The global significance of the energy crisis and the need for a sustainable European electricity system have intensified interest in renewable energy sources. This study aims to explore the attitudes toward solar energy systems among the population of the North Transdanubian region, which is crucial for companies in the region specializing in solar system installation. The research sheds light on trends in energy prices, potential strategies for addressing the energy crisis, and the regulatory environment for solar systems in Hungary and Austria, focusing on the Burgenland region. The study is divided into two main sections: secondary and primary research. The secondary research presents various applications of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, and examines energy pricing trends in the two countries, with particular emphasis on the payback period and the impact of changes in energy prices. The primary research is also divided into two parts: the first examines the satisfaction of customers who already use solar systems, and the second focuses on the attitudes of potential customers toward solar investments. The findings provide a comprehensive view of both current users’ and prospective investors’ perspectives on solar energy systems. The practical significance of this research lies in identifying development opportunities for companies, advancing energy efficiency goals, and supporting sustainability efforts.
Rural sub-Saharan Africa faces limited medical access, healthcare worker shortages, and inadequate health information systems. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies offer potential solutions but remain underdeveloped in these settings. This review aims to explore the sociocultural context of mHealth adoption in rural sub-Saharan Africa to support sustainable implementation. A comprehensive Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) search was conducted in databases like PubMed, MEDLINE, and African Journals Online, covering peer-reviewed literature from 2010 to 2024. Qualitative studies of mHealth interventions were included, with quality assessed via the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist and data synthesized using a meta-ethnographic approach. Out of 892 studies, 38 met the inclusion criteria. Key findings include sociocultural factors like community trust influencing technology acceptance, local implementation strategies, user empowerment in health decisions, and innovative solutions for infrastructure issues. Challenges include privacy concerns, increased healthcare worker workload, and intervention sustainability. While mHealth can reduce healthcare barriers, success depends on sociocultural alignment and adaptability. Future interventions should prioritize community co-design, privacy protection, and sustainable, infrastructure-aware models.
Rural tourism, which offers authentic cultural and nature-based experiences, is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for sustainable development. Ethiopia, with its rich rural landscapes and cultural heritage, holds immense potential for rural tourism, but the sector remains underdeveloped. This study assesses the facilitating conditions and challenges of rural tourism in Ethiopia using a mixed-methods approach. Results indicate that Ethiopia’s economic growth, improved rural infrastructure, large rural population, higher ethnic and religious diversity index, and 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites provide strong foundations for rural tourism. However, significant challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited marketing, restricted access to financing, ethnic conflicts, environmental degradation, and insufficient stakeholder cooperation hinder its growth. To address these barriers, the study proposes a model encompassing strategic investments in infrastructure, enhancing marketing and promotion, access to finance initiatives, conflict resolution strategies, sustainable tourism practices, enhancing stakeholder coordination, and supportive policy frameworks. By employing these strategies, Ethiopia can harness the full potential of its rural tourism sector, contributing to economic development and community well-being while promoting cultural preservation and environmental sustainability. Also, the proposed model is highly applicable to other developing economies that share similar contexts. Besides, given the importance of the seven fundamental pillars of the model, it remains relevant across tourism types like coastal destinations.
Background: In healthcare, research is essential for improving disease diagnosis and treatment, patient outcomes, and resource management, while fostering evidence-based practice. However, conducting research in this sector can be challenging, and healthcare workers may face various obstacles while engaging in research activities. Therefore, understanding healthcare workers’ attitudes toward research participation is essential for overcoming barriers and increasing research engagement. In this study, these aspects are examined through the analysis of survey data from a tertiary healthcare institution in Saudi Arabia. Method: Data obtained via a survey conducted between April and November 2022 among the healthcare workers and employees at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia were analyzed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. Results: The study sample comprised 713 respondents, 61.71% of whom were female, 58.06% were 26–41 years old, and 72.93% had not undertaken any research as employees or affiliates. A significant association was noted between age group and time constraints (p = 0.004) and lack of opportunity for research (p = 0.00), which were among the identified barriers to research participation. A significant association was also found between gender and barriers to pursuing research (p = 0.012). When the 193 (27.07%) participants who conducted research were asked about the challenges they encountered during this process, gender was significantly associated with difficulties in allocating time for conducting research (p = 0.042) and challenges in accessing journals and references (p = 0.016). Conclusion: The study findings highlight the importance of addressing the barriers and challenges in promoting positive attitudes toward research participation among healthcare workers considering their gender and age. In this manner, healthcare institutions can adopt an environment conducive for professional research engagement.
Adopting electric vehicles (E.V.) is crucial for promoting sustainable mobility in metropolitan areas such as Medan, Indonesia. To achieve this, it is essential to comprehend the factors that influence E.V. adoption, with a particular focus on the impact of media. This study examines the adoption of electric vehicles in Medan and evaluates the influence of the media on the public’s perception and policy decisions. Opinions, concerns, and recommendations surrounding electric vehicles were examined through surveys and interviews with 35 stakeholders, including students, lawmakers, industry experts, business owners, and media professionals. The findings indicate a strong knowledge and favorable perception of electric vehicles in Medan. However, there are worries regarding the expenses associated with E.V.s and the availability of charging infrastructure. Notably, 60% of the respondents identified media as their primary source of information, highlighting its significant influence. Encouraging cooperation between media, professionals, and stakeholders is advisable to achieve accurate and balanced reporting. This can be done by employing techniques like showcasing success stories and emphasizing the environmental advantages to encourage acceptance and implementation. This study provides valuable insights into improving the adoption of electric vehicles in Medan. It emphasizes the significance of implementing effective media strategies and supportive policies to achieve sustainable transportation solutions.
Good health and well-being are embedded in the 3rd Goal amongst the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The primary objective of this research was to identify the most critical economic, social, and administrative barriers to implementing the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. A sequential exploratory design and case study technique were used, employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. In the first stage, in-depth interviews with 50 key officials were conducted to identify the most critical barriers to the EPI program. A quantitative analysis was then performed based on the results obtained from qualitative analysis, and rank orders of barriers were received from the same health department experts. The results indicate that twenty-eight barriers can cause implementation problems for this program. Still, the ten barriers that gained the maximum hits are the most important barriers, which include Shortage of vaccinators, mismanagement of vaccines’ cold chain, biometric android application, ice-lined refrigerators, communication gap, inadequate legislation of EPI program, capacity building issues with EPI staff, Misconceptions about EPI program, lack of awareness of the parents and community, refusal cases and inadequate cooperation of lady health workers (LHWs). Coordinated efforts of the government and the public are highly recommended to address these barriers.
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