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Introduction: The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic caused considerable psychological and physical effects in healthy and diseased New Yorkers aside from the effects in those who were infected. We investigated the relationship between known risk-enhancing and health-promoting factors (social and medical), comorbidity indicators, and, as the primary outcome, health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Between April 22 and May 5, 2020, a market research agency (Dynata) administered a digital survey including the EQ-5D-5L and items related to individual characteristics, social position, occupational and insurance status, living situation, exposures (smoking and COVID-19), detailed chronic conditions, and experienced access to care to an existing internet panel representative of New Yorkers. Results: 2684 persons completed the questionnaire. The median age was 48 years old, and most respondents were non-Hispanic white (74%) and reported at least higher vocational training or a university education (83%). During COVID-19, mean HRQoL scores were 0.82 for the EQ-5D-5L index and 79.3 for the EQ VAS. Scores varied for healthy and diseased respondents differently by the above determinants. Lower age, impaired occupational status, loss of health insurance, and limited access to care exerted more influence on EQ-5D-5L scores of diseased persons compared to healthy persons. Among diseased persons, the number of chronic conditions and limited access to health care had the strongest association with EQ-5D-5L scores. While EQ-5D-5L scores improved with increasing age, gender had no noticeable effect. Deprivation factors showed moderate effects, which largely disappeared in (stratified) multivariable analysis, suggesting mediation through excess chronic morbidity and poor healthcare access. Generally, modifying effects were larger in the EQ-5D-5L as compared to the EQ VAS. Conclusions: Almost all factors relating to a disadvantaged position showed a negative association with HRQoL. In diseased respondents, pre-existing chronic comorbidity and experienced access to health care are key factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain insight into the Sjögren's disease (SjD) patient experience using a survey generated by patients and providers. We evaluated the results of the 2016 Sjögren's Foundation survey, with 25 questions designed in a collaborative effort between the Foundation, patients with SjD, SjD provider experts, and a marketing research company. We used descriptive statistics to provide a thorough understanding of SjD demographics, symptoms, quality of life (QoL), cost, and treatments. Analyses revealed high symptoms, QoL, and financial burdens in SjD. Dry mouth and eye were the most commonly reported symptoms (94 and 93%, respectively). The most frequent extra-glandular symptoms included fatigue, dry or itchy skin, and morning stiffness. The top three aspects of QoL most impaired included (i) sex life (53%), (ii) participating in hobbies/social activities/extracurricular activities (52%), and (iii) job/career or ability to work (49%). SjD respondents commonly reported taking health food supplements/remedies, vitamin D, and exercising, in addition to taking treatments for symptomatic dryness. SjD costs were high, including a total yearly cost, on average, of $2026 for dental care. SjD respondents reported that dryness and risk factors for lymphoma and fatigue are essential to address with new therapies. In this comprehensive overview of the SjD experience, we demonstrated a high burden of disease to SjD respondents, including symptoms, QoL, and financial burden. We also identify the top goals of therapy for new systemic SjD therapies. Key Points • The top three symptoms or signs that patients with Sjögren's hope new treatments will address are dryness, fatigue, and reduction in lymphoma or blood cancer risk • The top aspects of quality of life reported to be impaired by Sjögren's are sex life, hobbies, social activities and extracurricular activities, job/career or ability to work, and finding the correct word during conversations • Patients with Sjögren's have a yearly mean dental cost of $2026 but also have high costs associated with prescription medications, healthcare appointments, over-the-counter medications, alternative therapies, and medical equipment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research investigates the novel questions of whether and how specific forms of shopping channels (online vs offline) influence consumers' decision-making. Moreover, this research investigates marketing firms' proper marketing strategies across different shipping channels. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted three studies using a large sample (N = 703) recruited from a diverse pool (students and adults) that examined multiple products (camera and car) across different shopping channels (online vs offline). Study 1a (n = 251) and Study 1b (n = 252) examined the effect of an online versus offline channel on consumers' decision-making using a one-factor (shopping channel: online vs offline) between-subjects design. Meanwhile, Study 2 (n = 200) investigated the effective strategies that firms should employ across different shopping channels using a 2 (shopping channel: online vs offline) × 2 (mental simulation: outcome vs process) between-subjects design. Participants in the online condition evaluated the product on a computer screen, whereas participants in the offline condition evaluated the real product assuming a real-world retail store setting. Findings: The three studies supported the predictions that shopping channels (online vs offline) affect consumers' psychological distance and, in turn, affect their decision process. Specifically, results reveal that the online (offline) channel increases (decreases) psychological distance and leads consumers to pay more attention to a product's desirability (feasibility) aspects. Originality/value: Given that many firms sell the same products through multiple channels, the findings of this research offer insightful theoretical and practical implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research seeks to analyze the activity, the most