Background: International research has shown that socioeconomically disadvantaged groups experience significantly higher mortality and morbidity rates than other groups. Both cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes are major contributors to Australia's burden of disease, and individuals from lower socioeconomic groups are more likely to be affected by both, and to have worse prognoses and outcomes. There is substantial research evidence that a range of preventive activities can reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions. Research in countries with good access to primary health care services has demonstrated that socioeconomically disadvantaged groups tend to have higher levels of medical consultations, but make less use of preventive care and screening services. This fact contributes to their poorer health outcomes, as diagnosis will typically occur later than for more advantaged individuals, thus leading to a poorer prognosis. However, to date, there has been little research on the differential utilisation of preventive health services for CVD and diabetes by different socioeconomic groups in Australia. To understand socioeconomic influences on the use of preventive health services, a comprehensive review of the literature of determinants of health service utilisation was conducted and a number of explanations for this relationship considered. It was proposed that the following factors are likely to be important in this relationship: differences in the perception of the availability of, and accessibility to health care, attitudes and beliefs toward preventive health care, having a regular source of care, perception of interpersonal care from general practitioners, and social support. A number of theoretical models were also reviewed; in particular, the Andersen Behavioural Model of Health Service Research Utilisation. Aims: This doctoral research program has described the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and utilisation of preventive health services in relation to CVD and diabetes. It aims to improve the understanding of the determinants of uptake and utilisation of preventive health services in general practice by different socioeconomic groups in Australia. Methods: The study was conducted in Brisbane Australia, in 2004, using a cross-sectional design and a self-administered mailed survey for data collection. A sample of adults aged 25-64 years was selected randomly from the Brisbane Electoral Roll. A conceptual model incorporating a range of relevant socio-demographic, risk-factor and behavioural variables in the relationship between SEP and GP-based use of preventive health services was used to develop a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was pilot-tested and then reviewed by a panel of international experts. A new self-administered questionnaire, the Health Service Utilisation Questionnaire (HSUQ), was developed. It included 79 items: 12 socio-demographic items; 10 items assessing health status, disease conditions and smoking status; 20 items assessing use of health services; and 37 items assessing the factors that might affect use of health services utilisation. The HSUQ was then mailed to 800 randomly selected survey participants. The survey response rate was 65.6 per cent. After exclusion of those patients with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, the final sample size was 381, consisting of 155 males and 226 females. Socioeconomic indicators were individual education level and family income. Blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood glucose check-ups by general practitioners (GPs) were used as the major outcome variables. Nine scales and two dichotomous variables that measure those potential factors were derived following Principal Component Analysis and reliability testing. The data were analysed separately by gender, and adjusted for age and each of the socioeconomic indicators. Statistical description, bivariate analysis and multivariable modelling in SPSS were applied for the data analysis. Results: The survey results were suggestive of socioeconomically disadvantaged people being less likely than more advantaged people to utilise preventive health services for CVD and diabetes. For males, the low socioeconomic groups recorded the least use of preventive health services among the three education and income groups, including blood cholesterol and blood glucose check-ups, while the high socioeconomic group recorded the greatest use of preventive health services. There was no apparent relationship between education level and blood pressure check-up, while individuals from low-income families were less likely to go for a blood pressure check-up. For females, most of the results suggested that the low socioeconomic groups were less likely than the high socioeconomic groups to have blood cholesterol and blood glucose check-ups. However, this was not the case for blood pressure check-ups. The results showed that the low and middle socioeconomic groups were more likely than the high socioeconomic groups to have BP check-ups. However, the low socioeconomic groups were still less likely than the middle socioeconomic groups to have a blood pressure check-up. Overall, there was a similar pattern between education and income and the use of GP-based preventive health services among both males and females. The findings from the examination of the mediating factors between SEP and the GP-based use of preventive health services suggested that socioeconomically disadvantaged adults (both low level of education and low income) are more concerned about transport and travel time to health care, and accessibility to health care in terms of finding a GP who bulk bills, the cost of seeing a GP and having a choice of GP. They are also less likely to have a regular place of care and social support. These potential factors are likely to result in a lesser use of preventive health services than their high-SEP counterparts. In addition, the findings also suggested that respondents with a low level of education have less-positive attitudes towards health care, and that those from low-income families do not have a regular care provider and are less likely to visit their GP for a preventive check-up in relation to CVD and diabetes in Australia. Conclusions: Strategies for reducing socioeconomic health inequalities are partly associated with changing social and economic policies, empowering individuals, strengthening social and family networks, and improving the equity of the health care system. Strategies have been recommended for implementation in general practice that are directed at targeting the needs of disadvantaged groups; for example, providing longer consultation time and actively offering information on preventive care. Implementation of health promotion programs is needed in disadvantaged areas to keep the community informed about the availability of health services and to make health services more accessible. The health care system needs to be geographically accessible through improvements to the transport system. In addition, improving access to a regular source of primary health care is likely to be an important step in encouraging low-SEP individuals to use preventive health services.

