes and interpret emerging themes present across the interviews. The University of South Carolina's Institutional Review Board approved this study. Results: About half of those interviewed were between 35 and 44 years old, had a bachelor's degree or higher, and their annual household income ranged from less than $25,000 to $175,000. Eight major themes emerged from the personal stories of Black women diagnosed with TNBC. From diagnosis to survivorship, Black women discussed the importance of advocacy, including self-advocacy, others advocating on their behalf, and being motivated to become an advocate for others. The participants shared the significance of their identity as Black women and desired that cancer care team members acknowledge their identity and subsequently culturally tailor their care needs. Some participants also noted instances of racism and discrimination that occurred during their TNBC diagnosis or treatment experience. Participants overwhelmingly stressed the vital nature of having “someone who looks like me” to inform them about treatment options and existing resources, as well as to provide emotional support through their shared lived experiences with TNBC. Additionally, participants recognized the importance of embracing the uncertain yet inevitable future. They also emphasized that mental health support is not uniformly provided in care settings but should be an essential component of the TNBC treatment plan. Having support was essential to all the women, but they noted that support can look different for everyone and many existing support resources need to be improved. The themes were adapted into a list of recommended action steps for support organizations, clinical care team members, and TNBC patients to help improve the quality of life for Black women diagnosed with TNBC. Conclusions: The lived experiences of Black women diagnosed with TNBC can serve as a meaningful source of data and provide solutions to addressing persistent health disparities these women face. Findings from this study can inform future research and clinical practice about how to support the holistic needs of Black women diagnosed with TNBC. Recommendations for improving the quality of life for Black women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. The 8 major themes that emerged in the qualitative study were adapted into a list of actionable recommendations for key interest groups to improve the lives of Black women diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. Citation Format: Tisha Felder, Lucy Ingram, Megan Austin, Victoria Burke, Stephanie Poland, Megan-Claire Chase, Christine Benjamin. 'Sharing Our Own Experience': A Qualitative Study of Black Women Diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-10-02.

Board gender diversity and corporate social responsibility

Based on a total of 1,590 listed non-financial firms on the Taiwan Stock Exchange and the Taipei Exchange (formerly the Over The Counter securities market) covering the period of 2007~2020, this study examines whether firm's performance on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is affected by corporate board gender diversity. Based on the Upper Echelons Theory, the Agency Theory and the Resource Dependence Theory, increasing the number of female director to achieve higher level of gender diversity brings forth traits such as compassion, kindness, helpfulness, empathy, interpersonal sensitivity, a willingness to nurture, and a greater concern for others' well-being. These traits help firms form policies that prioritize stakeholders' welfare. Moreover, board gender diversity corresponds to a more diverse and broad background, understanding and experience of business operations, enabling firms to better understand where the key interest groups they face are and what they value. This allows firms to make more effective and better-performing decision in CSR. Through correlation analysis and multiple regression estimation, the principal outcome shows that greater degree of board gender diversity is associated with better CSR performance, confirming the hypothesis that a more gender diversified board enhances the efficiency of monitoring and advising function of board and then forming corporate strategies and implementations toward a better stakeholders’ management.

