Primary Survey Research Articles

Females wanna-be entrepreneurs need empathic heroes

PurposeDespite the well-documented importance of empathy and mentoring in entrepreneurship, there is a need for a deeper understanding of how empathy influences individuals’ “willingness to be mentored”.Design/methodology/approachThis paper investigates gender differences in “Willingness to be mentored” based on the mentor’s types of empathy (cognitive vs affective) and entrepreneurship (social vs for-profit). Drawing on the personal identification and the entrepreneurship literature, we measured the respondents’ “Willingness to be mentored” by manipulating the type of empathy and entrepreneurship and comparing its effect between male and female respondents. Primary survey data were collected from master’s degree students in entrepreneurship from diverse business schools. An explanatory qualitative study on female start-uppers complemented the findings.FindingsThe results from the quantitative study show that female respondents prefer to be mentored by an entrepreneur who exhibits some affective empathy rather than only cognitive empathy, with a preference for a social entrepreneur. The qualitative study confirms the evidence. This research contributes to the discussion on developing social capabilities to succeed in new ventures. It extends our understanding of the importance of empathic entrepreneurs as mentors to foster entrepreneurship among women.Originality/valueTheoretically, we demonstrate the existence of a gender difference in “Willingness to be mentored” based on the type of empathy displayed by the entrepreneur. Additionally, we introduce a new construct in the entrepreneurship literature, “Willingness to be mentored”, and differentiate it from “Attitude toward entrepreneurship”.

Assessing systematic biases in farmers’ local weather change perceptions

Scientific data concerning climate change are critical for designing mitigation and adaptation strategies. Equally important is how stakeholders perceive climate change because perceptions influence decision-making. In this paper, we employ spatially-delineated primary surveys to evaluate weather perception biases among corn and soybean farmers located on western frontier of the U.S. Corn Belt where substantial loss of grassland has been documented. We characterize farmers’ perception biases by measuring the gap between survey-based perception reports for three distinct weather indicators (i.e., temperature, precipitation and drought) and corresponding meteorological evidence. About 70% farmers in our sample misperceive past weather changes. Three-fourths of these misperceiving farmers over-estimate local temperatures and drought frequency and 40% of them under-estimate precipitation trends relative to past records. We further find evidence that farmers’ weather change perceptions are systematically biased in a manner that would justify past land use decisions. Particularly, higher cropping incidence on previously protected grasslands effected more farmers to under-perceive drier conditions and over-perceive wetter conditions. Our investigation of perception biases across distinct weather indicators with a reference to past economic decisions enriches the understanding of climate change perceptions and related policies.

Food Security Achievement through Women Empowerment: A Study of Informal Sector in Lahore

Background: Women empowerment (WE) in food security is one of the global issues faced by women in all the countries of the world. Achievement of zero-hunger goal of Sustainable Development Goals in 2030 (SDG) still seems to be unachievable because of this food insecurity. This research aims to study the achievement of food security by enhancing WE in the informal sector in Lahore, Pakistan. Moreover, the analysis goals are to determine the contribution of microcredit facilities and management skills in the enhancement of WE which improves food security. Method: This study was quantitative and descriptive. Using a primary survey questionnaire on cross-sectional data source by simple random sampling, 495 women borrowers in the informal sector of Lahore, Pakistan were investigated. Data analysis was done using SMART PLS3. Results: The results of the study revealed a positive relationship between WE and food security through the active participation of women in production decisions. The utilization of resources within the households is strengthened by familial rights, social support, and the removal of gender disparity. Conclusion: Women's capacity to contribute more to the daily household expenditure is increased by the higher income, and eventually, it increases their empowerment and food security.

