Scope Of Services Research Articles

Wpływ pandemii COVID-19 na sektor ubezpieczeń GPW w Warszawie S.A.

Purpose: The article aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the insurance sector of the Warsaw Stock Exchange S.A. in 2019–2021. Design/Methodology/Approach: Quarterly financial reports were used to conduct the study. The economic condition was examined using elements of financial analysis, and the valuation was based on the analysis of market rates of return. Findings: The results allowed us to conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic harmed the insurance sector of WSE. Due to the differences in the parameters of the size of capitalization, the scope of services provided, the territory of operation and the structure of sources of income, the effects of the pandemic are significantly different. The pandemic had a minor impact on the financial condition of PZU S.A., however, the economic condition of the remaining analysed entities deteriorated. The market valuation in the analysed period also varied two companies recorded a significant decline in rates of return compared to the rate of return of the WSE benchmark, while the remaining two achieved rates of return higher than the rate of return of the WIG index. Research limitations/implications: In the conducted research, the limitations were: a small research sample – a small number of studied companies and the specific nature of the analysed industry insurance companies are characterized by a different nature compared to the others, which resulted in the specific selection of elements of financial analysis in the conducted study. Originality/value: The article raises the issue of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the financial condition and market valuation of a specific industry.

Online Mental Health Support for New Mothers: Healthcare Professionals’ Views and Experiences

The literature has focused on women’s use of online support for perinatal mental health. However, research exploring the scope of available well-being services and the views of healthcare professionals (HCPs) who deliver this provision is extremely limited. This study focused on HCPs’ experiences providing online perinatal mental health and well-being support. Based on interviews with eight UK-based HCPs providing various forms of online perinatal mental health and well-being support, reflexive thematic analysis distilled four themes that captured experiences and perceptions of online provision: 1) New ways of working bring new opportunities; 2) Obstacles and areas for development; 3) Bridging the gap— formal and informal peer support; and 4) Too little too late: lack of mental health education in antenatal services. HCPs indicated that blended ways of working (online and face-to-face) were valuable within their services. Findings emphasize the need for online support services to be available to new and expectant mothers who may not require an HCP referral. The versatility, convenience, and accessibility of online resources bridge the gap between face-to-face services and a viable economic and effective form of mental health provision. Keywords: postpartum, mental health, health professionals, online support

Quantifying urban function accessibility and its effect on population mobility based on function-associated population mobility network

Due to rapid urbanization and globalization, urban functions are increasingly segregated in cities comprising centers of population aggregation and economic activity. Urban development yields intertwining and interdependent functional areas for residence, commerce, and education, which leads to complex but regular population mobility patterns. Population mobility spaces can effectively represent the actual service scopes of urban functions. Therefore, in this study, we propose a function-associated population mobility network (FPMN) to dynamically delineate the service capacities of urban functions, and to quantify the driving effects of urban functions on population mobility under spatial interaction conditions. By integrating the cumulative opportunities of geographic nodes with the potential opportunities reflected by population mobility, k-step function accessibility with population mobility (k-step PFA) is defined in FPMN to characterize the accessibility relationships between geographic nodes and function nodes. Based on k-step PFA, considering the complementarity and intervention opportunities, the function-driven index (FDI) is proposed to quantify the driving effects of urban functions on population mobility. Our experimental results indicated that FPMN could effectively represent the actual service scopes and capabilities of urban functions. Compared with general location-based accessibility indicators, k-step PFA has a higher numerical distribution and less spatial disparity, and it aligns more closely with the actual service scopes of urban functions. In addition, compared with intervening opportunities models, FDI delineates the functional driving effects of population mobility with greater precision, as well as revealing the travel propensity traits of a population relative to various urban functions through propensity parameters.

