Retention Of Members Research Articles

Perceptions on American Fisheries Society Membership and Recommendations for Action Based on 2022 Survey Results

A survey was conducted in 2022 to identify current perceptions and preferences regarding the value of AFS membership and its associated benefits, to assess the effectiveness of AFS initiatives and communication efforts, to provide insight into the role of AFS in career development, and to document motivations for membership in other societies. The membership survey included participation from current AFS members as well as nonmembers with interests in the fisheries profession. We conducted an analysis of the 2,285 survey respondents, where the goal of the analysis was to identify global trends among all respondents as a means to improve the overall experience for society members through value‐added membership benefits and initiatives. For the purposes of this analysis, survey questions that specifically addressed membership benefits or membership retention were evaluated. Most of the survey questions evaluated in this analysis included an option to provide comments that were also compiled and assessed for recurring trends. Similar to previous membership surveys, high membership and meeting registration fees were frequently cited as a possible limitation or barrier to retaining and recruiting members. Survey respondents indicated that a higher value of membership appreciation could be achieved through better communication of benefits and efforts to encourage employers to support membership and certification. Recommendations were developed from the survey responses and some have already been implemented by the Membership Committee through an Action Plan. These recommendations will be used to guide future actions to increase membership, to enhance current membership benefits, and to serve as a framework to focus and refine future actions that will be considered by the Membership Committee on behalf of AFS.

Assessment of the Viability of Community-Based Health Insurance Schemes in the Ziguinchor Department from 2016 to 2018 in the Context of Universal Health Coverage (Senegal)

<i>Introduction</i>: This study examines the viability of community-based health insurance schemes in the Ziguinchor department of Senegal from 2016 to 2018, within the context of universal health coverage. Health insurance schemes have emerged as a promising solution to extend social health protection to informal sector workers and rural populations. However, despite political support, these structures face persistent challenges in terms of enrollment, member retention, and management. The study aims to assess the viability of these schemes, as well as the perceptions of various stakeholders on mutual health insurance. <i>Methodology</i>: The study adopted a mixed approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods, based on the theoretical framework developed with the support of the International Labor Office (ILO). This framework evaluates the viability of health insurance schemes according to four dimensions: institutional, technical, functional, and financial/economic. A questionnaire with 87 questions was used to collect quantitative data on these aspects from the seven health insurance schemes in the Ziguinchor department. For the qualitative component, focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with various actors, including beneficiaries, non-beneficiaries, community leaders, scheme managers, and healthcare providers. <i>Results</i>: The study's findings reveal a complex situation for the health insurance schemes in the Ziguinchor department. Institutionally, the schemes have a solid foundation with legal status, internal regulations, and affiliation to a departmental union. Technically, membership is voluntary and family-based, with control mechanisms in place, although their effectiveness is limited. Functional viability shows positive signs with a membership growth rate of 20.18%, but the overall penetration rate remains low at 16.99%, and the premium collection rate is very low, averaging 26.78%. The financial situation is particularly of concern: no scheme can meet its short or long-term debts, and the average claims ratio is excessively high at 282%. As for stakeholder perceptions, they are mixed: while the schemes are generally considered beneficial, significant practical difficulties are identified, including lack of information, funding problems, and procedural complexity. <i>Conclusion</i>: The study highlights the complexity of the role of health insurance schemes in the quest for universal health coverage. Despite undeniable strengths, the schemes face considerable challenges in terms of functional and financial viability. Corrective measures are necessary, including strengthening management capacities, innovating premium collection methods, and improving communication. An evolution of the model is also suggested, potentially towards greater integration into a national social protection system or the development of innovative public-private partnerships.

