Consumers satisfaction with pharmaceutical services in community pharmacies in Benghazi-Libya

Background: The pharmacist, as a front-line provider, is always in contact with patients who come to the pharmacy for various reasons. This study aimed to determine patients’ satisfaction with pharmaceutical services provided by community pharmacists. Methods: An anonymous, pre-piloted questionnaire-based study was conducted in Benghazi, Libya. Data were analyzed using SPSS, and results were expressed as frequency and percentage of respondents. Results: A total of 281 completed questionnaires were received back. The majority (196, 69%) of respondents were female. The respondents were of different age groups, but most of them were between 17 and 24 (65.1%) years old. Over 50% of the participants were students (159, 56.6%). The majority of participants find the pharmacist helpful (96%), and 77% of the participants have categorized the pharmacist as a salesman. Most of the participants ask the pharmacist about how to use a medical device, the dose of medication, the frequency of use, the duration of treatment, and the side effects of the medication. Patients (113, 4.2%) do not ask the pharmacist because the physician provided information. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed a moderate level of patient satisfaction with the help provided by the community pharmacist. However, the pharmacist needs to fully practice his or her role to the advantage of the patients, and the latter needs to be aware of what to expect and demand from the community pharmacist.

Termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido e sua relação com os procedimentos de preenchimento labial / Free and informed consent terms and its relationship with lip filling procedures

Introdução: Na medida em que envelhecemos os lábios estreitam-se, ocasionando perda de volume e contorno e como forma de minimizar este efeito fisiológico o preenchimento labial de escolha utilizado é o ácido hialurônico. É possível perceber efeitos adversos advindos do emprego deste material, e pelo fato da informação ao paciente ser assegurada pelo Código de Defesa do Consumidor e pelo fato da necessidade dos Cirurgiões-Dentistas terem de esclarecer seus pacientes, o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido tornase necessário. Objetivo: identificar, por meio de aplicação de questionário, a percepção de profissionais que trabalham com Harmonização Orofacial em relação a necessidade do emprego do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE). O questionário apresentou 6 perguntas objetivas, que foram disponibilizadas na plataforma Google Forms®. Material e Método: os dados obtidos foram tabulados em uma planilha eletrônica do programa Microsoft Excel e após analisados descritivamente através de tabelas de frequência, porcentagens e gráficos estatísticos. Resultados: dentre os entrevistados foi constatado que a maioria, 87,5% dos especialistas em Harmonização Orofacial realizam o procedimento de preenchimento labial em sua rotina clínica, e 12,5% não. Conclusão: no presente estudo identificamos que os especialistas realizam o emprego do TCLE, em sua maioria, porém, alguns destes ainda negligenciam o seu uso(AU)

Introduction: As we age, the lips become thinner and to minimize this effect, the lip filler used is hyaluronic acid. It is possible to notice adverse effects arising from the use of this material, and it is extremely important that Dental Surgeons have to clarify their patients, the Free and Informed Consent Form becomes necessary. Objective: to identify, through the application of a questionnaire, the perception of professionals who work with Orofacial Harmonization in relation to the need to use the Free and Informed Consent Form (TCLE). The questionnaire presented 6 objective questions, which were made available on the Google Forms® platform. Materials and Methods: the data obtained were tabulated in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and then analyzed descriptively using frequency tables, percentages and graphs. Results: among those interviewed, it was found that the majority, 87.5% of specialists in Orofacial Harmonization perform the lip filling procedure in their clinical routine, and 12.5% do not. With the high percentage of 59.4%, it was possible to verify that the majority of professionals perform 1 to 3 procedures per month; 31.3% perform 4 to 9 procedures per month; and 9.4% of 10 or more monthly procedures. Conclusion: in the present study it was possible to identify that the majority of specialists in Orofacial Harmonization use the informed consent form, however, some of them still neglect its use(AU)

Marketing social: evolución y tendencias / Social marketing: evolution and trends / Marketing social: desenvolvimentos e tendências

