Public Perspective Research Articles

Public perspectives on COVID-19 triage protocols for access to critical care in extreme pandemic context.

COVID-19 triage protocols are resource allocation processes to deal with the potential lack of resources in Intensive Care Units (ICU). They have given rise to numerous ethical issues and controversies. Among them is the fear that people will be denied access to ICU on the basis of judgments about their quality of life, social value, frailty or age. This online Democratic Deliberation (DD) with members of the public aimed to discover the necessary considerations and conditions that make triage protocols more acceptable to guide future decisions in terms of the values and criteria that must underpin triage protocols. We simultaneously conducted the online DD in Quebec and Ontario on May 28th and June 4th, 2022, among adults who do not work in the healthcare sector, recruited randomly among the members of the public registered on Leger Opinion poll website to favor sociodemographic diversity. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Among the participants who took part in the study, 27 participants were from Ontario and 20 from Quebec. Three main themes emerged: 1) Acceptance of the protocol and values, 2) Considerations to be integrated in triage protocols, 3) Conditions which may favor a greater public acceptance of these protocols. Participants supported the idea of prioritizing patients with the best prognosis of survival under extreme conditions. The maximization of benefits was the most predominant approach. Participants considered that triage protocols are necessary to reduce arbitrariness in decision making and to facilitate these tragic decisions by health professionals.

Understanding access to sexual and reproductive health in general practice using an adapted Candidacy Framework; a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis.

Background General practice has a key role in reducing inequity in access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Unplanned pregnancy, abortion and STIs are increasing and disproportionately affects deprived communities and ethnic minority groups. The candidacy framework offers a practical, theoretical framework for understanding the complex interactional processes of access to SRH in general practice. Aim To use the candidacy framework to explore access of SRH in general practice. The seven interaction stages include, identification of need, navigation of services, permeability of services, appearing and asserting need, adjudication by healthcare professional, offers or resistance of offer and the local operating conditions or local production of candidacy. Design and setting This study involved a systematic review with qualitative evidence synthesis using a framework approach. Methods A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED, and the Web of Science was conducted to identify primary qualitative research studies exploring access to SRH in general practice from practitioner, public, and patient perspectives in countries with universal healthcare. The candidacy framework was used to synthesise the findings. Results Analysis of 42 studies revealed the impact of stigma, shame, and embarrassment among individuals, communities, and healthcare practitioners. Findings showed limited inclusion of demographics such as ethnicity and socio-economic status. Barriers to access were more evident for those from lower socio-economic communities, ethnic minorities and LGBTQ+. There are multiple barriers, which include the behaviours of healthcare professionals who have a crucial role in recognising an individual's SRH need. Conclusions General practice offers a cradle-to-grave healthcare service, which should have SRH as a priority area of provision. Further understanding is needed of the impact of historic harms by medicine and healthcare on racialised individuals and gender minorities.

The Cultivation of Environmental Awareness of College Students: A Public Policy Perspective

As environmental problems around the world become more and more obvious and people's awareness is improving, people are gradually becoming more and more aware of environmental protection. The role of education in environmental awareness cannot be ignored. Environmental protection education is one of the key research topics today. Therefore, the research topic of this paper is the cultivation of environmental awareness of college students: a public policy perspective. This study found that China already has many policies on environmental education and these policies have good prospects and far-reaching benefits for the future. College students should actively learn about environmental protection and spread relevant knowledge. At the same time, college students should also take the initiative to abide by relevant regulations on campus and participate in relevant activities. This study has clarified the status of environmental awareness cultivation in Chinese universities to a certain extent and provides a reference for future related research.

The cost of maternity and neonatal care in Aotearoa New Zealand: A cost analysis by plurality and gestation using a population-based cohort.

