Quality of life in Italian cities: a temporal comparison between before the crisis and after

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 560-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guido Bonatti ◽  
Enrico Ivaldi ◽  
Riccardo Soliani
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The One

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the changes in well-being in the Italian reality, in particular, through the study of major cities. The study is based on a set of data provided by the Italian Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) with the aim to highlight the Italian urban situation and the comparison between the well-being situation assessed in a pre-crisis context and the one observed after it, in order to understand how events have influenced levels of well-being in the main Italian cities. Design/methodology/approach The paper aims to examine the quality of life (QoL) levels in the metropolitan cities, using data from the URBES report (a report that provides data and information concerning the Italian urban situation), published in 2013, which investigates QoL and well-being in major Italian cities. It is based on the framework of the “Benessere Equo e Sostenibile” report that appraises well-being in Italian regions by a great deal of variables belonging to 12 different dimensions. Using this data source, the authors will proceed to the construction of a composite well-being index. Findings The paper intends to show how the well-being level in Italian cities has changed in recent years, taking into consideration ten different dimensions of well-being. The need to consider different dimensions of well-being for its comprehensive evaluation is widely discussed in the literature, and the framework provided by ISTAT is innovative in this sense. Originality/value The paper presents an aggregate measure of well-being in Italian cities on the basis of new theoretical concepts and complete and detailed data.

An expanded nomological network of experienscape

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 999-1040 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asli D.A. Tasci ◽  
Abraham Pizam
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Subjective Happiness ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Nomological Network ◽  
Multiple Stakeholders ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Understanding

Purpose Bitner’s (1992) concept of servicescape has received widespread academic attention, resulting in many conceptual and empirical studies. By scanning the servicescape literature and other relevant concepts, Pizam and Tasci (2019) provided experienscape, an expanded version of servicescape, to be measured from different stakeholders’ perspectives with a multidisciplinary approach. This paper aims to build on Pizam and Tasci’s conceptualization of experienscape and expand its nomological network with other pertinent concepts related to different stakeholders with an interdisciplinary approach. Design/methodology/approach This is a conceptual study analyzing diverse literature related to servicescape, experienscape and other related concepts and theories to provide an integrated and holistic picture of experienscape for more robust theory development. Several new relationships are synthesized for hypothesis development and testing in future research. Findings The review of past research reveals that servicescape literature has mostly focused on outcomes for the benefit of brands and firms and missed outcomes for consumers and other stakeholders. In addition, servicescape literature lacks several critical concepts in the affective, cognitive and behavioral reaction domains, as well as moderator factors. The relevance of some theories such as branding (e.g. brand identity, personality, image, perceived quality, consumer value, brand value and self-congruity), cocreation/coproduction/codestruction, transformation, subjective happiness, subjective well-being and quality of life is completely overlooked. Research limitations/implications Experienscape is a container of complex systems where needs, wants and expectations of multiple stakeholders are entertained, often at the same time through dynamic interactions among multiple stakeholders. Thus, a holistic understanding of experienscape requires dynamic integration of theories explaining the behavior of different stakeholders by cross-fertilizing theories through interdisciplinary research rather than unidisciplinary or multidisciplinary research conducted in separate silos. Originality/value By adopting Pizam and Tasci’s (2019) experienscape concept, this study expanded the relational network of service environment components (i.e. sensory, functional, social, natural and cultural components of experienscape) by incorporating diverse theories and concepts that explain cognitive, affective and conative reactions of different stakeholders to an experience environment. Additionally, the current study recommends attention to human-centric outcomes such as transformation, subjective well-being, subjective happiness and quality of life, which were completely overlooked in previous servicescape research.

Assessment of quality of life in over-80 patients undergoing cardio-surgery: Is it feasible?

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S2) ◽  
pp. 377-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Pontoni ◽  
S. Ferrari ◽  
D. Gabbieri ◽  
I. Pedulli ◽  
D. Gambetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Old Patients ◽  
Cardiac Symptoms ◽  
Sf 36 ◽  
Socially Relevant ◽  
The One

