Includes tables and graphs. Includes bibliographic references : p 160-168.

<p>This study examines in some depth the influences of marketing mix, social factors, emergence of the metrosexual, evolution of femininity and masculinity, self-esteem and customer decision making on the male consumer behavior in purchasing skin care products in Sweden, particular in Karlstad. In do so, the theories of masculinity and femininity, customer behavior theory, customer decision making’s theory, theory of metrosexual and theory of the four Ps in marketing mix strategy are employed as a theoretical framework and also adapted with theory of the self esteem involvement.</p><p>It also endeavors to find out the reasonable impacts of perception on the relationship between variables and consumer behaviors. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to men who are in the age range between 15-45 years old and living in Karlstad, Sweden. The total sample consists of 94 respondents. Further, the returned questionnaires were analyzed by using factor analysis, correlation and path analysis in SPSS version 16.0.</p><p>The results of the study indicated that the numbers of ‘men who use skin care products’ and ‘who do not use’ is not so much different. Most of male customers who using skin care products reveal that, the main reasons behind their using skin care products are for improving skin, personal care, attractiveness and self confident orderly. As a result, principally men’s skin care products purchasing obtain the effects of the interaction between their personal demographics and attitude, the emergence of metrosexual and marketing mix (especially quality and attribute of products, price, product’s ingredient, product brand and package of products). In contrast with men who do not use skin care products, there are two main reasons behind. Firstly products are not necessary in their point of view. Secondly this kind of products is expensive and lavish.</p>

This study examines in some depth the influences of marketing mix, social factors, emergence of the metrosexual, evolution of femininity and masculinity, self-esteem and customer decision making on the male consumer behavior in purchasing skin care products in Sweden, particular in Karlstad. In do so, the theories of masculinity and femininity, customer behavior theory, customer decision making’s theory, theory of metrosexual and theory of the four Ps in marketing mix strategy are employed as a theoretical framework and also adapted with theory of the self esteem involvement. It also endeavors to find out the reasonable impacts of perception on the relationship between variables and consumer behaviors. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to men who are in the age range between 15-45 years old and living in Karlstad, Sweden. The total sample consists of 94 respondents. Further, the returned questionnaires were analyzed by using factor analysis, correlation and path analysis in SPSS version 16.0. The results of the study indicated that the numbers of ‘men who use skin care products’ and ‘who do not use’ is not so much different. Most of male customers who using skin care products reveal that, the main reasons behind their using skin care products are for improving skin, personal care, attractiveness and self confident orderly. As a result, principally men’s skin care products purchasing obtain the effects of the interaction between their personal demographics and attitude, the emergence of metrosexual and marketing mix (especially quality and attribute of products, price, product’s ingredient, product brand and package of products). In contrast with men who do not use skin care products, there are two main reasons behind. Firstly products are not necessary in their point of view. Secondly this kind of products is expensive and lavish.

Title: Purchasing Intentions of Young Thai Male towards Men's Skin Care Products Problem: Men concern more about their image than ever before. This behavior is becoming a new trend in cosmetic market. Moreover, Thailand is one of the fast growing cosmetics industry, particularly male skin care market within countries in Asia-Pacific region. However, most of the literatures have just studied on women cosmetic products. There are a few studies within male cosmetic market, despite the demands of cosmetic products are increasing among men as well as women. Purpose: This study aims to discuss the relationships between dimension of brand equity, overall brand equity, brand preference and purchase intention of men‟s skin care products among young Thai male in Bangkok. The study measures the equity of brand and identifies the impact of brand equity on brand preference and purchase intentions. Research Question: How does brand equity associate with purchasing intention of young Thai male towards skin care products? Method: Quantitative research method interpreted by the authors is applied in this research. A questionnaire-based survey is used as a tool to collect the data and the specific variables used in this paper: the dimension of brand equity, overall brand equity, brand preference, and purchase intention. Both primary and secondary types of data collection were used for this research. Conclusion: The results reveal that each dimension of brand equity, which consists of brand loyalty, brand awareness, brand association, and perceive quality have a significant impact on overall brand equity. However, brand loyalty and perceive quality have a bigger impact on brand equity than brand association and brand awareness. The impact of brand equity in itsIIconsequences supported the direct positive impact on brand preference and purchase intention. This predicate that brands with higher levels of brand equity would generate higher levels of customer brand preference. Moreover, the customers, who have high level of brand preference indicated that they have more willingness to continually purchase the specific men‟s skin care brand and this can build higher purchase intention. Last but not least, this current research also figure out that using celebrity may not be the most effective strategy to stimulate consumer purchasing intentions toward men‟s skin care product among young Thai males in Bangkok.

No description available.

No description available.

