scholarly journals Local Determinants of Tobacco Use in Pakistan and the Importance of Context

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Chee Keng Lee ◽  
Kamran Siddiqi ◽  
Muhammad Amir Khan ◽  
Maqsood Ahmed ◽  
Shafiq-Ur-Rehman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Local Adaptations ◽  
Cessation Treatment ◽  
Tobacco Epidemic ◽  
Contextual Appropriateness

AbstractIntroduction:The tobacco epidemic is surging in developing countries. While the determinants of tobacco use are well known, it is less certain whether they are similar in developed and developing countries. This has important ramifications for the implementation of interventions locally. This qualitative study explored the determinants and importance of context on tobacco use in Pakistan.Methods:Focus group discussions were conducted in two districts with doctors, nurses and patients from local tuberculosis clinics.Results:Peer influence, social acceptability, affordability and visibility of tobacco, public understanding and personal perception of risks influence tobacco use. Individual factors, such as personal curiosity, adversity and stress, also affected tobacco uptake and use. Patients were willing to pay for effective cessation treatment provided the costs were comparable to their expenditure on tobacco.Discussion:Factors such as peer and social influences are similar to those reported elsewhere. However, local variations exist in the degree of sociocultural acceptability, visibility of tobacco use, public understanding of risks and individual situational factors that influence tobacco use. Patients are prepared to pay for treatment, but there are gender differences in what can be afforded. For tobacco cessation interventions to be effective, local adaptations are essential to ensure cultural and contextual appropriateness.

Urban Population Knowledge of Climate Change in Costa Rica and Nicaragua

2013 ◽  
pp. 55-76
Author(s):  
Sergio A. Molina Murillo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Costa Rica ◽  
Urban Population ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
International Policies ◽  
General Concern

Most scenarios indicate that people in developing countries are more vulnerable and less capable of adapting to climate change. Since our public understanding of risk toward climate change in developing countries is limited, this article presents results from Costa Rica and Nicaragua, two countries which are socio-economically distinct, but which are expected to suffer similar extreme weather events. From October of 2008 until May 2010, a total of 1,047 respondents were surveyed in cities of both countries. The main results indicate that climate change is a widely known concept but other notions such as “carbon footprint” are foreign to most respondents. Despite the general concern with its negative consequences, respondents’ foremost concern is linked to their socioeconomic situation, and how it will be impacted by climate change in such aspects as poverty and social security. The results presented here contribute to advance national and international policies aiming to support mitigation or adaptation strategies in developing countries.

scholarly journals Enhancing Auditor Independence in Developing Countries in Context of Globalization – Evidence in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Le Doan Minh Duc
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Auditor Independence ◽  
Professional Association ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Experimental Methodology ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Audit Process ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
International Integration ◽  
Mixed Approach

Purpose: Globalization brings many opportunities and challenges for developing countries. So, does globalization create a motivation to improve the auditing profession's ethics? Independence is one of the most important components of auditing professional ethics, which must be maintained throughout the audit process. This article delivers a full insight into identifying factors that enhance the auditor independence promoted in the international integration process. Design/methodology/approach: This article approached from international integration process that affect auditor independence from auditors’ awareness, working environment and professional association. This article used a mixed approach based on the experimental methodology. This article used the archival research method and group discussions method to analyze and assess the research problems and verified by experimental data. The article took the group discussions with experts and survey 280 directors, auditors, auditor assistants who are working in 70 auditing firms. Findings: The results showed that globalization support auditors, audit firms, and professional Association to improve auditor independence. Especially, the factors that enhance the auditor independence driven by international integration: Knowledge, Technology, Competition, Management, Monitoring. Practical implications: The article implied to improve auditor independence in the context that Vietnam is strongly integrating internationally. Originality/value: The article has taken a new approach on auditor independence from globalization in Vietnam.

scholarly journals Youth tobacco use in South-East Asia: Implications for tobacco epidemic and options for its control in the region

2017 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manju Rani ◽  
Thaksaphon Thamarangsi ◽  
Naveen Agarwal
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Tobacco Epidemic

scholarly journals Effectiveness of the Internet-based Versus Face-to-Face Interaction on Reduction of Tobacco use among Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar ◽  
Ravi Kant ◽  
Poonam Yadav ◽  
Tamar Rodney ◽  
Mukesh Bairwa
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Forest Plot ◽  
Cochrane Central Register ◽  
Face To Face