Substance use disorder treatment carve outs in Medicaid managed care

IntroductionMedicaid managed care organizations (MCO) play a major role in addressing the nation's epidemic of drug overdose and mortality by administering substance use disorder (SUD) treatment benefits for over 50 million Americans. While it is known that some Medicaid MCO plans delegate responsibility for managing SUD treatment benefits to an outside “carve out” entity, the extent and structure of such carve out arrangements are unknown. This is an important gap in knowledge, given that carve outs have been linked to reductions in rates of SUD treatment receipt in several studies. To address this gap, we examined carve out arrangements used by Medicaid MCO plans to administer SUD treatment benefits in ten states. MethodsData for this study was gleaned using a purposive sampling approach through content analysis of publicly available benefits information (e.g., member handbooks, provider manuals, prescription drug formularies) from 70 comprehensive Medicaid MCO plans in 10 selected states (FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, NH, OH, PA, UT, and WV) active in 2018. Each Medicaid MCO plan's documents were reviewed and coded to indicate whether a range of SUD treatment services (e.g., inpatient treatment, outpatient treatment, residential treatment) and medications were carved out, and if so, to what type of entity (e.g., behavioral health organization). ResultsA large majority of Medicaid MCO plans carved out at least some (28.6 %) or all (40.0 %) SUD treatment services, with nearly all plans carving out some (77.1 %) or all (14.3 %) medications, mainly due to the carving out of methadone treatment. Medicaid MCO plans most commonly carved out SUD treatment services to behavioral health organizations, while most medications were carved out to state Medicaid fee-for-service plans. ConclusionsCarve out arrangements for SUD treatment vary dramatically across states, across plans, and even within plans. Given that some studies have linked carve out arrangements to reductions in treatment access, their widespread use among Medicaid MCO plans is cause for further consideration by policymakers and other key interest groups. Moreover, reliance on such complex arrangements for administering care may create challenges for enrollees who seek to learn about and access plan benefits.

Bridging the Gap in Harm Reduction Using Mobile Overdose Response Services (MORS) in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic introduced additional health challenges for people who use substances (PWUS) amid the overdose crisis. Numerous harm reduction services, including supervised consumption sites (SCS) across Canada, faced shutdowns and reduced operating capacity in order to comply with public health measures. Mobile Overdose Response Services (MORS) are novel overdose prevention technologies that allow those who are unable to access alternative means of harm reduction to consume substances under the virtual supervision of a trained operator. Here, we examine the role of MORS in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 59 semi-structured interviews were conducted with the following key interest groups: PWUS, healthcare providers, harm reduction workers, MORS operators, and the general public. Inductive thematic analysis informed by grounded theory was used to identify major themes pertaining to the perception of MORS. As the pandemic shifted the public focus away from harm reduction, many participants viewed MORS as an acceptable strategy to reduce the harms associated with solitary substance and alleviate the sense of isolation driven by social distancing measures. While the pandemic may have increased the utility of MORS, concerns surrounding personal privacy and confidentiality remained. Overall, MORS were perceived as a useful adjunct service to address the unmet needs PWUS during the pandemic and beyond.

Preference for hotline versus mobile application/countdown-based mobile overdose response services: a qualitative study.

In response to the exacerbated rates of morbidity and mortality associated with the overlapping overdose and COVID-19 epidemics, novel strategies have been developed, implemented, operationalized and scaled to reduce the harms resulting from this crisis. Since the emergence of mobile overdose response services (MORS), two strategies have aimed to help reduce the mortality associated with acute overdose including staffed hotline-based services and unstaffed timer-based services. In this article, we aim to gather the perspectives of various key interest groups on these technologies to determine which might best support service users. Forty-seven participants from various interested groups including people who use substances who have and have not used MORS, healthcare workers, family members, harm reduction employees and MORS operators participated in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Four major themes emerged regarding participant perspectives on the differences between services, namely differences in connection, perceived safety, privacy and accessibility, alongside features that are recommended for MORS in the future. Overall, participants noted that individuals who use substances vary in their desire for connection during a substance use session offered by hotline and timer-based service modalities. Participants perceived hotline-based approaches to be more reliable and thus potentiallysafer than their timer-based counterparts but noted that access to technology is a limitation of both approaches.

Understanding the barriers and facilitators to implementing and sustaining Mobile Overdose Response Services from the perspective of Canadian key interest groups: a qualitative study.