Educational Recommendations for Medical Students Regarding Assessment and Management of Patients of Undifferentiated Criticality

Classical medical education teaches history and physical skills using scenarios wherein the criticality of a patient is predefined. This educational approach creates a gap in medical knowledge for students, who do not regularly define or establish patient criticality, and this gap is realized when it comes to the triage and management of critical patients. The purpose of this paper is to define an approach to patient assessment and management that is accessible to medical students regardless of criticality. This approach is algorithmic and defined by the use of three steps: (1) a primary survey, during which a general impression of the patient is formed, ABCDEs are assessed, and a criticality assessment is made; (2) a secondary survey, during which vitals, history, and exam data are all collected to form a working diagnosis; and (3) plan and treatment, during which supportive diagnostics, such as labs, imaging, and testing, are performed in the service of patient stabilization and intervention, consults/referrals are ordered/placed, and a final disposition is established. This model is intended to complement existing medical education and further expand it to encompass both critical and noncritical patients.

050. Surviving Multiple Traumas: A 37-Year-Old Male with Gunshot-Induced Hematopneumothorax and Hollow Organ Perforation

Background: Traumatic gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen pose significant challenges in emergency surgical management. This case report presents the rapid diagnosis and successful treatment of a 37-year-old male who sustained gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, leading to hematopneumothorax and hollow organ perforation. Case: The patient, a 37-year-old male, was admitted to Adam Malik Hospital with shortness of breath and severe abdominal pain following a gunshot injury to the chest and lower abdomen. On primary survey, the patient exhibited tachypnea (RR 26 tpm) and hypoxia (SpO2 94% on room air), which improved with oxygen therapy. Vital signs were stable, but a left-sided hematopneumothorax and abdominal tenderness suggested hollow organ perforation. Radiological and FAST ultrasound findings confirmed the diagnosis. Emergency chest tube insertion and exploratory laparotomy were performed. The chest tube revealed hemorrhagic effusion, and laparotomy identified two small bowel perforations at 100 cm and 130 cm from the ligament of Treitz, alongside an impaled object in the mesentery. Primary suturing of the perforations was performed, and the abdomen was irrigated thoroughly. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, with the patient showing rapid clinical improvement. Conclusion: Rapid emergency surgical response led to a favorable outcome in a patient with life-threatening thoracoabdominal gunshot wounds, emphasizing the role of timely interventions in trauma care.

Pediatric Practices’ Experiences with Massachusetts’ Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations

ObjectiveTo examine the experience of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that include pediatric practices, including their motivations and experiences working together. MethodsThis mixed methods study is set within the first two years of the Massachusetts Medicaid ACO Program, which created 17 Medicaid ACOs across the Commonwealth in 2018. It combines qualitative interviews from organizational leaders across three Medicaid ACOs with pediatric representation (N=28; purposive sample; 2018) with a 44-item primary care practice leader survey (N=225 after 64% response rate; statewide stratified random sample of primary care practices; 2019). Interviews gathered information about organizational motivations and experiences with becoming a Medicaid ACO; the survey asked five domains of questions describing the experience of pediatric- and adult-focused primary care practices in joining Medicaid ACOs (e.g., how much practices solved problems jointly with the ACO). We used ordinary least squares regression to describe differences in experiences across pediatric vs. non-pediatric practices. ResultsLeaders of Medicaid ACO with pediatric representation expressed a desire to voice pediatric concerns regarding state Medicaid payment policy and to integrate social services as part of routine medical care. Relative to the experience of adult-focused primary care practice leaders, pediatric-focused practices reported less collaboration within the Medicaid ACO (95% confidence interval 0.81 to 0.05; p = 0.03) and less change toward standardization of policies such as physician compensation (95% confidence interval 0.61 to 0.02; p = 0.04). ConclusionsInitial Medicaid ACO experiences can differ based on the degree to which organizations joining Medicaid ACO programs serve pediatric populations. Article SummaryEarly in Massachusetts’ implementation of Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), pediatric-focused practices reported less collaboration and standardization within their Medicaid ACOs than adult-focused practices.

Severe Respiratory Acidosis in Acute Exacerbation COPD, Is that Possible to Treat?