RESUMEN El marketing social permite a las organizaciones promover comportamientos beneficiosos para la sociedad, abordando temas como salud, educación, inclusión social y medio ambiente. Además, es una herramienta utilizada para fortalecer las relaciones entre las empresas y sus grupos de interés, en especial con sus clientes. Debido al auge del tema entre investigadores, académicos y expertos, este estudio contribuye al marketing social al examinar su evolución y tendencias. Para ello se utilizan las publicaciones registradas entre los años 2000 y 2022 en las bases de datos Scopus y WoS. Los datos son analizados mediante herramientas como Bibliometrix, Tree of Science y Gephi, y se organizan los resultados mediante el esquema metafórico del "árbol de la ciencia". Este análisis facilita la identificación de los trabajos clásicos y estructurales, así como las principales tendencias en el campo. De estas últimas, sobresalen tres enfoques: el primero, el desarrollo teórico del marketing social, el segundo, el uso de estrategias en salud pública y prevención, y el tercero, la aplicación en programas de nutrición y comportamiento alimenticio. Asimismo, se propone una ruta para investigaciones futuras en la materia.

AВSTRАСT Social marketing enables organizations to promote behaviors beneficial to society, addressing issues such as health, education, social inclusion, and the environment. Moreover, it is a tool used to strengthen relationships between companies and their stakeholders, particularly their customers. Due to the topic's growing interest among researchers, academics, and experts, this study contributes to social marketing by examining its evolution and trends. For this, publications recorded between the years 2000 and 2022 in the Scopus and WoS databases are utilized. Data is analyzed using tools such as Bibliometrix, Tree of Science, and Gephi, and results are organized through the metaphorical framework of the "tree of science." This analysis facilitates the identification of classic and structural works, as well as the main trends in the field. Of these, three approaches stand out: firstly the theoretical development of social marketing, secondly, the use of strategies in public health and prevention, and thirdly, the application in nutrition programs and eating behavior A path for future research in the subject is also proposed.

RESUMO O marketing social permite que as organizações promovam comportamentos que sejam benéficos para a sociedade, abordando questões como saúde, educação, inclusão social e meio ambiente. É também uma ferramenta usada para fortalecer as relações entre as empresas e suas partes interessadas, especialmente seus clientes. Devido ao aumento do tema entre pesquisadores, acadêmicos e especialistas, este estudo contribui para o marketing social ao examinar sua evolução e tendências. Para isso, são utilizadas publicações registradas entre 2000 e 2022 nos bancos de dados Scopus e WoS. Os dados são analisados por meio de ferramentas como Bibliometrix, Tree of Science e Gephi, e os resultados são organizados usando o esquema metafórico da "árvore da ciência". Essa análise facilita a identificação de trabalhos clássicos e estruturais, bem como as principais tendências no campo. Dessas últimas, três abordagens se destacam: a primeira, o desenvolvimento teórico do marketing social; a segunda, o uso de estratégias em saúde pública e prevenção; e a terceira, a aplicação em programas de nutrição e comportamento alimentar: O estudo também propõe um caminho para pesquisas futuras nessa área.

Produtos clareadores de venda livre: uma revisão de literatura / Over-the-counter whitening products available in Brazil: a literature review

