Public Needs for Wearable Particulate Matter Devices and Their Influencing Factors

Recently, increasing numbers of people have realized the harm that particulate matter (PM) causes to health, especially those with a diameter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5). With the increasing popularity of wearable devices in recent years, it is believed that wearable technology can contribute feasible solutions to prevent health hazards caused by PM2.5. In order to better understand the public’s needs regarding wearable devices, this study aimed to determine what kinds of PM2.5 wearable devices were needed by the public and the factors that may influence these needs. An online survey was conducted in the Beijing metropolitan area of China of a total of 894 subjects. The results showed that the public’s overall need for wearable PM2.5 purifiers was higher than for wearable PM2.5 trackers. The public’s needs for wearable breathing-zone PM2.5 devices were significantly higher than for any other type, indicating that people care about the quality of the air they actually breathe. It was also found that education, income level, and attitude toward PM2.5 positively affected their needs for wearable devices. In contrast, age had a negative influence on their needs. The results of this study are expected to serve as a valuable reference for related academic and industrial research.

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Environmental entrepreneurship and public policy: the case of the Programa Emprender para la Vida (Entrepreneurship for Life Program)

Cuadernos de Administración ◽

10.25100/cdea.v34i61.6084 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (61) ◽

Author(s):

Adriana María Arroyave Puerta ◽

Flor Ángela Marulanda Valencia

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Public Policy ◽

Environmental Protection ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Public Policies ◽

The Public ◽

Colombian Government ◽

Depth Interviews

Nowadays, several mega-trends capture the attention of governments, academia and the public in general given their implications for the quality of life and the development of nations. This work deals with two of them: entrepreneurship and environmental protection, as a result of research aimed at analyzing the processes, actors and results of the “Entrepreneurship for Life” Program led by the Valle de Aburrá Metropolitan Area, executed during the period from 2012 to 2015, in order to contribute to the improvement of public policies on eco-entrepreneurship. The methodology of the Synergy System1, applied by the Colombian Government, was used to appraise public policies. The required information was collected through in-depth interviews with the creator of the program, the entrepreneurs who benefited from it, officials of the entities involved and experts. Then, it was complemented by the analysis of documents such as minutes, reports and other sources. Among other results, it was evident that, although the public policy on environmental entrepreneurship is still incipient, the evaluated Program met the objectives for which it was created.

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User Perception towards Ride hail Service: A case of Nagpur city, India

European Transport/Trasporti Europei ◽

10.48295/et.2021.84.2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

B. Raghuram Kadali

Keyword(s):

Public Transport ◽

Public Transportation ◽

Online Survey ◽

University Campus ◽

User Perception ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Transportation Services ◽

The Public ◽

Shared Service

In recent times, there is an increase in the utilization of the ride-hail service (viz., mobile application-based shared service) by the younger generation due to tremendous changes in technology, extensive usage of smartphones, and perceived convenience during travelling. For evaluating ride-hail service further, it is necessary to understand the user perception towards the ride-hail service and public transportation system (viz., bus in this case) to efficiently plan the public transportation services. Hence, the present study analyzes user perception while making trips, using ride-hail service and public transport buses. A long stretch of 3.8 km has been selected in the Nagpur city for the study and the stretch attracts a good number of trips by ride-hailing and public transportation. To perform the analysis, a survey has been conducted in the stretch which includes an online survey (viz., based on the Google form) and an offline survey (viz., at selected bus stops on the route between university campus and shopping complex). A binary logit model has been developed to understand the user perception towards ride-hail service and to identify the significant contributing factors towards the preference of the ride-hail service over the public transport bus. From the model results, it has been noted that age, accessibility, waiting time, travel time, income, and travel cost of the trip are the most significant contributing factors that affect user decision for availing the ride-hail service. It has been concluded from the study that the inferences obtained would be useful in the direction of developing warrants for transport planners and policymakers to improve the service quality of public transport buses (viz., frequency and routes) in cities especially in the Indian context.

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Air quality analysis for a metropolitan area in Romania during the first half of 2021

MATEC Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/matecconf/202235400066 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 354 ◽

pp. 00066

Author(s):

Clementina Sabina Moldovan ◽

Liana-Simona Sbîrnă ◽

Sebastian Sbîrnă

Keyword(s):

European Union ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Air Quality ◽

Metropolitan Area ◽

Quality Analysis ◽

The European Union ◽

Suspended Particulate ◽

Air Quality Monitoring Stations ◽

Matter Concentration

This paper aims to interpret and to use within a statistical analysis the concentration profiles of the main air pollutants – i.e., nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and suspended particulate matter (PM10) – results recorded during the first half of 2021 by two air quality monitoring stations in Craiova, which is an important metropolitan area in Southern Romania. Another goal of the paper is finding the best numerical diffusion model to fit the recorded values for PM10, as this pollutant seems to be the major problem, because its daily average is often higher than the European Union threshold, meaning that imperative measures have to be taken for reducing particulate matter concentration in Craiova (like in other major Romanian metropolitan areas), in order for Romania to get the exoneration regarding air pollution from the European Union and, of course, for its citizens to improve the quality of their lives.