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), currently the third leading cause of death worldwide, is a common condition characterized by progressive airflow limitation and tissue destruction. Patients with COPD may present to the Emergency Room (ER) with severe acute exacerbations (AECOPD), which can be associated with acute respiratory failure—a life-threatening condition with a mortality rate approaching 50% in Indonesia—requiring rapid intervention and ICU admission. In this report, we present a severe respiratory acidosis in AECOPD case with successful emergency followed by ICU management and the frequent pitfalls. Case Illustration: In this report we present a-67 years old male, pedicab driver and smoker came to the ER with acute onset shortness of breath and decrease of consciousness with history of shortness of breath in last 10 years. In primary survey we found clear wheezing sound, tachypnea, intercostal retraction, decrease of peripheral oxygen saturation, tachycardia and verbal respond of consciousness. Blood gas analysis result interpreted severe respiratory acidosis with pH 6.90 and pCO2 128.5 mmHg. Chest radiograph showed infiltrate that became the cause of exacerbation. Endotracheal intubation was performed due to decreased consciousness, persistent tachypnea and pCO2 over 100 mmHg. This patient was hospitalized for 12 days including 9 days in ICU followed by 3 days in regular ward. Conclusion: The goal for AECOPD management is to minimize and prevent the negative effects of the exacerbation.

SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT OF SHARP ABDOMINAL TRAUMA WITH DIAGNOSTIC LAPAROSCOPY AT DR. ZAINOEL ABIDIN ACEH HOSPITAL

Abdominal trauma is injury that occurs to organs in the abdomen, such as the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, bile and kidneys, damage to the structures located between the diaphragm and pelvis. Abdominal trauma is divided into two types, namely blunt abdominal trauma and stab abdominal trauma. Injuries to the intestines and liver are the most common in penetrating trauma to the abdomen. Case report: a 35 year-old man came to the Emergency Room at the Dr. Zainoel Abidin Regional General Hospital in Banda Aceh with the main complaint of a wooden stab wound (foreign body) on the right side of the abdomen which had penetrated to the back. The patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopy, it was found that a piece of wood (foreign body) was stuck in the liver segment V-VI which had penetrated to the right flank and a hematoma was found around the body and about 100 cc of hemorrhagic fluid originating from the liver due to contact with wood friction but the bleeding was not active. Based on the primary and secondary survey evaluations, the hemodynamic condition was stable. In the evaluation, there were no intra-abdominal organ injury. Extraction of the foreign body wood could be performed well after identification of being free from intra-abdominal organ injury. Conclusion: Abdominal trauma is an injury that occurs to organs in the stomach, such as the stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, pancreas, gallbladder, and kidneys. In this case, it was a penetrating stab wound with stable hemodynamics and no small intestine and omental protruding from the stomach, so this patient underwent diagnostic laparoscopic surgery. The operation with diagnostic laparoscopic in this case was successful and minimally invasive.

Enabling gender responsive low-carbon transport in India using SDG5 framework

<p>Gender and mobility are strongly related and address challenges of safety and accessibility for women. Studies worldwide highlight the need to create more gender-responsive transport systems that maximize women’s mobility, civic participation, and safety. Gender inequality in urban transport is evident in Indian cities in terms of women’s longer walking trip lengths, longer time spent in commute and hence time poverty, impoverished health, and compromised personal safety. Even the public transport systems, often perceived as more gender-equal, overlook women’s needs and mobility concerns such as affordability and scheduling. This article presents transportation challenges faced by women (recorded through primary surveys and focus-group discussions) and further investigates how low-carbon urban transport, as perceived under the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), can be delivered with gender-equitable outcomes. For a more holistic perspective, the assessment is grounded in two Indian cities, Surat (4.5 million population), a fast-growing industrial metropolis, and Udaipur (0.5 million population), a small but important tourist destination in the nation.</p>

Tourist Satisfaction in Kerala Agritourism: Insights from Domestic and International Visitors