Analysis of Discourses on “Divorce and Male-Related Infertility” in an Online Forum with Focus on Social Support: Women’s

The study aimed to investigate the types of social support provided by forum members in response to questions posed by women with infertile spouses on the Women’s Club forum, specifically within discussions centered on divorce due to infertility. Topics and comments on the subject of “divorce due to male-related infertility” in the Women’s Club forum between 2008 and 2023 were analyzed. Five topics and 487 comments were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis, and 458 different codes emerged. The codes were grouped into three themes: informational support, emotional support, and relationship improvement support. Consequently, women considering divorce due to male-related infertility are provided informational, emotional, and relationship-focused social support through the forum. These types of social support indicate factors that may affect marital adjustment during the infertility process. Therefore, it is recommended that experts who provide professional support to these couples should pay attention to these factors and that the scope of psychosocial services currently provided in Turkey should be person-specific to cover the social support needs of these couples.

안마사의 안마업무의 범위에 관한 검토

According to the Medical Act of South Korea, massage services can only be performed by visually impaired persons who are qualified as massagists, so non-massagists cannot perform massage services and open massage parlors or massage centers. However, it is not easy to distinguish between massage services by massagists and massage services by non-massagists in the field, and since it can be considered as physical therapy under the Medical Technician Act or skin care services under the Public Health Management Act, confusion is bound to arise. In this paper, we will compare and review the differences between massage services, physical therapy services, and skin care services based on current laws and precedents to determine the scope of massage services and the future regulatory direction of the massagist system. If we divide the boundaries of massage services, if massage services inflict considerable physical impact on the body and there is a risk of health and hygiene hazards, it can be considered a medical practice, but if it is simply performed for the purpose of recovering from fatigue, it can be considered a non-medical health care service. On the other hand, massage work, physical therapy, and skin care all have in common that they apply ‘physical force or external force to the outside of the human body’ ‘using hands or tools.’ However, it can be understood that whether they are medical or non-medical health care services varies depending on the method, degree of physical force, and effect on the human body. Furthermore, in order for the massage therapist system to be maintained, the public should be able to directly distinguish and decide between massage parlors that can be established by massagists and massage businesses that can be established by skin care therapists. To this end, the characteristics of the massage business should be clearly stated as mentioned above, and it is necessary to reinforce the fact that the public feels that it has some health promotion effects beyond simple beauty. Therefore, in addition to disclosing the training course to become a massagist, continuous efforts for specialization such as developing and improving technologies related to the massage business are required.

Banking research in the context of digitalization: On the transition to ecosystem business

Subject. This article discusses the tools and mechanisms for the transformation of international and Russian banking activities aimed at forming a competitive model for the functioning of a modern bank in the context of digitalization of the economy. Objectives. The article aims to develop a model for the transition of banking activities to an ecosystem business. Methods. For the study, we used analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, generalization, abstraction, and modeling. Results. The article offers certain tools that involve the formation of a model for the transition of banking activities to ecosystem business in the context of digitalization. The proposed methodological development takes into account the review of the conceptual foundations of the banking system formation and the analysis of current trends in its functioning in the world economy. Conclusions. The digital transformation of the Russian banking system can lead to the introduction of new technologies, the creation of new banking products (including para-banking and non-banking services) and their successful promotion to the market, attracting new customers and expanding the scope of services provided, improving sources of financing and reducing costs, managing risks and negative impacts on the banking system and the economy as a whole, as well as achieving sustainable development goals and supporting the Russian economy.

Insights from Nowcasting and Mesoscale Research Working Group Projects of the World Weather Research Programme

Abstract Insights from Forecast Demonstration Projects and Research Development Projects, training workshops and symposia, conducted between 2000 and 2024 are summarized. The projects were organized by the Nowcasting and Mesoscale Research Working Group of the World Weather Research Program of the World Meteorological Organization. The objective was to advance, promote and build capacity in nowcasting and very short-range forecasting. The projects were associated with the Olympic Games, emergency management and aviation services. They brought international experts together to work in a collaborative fashion. Extensive interaction with end-users and decision-makers expanded and extended the scope of services from traditional weather hazards (heavy rain, wind, hail, lightning) to include specific user needs (e.g., visibility in complex terrain or airport runways, periods of calm winds or light rain, heat stress). Substantial progress has been made in many areas including: advanced radar nowcasting algorithms, stochastic nowcasts, kilometric and hectometric numerical weather prediction models; blending of observations and models and multi-model systems. Verification was a key and valuable component of the projects quantifying the results. Also, the types of services have expanded to include both summer and winter services, complex terrain and urban environments, air transport, air quality, hydrology and health. Insights are presented in all aspects of nowcasting and very short-range forecasting from end-user decision-making, critical role of the forecaster, forecast systems (models, heuristics, observations), to science and knowledge gaps.