Objetivo: Revisar a literatura quanto aos efeitos dos produtos de venda livre destinados ao clareamento dental disponíveis no mercado brasileiro. Revisão de literatura: Foram consultadas as bases de dados PubMed, Scielo e Google Scholar, além de busca manual de referências. A incessante busca pelo sorriso perfeito aumenta a procura por procedimentos estéticos, como o clareamento dental, recomendado por cirurgiões-dentistas devido à sua segurança e eficácia comprovadas. Contudo, em meio à demanda por alternativas mais acessíveis e que dispensem o acompanhamento profissional, surgiram no mercado os produtos clareadores de venda livre ou OTC (do inglês over-the-counter), que são opções alternativas ao clareamento profissional. Discussão: A predominância de estudos laboratoriais destaca que a eficácia dos produtos OTC difere dos tratamentos profissionais. Os dentifrícios branqueadores contendo peróxido demonstram eficácia na redução de manchas extrínsecas, com desgaste semelhante ou inferior aos dentifrícios regulares, dependendo do substrato avaliado. Já os enxaguatórios clareadores apresentam evidências limitadas de eficácia em comparação aos produtos de concentrações mais elevadas de peróxido. As receitas caseiras e produtos naturais para clareamento dental mostraram-se ineficazes em comparação aos tratamentos profissionais, levantando preocupações sobre sua segurança devido ao potencial de causar danos irreversíveis à estrutura dental. O carvão ativado não possui efeito clareador, apresenta potencial abrasivo e causa manchamento em mucosa bucal. Conclusão: Produtos clareadores OTC, embora atrativos pela autonomia oferecida, não demonstram, em sua maioria, eficácia significativa, devendo seu uso ser recomendando com cautela, preferencialmente com orientação profissional. Salienta-se a importância da educação contínua para que cirurgiões-dentistas acompanhem as tendências nesse campo.

Aim: To review the literature regarding the effects of over-the-counter (OTC) dental whiteningproducts available in the Brazilian market.Literature review: PubMed, Scielo, and Google Scholar databases were consulted, along with a manual reference search. The relentless pursuit of the perfect smile has led to an increased demand for aesthetic procedures, such as dental whitening, recommended by dentists due to their proven safety and efficacy. However, amid the demand for more affordable alternatives that do not require professional supervision, over-the-counter whitening products have emerged in the market as alternative options to professional whitening. Discussion: The prevalence of laboratory studies highlights that the efficacy of OTC products differs from professional treatments. Whitening toothpaste containing peroxide demonstrates effectiveness in reducing extrinsic stains, with wear similar to or lower than regular toothpaste, depending on the evaluated substrate. On the other hand, whitening mouthwashes show limited evidence of efficacy compared to products with higher concentrations of peroxide. Home remedies and natural whitening products have proven ineffective compared to professional treatments, raising concerns about their safety due to the potential for causing irreversible damage to dental structure. Activated charcoal lacks whitening effects, has potential abrasiveness, and causes staining on the oral mucosa.Conclusion: Although OTC whitening products may be appealing for their autonomy, they generally do not demonstrate significant efficacy. Their use should be recommended with caution, preferably under professional guidance. Emphasizing the importance of continuous education, dentists should stay abreast of trends in this field.

Socio-demographic determinants of Filipino consumers reading food product labels and nutrition facts: Findings from the 2018-2019 ENNS

Objectives@#While food product labelling is deemed important in providing consumer information, little is known about the characteristics of those reading and not reading. This study aimed to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of Filipino adult consumers reading and not reading food product labels and nutrition facts to provide insights on their understanding and usage of food labels that may help in designing better label formats of packaged foods and related health education campaigns.@*Methods@#Cross-sectional design using secondary data from the Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) 2018- 2019 was employed. A survey form on Reading Food Product Labels and Nutrition Facts in the ENNS 2018-2019 were collected through face-to-face interviews. Descriptive statistics, test of proportions, and logistic regression were done using Stata version 16.@*Results@#Always reading product labels were reported only by 19.6% of adult consumers, 18 years old and above, while 45.9% reported not reading food product labels. Among those who read food product labels, only 16.7% reported reading nutrition facts. Higher proportions of adults reading nutrition facts were found among those who attained a higher educational level, were less than 40 years old, living in urban residences, and belonging to higher wealth status. ‘Not interested’ was the top reason of adults who reported not reading nutrition facts.@*Conclusion@#Reading product labels and nutrition facts is not common among Filipino adults. Being not interested was the top reason for not reading food product labels. Older persons, adults with low educational attainment, and belonging to poor households were more likely to not read food product labels and not influenced by nutrition facts which imply the need for a food label format that would cater to those who cannot or have difficulty reading food labels and nutrition facts. An intensified campaign on the importance of reading food product labels is also needed.