used topics and the ability to generate interaction of a dozen tourist destinations in Spain and Portugal through the social network Twitter in the months of November and December 2020, coinciding with the third wave of the crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly affected both countries. The sample is made up of a total of six Spanish and six Portuguese tourist destinations, which correspond to Nielsen areas, geographical areas divided by this market research company based on their homogeneous marketing characteristics. Thus, in the sample there are five types of destination for each country: region or autonomous community (Andalusia, Algarve), large coastal destination (Balearic Islands, Azores), large municipality (Madrid, Lisbon), medium-sized city (Málaga, Oporto) and destination inland (Castilla y León, Central Portugal), to which are added the national Tourism accounts of Spain and Portugal (Turespaña and Visit Portugal). To achieve this goal, a content analysis of the 1,382 tweets published by the official accounts of these destinations has been carried out. It is concluded that the pandemic did not cause a significant change in the content included on Twitter and that the destinations did not use all the potential that this social network offers as a means of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International universities have become the main driver of development in all international reports, and research has become in the extent to which universities are able to lead innovation in development institutions in society, at a time when Egyptian universities suffer from weak investment within themوThe aim of the research is to identify the basics of the pioneering investment university in the experiences of some foreign countries, and to reveal the requirements of strategic creativity to support investment in Egyptian universities, and to reach a vision to transform Egyptian universities into investment universities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The research used a questionnaire applied to a sample of faculty members (Ain Shams - Cairo - Assiut - Sohag - Aswan). The results of the search are as follows: 1. The university’s pioneering investment goals are to increase the competitiveness of Egyptian universities, transform universities into expertise houses, provide self-financing sources for universities, achieve universities’ independence, and consolidate the concept of partnership between universities and economic, social and service institutions. 2. Egyptian universities still have not taken positive steps towards marketing these research services, and contracting with production and service institutions in the community due to the absence of marketing thought. 3. Encouraging industry participation in research activities helps monitor the challenges facing society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pricing practices of firms are an important yet the least studied aspect of the price phenomenon in sociology. This paper answers the question: why do firms, even in the same market, tend to use different pricing practices – value-informed, competition-informed, or cost-informed pricing – to set prices? To that end, this study constructs a formal dynamic flocking model to investigate the inter-dynamics between market uncertainties and the viability of the three pricing practices. The model is a substantial revision and extension of Harrison White's static W(y) market model by reformulating the latter into a dynamic one and by explicitly incorporating different market uncertainties into the model as variables. The study shows that each kind of pricing practice is only viable under certain distributions of market uncertainties. The theory is then used to explain the distribution of pricing practices among firms in the Burgundy wine market. Theoretical and methodological innovations and the implications for firms and for sociological research on markets and uncertainties are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Albeit customer-to-customer interaction (CCI) is something inevitable in a socially dense interaction-rich service setup, there has not been any review in this area of literature. However, a considerable amount of extant research has highlighted the importance of inter-customer encounters during a service encounter. Customer-tocustomer value co-creation during collective consumption is gaining relevance in the field of contemporary services marketing research. This review deals with searching articles through the Scopus database and systematically reviewing 115 articles related to customer-to-customer value co-creation and CCI. While highlighting their contribution to the services marketing literature and various theories, methodologies followed by the authors, it paves the way for developing the proposed conceptual framework for the process of customer-to-customer value co-creation. This way, the article adds up to the extant multi-approach research area revolving around customer-to-customer interactions/relationships, customer engagement, and value co-creation among the customers during a service encounter. The study recommends practitioners analyze and monitor the aspects proposed through a practical implication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a key competency sought by employers, many college students do not exhibit career readiness upon graduation. Reverse mentoring between students (mentors) and company employees (mentees) is an innovative applied learning experience that helps students gain important job knowledge beyond what is taught in a traditional classroom setting. We report on the implementation of a student-employee reverse mentoring experience with a Fortune 500 company in a qualitative marketing research course. Furthermore, we provide seven steps for replicating the experience across a variety of other marketing courses. Finally, we deliver evidence that the reverse mentoring teaching innovation contributes to students' preparedness on four important career readiness competencies: critical thinking, teamwork, professionalism, and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Treatment adherence is crucial in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The device used