Unregulated supply of fentanyl and adulterants continues to drive the overdose crisis. Mobile Overdose Response Services (MORS) are novel technologies that offer virtual supervised consumption to minimize the risk of fatal overdose for those who are unable to access other forms of harm reduction. However, as newly implemented services, they are also faced with numerous limitations. The aim of this study was to examine the facilitators and barriers to the adoption of MORS in Canada. A total of 64 semi-structured interviews were conducted between November 2021 and April 2022. Participants consisted of people who use substances (PWUS), family members of PWUS, health care professionals, harm reduction workers, MORS operators, and members of thegeneralpublic. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themajor themes and subthemes. Respondents revealed that MORS facilitated a safe, anonymous, and nonjudgmental environment for PWUS to seek harm reduction and other necessary support. It also created a new sense of purpose for operators to positively contribute to the community.Further advertising and promotional efforts were deemed important to increase its awareness. However, barriers to MORS implementation included concerns regarding privacy/confidentiality, uncertainty of funding, and compassion fatigue among the operators. Although MORS were generally viewed as a useful addition to the currently existing harm reduction services, it's important to monitor and tackle these barriers by engaging the perspectives of key interest groups.

Understanding the Value of a Proactive Telecare System in Supporting Older Adults' Independence at Home: Qualitative Interview Study Among Key Interest Groups.

Telecare is claimed to support people to live in their own homes for longer by providing monitoring services that enable responses to emergencies at home. Although most telecare technologies commissioned in the United Kingdom predominantly supply reactive services, there has been recent interest among policy makers to develop proactive telecare services to provide additional understanding of older adults' health and well-being needs to provide a means for more preventive interventions. Proactive telecare refers to providing regular well-being calls or encouraging users to regularly confirm their well-being to anticipate and prevent crises through an increased understanding of individuals' needs and by building social relationships with older adults. Such technologies have already begun to be introduced, yet little research has explored the potential value of proactive telecare. This study explores the perceptions of different interest groups to understand the extent to which using a proactive telecare service can support older adults to live independently, what potential health and well-being benefits may be elicited from its use, and what the limitations are. Semistructured interviews were conducted with older people (those with experience in using proactive telecare and those without), family members of proactive telecare users, and proactive telecare staff regarding their perceptions and opinions about the value of a proactive telecare service. Data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. A total of 30 individuals participated in this study. Older adults described the value of proactive telecare in feeling safe and in control and appreciated feeling connected. Family members and staff valued the potential to detect early health deterioration in older adults, and all participants highlighted the benefit of strengthening access to social networks, particularly for socially isolated older people. However, telecare is often viewed as a last resort, and therefore, anticipatory care may not suit all populations, as demonstrated by the mixed acceptance of the technology among older adults who did not have experience using it. Participants also reported limitations, including the requirement for family, friends, or neighbors to assist older adults during an emergency and the need for financial resources to fund the service. This study presents the first known qualitative inquiry about a proactive telecare system, which provides rich and detailed insights from different perspectives into the potential benefits of this intervention. Proactive telecare may promote and facilitate the accumulation of social and technological resources as individuals prepare to cope with age-related challenges, thus helping to avoid negative outcomes prematurely. However, similar to reactive telecare, proactive telecare must be matched to individual preferences and existing financial and social resources.

Implementing NRRP policies and the interest groups perspective in the justice sector: the “Ufficio per il processo” reform

ABSTRACT In the justice sector, the main objective of NRRP policies is to enhance the performance of the judiciary through comprehensive actions that impact various areas, including the courts, organizational matters, civil and criminal proceedings, alternative dispute resolution, digitization, judicial and staff training, and judicial governance. This context presents an excellent opportunity for a new cycle of policy design and implementation. The article focuses specifically on the Ufficio per il processo (literally, ‘Office for the trial’), an organizational reform that introduces new staff to support court proceedings. This reform is expected to have a broad and cross-cutting impact for at least two reasons. Firstly, it is instrumental in implementing the entire package of NRRP policies, where the efficiency of court proceedings depends significantly on the resources available to judges and clerks. Secondly, it highlights the interconnections between the judicial function and court management. The article analyses the influence exerted by key interest groups (such as the National Association of Magistrates and the National Bar Council) during the implementation phase of the reform, considering the transition from the Draghi to the Meloni Government. In the conclusions, the article identifies the dynamics that concretely shaped the Ufficio per il processo reform through the interaction between political powers and interest groups.

