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The National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities (NJCLD)1 strongly supports comprehensive assessment and evaluation of students with learning disabilities by a multidisciplinary team for the identification and diagnosis of students with learning disabilities. Comprehensive assessment of individual students requires the use of multiple data sources. These sources may include standardized tests, informal measures, observations, student self-reports, parent reports, and progress monitoring data from response-to-intervention (RTI) approaches (NJCLD, 2005). Reliance on any single criterion for assessment or evaluation is not comprehensive, nor is a group assessment, such as universal screening or statewide academic assessment tests, sufficient for comprehensive assessment or evaluation. This paper is intended to inform administrators, educators, parents, and others concerned about the effective identification and education of students with learning disabilities about the components, processes, and participants necessary for comprehensive assessment and evaluation, as well as optimal practices that should further enhance the education of students with learning disabilities. The NJCLD has long recognized that inappropriate assessment and evaluation practices may result in questionable incidence rates for learning disabilities (NJCLD, 2001a). Similarly, the NJCLD (2001a, 2001b) has provided a solid foundation for addressing the issues of assessment, evaluation, identification, and eligibility of students with learning disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domain Name System (DNS) plays an infrastructure role in providing the directory service for mapping domains to IPs on the Internet. Considering the foundation and openness of DNS, it is not surprising that adversaries register massive domains to enable multiple malicious activities, such as spam, command and control (C&C), malware distribution, click fraud, etc. Therefore, detecting malicious domains is a significant topic in security research. Although a substantial quantity of research has been conducted, previous work has failed to fuse multiple relationship features to uncover the deep underlying relationships between domains, thus largely limiting their level of performance. In this paper, we proposed AGCN-Domain to detect malicious domains by combining various relations. The core concept behind our work is to analyze relations between domains according to their behaviors in multiple perspectives and fuse them intelligently. The AGCN-Domain model utilizes three relationships (client relation, resolution relation, and cname relation) to construct three relationship feature graphs to extract features and intelligently fuse the features extracted from the graphs through an attention mechanism. After the relationship features are extracted from the domain names, they are put into the trained classifier to be processed. Through our experiments, we have demonstrated the performance of our proposed AGCN-Domain model. With 10% initialized labels in the dataset, our AGCN-Domain model achieved an accuracy of 94.27% and the F1 score of 87.93%, significantly outperforming other methods in the comparative experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migrant and ethnic inequalities in maternal and perinatal mortality persist across high‐income countries. Addressing social adversity and inequities across the childbirth trajectory cannot be left to chance and the good intentions of practitioners. Robust, evidence‐based tools designed to address inequity by enhancing both the quality of provision and the experience of care are needed. Methods: An inductive modelling approach was used to develop a new evidence‐based conceptual model of woman–midwife relationships, drawing on data from an ethnographic study of relationships between migrant Pakistani women and midwives, conducted between 2013 and 2016 in South Wales, UK. Key analytic themes from early data were translated into social–ecological concepts, and a model was developed to represent how these key themes interacted to influence the woman–midwife relationship. Results: Three key concepts influencing the woman–midwife relationship were developed from the three major themes of the underpinning research: (1) Healthcare System; (2) Culture and Religion; and (3) Family Relationships. Two additional weaving concepts appeared to act as a link between these three key concepts: (1) Authoritative Knowledge and (2) Communication of Information. Social and political factors were also considered as contextual factors within the model. A visual representation of this model was developed and presented. Conclusions: The model presented in this paper, along with future work to further test and refine it in other contexts, has the potential to impact on inequalities by facilitating future discussion on cultural issues, encouraging collaborative learning and knowledge production and providing a framework for future global midwifery practice, education and research. Patient or Public Contribution: At the outset of the underpinning research, a project involvement group was created to contribute to study design and conduct. This group consisted of the three authors, an Advocacy Officer at Race Equality First and an NHS Consultant Midwife. This group met regularly throughout the research process, and members were involved in discussions regarding ethical/cultural/social issues, recruitment methods, the creation of participant information materials, interpretation of data and the dissemination strategy. Ideas for the underpinning research were also discussed with members of the Pakistani community during community events and at meetings with staff from minority ethnic and migrant support charities (BAWSO, Race Equality First, The Mentor Ring). Local midwives contributed to study design through conversations during informal observations of antenatal appointments for asylum seekers and refugees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to establish strategies of coping with COVID-19 pandemic adopted by the clients of social assistance from the perspective of social workers. The qualitative research among Polish social workers and family assistants was conducted from September to November 2021. Based on 30 in-depth interviews with social work professionals, groups of social assistance clients' behaviours were identified and classified into the theoretical models of reactions to social change by Merton and Giddens. The following types of behaviour have been selected and categorized into four groups of reactions when dealing with social workers in a pandemic situation: coolheaded calculation, defiance, confusion, and adaptation. At the same time, reactions to the situation of social change were categorized into one of the strategies of active or passive behaviour: innovation, contestation, retreat, and acceptance. In addition, we discussed the impact of clients' coping strategies on social workers and established three attitudes of the surveyed social workers: adapting to the pandemic situation and customer behaviour, assuming the role of an emotional buffer and informant, and expecting support from superiors and coworkers. Knowing the behaviour of social assistance clients in a challenging situation makes it possible to adopt tailor-made measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the investor's decision to employ multiple managers for the management of investment funds. Under conditions such that specialization of managers and diversification among managers are not motives for the use of multiple managers, the paper shows that risk sharing considerations may be sufficient. A model is developed in which the decision to use multiple managers is explicitly treated, and conditions are studied such that an increase or decrease in the number of managers would be desirable. Under some conditions, a multiple manager solution is preferred over a single manager solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers what concept of accommodation is necessary to identify and address discrimination, disadvantages and disparities in such a way that the plurality of religious people with their beliefs, values and practices may be justly accommodated in healthcare. It evaluates threats to the possibility of such accommodation pertaining by considering what beliefs and practices might increase the risk of unjust discrimination against and disadvantage for religious people, whether as individuals or as groups; and the risk of disparities between the care provided to religious people. The claim is that there is an important cluster of risks