A Thesis submitted to The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Medicine. / As research into the treatment of cancers improves patient’s chances for survival, the number of cancer survivors continues to increase. These patients are often treated with chemotherapy and radiation regimens that can increase their risk for cancers and other complications such as heart disease later on. Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma tend to be younger than patients with other cancers. Current treatment regimens lead to cures in many Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients with many long term survivors. However, these treatments place survivors at risk for numerous complications, most importantly other cancers and heart disease. Organizations such as the American Cancer Society recommend regular screening and surveillance by a patient’s doctor to detect these potential complications. To assess the factors that affect a patient’s follow‐up care we sent a survey to 365 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivors in Arizona and asked them about their specific follow‐up care. The survivors were identified using the Arizona Cancer registry, and 49 (13.4%) responded to our survey. However, of the 365 letter invitations that were sent out, 118 were returned undeliverable leading to a corrected response rate of 19.8%. Of the respondents 93% reported they were getting follow up care. We also looked at patient satisfaction with their care as a second outcome, 34 (72.3%) of the patients stated that they were strongly satisfied with their follow‐ up care. In order to assess physician‐patient communication, we asked patients if they had received a written follow‐up care plan. Of the respondents to this question, 14 (29.7%) noted that they had received a written follow up care plan. These two outcomes were stratified to various demographic factors (age, gender, education status, etc.) to determine if any of these caused a statistically significant difference in a patient’s satisfaction or whether or not they had received a written follow‐up plan. Due to the low number of responders, no statistically significant difference was found. Future studies are needed to further determine whether or not these sorts of demographic factors play a significant role but we believe studies like this are important as cancer survivorship continues to increase.

Using the right planting spots when planting can provide a lot of advantages forthe plant more nutrients, less competition and redused risk of damage from pineweevil. In this study comparisons have been made between quality follow upsfor not approved and approved plantings made by SCA in the distrikt ofÅngermanland. Few significant differences were found but not approvedplantings had more opportunitis for improvement than approved plantings. Moreplantings vere not approved on moist sites.

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Entrepreneurship is part of the American dream; about 10% of the US work force owns a small business. In a stable economy owners that are focused on product and market development see continuous growth and expansion; however in turbulent economic times businesses are forced to focus on their competitive advantages. For small enterprises, the most valuable asset is the human capital of the firm; nonetheless many start-up founders tend to overlook the importance of administrative issues like human resource management (HRM). This report shall discuss how founders initially approach the employment relations in the start-up, and what effects their choices have in the long run on the business performance. / text

Officially and unofficially, Taiwan’s Global Private Banking business has established its significant market share in the region for around 20 years. It is no doubt that Taiwan is a very important market for international private banking industry. The rapid changing economical and political environments have spawned the demands of Taiwan rooted high net worth individuals for global financial solutions. The study focused on comparing the core marketing competencies of three European players ranging from big market dominator, emerging competitive player and a new entrant. The analysis framework is based on 4C model which is a core avenue to explore clients’ fears, needs, explicit and hidden expectations. 4C model sensitively unveils the tangible and intangible elements that hinder the efficiency of marketing success and provides direct and effective solutions to bankers to differentiate themselves in the fierce contention. The study raised the importance of priority for banks to the development of core competencies in increasing clients’ overt utility and abilities to hold-up clients. These are contemporary and trendy driving forces to PB bankers’ success. The study concluded with recommending the main differentiators from three perspectives – quality of marketers, innovative financial architectures and dynamic business models. The integration of well-established mechanisms from respective dimension will equip PB bankers’ distinguished competitiveness in managing ever-changing challenges and seizing the opportunities from this promising market.

<p> </p><p>sonami AG is a company that is located in the Principality of Liechtenstein. It was founded in 2007. Since then it didn’t gain many customers and it is questionable how long the?company will be able to survive with having that few customers. In order to get rid of the current situation and to achieve a sustainable expansion strategy in the long run sonami asked us for help. The question thus is; how would an international expansion strategy look like.</p><p>In order to answer this question a case study approach was used. Four successful micro companies were interviewed and asked about their international strategy and their recommendations for expanding abroad.</p><p>In addition internationalization literature has been reviewed. Furthermore the concept of strategy, strategic planning and strategic management has been discussed.In the end a framework for sonami was developed. Different approaches, mixed with different recommendations and insights of the case studies were used to develop it.</p><p>The result is that sonami has major problems internally, which should be solved before entering any international path. Our developed framework names several pre‐requisites that need to be fulfilled before moving on to the next step. We have tried to generate a deliberate strategy for sonami. We also recommended sonami to take advantage of opportunities given. This would however mean that sonami would then follow an emergent strategy.??</p><p> </p>

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A comparative study was made of the effects of varied time intervals of rest between warm-up and performance in the 440-yard dash by students in selected physical education classes at North Texas State University during the spring semester of 1967. This study was made to determine if the length of a rest interval after cessation of warm-up activity has any significant effect upon the subsequent performance in a 440-yard dash, and to determine if any length of rest interval facilitates performance in a 440-yard dash.