Providing Insights into the Challenges of Implementing Activity-Based Therapy in Canada: A Comparative Analysis Using Focus Group Interviews with Key Interest Groups.

Activity-based therapy (ABT) has emerged as a therapeutic approach that may promote neurorecovery and reduce secondary complications in people living with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D). In spite of the numerous health benefits, adoption of ABT into practice has been limited across the Canadian care continuum. This study aimed to understand the challenges of implementing ABT in Canada for people living with SCI/D through the perspectives of key interest groups. Researchers, hospital therapists, community trainers, administrators, persons living with SCI/D, and advocates, funders, and policy experts who had knowledge of and/or experience with ABT participated in focus group interviews to share their perspectives on the barriers to ABT practice. Interviews were analyzed using conventional content analysis followed by a comparative analysis across groups. The 48 participants identified six key challenges: (1) challenge of gaps in knowledge/training, (2) challenge of standardizing ABT, (3) challenge of determining the optimal timing of ABT, (4) challenge of defining, characterizing, and achieving high dosage and intensity, (5) challenge of funding ABT, and (6) challenge of measuring participation and performance in ABT. A comparative analysis found some challenges were emphasized by certain groups, such as the cost of ABT for persons with SCI/D, lack of education and training in ABT for therapists and trainers, minimal evidence to develop guidelines for researchers and advocates, and funding ABT programs for administrators. Participants highlighted several challenges that limit ABT practice. Strategies to address these challenges will support successful implementation of ABT in Canada.

Conflict and alignment on aquaculture among Californian communities

Expanding sustainable aquaculture, particularly marine aquaculture, has been increasingly discussed as a pathway for meeting growing seafood demands while reducing the environmental cost of production, including within the United States. California, the state with the largest economy, population, and seafood demand, plays a large role in the domestic seafood landscape and is currently re-evaluating policy and practices toward sustainable aquaculture through the development of a state Aquaculture Action Plan (AAP). To inform the development of the plan, we surveyed California interest groups and community members with association or knowledge of marine aquaculture to understand sentiment around current and future aquaculture in the state, both positive and negative. Specifically, we conducted surveys and a scenario exercise with a representative focus group (“in-person” group) and a broader community of others engaged in marine aquaculture (“survey” group). Participants spanned aquaculturists, commercial fishers, government agency representatives, environmental NGO advocates, academics and tribal members. We found people generally preferred California farms to focus on expanding seaweed and bivalve production, and not land-based finfish or crustaceans; simultaneously, people tended to show a strong preference for local production to fill the seafood production-consumption gap in the state. Notably, the preference of our respondents for the type of seafood to be farmed is in conflict with broader consumer preferences, as California residents (and the U.S generally) predominantly consume shrimp and fish. In support of the broader sentiment of developing locally accessible seafood, both groups expressed a strong preference for increased production to be from small farms and distributed locally. Adoption of local aquaculture products would likely be facilitated by programs that increase traceability and labeling of seafood within the state. We found consensus among groups that aquaculture is important in the state and national seafood sector now and will become more important in the future. Finally, there was strong preference in our study against reliance on foreign imports, a mismatch with the current trade landscape. In sum, our work highlights areas of alignment and contention within key interest groups for the future direction of and vision for marine aquaculture in California. California may be at an inflection point for marine aquaculture, and the success or failure of efforts to expand aquaculture will likely rest on how well policy can respond to the input and preferences of key communities and interest groups.

