Introduction, purpose of the study: In Central Europe, in Hungary, the state guarantees access to health care and basic health services partly through the Semmelweis Plan adopted in 2011. The Health Plan aims to optimize and transform the health system. The objectives of hospital integration, as set out in the Plan, started with the state ownership of municipal hospitals in 2012, continued with the launch of integration processes in 2012–2013 and culminated today. The transformation of a health system can have an impact on health services and thus on meeting the needs of the population. We aim to study the effectiveness of integration through access to CT diagnostic testing. Our hypothesis is that integration has resulted in increased access to modern diagnostic services. The specialty under study is computed tomography (CT) diagnostic care. Our research shows that the number of people receiving CT diagnostic care has increased significantly because of integration, which has also brought a number of positive benefits, such as reduced health inequalities, reduced travel time, costs and waiting lists. Test material and method: Our quantitative retrospective research was carried out in the hospital of Kalocsa through document analysis. The research material was comparing two time periods in the Kalocsa site of Bács-Kiskun County, Southern Hungary. The number of patients attending CT examinations by area of duty of care according to postal codes was collected: Pre-integration period 2014.01.01–2017.11.30. (Kalocsa did not have CT equipment, so patients who appeared in Kecskemét Hospital but were under the care of Kalocsa), post-integration period 2017.12.01–2019.12.31. (period after the installation of CT in Kalocsa). The target group of the study consisted of women and men together, aged 0–99 years, who appeared for a CT diagnostic examination. The study sample size was 6721 persons. Linear regression statistics were used to evaluate the results. Based on empirical experience, a SWOT analysis was carried out to further investigate the effectiveness of integration. Results: As a result of the integration, the CT scan machine purchased in the Kalocsa District Hospital has enabled an average of 129.7 patients per month to receive CT scans on site without travelling. The model used is significant, explaining 86% of the change in the number of patients served (F = 43.535; p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.860). The variable of integration in the model is significant, with an average increase in the number of patients served of 129.7 per month (t = 22.686; p < 0.001) following the introduction of CT due to integration. None of the month variables representing seasonal effects were found to be significant, with no seasonal effect on care. The SWOT analysis has clearly identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats related to the integration, the main outcome of which is the acquisition of a CT diagnostic tool. Conclusions: Although we only looked at one segment of the evidence for the effectiveness of hospital integration, integration in the study area has had a positive impact on CT availability, reducing disparities in care.
This research delves into the correlation between institutional quality and tourism development in a panel of nine Mediterranean countries within the European Union spanning from 1996 to 2021. The study gauges tourism development by examining tourist arrivals, while considering GDP growth rate, inflation, higher education, environmental quality, and trade as control variables representing factors influencing tourism. Institutional quality is measured through indicators such as regulatory quality, rule of law, and control of corruption. Utilizing Fully Modified Ordinary Least Square (FMOLS) and Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS) models, the study aims to quantify the impact of these factors on tourism development. The findings indicate a positive relationship between institutional quality and tourism, shedding light on the pivotal role of institutions in tourism management and their influence on the sector. These results have implications for shaping national development strategies.
This article explores the application of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2) framework in the context of integrating self-driving tractors into agricultural practices. With a focus on understanding the factors influencing the acceptance and adoption of this transformative technology, we delve into the implications for farmers, industry stakeholders, and the future of sustainable agriculture and rural tourism.
Low levels of financial literacy cause people to have lower savings rates, higher transaction costs, larger debts and the loans acquisition with higher interest rates, therefore it becomes relevant to analyze the determinants of financial literacy. The aim of this research is to identify whether there is an association between the financial literacy level and sociodemographic characteristics. The Mexican Petroleum Company (Pemex) employees is the population analyzed. Pemex is the state-owned oil and natural gas producer, transporter, refiner and marketer in Mexico. A non-probabilistic convenience sampling was performed and 404 responses were obtained. The analysis of data was carried out with the Bayesian method. The results show that there is an association between Pemex employees’ level of financial literacy and their level of education, income, age and type of retirement saving. No association was found between their level of financial literacy and gender, marital status and whether or not they have children.
The aim of this article is to investigate the impediments to creativity perceived by managers, the levels of creativity, its indicators, and personal characteristics conducive to creativity, as well as to elucidate the correlations among them. An experimental study was conducted involving 300 participants. Methods employed include surveying, testing, and mathematical statistical analysis. As the level of creativity increases, participants tend to assess their opportunities more favorably. The expression of creativity depends on the interconnection among the barriers to creativity, indicators of creativity, and personal qualities of creativity. A high level of creativity is manifested when there are fewer barriers and personal qualities such as Imagination and a propensity for Risk-taking. Conversely, the level of expression of creativity is low when there is an interconnection between Creativity and Complexity, Imagination, and creativity barriers such as lack of confidence and conformity to majority opinion.
Outsourcing logistics operations is a common trend as businesses prioritize core activities. Establishing a sustainable partnership between businesses and logistics service providers requires a systematic approach. This study is needed to develop a more effective and adaptive framework for logistics service provider selection by integrating diverse criteria and decision-making methodologies, ultimately enhancing the precision and sustainability of procurement processes. This study advocate for leveraging industry-based knowledge in procurement, emphasizing the need to define decision-making elements. The research analyzes nearly 300 logistics procurement projects, using a neural network-based methodology to propose a model that aids businesses in identifying optimal criteria for evaluating logistics service providers based on extensive industry knowledge. The goal of this study is to develop and test a practical model that would support businesses in choosing most suitable criteria for selection of logistics service providers based on cumulative market patterns. The results of this study are as follows. It introduces novel elements by gathering and systematizing unique market data using developed data processing methodology. It innovatively classifies decision-making elements, allocating them into distinct groups for use as features in a neural network. The study further contributes by developing and training a predictive model based on a prepared dataset, addressing pre-defined goals, expectations related to green logistics, and specific requirements in the tendering process for selecting logistics service providers. Study is concluded by summarizing suggestions for future research in area of adopting neural networks for selection of logistics service providers.
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