Avanços na medicina e o desenvolvimento tecnológico têm contribuído para o aumento na sobrevida dos prematuros, no entanto, em virtude da sofisticação dos recursos, um maior número de procedimentos invasivos se faz necessário, incluindo a dor como um custo à sobrevida desses pacientes. O objetivo deste estudo foi testar a efetividade do contato pele a pele na diminuição das respostas comportamentais e fisiológicas de dor no prematuro, durante a punção de calcâneo para coleta do Teste do Pezinho. Trata-se de um estudo analítico-experimental randomizado, realizado na unidade de cuidado intermediário neonatal de um hospital universitário de Ribeirão Preto - SP. A amostra constituiu-se de 59 prematuros submetidos à coleta do Teste do Pezinho, divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: experimental (n=31), submetido ao contato materno pele a pele por 15 minutos antes e durante todo o procedimento, e controle (n=28) cujos bebês eram mantidos no berço ou incubadora durante todo o procedimento. O projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da instituição, e o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido foi firmado com as mães ou responsáveis pelos prematuros. As variáveis comportamentais (mímica facial, estado de sono e vigília e choro) foram registradas continuamente pela filmagem por uma câmera durante a coleta de dados. A variável fisiológica (freqüência cardíaca) foi mensurada por um monitor cardíaco. A coleta foi dividida em sete períodos: basal, tratamento, antissepsia, punção, ordenha, compressão e recuperação. Como não se comprovou a normalidade das variáveis quantitativas, fez-se a comparação entre os dois grupos utilizando-se o teste não-paramétrico para duas amostras independentes, Mann-Whitney. Para as variáveis qualitativas, utilizou-se o Qui-Quadrado ou Teste Exato de Fisher. Na comparação dos resultados dos escores do Neonatal Facing Coding System (NFCS), do estado de sono e vigília e da média da freqüência cardíaca intra-sujeitos e entregrupos, utilizou-se a ANOVA com medidas repetidas. Nas comparações do NFCS entre os grupos, utilizou-se a ANCOVA e estratificação direta. Os valores médios do NFCS foram inferiores no grupo experimental em todos os períodos com diferença estatisticamente significativa nos períodos de punção e ordenha em comparação ao grupo controle, mesmo ao se controlar a idade corrigida, idade pós-natal, experiência prévia de dor e o sexo. O choro foi o estado de sono e vigília mais incidente na punção e ordenha em ambos os grupos, sendo que, na ordenha, os bebês do grupo controle permaneceram chorando em maior proporção do que no experimental (85,7 vs 58,1%). Na recuperação, 71,0% do grupo experimental estavam em sono profundo em comparação com 21,4% no controle. O tempo médio de choro diferiu significativamente entre os grupos, sendo maior no controle. Houve elevação da freqüência cardíaca como resposta ao procedimento, mas a diferença não foi estatisticamente significativa entregrupos, todavia no grupo experimental houve retorno próximo ao valor médio basal na recuperação; no controle manteve-se acima de 160 bpm da antissepsia à recuperação. Comprovou-se a efetividade do contato pele a pele no alívio da dor em prematuros, constituindo-se em medida simples e natural, sem custos adicionais, podendo ser aplicada em diversas situações de dor aguda. / Advances in medicine and technological development have contributed to increase in preterm infants? survival. However, due to resource sophistication, more invasive procedures are needed, including pain as a price to pay for these patients? survival. This research aimed to test the efficacy of skin-to-skin contact to decrease preterm infants? behavioral and physiological pain response during heel lancing to collect the PKU test. This analytic randomized trial was carried out at the intermediary neonatal care unit of a university hospital in Ribeirão Preto - SP. The sample consisted of 59 preterm infants who were submitted to PKU test collection, randomly divided in two groups: experimental (n=31), submitted to skin-to-skin contact with the mother for 15 minutes before and during the entire procedure, and control (n=28), whose babies were held in the cot or incubator during the entire procedure. The project was approved by the institutional Research Ethics Committee, and the mothers or responsibles for the infants signed the Free and Informed Consent Term. The behavioral variables (facial mimics, sleep-wake state and cry response) were continuously recorded by a camera during data collection. The physiological variable (heart frequency) was measured by a heart monitor. Data collection was divided in seven periods: baseline, treatment, antisepsis, heel lancing, heel squeezing, compression and recovery. As the normality of the quantitative variables was not proved, the two groups were compared, using Mann-Whitney?s nonparametric test for two independent samples. For the qualitative variables, Chi-Square or Fisher?s Exact Test was applied. Variance analysis with repeated means was used to compare NFCS scores, sleep-wake state and mean heart frequencies within and between subjects. Covariance analysis and direct stratification were used to compare NFCS scores between the groups. Mean NFCS scores were lower in the experimental group across all periods, with statistically significant differences during heel lancing and squeezing in comparison with the control group, even when controlling for corrected age, postnatal age, previous pain experience and gender. Crying was the most incident sleep-wake state during lancing and squeezing in both group. During squeezing, babies in the control group continued crying longer than in the experimental group (85.7 vs. 58.1%). During recovery, 71.0% of the experimental group was in deep sleep, against 21.4% of controls. Mean crying time differed between the groups, with statistical significance, and was longer in the control group. Heart frequencies increased in response to the procedure, but intergroup differences were not statistically significant. However, during recovery, babies in the experimental groups returned close to mean baseline levels, while heart rates in the control group continued above 160 bpm from antisepsis until recovery. Results prove the efficacy of skin-to-skin contact proved to be effective for pain relief in preterm infants, constituting a simple and natural measure, without additional costs and easily applicable in different acute pain situations.

