Search Results (125)

Background: Health innovation education often lacks focus on local realities and practitioner-led approaches. An international Canada-Brazil academic partnership was developed to address this gap within Brazil’s Unified Health System. Objectives: This paper examines attendees’ perceptions of a short-term, binational educational intervention and identifies perceived gaps in innovation training within a resource-constrained health system. Design: A qualitative, pedagogically focused program evaluation of a short-term binational educational intervention, using participant reflections and post-course survey responses to examine perceived learning, applicability, and curricular gaps. Settings: Two academic and clinical sites in Vitória and Salvador, Brazil. Attendees: Fifty attendees (30 in Vitória, 20 in Salvador), comprising students, faculty, and health and social care professionals. Methods: The 30 h in-person course was delivered in late November (Vitória) and early December 2025 (Salvador) and addressed ‘wicked problems’ through value proposition development, design thinking, and prototyping. Facilitated by a Canadian faculty with English–Portuguese simultaneous translation. The course’s immediate evaluation used daily reflective exercises and a final participant survey. Results: Respondents’ reflections suggested a perceived reframing of innovation from a primarily technology-oriented concept toward a human-centered, context-responsive, and systems-oriented process. Respondents also identified areas requiring further curricular attention, including financial sustainability, implementation planning, and impact evaluation. Conclusions: Findings from this immediate post-course evaluation suggest that short-term, interprofessional innovation education may support perceived shifts in how participants understand health innovation. However, because the evaluation relied on self-reported, post-course qualitative data without pre/post or longitudinal measures, findings should be interpreted as perceived learning and exploratory curricular insight rather than demonstrated competency development or sustained implementation capacity. Full article

Young adults today are required to envision and plan for the future in a context marked by interconnected societal threats, such as climate change, geopolitical conflicts, and economic instability, giving rise to a condition of polycrisis. Understanding how these threats are perceived and their relationship with future-oriented psychological functioning is essential for promoting adaptive development during emerging adulthood. This study used a person-centered approach to identify different profiles of societal threat perception among university students and examine their links to social resources, future-oriented psychological resources, and well-being. The study involved a sample of 800 Italian university students. Latent profile analysis identified five distinct profiles. These profiles ranged from students who reported consistently low levels of perceived threat (Low Threat) to those characterized by elevated levels of threat across all domains (High Threat). Other profiles reflected specific concerns, such as heightened anxiety about climate change and war (Climate–War Concern), predominant financial threat concerns (Financially Focused Threat), and moderate threat perceptions combined with adaptive functioning (Moderate Threat). R3STEP analyses revealed that perceived social support and trust in institutions were significant predictors of profile membership. The lowest levels were observed among those with a High Threat profile. BCH analyses revealed significant differences in future orientation, meaning in life, and life satisfaction across profiles. Moderate Threat profile students reported the highest levels of future-oriented resources and well-being, whereas High Threat profile students reported the lowest. These findings suggest that university students differ in both the intensity of their societal threat perceptions and the configuration of these perceptions and their associated psychological resources. The results highlight the protective role of social and institutional resources, suggesting that adaptive functioning in times of global uncertainty depends less on the absence of concern and more on the capacity to maintain future-oriented psychological resources despite perceived threats. Full article

This article offers a conceptual overview and functional analysis of the author’s web-based application LolyDash, a tool for managing personal finances through structured dashboards for expenses, income, notes, and group fundraising. The main features of the system, its advantages over traditional financial tracking solutions, visual analytical tools, and categorization and planning mechanisms, and its integration capabilities via webhook are described. This article argues for the need for modern digital tools for financial literacy in the context of the growing complexity of personal financial management. This article examines the concept of a web-based financial diary that integrates functionalities for managing expenses, income, financial notes, and group payments within a single information system. The main components of the system, its advantages over traditional financial management methods, and the potential for future development through the integration of artificial intelligence are analyzed. Full article

This paper examines how behavioral intention, combined with risk tolerance, financial confidence, and self-control, relates to consumer credit usage. Inspired by the theory of planned behavior, which suggests that behavioral intention is the direct precursor to actual behavior, our study investigates how these financial personality traits moderate the relationship between intention and the uptake of consumer credit. Using a combination of survey and bank register data, we focus on the amount of outstanding balance on consumer credit as the objective measure of consumer credit behavior. The results show that higher risk tolerance and greater financial confidence both are associated with increased credit use among those with the intention to borrow, while self-control mitigates this relationship. We observe that gender differences in financial behavior are notable: men who report high confidence and an intention to use consumer credit tend to carry higher outstanding balance, whereas higher self-control in men is linked to lower credit use. Additionally, although strong behavioral intention and higher income both predict greater consumer credit use, self-control mitigates this association among high-income individuals. Our study adds to consumer credit research by revealing the complex interplay between behavioral intention, risk tolerance, financial confidence, and self-control in relation to actual consumer credit usage. Full article