Correlates of Continued Church Membership Intention: An Empirical Study of Religion in Ghana

AbstractThis study examines the factors influencing continued church membership intention in Ghana, focusing on the key correlates of this behavior. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) the survey data collected were analyzed. The findings highlight charismatic leadership, religious experience, corporate social responsibility, personal needs fulfillment, tangibles, and message credibility as significant determinants of continued church membership intention. Furthermore, the study identifies a willingness to donate as a consequential outcome. The proposed integrative model not only offers scholars essential constructs for future theoretical exploration but also provides church managers with a comprehensive framework to enhance membership retention strategies. This research serves as a critical foundation for both academic and practical advancements in understanding the dynamics of church membership.

Service Quality and Customer Perceived Value as Predictors of Cooperative Members Satisfaction

This study aimed to identify the aspects of Service Quality and Customer Perceived Value that significantly predict cooperative Member Satisfaction, thereby providing insights into enhancing member retention and loyalty within cooperatives. A quantitative, non-experimental correlational methodology was employed, surveying 361 cooperative members in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. Systematic random sampling was used to ensure representativeness. Data were analyzed using mean scores, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, and Multiple Regression Analysis. The findings indicated that respondents exhibited significantly high levels of Service Quality, Customer Perceived Value, and Member Satisfaction. A significant correlation was found between Customer Perceived Value and Member Satisfaction. Key domains of Customer Perceived Value, including emotional value, functional value (price), social value, functional value (installations), functional value (professionalism), and functional value (service quality), were identified as predictors of Member Satisfaction. This research confirms the principles of value-percept theory and the Expectancy-Disconfirmation Paradigm (EDP), contributing to the understanding of how perceived value influences member satisfaction in cooperative settings. The results underscore the importance of these factors in strategic planning and service improvement initiatives within cooperatives.

Qualitative Exploration of the "Guilt Gap" Among Physician-Faculty with Caregiving Responsibilities.

Introduction: Differences in time commitments and resources contribute to the difficulties of work-life integration for many physician-scientists, particularly for women with family caregiving responsibilities. Understanding the challenges faced by this population is critical for the retention of these critical members of the workforce. Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with recipients of the 2017 Doris Duke Charitable Foundation's Fund to Retain Clinical Scientists (FRCS) and reviewed application narratives from the 2020 award recipients. Award recipients were asked about their caregiving responsibilities and careers, particularly as they related to the impact of the FRCS award and the aftereffects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analysts then iteratively revised the coding scheme and interpreted the data using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Of the 14 interviewees and 19 narrative contributors, 25 (76%) were women. The main qualitative themes that emerged were as follows: (1) women experience unrealistically high caregiving burdens, (2) women are overburdened by disadvantageous and undervalued expectations at work, (3) work-life expectations increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (4) unrealistic work-life expectations led to guilt and burnout. Conclusions: These findings provide a rich understanding of the factors contributing to guilt and burnout among physician-scientists, particularly women, and how work duties that increase physician obligations exacerbated these challenges. Understanding these experiences is critical to supporting and retaining a diverse workforce in academic medicine.

Member Retention Tips

Member Retention Tips

Increasing Diversity in Canadian Radiology: From the Hiring Process to Needed Active Retention Efforts.

The Canadian Association of Radiologists supports equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in employment. It is imperative that institutions implement recruitment and retention practices to ensure a diverse workforce. This requires considerable attention to each step in the process, including the job posting, candidate search, hiring committee composition, interviews, hiring decision, and retention and promotion. Job postings must be widely distributed and visible to underrepresented groups. The candidate search should be completed by a diverse committee with expertise in EDI. All committee members must complete EDI and anti-bias training and conduct a broad search that ensures underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. Interviews must be offered to all candidates. The hiring decision must avoid the use of subjective criteria. Recruitment of members of underrepresented groups ensures a diverse workforce, and organizations should commit resources to the retention and promotion of these members. Mentorship programs must be implemented and incentives provided to faculty members to serve as mentors. Transparent guidelines for promotion made universally available on department or institution websites. Recruiting a diverse workforce in Medical Imaging will only be achieved if EDI are central to the organization's goals and strategic plan. All organizational policies, practices, and procedures must be reviewed with an intersectional lens to identify potential gaps, areas for improvement, and areas of strength in the recruitment and retention of members of underrepresented groups.