Places to purchase food in urban and rural areas of Brazil / Locais de aquisição de alimentos nas áreas urbanas e rurais do Brasil

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the locations of food and beverage acquisition in Brazil, according to the level of food processing and household location (urban/rural). Methods: Data from 49,489 households from the Household Budget Survey 2017-2018 were used. Information regarding food and beverages was collected through a collective acquisition booklet over 7 consecutive days. Locations were classified into 10 groups on the basis of similarities in sales structure and mode of food offering, and food and beverages were categorized according to the NOVA classification. The frequency of households acquiring food in each location was estimated, as well as the acquisition frequency according to processing level, considering significance through non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals. Results: Half of the households (51.9%) acquired food in supermarkets, contributing to both the acquisition of fresh and minimally processed foods (92.2% in urban; 90.2% in rural) and ultra-processed foods (78.6% in urban; 74.1% in rural). For the urban area, the Supermarket (55.0%), Bakery (46.5%) and Small markets (43.1%) are among the places with the highest frequency of food acquisition, while for rural areas, it is found that Small Markets (53%), Supermarkets (32.3%) and Home production (31.0%) presented the highest frequencies. Conclusion: The acquisition of food and beverages for household consumption in Brazil differs according to household location (urban/rural), indicating the importance of the community food environment in the consumption patterns of ultra-processed foods.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever os locais de aquisição de alimentos e bebidas consumidos no Brasil, conforme o nível de processamento dos alimentos e a área de localização do domicílio (urbano/rural). Métodos: Utilizaram-se dados de 49.489 domicílios da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares 2017-2018. As informações relativas aos alimentos e bebidas foram coletadas por meio da caderneta de aquisição coletiva durante sete dias consecutivos. Os locais de aquisição foram classificados em dez grupos de acordo com as similaridades na estrutura de venda e no modo de oferta de alimentos, e todos os alimentos e bebidas foram categorizados de acordo com a classificação NOVA. Estimou-se a frequência de domicílios que adquiriram alimentos em cada um dos locais, bem como a frequência de aquisição segundo o nível de processamento, e considerou-se a significância por meio da não sobreposição dos intervalos de confiança de 95%. Resultados: Metade dos domicílios (51,9%) adquiriu alimentos em supermercados, locais estes que contribuíram tanto para a aquisição de alimentos in natura (92,2% urbano; 90,2% rural) quanto ultraprocessados (78,6% urbana; 74,1% rural). Para a área urbana, supermercado (55,0%), padaria (46,5%) e pequenos mercados (43,1%) estão entre os locais com maior frequência de aquisição de alimentos, enquanto, para as áreas rurais, verifica-se que os pequenos mercados (53%), supermercado (32,3%) e produção em casa (31,0%) apresentaram as maiores frequências. Conclusão: A aquisição de alimentos e bebidas para consumo domiciliar no Brasil difere de acordo com a área de localização do domicílio (urbana/rural), indicando a importância do cenário do ambiente alimentar comunitário nos padrões de consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados.

Risk of false conformity decisions due to measurement uncertainty of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient: A multiparametric evaluation

Abstract Medicines must be subject to physical, chemical, and biological analysis to guarantee their quality, safety, and effectiveness. Despite the efforts to ensure the reliability of analytical results, some uncertainty will always be associated with the measured value, which can lead to false decisions regarding conformity/non-conformity assessment. This work aims to calculate the specific risk of false decisions regarding conformity/non-conformity of acetaminophen oral solution dosage form. The acetaminophen samples from five different manufacturers (A, B, C, D, and E) were subject to an active pharmaceutical ingredient assay, density test, and dose per drop test according to the official compendia. Based on measured values and their respective uncertainties, the risk values were calculated using the Monte Carlo method implemented in an MS Excel spreadsheet. The results for two acetaminophen oral solution samples (C and D) provided an increased total risk value of false acceptance (33.1% and 9.6% for C and D, respectively). On the other hand, the results for the other three acetaminophen samples (A, B, and E) provided a negligible risk of false acceptance (0.004%, 0.025%, and 0.045% for A, B, and E, respectively). This indicates that measurement uncertainty is very relevant when a conformity assessment is carried out, and information on the risks of false decisions is essential to ensure proper decisions.