Maternity services in New Zealand are largely delivered by autonomously practising community midwives. This model of care is unique and may result in differences in the distribution of maternity healthcare utilisation and costs compared to other countries. New Zealand-specific cost data are needed to inform economic analyses, local policy and healthcare resource planning. To provide estimates of the average total cost of maternity and neonatal healthcare for New Zealand women and infants, including cost impacts of multiple and preterm births. A whole-of-population linked dataset, including 262 687 pregnancies resulting in a live birth (from 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2020), was created by combining several sources of healthcare data to calculate an average per-pregnancy cost of healthcare, taking a public health system perspective, during antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods to one year after birth. The mean cost of public healthcare was NZ$19 795 for both maternal and infant care to one year post-birth. The bulk of this cost was incurred during pregnancy and birth. Mean total cost to one year was NZ$69 895 for twin and NZ$201 448 for higher order multiple compared to singleton pregnancies at NZ$19 098. Mean total healthcare cost decreased as gestation increased. Most of the costs associated with pregnancy and childbirth were incurred during the birth and in the early neonatal period. Costs were disproportionately higher for multiple and preterm births. These cost data can usefully inform policy and assist healthcare decision-making around reproductive and neonatal technologies.

Public Sector Corporate Social Investments in Namibia: The Case of the Mobile Telecommunications Company

A bias in research has seen studies focus mostly on corporate social investments (CSIs) in the private sector. The current study aims to provide an alternative perspective to the traditional association of CSIs with private sector organisations by including public sector entities such as public enterprises (PEs), using the case of the Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) in Namibia. A qualitative research method and a single case study research design focusing on MTC was used, and data were analysed through themes and deductive reasoning. The major findings of this study show that MTC is exemplary in practicing CSI in Namibia’s public sector. MTC has various impactful socio-economic and environmental focus areas of CSI, which contribute to the development agenda of the Namibian government. The issue of CSI in the public sector is intriguing and could be usefully explored in further research, particularly from a developing country perspective. It is now possible to conclude that PEs can also be dominant players in the CSI sphere, particularly from a public sector perspective. The findings in this study make important contributions to the literature by providing a public sector institutional perspective of CSI that is different from the traditional view that mostly associates CSIs with the private sector.

Mathematical modeling of cholera dynamics in the presence of antimicrobial utilization strategy

Antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to public health, particularly in cholera treatment. The emergence of antibiotic resistance, coupled with the sharp decline in pharmaceutical companies developing new cholera antibiotics, is a cause for concern. We formulate a multidrug-resistant (MDR) cholera epidemic model that incorporates a stage-switching strategy between two antibiotics to reduce the magnitude of resistance. The model is analyzed mathematically, and sensitivity analysis of the reproduction number is performed using sub-reproduction numbers. Stability analysis of the cholera-sensitive-only and cholera-resistant-only equilibria is investigated using Centre Manifold Theory. The model is calibrated through Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations in Stan, showing stability at equilibrium points, which is further verified through numerical simulations. The simulations demonstrate an inverse relationship between the number of MDR cholera cases and the number of individuals receiving second-line treatment for cholera. This study suggests that the correct use of antibiotics can effectively manage the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. From a public health policy perspective, these findings emphasize the importance of antibiotic stewardship programs and the need for policies that promote the responsible use of existing antibiotics while encouraging the development of new treatment options. Such measures could help mitigate the global burden of MDR cholera and prevent further escalation of resistance.