that are political in kind and emergent within philosophical bioethics. While not amounting (yet) to a trend, they are sufficiently threatening to a just civic life for patients and healthcare staff as to warrant scrutiny. After an Introductory Section 1, Section 2 evaluates a criticism of 'accommodation' and the apparently additional health‐related requirements that those of religious faith demand, when compared with other people. It does so by comparing Lori Beaman's idea of agonism with that of a distinct and somewhat complementary approach in Jonathan Chaplin's political philosophy, before examining the role of established religion in setting the conditions for the accommodation of religion and belief in healthcare. Section 3 examines risks to such accommodation by engaging critically with three health‐related instantiations of political philosophy that differ radically from both Beaman and Chaplin. A concluding Section 4 focusses on appropriate modes of communicating about religious and other beliefs in healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metaphors are popular in human interaction as a means to make relevant associations, convey complex ideas, and even dramatize reality or introduce humour in conversations. Metaphors, if leveraged effectively, can be a powerful tool for management consultants in their client engagement process. Chosen with a sensitive and empathetic rationale, metaphors can not only help fathom highly complex problem situations, they can also bring in an element of light‐heartedness in consulting conversations that may otherwise be stale and unexciting. Metaphorical associations can enable informality, trust, and long‐term engagement between consultants and their clients. This paper presents a first person narrative of how the author has used metaphors as a tool for creative consulting. A reflection is provided on how the experiences narrated in this paper align with the conceptual lens of holistic flexibility introduced by Rajneesh Chowdhury in his latest book on systems thinking for management consultants in 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Contemporary Accounting Research is the property of Canadian Academic Accounting Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Issues of power are often neglected in information systems (IS) studies and under‐theorised in IS research. Systems development methods (SDMs) are commonly used in the IT industry to coordinate the activities between developers and clients. The role of power in the relationship between clients and systems developers remains an important topic of research in information systems development (ISD). Yet, despite the importance of understanding this relationship better, there has only been a limited number of studies exploring the role that an SDM can play in influencing this relationship. What is not widely acknowledged or researched is how different forms of power are inscribed in and enacted through an SDM. The aim of this paper is to advance our understanding of different forms of power—here, obtrusive and unobtrusive power—to show how ISD concepts provide structures during the enactment of an SDM and thereby influence relationships between developers and clients. We present qualitative results from an exploratory case study within an IT division of a large international bank and interpret the results using Clegg's (1989) circuits of power (CoP). Our analysis shows that developers feel disempowered in relation to the client, with developers playing a cooperative but submissive role. Prior SDM enactment studies have either not encountered or not recognised cases where obtrusive and unobtrusive forms of power inscribed within the SDM directly determine the relationship between developers and the client. Our results are presented as a set of propositions explaining how obtrusive and unobtrusive power is inscribed in the SDM and the effect such inscription has on the enactment of the SDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to identify the perception of the managers of financialaccounting service providers in Romania regarding customer relations as well as other relevant aspects in order to provide evidence of improving the activities and these relations. Using the focus group technique, we analyzed the managers' perception of financialaccounting services firms in Bacau regarding the activity and the relations with their clients through in-depth interviews. Our obtained results argue that an important factor in meeting the needs of the managers regarding the quality of the financial-accounting services is the responsibility of the specialized financial-accounting service providers willing to contribute to the creation of a better framework and a better climate of the relations between the client and specialized financial-accounting services. Moreover, we have found that Romanian taxation and bureaucracy slow down the financial and accounting activity of financial-accounting service providers and reduces the time spent on communicating with customers in order to perform economic analyzes of the economic activity of the business, which could add value. We have also identified other important factors regarding the efficiency of the relationship between financial-accounting services providers and their customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The paper aims to capture the nuances of two client–supplier relationships to offer new insights on the influences of transactional, knowledge and social elements in outsourcing partnerships.Design/methodology/approach The study has used descriptive case studies with narrative storylines. Interviews were conducted with three relationship managers (boundary gatekeepers) to understand preferred governance practices between clients and suppliers in diverse economic markets.Findings Experiences of three real-life cases engaged in offshore outsourcing have helped to identify the market, operational knowledge and social influences in a relational exchange. Findings reveal that offshore partnerships are first constituted with service-level agreements, which set control measures and layout business expectations from both partners. Boundary gatekeepers bring further accountability across firms by designing social networks for capturing and sharing of knowledge, thereby reducing each partner’s perception of risk. As firms evaluate transactional, knowledge and social elements for building a futuristic relational exchange, more disaggregated and dispersed enterprises evolve as new opportunities are explored in foreign markets.Research limitations/implications The retrospective nature of the client–supplier partnership is a limitation in this research study. However, retrospection adds to experience, and to practice perspectives made in hindsight, and therefore has a positive influence in this study.Originality/value This paper shares real-world experiences that can be used by scholars and practitioners to better understand how relational governance practices operate in a global socio-economic setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In academic and practitioner literature, codes of ethics are generally understood to act as a mechanism guiding and ensuring ethical behaviour. However, this premise has not yet been thoroughly explored. Using a qualitative research approach this study examines the tools used in ethical decision-making by New Zealand marketing research practitioners, with a focus on client relationships. Participants reported on their awareness, familiarity, and use of professional and organisational codes of ethics. In particular, information was sought on how ethical issues were dealt with when they arose in their relationships with clients. This empirical research focused on the effects of different variables and emerging constructs, and the interplay between them, on ethical decisionmaking in client relationships. The paper concludes with a discussion of research contributions, implications for the practice of marketing research, and future research opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Researchers are encountering increasing challenges in recruiting participants for palliative and healthcare research. This paper aims to understand challenges to and methods for engaging physicians and seriously ill patients and their caregivers in research studies. Methods: Between October 2019 to July 2020, we conducted qualitative interviews with 25 patients, proxies, and caregivers participants who were eligible for a randomized controlled trial of home-based palliative care and 31 physicians from participating accountable care organizations. Using thematic analysis, we analyzed participants' responses