IntroductionCardiovascular disorders are the first cause of death among over-80 year-old patients and cardio-surgery is sometimes the one therapeutic option. No scientific assessment of Quality of Life (QoL) or other psycho-socially relevant consequences has been carried out. Aim of the study was to quantify and describe QoL on over-80 patients after cardio-surgery.MethodsStudy 1 was a one-arm cohort study on 192 subjects who underwent cardio-surgery between years 2003 and 2005 and were interviewed by phone 5 to 7 years after by means of SF-36 and the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, matching these with socio-demographics and clinical pre/post operative variables. Study 2 was a pre-post study on 21 subjects who underwent cardio-surgery in 2009-2010, who were interviewed face-to-face before the interventions and 6 months after, including assessment of anxiety and depression via the HADS.ResultsStudy 1 patients reported satisfaction with treatment in 80%, freedom from cardiac symptoms in 62% and overall well-being in 78% of cases. Study 2 patients reported statistically significant improvement of QoL (SF-36 mean total score 57.1 vs. 73.5, p = .001), clinical conditions and anxiety-depressive symptoms (p = .001 both for HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression).ConclusionsAssessment of QoL and anxiety-depressive symptoms should be included in routine evaluation of elderly surgical patients, though the present study also suggested the need for improvement of methodology of interview, being phone-calling and traditional self-assessment psychometric instruments particularly inappropriate for this patient population.

Health literacy and its effects on well-being: how vulnerable healthcare service users integrate online resources

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 697-715
Author(s):  
Justine Virlée ◽  
Allard C.R. van Riel ◽  
Wafa Hammedi
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
The Individual

Purpose This study aims to develop a better understanding of how online health community (OHC) members with different health literacy (HL) levels benefit from their participation, through the analysis and comparison of their resource integration (RI) processes. It investigates through a RI lens how the vulnerability of community members – captured as their level of HL – affects the benefits they derive from participation. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to investigate the effects of healthcare service users’ vulnerability. Data were collected about their profiles and levels of HL. Furthermore, 15 in-depth interviews were conducted. Findings The study demonstrates how low levels of HL act as a barrier to the integration of available online health resources. Participation in OHCs appears less beneficial for vulnerable users. Three types of benefits were identified at the individual level, namely, psychological quality-of-life, physical quality-of-life and learning. Benefits identified at the community level were: content generation and participation in the development of the community. Originality/value This study has implications for the understanding of how service users’ activities affect their own outcomes and how the vulnerability of users could be anticipated and considered in the design of the community.

Quality-of-life assessment in patients who had been surgically treated for cerebellar pilocytic astrocytoma in childhood

2002 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Pompili ◽  
Marco Caperle ◽  
Andrea Pace ◽  
Valerio Ramazzotti ◽  
Laura Raus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Life Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Complete Recovery ◽  
Life Assessment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Karnofsky Performance Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

Object. After radical surgery for childhood cerebellar astrocytomas, patients are considered to be cured. Long-term follow up demonstrates that these patients survive, with most of them leading a normal life. The study reported here was aimed at assessing the quality of life (QOL) of these adults, which is defined as a person's sense of well-being, as derived from his or her current experience of life as a whole. Methods. Twenty patients who had undergone surgery between 1970 and 1985 were enrolled in the study. In four patients ventriculoperitoneal shunts were in place; two of these patients had required more than six shunt revisions. At present, all patients have clear neuroimaging studies and their Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) scores are as follows: 70 in three, 80 in seven, 90 in six, and 100 in four. A QOL questionnaire was administered to the patients and to a control group consisting of 20 healthy volunteers of matching age and sex. The chi-square test was applied to compare patients and controls. Traditional questions on the level of education, work, whether the patients have their own families, and whether they possessed a driver's license were asked at the end of the questionnaire. In all the dimensions assessed except one (sex life), the difference between patients and control volunteers was significant, socializing and adolescence being the most striking ones. This was also true when the three patients with the lowest KPS scores and the worst QOL results were excluded. Conclusions. By traditional standards, these patients appear to fare quite well. Nevertheless, their self-reported life experience is unsatisfying when compared with the control group. The authors conclude that psychosocial factors are critical to complete recovery and the QOL of children who undergo successful operations for benign cerebellar astrocytoma.

CyberKnife stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of spinal tumors for pain control and quality of life