Technical higher education in the Philippines is a government priority, as it equips learners with the technical knowledge and practical skills necessary to develop industry and technology-ready human capital. In parts of Mindanao, the Philippines, where socio-economic and technological challenges are significant, Industrial Technology Education (ITE) learners must be equipped with relevant, comprehensive knowledge of industry trends. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed in this research, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to provide a comprehensive analysis. Five hundred twenty-six learners participated in the survey, and six were selected for in-depth interviews. The findings highlight the significant impact of familial and peer support on fostering confidence, encouraging academic perseverance, and improving mental health. However, financial hardships and inadequate emotional support remain significant obstacles. The study emphasizes the importance of cultivating an inclusive campus atmosphere via awareness efforts, accessible services, and mentorship programs to guarantee fair educational opportunities. For this reason, the implementation of personalized education plans, flexible learning, digital access, academic and educational support, and an institutional support system is highly encouraged to address learners’ essential needs. The research findings also suggest integrating mentorship programs, adopting inclusive learning practices, developing an adaptable curriculum, and providing mental health support services for learners, particularly those with disabilities. By aligning the curriculum with industry specifications and standards and providing well-planned support frameworks, higher education institutions in Mindanao can produce graduates who are professionally qualified, highly skilled, well-mannered, and career-prepared, fully equipped to meet the demands of the dynamic workforce. Full article

Introduction: Musculoskeletal conditions impose a substantial economic burden on the United States (U.S.) healthcare system, but contemporary national estimates of condition-specific spending for common orthopaedic conditions remain limited. This study utilized the 2023 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to estimate the national prevalence, condition-specific expenditures, and payer distribution for treated knee injuries and shoulder disorders. Methods: Adults with treated knee injuries or shoulder disorders were identified using ICD-10-CM codes from the MEPS Medical Conditions File. Condition-specific expenditures were estimated by linking diagnoses to medical events and payments using the MEPS Condition–Event Link File. Expenditures were aggregated across inpatient, outpatient, office-based, emergency, home health, and prescribed medicine categories. Survey-weighted analyses were used to estimate national prevalence, mean expenditures, service-level spending patterns, and payer distributions. Survey-weighted Gamma generalized linear models with log link were used to examine patient characteristics associated with expenditures among the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population with positive condition-specific spending. Results: The analysis identified 2.55 million adults with treated knee injuries and 2.58 million adults with treated shoulder disorders. Mean annual condition-specific expenditures per person were higher for knee injuries ($10,552; 95% CI: $6128–$14,975) than for shoulder disorders ($4310; 95% CI: $3337–$5283). Knee injury expenditures were concentrated in inpatient and home health care, whereas shoulder disorder expenditures were concentrated in outpatient and office-based care. Private insurance, Medicare, out-of-pocket payments, and Worker’s Compensation each contributed to the financial burden, with payer distributions varying by condition. In adjusted models, fair/poor self-rated health and female sex were associated with higher knee injury expenditures, while no covariates were statistically significant for shoulder disorder expenditures. Conclusions: Treated knee injuries and shoulder disorders showed distinct condition-specific expenditure profiles across care settings and payer sources. These findings provide contemporary national benchmarks for orthopaedic spending and may support future research, utilization monitoring, and value-based reimbursement planning. Full article

There is growing interest in using AI for financial advice, yet fraud and related financial losses remain widespread. While previous research has examined fraud victimization in general, there has been less focus on the losses resulting from fraud. Additionally, there is a limited understanding of whether individuals’ willingness to use AI for financial advice is linked to these losses. This study utilizes data from the 2024 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) and is grounded in Routine Activity Theory and Bounded Rationality. It examines the relationship between the willingness to use AI for financial advice and the likelihood of experiencing loss due to fraud. Furthermore, the study examines the moderating effect of financial knowledge miscalibration (overconfidence). Results from multivariate logistic regression models indicate a statistically significant interaction between the willingness to use AI and financial knowledge miscalibration. Specifically, overconfidence was positively associated with the likelihood of experiencing loss due to fraud among individuals who were willing to use AI for financial advice, whereas this association was not observed among those who were not willing to use AI. These findings have important implications for financial professionals and stakeholders involved in preventing fraud. Full article

Credit risk management is critical in developing economies where high default rates threaten financial stability. This study compares traditional logistic regression (TLR) and Bayesian logistic regression (BLR) for predicting loan default using anonymized National Credit Regulator (NCR) data from 5000 South African loan borrowers (2018–2022). The NCR data included both bank and non-bank lenders. The findings indicate that the BLR model outperformed TLR, achieving an average precision of 0.94. Loan terms, inflation rates, and income bands of R5000–R10,000 and R20,000–R50,000 were associated with higher default risk, whereas higher credit scores and personal loan products were associated with lower default risk. Model performance improved when focusing on these predictors rather than all variables. Using a 0.5 probability threshold, BLR classified 94.5% of borrowers as high risk. Findings highlight the practical value of BLR for identifying key predictors and improving borrower risk classification. These insights can inform targeted strategies such as enhanced screening for long-term loans, monitoring during inflationary periods, and tailored repayment plans for vulnerable income groups, supporting responsible lending and portfolio stability. Full article