to identify concepts and key ideas within the text. From these initial concepts, core themes around barriers to research and preferred research recruitment approaches were generated. Results: Themes from patient and caregiver interviews included time constraints, privacy concerns, lack of research familiarity, disconnect with research institution, self-perceived health status, and concerns with study randomization. Physician-identified barriers focused on time constraints and study randomization. Patient and caregiver recommendations for study recruitment included in-person recruitment, recruitment at healthcare providers' offices, recruitment via mail, additional study information, and frequent calls. Physician recommendations were related to placement of flyers at clinics, financial incentives, and formal events. Conclusions: Findings demonstrated that although patients and caregivers prefer that their physicians recruit them for health-related research studies, physicians identified time constraints as a consistent barrier to research involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evaluations of health interventions for Indigenous peoples rarely report outcomes that reflect participant and community perspectives of their experiences. Inclusion of such data may provide a fuller picture of the impact of health programmes and improve the usefulness of evaluation assessments. Aim: To describe stakeholder perspectives and experiences of the implementation and impact of Indigenous health programmes. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of qualitative studies evaluating complex health interventions designed for Indigenous communities in high‐income countries. We searched 6 electronic databases (through to January 2020): MEDLINE, PreMEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, EconLit and CINAHL and hand‐searched reference lists of relevant articles. Results: From 28 studies involving 677 stakeholders (mostly clinical staff and participants), six main themes were identified: enabling engagement, regaining control of health, improving social health and belonging, preserving community and culture, cultivating hope for a better life, and threats to long‐term programme viability. Conclusion: The prominence of social, emotional and spiritual well‐being as important aspects of the health journey for participants in this review highlights the need to reframe evaluations of health programmes implemented in Indigenous communities away from assessments that focus on commonly used biomedical measures. Evaluators, in consultation with the community, should consistently assess the capacity of health professionals to meet community needs and expectations throughout the life of the programme. Evaluations that include qualitative data on participant and community‐level outcomes can improve decision‐makers' understanding of the impact that health programmes have on communities. Patient or public contribution: This paper is a review of evaluation studies and did not involve patients or the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ius et Praxis (07172877) is the property of Universidad de Talca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose This paper aims to present the first systematic review of the literature relating to the relationships between organisations and their marketing agencies, the agency–client relationship, and presents a concept matrix that identifies the key areas of investigation, and topics where further research would be beneficial. As agencies play a pivotal role in operationalising marketing strategy, this relationship is central to marketing theory, management and practice.Design/methodology/approach A systematic review of the literature was performed using key databases and search terms, and filtering on the basis of criteria relating, for example, to relevance and format, to create a core set of refereed papers on the agency–client relationship in the marketing and advertising domains. Bibliographic and thematic analysis was used to profile the literature in the dataset, and to draw out key themes.Findings The paper provides an analysis of the extant knowledge base, including key themes, journals and research methods. The following themes emerged from the literature, and are used to elaborate further on the existing body of knowledge: conflict, client account management, contracts and agency theory, cultural and international perspectives and co-creation. An agenda for future research is proposed that advocates a focus on theoretical foundations, research strategies and research topics and themes.Originality/value This is the first systematic review of the literature on agency–client relationships, which is scattered across disciplines and informed by several theoretical perspectives. Given the increasing complexity of agency–client relationships in the digital age, and increasing need to understand “marketing-as-practice”, the coherent overview offered by this paper is of particular value for guiding future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes a contribution to the limited body of academic literature on market research in emerging markets, more specifically the less developed countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It should not only assist academics interested in emerging market research challenges, but also practitioners keen to pursue one of the last remaining emerging market frontiers. The research provides a checklist to help ensure research projects are designed to overcome the many challenges encountered. The study may also facilitate the training of research executives, as well as educating clients, by helping them to more fully appreciate the complexities of SSA. While there is an expanding body of literature on international marketing research, very little looks specifically at SSA. Furthermore, few studies examine the subject from the perspective of the market research industry practitioner. This paper does that, by exploring the challenges of conducting market research with SSA consumers from the practitioner standpoint. The study adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the experiences of 49 professionals working in the SSA market research industry. The research identifies a complex array of challenges facing those researching African consumers, which relate to the region's unique micro and macro environmental conditions. The challenges are categorised in terms of political and economic, legislative, environmental, socio-cultural and infrastructure, as well as significant client and research resourcing issues. These are summarised in a conceptual framework that presents a holistic picture of the situation and provides a checklist of the factors that need to be considered during the research process. Overcoming the challenges invariably has significant impact upon research methodology design, project management processes, as well as associated project costs and duration. These issues indicate that companies seeking research suppliers in SSA need to reconceptualise the nature of the client-agency relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community-based health interventions have been an integral part of recent health gains globally. An innovative approach to delivering community health care combines the Census-Based, Impact-Oriented (CBIO) Approach with Care Groups and Community Birthing Centers called Casas Maternas Rurales. CBIO+ was adopted by Curamericas/Guatemala in its Maternal and Child Health Project, 2011–2015. Here, we describe the opinions of Project staff and local government health care workers about the strengths and challenges of CBIO+. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions were used to obtain the views of 21 staff members from Curamericas/Guatemala as well as 15 local government health workers. The evaluation focused on four primary areas: (1) advisability of integrating the CBIO+ Approach into the government's rural health system, (2) staff knowledge of the CBIO+ Approach, (3) advantages, disadvantages and challenges of the CBIO+ Approach, and (4) proposed improvements to the CBIO+ Approach. The data were coded into categories and from these categories themes were derived. Results: The most commonly mentioned advantage of CBIO+ was the inclusion of the community in program planning, which improved participation. Many respondents noted that the CBIO+ Approach was challenging to implement in communities with internal conflicts. Among other challenges mentioned were coordinating (both among the Project staff and with others in the communities), maintenance of a high level of community participation, and overcoming opposition of men to women's participation in Care Groups. The staff mentioned a number of possible changes, including increasing male involvement, raising salaries for community-level paid staff, providing volunteers with incentives, and improving coordination both internally and externally. There was a strong demand among the local Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare staff for the Project to continue. Conclusion: The CBIO+ Approach and its implementation by Curamericas/Guatemala was overall embraced by local staff. By eliciting feedback while the project was ongoing, actionable areas for improvement were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shapiro's (2023) case of Keo is an important contribution to the body of case study literature about the practice of culturally informed existential psychotherapy. We hope it receives wide readership, especially among clinical and counseling psychologists who are in the early stage of their careers and working with diverse populations. The author is dedicated to addressing the client's anxiety and dread of his future from an existential perspective, but must adapt this therapeutic approach to the client's cultural worldview. The blend of existential psychotherapy with community and family interventions make this case an exemplar of creative adaptation to the needs and culture of the client. We do wonder whether some of the author's perspective on and maintenance of professional boundaries in a small-town environment might, on occasion, present substantial difficulties in managing or understanding dynamics in the psychotherapy relationship. We also note how little is said (except that peer consultation was utilized) about how the author managed his own anxiety in relation to the client's need for periodic breaks from weekly sessions, and in relation to the client's invitation to social events. Finally the delay of 50 years between the successful termination of psychotherapy and publication of the case study is also a point of curiosity, and to our minds not adequately addressed in the paper. We speculate on what this might mean in hopes of learning more in the author's reply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate how legal professionals in Australia responded to the mental distress experienced by clients with insecure visa status in the Fast Track Assessment (FTA) process. This article reports on survey findings obtained from 38 legal professionals followed up by focus groups and interviews with 16 participants. The participants were all involved in providing legal assistance to refugees and asylum seekers with insecure visa status, the majority delivering that assistance via pro bono or community law centre settings. An inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The study uncovered a complex interplay of practical challenges, emotions, and ethical dilemmas that legal professionals encounter while assisting asylum seekers in the FTA process. The study participants' experiences highlight that a migration law practice frequently becomes the initial setting where asylum seekers disclose mental distress. Legal professionals found themselves simultaneously witnessing human suffering and endeavouring to prevent re‐traumatisation of their clients. Responding to distress was difficult to achieve as the operational setting in which they provided legal assistance and the prevailing hardline political messaging by the Australian government toward asylum seekers who arrived by boat was hostile and (re)traumatising. There is a pressing need for more trauma‐informed education and training for both current and future legal professionals. Findings are discussed alongside practical suggestions for trauma‐informed interviewing for legal professionals who interview asylum seekers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Has one the right to expect favor because he or she has given tip? Or is one obligated to bend the rule of law in favor of his friend from whom he has received tip or favor? The paper undertakes an analysis of the different tip situations, the different forms of tip and attempts to show in what sense the term tip is applicable and finally examines the usefulness of tip and its possible effect on a moral conscience. The paper argues that tip considered as a transaction wherein money or favor is offered for the purpose of gaining an advantage illegally is nothing but bribery and as such immoral. Tip as a "forced gratuity" is argued to be an organized exploitation. The paper then concludes that tip in its proper sense of voluntary and gratuitous transaction can maximize individual utility and enhance social solidarity, noting at the same time, that its possible adverse effect on the moral conscience is worth taking cognizance of. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade of his career, Jeremy Safran became increasingly interested in investigating the ways in which attachment representations influence the therapeutic relationship. In this paper, we test such influence in a sample of thirty outpatients who received Brief Relational Therapy by comparing their independently coded pre-treatment Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) with their narratives in a post-treatment interview about the relationship with the therapist (the Patient Relationship Interview at Termination, PRI-T). The PRI-T was coded with the following three measures: i) The Patient Attachment to Therapist Rating Scale (PAT-RS), which assesses the quality of the patient's attachment relationship to the therapist; ii) the Coherence scale from the AAI, adapted for use on the PRI-T; and iii) the Patient Attachment Classification System (PACS), which measures generalized differences in how individuals convey their experiences and feelings. Results suggest that patients' AAI predicts how they experience, represent, and communicate about the therapeutic relationship at the end of treatment, as shown by the PAT-RS, the Coherence scale adapted for use on the PRI-T, and the PACS applied to the PRI-T. These findings lend support to Safran and others' hypothesis that patients' AAI-status plays a role in patients' representations of the relationship with the therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although current data projects South Africa potentially meeting the UN target to test 90% of all people living with HIV by 2020, linking them to HIV care remains a big challenge. In an effort to increase linkage to care (LTC) of HIV positive clients an innovative collaborative intervention between two non-governmental organisations was developed and implemented between 2016 and 2017. This paper investigated the outcome of this collaborative intervention. Methods: We used a mixed methods approach to assess the outcome of the innovative relationship. This was done by analysing routine programmatic quantitative data on LTC between 2015 and 2017 and qualitatively interviewing five programme managers, four programme implementers and five HIV positive clients on their perceived success/failure factors. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic content analysis while LTC rates were descriptively analysed. Two consultative meetings presented draft findings to programme managers (n = 7) and implementers (n = 10) for feedback, results verification and confirmation. Results: In 2015 cumulative LTC rate was 27% and it rose to 85% two years post-intervention in 2017. Six themes emerged as success factors at the health system and structural levels and these include: provision of client escort services, health facility human resource capacity strengthening, inter and intra-organisational teamwork, onsite LTC, facilitated and expedited jumping of queues and shifting administrative tasks to non-clinical staff to protect nurses’ time on ART initiation. These measures in turn ensured increased, affordable and swift ART initiation of clients while strengthening client support. Conclusions: We concluded that multi-faceted interventions that target both health system challenges including staff shortages, efficiencies, and extended facility opening times, and structural inadequacies, including client time and resource limitations due to poverty or nature of jobs, can help to increase LTC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the relationship between adaptive selling and organizational behavior is analysed. Specifically, it is discovered that adaptive behavior is a multifaceted concept which is not linearly related to the organizational characteristics in the way it was operationalized in a former study by Sujan and Weitz. In order to gain a better insight into the functioning of adaptive selling within organizations, a different methodology is suggested. By