Navigating two worlds: developing a learning map to visualise the knowledge and skills required for culturally informed shared decision making with Aboriginal people in New South Wales Australia

Finding Your Way is a shared decision making (SDM) resource created with and for Aboriginal people in 2021. It is the only culturally adapted SDM resource for Aboriginal people in Australia and one of few examples developed with First Nations people internationally. A two-round modified e-Delphi approach, incorporating yarning methods, was used to gather expert opinions and reach a consensus on the capabilities (knowledge and skills) required to effectively use Finding Your Way and engage in SDM with Aboriginal people. 29 predefined capabilities were gleaned from the research evidence and yarning sessions to form the basis of the e-Delphi. 138 panel members completed round one of the e-Delphi between 19/01/2023 and 27/01/2023, and 113 completed round two between 09/02/2023 and 20/02/2023. There was 82% panel member retention rate across the two-e Delphi rounds and the consensus threshold was 75% strongly agree. Consensus was reached for ten capabilities, and a learning map was developed to reflect Aboriginal valuing, being, knowing and doing as represented in the Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning pedagogy. Cultural imagery was used to create the learning map representing key knowledge and skills required ton use Finding Your Way, presenting this information in a symbolic and non-linear way.

Predicting soldier retention from army spouse characteristics and attitudes: Soldiering on with spouse support

ABSTRACT The U.S. Army has a vested interest in retaining the skilled personnel necessary to achieve its mission and strategic goals. A wealth of research has investigated the retention process and what influences service member decisions to stay in the military. While families are an important influence on soldier retention decisions, research on the mechanism by which this happens is lacking. This report explores the relationship between spouse attitudes and perceptions, resource use, and soldier retention almost two years later, using a proposed theoretical model. Our results generally support our model, with the important change that resource use and unmet needs and stress were not directly associated with specific attitudes toward staying in the military as we had expected. Instead, the association was accounted for by relationship with general attitudes toward the military. Spouses whose needs were unmet after seeking help from available resources experienced greater stress, and spouse unmet needs and reports of greater stress were associated with worse general attitudes toward the military; worse general attitudes toward the military were associated with less inclination to stay a military family; which in turn predicted soldier turnover almost two years later. As the research in this report shows, providing benefits to military spouses is also associated with a tangible and important outcome for the military: improved service member retention.

Who churns from fitness centres? Evidence from behavioural and attitudinal segmentation

ABSTRACT Research question One major challenge fitness centres face is high non-renewal rates from members. This study examines which members in a fitness centre are most likely to churn, contributing a novel process of segmentation to guide member retention. Research methods We analyse 661 full-service fitness centre members in Australia, presenting a process for segmenting members, and identifying churn risk. Leveraging recent trends of increased behavioural data usage in sport and leisure research contexts, analysis included both self-reported attitudes collected via survey as well as database behavioural attendance collected over 56 weeks. Results and findings Fitness centre members were grouped via k-means clustering, yielding four segments: Dissatisfied Casuals, Deliberate Regulars, Enthusiastic Absentees and Dedicated Reliables. Results supported greater churn likelihood within segments with lower involvement, and lower attendance frequency and consistency. Implications Implications suggest that segmentation processes adopting only an attitudinal approach can be limited in identifying likelihood of churn, by omitting pertinent behavioural variables. Thus, the proposed segmentation framework will assist fitness centre managers to better understand their heterogeneous consumer bases and develop and implement variant marketing approaches for retention.

Understanding the physical fitness standard, recruitment, and retention of Canadian Emergency Response Teams

Canadian police services rely on their Emergency Response Teams (ERT) to respond to diverse calls for service, requiring ERT members to meet physical fitness standards aligned with the physically demanding components of ERT responsibilities. In the current article, we explore the different physical testing components of Canadian tactical teams to better understand the physical testing standards for ERT. We do this by investigating how members of the Association of Canadian Critical Incident Commanders respond to closed and open-ended survey items related to fitness testing for ERT members, consequences of not passing ERT physical testing standards, and how fitness standards are perceived as creating barriers to member retention and recruitment to ERT. We center our discussion on the need for a physically capable police service to ensure security, reduce risk, and enhance public safety and suggest potential avenues for policy changes tied to physical testing standards as ways forward.