E-Government in Zimbabwe: A synopsis of Advancement made and Obstacles Ahead

This paper investigated the level of readiness by the Zimbabwe government in utilizing information and communication technologies to improve the scope and value of services delivered to the grassroots; and determined the degree of, and constant enhancement determinations of Zimbabwe leaders towards the realization of connected government. Data for the research was a secondary data utilized from the Internet. The UN global e-government preparedness ranking and the replicas of e-government were downloaded, embraced and used as a yardstick for assessing the web preparedness of the Zimbabwe governments in 2005, 2008, 2010 ,2012 and 2024. It was revealed that the Zimbabwean government has revealed its readiness to apply information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their public administration, nonetheless is at the evolving stages. A serious obstruction which branded e-government preparedness in Zimbabwe is insufficient of knowledge economy and human capital. The repercussions comprise poor delivery of government services and under-performance of ICTs infrastructure in Zimbabwe which may result in the broadening of ‘access divide’ amongst the privileged and underprivileged.

Perceptions and Expectations of Midwives and Women Regarding Prenatal Care within the Scope of Primary Health Care Services in Türkiye.

One of the Sustainable Development Goals is to reduce the global maternal mortality rate. Antenatal care is a crucial component in achieving this goal. The aim of our study is to reveal the perceptions and expectations of midwives and women regarding antenatal care. In this qualitative study, Husserl's philosophy of phenomenology was adopted to emphasize the knowledge of experiences. One-to-one in-depth interviews were conducted with 31 participants - 15 midwives and 16 women - who received antenatal care in Türkiye. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data obtained from the research were analyzed using traditional content analysis, resulting in five main themes and ten sub-themes. The main themes were "Lack of knowledge/awareness," "Midwifery in Antenatal Care Services," "Practices within the Scope of Antenatal Care," "Factors Hindering Receiving Antenatal Care," and "Expectations from Antenatal Care." The women participating in the research could not define the concept of "Antenatal care" and did not consider the service they received during pregnancy as antenatal care. It was determined that midwives could not provide quality antenatal care services to women for various reasons. Midwives should raise women's awareness about antenatal care, which includes examination, treatment, education, and counselling. In addition, the areas of need of primary health care services should be determined, and necessary improvements should be made.

Seeking a care–life balance: family carers’ perspectives on how quality of life can improve when caring for an older person living with dementia

Many family carers of older people living with dementia report reduced quality of life, but limited research has investigated what they believe could improve it. Our thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with 23 family carers questions the standardisation of carer support and the appropriateness of the current scope of services, and suggests strengthening carers’ independent right to support. We propose the notion of a ‘care–life balance’, which also draws attention to the different logics inherent in informal and formal care that future service development should seek to reconcile to better support families affected by dementia.

Factors affecting ageism and depression levels in individuals aged 65 and over living in society