Begging: Poverty or Habit Unraveling Public Perspective from South Punjab

Begging is defined as the intentional act of imploring others to grant favors often in the form of money with minimum or no expectation of reciprocation. Sometimes, they also demand the provision of food, drinks, clothing, cigarettes and many other small items. They often operate in the public places to attract more attention of the common people. Its major types include needy, habitual, and professional beggars. In the modern world, there observe a great increase in the number of beggars that became a concerning point for the common people and governments. However, this study conducts a survey to ask for the opinion of the common citizens to that whether poverty is the main cause of begging or whether it is a habitual behavior that people adopt irrespective of their economic status. After survey, structured questionnaire was developed, encompassing Likert-scale questions designed to gauge public opinions on the causes and consequences of begging in Pakistan. This questionnaire was administered to a sample size of 300 people, covering diverse age groups from different regions of South Punjab. Uni-variate (frequency distribution and percentage and Bivariate analysis (Chi square and Gamma Statistics) was carried out. Huge majority (95.0%) of the respondents were of age 20-25 years; (75.7%) of the respondents were female; (64%) of the respondents were language are saraiki speak;(96%) of the respondents were unmarried;(65.7%) their occupational were selected to (other)..; (82.3%) were education selected to (other..);( 40.0) of the respondents were agreed to individuals facing extreme poverty;(33%) of the respondents were strongly agreed the individuals facing extreme poverty;( 29.3%) of the respondents were agreed to they faced basic necessities such as food; (53.3%)of the respondents were seeking alternative means of income; (35.3%) of the respondents were neutral response rather than a habitual inclination. Bivariate analysis showed highly significant more will be poverty in the community vs more will be begging; More will be employment opportunities in the community vs less will be begging prevalence.

Real-world cost-effectiveness of multi-gene panel sequencing to inform therapeutic decisions for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a population-based study

Multi-gene panel sequencing streamlines treatment selection for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Implementation continues to be uneven across jurisdictions, partly due to uncertain clinical and economic impacts. In British Columbia (BC), Canada, the public healthcare system reimbursed a multi-gene panel in September 2016. This study determined the population-level cost-effectiveness of publicly reimbursed multi-gene panel sequencing compared to single-gene testing for advanced NSCLC. Our population-based retrospective study design used patient-level linked administrative health databases. We considered adult BC residents with a panel-eligible lung cancer diagnosis between September 2016 and December 2018. Using a machine learning approach, we conducted 1:1 genetic algorithm matching of recipients receiving multi-gene panel sequencing to controls receiving single-gene testing, maximising balance on observed demographic and clinical characteristics. Following matching, we estimated mean three-year survival time and costs (public healthcare payer perspective; 2021 CAD) and calculated the incremental net monetary benefit (INMB) for life-years gained (LYG) at conventional willingness-to-pay thresholds using inverse probability of censoring weighted linear regression and nonparametric bootstrapping. We matched 858 panel-eligible advanced NSCLC patients to controls, achieving balance for the 16 included covariates. Average test turnaround times were 18.6 days for multi-gene panel sequencing and 7.0 days for single-gene testing. After matching, mean incremental costs were $3529 (95% CI:-$4268, $10,942) and mean incremental LYG were 0.08 (95% CI:-0.04, 0.18). Among the 1000 bootstrap samples, 14.5% had lower costs and increased survival and 78.6% had higher costs and increased survival. The INMB was $523 (95% CI:-$6256, $7023) at $50,000/LYG, with a 57.5% probability of being cost-effective, and $4575 (95% CI:-$5468, $14,064) at $100,000/LYG, with an 84.0% probability of being cost-effective. Using population-based real-world data, we found a moderate to high probability that panel-based testing to inform targeted treatment for NSCLC would be cost-effective at higher thresholds. This research was supported by Genome British Columbia/Genome Canada (G05CHS) and the Terry Fox Research Institute.

Bureaucratic prioritizing among clients in the eyes of the public: Experimental evidence from three countries

AbstractIn response to workloads and service demands, frontline workers often prioritize among their clients when delivering public services. This article examines the implications of such bureaucratic prioritization on democratic governance, specifically the public's attitudes toward how frontline workers prioritize among clients. Using data from a pre‐registered, rank‐based conjoint survey experiment conducted among residents (n = 2655) in Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, we explore two key aspects of bureaucratic prioritization from the public's perspective: (1) citizens' preferences on how teachers should prioritize among students and (2) citizens' beliefs about how teachers do prioritize among students. Our findings reveal general alignments between the public's normative preferences, their descriptive beliefs, and the prioritization tendencies of real‐life teachers as documented in previous research. We discuss the implications of these results in terms of administrative legitimacy and the governance perspective of New Public Service.