Background: The differential effects of using topical oils for the prevention or treatment of baby dry skin on skin barrier function may contribute to the development of childhood atopic eczema. Prevalence of atopic eczema has increased from 5% of children aged 2 to 15 years in the 1940s, to approaching 30% more recently. This increase cannot be attributed to genetic changes. It is likely that increases stem from environmental factors, including the increased use of some inappropriately formulated commercial and natural baby skincare products. Midwives, health visitors and other maternity service health professionals, in the UK, routinely recommend the use of olive oil and sunflower oil for baby dry skin or massage, but the effect of these oils on newborn baby skin has not been studied. Aim: The aim of this research was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of testing the hypothesis that the regular application of sunflower oil, when compared to no oil or olive oil, had an effect on skin barrier function of newborn term babies. Study Design: A pilot, assessor-blinded, single centre, three-arm, randomised controlled trial, with nested qualitative component, underpinned by post-positivism. Methods: Quantitative methods were used to establish proof of concept that the use of topical oils had some effect on newborn baby skin barrier function, and to assess the feasibility of trial processes and parameters. Qualitative methods were used to explore the acceptability to parents of having a newborn baby participating in a randomised controlled trial, and trial design and procedures. The study was conducted in St. Mary’s hospital, a large teaching hospital in North West England. Data were collected between September 2013 and August 2014.The randomised controlled trial included 115 babies who were randomised to three groups: sunflower oil, olive oil and no oil, using a computer-generated varied size block randomisation with concealed allocation. Parents of babies randomised to the oil groups were blinded to which oil they were allocated. Data were collected using standardised case report forms for demographic and clinical observation data, weekly telephone questionnaires and a follow-up questionnaire, informed by previous baby skincare trials. The qualitative study encompassed semi-structured interviews, conducted within six months of birth. The sample was a subset of the trial participants, purposively sampled to incorporate a mix of treatment groups and positive and negative experiences derived from the follow-up questionnaire. Data also included two open-text questions from the follow-up questionnaire. Quantitative data were managed using IBM SPSS Statistics versions 20 and 22 and analysed descriptively. Qualitative data were managed in NVivo 10 and analysed using Framework Analysis. Results: The pilot study found that a definitive randomised controlled trial is not the optimal next step. A longitudinal observational study and further mechanistic work is recommended. Recruitment was challenging and loss to follow-up was higher than anticipated. Protocol adherence was reasonable and the study was acceptable to parents. Some statistically significant results were obtained, which must be interpreted with caution as the study was not powered to detect such a difference. These results showed that both oils may impede the development of the skin barrier function from birth; clinical importance of the results is not known. Conclusion: A longitudinal observational study is required, which maps the diagnosis of atopic eczema with environmental factors such as the use of baby skincare products from birth. Mechanistic work is also required to consider the optimal skincare formulation. As any intervention should do more good than harm, it would be wrong to support the recommendation of topical olive oil or sunflower oil for newborn baby dry skin or massage, based on the study data.