Abstract Background The aging process is perceived negatively by some people. This perception prevents/reduces the happiness that can be gained from the aging process. As a result, depressive symptoms may occur. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the factors affecting ageism and depression levels in individuals aged 65 and over living in society. Methods The sample of the research, which was conducted with a cross-sectional, descriptive design, consisted of 287 individuals aged 65 and over living in a neighborhood on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. Data were collected with socio-demographic form, Ageism Questionnaire and Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale-15. T test, variance analysis and chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Ethical permissions were obtained. Results Moderate depression was found in 27.5% of individuals with a mean age of 70.80±5.42. Individuals scored below the average (18.48±8.14) on the ageism survey. Ageism scores were higher for men, those aged 85 and over, those with poor economic conditions, those with chronic diseases, those hospitalized in the last year, those with severe and moderate depression, and those who needed help with daily tasks (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between age groups, chronic disease, continuous medication use, hospitalization in the last year, working status, need for help with daily tasks, economic status and depression levels (p < 0.05). Ageism scores of those with severe and moderate depression were found to be high (F = 3.43;p=0.017). Conclusions Variables that are effective in ageism and depression are being aged 85 and over, having a poor economic situation, having a chronic disease, needing help with daily tasks, and receiving inpatient treatment in the last year. The results of this study show that more efforts and resources are needed within the scope of political and social services to reduce ageism in society and the level of depression in older individuals. Key messages • As the level of depression in elderly individuals increases, ageism increases. • Advanced age, economic status, chronic disease, hospitalization and dependence on daily tasks affect depression and ageism.

1.X.2. Reducing inequalities in access to care in Europe: achieving universal health coverage and more

Abstract Accessibility is multi-dimensional. Universal Health Coverage emphasises the role of population coverage, the scope of services covered, and the depth of financial protection. However, there are other major barriers for patients that can inhibit universal access to health services: geographical inequalities, organisational barriers, and care denial. Health systems can provide extensive cover in some dimensions such as financial coverage or the range of services covered, but gaps in other dimensions can still act as a major barrier to care. Some groups are excluded from population coverage, other patients must navigate waiting times, medical deserts or cultural barriers in order to access care. In this session we will use an innovative filter framework outline common obstacles that patients in the European Union must overcome before they can access the care they need. We will then highlight policy responses to meet the dual goals of reducing inequalities in access to care and ensuring Universal Health Coverage. This workshop will provide a platform for sharing knowledge on reducing inequalities in access to care in EU countries. The objectives of the workshop are to i) highlight cross-cutting themes and approaches, and ii) establish opportunities for cross-country research and learning. The workshop will consist of four short presentations, followed by a broad discussion with audience interventions to bring in the experience of other Member States. Each panel member will make a short presentation in Pecha Kucha format: firstly outlining the filter framework for understanding access to health services then moving to descriptions of a policy journey to strengthening UHC in Cyprus, Estonia and Spain respectively. Bold reforms in Cyprus have expanded coverage under a new universal system; changes in Estonia have improved access to medicines; and policy-makers in Spain have sought to expand coverage of dental care. The moderated discussion will emphasise the potential for cross-country learning - identifying those policy choices of relevance for the rest of Europe. Presentations about specific policy initiatives draw on the latest Health Systems Reviews for Cyprus, Estonia and Spain. Health System Reviews underpin the Health Systems in Transition (HiT) series, a core part of country monitoring undertaken by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. These Reviews are routinely updated and provide a systematic description of the functioning of health systems in countries as well as reform and policy initiatives in progress or under development. As these are in-depth descriptions which detail the intricacies of health systems and an assessment of their performance, they provide the ideal basis for understanding the true multidimensionality of accessibility. Key messages • Even health systems in high-income countries need to address inequalities in access to care to ensure universal health coverage. • The workshop will identify themes and approaches to improving access to care from a cross-country perspective through a multidimensional understanding of accessibility. Speakers/Panelists Erica Richardson European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London, UK Cristina Hernandez Quevedo European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London, UK Yulia Litvinova European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Berlin Hub, Berlin, Germany Gemma Williams European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London, UK

Research on Service Quality Improvement of Franchised End Logistics Outlets Based on SERVQUAL

Abstract: As an effective solution to the "last mile" problem of logistics transportation, express terminal network has shown a rapid development trend in recent years. The franchise production is a main operation mode of the end express outlets. By fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of the franchise outlets, the service scope of express enterprises is effectively expanded. However, the problems of loose management and uneven service quality are prevalent in this kind of franchise outlets, which makes the express terminal service become one of the bottlenecks restricting the healthy development of the industry. Based on this, this paper improved the SERVQUAL model combined with the actual situation of the end express outlets of the franchise system, and designed the questionnaire based on it, sorted out and analyzed the survey data by using factor analysis and entropy weight method, and finally found out the shortcomings in the service process of the end express outlets according to the results, and put forward targeted solutions.