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Living Well with Pollution? The Impact of the Concentration of PM2.5 on the Quality of Life of Patients with Asthma

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16142502 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (14) ◽

pp. 2502 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Monika Ścibor ◽

Andrzej Galbarczyk ◽

Grazyna Jasienska

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Air Pollution ◽

Particulate Matter ◽

Substantial Reduction ◽

Negative Influence ◽

Life Questionnaire ◽

Asthma Patients ◽

Air Quality Monitoring Stations ◽

The Impact

While the negative influence of environmental pollution on the respiratory system is well established, especially for people with bronchial hyper-reactivity, the impact of particulate matter on quality of life in asthma patients is not well understood. Three hundred adult asthma patients were recruited for a study; for each patient, the daily concentrations of particulate matter of 2.5 µm or less in diameter (PM2.5) were recorded from air quality monitoring stations. The study was conducted over two weeks. After two weeks, the patients filled out the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), evaluating the quality of their lives throughout the monitored period. Patients exposed to a higher concentration of PM2.5 had significantly lower AQLQ scores. Every 10 µg/m3 of an increase in the concentration of PM2.5 resulted in a decrease of the AQLQ score by 0.16. All domains of quality of life (symptoms, activity limitations, emotional functioning, and environmental stimuli) assessed in the questionnaire were negatively affected by PM2.5. These findings provide an important argument in favor of educating physicians and patients and raising awareness about the detrimental health effects of air pollution. Improving the quality of life of people with asthma requires an immediate and substantial reduction of air pollution.

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Psychedelic Experiences During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From an International Online Survey

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.732028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Ricarda Evens ◽

Simon Reiche ◽

Roman M. Marek ◽

Daa Un Moon ◽

Rosa Elisa Groß ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Virus Disease ◽

Private Life ◽

Control Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Public And Private ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The Public ◽

Related Stress

Introduction: The current corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a serious global health crisis that has affected large parts of the public and private life worldwide, including the use of psychoactive substances. In this study, we investigated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of serotonergic psychedelics, i.e., the settings in which people use psychedelics, the motives of usage, and the subjective quality of psychedelic experiences.Methods: The study was part of an international, cross-sectional, internet-based survey (N = 5,049) available in five languages (English, German, Spanish, Italian, and Korean) carried out during the early phase of the pandemic from April to August 2020. Participants were asked to retrospectively rate settings and motives of psychedelic substance use before the pandemic and in the last 4 weeks during the pandemic, as well as changes in psychedelic experiences.Results: Of n = 1,375 participants that reported the use psychedelics in 2019 or 2020, n = 642 (46.6%) also took psychedelics during the pandemic. During the pandemic, participants used psychedelics significantly less often in settings that were outside their home. Top motives to use psychedelics were comparable before and during the pandemic, but participants consumed less out of curiosity, to celebrate, or because friends took it, and more out of boredom. An increase in positively connoted, often pro-social experiences was observed. Two thirds of participants who used psychedelics during the pandemic claimed that psychedelics had helped them to deal better with the corona pandemic at least slightly.Discussion: Changes in setting and motives were mostly in line with restrictions caused by control measures to contain the spread of the virus. The unexpected increase in positively connoted experiences possibly reflects a favorable interaction of environmental macro- and individual micro-contexts during the pandemic (e.g., by reducing the use in more uncontrolled recreational settings or by encouraging a strong self-selection of substance users due to the expectation of “bad trips”). Increased pro-social feelings under psychedelics might reflect a desire for social interactions in times of social distancing and pandemic-related stress and anxiety.

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Using Internet Survey to Evaluate the Effects of E-Government

Digital Democracy ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-1740-7.ch033 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 670-683

Author(s):

Tong-yi Huang ◽

Chung-Pin Lee ◽

Naiyi Hsiao

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Online Survey ◽

Government Agency ◽

Internet Survey ◽

Government Performance ◽

The Public ◽

On Line ◽

Line Survey ◽

Sensitive Issues

This chapter examines the case of an online survey regarding the assessment of the tax return filing system in Taiwan. The aim is to illustrate the strengths and limitations of utilizing on-line surveys to evaluate the performance of e-government. Based on our findings, we propose suggestions pertaining to increasing the quality of the survey as well as how to collaborate with a government agency while conducting a survey concerning sensitive issues. This is pioneering, and perhaps is the first attempt to address the methodological and administrative issues of an on-line survey in collaboration with the public sector. We invite and encourage future efforts to confront such issues, to advance and enrich methodological discussions, and to make online survey a useful tool for evaluating government performance not only with regard to e-government effects but also on other programs.