Experiences of membership in munno mubulwadde (your friend indeed) - a novel community-based health insurance scheme in Luwero district in rural central Uganda

BackgroundCommunity-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) schemes are recognized as an important health financing pathway to achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Although previous studies have documented CBHIs in low-income countries, the majority of these have been provider-based. Non-provider based schemes have received comparatively less empirical attention. We sought to describe a novel non-provider based CBHI munno mubulwadde (your friend indeed) comprising informal sector members in rural central Uganda to understand the structure of the scheme, the experiences of scheme members in terms of the perceived benefits and barriers to retention in the scheme.MethodsWe report qualitative findings from a larger mixed-methods study. We conducted in-depth interviews with insured members (n = 18) and scheme administrators (n = 12). Four focus groups were conducted with insured members (38 participants). Data were inductively analyzed by thematic approach.ResultsMunno mubulwadde is a union of ten CBHI schemes coordinated by one administrative structure. Members were predominantly low-income rural informal sector households who pay annual premiums ranging from $17 and $50 annually and received medical care at 13 scheme-contracted private health facilities in Luwero District in Central Uganda. Insured members reported that scheme membership protected them from catastrophic health expenditure during episodes of sickness among household members, and especially so among households with children under-five who were reported to fall sick frequently, the scheme enabled members to receive perceived better quality health care at private providers in the study district relative to the nearest public facilities. The identified barriers to retention in the scheme include inconvenient dates for premium payment that are misaligned with harvest periods for cash crops (e.g. maize corn) on which members depended for their agrarian livelihoods, long distances to insurance-contracted private providers, falling prices of cash crops which diminished real incomes and affordability of insurance premiums in successive years after initial enrolment.ConclusionMunno mubulwadde was perceived by as a valuable financial cushion during episodes of illness by rural informal sector households. Policy interventions for promoting price stability of cash crops in central Uganda could enhance retention of members in this non-provider CBHI which is worthy of further research as an additional funding pathway for realizing UHC in Uganda and other low-income settings.

Retenção de Membros de Organizações Civis e Participação Política: Possíveis Relações

ABSTRACT Objective: to explore the influence of retention of civil society organizations (CSOs) members on political participation. Theoretical framework: members of CSOs are likely to engage in various political activities. The propensity of members to participate in political practices may be influenced by their retention, which enables the development of democratic competencies and values, civic skills and virtues, and other political resources that foster political engagement. Methods: an explanatory quantitative research was carried out, using data from 234 members of CSOs in Mozambique, collected through a questionnaire consisting of validated scales of members’ retention and political participation. Structural equation modeling was performed to test the five research hypotheses, using weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted (WLSMV) as the estimation method, considering member retention practices as a second-order construct to explain each of the dimensions of political participation. Results: The hypothesis testing pointed to the non-rejection of two hypotheses, demonstrating that: member retention practices significantly explain political contact; and member retention practices significantly explain civic engagement. Conclusion: the study demonstrates that the propensity of CSOs members to participate in various political practices can be explained by member retention, which adds value to the literature. The findings contribute to human resource management in CSOs seeking to foster individual capacity to participate in democratic political processes, as well as those aiming to promote the expansion of democracy in society.

