Service Providers Research Articles

Perceptions of service providers on available care for paediatric feeding disorder: A survey study

AimThis study aimed to describe current strengths and gaps in services for children with feeding needs in Southeast Queensland, Australia from the perspective of key professionals involved in service design and provision.MethodsA web‐based survey was distributed to health professionals involved in providing services to children with feeding needs, staff who triaged/managed referrals, and/or service team leaders in Southeast Queensland.ResultsThere were 79 responses to the survey, with 61 of these responses included in the analysis. Respondents identified several strengths in paediatric feeding disorder (PFD) service provision, particularly in the quality of care available for children who met service eligibility requirements. However, respondents also described services as disjointed, with limited coordinated multidisciplinary care available. Respondents frequently described service limitations relating to public service eligibility criteria, long waiting lists, and scant communication between services. Gaps were reported in the care available for children with ‘mild’ feeding difficulties and/or children who were not considered medically complex. Respondents also identified gaps in services secondary to a limited number of confident and trained professionals offering PFD care, particularly in the private sector.ConclusionsThis study described service providers' perceptions of available care for children with PFD in Southeast Queensland. Overall, the availability of PFD services appeared to be limited by eligibility criteria, service design, and staff capacity, suggesting that children with PFD are not receiving timely, multidisciplinary care in this geographical area. Further research into ideal service design is required to support preventative PFD care.

Welfare Service Providers’ Narratives of Digital Literacies Among Vulnerable Youths in Norway

AbstractThe rapid digital transformation of society has intensified the need to develop general digital competence in the population, as it has become an essential requirement for participating in education, civil society, and the workforce. Digital competence has also become vital for benefiting from digitalized welfare services in rapidly digitalized societies such as Norway. Though the majority of citizens benefit from the increased accessibility and effectivity of the public sector as the result of digitalization, some life situations increase vulnerabilities in accessing welfare services. In this paper, we explore how the welfare service providers of youths not in education, employment, or training narrate the digital literacy of this group of youths. Drawing from an ecological and intersectional perspective on socio-digital inequalities, this paper operates under the premise that these service providers bear the responsibility of disrupting the cycle of socio-digital inequalities that youths might experience. This paper presents the results of a qualitative study conducted through seven individual and group interviews and two workshops with 20 welfare service providers. The findings shed light on how welfare service providers navigate the uncertainty surrounding the concept of digital literacy which is further challenged by the absence of guidelines—a lack that may inadvertently lead to new forms of exclusion and invisibility among youths.

Last-Mile Delivery Optimization: Balancing Cost Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability

The significance of last-mile delivery in supply chains has increased due to the growth of e-commerce. Last- mile delivery (LMD) is responsible for a large amount of the environmental impact and overall logistical costs. In order to balance economic effectiveness and environmental sustainability in last-mile delivery operations, this article examines optimization options. The study used a descriptive design; collected and analyzed quantitative data. Key players in last-mile delivery, including logistics firms, online merchants, and delivery service providers, who were given surveys via Google Forms to collect primary data. The topics covered included cost structures, environmental issues, current optimization techniques, and practices. Data on current last-mile delivery strategies, optimization techniques, and environmental sustainability projects were gathered through a literature review. With a case study in Lagos, Nigeria, the study focused on metropolitan areas. Participants with substantial last-mile delivery and logistics experience were chosen using a purposive sample technique. Twenty logistics and supply chain managers, ten couriers and delivery drivers, ten owners of e-commerce businesses, thirty customers, five transportation and logistics service providers, five sustainability specialists, eight city officials and urban planners, and seven technology providers were included in the sample. The analysis with statistical methods, such as table and charts, was used to analyzed the participants opinions. The paper contributes to the growing body of literature that links supply chain efficiency with sustainability goals

Validating the Quality Maternal and Newborn Care Framework Index: A Global Tool for Quality‐of‐Care Evaluations