Engaging with Second Chances: How Familiarity, Stigma, and Media Exposure Shape Public Attitudes towards Ex-Prisoner-Focused Social Enterprises

Social enterprises provide an effective method for tackling various social problems, including ex-prisoners in the domains of rehabilitation, reintegration, and the reduction of repeat offenses. While this business model is prevalent in other countries, it remains uncommon in Malaysia. This study aims to uncover the issue from the public perspective. Specifically, the objective of this study is to investigate the effects of familiarity with social enterprise models, stigmatization, and incidental news exposure on public attitudes towards ex-prisoner-focused social enterprise. Underpinned by Mere Exposure Effect Theory, Social Identity Theory, and Media Framing Theory, five hypotheses were developed and tested using partial least squares structural equation modelling on 139 cases. Results showed that familiarity with social enterprise models, stigmatization, and incidental news exposure significantly predict attitudes towards ex-prisoner-focused social enterprise. However, the moderation role of familiarity with social enterprise models was not supported for the relationship between incidental news exposure and attitudes towards ex-prisoner-focused social enterprise, and when it interacts with stigmatization. These findings contribute to the understanding of how media exposure, social stigmatization, and personal familiarity shape public perceptions of social enterprises that focus on ex-prisoner rehabilitation. The study highlights the need for targeted strategies to reduce stigmatization and leverage incidental media exposure to foster more supportive attitudes towards social enterprises that assist ex-prisoners.

Analyzing Patient Experience on Weibo: Machine Learning Approach to Topic Modeling and Sentiment Analysis.

Social media platforms allow individuals to openly gather, communicate, and share information about their interactions with health care services, becoming an essential supplemental means of understanding patient experience. We aimed to identify common discussion topics related to health care experience from the public's perspective and to determine areas of concern from patients' perspectives that health care providers should act on. This study conducted a spatiotemporal analysis of the volume, sentiment, and topic of patient experience-related posts on the Weibo platform developed by Sina Corporation. We applied a supervised machine learning approach including human annotation and machine learning-based models for topic modeling and sentiment analysis of the public discourse. A multiclassifier voting method based on logistic regression, multinomial naïve Bayes, and random forest was used. A total of 4008 posts were manually classified into patient experience topics. A patient experience theme framework was developed. The accuracy, precision, recall, and F-measure of the method integrating logistic regression, multinomial naïve Bayes, and random forest for patient experience themes were 0.93, 0.95, 0.80, 0.77, and 0.84, respectively, indicating a satisfactory prediction. The sentiment analysis revealed that negative sentiment posts constituted the highest proportion (3319/4008, 82.81%). Twenty patient experience themes were discussed on the social media platform. The majority of the posts described the interpersonal aspects of care (2947/4008, 73.53%); the five most frequently discussed topics were "health care professionals' attitude," "access to care," "communication, information, and education," "technical competence," and "efficacy of treatment." Hospital administrators and clinicians should consider the value of social media and pay attention to what patients and their family members are communicating on social media. To increase the utility of these data, a machine learning algorithm can be used for topic modeling. The results of this study highlighted the interpersonal and functional aspects of care, especially the interpersonal aspects, which are often the "moment of truth" during a service encounter in which patients make a critical evaluation of hospital services.