Background/Objectives: Assessing population healthcare needs is essential for effective primary health care (PHC) planning; however, existing approaches often rely on biomedical or service-centered frameworks (i.e., approaches focusing on utilization patterns, clinical indicators, and provider performance metrics) that may not adequately capture the multidimensional and context-dependent nature of health needs. This study aimed to develop and validate the Primary Care Needs Assessment (PCNA) questionnaire, a participatory, multidimensional, and context-sensitive instrument for assessing perceived unmet healthcare needs and contextual determinants of health in community-based PHC settings. Methods: A sequential mixed-methods design was employed. In the qualitative phase, focus groups with PHC professionals and semi-structured interviews with community members informed item generation. The resulting questionnaire was administered to a sample of 817 participants recruited from community and primary care settings. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on a subsample (n = 520), followed by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on an independent subsample (n = 297). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Results: EFA identified a 10-factor structure explaining 55.05% of the variance. CFA supported a refined 9-factor model with good fit indices (χ²/df = 1.675, RMSEA = 0.048, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.90, SRMR = 0.06). The instrument demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency (α = 0.76). Findings also highlighted unmet needs related to mental health, access to specialized services, and structural barriers (e.g., geographic distance, financial cost, limited service availability, and organizational constraints in accessing care), underscoring the multidimensional nature of health needs. Conclusions: The PCNA is a valid and reliable instrument that captures the complex interplay of individual, social, and contextual factors shaping health needs in PHC. By integrating community perspectives with psychometric validation, it provides a practical tool for supporting evidence-informed planning and more responsive, person-centered PHC systems (i.e., systems that adapt service provision to community-identified priorities and evolving population needs). Full article

Thailand is facing a rapidly aging society, raising concerns about how retiring workers will maintain their quality of life. Insured persons in the social security system—especially voluntary members under Section 40 of the Social Security Act B.E. 2533 (1990), who are often informal workers—frequently lack formal retirement plans, underscoring the need for interventions that address financial security and subjective well-being (SWB) in later life. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a retirement planning program designed to enhance subjective well-being and improve the quality of life for pre-retirees in Songkhla Province. A Research and Development (R&D) design was employed in four phases. Phase 1 (R1) involved a needs assessment: survey data from 500 insured individuals (ages 40–60) were collected to identify gaps between current and desired retirement preparedness. Phase 2 (D1) utilized the needs assessment results and theoretical frameworks to design a Subjective Well-being Retirement Planning Program, encompassing financial, health, and psychosocial components. Content-relevance experts validated the draft program. Phase 3 (R2) involved implementing the program with 15 volunteer participants over four weekly workshops (each 3 h long) and evaluating its short-term pilot outcomes using pretest-posttest measures of subjective well-being. Phase 4 (D2) refined the program based on evaluation findings and expert feedback. Results indicated that following participation in the program, participants’ overall subjective well-being and all sub-dimensions (life satisfaction, positive and negative affect balance, sense of meaning, social connectedness, security, and health) were significantly higher than before (p < 0.001). Additionally, the proportion of participants classified as inadequately prepared for retirement (high-risk due to low planning) decreased markedly, suggesting increased readiness within the pilot group. Expert evaluations of the program design reflected a high content validity index and strong agreement on the program’s accuracy, appropriateness, and usefulness for the target group. In conclusion, the developed retirement planning program was associated with short-term improvements in subjective well-being and quality-of-life indicators among insured pre-retirees. This theory-informed program, developed through an R&D process, offers a model for supporting aging workers in the social security system, with implications for policymakers and practitioners seeking to promote healthy, happy, and secure retirements in an aging society. Full article

The concentration of tourist flows along short urban links caused by cruise stops in medium-sized Mediterranean ports exacerbates traffic and localized environmental externalities. This study evaluates the willingness to pay (WTP) of cruise passengers for an electric tram that would connect the Gaženica Port with Zadar’s historic center, an intervention designed to cut travel time and reduce on-street congestion and emissions. Over the course of two seasons, a two-wave, two-site, in-person survey was conducted at the port and in the city center. The instrument adopts a double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) contingent valuation design with randomized starting bids that were calibrated using a pre-test that benchmarked prevailing transport pricing. Primary WTP estimates are obtained from a binary choice model with socio-demographic and environmental covariates; whereby inference relies on cluster-robust errors. Robustness is assessed through three complementary checks that do not require additional data: (i) a bivariate specification to account for within-respondent correlation between first and follow-up bids; (ii) Turnbull nonparametric bounds for the interval-censored WTP distribution; and (iii) starting-point tests using split-sample estimation and bid-set indicators. A spike adjustment based on “no–no at the lowest bid” responses is explored where appropriate. Beyond its methodological contribution, this research advances the sustainable tourism development discourse by quantifying visitors’ financial support for low-emission urban mobility infrastructure that mitigates environmental stresses while preserving residential life quality. The results integrate cruise tourist management with the more general goals of resilient and sustainable urban destinations by offering a decision-ready value input for port-city mobility planning in historic Mediterranean centers. Full article