means of more inductive research more detailed models should be generated, which then can be tested for robustness with a more deductive approach. Concept creation should have a more empirical foundation before concepts are entered into a theoretical network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enacting occupational values is vital to expert professionals' solidarity and sense of purpose. Yet, many professionals face audiences in their relational contexts—especially powerful clients—who can hold incongruent values and may threaten professionals' jurisdictional control. How can experts enact their values without jeopardizing their jurisdictional control amid clients holding incongruent values? We examine career advisers in undergraduate business schools, whose occupational values often contrasted with values common among their student clients. Through an ethnography of one school's career advisers, combined with interviews of such advisers throughout the United States, we find that advisers navigated interactions by discerning student values and accordingly modulating their value-enactment practices through masking, moderating, or magnifying their values. This allowed advisers to uphold their jurisdictional control when facing students exhibiting incongruent values, while enacting their values with students exhibiting unclear or congruent values. We contribute to the relational perspective on occupations and professions by positing how discernment and modulation help experts navigate relational tensions by recognizing and drawing on intraclientele heterogeneity, unpacking how professionals might not entirely resist or change amid incongruence but instead pursue a more mixed approach, and highlighting when and how experts mask or moderate rather than overtly enact their values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community health workers (CHW) are an integral part of primary health care re-engineering in South Africa. Cape Town is developing community-orientated primary care, with a central role for CHWs. Their role in human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis, maternal and child health has been articulated, but is less clear for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Non-communicable diseases are now a major contributor to the burden of disease. The aim was to explore the current role of CHWs regarding NCDs in the Eastern sub-district of Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study made use of non-participant observation and qualitative interviews with CHWs, their managers, and nurse coordinators. Data from nine semi-structured interviews and ten observations were analysed with the framework method and Atlas-ti. Results: The CHWs were embedded in their communities and provided services via support groups, household visits and delivery of medication. They linked people to care with assistance of nurse coordinators. They could also provide physical care in the home. They lacked the ability to counsel people on the risk factors for NCDs and their role in rehabilitation and palliative care was unclear. More nurse coordinators were needed to provide supportive supervision. Inter-sectoral collaboration was weak and hindered CHWs from addressing social issues. More standardised and comprehensive training should equip CHWs for health promotion and disease prevention during household visits. Data collected in the community needed to be analysed, reported on and integrated with data from the primary care facility. This should also contribute to a community diagnosis. Their relationship with facility-based members of the primary health care team needed to be improved. Attention needed to be given to the requirements for and conditions of employment, as well as working hours and remuneration. Some equipment was absent and hindered their services for NCDs. Conclusions: CHWs have the potential to provide a comprehensive approach to NCDs, but community-orientated primary care needs to be strengthened in many of the key areas to support their activities. In relation to NCDs, they need training in basic and brief behaviour change counselling and risk factors as well as in the areas of rehabilitation and palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper analyzes the factors that influence secondary school students' choice of higher education options in Spain today and explores the implications and benefits of establishing provider-client relationships between universities and students. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative approach using questionnaires to demonstrate the hypothesis and achieve the objectives. We have prepared a questionnaire via telematic LimeSurvey application consisting of twenty-four closed questions. Findings: Results depict that the leading criteria for Spanish students interested in pursuing studies in communication sciences were a university's reputation and excellence and the quality of its educational programmes. In terms of sources of information related to universities and their degree programmes, Spanish communication sciences students placed the highest value on direct and experiential sources. Spanish students interested in pursuing degrees in communication sciences preferred public universities over private universities. Research limitations: It is a descriptive paper. The sample could have been larger and have covered the entire universe of communication schools in Spain. Practical implications: Gain in-depth insight into the academic, cultural, and sociodemographic characteristics of students who choose to pursue an undergraduate degree in communications sciences in Spain. Ascertain which sources of information proved to be the most valuable to prospective students in choosing a university and degree programme and the other factors that influenced their choices by means of a survey involving first-year undergraduate communication sciences students. Use the results of this survey to rank the criteria used by students when choosing a university and degree programme. Gain a clearer picture of how parents and friends influence a student's choice of degree programmes and universities. Social implications: Knowing the factors of choice and sources of information that define his choice of the University and the Faculty of Communication Sciences and analyze if there is an adequate marketing specifically university. Originality/value: Today's universities must operate in much the same manner as businesses and corporations in order to survive. This new scenario pits one university against another in a race to attract the highest number of incoming students. Knowing the preferences of college-age students and the factors that influence their choice of a university has become increasingly crucial for institutions of higher education. This study sets out to determine not only the overall factors that determine a student's choice in Spain, but also specifically what students who have chosen to pursue a university career in communications science look for when deciding where they will earn a degree in that discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formation of rational delivery routes is the main way to increase the effectiveness of client services for freight forwarding companies. The main part of the requests for transport services comes from occasional (non-constant) clients. The set of those requests forms a stochastic flow. For stochastic requests flow, the delivery routes are formed in the process of the requests receipt. Therefore, the standard approaches for merging of requests from multiple clients into routes, based on linear programming techniques, cannot be used in such conditions. An algorithm of formation under the stochastic demand conditions of such delivery routes, which allow servicing of two or more shippers, is proposed in the paper. The author has developed a specialized software to support decisions made by dispatchers of forwarding companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether auditors' client acceptance and pricing decisions following the resignation of the incumbent auditor in family firms are significantly different from those in non-family firms. Relying on the auditing literature (client acceptance and audit pricing) and using insights from the agency theory, we document that successor auditors incorporate a firm's ownership structure into their acceptance and pricing decisions following the resignation of the incumbent auditor. Big 4 auditors are more likely to serve as successor auditors following auditor resignations in family firms as opposed to non-family firms. The changes in audit fees following auditor resignations in family firms, however, are