Integrating Social Aspects into Energy System Modelling Through the Lens of Public Perspectives: A Review

The energy system model (ESM) predominantly emphasises techno-economic factors and often overlooks the essential social dimensions that are crucial for successful energy transitions. This review investigates the integration of social aspects into energy system models (ESMs) and explores approaches for incorporating public perspectives. Through a systematic literature review utilising the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses approach (PRISMA), 79 relevant publications were identified. The analysis revealed that while some studies considered socio-economic and socio-environmental elements, these efforts are frequently insufficient to fully comprehend social dynamics. The review highlights the significance of public engagement in ESMs, with 29 studies demonstrating some form of public participation. However, current engagement strategies are often limited to information sharing and consultation, with minimal strong collaboration. This study advocates for the implementation of transparent collaborative approaches in ESMs, including co-creation, active participation, and iterative processes, to enhance the comprehensiveness and societal relevance of models. It also addresses challenges, such as time constraints and the conversion of qualitative inputs into quantitative parameters. The review concludes by calling for further research to develop transparent, iterative frameworks for collaborative approaches in ESMs, emphasising the inclusion of vulnerable population perspectives to ensure equitable energy transitions and more effective, socially acceptable outcomes.

Analysis of Passenger Behavior from the Perspective of Public Administration (A Study of the Security Policy of Mutiara Sis Aljufri Palu Airport Related to the Prohibition of Carrying Explosives, Power Banks, Electronic Cigarettes, and Others)

This study aims to determine Passenger Behavior at Mutiara Sis Aljufri Airport, Palu, which examines it from a public administration perspective. Passenger behavior at Mutiara Sis Aljufri Airport, Palu, can be analyzed from a public administration perspective by considering how the interaction between passengers and government institutions and public services takes place. At Mutiara Sis Aljufri Airport, Palu, Aviation Security (Avsec) unit officers are officers at the forefront and are authorized to handle public services and are fully responsible for all matters relating to security at Mutiara Sis Aljufri Airport, Palu and can represent government agencies. This type of research is descriptive qualitative, data collection methods are observation studies, interviews, documentation, and data analysis techniques. The results of the study indicate that Avsec officers have carried out their duties according to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). However, there are still uncooperative passengers, and there are still many passengers who do not or do not know the applicable regulations.

Caring for calves: Canadian public perspectives of calf handling methods during spring processing

In North American beef production, handling and restraint of young calves is integral to animal welfare and management practices. This study used a mixed-method approach to gather public perceptions of three handling and restraint methods common in western Canada during spring processing (TT—tilt table, RW—roping and wrestling, and NF—roping and NordFork). Canadians (n = 551) participated in an online survey that included videos of each handling method to ascertain preferences and acceptability. Participants were given industry information about handling and restraint or generic information regarding hay as a control information statement within the topic of agriculture. The survey also collected information about knowledge of the beef industry, animal welfare, and empathy toward animals. The reasons for preferences for specific handling methods were described as the presence of a perceived positive attribute and the absence of a perceived negative for most preferred methods, and inversely when explaining the least preferred method. The main themes focused on the calf’s experience, perception of handler actions, and pragmatic balancing of needs for a good life for the calf. All methods were rated as more acceptable for participants that ate meat consistently, knew more about the beef industry, and, to a lesser extent, if the individual had a lower animal empathy score. Acceptability was not affected by providing information about the practices; however, information did elicit more pragmatic reasoning. Most participants preferred TT over NF and RW (p < 0.001) and found TT more acceptable as well (p < 0.001). The TT was the most preferred method due to calf experience and human handling—notably the absence of dragging a calf, which was predominant in why participants selected NF or RW as their least preferred method. Consistency of themes highlights that regardless of method or acceptability, the fundamental expectation of the public focuses on the perception of the calf’s quality of life, humane handling, and pragmatism, which are values aligned with beef sustainability initiatives.

What is successful integration in primary health care: qualitative insights from the Chinese public