M.Tech. / Striae are linear scars in the dermis which arise from rapid stretching of the skin over weakened connective tissue (de Angelis & Adatto, 2010). Striae occur when collagen production cannot keep pace with a sudden growth of the underlying tissues. Striae have no medical consequences but are frequently distressing to those afflicted. These disfiguring marks are usually caused by excessive stretching of the skin that may occur with pregnancy, adolescent growth spurts, obesity and weightlifting (Kang & Arbor, 1998). Striae usually appear on the abdomen, thighs, buttocks, breasts and extremities. Patients’ quality of life can be enhanced with the effective management of these unsightly marks. Modalities of treatments that exist for the treatment of striae have been advocated with varying success and side effects (Manuskiatti et al., 2010). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the topical application of a homoeopathic preparation Thiosinaminum 1X on the appearance of striae. The research was a double-blind placebo controlled study which took place at the Homoeopathy Health Centre which is located at the University of Johannesburg(Doornfontein campus). Forty female participants aged between eighteen and thirty-five were randomly selected to take place in the study. The study was conducted over a period of twelve weeks. On recruitment, the participants were required to read and sign the information sheet (Appendix A) and consent form (Appendix B) assisted by the researcher. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire (Appendix C) to determine contributing factors e.g. duration of the stretch marks, the cause of the stretch marks and any disease that may contribute to the formation of stretch marks. A pertinent case and vital signs were taken at the initial consultation to eliminate any pathologies. All potential participants were required to present with stretch marks on the thighs or buttocks present for at least 6 months prior to the study. The stretch marks needed to have had a minimum length of 50mm and a maximum length of a 100mm. The researcher was responsible for choosing the designated area that was treated. The most distinct striae were selected by the researcher according to criteria for treatment. The researcher took photographs of the treatment areas at the commencement of the study and this was repeated at the end of the study (Appendix I). The length of the most prominent stretch mark (according to criteria) below was also measured on the commencement of the study. To physically iv measure the most prominent stretch mark a string and a ruler was utilized. The same ruler and ball of string was used each time to ensure validity of the results. A new piece of string was cut and tied in a knot at the tip and placed on the stretch mark itself to mould to its shape and thereafter it was placed on a ruler to determine the measurements in millimeters. To ensure that the same stretch mark was measured every time, the researcher measured out the distance between the stretch mark and a defined anatomical point for all the participants. The stretch mark was traced using plotting paper. The participants were required to apply the cream twice daily for the duration of the study. Participants were able to rate their satisfaction on a monthly basis by completing a questionnaire. The results of the study indicated that there was no improvement in the length of striae however there was more improvement in satisfaction ratings throughout the study from the experimental group.

En los últimos años se ha llegado a presentar un notable aumento en el número de mujeres que optan por un cuidado constante de su piel, buscando que esta llegue a estar siempre limpia, hidratada y saludable. Sin embargo, esto les llega a resultar difícil, debido a que actualmente existen diferentes factores presentes en la vida diaria, que deterioran constantemente el aspecto de la piel. Un ejemplo de ello es la continua exposición a los químicos presentes en los jabones genéricos, los cuales están siempre presentes en lugares públicos, como centros comerciales, restaurantes, e inclusive áreas de trabajo, debido a su bajo costo en el mercado. Otros factores que se debe considerar, son la contaminación ambiental, y el efecto negativo de la radiación solar. Para contrarrestar esta problemática, hemos desarrollado los Jabones Eco-Amigables Prácticos “Makalu”, hechos a mano a base de diferentes aceites escenciales que otorgan minerales y vitaminas para el óptimo cuidado de la piel. La presentación es en forma de pétalos pequeños que funcionan para un solo uso con el fin de dar practicidad, por ello podrán ser transportados a cualquier lugar y ser utilizados en la higiene personal, sin desperdicios ni químicos. Es importante elaborar un jabón adecuado para cada tipo de piel, por ello, elaboramos jabones hidratantes y nutritivos para piel seca, mixta o grasa y para piel sensible para cubrir las diferentes necesidades de nuestros segmentos. El primero son las mujeres entre 18 y 39 años del NSE A y B que optan por cuidar su piel a base de productos naturales, y el segundo son las tiendas naturistas y boticas que tienen nuestro perfil de clientes. Asimismo, el producto se ha fijado un precio entre 12 a 15 soles segun el tipo de producto de acuerdo a las preferencias del cliente. / In recent years, we have come to present a notable increase in the number of women who opt for continuous and constant care of their skin, looking for us to always be clean, hydrated and healthy. However, this is difficult for them, because there are currently different factors present in daily life, which constantly deteriorates the appearance of the skin. An example of this is the continuous exposure to the chemicals present in generic soaps, which are always present in public places, such as shopping centers, restaurants, and even work areas, due to their low cost in the market. Other factors that should be considered are environmental pollution, and the negative effect of solar radiation. To counteract this problem, we have developed the ¨Makalu¨ practical Eco – Friendly Soaps, handmade based on different essential oils that provide minerals and vitamins for optimal skin care. The presentation is in the form of small petals that work for a single use in order to give practicality, so they can be transported anywhere and be used in personal hygiene, without waste or chemicals. It is important to prepare a suitable soap for each type of skin, therefore, we prepare moisturizing and nourishing soaps for dry, mixed or oily skin and for sensitive skin to cover the different needs of our segments. The first is women between 18 and 39 years of age NSE A and B who choose to take care of their skin based on natural products, and the second are the health food and botanical stores that have our customer profile. Also, the product has set a price between 12 to 15 soles based on the type of product according to customer preferences. / Trabajo de investigación