Retention of Civil Organizations Members and Political Participation: Possible Relationships

RESUMO Objetivo: explorar a influência da retenção de membros de organizações da sociedade civil (OSCs) sobre participação política. Marco teórico: membros de OSCs são suscetíveis a participar de diversas atividades políticas. A propensão de membros a participar de práticas políticas pode ser influenciada pela sua retenção, que oportuniza o desenvolvimento de competências e valores democráticos, habilidades e virtudes cívicas, e de outros recursos políticos que propiciam engajamento político. Métodos: realizou-se pesquisa quantitativa explicativa, usando dados de 234 membros de OSCs de Moçambique, coletados por meio de questionário constituído pelas escalas de retenção de membros e de participação política, previamente validadas. Realizou-se modelagem de equações estruturais para testar as cinco hipóteses da pesquisa, utilizando weighted least squares mean and variance adjusted (WLSMV) como método de estimação, considerando as práticas de retenção de membros como um construto de segunda ordem para explicar cada uma das dimensões de participação política. Resultados: o teste das hipóteses apontou para a não rejeição de duas hipóteses, demonstrando que: as práticas de retenção de membros explicam significativamente contato político; e as práticas de retenção de membros explicam significativamente engajamento cívico. Conclusão: o estudo demonstra que a propensão de membros de OSCs a participar de diversas práticas políticas pode ser explicada pela retenção de membros, o que acrescenta valor à literatura. Os resultados contribuem para a gestão de pessoas em OSCs que buscam fomentar a capacidade individual de participar nos processos políticos democráticos, assim como naquelas que têm por finalidade impulsionar a expansão da democracia na sociedade.

Dropout rate and associated factors of community-based health insurance beneficiaries in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundEthiopia aims to achieve universal healthcare using health insurance. To do so, it has been implementing community-based health insurance since 2011. However, the retention of members by the scheme has not yet been evaluated nationally. The systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the dropout rate and associated factors among the scheme’s beneficiaries in Ethiopia.MethodsOn December 19, 2022, searches were conducted in Scopus, Hinari, PubMed, Semantic Scholar, and Google Scholar. Searches were also conducted on the general web and electronic repositories, including the Ethiopian Health Insurance Service, the International Institute for Primary Health Care-Ethiopia, and various higher education institutions. The Joanna Briggs Institute’s tools and the “preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses 2020 statement” were used to evaluate bias and frame the review, respectively. Data were analyzed using Stata 17 and RevMan 5. To assess heterogeneity, we conducted subgroup analysis and used a random model to calculate odds ratios with a p value less than 0.05 and a 95% CI.ResultsIn total, 14 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis, of which 12 were selected for the quantitative analysis. The pooled estimate revealed that the dropout rate of beneficiaries from the scheme was 34.0% (95% CI: 23-44%), provided that the renewal rate was 66.0%, and was found to be influenced by socio-demographic, health status, length of enrolment, knowledge, attitude, the scheme, and health service-related variables. The southern and Oromia regions reported the lowest and highest dropout rates, with 27.0% (95% CI: 24-29%) and 48.0% (95% CI: 18-78%), respectively. The dropout rates increased from 12.3% in 2012–2015 to 34.4% in 2020–2021.ConclusionMore than one-third of the scheme’s beneficiaries were found to have dropped out, and this has been found to increase over time, dictating that a community-based strategy and intervention, from the supply, insurer, and demand sides, seem indispensable in minimizing this huge dropout rate.

Increase Member Retention With One Question

Increase Member Retention With One Question

Building Sustainable Virtual Communities of Practice: A Study of the Antecedents of Intention to Continue Participating

Virtual communities are essential in contemporary social and organizational domains. Their sustainability is largely propelled by members’ contributions, and yet the mechanisms for achieving significant participation remain ambiguous. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model, our primary objective is to identify the factors that may predict the intention to participate in a virtual community of practice; secondly, we aim to detect the most influential predictor(s) and the best model. In this paper, we conduct a cross-sectional study with a sample of 114 virtual community participants. Our multiple and weighted regression analyses reveal that technological, personal, and motivational factors sway participation intentions. Nevertheless, a combination of specific factors, interactivity, self-efficacy, and identification, are the most closely related to participation intention. This research offers valuable insights for organizations and community promoters, enhancing member retention and interaction stimulation and thereby constructing sustainable virtual environments through effective community design and management.