Constructing a Composite Index: Assessing Digital Financial Inclusion in India

Financial inclusion has been an essential area of focus of the modern-day government. Financial inclusion means providing financial services to each section of society that demands it at an affordable cost. Nowadays, along with the efforts made by traditional financial institutions, the amalgamation of digital technology with finance, called digital finance, has significantly improved the base and coverage of financial inclusion. In India, the coverage of financial services has expanded after the introduction of the JAM (Jan Dhan- Aadhar- Mobile) trinity and the Unified Payment Interface (UPI). The increased internet penetration in the country has also expanded the scope of digital financial services. During demonetisation and the Covid-19 pandemic, digital financial services became a saviour for people and got a boost in its growth in India. The focus of this paper is to measure the level of digital financial inclusion in India. We have constructed a Digital Financial Inclusion Index for India using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). We have included the ‘Access’ (covers the supply side) and ‘Usage’ (covers the demand side) dimensions for this. The data from RBI and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has been used for the study. The study stresses the increasing role of digital finance in financial inclusion in India. This will guide the policy formulators to take key steps to improve the financial inclusion levels to achieve the goal of sustainable economic growth.

The Development of the Life Insurance Market in Central and Eastern European Countries

Motivation: The need to implement the process of economic transformation in the recent past is what significantly differentiates the countries of Central and Eastern Europe from other members of the European Union. Integration into the financial system of the European Union has been an important factor influencing the process of transformation of the life insurance sector and the establishment of the level of competition, as well as the quality and scope of insurance services offered. In addition, the improvement in the macroeconomic situation and the increase in household income have had a significant impact on the growth in demand for insurance products from the life insurance segment. Despite positive changes, the insurance market of Central and Eastern European countries remains a relatively underdeveloped market, and its structure, unlike that of Western European countries, is dominated by property insurance. This points towards a need for further research into the determinants of life insurance market growth in this region of Europe. Aim: The aim of this paper is twofold. The first part presents an assessment of the level of development of the life insurance market in ten countries of Central and Eastern Europe over the period 2011-2021 using the method of multivariate comparative analysis in dynamic terms. The second part of the paper is devoted to an attempt to identify the determinants of the development of this market using econometric models for panel data. Results: The life insurance market varies widely among the group of countries considered. The trends of change during the period under consideration were also different. The most severe downturn in the life insurance market was recorded in Poland and the Czech Republic. Significant development was observed in Lithuania and Latvia, countries with an underdeveloped market in the past. The econometric models used confirmed the impact of economic development on the life insurance market.

A Study on the Scope of Personal Protection Services in the Security Services Industry Act from the Criminal Perspective

A Study on the Scope of Personal Protection Services in the Security Services Industry Act from the Criminal Perspective

Ribų valdymas asmeninių socialinių paslaugų erdvėje: samprata, iššūkiai ir galimybės

In the face of external threats, Lithuania's personal social services system must adapt to ensure the continued delivery of services. It must respond to the need to change the content of services, expand the scope of services to include new clients, attract or admit new social service providers, and manage the boundaries between formally provided social services and other individuals and organizations offering assistance. The aim of this article is to define the concepts of 'boundaries' and 'boundary work' in the context of personal social services' resilience to external threats and to investigate how actors from different social spaces—formal (institutionalized) social service providers and non-formal (non-institutionalized) social assistance providers—characterize their interactions with each other and perform 'boundary work'. Research methods include interviews and focus groups. Research participants comprise: 1) formal social service providers (8 focus groups), and 2) informal actors operating in municipalities of different sizes (10 interviews). The study revealed that crises lead to shifts in the boundaries between the activities of different social service providers, increased interactions between actors from different social spaces, the creation of new cooperation networks, emerging opportunities for action, and limitations in their activities. In this phase of challenges and the search for solutions, new social service providers emerge and the contours of new forms of assistance take shape. Reflecting on the experience of crises allows for the construction of future projections for possible recurrent threats.