ИСТОРИЯ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ ЯПОНСКОЙ БЮРОКРАТИИ В СИСТЕМЕ ГОСУПРАВЛЕНИЯ

Статья предполагает рассмотрение системы формирования японской экономической бюрократии в послевоенный период. В послевоенную эпоху Япония мощной центральная бюрократия способствовала быстрому экономическому росту, высоким стандартам образования и здравоохранения, внутренней стабильности и мирным международным отношениям. Аппарат государственных служащих сочетал демократическую политику с мощным административным потенциалом и частичной изоляцией от давления групп интересов. Чиновники центрального министерства разработали некий компромисс между автономией и вовлеченностью, при котором они играли отчетливо политическую роль в организации сделок между ключевыми заинтересованными группами. Тем не менее власть и изоляция бюрократии также ограничивали участие гражданских групп и интересов меньшинств в политическом процессе, ограничивали подотчетность перед широкой общественностью и способствовали партнерским сговорам с политиками и группами интересов. Господство бюрократии начало ослабевать в 1970-х годах, когда политики вышли за пределы бюджета Министерства финансов, чтобы расширить государство всеобщего благосостояния и увеличить расходы на общественные работы для своих избирателей. Бюрократический аппарат столкнулся с еще более серьезными проблемами в 1990-х годах, включая финансовый кризис, резко прервавший период быстрого роста, реформу избирательной системы, изменившую политическую динамику, и постепенную эрозию эффективной работы госаппарата.

Student Competition (Knowledge Generation) ID 1975184

Background/Objectives Implementing activity-based therapy (ABT) across the continuum of care in Canada has proved challenging. The objective of this study was to understand and compare multi-group perspectives on the challenges that hinder implementation of ABT in Canada for people living with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D). Methods Individuals from six key interest groups (i.e., researchers; persons living with SCI/D; administrators; physical and occupational therapists; community-based exercise trainers; and funders, advocates, and policy experts) who had knowledge of and/or experience with ABT were recruited to participate in focus group interviews that were held over web conferencing. Participants were asked about the barriers and facilitators to practicing ABT. Interview transcripts were analyzed using conventional content analysis followed by a comparative analysis across groups. Results Forty-eight individuals participated in interviews lasting 30-80 minutes. Six themes were identified: 1) Challenge of defining ABT and addressing gaps in knowledge/training. 2) Challenge of standardizing ABT. 3) Challenge of determining the optimal timing of ABT. 4) Challenge of defining, characterizing and achieving high dosage and intensity. 5) Challenge of funding ABT. 6) Challenge of measuring participation and performance in ABT. While all groups acknowledged these six challenges, therapists and community trainers viewed knowledge/training gaps and achieving high dosage and intensity as key challenges. Researchers and advocates emphasized funding as a key challenge. Conclusion Participants highlighted the challenges that limit adoption of ABT into practice within hospital and community settings. Future research should explore avenues to address these challenges to support successful implementation of ABT in Canada.

Reputation as Articulation: Alliance Building of Career Politicians in the Jim Crow South

Studies of political articulation focus overwhelmingly on the role of parties in constructing political identities and group interests, relying on inter-party competition, given a sharp partisan divide. However, where party identification is less salient, local politicians forge alliances from disparate constituencies, cultivating varying political reputations that personify the concerns of distinct groups. By examining Alabama politics in the 1920s, focusing on the dramatically different relations with the Ku Klux Klan and business elites of Alabama’s three senators, we address how politicians generate supportive alliances in the absence of party competition. To this end, we extend articulation theories by examining how political actors—and not only their parties—cultivate support by presenting the concerns of local publics through their electoral persona. Drawing on archival material, we explore how Senators Oscar Underwood, J. Thomas Heflin, and Hugo Black came to represent key interest groups, forging distinct paths to electoral success. An exclusive focus on parties overlooks politicians’ reputation-building as a mechanism of political articulation.