Abstract BackgroundThe burden of tobacco-associated disorders is prevalent worldwide. Over the years, many innovative internet-based approaches have been utilized with variable success to quit tobacco. Though the effectiveness of internet-based and face-to-face interventions on quitting smoking are very well reported in the literature, due to limitation in methodology and limited sample size, it is required to integrate and analyze these studies' findings to reach a single conclusion. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the internet as an intervention approach versus face-to-face interaction on reducing tobacco use as control among adults.MethodsA systematic search was performed through various electronic databases such as Medline, PsychInfo, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ResearchGate, Google Scholar, and Academia. Reference lists of the eligible articles were also screened. Full-text articles were included as per eligibility criteria (PICO framework). No ethnicity restriction was applied.ResultsA total of 13 studies were selected for meta-analysis, with 3852 and 3908 participants in intervention and control groups respectively. Forest plot favours the intervention group at one month follow up for tobacco quitting (OR: 2.37, CI: 1.86-3.02, P-0.00001, I2 =0%), at three months (OR: 1.88, CI: 1.48-2.40, P-0.00001, I2 =42%) at six months (OR: 2.02, CI: 1.64-2.50, P-0.00001, I2 =38%) and at 1 year of follow-up (OR: 1.43, CI: 1.18-1.74, P-0.00001, I2 = 36%) comparing to control group. ConclusionInternet and web-based interventions are highly useful in tobacco quitting at one month, three months, six months, and one year of follow-up compared to face-to-face interaction or no intervention, although the level of evidence was moderate. Additionally, limited availability of trials in developing countries, arising need for research of internet use in developing countries to quit tobacco. Prospero Registration number- PROSPERO 2020 CRD42020214306

The Progression of the Tobacco Epidemic in India on the National and Regional Levels, 1998-2016

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rufi Shaikh ◽  
Fanny Janssen ◽  
Tobias Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Smokeless Tobacco ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Tobacco Consumption ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The North ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Tobacco Epidemic

Abstract Background: According to the smoking epidemic framework, societies undergo successive stages in which the prevalence of tobacco use first increases, and then declines. This pattern was has been extensively documented for developed countries, but evidence that it has occurred in low- and middle-income countries remains fragmented. We assessed the progression of the tobacco epidemic in India on the national and regional levels by gender, including trends in the consumption of smokeless tobacco, to provide a comprehensive overview of tobacco use in India and its states.Methods: We use information on current tobacco consumption among Indians aged 15-49 from three rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) (1998-99, 2005-06, 2015-16) to estimate the age-standardized smoking and smokeless tobacco prevalence across India and its states.Results: Age-standardized tobacco consumption prevalence in India increased between 1998-99 and 2005-06, and declined from 2005-06 to 2015-2016, simultaneously for men and women. There are substantial spatial differences in the progression of the tobacco epidemic in India. In the north-eastern states in particular, tobacco consumption prevalence remains higher than the national average, and is still increasing. Conclusions: Our results suggest that India and the majority of its states experienced a ‘compressed tobacco epidemic’ in which the prevalence of tobacco consumption increased and decreased simultaneously for women and men over a comparatively short period of time. Despite the overall progress in reducing tobacco use India has made, further lowering tobacco consumption remains a public health priority, as the prevalence of smoking and/or smokeless tobacco use remains high in a number of states. We therefore conclude that tobacco regulations should be expanded with the aim of reducing the overall health burden associated with tobacco consumption across India.

Telemedicine Adoption Opportunities and Challenges in the Developing World

2020 ◽  
pp. 167-193
Author(s):  
Khondker Mohammad Zobair ◽  
Louis Sanzogni ◽  
Kuldeep Sandhu ◽  
Md Jahirul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Influencing Factors ◽  
Peer Influence ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Patient Privacy ◽  
Technological Infrastructure ◽  
Use Of Services ◽  
Service Assurance

Mapping opportunities and challenges of telemedicine adoption in an emerging economy has always been presumptive due to the scarcity of empirical evidence. Only recently the potential influencing factors of both issues in the rural context of emerging economies (using Bangladesh as a cases study) were investigated. Analysis of existing literature identified seven broad categories of challenges (e.g., deficient organisational commitment, inadequate technological infrastructure, insufficient resource allocations, deficient service quality, clinicians demotivation, patients' dissatisfaction, and patients' distrust) and six broad categories of opportunities (e.g., service usefulness, service assurance, secured patient privacy, adequacy of services, peer influence on use of services, and environmental conditions) concerning telemedicine adoption. Their significance is outlined. These findings contribute to the literature by distinguishing significant factors, which can positively favour or deter telemedicine implementation in developing countries and similar settings.

scholarly journals One size doesn’t fit all: contouring and addressing social vitals in reversing tobacco epidemic in Punjab, India