A Systematic Review of Primary Healthcare Services: Evaluating Differences and Similarities Between Developed and Developing Nations

Background: Primary healthcare (PHC) systems play a critical role in ensuring equitable and effective healthcare delivery. However, significant disparities exist in the scope and performance of PHC services between developed and developing countries. Understanding these differences is crucial for improving global health outcomes. Objective: This systematic review aims to compare the scope and effectiveness of primary healthcare services across developed and developing countries. It seeks to identify key differences in healthcare delivery, system performance, and governance structures and provide insights into enhancing PHC services. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus, and explored grey literature and reports from relevant organizations. Studies were selected based on their comparative data on PHC services in developed and developing countries, published in peer-reviewed journals or reputable sources. Data were extracted on study characteristics, population details, and key outcomes related to service delivery and system performance. Quality assessment was performed using appropriate tools for different study designs. Results: The review identified significant variations in PHC service scope and effectiveness between developed and developing countries. Key findings include differences in healthcare delivery models, governance structures, and system performance metrics. The review highlights both strengths and challenges in various contexts, providing a comparative overview of PHC services. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the need for context-specific strategies to improve PHC services. Recommendations include enhancing coordination and governance, addressing gaps in accountability and transparency, and focusing on scalable interventions. This review provides valuable insights for policymakers and health system planners aiming to optimize PHC services globally.

Saudi Digital Library Services in the Light of the National and International Sustainable Development Goals

The study aimed to identify the concept of sustainable development, and to explore the role of digital libraries in achieving SDGs, by shedding light on the reality of the SDL in terms of financial, technical and human capabilities to achieve the Kingdom’s 2030 vision for sustainable development. The study revealed that digital libraries play an active role in achieving SDGs through secure and diverse technical infrastructure, and a variety of digital information sources. Digital libraries enhance the level of information awareness among users. Among digital libraries worldwide, SDL is distinguished in terms of knowledge resources acquired, its platforms, and through the large number of beneficiaries of its services, representing all segments of the academic community in Saudi Arabia's higher education institutions. Based on a solid network, and Saudi Arabia vision 2030, SDL succeeded to link higher education institutions through a huge amount of information sources, and facilitated their access, and provided equal opportunities for all. The study recommended that in order to be the national digital platform and effective development partner, SDL must expand the scope of services to include trade and industrial private and public sectors, and raise the level of research awareness and ethics among Arab scholars and researchers.

Kinnecting Caregivers to Services, Resources, and Supports: Findings from an RCT of Colorado’s Kinship Navigator Program

This study reflects the evidence-building journey for the Colorado Kinnected kinship navigator program. Colorado Kinnected expands the scope of services, resources, and supports offered to kinship families through an innovative approach that enhances an earlier Kinship Supports Demonstration Project. The Colorado Kinnected target population includes kinship caregivers caring for children and youth of any age with an open child welfare case. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce child welfare involvement by limiting traditional foster care and congregate care use when out-of-home placements are required. A randomized controlled trial was conducted from June to November 2020 to examine the impact of the Colorado Kinnected kinship navigator program on the kinship placement outcomes of 402 children and youth with an open child welfare case in seven Colorado counties. The initial study found that children and youth placed with kinship caregivers who received Colorado Kinnected services were significantly more likely to reunify with their parents after their kinship placements ended than were children and youth who received kinship supports as usual. The sustained effects study featured additional analyses of traditional foster and congregate care entry rates within six months of kinship placement for the same sample of children and youth. Children and youth in the intervention group were significantly less likely than children and youth in the control group to enter foster care or congregate care within six months after the end of their kinship placements. Overall, both analyses indicate that the Colorado Kinnected program promotes sustained permanency among children and youth in formal kinship placements. Data equity analyses to explore the contextual sensitivity of the intervention are detailed, and implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.