Internet use by pregnant women during prenatal care

ABSTRACT Objective: The search for medical information on the internet is a part of people's daily lives. Exponential volumes of data are available through various media and platforms. There are several problems related to the ease of creating and accessing medical information on the internet, as evidenced by the quantity of false content and increasing anxiety due to the consumption of these data. In light of this accessibility, it is necessary to understand how people use internet-based medical information and its impact on specific populations. This prospective study aimed to analyze pregnant women's behavior when searching for health-related information on the internet, and how they were influenced by the information. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to the participants during their immediate puerperium, and their answers were tabulated. Results: Three hundred and two patients answered the questionnaires. We observed that internet use was frequent, and most patients discussed the findings with their physicians. However, this did not affect the delivery routes. Conclusion: The search for health information by pregnant women is very prevalent but does not interfere with the delivery route.

Gap between awareness and practices of cosmeceuticals among young adults of Panjab University

Background: Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products that contain bioactive ingredients with pharmaceutical properties. These products are designed to improve skin health and appearance by providing functional benefits beyond traditional cosmetics. However, there exists a noticeable gap between the awareness of these specialized formulations and their practical application by consumers. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 171 students. The data was collected by conducting personal interviews using an interview /survey schedule designed specifically for this study. Descriptive and analytical statistics were utilized to get the necessary results. Results: The study included 171 participants, with (24.6%) males and (75.4%) females. Notably, a high level of awareness (100%) and utilization (60.8%) was observed for essential skincare products where females tend to use cosmeceuticals more frequently. Also, the cleansers (100%), moisturizers (100%), and sunscreen (100%) were most valued and were daily incorporated into skincare routines. Conclusions: The findings revealed the prevalence of cosmeceutical awareness and usage, with cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreen being the most recognized and adopted products. However, a notable gender discrepancy in the usage of certain products suggests variations in preferences and concerns among males and females. Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of cosmeceutical usage patterns, and knowledge gaps. Future efforts should focus on exploring these gaps and promoting responsible and well-informed consumer practices, ultimately fostering a healthier approach to skincare and cosmeceutical products.

Modified Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale 2023: stratification and updates

Socioeconomic status (SES) is evaluated by considering a family's income, level of education, and occupation of head of household. SES serves as significant indicator of the family's overall health and their access to resources. Modified Kuppuswamy scale is among the most used tools to assess SES of urban residents, but it necessitates regular updates due to consistent inflation. In this study, present updated version of modified Kuppuswamy socioeconomic scale for the year 2023 in India. Additionally, we have further refined the income points for the scales that were previously underutilized. This refinement aims to ensure more accurate categorization of families based on their societal position.

Servicios farmacéuticos y aplicación de la informatización para la satisfacción de los consumidores / Pharmaceutical Services and Computerization Use for Consumer Satisfaction

Introducción: Los servicios farmacéuticos a nivel mundial juegan un papel determinante en la estabilidad del cuadro básico de salud. El uso de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones en este sector de la salud y en muchos otros han conducido el avance en lo que a satisfacción a los consumidores se refiere. La atención farmacéutica en Cuba y la incorporación de estas tecnologías para mejorar la satisfacción del público es un reto para el gobierno cubano. Objetivo: Determinar el estado de los servicios farmacéuticos y la aplicación de la informatización para la satisfacción de los consumidores. Método: Se empleó la metodología propuesta por investigadores de la Universidad de Keele, que consta de tres etapas: planeación de la revisión, desarrollo de la revisión y presentación de reportes de la revisión. Se obtuvo una selección de 1283 artículos. A partir de los criterios de exclusión se analizó la calidad de un total de 438 estudios y, finalmente, fueron seleccionados 24 artículos. La utilización de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones en la industria farmacéutica facilita intercambio de grandes cantidades de información. Conclusiones: Se identificaron investigaciones acerca de los servicios farmacéuticos en los últimos 5 años y existe una proyección a favor del uso de las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones en los servicios farmacéuticos. Dentro de los desafíos que enfrenta el sector farmacéutico, se encuentran aspectos de carácter normativo, logístico, económico y de capacitación de los recursos humanos(AU)