significantly smaller than those in non-family firms. These results hold when we account for whether a family firm is managed by a founder, a descendant, or by a professional manager, and when we use the percentage of shares held by the family members as another proxy for family ownership. Additional analysis further demonstrates that the likelihood of financial restatements in family firms in the post-resignation period are significantly lower than those in non-family firms. Overall, our findings suggest that Big 4 auditors perceive family firms from which the incumbent auditors resigned as being less risky than their non-family counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the paper is to analyse the possibilities of using IT tools supporting education for customer relationship management on the example of IPMA-Student Portal. The tool was created to support partner universities and their students in the development of competencies and certification in project management; however, by way of putting it to use, collecting information about users, and communicating with them, the tool can be treated as a means of strengthening and improving relationships with universities and students. The IPMA-Student Portal is a basic communication tool, adapted to the needs of lecturers and students, bringing benefits both to the IPMA Poland Association and the academic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Cancer screening programmes for cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer have successfully reduced mortality rates among target groups. However, a large proportion of women and men are unscreened. Aim. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding the determinants of cancer screening participation among target groups in Queensland. Methods. Electronic databases were searched for studies on determinants of cancer screening participation in Queensland. Retrieved studies were screened, and eligible articles were selected for data extraction. Both peer-reviewed and grey literature studies were included. The determinants of cancer screening participation were classified according to the I-Change model. Results. Sixteen out of 75 articles were selected and analysed. Information factors, such as the lack of tailored strategies, determined cancer screening participation. Age, gender, cultural beliefs, fear and past experiences were the most reported predisposing factors to cancer screening participation. Lack of knowledge, misconceptions, low awareness, timely access to service, privacy and confidentiality were mainly reported awareness and motivation factors. Encouragement from health professionals, providing more information and interactions with communities would result in different effects on cancer screening participation among the target groups. Discussion. The I-Change model is a valuable tool in mapping the current determinants of cancer screening participation programs. Further research may be needed to fully understand the barriers and facilitators of cancer screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Theories develop over time and are influenced by both events and people. Looking primarily at the applications between contracting principal-agent relationships, the purpose of this paper is to explore how agency theory emerged from a number of economic and social developments. In doing so, the authors explain how this once dominant theory comes up short regarding varying realms of entrepreneurship as well as with multiple modern business phenomena. Design/methodology/approach – The authors first present a brief overview of agency theory. Second, the authors identify major events and people and address how they impacted the development of agency theory. Third, the authors provide insights on agency theory across three contexts (strategic entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and family business). Implications, limitations, and future research directions are then offered. Findings – The authors provide a deeper understanding of agency theory, thus broadening its underpinnings and enabling readers to more readily understand why agency theory is limited in its explanation of certain and modern business phenomena. The authors find that some of the seminal influences to agency theory are quite dated which has limited its explanatory power in terms of the modern day business and with more recent disciplines such as entrepreneurship. Research limitations/implications – The authors are limited by their choices of major events that influenced agency theory at the expense of not being able to include everything that may have impacted the theory over time. These limitations, however, are offset by the research implications. As the authors highlight the underpinning of agency theory, the authors subsequently provide scholars and practitioners with five primary boundary conditions, each of which are in need of attention for agency theory to maintain relevant explanatory power. Originality/value – A deeper understanding of agency theory can be gained by looking at its underpinnings. By presenting numerous principal-agent conflicts and demonstrating areas in which it has fallen short (i.e. entrepreneurship and more recent business phenomenon), we shed light on the obstacles agency theory must overcome in order to maintain its position as a prominent theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Legal issues are known to affect and be affected by mental health. But to what extent do legal issues surface in mental health settings and what do staff feel they need to support clients experiencing these issues? These questions were explored by a national mental health service interested in the potential for health justice partnership with local community based legal services. Methods: A survey of 999 frontline staff of a national mental health organisation. 146 staff (15%) responded from 70 service sites across Australia, including peer support workers (47%), support workers (20%), team leaders (17%) and clinicians (15%). Results: Staff identified a wide range of legal issues experienced by their clients (commonly referred to by staff as consumers), most commonly credit, debt and social security issues, housing, family law and family violence. Two-thirds (67%) of respondents indicated that they spent around 50% or more of their time 'responding to these types of issues'. Respondents indicated that they need more support to address legal issues facing their clients, particularly more knowledge of other services, connections with professionals in other organisations and connections with community. They also felt they could benefit from additional processes, tools, and resources, and time to manage their case load. Originality: While there is an emerging field of research exploring the legal capability of citizens, this study explores what mental health service staff feel they need to support consumers experiencing legal issues that can interact with mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on self-legitimacy in the prison environment have confirmed the differences in prison workers' perceptions of their own legitimacy in different cultural settings. This study focuses on factors influencing prison workers' self-legitimacy and their support of the specific treatment of correctional clients in Slovenian prisons. The results highlighted good relations with correctional clients, satisfaction with payment, internalization of subcultural norms, higher education, and positive perception of workplace (professional) competencies as correlates of prison workers' self-legitimacy. Prison workers' support of the resocialization of correctional clients was influenced by their feelings of obligation toward correctional clients, rejection of prison subculture norms, and gender, female prison workers being more inclined toward resocialization. In contrast, lack of cooperation between prison services, bad relations with correctional clients, and lower levels of achieved education were associated with prison workers' support of the harsh treatment of correctional clients. The implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Home-based family support programs provide early intervention to support families with young children. Home visiting models typically serve pregnant and parenting women with risk factors known to influence the caregiver-child relationship including history of trauma, low academic achievement, low income, limited support networks, maternal depression, and maternal substance use. Few, if any, home visiting models, however, were developed specifically to support families affected by maternal substance use. The Team for Infants Exposed