Limited Opening Hours Research Articles

UNDERSTANDING THE CONTEXT OF RISK PRACTICES AMONG INJECTING DRUG USERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR HEPATITIS C PREVENTION

‘Risk’ is central to recent sociological studies of health and related behaviour, particularly in discourses about HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C (HCV). While epidemiological survey predominates over qualitative investigation in HCV risk reduction, it is necessary to move beyond individual‐level characteristics to gain a fuller understanding of the social context of risk. This paper investigates the context of HCV‐related risk behaviour among injecting drug users (IDUs) and discusses the behavioural and social determinants of risk practices. Data from 336 IDUs completing a self‐administered questionnaire were analysed. The data show that needle‐sharing practices are often integral to long‐standing relationships, particularly sexual ones. The level of drug dependency, trust relationships between partners and misconceptions about HCV transmission have been demonstrated to be associated with risk behaviour. Logistic factors, such as poor access to injecting equipment, limited hours of operation, and fear of police were given as barriers to safer injecting. Given the progression of the HCV epidemic, prevention campaigns should aim at risk reduction rather than risk elimination.

AN IMPROVED HEURISTIC FOR STAFFING TELEPHONE CALL CENTERS WITH LIMITED OPERATING HOURS

Many telephone call centers that experience cyclic and random customer demand adjust their staffing over the day in an attempt to provide a consistent target level of customer service. The standard and widely used staffing method, which we call the stationary independent period by period (SIPP) approach, divides the workday into planning periods and uses a series of stationary independent Erlang‐c queuing models—one for each planning period—to estimate minimum staffing needs. Our research evaluates and improves upon this commonly used heuristic for those telephone call centers with limited hours of operation during the workday. We show that the SIPP approach often suggests staffing that is substantially too low to achieve the targeted customer service levels (probability of customer delay) during critical periods. The major reasons for SIPP‘ s shortfall are as follows: (1) SIPP's failure to account for the time lag between the peak in customer demand and when system congestion actually peaks; and (2) SIPP’ s use of the planning period average arrival rate, thereby assuming that the arrival rate is constant during the period. We identify specific domains for which SIPP tends to suggest inadequate staffing. Based on an analysis of the factors that influence the magnitude of the lag in infinite server systems that start empty and idle, we propose and test two simple “lagged” SIPP modifications that, in most situations, consistently achieve the service target with only modest increases in staffing.

Urban poverty and transport: a case study from Karachi

This paper examines the role of transport provision on the lives of low-income groups in Karachi. It draws on interviews with 108 transport users living in one central and four peripheral neighbourhoods, and on interviews and focus group discussions with bus owners and drivers. It describes the large distances that most poor groups have to travel to get to and from work, and the costs; most bus users spend more than 10 per cent of their income on bus fares. It describes the time spent travelling (most people spend more than two hours a day travelling), the overcrowding and sexual harassment on the buses, the absence of schedules, the limited hours of operation and the high rate of accidents. The government authorities have failed to provide the framework needed for an integrated system, any bus terminals and other facilities - resulting in road encroachment by bus-related activities. It also describes how minibuses are acquired by entrepreneurs, and the informal payments they have to make to be allowed to operate.

Creating a virtual language lab: an EFL experience at National Taiwan Ocean University

English listening ability has become increasingly important. Traditionally, the training of listening skills is mainly provided via tape-based language laboratories. However, the tape-based laboratory cannot cope with the rapid development of digital learning media. In addition, it fails to provide students with convenient access because of its limited space and opening hours. The faculty at National Taiwan Ocean University takes advantage of new Web technologies such as RealMedia and JavaScript to create a virtual language lab in the hope of helping students develop listening skills. This paper will discuss various problems and solutions in setting up a virtual language lab. It is expected that our experience will be useful for other language professionals.

Effects of quarantine on cats and their owners

The effects of quarantine on 16 cats and their owners were assessed by means of four questionnaires completed by the owners at the beginning of their cat's stay in quarantine,...

Pharmacy practice in a small pediatric hospital

Pharmaceutical services provided in a 72-bed pediatric hospital are described. One full-time pharmacist, one full-time technician, and a half-time pharmacy assistant staff the pharmacy, which is open 40 hours per week, and a pharmacist is on call when the pharmacy is closed. The technician makes hourly rounds to nursing units to pick up new orders and deliver medications. Unit dose carts are exchanged at 4 p.m. The pharmacy prepares individual doses of i.v. medications that are used Monday through Friday. More than 80% of new orders are filled during pharmacy hours; a night cabinet provides 75% of medications needed when the pharmacy is closed. The pharmacist provides drug information to physicians and nurses and counsels parents of discharged patients. Workload data and logs that reflected calls received and drugs obtained after hours were used to justify expansion of pharmacy hours, which is expected for 1984. Pharmacists in small hospitals must balance distributive, clinical, and administrative demands to provide reliable and consistent service during limited hours of operation.