ABSTRACTBackgroundQuality maternity care is known to improve a range of maternal and neonatal outcomes. The Lancet Series on Midwifery's Quality Maternal and Newborn Care (QMNC) Framework is a high‐level synthesis of the global evidence on quality maternity care. Initial qualitative work demonstrated the Framework's adaptability in evaluating service user and provider perceptions of the quality of maternity care. However, evaluating services at scale requires a survey instrument. This paper reports the validation of the QMNC Framework index (QMNCFi), a five‐part survey for the evaluation of maternity care across diverse settings.MethodsInternational online English language survey of women who had given birth in the previous year in Australia, Ghana, India and the United Kingdom (UK). It was distributed through service user networks (UK and Australia) and at postnatal clinics (Ghana and India). All forms were completed online. Test–retest was conducted to assess reliability.ResultsFive hundred and forty mothers completed the survey (Australia 136; Ghana 131; India 153; UK 120). Construct validity: Cronbach's α in 12 of the survey's 13 sections ranged from 0.795 to 0.986; for the remaining section the alpha was 0.594. Reliability: 55 participants completed the QMNCFi a second time. Intraclass correlation coefficient results ranged from 0.657 to 0.939 across the 13 sections. Field researchers in Ghana and India reported that the survey was easily understood and completed.ConclusionThis survey has shown that, across diverse contexts, the QMNCFi is a valid, reliable, and comprehensive tool for measuring service user perceptions of the quality of care over time.

Community Leaders’ Perceptions of the Unique Service Barriers and Facilitators Among Immigrant Families With Young Children in the Rural U.S.–Mexico Border Region

The present descriptive phenomenological study examines the unique service access barriers and facilitators of immigrant families along the rural U.S.–Mexico border from the perspectives of agency and government representatives. Twenty-three semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine local/state government officials and 14 community agency leaders using purposive and snowball sampling. A phenomenological thematic analysis approach was utilized to analyze data from individual interviews. Findings reveal that unique barriers experienced by immigrant families in the U.S.–Mexico border region include rurality, border checkpoints, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol presence, which have placed mobility limitations on immigrant families, cutting them off from central service providers. Programs and policies aimed at engagement of mixed-status families in areas along the U.S.–Mexico border need to create mechanisms to better reach these families.

Review of Criminal Law Against Illegal Broadcasting Actions on Paid Football Shows

This study aims to analyze criminal law arrangements in handling illegal broadcasting of paid football shows and to analyze the legal position of illegal broadcast service providers on paid football shows based on criminal law provisions. This type of research that is used normative juridical method by examining the application of positive legal norms. Which consists of normative legal research by using methods of obtaining and analyzing secondary data and empirical legal research methods, namely by obtaining and analyzing primary data by conducting interviews with relevant sources. Then analyzed qualitatively and arranged systematically. The results of this study show that, 1) criminal law arrangements in handling illegal broadcasting of paid football broadcasts have been regulated in statutory provisions, including Law no. 28 of 2014 concerning Copyright, Law No. 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions, as well as the values ​​contained in Law no. 32 of 2002 concerning Broadcasting. Even though it has been regulated, there are still many violations that occur.