to Substance use (TIES) Program is a home-based family support program exclusively serving families affected by maternal substance use. The model design and intensive services allow TIES participants to achieve significant positive outcomes in the program's six goal areas: maternal substance use, parenting skills, child mental and physical health, maternal mental and physical health, family income, and family housing. Goal scores are assessed jointly by participants and staff throughout the program using a validated scale. Program staff hypothesize that goal attainment in these areas may be influenced by the therapeutic relationship developed between home visitors and participants. This relationship is assessed using the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI), a validated assessment of therapeutic alliance administered to both participants and staff. An analysis of 127 program participants shows that when controlling for home visitor WAI scores in multilevel models (MLMs), goal attainment scores improved from intake to discharge across all goal areas except for housing stability. These results stress the importance of the therapeutic relationship in maximizing TIES participants' growth and success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The impact of a stroke is particularly evident during the transition home, with reported unmet needs. However, little is known about post-stroke adaptation in Portugal. This study aimed to understand how Portuguese people with stroke and their informal carers/family adapt over time, and how health professionals support their adaptation. Methods: A multi-perspective, longitudinal qualitative study was conducted using in-depth semi-structured interviews one and six months after inpatient discharge. A purposive sample of 24 participants (8 triads) participated. Thematic and narrative analysis strategies were used. Results: Three themes were identified: Managing change over time; Balancing support over time; Changing priorities. These suggest the importance of time and gradual adjustment of health professionals' approach throughout the rehabilitation process tailored to people with stroke' and carers' needs. Both valued positive thoughts and support from others to adjust life goals and find a balance between a mutual/bidirectional support and time for themselves. Conclusions: Findings show that the manner in which changes after a stroke are approached may be positively transformed to provide strength. As a result of the deeper understanding gained from this study, health professionals may be better placed to acknowledge the needs of people with stroke and carers and find effective ways of supporting them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on why it is important for companies to have a close relationship with their customers. Discussed are the similarities that new companies and traditional companies have in regards to organizational ideology and organizational structure. The author presents comments on why it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to deliver products, services, and experiences that have a strong, positive effect. Also discussed is the trend in marketing that involves the customers and the marketers in almost every phase to the project.

During the course of research in the Hungarian region of Szatmár I investigated patterns of cooperation between actors in the field of tourism and looked into whether collaboration comes into being spontaneously, or if it is enforced. My findings suggest that wide cooperation with market actors does not arise spontaneously: good organizers who have authority and who are willing to enforce cooperation are needed. In this paper I illustrate a special example of enforced cooperation: in the village of Szatmárcseke, collaboration between actors is systematically organized by the mayor of the settlement. The leader of the village, having social authority, provides advice, convinces or even puts pressure on 'potential entrepreneurs' to enter the market. While this research site is exceptional, taking into consideration the depth and extent of the influence of central direction-giving it exemplifies well how market mechanisms can be completed through patron-client relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the quest for social justice binds social workers to a common cause, its equivocal vision undermines unity and provokes inefficient--and even contradictory--practice. This paper sheds light on the intersection of widely-accepted social work tenets and multidisciplinary perspectives on justice and social responsibility. In so doing, it provides a theory-driven method for social workers to incorporate client voices into context- specific definitions of social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Around 20% of patients undergoing surgery for lumbar radiculopathy develop chronic pain after surgery, leading to high socioeconomic burden. Current perioperative interventions, including education and rehabilitation, are not always effective in preventing prolonged or chronic postoperative pain and disability. Here, a shift in educational intervention from a biomedical towards a biopsychosocial approach for people scheduled for lumbar surgery is proposed. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) is a biopsychosocial approach that aims to decrease the threat value of pain by reconceptualizing pain and increasing the patient's knowledge about pain. This paper provides a clinical perspective for the provision of perioperative PNE, specifically developed for patients undergoing surgery for lumbar radiculopathy. Besides the general goals of PNE, perioperative PNE aims to prepare the patient for postsurgical pain and how to cope with it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To synthesize the qualitative literature on adults' experiences of psychological therapy assessments. The review was led by people with experience of undergoing assessments, with high levels of client involvement throughout. Search strategy: A comprehensive search of electronic databases was undertaken, with additional search strategies employed to locate further literature. Inclusion criteria: Studies were included that qualitatively explored the experiences of people aged 16+ who had been assessed for psychological therapy services. Assessments could be structured or unstructured. Qualitative was defined as any analysed account of people's experiences, including qualitative survey data. Data extraction and synthesis: Literature quality was appraised using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist, modified to include client involvement and intersectionalities. Following data extraction, thematic synthesis was used to synthesize findings across studies. Results: Of 12 743 titles were screened, with 13 studies relevant to the review. Themes and subthemes were identified at three stages of the assessment process: the journey to the assessment, at the assessment, and after the assessment. Findings highlighted the emotional impact of assessments, collaboration, intersectionalities, rights, pathologization, socioeconomic restrictions, and information and support needs. Implications and limitations were indicated. Discussion and conclusions: Findings were situated within the trauma‐informed (TIA) literature. Trauma‐informed assessment principles, including collaborative assessments, may be fruitful means of improving people's experiences. Whilst the benefits of collaboration appear self‐evident, explicitly collaborative approaches were not the norm, nor were studies conducted independently. Further service user research is needed. A greater understanding of the experience of minority groups is also needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose- The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying meanings and assumptions of the philosophical and metaphysical aspects of ethical discourse that encaptulates corporate business ethics. Design/methodology/approach- This paper employs a form of the Socratic or dialogue approach to explore and comment on various aspects of ethical behaviour in the corporate sector. The eight dialogues are cataloged as: the business sector; the business ideology; business practices today; the new morality; internal aspects of the business culture; the interrelationship between the business and clients; the interrelationship between the business and the employee; and ethics in business. Post Script-Corporations have a social responsibility that emanates from the legal status they receive as an artificial entity with the same rights as other members of society. These new entities derive their sentient characteristics from those that inhabit the realm of the corporation. In this way the ethical behaviour is both a result of those within the corporation and the corporate culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - There have been many studies on topics related to supplier relationship management (SRM), namely purchasing strategy, supplier selection and development, and collaboration with suppliers. However, these studies have not suggested a solution based on an integrative concept, as they focus only on domain-specific problems. To overcome this limitation, the purpose of this present paper is to suggest a framework for an integrative SRM system by analyzing comprehensive approaches to overall SRM functions. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reviewed and analyzed studies related to SRM from an integrative viewpoint, proposed a framework for an integrative SRM system, and performed a case study based on the analytical hierarchy process with a field survey. Findings - The paper expects that the proposed framework can play a major role in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of SRM by adopting an integrative concept because the functions of SRM are highly interrelated. Furthermore, it verifies the applicability of the framework via a case study. Research limitations/implications - Not many approaches are available for organizing evaluators or evaluation sheets, which are used for selecting criteria, providing weight, and evaluating supplier performance, that can secure objectivity of the evaluation; thus, when applying this framework to the industry, special consideration is needed. Practical implications - The proposed framework allows the purchasing members to scrutinize key features of SRM before and during the SRM system operation. Originality/value - The paper provides useful knowledge about the role of SRM systems by holistically approaching SRM-related processes while suggesting criteria and recommendations to a purchasing manager. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses ethical and legal issues arising from the increasing use of e-mail and other forms of instant written communication in the conduct of business. E-mail communications are often casual and informal. Yet e-mail is a written record that can be more permanent and widely accessible than a paper communication. This article focuses on the implications of this fact, including (1) how individuals compromise their own privacy by the voluntary use of e-mail; (2) how e-mail has complicated the duty of confidentiality of employees to employers, and professionals to clients; (3) whether the use of e-mail affects ethical deliberation and choice; and (4) the use of e-mail as evidence of corporate conduct and intent in civil and criminal litigation. The article suggests that e-mail users think “forensically” about their e-mail—i.e., consider its potential as evidence in the context of other emails and underlying events— before pressing the “send” button. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, the literature assumed that solo practitice best exemplifies the ideal professional work arrangement and that when professionals become salaried employees their professionalism is seriously threatened. The primary goal of this paper is to examine lawyers' sense of professionalism across two work contexts: solo practitioner offices and law firm settings. We also examine status distinctions within law firms, between associates and partners, and compare both to independent practitioners. Solo practitioners and law firm partners are similar on most key dimensions of professionalism, whereas the greatest contrasts occur between partners and associates within law firms. Partners and solo practitioners share similar experiences of autonomy and service as owner-managers, whereas partners and associates share greater collegiality among professionals, perhaps fostered through law firm cultures. All three groups report comparable amounts of variety in their work and are equally committed to the practice of law. The key factors that account for gaps in professionalism reflect the nature of law practices, primarily through time spent with corporate clients and pressure to generate profits. We conclude that different versions of lawyers' professionalism are influenced by the everyday aspects of their work and one version is not necessarily more professional than the other. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study defines an aspect of consultant knowledge that provides credibility without claiming unrealistic status for a field like consulting. Our focus is the “sector knowledge” that consultants accumulate which derives from repeated assignments in the industrial sector in which the client organization resides. This has been under-researched partly because of an emphasis on knowledge as technique and method. But knowledge configured around the sector enables consultants to play the role of the outside expert and draw on a language and experiences held in common with the client. The paper explores the role of consultants as sector intermediaries through a case study of contemporary management consulting in a UK local authority. We see “the sector” as an alternative type of knowledge formation salient for a client-centered occupation like consulting. We also explore sector knowledge as a negotiated setting and dispel overly simple notions of know-how being “brought to” the client. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Since 9/11, hawalii banking (financial service providers who carry out financial transactions whereby cash, cheques or other valuable goods are accepted at one location and a corresponding sum in cash or other remuneration is paid at another location) has attracted a great deal of attention. Much has been written on the subject, but so far little empirical research has been conducted into the misuse of hawala banking for criminal purposes. This paper aims to fill this gap. Design/methodology/approach - The paper contains an analysis of 12 police files on the use of hawala banks by perpetrators of crime. The data gathered from these cases are compared to what has been reported on hawala banking in the existing literature. Findings - The literature emphasises the importance of trust between client and banker, as well as between hawala bankers themselves. Trust is supposedly based on strong social ties (ethnic and family ties). The 12 cases studied (almost all of which concerned the misuse of hawala banking by drug dealers) put the significance of trust into perspective: the importance of ethnicity and personal trust should not be exaggerated. When the stakes are high, a common social background and shared ethnicity between bankers, as well as between bankers and their clients, seems to be less important than is often assumed. Originality/value - The paper goes beyond the traditional focus on trust and strong social ties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The study of relationships in marketing has received much attention of researchers over the past decade. This paper examines whether men and women exhibit differences in the strength of their relationships with a service provider, based on self-reported behavioral measure, and whether there is a qualitative difference in the type of motivation that led to such a difference. Design/methodology/approach - Two key independent variables are shown to influence the outcome variable - relationship strength - moderated by gender. It is hypothesized that women will exhibit higher levels of intrinsic interpersonal commitment and lower levels of structural bonds in the relationship with their service providers than men resulting in higher levels of Relationship Strength. A total of 150 structured interviews were conducted. The Likert-type seven-point scale was used for each of the key variables. Each scale was tested for reliability. Findings - The results of the Chow test provided statistical evidence of the moderating role of gender in influencing relationships. Research limitations/implications - Further research is needed in testing the significance of the masculine ("instrumental") and feminine ("expressive") traits in the partner's gender role identity on the relationship outcomes. Practical implications - Results have direct implications for the professional service provider in terms to time and resources allocated to each interaction. This is especially true in health care relationships where face-to-face time with client is shrinking. Originality/value - This study examines the nature and source of differences between men and women in a consumer professional services context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]