scholarly journals Forewarned is Forearmed? A Survey-Experiment concerning the Impact of Pre-Notification Letters on Response in a Postal Survey

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bram Spruyt ◽  
Filip Van Droogenbroeck

The use of pre-notification letters is thought to increase the response rate of postal surveys. The empirical evidence for that claim, however, is not conclusive. In this research note we assessed the impact of pre-notification by means of data from a large-scale survey-experiment conducted in Flanders (N: 4000). Three outcomes were studied: overall response rate, timing of the response and quality of the response. No significant positive impact was found on the overall response rate and quality of response. However evidence indicated that respondents who received a pre-notification letter were more inclined to respond earlier.

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Shirokova ◽  
Oleksiy Osiyevskyy ◽  
Karina Bogatyreva ◽  
Linda F. Edelman ◽  
Tatiana S. Manolova

AbstractSituational factors may facilitate or frustrate the translation of entrepreneurial intentions into subsequent actions. In this study, we use data from two waves of a large-scale cross-country study of student entrepreneurship, the Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students' Survey (GUESSS), conducted in 2011 and 2013/2014 (n = 1434 students from 142 universities in nine countries), in order to investigate the impact of country-level institutions (financial market institutions and legal institutions) on the link between entrepreneurial intentions and subsequent start-up activities. We find that the quality of legal institutions has a significant positive impact on the translation of intentions into actions, whereas the quality of the national financial system does not influence the intentions-actions link. Theoretical and public policy implications are discussed.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2457-2457
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Canales ◽  
A. Palacios ◽  
C. Martinez-Chamorro ◽  
M. A. Cruz ◽  
J. M. Moraleda ◽  
...  

Abstract Rituximab in combination with CHOP-like chemotherapy has demonstrated to improve the results in young and elderly patients with DLBCL compared to chemotherapy alone. Re-treatment with rituximab is feasible in patients with indolent lymphoma, but there is few data on the effect of rituximab in combination with chemotherapy in the re-treatment of relapsed patients with DLBCL who have respond previously to rituximab + chemotherapy. In order to investigate the effect of rituximab in this setting, we have performed a multicenter retrospective study in 50 patients with DLBCL re-treated with rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. We have included in this study 46 patients (31 males, 15 females), median age 60 (range, 20 to 81 years), who achieved CR with the previous rituximab-containing regimen. At initial diagnosis, 32 patients had Ann-Arbor stage III or IV and 20 patients had IPI 3 or 4. The median interval between courses was 14.7 months. The most frequent regimens administered as up-front therapy in combination with rituximab were CHOP-like regimens (30 patients) and the commonest chemotherapy regimens used as salvage therapy were R-ESHAP (20 patients), R-ICE (7 patients), rituximab in combination with gemcitabine-based regimens (4 patients) and TTR (3 patients). The overall response rate in the assessable population was 81% (46% CR, 35% PR). In 25 assessable patients who have received rituximab in combination with chemotherapy as second-line therapy, the overall response rate was 92% (56% CR, 36% PR). The overall response rate was slightly lower in those patients re-treated with rituximab as third-line therapy (78% with 33% CR and 45% PR). The follow-up is too shorter (median 6 months) to assess the impact of re-treatment on duration of remission. The adverse events were not different to those usually observed with these regimens. In conclusion, the re-treatment with rituximab in relapsed patients with DLBCL who had respond previously to rituximab in combination with chemotherapy seems not to compromise the results in terms of response. Logically, larger prospective studies are necessary to confirm these encouraging results.


Author(s):  
Martin Baekgaard ◽  
Nicola Belle ◽  
Søren Serritzlew ◽  
Mariafrancesca Sicilia ◽  
Ileana Steccolini

Performance information research has grown rapidly over the last decade with much research emphasizing the importance of how information is framed, presented, and communicated by using a distinct rhetorical appeal. In this study, we examine how the framing, format, and rhetoric of performance information influences preferences among elected politicians. We study the direct effects of how information is presented. We also argue that performance information is always a mixture of different frames, formats, and rhetorical appeals and that it is therefore important to account for interaction effects. Using a large-scale survey experiment with responses from 1,406 Italian local politicians, we find that framing and ethos-based rhetoric affect politicians’ responses to performance information. We also find that the format of presentation is important in several ways. Thus, politicians are more likely to support the status quo when information is presented graphically rather than textually, and a graphical format furthermore reduces the impact of ethos-based rhetoric and – to a lesser extent – the impact of equivalence framing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 184 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-287
Author(s):  
Xiaozhen Ye ◽  
Heng Zhao ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
Bin Lu ◽  
Jiaqing Shao ◽  
...  