ABSTRACT Background China is transforming its hospital-centric service delivery system into a people-centered integrated care model, with service delivery organized around the health needs and expectations of people. Objective To guide reforms and align with public expectations, this study profiles successful integration in primary health care from the public perspective. Methods Guided by the rainbow model of integrated care, semi-structured interviews were conducted in six provinces in China. A total of 58 interviewees completed the interviews. Tape-based analysis was used to produce narrative summaries. Researchers listened to the recordings and summarized by 30-s segments. Thematic analysis was performed on summaries to identify thematic families. Results Five themes and 16 sub-themes were generated. Respondents’ expectations were primarily on three themes: clinical integration (such as interaction between professional and client, continuity, and empowering and engaging individuals), functional integration (such as resources management, quality improvement, and reforming payment systems), and system integration (such as institutional distribution and supervision). Yet a few interviewees mentioned professional integration (multi-disciplinary collaboration) and organizational integration (inter-organizational strategy). Conclusions Qualitative data were used to reveal public perceptions of successful primary health care integration. Service processes, institutional distribution, regulation, resource management, and quality improvement are more visible to the public and will be priorities for future efforts. Whereas inter-organizational strategies and multi-disciplinary collaboration have been shown to facilitate service improvements. Future efforts could consider how policy efforts can be grounded in visible service delivery through management practices.

Cost-effectiveness analysis for multi adverse events of proton beam therapy for pediatric medulloblastoma in Japan.

Medulloblastomas are one of the most common malignant cancers of the central nervous system in children. Proton beam therapy (PBT) is expected to provide equivalent tumor control to photon therapy while reducing the various adverse events caused by irradiation. Few studies have considered the cost-effectiveness of PBT for pediatric medulloblastoma, considering the multiple adverse effects and reflecting on the latest treatment advancements. A cost-utility analysis of PBT for pediatric medulloblastoma was conducted in a Japanese setting and compared to conventional photon therapy. The analysis was conducted from the public healthcare payer's perspective, and direct costs for the treatment of radiation therapy and radiation-induced adverse events were included. A Markov model was used, and the health states of secondary cancer, hypothyroidism and hearing loss were defined as adverse events. The time horizon was the lifetime. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used as a measurement of cost-effectiveness, with quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) used as an outcome. The costs were estimated from the national fee schedule, and the utility and transition probabilities were estimated from published literature. PBT incurred an additional 1387116 Japanese yen (JPY) and 1.56 QALYs to the comparator. The ICER was JPY 887053/QALY, indicating that PBT was cost-effective, based on the reference value of JPY 5 million/QALY used in the Japanese cost-effectiveness analysis. Deterministic sensitivity analysis showed that the ICER ranged from JPY 284782/QALY to JPY 1918603/QALY as a result of deterministic sensitivity analysis, and probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed that PBT was cost-effective, with a probability of 91.7%.

Health Economic Evaluation of Antimicrobial Stewardship, Procalcitonin Testing, and Rapid Blood Culture Identification in Sepsis Care: A 90-Day Model-Based, Cost-Utility Analysis.

We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a bundled intervention including an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), procalcitonin (PCT) testing, and rapid blood culture identification (BCID), compared with pre-implementation standard care in critically ill adult patients with sepsis. We conducted a decision tree model-based cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a previously published pre- and post-implementation quality improvement study. We adopted a public Canadian healthcare payer's perspective. Two intensive care units in Alberta with 727 adult critically ill patients were included. Our bundled intervention was compared with pre-implementation standard care. We collected healthcare resource use and estimated unit costs in 2022 Canadian dollars (CAD) over a time horizon from study entry to hospital discharge or death. We calculated the incremental net monetary benefit (iNMB) of the intervention group compared with the pre-intervention group. The primary outcome was cost per sepsis case. Secondary outcomes included readmission rates, Clostridioides difficile infections, mortality, and lengths of stay. Uncertainty was investigated using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, cost-effectiveness plane scatterplots, and sensitivity analyses. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) cost per index hospital admission was CAD $83,251 ($107,926) for patients in the intervention group and CAD $87,044 ($104,406) for the pre-intervention group, though the difference ($3,793 [$7,897]) was not statistically significant. Costs were higher in the pre-intervention group for antibiotics, readmissions, and C. difficile infections. The intervention group had a lower mean expected cost; $110,580 ($108,917) compared with pre-intervention ($125,745 [$113,210]), with a difference of $15,165 ($8278). There were no statistically significant differences in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) between groups. The iNMB of the intervention group compared with pre-intervention was greater than $15,000 for willingness-to-pay (WTP) per QALY values of between $0 and $100,000. In our sensitivity analysis, the intervention was most likely to be cost-effective in roughly 56% of simulations at all WTP thresholds. Our bundled intervention of ASP, PCT, and BCID among adult critically ill patients with sepsis was potentially cost-effective, but with substantial decision uncertainty.