A Comparative Study of the Service Quality between the Sub-District Health Promotion Hospital Transferred to the Provincial Administrative Organization and the Sub-District Health Promotion Hospital under the Ministry of Public Health in the Tha Sala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Background and Aim: A comparative study of the service quality of subdistrict health promotion hospitals transferred to the Provincial Administrative Organization. And subdistrict health-promoting hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health in ​​Tha Sala District Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. It occurred due to the setting and driving of the policy to transfer Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals (Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals) to the Provincial Administrative Organization. The research objectives are to (1) study and compare the quality of services of Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospitals transferred to the Provincial Administrative Organization and Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health, (2) determine guidelines for developing service quality. Of Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital in Tha Sala District Nakhon Si Thammarat Province Materials and Methods: This research uses a qualitative research method, using data collection tools, which are questions for in-depth interviews, to collect information from key informants. Consisting of (1) a group of officials from Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital in Tha Sala District, four people, (2) a group of directors from Health Promoting Hospital in Tha Sala District, four people, and (3) a group of village health volunteers, which is a group receiving services from Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital transferred to the Provincial Administrative Organization and Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital under the Ministry of Public Health, totaling four people. Results and Conclusion: The results of the study found that (1) the concreteness of the Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital services transferred to the Provincial Administrative Organization; There is the concreteness of service by providing services based on the standards of primary care units, 2024 edition, with clean, proportionate, and appropriate service locations. (2) Reliability of service providers. Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals transferred to Provincial Administrative Organizations There is a thorough check on the accuracy of dispensing medicines to patients. There is training to provide knowledge on various matters (3) in responding to the needs of Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital service recipients transferred to the Provincial Administrative Organization. Service information is publicized through village health volunteers and Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals under the Ministry of Public Health. (4) in the aspect of providing confidence to Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital service recipients who are transferred to the Provincial Administrative Organization. As for the Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital under the Ministry of Public Health, bathrooms are designed with safety in mind. While working, staff wear uniforms and gloves and strictly follow procedures. (5) Understanding and knowing service recipients. Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals transferred to Provincial Administrative Organizations Staff provide services with convenience and speed and take care of patients with professional ethics. Pay attention to taking care of patients very well. As for the Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital under the Ministry of Public Health Staff provide service with a cheerful smile, speak sweetly, and take care of patients closely.

Electric Vehicle Import/Export Flows in Maritime Ports: Are Local Stakeholders Monitoring their Arrival?

Within the global climate change risk mitigation frame, automotive OEMs are progressively replacing ICE-powered cars with electric vehicles in their model ranges. This strategic move is deeply impacting every level of their supply chains, including maritime ports. To shed some light, in the absence of relevant academic literature, on how closely local stakeholders are monitoring this evolution, multiple port authorities’ and logistic service providers’ institutional websites, as well as auto industry-related web sources, have been browsed (Q4 2023), looking for comments on the arrival of electric vehicles in North American and European auto ports. Study shows that contexts differ from one region to another, even from one port/one stakeholder group to another, leading to various attitudes ranging from spontaneous early movers to hyper-cautious followers.

A study on the impacts of safety and security on consumer’s intention to use electronic wallets in Hanoi

This article seeks to investigate how safety and security affect consumers’ tendency to use electronic wallets in Hanoi. The study was conducted based on data using Google Forms, with a total of 237 valid responses. For data analysis, this research employs quantitative techniques using SPSS 22 and AMOS 25 software. The results demonstrate that safety and security positively impact four factors in the following order: financial benefits (β = 0.853; p = 0.000), brand image (β = 0.830; p = 0.000), technology function (β = 0.708; p = 0.000), social influence (β = 0.589; p = 0.000). Particularly risk perception (β = –0.192; p = 0.013) is a factor that is inversely affected, whereby greater safety and security result in reduced perceived risk. The results also show that only social influence (β = 0.408; p = 0.000) and brand image (β = 0.172; p = 0.000) influence the willingness to adopt e-wallets. Therefore, the safety and security only indirectly influence the tendency to use e-wallets through two variables: social influence and brand image. The study provides recommendations for e-wallet service providers, identifies limitations, and suggests future research directions.

Responsive service design and workforce strengthening: Recommendations to improve aged care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to develop innovative and practical strategies and recommendations for aged care policy and practice that support the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.MethodsA research symposium was held in June 2023 on Kaurna Country at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. The symposium brought together 70 attendees including aged care consumers, Federal and State Government representatives, advocacy services, health, aged care and social service providers, and health and aged care researchers. Two roundtable sessions titled ‘Responsive Service Design’ and ‘Workforce Strengthening’ were conducted following a World Café approach. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsThis paper proposes recommendations relating to innovation and improvement within aged care policy and practice. Recommendations for responsive service design and workforce strengthening include the following: (1) promote genuine engagement and involvement, (2) establish partnerships between sectors, (3) ensure compliance, (4) innovative communication and feedback pathways, (5) holistic approaches to well‐being, (6) prioritise cultural safety and (7) flexible recruitment and retention strategies.ConclusionsWorking together and building partnerships between diverse stakeholders including community members, workforce, service providers and policymakers is required for sustainable and meaningful innovation within the aged care sector. Our recommendations, driven by community needs, provide an opportunity to ensure the innovation and implementation of ongoing aged care reforms meet the needs and expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Optimizing traffic management for public services during high-demand periods using cloud load balancers