Purpose: Tourism has been an essential component of human civilization since the beginning, evolving through various forms, phases, and practices over the centuries. Agritourism is a type of tourism that uses agricultural life as a tourist attraction. It is either agricultural tourism or agricultural marketing. It has the potential to generate additional income and employment for farmers. Agriculture has been a cornerstone of life in Kerala since ancient times, and even in today’s digital era, traditional farming methods remain prevalent among the farming community. It can help to boost local economic development and also helps to preserve biodiversity. Furthermore, rural communities must recognize the value of agricultural biodiversity and the need to protect it. It is important to measure the quality of services offered at the agritourism centre to ensure the operational effectiveness of centres as well as the tourist satisfaction [1]. The study was conducted to assess the level of satisfaction of foreign and domestic tourists in the agritourism destinations. Methodology: Primary survey was conducted among 150 domestic tourists and 150 foreign tourists who visited agritourism centres in Kerala using pre-tested structured questionnaire. Results: The findings indicated low satisfaction with accessibility, disability-friendly environment, telecommunication facilities and medical facilities available at the agritourism center. The low satisfaction level indicates that these elements are not functioning efficiently in agritourism destinations. As mentioned in the earlier discussions, accessibility is vital for the success of agritourism destinations. Most of the tourists were hesitant to revisit the centers because of inadequate accessibility. More than just a practical concern, it is crucial for boosting economic development, enhancing visitor satisfaction, and promoting sustainable agritourism practices. Likewise network connectivity challenges in agritourism centers located in hill areas pose significant obstacles to effective operation and visitor satisfaction. These issues affect communication, emergency response, and financial viability of centres as well as tourists. Medical facilities are essential to agritourism destinations, crucial for safeguarding the well-being of visitors. The agritourism centers are located in remote areas, making it challenging to access hospitals in emergency situations. So having adequate medical services in tourism centers are essential for protecting the health and well-being of tourists. Conclusion: The study assessed the level of satisfaction of foreign and domestic tourists in the agritourism destinations. Visitor satisfaction is critical to the success of agritourism destinations, as it influences visitor loyalty, the destination's reputation, operational improvements, and financial gains. By focusing on providing superior experiences and actively seeking feedback, agritourism operators can enhance their offerings, establish a positive reputation, and foster long-term growth.

Comparative Analysis of Agritourism Service Quality for Domestic and Foreign Tourists in Kerala: A SERVQUAL Approach

Aims: The article aimed to measure the quality of services offered at the agritourism centre to ensure the operational effectiveness of centres as well as the tourist satisfaction. The study uses the SERVQUAL model, which assesses dimensions such as tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy, to identify the strengths and weaknesses in service delivery in Kerala's agritourism sector. Understanding these differences is critical for tailoring experiences to meet the diverse expectations of both domestic and foreign visitors [1]. Objective: Analyse the Service Quality for Domestic and Foreign Tourists at Agritourism centres. Methodology: Primary survey was conducted among 150 domestic tourists and 150 foreign tourists who visited agritourism centres in Kerala using pre tested structured questionnaire. Results: The service quality analysis shows the highest satisfaction level of domestic tourists and lowest satisfaction level of foreign tourists towards the overall services provided at the agritourism center. The analysis revealed a lack of efficient signage boards, lack of trained guides and lack of accessibility features for disabled individuals at the agritourism destinations. Aside from these areas, the services demonstrated a higher level of performance. Neglecting these aspects will results in various negative outcomes, affecting tourists’ satisfaction and overall efficiency. Signage boards at agritourism destinations offer essential directions, enhance the overall visitor experience, and ensure both safety and accessibility. By focusing in clear, informative, and thoughtfully designed signs, agritourism destinations can boost visitor satisfaction, enhance their operations, and achieve success in a competitive market. The presence of trained guides will also enhance the tourists experience by ensuring safety, delivering valuable educational content, boost operational efficiency, provide personalized customer service, and support cultural and community engagement. Investing in well-trained guides enables agritourism destinations to improve the quality of their services, create memorable and rewarding experiences for visitors. Prioritizing the disability-friendly practices will play a key role in shaping a welcoming, inclusive, and successful industry that serves all individuals equitably. Conclusion: The study identified the quality gaps that experienced by the tourists at agritourism centres. Upholding high service quality in agritourism destinations is crucial for ensuring visitor satisfaction, gaining a competitive advantage, managing reputation, and maximizing both economic and community benefits [2]. Ultimately, high service quality will become the key driver of growth and prosperity for agritourism destinations.