Introduction: Pharmaceutical services worldwide play a determining role in the stability of the basic health situation. The use of information and communications technologies in this health sector and many others have led to progress in terms of consumer satisfaction. Pharmaceutical care in Cuba and the incorporation of these technologies to improve public satisfaction is a challenge for the Cuban government. Objective: To determine the state of pharmaceutical services and the computerization use for consumer satisfaction. Methods: The methodology proposed by researchers at Keele University was used; it consists of three stages: review planning, review development and review reporting. A selection of 1283 articles was retrieved. Based on the exclusion criteria, the quality of a total of 438 studies was analyzed and, finally, 24 articles were selected. The use of information and communications technologies in the pharmaceutical industry facilitates the exchange of large amounts of information. Conclusions: Research on pharmaceutical services was identified in the last 5 years and there is a projection in favor of the use of information and communications technologies in pharmaceutical services. Among the challenges faced by the pharmaceutical sector are regulatory, logistical, economic and human resource training aspects(AU)

IMPACT OF FEAR ON DEMOGRAPHY PROFILE AND EDUCATION TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS DURING COVID19 PANDEMIC

Every human being, from birth to death, is inevitably accompanied by the dominant emotion of fear. It starts when we perceive a physical or emotional threat to our life that poses a variety of risks. The customer was structurally exposed to the dread that is present in the possibility of impending infection, per the research findings at the period of "lockdown" (average score = 4.26; standard deviation = 0.865; relative standard deviation = 22.3%). Evidently, all people have a deep-seated dread of COVID-19 infection, which manifests as conscious and unconscious anxieties and phobias that influence purchases, but it can also be a helpful defence mechanism that prevents us from dying before our time. According to respondents, existential insecurity and imbalance are the root causes of fear during a pandemic (average score = 4.57, standard deviation = 1.41, and relative deviation = 21.8%). Additionally, fear was defined for the purposes of this study as an unpleasant, uncomfortable feeling related to a current or potential COVID-19 threat that increases intake in both men and women. Because the specific elements of the threat affect the emotional reaction, the perception of risk and danger, and the consumption of dietary supplements, it is crucial to consider the peculiarities of the threat of coronavirus infection. This is confirmed by the finding that 75% of respondents reported their use of dietary supplements has increased since the pandemic's beginning

Study On Consumer Behaviour With Respect To Brand In Online Shopping Of Durable Product Among Tribal's Of Ranchi District

Consumer behavior can be defined as the activities and the actions of people and organization that purchase and use economic goods and services, including the influence on these activities and actions. Marketers expect that by understanding what causes the consumers to buy particular goods and services, they will be able to determine which products are needed in the marketplace, which are obsolete, and how best to present the goods to the consumers. In the changing digital era, people buying online have drastically increased when compared to offline shopping. Existence of many online platforms has increased the choices for the consumers. It is a common rule in economics, that when there are more choices for the consumer, there is more competition. The online platforms has also developed there specializations like Myntra for fashion, amazon for electronics, big basket for food and so on. This specialization in online platforms has actually given various new factors for the consumers to compare the products. After the arrival of these many platforms, consumers have changed their view over the branding of products. There are consumers who are loyal to the brands in few products and there are also consumers who find only the best deals irrespective of branding. This paper studies the consumer's choices and behavior towards the brands in online shopping in a survey method.