Background Tripterygium glycosides (TG) has been used to treat a spectrum of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Our preliminary studies have shown that TG is effective in the treatment of active Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO). Objective We aimed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of TG with intravenous methylprednisolone (iv.MP) in patients with active moderate-to-severe GO. Methods This study was an observer-masked, single-centre, block-randomised trial. Patients with active moderate-to-severe GO were randomly assigned to receive iv.MP (500 mg once per week for 6 weeks followed by 250 mg per week for 6 weeks) or with TG (20 mg tablet three times per day for 24 weeks). The primary endpoints were the overall response rate and the patients’ quality of life at 12 and 24 weeks. Results In this study, 161 patients were enrolled and randomised from 2015 to 2019. A total of 79 were randomly assigned to receive iv.MP and 82 to receive TG. A greater overall response rate was found in the TG group compared with the iv.MP group at week 24 (90.2% vs 68.4%, P = 0.000). Similarly, the patients’ quality of life of the TG group showed a significantly higher response than the iv.MP group at week 24 (89.02% vs 72.15%, P = 0.001). The TG therapy showed a better CAS response than the iv.MP (91.5% vs 70.9% improved, P < 0.05), and up to 91.2% of patients were inactive. Also, the TG group showed a significantly higher improved rate of diplopia, proptosis, visual acuity, soft tissue involved and the decrease of eye muscle motility than the iv.MP group at week 24. Significantly more patients in the iv.MP group than the TG group experienced adverse events. Conclusion Compared with iv.MP treatment, TG therapy is more effective and safer for patients with active moderate to severe GO.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 3869-3869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Driss Chaoui ◽  
Xavier Leleu ◽  
Murielle Roussel ◽  
Bruno Royer ◽  
Marie-therese Rubio ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 3869 Poster Board III-805 Introduction The outcome of patients with plasma-cell leukemia (PCL) is poor. Avet-Loiseau reported on behalf the IFM, our first experience in PCL patients and showed that the median overall survival (OS) was 8 months (Avet-Loiseau, Blood, 2001). Since 1999, novel agents such as Thalidomide, Bortezomib (Velcade) or Lenalidomide (Revlimid) have been widely used in the treatment of multiple myeloma, both at the time of relapse or part of upfront therapy. Patients and methods In this retrospective analysis, we have looked at the outcome of PCL patients treated within the IFM since 1999 in order to study the impact of novel agents on survival. Results 31 cases, 20 males, 11 females, median age 55 years (34-78) were analyzed. Twenty one patients less than 65 years received high-dose therapy as part of frontline treatment : 19 autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and 5 allogeneic transplantation. Novel agents were used part of induction therapy in 6 cases, at the time of relapse for 9 patients, for both induction and relapse in 16 cases. Thirteen patients received 1 novel agent, 11 received 2 and 7 patients received the 3 novel agents. The median number of lines of therapy was 2 (1 to 4). Bortezomib was used as up front treatment in 15 patients and at relapse for 9 patients. Overall response rate according the IMWG criterias was 70% (17/24) including 11 CR or VGPR (45%). PAD (Bortezomib, Adriamycin and Dexamethasone) and VTD (Bortezomib, Thalidomide, Dexamethasone) regimens provided the best response rates. Lenalidomide was used in 13 patients mostly at relapse. A response was obtained in 53% of patients including 2CR and 2 VGPR (30%). Nineteen patients were treated with Thalidomide-based regimens. Overall response rate was 52% (10/19) including 2 CR and 6 VGPR (31%). Overall, for the whole group of patients, the median progression-free survival was 8 months (0-26) and the median OS was 15 months (6-108). When comparing this survival with that described in our previous experience reported before 1999, we clearly showed that the use of novel agents improved the survival of patients with PCL. Conclusion In this retrospective study, novel agents improved the prognosis of P-PCL. Prospective IFM phase II studies are ongoing to confirm these results. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-72
Author(s):  
Herlin Hamimi ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Hasbi Zaenal

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam which has a function of faith, social and economic functions. Muslims who can pay zakat are required to give at least 2.5 per cent of their wealth. The problem of poverty prevalent in disadvantaged regions because of the difficulty of access to information and communication led to a gap that is so high in wealth and resources. The instrument of zakat provides a paradigm in the achievement of equitable wealth distribution and healthy circulation. Zakat potentially offers a better life and improves the quality of human being. There is a human quality improvement not only in economic terms but also in spiritual terms such as improving religiousity. This study aims to examine the role of zakat to alleviate humanitarian issues in disadvantaged regions such as Sijunjung, one of zakat beneficiaries and impoverished areas in Indonesia. The researcher attempted a Cibest method to capture the impact of zakat beneficiaries before and after becoming a member of Zakat Community Development (ZCD) Program in material and spiritual value. The overall analysis shows that zakat has a positive impact on disadvantaged regions development and enhance the quality of life of the community. There is an improvement in the average of mustahik household incomes after becoming a member of ZCD Program. Cibest model demonstrates that material, spiritual, and absolute poverty index decreased by 10, 5, and 6 per cent. Meanwhile, the welfare index is increased by 21 per cent. These findings have significant implications for developing the quality of life in disadvantaged regions in Sijunjung. Therefore, zakat is one of the instruments to change the status of disadvantaged areas to be equivalent to other areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e001047
Author(s):  
Asam Latif ◽  
Nargis Gulzar ◽  
Fiona Lowe ◽  
Theo Ansong ◽  
Sejal Gohil