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. e231890
Author(s):  
Garima Bhatt ◽  
Sonu Goel ◽  
Gagandeep Shergill
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Communicable Disease ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
North India ◽  
Sociocultural Factors ◽  
Behavioural Intervention ◽  
Specific Patient ◽  
Tobacco Epidemic

There are many tobacco users who wish to quit. In some cases, ostracism related to religious proscriptions serves as a barrier and prevents them from revealing their addiction status. Religion as an institution has an immense influence on human behaviour. It contributes to the cultural identity of individuals, moderating uniformity in their behaviour and social life. We describe a case from a province in Punjab in North India, where tobacco use is a ‘taboo’ due to the widely practised faith of Sikhism. The case illustrates how a doctoral thesis student, along with the healthcare providers at a non-communicable disease clinic, overcame the concealment of tobacco use of a patient with hypertension due to fear of social exclusion. The student assisted him in quitting tobacco use through a culturally specific, patient-centric, individualised, behavioural intervention using religion as a backdrop. This case study highlights the importance of recognising and appreciating the dynamics of sociocultural factors to develop a suitable and successful deaddiction strategy. This case elaborates how a simple ‘nudge’ of religious tenets-based counselling helps the tobacco addict transgress or tide over such barriers.

scholarly journals Household Waste Sorting Participation in Developing Countries—A Meta-Analysis

Recycling ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamran Rousta ◽  
Liu Zisen ◽  
Coralie Hellwig
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Household Waste ◽  
Management Schemes ◽  
Socio Demographic Factors ◽  
The Relationship

Given the increasing efforts at improving waste management in developing countries, this study aimed to analyze factors that influence participation in household waste sorting. It thereby is the first review that extends the published literature on this topic. A meta-analysis was conducted that analyzed twelve influencing factors. A moderate correlation was found for the most strongly influential factors—attitude, moral norm, subjective norm and perceived behavior control—which indicates that people’s perception of waste sorting is most influencing in prompting participation in household waste sorting in developing countries. The results of this meta-analysis indicate that knowledge, situational factors, such as physical conditions, and governmental incentives can influence participation in household waste sorting in developing countries but the relationship between those factors and other factors with high correlations should be studied further. Notably, socio-demographic factors have the weakest influence on the participation in waste sorting in developing countries despite a large body of research on such factors. It can be constructive to take the relationship across the identified factors and the participation in waste sorting into consideration when aiming to implement measures to increase the participation in waste management schemes through waste sorting. The outcome of this study may contribute to recommendations and policy suggestions regarding the promotion of sustainable waste management through household waste sorting in developing countries.

scholarly journals Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Novel Smoking Cessation App Designed for Individuals With Co-Occurring Tobacco Use Disorder and Serious Mental Illness

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1533-1542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Vilardaga ◽  
Javier Rizo ◽  
Paige E Palenski ◽  
Paolo Mannelli ◽  
Jason A Oliver ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Smoking Cessation Treatment ◽  
Tobacco Use Disorder ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Cessation Treatment ◽  
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Introduction High rates of tobacco use among people with serious mental illness (SMI), along with their unique needs, suggest the importance of developing tailored smoking cessation interventions for this group. Previous early-phase work empirically validated the design and content of Learn to Quit, a theory-based app designed for this population. Methods In a pilot randomized controlled trial, we compared the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Learn to Quit versus QuitGuide, an app designed for the general population. All participants received nicotine replacement therapy and technical assistance. Daily smokers with SMI (N = 62) participated in the trial with outcomes assessed at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16. Results Compared to QuitGuide, Learn to Quit participants had similar number of days of app use (34 vs. 32, p = .754), but larger number of app interactions (335 vs. 205; p = .001), longer durations of app use (4.24 hrs. vs. 2.14 hrs; p = .044), and higher usability scores (85 vs. 79, p = .046). At week 16, Learn to Quit led to greater reductions in cigarettes per day (12.3 vs. 5.9 for QuitGuide; p = 0.10). Thirty-day point prevalence abstinence was verified in 12% of Learn to Quit participants versus 3% of QuitGuide participants (odds ratio = 3.86, confidence interval = 0.41 to 36, p = .239). Changes in psychiatric symptoms and adverse events were not clinically significant between conditions. Conclusions This pilot trial provides strong evidence of Learn to Quit’s usability, feasibility, and safety. Preliminary evidence suggests the app may be efficacious. A randomized controlled efficacy trial is needed to test the app in a larger sample of smokers with SMI. Implications This study suggests that the Learn to Quit app is a feasible approach to deliver smoking cessation treatment in patients with co-occurring tobacco use disorder and SMI. This means that, if found efficacious, this technology could be used to deploy smoking cessation treatment to larger segments of this population, hence improving public health. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial should be conducted to examine the efficacy of this digital intervention.

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