TRIBAL CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS ONLINE SHOPPING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY OF RURAL RANCHI DISTRICT

This paper discusses the Tribal people of Ranchi District behavior towards online shopping, it also discusses why they prefer online shopping and why not. In recent years, rural markets have acquired significance, as the overall growth of the economy has resulted into substantial increase in the purchasing power of the rural communities. Rural Markets are defined as those segments of overall market of any economy, which are distinct from the other types of markets like stock market, commodity markets or Labor economics. Online shopping or e-shopping is a form of electronic commerce which allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from a seller over the Internet using a web browser. Alternative names are: e-web-store, e-shop, e-store, Internet shop, web-shop, web-store, online store, online storefront and virtual store. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of consumer perceptions in regards to online shopping. A sample of 100 (55 males and 45 females) respondents were taken into consideration from tribal people of rural Ranchi District.

Os perfis de gamers adultos pagantes: uma análise sobre os valores preferidos em jogos / The profiles of paying adult gamers: an analysis of the preferred values in games

Os indivíduos constantemente tomam decisões de consumo, que também impactam na cadeia que participa direta ou indiretamente para a criação daquele produto ou serviço. Assim, compreender melhor os perfis dos consumidores de jogos digitais auxiliam os desenvolvedores locais a produzir jogos que despertem e mantenham o interesse desses gamers, tornando esse, o principal objetivo desta pesquisa. Para tal, utilizou-se a Análise de Clusters, através do método K-means para variáveis categóricas, onde foram encontradas quatro personas. Os grupos com mais idade e com renda mensal de R$ 2.200,01 a R$ 4.400,00 expressou um comportamento prudente em relação aos gastos com jogos (gastaram de 0 a 100 reais, nos últimos 6 meses). Os outros dois grupos restantes, mais jovens, apresentaram características financeiras distintas: o de menor renda mensal (até R$ 1.100,00) não foi o que menos gastou com jogos eletrônicos nos últimos 6 meses (101 a 250 reais). A pesquisa também concluiu que "autonomia para seguir vários caminhos" foi bastante valorizada pelos 4 perfis, nomeados de "jogador retraído", "jogador apaixonado", "jogador nostálgico" e "jogador vontade", refletindo as características principais de cada perfil.

Individuals constantly make consumption decisions, which impact not only the consumer, but also the entire chain that participates directly or indirectly in the creation of that product or service. Thus, there is a need to better understand the profiles of consumers of digital entertainment games, so that local developers can produce games that arouse and maintain the interest of these gamers, making this the main objective of this research. For this, Cluster Analysis was used, through the K-means method for categorical variables, where four personas were found, which were translated by their reference profiles (detailed in D descriptions), and represented a set of similar profiles in the sample space of the respondents, with homogeneous characteristics to this "focal profile". The groups composed of the oldest age group (31 ­ 40 years old) and with a monthly income of BRL 2,200.01 to BRL 4,400.00 expressed a prudent behavior in relation to spending on games (they spent from BRL 0.00 to BRL 100.00 in the last 6 months). The other two remaining groups, formed by the younger age group (21 ­ 30 years), had different financial characteristics: the one with the lowest monthly income (up to BRL 1,100.00) was not the one who spent the least on electronic games in the last 6 months. (BRL 101.00 to BRL 250.00). The survey also concluded that "autonomy to follow several paths" was highly valued by the 4 profiles, named "withdrawn player", "passionate player", "nostalgic player" and "willing player"" to reflect the main characteristics of each profile.

Knowledge, attitude and practice among dentists of Gujarat regarding medico-legal issues

Background: Law concerns with every field of human life and dentistry is no exception. Therefore, knowledge of legal aspects is as important as knowledge of medicine in life of health care professionals. The patient-dentist relationship had undergone a significant transition over the past few decades with upsurge anxiety in the community and increased lawsuits against dentists. Thus, a health care professional must know about medico-legal problems to protect oneself from legal issues. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire was pre-tested among the group of 10 professionals prior to the study. It was made available to dental practitioners residing in Ahmedabad city. It was mandatory to answer all the questions. Data was collected through online survey forms and were subjected to descriptive statistics. Results: The results showed that there was lack of knowledge in majority of dentists regarding medico-legal issues. Nearly half (53%) of the participants were unaware concerning consumer protection act and 81.33% of the candidates were not aware regarding minimum duration for the preservation of dental records. Around 56% were unaware about revised code of ethics and less than half know about negligence and non-negligence acts. Conclusions: The present study depicted that majority of the dentists lack knowledge concerning medico-legal issues. Therefore, seminars should be arranged to intensify their knowledge regarding legal facets or more information should be added in dental curriculum.