In times of high demand, effective traffic management is essential for public service platforms to maintain reliable, continuous access for users. This paper explores the role of cloud load balancers as a solution for optimizing traffic distribution in public services during peak periods. By dynamically distributing network traffic across multiple servers, cloud load balancers enhance system scalability, flexibility, and response time, which are critical for minimizing service disruptions. The paper further discusses best practices for configuring load balancers, including geographic balancing and redundancy, and highlights the importance of integrating dynamic scaling and monitoring tools to adapt to sudden traffic surges. Additionally, the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analytics in advancing cloud load balancing is considered, emphasizing their value for predictive scaling and automated traffic management. Key challenges, including data privacy and dependency on third-party infrastructure, are also addressed, with recommendations for enhancing load balancer deployment in public service applications. This paper concludes with strategic recommendations for public service providers to leverage cloud technology effectively, ensuring improved reliability, security, and cost-efficiency in service delivery. Keywords: Cloud Load Balancers, Traffic Management, Public Service Platforms, Dynamic Scaling, Predictive Analytics, Service Reliability.

The Impact of Effective Coaching on Sales Performance Mediated by the Role of Soft Skills in the Tourism Industry

This research aimed to design a model for the role of effective coaching in achieving sales representatives' performance through soft skills for Iraqi tourism companies using quantitative and qualitative approaches. A questionnaire was designed to collect data to analyze the relationship between the research variables for (427) paragraphs that were randomly distributed to each tourism salesperson. To prove the model, five hypotheses were formulated where the effect and relationship were proven in all hypotheses using (SPSS, SMART PLS) programs. The results emphasize the importance of implementing strong coaching programs aimed at developing self-awareness, personal responsibility and personal skills among employees. Moreover, the study highlights the need for tourism service providers to comprehensively assess and develop personal skills alongside technical competencies during recruitment and performance management processes. It recommends providing value for the potential benefits of implementing coaching programs to support professional development and enhance the performance of front-line sales personnel. The results of this research can help in developing coaching strategies and coaching programs specifically designed to improve salesperson performance, and ultimately improve customer experience in the tourism services sector.

What Supports Do Incarcerated Mothers and Their Families Need? The Views of Incarcerated Mothers and Service Providers

Maternal incarceration causes complex and diverse outcomes, affecting the mother, her family, and her community. Despite this, there are few evidence-based models of support. This paper aims to identify participant’s perspectives in developing a model of support by identifying needs, preferred services, and current barriers. Incarcerated mothers (n = 75) and service providers (n = 24) in Queensland, Australia contributed through workshops. Participants identified three support areas: (i) children’s wellbeing and mother-child relationships; (ii) while mothers are incarcerated; and (iii) when mothers return to the community. Mothers prioritized relational and self-development goals whereas service providers prioritized material needs and service delivery methods. Barriers reflected mothers’ multifaceted needs and the complex service delivery area. Preferred programs incorporated individualized, multi-modal, long-term, culturally-informed, and trauma-informed care, while system-level barriers included administrative burdens and navigating complex systems. Overall, models of support must incorporate optimal program-level and system-level characteristics to improve the outcomes of mothers and their children.