Health Disparities and the Influence of Culturally Competent Care in Overall Health and Healthcare Utilization among Hispanics in a Southeastern US Community.

Introduction: This study sought to assess disparities in health/healthcare utilization for Hispanic immigrant community in Greenville County, SC. The study also assessed the role of culturally competent care perceptions on health/healthcare utilization within this growing community. Methods: Secondary administrative data collected by a large health care system in the county facilitated the assessment of health/healthcare utilization disparities using multivariate regression. Primary purposive surveys collected among Hispanic adults assessed culturally competent care perceptions and health/healthcare utilization. Culturally competent care measures included: (1) provider understanding, (2) provider communication behaviors, (3) provider assurance, and (4) interpreter service access. Results: Health disparities were present, with Hispanic residents having lower overall health and lower routine healthcare seeking behaviors compared to non-Hispanic White residents. Moreover, culturally competent care perceptions influenced overall health and healthcare-seeking behavior within this growing Hispanic community. Hispanic residents who perceived negative communication behaviors, lack of assurance, and increased interpretive service barriers reported lower overall health and lower routine healthcare seeking behaviors. Conclusions: Addressing potential cultural competency barriers may reduce health disparities among underrepresented racial/ethnic communities as they grow and become established in the Southeast, while also improving broader health equity for all communities.

Adoption of Crop Insurance by Smallholder Farmers: Farm-Level Evidence from India

The paper aims to analyse the extent and determinants of smallholder farmers’ adoption of crop insurance. The study conducted a primary survey and collected data from farmers in a drought-prone area of Karnataka state in India using a structured questionnaire. The study has applied a binary logistic regression model to identify the determinants of crop insurance adoption. Empirical results reveal that though most farmers experienced crop loss, only a small percentage subscribed to crop insurance regularly. Lack of money to pay premiums and lack of information are the most common reasons for not subscribing to crop insurance schemes. Further, farmers feel the premium is expensive and do not receive the promised compensation due to the stringent eligibility rules. Most farmers who received compensation think the money is inadequate to cover the cultivation cost. Farmers feel each farm should be treated as a unit against the area-based insurance concept, and more crops should be brought under insurance. They also highlighted the need to further subsidise the premium. Results of the logistic regression confirm that socially marginalised groups and farmers practising agriculture as an ancestral profession are less likely to insure their crops.

The radiological primary survey: A systematic approach and guide to reading torso computed tomography images in trauma for surgeons

Background Trauma is a disease where time is of the essence. In many lower middle-income countries, definitive management and planning for trauma patients are often delayed after working hours because of either a lack of technicians to perform computed tomography (CT) scans or a lack of radiologists to interpret them. These lacunae can be bridged if more and more surgeons become confident in interpreting trauma CT images. Method In this narrative review, written in a ‘how to do it’ manner, we describe a way of doing a structured and quick ‘radiological primary survey’ of the torso CT, which we believe will help quickly identify major injuries systematically, thereby avoiding delays in management and forming a care plan. The method has been developed by a team of trauma surgeons and radiologists and stems from the DRS ABCDE technique used in interpreting trauma chest X-rays. Result The DRS ABCDE extrapolated to the trauma torso CT includes the following steps- Details, WRAP (W-windowing, R-Region, A-Axis, P-Phase), S- the Scout film, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability and Extras. Conclusion The review will enable resident trainees and trauma care professionals to interpret trauma CTs using a structured approach.

Nationwide questionnaire survey on pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan.