A STUDY ON BUYING BEHAVIOR TOWARDS BRANDED TELEVISION PRODUCTS IN MYSORE CITY, KARNATAKA

Television is one of the important human needs in life, as it provides huge information and entertainments in various modes. Television industry changed drastically with the advent of latest models, technologies and various features relating to the physical appearance of the television. Customers consider many factors before making a purchase decision in buying a television. This paper is an attempt to study the consumer behavior towards various television brands. The researcher considered signi?cant factors such as media exposure, brand preference and brand awareness to in?uence purchase behavior.

The Status and Trends of Food Fraud in Tamale, Ghana

Despite its seriousness, food fraud has not received the necessary attention in Ghana’s discourse on food safety. Food fraud is generally considered as the intentional misrepresentation of the contents or identity of food for economic gain. The study was aimed at assessing the food fraud awareness level of participants as well as the foods most likely to be implicated in food fraud cases in Tamale, Ghana. Data was collected from 385 participants, including food business operators and consumers, via a simple random sampling technique using a structured questionnaire. Most participants (54%) were not aware of food fraud and its related activities before the study. Beverages and juices, fruits and vegetables, spices, oils, meat and fish, baked foods, honey, milk, and semi-processed local foods such as groundnut paste, "Dawadawa," “Kulikuli zim,” and “Agushi powder” were all revealed to be implicated in food fraud by respondents. Adulteration was the most common food fraud action, but tampering, substitution, and mislabeling were also identified as ongoing in the study area. “Moora” (Bixa orellana seeds) was revealed as the key adulterant used in most foods. Food fraud, which is a threat to consumer health and well-being, is active in the region and is predicted to increase without strict regulation and increased sensitization about its dangers. The fight against food fraud should be refocused on making food defense systems like vulnerability analysis and critical control points (VACCP) a key aspect of food safety systems to tackle food fraud.

A-study-on-consumer-buying-behaviour-towards-departmental-stores-with-special-reference-to-imphal-city

This study explores consumer buying behavior towards departmental stores in Imphal city, aiming to help retailers better understand and capture their target consumers. The research type is qualitative in nature, as the aim was to uncover underlying consumer motivations regarding departmental stores in the Imphal area of Manipur. A sample of 105 respondents was analyzed using statistical tools including percentage analysis, rank analysis, and Likert scale. The results indicate that consumers prefer stores offering a variety of quality-maintained products, with discounts and special offers also playing a significant role in attracting customers. This study underscores the importance of continued analysis and assessment of consumer behavior and satisfaction in ensuring the long-term success of businesses

A Study On Factors Influencing Consumer Buying Behaviour Towards Online Shopping In Karaikudi Town

The idea of online purchases is becoming more popular as a result of the development in the fields of information and technology. People now look for alternate options for purchasing because they do not have enough time to directly go to a store to place an order. Nowadays, individuals prefer to make online purchases, use credit or debit cards to pay their utility bills, and have goods delivered to their doorstep at a cheaper and more attractive price. The current study was carried out to assess influencing factors in Karaikudi town and to rank influencing factors with online shopping. Primary data have been collected from 120 respondents in the study area with the help of an interview schedule. Percentage analysis and the ranking method were used to analyse the collected data. The findings of the study reveal that majority of the respondents (55.83%) are male, most of the respondents (35.84%) belong to the age group upto 25, and 34.17% of the respondents purchased clothing through online shopping