Organizational strategic stance and perceived public service performance: a public service logic perspective

ABSTRACT This study explores how public service organizations’ (PSOs) strategic stances impact citizens’ perceived service performance from a public service logic (PSL) perspective. Existing research often focuses on organizational-level performance, overlooking individual citizens’ subjective judgements. By using citizens’ perceived service quality and overall satisfaction as proxies for value-in-use and value-in-context derived from public services, this study provides new insights on how PSOs’ strategies influence value creation. Utilizing multilevel analysis on nested datasets from two surveys in China, this research offers empirical evidence for the strategic influence on individual value creation.

Public Preparedness for Agricultural Investment and its Contribution to Sustainable Economic Growth in Nigeria

Purpose: The study investigated public preparedness for agricultural investment and its contribution to and economic growth in Nigeria. The study was guided by the following objectives; to assess the level of individuals' awareness on the current condition of the agriculture industry in Nigeria, public's perspective of the substantial influence of agricultural on Nigeria's overall economic growth, the preparedness of citizens to invest in the agriculture sector for the enhancement of Nigeria's economic growth and delineate the agriculture sector's contribution to GDP. Theoretical Framework: The study was anchored on Lewis (1979) theory of impacting economic growth. Method: The study utilized a descriptive research approach involving 133 respondents across the 36 states, including the federal capital territory, whose major vocation is food production. The samples were selected by a convenience sampling method, considering the respondent geographic closeness and included only those present throughout the survey. Closed-ended questionnaire was utilized as a data-collecting instrument to assess the variables under study; the data on the contribution of agricultural practices to GDP was access from Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (2022-2023). To ensure content validity, the survey instrument was validated utilizing the Lawshe's template. A threshold of 0.99 was noted, signifying that the questionnaire was both representative and comprehensible. The Cronbach alpha technique yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.83, affirming the instrument's homogeneity. The data was analyzed using frequency counts (f) and percentages (%) while the results was presented in graphs. Findings: The survey revealed that most respondents are aware of the current state of agriculture in Nigeria. The heightened awareness has impacted public perception of agriculture's significant role in national economic growth, as the majority of respondents acknowledged that agriculture not only provides food for the populace but also improves farmers' living standards by reducing poverty and hunger, thus promoting economic development. They are willing to invest in agriculture despite a decline in production and a reduced contribution to the national GDP. Conclusion: Although the agricultural sector's contribution to GDP has diminished, individuals are inclined to invest in agriculture therefore, enhanced engagement in agriculture, along with Nigeria's extensive arable land and various people and material resources, and the implementation of sustainable agricultural innovations, will result in significant economic growth.

Mapping global public perspectives on mRNA vaccines and therapeutics

The development and rollout of mRNA vaccines during COVID-19 marked a significant advancement in vaccinology, yet public hesitation to vaccination was prevalent, indicating the potential risk that future mRNA-based medical innovations will fail to be adopted. Utilizing a combined approach of large language models with manual validation and unsupervised machine learning, we conducted a social listening analysis to assess attitudes towards mRNA vaccines and therapeutics on Twitter from June 2022 to May 2023, contrasting online perspectives with data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Our findings reveal widespread negative sentiment and a global lack of confidence in the safety, effectiveness, and trustworthiness of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with frequent discussions of severe vaccine side effects, rumors, and misinformation. This underscores the need for targeted communication strategies to foster acceptance of medical treatments and strengthen public trust in order to enhance societal resilience to future health challenges.