Pediatric pancreatic tumors are rare and account for < 0.1% of all childhood cancers. The primary treatment for pancreatic tumors is surgical resection. However, because of the lack of knowledge regarding pediatric pancreatic tumors, no comprehensive treatment plans for pediatric pancreatic tumors have been developed. To compared the clinical features, treatment methods, and prognosis of pediatric pancreatic tumors in Japan with those in other countries. Questionnaires were sent to 213 pediatric surgical units in Japan. Pancreatic tumors that were not surgically treated were excluded from the survey. The primary survey investigated the number of patients aged 0-18 years who underwent pancreatic tumor surgery and the type of tumors managed during the 22-year study period (from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2021) by post card. The secondary survey assessed the clinical images, treatment methods, and tumor outcomes via email. The primary survey enrolled 228 patients. In the secondary survey, 213 patients were eventually enrolled. The most common type of pancreatic tumor was solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) [n = 164 (77.0%)], followed by pancreatoblastoma [n = 16 (7.5%)], pancreatic endocrine tumor [n = 14 (6.6%)], non-epithelial tumor [n = 9 (4.2%)], pancreatic tumor [n = 7 (3.3%)], and metastatic pancreatic tumor [n = 3 (1.4%)]. Overall, 123 (57.7%) patients underwent distal pancreatectomy, of whom 49 underwent laparoscopic surgery. Forty-four (20.7%) patients underwent enucleation, of whom eight underwent laparoscopic surgery. Thirty-two (15.0%) patients underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy, of whom one underwent laparoscopic surgery. All patients with SPN, including those with distant metastases and recurrent disease, survived. SPN was more common in Japan than in other countries. Regardless of the histological type, resection is the most effective treatment for pediatric pancreatic tumors.

Developing a Public Health Course to Train Undergraduate Student Health Messengers to Address Vaccine Hesitancy in an American Indian Community.

The purpose of the Diné Teachings and Public Health Students Informing Peers and Relatives about Vaccine Education (RAVE) project was to develop strategies for health communication that addressed COVID-19 vaccine safety for residents of the Navajo Nation. The RAVE project developed a 16-week course using the Diné Educational Philosophy as a framework to train Diné College (DC) public health undergraduate students (n = 16) as health messengers to share COVID-19 vaccine safety information with unvaccinated peers and relatives. An online community survey (n = 50) was used to assess DC community vaccination perceptions to guide course development. The two primary reasons survey participants got vaccinated were to protect the health of others [82% (n = 41)] and to protect their own health [76% (n = 38)]. A pretest/post-test and a retrospective pretest (n = 13) were implemented to determine course effectiveness. A finding approaching significance was related to student confidence in being health messengers (9.1% increase). RAVE offers the first example in the published literature of successfully training American Indian undergraduate students in the context of a public health course to contribute to the response workforce during a public health crisis.

Primary Eyecare Glaucoma Service (PEGS): a mixed methods service evaluation.

A pilot study to assess the safety and efficacy of a Primary Eyecare Glaucoma Service (PEGS), with low-risk glaucoma patients being reviewed within primary care optometry. 98 low-risk glaucoma patients were identified as suitable for monitoring in primary care and reviewed by accredited optometrists in community practice supported by a clinical management plan. Safety was assessed by reviewing concordance of management plans created by primary care optometrists and the secondary care team. Patients' and primary care optometrists' feedback were collated via surveys. Carbon emissions were calculated through comparison of patient travel to primary and secondary care. 93.8% of patients reviewed by primary care met criteria for ongoing monitoring in primary care after initial review with 4.9% of patients being recalled to secondary care due to clinical instability. Safety and efficacy were demonstrated with agreement of management plans between primary and secondary care of 97.8%, kappa =0.88 (95% confidence intervals 0.60-1.00), with no patients being identified as false negatives where recall back to secondary care was required. Overall satisfaction with PEGS was 100% according to a patient survey. Respondents of the primary care optometry survey felt very or somewhat confident in delivering care, with comments suggesting they felt supported by secondary care. Carbon emissions are reduced by approximately two thirds when patients are seen in primary care versus attending the hospital. PEGS is a safe and effective service, reducing the burden for secondary care, while carbon emissions are reduced due to shorter travelling distances, demonstrating environmental sustainability.