Zerial Education

Learning outcomes After reading and analyzing the case study, the students would be able to understand the complexities of leadership and decision-making in a diverse workplace, specifically when promoting differently abled employees; explore the importance of fostering an inclusive environment, addressing biases and developing empathy in the context of leadership and diversity; explore the challenges and considerations involved in managing a team with diverse backgrounds and abilities; and evaluate the potential impact of promoting employees with disabilities on the morale and retention of other team members. Case overview/synopsis This case study is about a hearing-impaired individual, Jessica, who was recently hired by a medium-sized organization, Zerial Education. She was the organization’s first hire with a disability, and some of her colleagues were skeptical about how she would fit in. There was a clear bias against her because of her disability, and she faced many challenges while proving herself and earning the respect of her colleagues. Despite the initial skepticism and bias, she quickly proved herself to be a valuable member of the team. As the appraisal period arrived, Stan Logan, her reporting manager, faced a tough decision. He wanted to be fair and avoid to seem to be biased, yet he was also committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. If he promoted Jessica, it would affirm the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and it would also validate Jessica’s impressive year of work. However, this might come at the cost of creating tensions among the other top performers who were also deserving of the promotion and potentially complicating client interactions owing to Jessica’s hearing impairment. Logan had to navigate these complexities and make a decision that aligned with both the company’s values and operational needs, while also considering the potential consequences on team morale and client relationships. Complexity academic level The case is suitable for use by students at an MBA level. Human resource management: In this course, students might learn about the legal and ethical issues surrounding disability in the workplace, as well as strategies for recruiting and retaining employees with disabilities. Organizational behavior: In this course, students might learn about the psychological and social factors that influence how individuals with disabilities are perceived and treated in organizations, as well as how to promote diversity and inclusion within a company. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 6: Human resource management

Exploring the interplay between attitudinal and behavioural determinants of fitness centre member retention

ABSTRACT Purpose: This research explores and evaluates both attitudinal and behavioural determinants of fitness centre member retention. In considering retention predictors prominent in past work, service quality, value and satisfaction are modelled, while we add multi-dimensional measures for loyalty, which are less prominent in research to date. Methodology: Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used to explore relationships between survey-based measurements from 661 members of a single fitness centre, with behavioural loyalty and retention collected over a 56-week period. Findings: Results demonstrate behavioural intention (i.e. intention to renew membership) and, critically, behavioural loyalty (i.e. observed fitness centre attendance and consistency) as most useful in explaining variance in member retention. Practical implication: Practically, insights guide the collection and use of member data towards the most relevant predictors of member retention. Research contribution: Our research enhances theory relevant to retention behaviours in subscription settings, supporting the utility of behavioural loyalty and behavioural intention as direct determinants of fitness centre member retention. Value: The present research combines commonly used attitudinal measures with a more novel analysis of member attendance behaviours.

Psychological safety, purpose, path, and partnership reduce associate veterinarian desire to leave current employment.

To identify demographic and employment variables associated with an associate veterinarian's intent to remain at their organization in the next 5 years and to assess the impact of positive leadership in the practice and on veterinarians' well-being. 2,037 associate veterinarians in private practice who participated in the 2021 and 2022 AVMA Census of Veterinarians surveys. Associate veterinarian demographic and employment information was used in regression analysis to determine the likelihood of remaining employed at their organization in the next 5 years and the impact leadership has on an associate veterinarian's employment. Higher levels of burnout, living in an urban community, and working in corporate practice were associated with lower odds of remaining in the next 5 years. Associates who worked in a practice in which they believed their leaders practiced positive leadership had higher odds of remaining in the next 5 years. An increase in a practice's leadership index was associated with a likelihood to remain employed over the next 5 years. Decreases in the leadership index were associated with higher burnout levels among associates, more work experience, working more hours, and specialty/referral practices. Findings supported anecdotal evidence that lack of positive leadership in a private practice may lead to higher odds of retention issues in a practice, as well as lower job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and workplace well-being among associates. Positive leadership practices might provide protective factors to critical veterinary business outcomes like team member retention and engagement.