Implementation of Smart Government, Smart Mobility, and Smart Living Policies in Realizing the Quality of Public Services in Yogyakarta City

Major cities around the world believe in the concept of "smart cities" or "intelligent cities". This concept encourages people to participate in city management through a citizen-centered approach. This results in more active and close interaction between citizens and service providers, in this case the local government. This study examines how the Yogyakarta City government can implement e-government to become a Smart City and improve its public services by implementing smart government, smart mobility, and smart living policies. Cities around the world are currently championing this idea as the central government's idea to address various problems in different places. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method by relying on secondary data from digital mass media news which is assisted by data processing using Nvivo 14 as a research tool. Based on the results of the research, it can be found that Smart City in Yogyakarta City shows that (1) Smart Government regarding its online procedures has started to run well; (2) Smart Mobility is superior in traffic monitoring; (3) Smart Living is more prominent in indicators about security. Where with these results, Policy Implementation in the City of Yogyakarta has started to run well, but there must still be improvements, especially in Smart Government, Smart Mobility, and Smart Living so that the quality of public services in the City of Yogyakarta can run even better. Key word: Implementation of smart government, smart mobility, smart living, Yogyakarta CIty

Mobile App Usability, Data Privacy, Brand Loyalty, and Customer Retention in Indonesia's Online Transportation Services Industry

This study investigates the relationship between mobile app usability, data privacy, brand loyalty, and customer retention in Indonesia's online transportation services industry. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data from a sample of users, the results show that both mobile app usability and data privacy significantly affect brand loyalty, which, in turn, strongly predicts customer retention. Additionally, usability and privacy have direct effects on retention. The mediation analysis highlights the role of brand loyalty in amplifying the impact of usability and privacy on retention. These findings offer practical insights for online transportation service providers seeking to improve customer experiences, loyalty, and retention.

Design and Optimization of Higher Education Online English Teaching Utilizing Wireless Network Technology in the Context of 5G

The global demand for wireless communication networks is a result of the widespread use of wireless devices and the related surge of wireless service providers. Data transmission speed, coverage areas, cost-effectiveness, resource utilization, security, scalability, and adaptability are all elements expected to be improved in future 5G wireless networks. Since this rapid development of network communication technology affects the delivery of English education in tertiary contexts, English teachers in colleges and universities should make use of network resources—especially the communication tools embedded in the 5G network. File transfer protocol can utilize the advanced artificial bee colony optimization algorithm (AABCOA) to realize classification, and the system proposed in this article is simulated and tested in Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB). The research results indicate that students are unsatisfied with traditional methods of English pedagogy in higher education and are keen to explore the new learning possibilities provided by 5G integrated wireless network technology.

Tracing the Success of QRIS Policy Implementation in Surabaya City’s Parking Levy System

This research explores the effectiveness of the Surabaya City Government’s policy on parking levy payments via the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS). The study aims to analyze the policy’s success in increasing Regional Original Income (Pendapatan Asli Daerah or PAD) and enhancing community welfare by improving the payment experience for parking users and supporting efficient management by parking attendants. Using Van Meter and Van Horn’s policy implementation framework, which includes six critical factors—policy standards and objectives, resource allocation, characteristics of implementing organizations, inter-organizational communication, implementer disposition, and socio-political and economic environment—the study evaluates both the facilitating and hindering elements of the policy. A qualitative descriptive methodology was employed, with data gathered through literature reviews, field observations, and structured interviews with key stakeholders, including government officials, parking service providers, and users. Analysis revealed that QRIS implementation has been beneficial in promoting transparency and efficiency in revenue collection, supporting PAD growth. However, challenges such as varying levels of digital literacy among users, limited internet access in certain areas, and reluctance among some parking attendants to adopt digital systems were identified as barriers to optimal implementation. Key findings suggest that the policy’s long-term success hinges on consistent inter-agency coordination, community engagement initiatives to raise digital payment awareness, and ongoing training for parking attendants to improve digital proficiency. The study concludes that achieving sustainable success in implementing non-cash transactions for parking levies requires a holistic approach, integrating community awareness, inter-organizational support, and policy adaptability. This research offers valuable insights for policymakers seeking to improve public service delivery through digital transactions. It highlights the importance of adaptive management in fostering community welfare alongside regional revenue growth.