Goal-based financial management and planning for future financial needs is a critical element for individuals’ wellbeing in the modern world. Lacking the ability to identify key financial needs may negatively affect one’s standard of living and lead to adverse consequences. Like other aspects of individuals’ lives, culture plays an important role in shaping attitudes and, consequently, financial planning practices. In this respect, the literature lacks studies from developing countries and south-east Asian cultures. This study aims to address this gap by undertaking an exploratory investigation of the personal financial practices of the emerging middle class in Bangladesh. Using surveys and interviews, we find that immediate financial needs and family financial wellbeing are central to the financial concerns of the middle class. We found previous financial hardship, along with perceived wealth, to drive savings and other financial planning practices. However, findings also suggest poor knowledge of and lack of trust in financial products and services which may jeopardize financial inclusion. Orchestrated efforts from professionals, advocacy groups, and regulators are needed to build trust in the financial system and facilitate financial inclusion—a key component for economic growth and societal advancement in a developing country such as Bangladesh. Full article

Research on financial risk tolerance and risk-taking increasingly incorporates personality traits into predictive and descriptive models of risk-taking behavior; however, intercorrelations among traits can obscure the unique contributions of individual traits. This is known as the suppressor effect. This study employed a two-stage analytic framework to test and adjust for suppressor effects across the Big Five personality dimensions in describing financial risk tolerance. In Stage 1, correlation and OLS regression analyses identified suppression patterns, revealing that the explanatory validity of some factors was distorted by shared variance. In Stage 2, suppression-adjusted trait estimates were used to reassess their unique association with financial risk-taking mediated through financial risk tolerance. Results indicate that Openness to Experience and Extraversion are the strongest descriptors of financial risk-taking once suppressor effects are controlled. At the same time, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness contribute modestly and context-dependently to descriptions of financial risk-taking. These findings demonstrate that ignoring suppression effects can lead to mischaracterizing the role of personality in financial decision-making. This study shows that more precise estimates of trait influences can improve theoretical models of investor behavior and enhance the delivery of financial advice and education. Full article

The accelerating transformation of the tourism and hospitality industry requires higher education institutions to equip graduates with market-aligned competencies, yet the effectiveness of hospitality education programs across national contexts remains underexplored. This study examines the alignment between students’ perceived competencies and curricular emphasis in tourism and hospitality education in South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Data were collected from 650 final-year undergraduate students using a structured questionnaire based on the Student Competency Self Evaluation Scale (SCSES). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified five core competency domains: Financial Management, Strategic Planning, Leadership, Communication, and Cultural Awareness. Curriculum structures were examined by classifying institutional course offerings into standardized competency clusters. The findings show that students in Singapore reported the highest levels of self-perceived competencies, particularly in financial management and strategic planning, while South Korean students reported the lowest across all domains. Curriculum analysis indicates that programs in South Korea emphasize operational training, those in Singapore focus on managerial and interdisciplinary competencies, and those in Hong Kong prioritize business management, with limited emphasis on personal and soft skills. These findings highlight gaps in competency alignment and provide practical implications for curriculum enhancement, particularly in South Korean tourism and hospitality education programs. Full article

This study investigates the antecedents of consumers’ willingness to pay more for sustainable (green) events, applying the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in the context of Serbia, a developing non-Western economy. Using survey data from event attendees, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to identify empirically supported dimensions underlying the original TPB-related constructs. Four factors emerged: Integrated Behavioral Orientation toward Green Events, Preferences for Green Events, Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control, and Attitudes toward Green Events. Regression analyses show that Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control and Preferences for Green Events are the strongest predictors of willingness to pay more, while Integrated Behavioral Orientation has a weaker but significant effect. In contrast, Attitudes toward Green Events did not significantly influence willingness to pay, suggesting that positive attitudes alone are insufficient without supportive social norms, perceived control, or strong personal preferences. These findings also highlight the importance of social influence, perceived control, and individual preferences in shaping consumers’ financial support for green events. The study provides an empirically grounded framework for understanding willingness to pay in green event contexts beyond Western settings and offers practical guidance for organizers seeking to enhance participation and investment in sustainable practices. Full article