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Using Internet Survey to Evaluate the Effects of E-Government

Electronic Governance and Cross-Boundary Collaboration ◽

10.4018/978-1-60960-753-1.ch010 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 184-197

Author(s):

Tong-yi Huang ◽

Chung-Pin Lee ◽

Naiyi Hsiao

Keyword(s):

Public Sector ◽

Online Survey ◽

Government Agency ◽

Internet Survey ◽

Government Performance ◽

The Public ◽

On Line ◽

Line Survey ◽

Sensitive Issues

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OP80 Impact Of Patient Group Participation At Scottish Medicines Consortium Committee Meetings

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care ◽

10.1017/s0266462319001363 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (S1) ◽

pp. 20-20

Author(s):

Jennifer Dickson ◽

Lindsay Lockhart ◽

Louise Taylor ◽

Jackie McCormack ◽

Laura Walker

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Patient Group ◽

Patient Engagement ◽

Online Survey ◽

Public Involvement ◽

The Public ◽

Group Participation ◽

Emerging Themes ◽

The Impact

IntroductionThe Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) encourages patient group (PG) representatives to participate in the decision-making committee meetings, answering questions from committee members and providing points of clarity throughout discussions if required. In a continuous improvement approach the process and the participant experience is continually evaluated to monitor impact and emerging themes.MethodsThe interactions between committee members and PG representatives are recorded in writing by the public involvement team to monitor the questions or points of clarity raised. These interactions were analyzed using thematic analysis to look for emerging themes. Following the meeting, PG representatives are invited to complete an online survey on their experience of working with SMC.ResultsFrom July 2017 to October 2018, 36 PG representatives have attended committee meetings for the discussion of their submission. Committee members asked 17 PG representatives to contribute. Key themes that have emerged to date include insight into the impact of living with the condition on quality of life and how a new medicine may affect this. Survey feedback has been positive with participants reporting that patient engagement has been strengthened, and that the patient voice is heard, valued and supports committee members in making fully informed decisions. PG representatives expressed a willingness to participate again. Feedback also highlighted that the preparatory support offered to PG representatives by the public involvement team is highly valued.ConclusionsPatient group participation in committee meetings has been received positively by PG representatives. They report that discussions relating to quality of life impact of medicines on patients and carers better reflect the lived experience, enriching committee's deliberations. This demonstrates SMCs commitment to openness and transparency and has strengthened patient engagement in our processes.

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Development and piloting of a survey to estimate the frequency and nature of potentially harmful preventable problems in primary care from a UK patient’s perspective

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017786 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. e017786 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Susan J Stocks ◽

Ailsa Donnelly ◽

Aneez Esmail ◽

Joanne Beresford ◽

Carolyn Gamble ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

Online Survey ◽

Population Level ◽

Patient Survey ◽

Healthcare Sector ◽

The Public ◽

Patient’S Perspective ◽

Survey Quality ◽

The Uk

ObjectivesTo design and pilot a survey to be used at the population level to estimate the frequency of patient-perceived potentially harmful preventable problems occurring in UK primary care. To explore the nature of the problems, patient-suggested strategies for prevention and opinions of clinicians and the public regarding the potential for harm.DesignA survey was codesigned by three members of the public and one researcher and piloted through public and patient involvement and engagement networks.SettingSelf-selected sample of the UK population.Participants977 members of the public accessed the online survey during October and November 2015.Primary outcome measuresRespondent feedback about the ease of completion of the survey, quality of responses in terms of review by clinicians and members of the public, preliminary estimates of the frequency and nature of patient-perceived potentially harmful problems occurring in the last 12 months.Results638 (65%) members of the public completed the survey and few respondents reported any difficulty in understanding or completing the survey. 132 (21%) respondents reported experiencing a potentially harmful preventable problem during the past 12 months and 108 (82%) of these respondents provided a description that was adequate for at least one clinician to form an opinion about the potentially harmful problem. Respondents were older than the UK generally, more likely to work or volunteer in the healthcare sector and tended to use primary care more frequently but their confidence and trust in their own general practitioner (GP) was similar to that of the UK population as measured by the annual English GP patient survey.ConclusionsThe survey was acceptable to patients and mostly provided data of sufficient quality for review by clinicians and members of the public. It is now ready to use at a population level to estimate the frequency and nature of potentially harmful preventable problems in primary care from a patient’s perspective.

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Assessments of User Comments With “Alternative Views” as a Function of Media Trust

Journal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications ◽

10.1027/1864-1105/a000287 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Marlene Kunst

Keyword(s):

Online Discussions ◽

Future Research ◽

Political Issues ◽

Argument Quality ◽

The Public ◽

Mainstream Media ◽

User Comments ◽

Media Trust ◽

Heuristic Information Processing

Abstract. Comments sections under news articles have become popular spaces for audience members to oppose the mainstream media’s perspective on political issues by expressing alternative views. This kind of challenge to mainstream discourses is a necessary element of proper deliberation. However, due to heuristic information processing and the public concern about disinformation online, readers of comments sections may be inherently skeptical about user comments that counter the views of mainstream media. Consequently, commenters with alternative views may participate in discussions from a position of disadvantage because their contributions are scrutinized particularly critically. Nevertheless, this effect has hitherto not been empirically established. To address this gap, a multifactorial, between-subjects experimental study ( N = 166) was conducted that investigated how participants assess the credibility and argument quality of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. The findings revealed that media-dissonant user comments are, indeed, disadvantaged in online discussions, as they are assessed as less credible and more poorly argued than media-congruent user comments. Moreover, the findings showed that the higher the participants’ level of media trust, the worse the assessment of media-dissonant user comments relative to media-congruent user comments. Normative implications and avenues for future research are discussed.

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