PASE: Pro-active Service Embedding in The Mobile Edge

Mobile edge computing offers ultra-low latency, high bandwidth, and high reliability. Thus, it can support a plethora of emerging services that can be placed in close proximity to the user. One of the fundamental problems in this context is maximizing the benefit from the placement of networked services, while meeting bandwidth and latency constraints. In this study, we propose an adaptive and predictive resource allocation strategy for virtual-network function placement comprising services at the mobile edge. Our study focuses on maximizing the service provider’s benefit under user mobility, i.e., uncertainty. This problem is NP-hard. Therefore, we propose a heuristic solution: we exploit local knowledge about the likely movements of users to speculatively allocate service functions. We allow the service functions to be allocated at different edge nodes, as long as latency and bandwidth constraints are met. We evaluate our proposal against a theoretically optimal algorithm as well as against recent previous work, using widely used simulation tools. Through an extensive simulation study, we demonstrate that under realistic scenarios, an adaptive and proactive strategy coupled with flexible placement can achieve close-to-optimal benefit.

Examination of Right to Privacy for Telecommunication Customers toward Service Providers in Tanzania

The Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania, provides the right to privacy as stipulated under Articles 16 (1) and (2). It takes also cognizance of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which is provided under Articles 17 (1) and (2). The protection of the right to privacy may be hindered by the duty to disclose information and the absence of guidelines promoting it in Tanzania. This study preceded with, whether the existing telecommunication legal regime effectively protects the right to privacy of telecommunication customers against service providers and the best shortcomings that can be addressed. The study set out to review the right to privacy for telecommunication customers. The research aims to analyse the existing telecommunication legal regime and identify lacunas with the ways to tackle the challenges facing enforcement of the right to privacy. The study was planned to use the doctrinal research methodology. This methodology was purposely selected because the study requires analysis of the laws on the right to privacy. However, data was collected by using primary and secondary sources. The researcher used qualitative methods to analyse data that finally made conclusions and recommendations. In this study, it was concluded that the right to privacy covered in different laws has not sufficiently safeguarded the actual right to privacy for telecommunication customers in Tanzania. This is due to the following factors which are the aspect of authorization in the disclosure of a person’s information and the absence of adequate law securing a telecommunication customer’s information. The researcher ratifies that, there should be a specific law that regulates the right to privacy for telecommunication customer’s information. This will enforce the right to privacy and remove issues arising out of lack of authorization such as the issue of phone interceptions

What is known about persons with co-occurring problems’ experiences with supported housing, recovery, and health promotion? A scoping review

BackgroundHaving a home is the foundation of most people’s lives. People with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems may experience challenges in acquiring and keeping housing. Many also have major health challenges. Supported housing is the subject of increasing interest, but there seems to be a lack of studies exploring supported housing’s potential for facilitating recovery and health promotion. Therefore, a scoping review was performed to answer our review question: What is known in the literature about the experiences of persons with co-occurring substance use and mental health problems with supported housing, including experiences of recovery and health promotion?MethodsSystematic searches were conducted in the Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, CINAHL, Social Services s, Web of Science, Scopus, and Oria, and Idunn.no databases. The search terms were derived from the population, concepts, and context. The search for grey literature was conducted in various Norwegian sources.ResultsForty studies were included: 7 with quantitative design, 28 with qualitative design and 5 with mixed methods design. The studies were from Canada, Ireland, Norway, Scotland, and the USA.The review identified four themes related to tenants’ experiences with supported housing:1)The importance of a permanent and safe home; 2) Housing’s importance for physical health; 3) A shoulder to lean on – the importance of relationships and support; 4) the value of choice and independence.Factors that may influence physical health were poorly represented.ConclusionsLong-term housing and safety are prerequisites for recovery for people with co-occurring problems. Programmes such as Housing First and Assertive Community Teams, especially, were experienced to support recovery. Autonomy was valued, including access to individual and respectful support from service providers when needed.Supported housing may be a health-promoting arena, especially in relation to mental health. More attention should be given to how service providers can support tenants to protect their physical health, especially related to nutrition, meals and communal cooking. Further research is needed to tailor optimal services and support for people with co-occurring problems, including balancing support and autonomy with the aim of promoting health and recovery.Peer specialists’ contributions to supported housing are scarce and need further development.