by the patients for self-injections may influence adherence to methotrexate (MTX) treatment. A MTX-autoinjector has been recently marketed in Europe. This crossover survey compared this MTX-autoinjector (MTX-autoinjector A) and an already existing MTX-autoinjector (MTX-autoinjector B) from the patients' perspective. Patients and Methods: A total of 100 patients with moderate to severe RA using MTX-autoinjector A (N=35) or MTX-autoinjector B (N=65) were interviewed by an independent Global Market Research Company. Face-to-face interviews were performed using a computer-assisted personal interview system. Evaluation of the unfamiliar MTX-autoinjector was performed once the patients had received information, seen a demonstration, and performed a virtual testing. Results: A substantial advantage in favor of the MTX-autoinjector A was found with respect to all surveyed indicators. Respectively, 95% and 55% of the users of MTX-autoinjectors A and B claimed to be very or totally satisfied with their familiar MTX-autoinjector. With respect to several specific characteristics, 91% and 60% of the users of MTX-autoinjectors A and B were very or totally satisfied with their familiar MTX-autoinjector, 29% and 77% found the unfamiliar MTX-autoinjector better, and 26% and 73% were interested in trying the unfamiliar MTX-autoinjector. Injection mode (with no push button) and end-of-injection recognition system (with audible signal) were identified as key features explaining a stronger preference for MTX-autoinjector A. Conclusion: Even though deserving further studying, these findings are expected to guide clinicians when prescribing or renewing prescription of MTX-autoinjector, in particular in poor or non-compliant patients. In a context of growing interest in shared decision-making, the objective would be to choose with each patient the best suited MTX-autoinjector, and ultimately, to obtain a better treatment adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent changes to the Australian Medicare Benefits Scheme have introduced the NOSE Score as a criteria threshold for funding rhinoplasty. On review of the literature, however, there is minimal normative Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score data to provide context for these changes. Methods: Participants were recruited according to the general Australian population distribution of age (18–65 years), gender and geographical locations using the market research company Pureprofile. The data included demographic details, risk factors for nasal obstruction such as smoking, obstructive sleep apnoea, use of continuous positive airway pressure, history of nasal trauma, operations to the nose and a history of cleft lip/palate and each participant completed the NOSE Scale. Analysis of data included descriptive statistics, independent t‐tests and one‐way analysis of variances to assess differences in NOSE scores between risk factors. Results: The NOSE score was completed by 247 males and 255 females with a mean age of 41(±13.39) years. The cohort had a mean NOSE score of 16 (±18.89) with a range from 0 to 95. A total of 48 respondents had a NOSE score greater than the Medicare threshold of >45. Cleft lip/palate, obstructive sleep apnoea and continuous positive airway pressure use were shown to have a statistically significant impact on NOSE score while other variables including body mass index, gender, smoking, location and other surgery to the nose were not shown to significantly impact results. Conclusions: This study found that 9.6% of the general Australian population would have a NOSE score >45 and qualify for the Medicare Benefits Scheme rhinoplasty benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is based on a selection of data commissioned by the Government Office of the Republic of Estonia and received during 10 weeks from weekly surveys (COVID-THEMATIC SURVEY) conducted by Turu-uuringute AS, a market research company. The study began on 17 March and lasted for 10 weeks to 21 May. On three days of every week, about 2,000 Estonian residents aged 15 and over were interviewed. The respondents were randomly selected and represented the entire population of Estonia in terms of gender, age, ethnicity and social affiliation. The time series on the assessment of virus infections, hospital and intensive care (mechanical ventilation) and COVID deaths, compiled on the basis of data published by the Health Board, was also used as background information. The first three rounds took place during the period of increasing morbidity, the following four rounds (4–7) during the study period when the morbidity situation remained more or less stable, and all the established restrictions also applied. The last stage, rounds 8–10, took place at a time when morbidity was declining and restrictions were gradually eased. The survey revealed that Estonia was not ready for the crisis – just like most of the world’s countries. The crisis tested, on the one hand, the government’s ability to make difficult decisions and make significant use of the brain potential of the country’s research community, and, on the other hand, the people’s reasonableness, stress tolerance and ability to comply with rather awkward restrictions. It follows from the present analysis that all the restrictions were opposed by those who did not believe in their appropriateness. However, compared to the total population, their number was small, and, therefore, the restrictions in Estonia were maintained without sanctions and no contradictions arose, let alone unrest. The open action of the Crisis Committee was very important: the number of new infections, the number of patients in need of hospital treatment and mechanical ventilation, as well as the number of deaths, were reported daily at both the government press conference and in the media. The survey showed that there were very few people in the country who thought they did not know everything they needed about the crisis. The fact that people remained rather cautious in their assessments even after the end of the emergency situation adds to the hope of coping with the virus in the future – should a second wave or any other threat come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a French value set for the EQ-5D-5L, for academic and