CORPORATE MANAGEMENT OF ELECTRICITY COMPANIES: PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES

The utilities are distinguished by significant material and financial power, exceptional market power, the realization of large revenues, employing several thousands of workers, whose results represent a significant part of the GDP. The utilities are of great economic forces, they represent an economic synthesis between management, labor and capital, giving an identity to the company in a given socio-economic environment. The particularities of a corporate-type company come from different missions that give it an identity, but also from the pluralism of interests of different stakeholders – interested parties. The basic requirement for a modern corporation is to create wealth for the key interest groups, i.e. stakeholders, in the way that suppliers of financial inputs ensure returns on their investment. Therefore, good management of the utilities is of crucial importance for realizing their positive contribution to economic efficiency and competitiveness.Corporate management is the process of managing, directing and supervising the operations of an utility, in order to create value for shareholders, assess investment risk and the expected rate of return on investments, as well as supervise capital investments, and at the same time protect the interests of other stakeholders. Corporate management is a monitoring mechanism for evaluating corporate responsibility and reliability through: boards of directors, supervisory board, audit committees, management and auditors. Corporate management would not be necessary if management acted in the best interest of shareholders and if corporate guardians: boards of directors, legal advisors and certified public accountants, efficiently performed their entrusted tasks and professional responsibilities. Therefore, the corporate management structure promotes the trust of the company by increasing the transparency of the financial reporting process, based on the corporate management standards adopted by the Organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD).

Perspectives of Activity-based Therapy Practice in Canada through Focus Group Interviews with Key Interest Groups

Perspectives of Activity-based Therapy Practice in Canada through Focus Group Interviews with Key Interest Groups

Foutu maximum: The political economy of price controls and national defense in revolutionary France

War necessitates both allocating real resources to defense and certain interest groups being in favor of the government raising resources to wage war. Price controls can be a tool for governments to mobilize additional resources while buying the support of certain key interest groups, hence making war politically viable. France during the revolutionary Terror, the first instance of widespread price controls used in times of war, is used to illustrate this hypothesis. Urban capitalists benefited from price controls on agricultural output combined with forced sales. At the same time, I estimate that in the six months preceding the abolition of price controls, the government saved, by using them (and in real terms), the equivalent of roughly 40% of the annual 1790 central government budget. Consistent with my theory, once the exigencies of the war attenuated and as collective action became more costly for the urban population, price controls were abandoned.

Comparative views of the public, hunters, and wildlife managers on the management of reintroduced bison (Bison bison)

Public support is often instrumental for restoring large mammals to landscapes where they have been extirpated. Effective conservation planning likely often hinges on wildlife managers understanding and reflecting the values and beliefs of their constituencies. Yet, comparative views of wildlife managers and the public or key interest groups are largely untested. As a prelude to developing a management plan for reintroduced bison ( Bison bison ) in Yukon, Canada, we compared views of the public, hunters, and wildlife managers, using a pre-tested questionnaire with most questions based on a 5-point Likert scale. We tested whether managers differed with respect to their values and beliefs pertaining to bison management compared to the public and hunters. Additionally, we used a Potential for Conflict Index 2 approach to assess the acceptability of potential management actions by these three groups to hypothetical scenarios. Our main findings were that (i) respondents with higher anthropocentric and ecocentric views of bison were more accepting of population growth; (ii) respondents that believed bison or hunters had created ecological or social impacts were less accepting of an increased bison population; (iii) means differed significantly between groups for most questions, with key differences being a lack of acceptability of “doing nothing” as a management option by the public, and “reducing harvest opportunities” by hunters—however, there were few polarized views on bison management options; and (iv) PCI 2 values were often moderate (0.21–0.50) within groups, indicating a lack of consensus on views about the acceptability of management options. A low degree of consensus between or within groups is a hallmark of a potential for conflict, and revealing low levels of consensus between and within groups can facilitate understanding where increased communication between managers and their constituencies is needed. Our research provides a case study of wildlife managers in the Yukon and demonstrates that they reflect reasonably well the public and hunters regarding bison management. This is likely because Yukon bison managers are an inclusive group that is largely community based. That said, there were often significant differences in the degree to which all three groups agreed on bison management options. Within the context of species conservation planning, similar research can provide an important test on congruence between views of wildlife managers and their constituencies. We recommend similar assessments when key decisions need to be made by wildlife managers, particularly on potentially volatile issues that may not be broadly supported.