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 540-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey W. Degen ◽  
Gregory J. Gagnon ◽  
Jean-Marc Voyadzis ◽  
Donald A. McRae ◽  
Michael Lunsden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spinal Tumors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cyberknife Radiosurgery ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Initial Score ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The authors conducted a study to assess safety, pain, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes following CyberKnife radiosurgical treatment of spinal tumors. Methods. Data obtained in all patients with spinal tumors who underwent CyberKnife radiosurgery at Georgetown University Hospital between March 2002 and March 2003 were analyzed. Patients underwent examination, visual analog scale (VAS) pain assessment, and completed the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) before treatment and at 1, 3, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 months following treatment. Fifty-one patients with 72 lesions (58 metastatic and 14 primary) were treated. The mean follow-up period was 1 year. Pain was improved, with the mean VAS score decreasing significantly from 51.5 to 21.3 at 4 weeks (p < 0.001). This effect on pain was durable, with a mean score of 17.5 at 1 year, which was still significantly decreased (p = 0.002). Quality of life was maintained throughout the study period. After 18 months, physical well-being was 33 (initial score 32; p = 0.96) and mental well-being was 43.8 (initial score 44.2; p = 0.97). (The mean SF-12 score is 50 ± 10 [standard deviation].) Adverse effects included self-limited dysphagia (three cases), diarrhea (two cases), lethargy (three cases), paresthesias (one case), and wound dehiscence (one case). Conclusions. CyberKnife radiosurgery improves pain control and maintains QOL in patients treated for spinal tumors. Early adverse events are infrequent and minor. The authors await long-term follow-up data to determine late complications and tumor control rates.

Publishing success of marketing academics: antecedents and outcomes

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 123-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Richard ◽  
Geoff Plimmer ◽  
Kim-Shyan Fam ◽  
Charles Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Academic Publishing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Publish Or Perish ◽  
Organisational Support ◽  
Longitudinal Data Collection ◽  
Perceived Organisational Support

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between positive incentives (perceived organisational support) and negative incentives (publish or perish), on both academic publication productivity and marketing academics’ quality of life. While publish-or-perish pressure is a common technique to improve academics’ performance, its punishment orientation may be poorly suited to the uncertain, creative work that research entails and be harmful to academics’ life satisfaction and other well-being variables. In particular, it may interfere with family commitments, and harm the careers of academic women. While perceived organisational support may be effective in encouraging research outputs and be positive for well-being, it may be insufficient as a motivator in the increasingly competitive and pressured world of academia. These issues are important for individual academics, for schools wishing to attract good staff, and the wider marketing discipline wanting to ensure high productivity and quality of life amongst its members. Design/methodology/approach – A conceptual model was developed and empirically tested using self-report survey data from 1,005 academics across five continents. AMOS structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data. Findings – The findings indicate that the most important determinants of publishing success and improved well-being of academics is organisational support rather than a “publish-or-perish” culture. Research limitations/implications – The use of a self-report survey may have an impact (and potential bias) on the perceived importance and career effect of a “publish-or-perish” culture. However, current levels of the publish-or-perish culture appear to have become harmful, even for top academic publishers. Additional longitudinal data collection is proposed. Practical implications – The challenge to develop tertiary systems that support and facilitate world-leading research environments may reside more in organisational support, both perceived and real, rather than a continuation (or adoption) of a publish-or-perish environment. There are personal costs, in the form of health concerns and work–family conflict, associated with academic success, more so for women than men. Originality/value – This study is the first to empirically demonstrate the influence and importance of “publish-or-perish” and“perceived organisational support” management approaches on marketing academic publishing performance and academic well-being.

Long-term benefits in quality of life provided by bilateral subthalamic stimulation in patients with Parkinson disease

2005 ◽  
Vol 103 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly E. Lyons ◽  
Rajesh Pahwa
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Parkinson Disease ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fine Print

Object. The goals of this study were to evaluate long-term benefits in quality of life in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) after bilateral deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and to evaluate the relationship between improvements in motor function and quality of life. Methods. Seventy-one patients who received bilateral STN stimulation implants and participated in follow-up review for at least 12 months were included in the study. Fifty-nine patients participated in a 12-month follow-up review and 43 patients in a follow-up review lasting at least 24 months. Patients' symptoms were assessed preoperatively by using the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS) in the “medication-on” and “medication-off” conditions and quality of life was examined using the 39-item PD Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Patient evaluations were repeated postoperatively during periods of stimulation. The UPDRS activities of daily living (ADL) and motor scores as well as the PDQ-39 total, mobility, ADL, emotional well-being, stigma, and bodily discomfort scores were significantly improved at 12 months compared with baseline scores; the UPDRS ADL and motor scores as well as the PDQ-39 total, mobility, ADL, stigma, and bodily discomfort scores were significantly improved at the longest follow-up examination compared with baseline scores. There was a strong correlation between UPDRS motor and ADL scores and the PDQ-39 total, mobility, and ADL scores. Further analyses indicated that improvements in tremor were only correlated with PDQ-39 ADL subscale scores and rigidity was not correlated with any aspect of quality of life. Nevertheless, bradykinesia was strongly correlated with improvements in the PDQ-39 total, mobility, and ADL scores. Conclusions. Improvements in quality of life following bilateral DBS of the STN are maintained in the long term. These improvements are strongly correlated with improvements in motor function, primarily with regard to bradykinesia.