Small business leadership, peacebuilding, and citizen perceptions of businesses as peacebuilders: theory and evidence from Colombia

Purpose Businesses are increasingly engaged in actions to support peace in conflict- and violence-affected communities. Yet there is limited knowledge about why business leaders engage in peace or how citizens perceive the importance, efficacy and impacts of business contributions to address conflict and violence. These gaps are particularly acute for small business scholarship. This paper aims to address these. Design/methodology/approach This paper considers how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) view their peace-positive actions and how these are perceived by communities. This paper examines this by using two original primary surveys conducted concurrently in May 2021 in Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia. Question themes included: SMEs operating environments, relationships and networks, experiences of violence, SMEs community contributions and citizen perceptions of businesses as peacebuilding agents. Findings The results show that small business leaders who supported their communities with peace-positive actions saw their businesses perform better and held positive views of the benefits of engagement. Further, citizen perceptions of businesses contributions to peace declined where insecurity increased and improved where businesses – and in particular MSMSEs – engaged more in their communities. Research limitations/implications This paper discusses certain limitations related to the use of a mobile-phone based sampling methodology enumerated during an ongoing pandemic. Originality/value This paper presents an original contribution that examines both SME and citizen perceptions of businesses peace-positive actions. The findings inform notions of SME leadership in fragile contexts, as well as the role of the private sector in conflict spaces more generally. They also suggest a greater focus on understanding the broader perceptions of businesses actions toward peacebuilding within society.

Voluntary sustainability standards and technical efficiency of Honduran smallholder coffee producers

Sustainable coffee production promises to improve production techniques and enhance the socioeconomic conditions of smallholder farmers. Using primary survey data from 659 coffee producers in Honduras, this study assesses the impact of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) on the technical efficiency of smallholder coffee production. The article uses the Stochastic Production Frontier Analysis model to analyze and compare the technical efficiency (TE) of certified and non-certified coffee producers. To provide reliable comparability between groups, the dataset was balanced using Covariate Balancing Propensity Score (CBPS). The results show that the mean technical efficiency was 52.86% for pooled certified farmers and 55.56% for non-certified smallholder coffee producers. Specifically, the technical efficiency of 4C farmers was 51.58%, 53.82% for the Fairtrade group, 60.56% for RA farmers, and 60.15% for the UTZ group, indicating substantial inefficiencies in the coffee production of the different certified groups. Results from Tobit’s model for the determinants of TE indicated that variables such as the age of the household head, access to credit, and training attendance are among the main factors that significantly drive the technical efficiency of certified and non-certified farmers. Based on the findings, enhancing education opportunities, improving infrastructure for better market access and farm management, and expanding credit access are recommended to improve efficiency in the study area. Honduran smallholder coffee producers have considerable potential to increase output with existing technology by improving their technical efficiency. Therefore, stakeholders’ efforts should focus on enhancing efficiency levels and capitalizing on potential gains for both certified and non-certified farmers, to ultimately improve the farmers’ livelihoods.

Enabling sustainable consumer choices with CarbonShunya: India’s first solution to measure and mitigate carbon impact of consumer transactions in real-time**The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the organization(s) to which the authors are affiliated. This work is an independent effort to support collective action to

Abstract Among the myriad challenges facing humanity, air pollution and climate change emerge as the most formidable existential threats to our future. Ironically, both these are direct fallouts of human activities such as indiscriminate consumption of consumer products/services and burning of fossil fuels. Purchase of consumer goods in 2024 is projected to be in excess of $22.6 trillion worldwide. How these consumers buy, use or dispose consumer goods will profoundly impact all life on the planet. Therefore, it is an imperative to embed sustainability in every Rupee of consumer spending. Hence a robust digital solution, CarbonShunya, has been developed with the purpose to empower a billion consumers to make sustainable purchase and lifestyle choices. CarbonShunya is India’s 1st solution that can measure and mitigate the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) footprint of consumer transactions in real-time. It provides consumers with actionable insights at the point-of-purchase and post-purchase to shape a shift in consumer beliefs, attitudes and behavior. This paper presents the methodology, assumptions and processes which have been adopted to develop the CarbonShunya life-cycle assessment framework and solution in Indian context. It also presents a case study, using the CarbonShunya framework, to measure and mitigate GHG impacts of monthly consumer expenditure on several categories of products/services across various states of India, based on a primary survey of over 174 000 households. The results from the case-study provide actionable insights and conclusions for policymakers and practitioners. CarbonShunya has cross-cutting applications across sectors so as to enable consuming economies to embrace conserving behaviors.