clinical research, and for regulatory requirements for price-setting of drugs and medical devices.Method: This study used the standardized valuation protocol developed by EuroQol, using computer-assisted personal interview software. A representative sample of 1048 French residents were interviewed by a market research company, under the supervision of the research team. Health states were valued using composite time trade-off and a discrete choice experiment. Modeling was used to create values for the 3125 possible health states. The composite time trade-off data were modeled using a Tobit model with censored observations at -1 and correcting for heteroscedasticity. A conditional logit model was used for the discrete choice results, and both models were combined using a hybrid model. An adjusted hybrid model was tested to correct for imbalance in the sample on age and sex compared with the general population. A comparison with the 3-level (3L) value set was performed.Results: The adjusted model was preferred to comply with the representativeness of the general population. It provided a value set for which all coefficients were logically consistent. Values ranged from - 0.525 to 1. The distribution of values presented a shift towards higher values versus the 3L value set. Ranking of dimensions changed. Pain and discomfort and mobility were the dimensions with the highest potential for disutility compared with mobility and self-care for the 3L instrument.Conclusions: This study provides a value set based on societal preferences of the French population, using an improved descriptive instrument of health-related quality-of-life health states. It will contribute to improve the quality of cost-effectiveness analysis in the French context and help stimulate disease-specific quality-of-life references for academic-, institutional-, and industry-promoted studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale (GCBS) is the most widely used measure of general belief in conspiracy theories. The scale comprises five related but distinct factors (Government Malfeasance, Extraterrestrial Cover-up, Malevolent Global Conspiracies, Personal Wellbeing, and Control of Information). Despite this, investigators have typically treated the GCBS as unidimensional by referencing only overall total. Although, the GCBS possesses established psychometric properties, critics question its factorial structure, suggest alternative models, and recommend routine examination of GCBS dimensions as part of analysis. Through two studies, the present paper assessed GCBS factorial structure, internal reliability, convergent validity, and invariance. This involved comparing the original five-factor solution with alternative one, two, and three-factor models. To ensure that the best fitting model was robust, the authors conducted analysis in two independent samples (Study one, N = 794, UK university-based sample; and Study two, N = 418, UK respondents collected via a market research company). Results in both studies indicated superior fit for the correlated five-factor solution. This solution demonstrated invariance across gender, and samples (Study one and two). Furthermore, the total scale and five subfactors evinced good alpha and omega total reliability. Convergent validity testing exhibited associations of an expected strength between conspiracist beliefs, reality testing, and cognitive insight. Large intercorrelations existed among GCBS subfactors, suggesting that the measure reflects a narrow set of interrelated conspiracist assumptions. These findings support the use of overall scale scores as an index of belief in conspiracy theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/context: In the last ten years, ethnography has consolidated itself as a central service in the portfolio of many market research companies in Colombia that offer their clients consumer ethnographies. The objective of this article is to describe and analyze how market research professionals understand and use ethnography. Methodology: The research that led to this article involved several phases. Initially, we identified the institutions that offer consumer ethnographies in Colombia. This was followed by an analysis of the service portfolios of these institutions, as well as an analysis of the discourse with which they offer their services, particularly in terms of ethnographic studies. Finally, more than twenty interviews were conducted with market research professionals in Bogotá, Cali and Medellín, all with experience in carrying out consumer ethnographies. Conclusions: Despite the fact that professionals in this field have recently opened up spaces for debate in academia, in Colombia, the process of integrating the ethnographic method into market research companies has not been analyzed in depth. An example of this is that at the XVII Congress of Anthropology in Colombia in 2019, for the first time, there were four tables devoted to anthropology applied to consumption, markets, industry, and business. Originality: These spaces are ideal for discussing the postulates and findings of this article, especially our conclusion that, in the field of market research, the discourse of anthropology is used and instrumentalised to endow consumer ethnographies with academic and scientific legitimacy, even though its methodological practices and assumptions tend to be underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humanoid robots should play an increasing role in hospitality and tourism services. Anthropomorphic – human like – characteristics seem critical component to consumers accepting robotic service (rService). This conceptual manuscript advances rService research by drawing on services marketing, Human Robot Interaction (HRI) and the Uncanny Valley Theory to explore anthropomorphic characteristics' range, role and impact on rService experiences. The paper proposes eleven robot capabilities that influence anthropomorphism and consequently shape HRI, three Uncanny Valley marketing outcomes, theoretical concepts, and a rich future research agenda. Hospitality and tourism literature and examples highlight the service context's importance when researching, adopting, implementing and marketing rServices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]