BackgroundQuality improvement (QI) involves the use of systematic tools and methods to improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients. However, awareness and application of QI among healthcare professionals is poor and new strategies are needed to engage them in this area.ObjectivesThis study describes an innovative collaboration between one Higher Educational Institute (HEI) and Local Pharmaceutical Committees (LPCs) to develop a postgraduate QI module aimed to upskill community pharmacists in QI methods. The study explores pharmacist engagement with the learning and investigates the impact on their practice.MethodsDetails of the HEI–LPCs collaboration and communication with pharmacist were recorded. Focus groups were held with community pharmacists who enrolled onto the module to explore their motivation for undertaking the learning, how their knowledge of QI had changed and how they applied this learning in practice. A constructivist qualitative methodology was used to analyse the data.ResultsThe study found that a HEI–LPC partnership was feasible in developing and delivering the QI module. Fifteen pharmacists enrolled and following its completion, eight took part in one of two focus groups. Pharmacists reported a desire to extend and acquire new skills. The HEI–LPC partnership signalled a vote of confidence that gave pharmacists reassurance to sign up for the training. Some found returning to academia challenging and reported a lack of time and organisational support. Despite this, pharmacists demonstrated an enhanced understanding of QI, were more analytical in their day-to-day problem-solving and viewed the learning as having a positive impact on their team’s organisational culture with potential to improve service quality for patients.ConclusionsWith the increased adoption of new pharmacist’s roles and recent changes to governance associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a HEI–LPC collaborative approach could upskill pharmacists and help them acquire skills to accommodate new working practices.


Author(s):  
Frederik Juhl Jørgensen ◽  
Mathias Osmundsen

Abstract Can corrective information change citizens’ misperceptions about immigrants and subsequently lead to favorable immigration opinions? While prior studies from the USA document how corrections about the size of minority populations fail to change citizens’ immigration-related opinions, they do not examine how other facts that speak to immigrants’ cultural or economic dependency rates can influence immigration policy opinions. To extend earlier work, we conducted a large-scale survey experiment fielded to a nationally representative sample of Danes. We randomly expose participants to information about non-Western immigrants’ (1) welfare dependency rate, (2) crime rate, and (3) proportion of the total population. We find that participants update their factual beliefs in light of correct information, but reinterpret the information in a highly selective fashion, ultimately failing to change their policy preferences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaping Wang ◽  
Bin Liu ◽  
Xiuqiong Fu ◽  
Tiejun Tong ◽  
Zhiling Yu

Abstract Background The traditional Chinese medicine formula Si-Jun-Zi-Tang (SJZT) has a long history of application in the treatment of functional dyspepsia (non-ulcer dyspepsia, FD)-like symptoms. SJZT-based therapies have been claimed to be beneficial in managing FD. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of SJZT-based therapies in treating FD by meta-analysis. Methods Systematic searches for RCTs were conducted in seven databases (up to February 2019) without language restrictions. Data were analyzed using Cochrane RevMan software version 5.3.0 and Stata software version 13.1, and reported as relative risk (RR) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The primary outcome was response rate and the secondary outcomes were gastric emptying, quality of life, adverse effects and relapse rate. The quality of evidence was evaluated according to criteria from the Cochrane risk of bias. Results A total of 341 potentially relevant publications were identified, and 12 RCTs were eligible for inclusion. For the response rate, there was a statically significant benefit in favor of SJZT-based therapies (RR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.30). However, the benefit was limited to modified SJZT (MSJZT). The relapse rate of FD patients received SJZT-based therapies was lower than that of patients who received conventional medicines (OR = 0.23; 95% CI 0.10 to 0.51). No SJZT-based therapies-related adverse effect was reported. Conclusion SJZT-based prescriptions may be effective in treating FD and no serious side-effects were identified, but the effect on response rate appeared to be limited to MSJZT. The results should be interpreted with caution as all the included studies were considered at a high risk of bias. Standardized, large-scale and strictly designed RCTs are needed to further validate the benefits of SJZT-based therapies for FD management. Trial registration Systematic review registration: [PROSPERO registration: CRD42019139136].


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
Víctor Arufe Giráldez ◽  
Javier Puñal Abelenda ◽  
Rubén Navarro-Patón ◽  
Alberto Sanmiguel-Rodríguez

Background: One of the great challenges facing today’s society is the need to combat overweight and obesity in schoolchildren. This study aimed to analyze the impact of a cycle of didactic talks—given to families by a specialist in pediatrics, a specialist in nutrition and dietetics and a specialist in physical exercise—on childrens’ snack choices and nutrition quality. Methods: A longitudinal, quasi-experimental and quantitative investigation was designed, working with a total sample of 50 students divided into control and experimental groups. The nutritional quality of daily snacks was recorded during the month before and the month after the cycle of talks given by health experts. Results: An increase in the nutritional quality of the snacks was observed in the days after the talk—but, after a week, values returned to normal. Conclusions: The giving of educational talks to promote healthy habits may have a positive impact on the nutritional quality of school snacks in the days immediately following the talks. However, some forgetfulness was detected over time, which reduced the nutritional quality of the snacks once more. For future work, it is recommended that researchers measure the impact produced by giving regular talks.


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