scholarly journals Human-dog relationships during COVID-19 pandemic; booming dog adoption during social isolation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Morgan ◽  
Alexandra Protopopova ◽  
Rune Isak Dupont Birkler ◽  
Beata Itin-Shwartz ◽  
Gila Abells Sutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Life Quality ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Social ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The One ◽  
Impaired Quality

The recent COVID-19 pandemic led to uncertainty and severe health and economic concerns, which may have impacted human-dog relationships. Our objectives were to investigate how people perceived and acted during the COVID-19 pandemic social isolation, in regards to dog adoption and abandonment; and to examine the bidirectional relationships between dog owners’ well-being to that of their dogs. Overall, according to our analysis, the stricter the social isolation became during the pandemic, the interest in dog adoption as well as adoption rate increased significantly, while abandonment did not change. Moreover, there was a clear association between individuals’ impaired quality of life and their perceptions of poorer life quality of their dogs as well as the development of new behavioral problems. These findings suggest potential benefits for human-dog relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic, in compliance with the One Welfare approach.

scholarly journals Human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic: booming dog adoption during social isolation

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liat Morgan ◽  
Alexandra Protopopova ◽  
Rune Isak Dupont Birkler ◽  
Beata Itin-Shwartz ◽  
Gila Abells Sutton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Dog Owners ◽  
The One

AbstractThe recent COVID-19 pandemic led to uncertainty and severe health and economic concerns. Previous studies indicated that owning a companion animal, such as a dog or a cat, has benefits for good mental health. Interactions with animals may help with depression and anxiety, particularly under stress-prone conditions. Human–animal interactions may even improve peer-to-peer social relationships, as well as enhance feelings of respect, trust, and empathy between people. Interestingly, it has also been shown that stress and poor well-being of dog owners negatively affect the well-being of their companion animals. However, a dramatic increase in dog abandonment could potentially occur due to COVID-19 related health, economic and social stresses, as well as due to the inconclusive reports of companion animals being potential COVID-19 carriers. Such a scenario may lead to high costs and considerable public health risks. Accordingly, we hypothesized that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the related social isolation, might lead to dramatic changes in human–dog bidirectional relationships. Using unique prospective and retrospective datasets, our objectives were to investigate how people perceived and acted during the COVID-19 pandemic social isolation, in regards to dog adoption and abandonment; and to examine the bidirectional relationship between the well-being of dog owners and that of their dogs. Overall, according to our analysis, as the social isolation became more stringent during the pandemic, the interest in dog adoption and the adoption rate increased significantly, while abandonment did not change. Moreover, there was a clear association between an individual’s impaired quality of life and their perceptions of a parallel deterioration in the quality of life of their dogs and reports of new behavioral problems. As humans and dogs are both social animals, these findings suggest potential benefits of the human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic, in accordance with the One Welfare approach that implies that there is a bidirectional connection between the welfare and health of humans and non-human animals. As our climate continues to change, more disasters including pandemics will likely occur, highlighting the importance of research into crisis-driven changes in human–animal relationships.

scholarly journals Measuring financial well-being in Europe using a fuzzy set approach

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonella D'Agostino ◽  
Monica Rosciano ◽  
Maria Grazia Starita
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Well Being ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cultural Elements ◽  
Tailored Approach ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThis paper aims to apply a multidimensional approach to assessing the financial well-being of European countries.Design/methodology/approachFinancial well-being is a very complex phenomenon to measure because it is composed of different dimensions. Therefore, this paper uses a multidimensional and fuzzy methodology to assess financial well-being in Europe. The financial well-being fuzzy indicator was calculated using European Quality of Life Survey data.FindingsFinancial well-being is heterogeneous across European countries. This evidence is confirmed both at the level of overall financial well-being and at the level of sub-indices. The degree of financial well-being is not directly related to wealth as traditionally measured (i.e. GDP), but shows some correspondence with socio-economic characteristics of the population and with governance and cultural elements of a country.Practical implicationsUnderstanding financial well-being could help financial institutions to transition from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more tailored approach when they provide financial services and could help policy makers to consider financial well-being when they decide how and where to allocate public spending.Originality/valueTo the best of authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to employ a fuzzy methodology for the analysis of financial well-being in Europe.

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