Kiyavash Irankhah, Soheil Asadimehr, Golnaz Ranjbar, Behzad Kiani and Seyyed Reza Sobhani
To effectively combat the increasing rates of obesity, it is crucial to explore how environmental factors like sidewalk access impact weight-related outcomes. This study aimed to…
Abstract
Purpose
To effectively combat the increasing rates of obesity, it is crucial to explore how environmental factors like sidewalk access impact weight-related outcomes. This study aimed to systematically examine the association between sidewalk accessibility and weight-related outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
Databases were searched by keywords for relevant articles, which were published before March 3, 2024, to report the role of neighborhood sidewalk access on weight-related outcomes. The main findings of the selected articles were extracted from eligible studies by two independent reviewers.
Findings
A total of 20 out of 33 studies indicated a significant negative relationship between access to sidewalks and weight-related outcomes. Three studies demonstrated an indirect relationship between access to sidewalks and weight-related outcomes by greater access to physical environments. In addition, five studies reported no clear relationship, and three studies reported a significantly positive relationship between access to sidewalks and weight-related outcomes.
Practical implications
In general, people who live in urban areas with better sidewalk access benefit from better weight-related outcomes. Adults showed this correlation more prominently than adolescents and children. Therefore, sidewalks that have a positive effect on physical activity levels could be considered as a preventive measure against obesity.
Originality/value
One of the weight-related outcomes is obesity. Every community faces numerous challenges due to obesity, which adversely affects the quality of life and health. Environmental factors such as access to sidewalks could be associated with body weight due to lifestyle influences.
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Keywords
Peivand Bastani, Ali Tahernezhad and Seyyed Mostafa Hakimzadeh
According to the importance of strategic purchasing as an effective tool for resource allocation and service procurement, this study examines national laws, regulations and other…
Abstract
Purpose
According to the importance of strategic purchasing as an effective tool for resource allocation and service procurement, this study examines national laws, regulations and other related documents related to the strategic purchasing of health services related to the advanced medical equipment in Iran.
Design/methodolgy/approach
It was a national qualitative document analysis conducted in 2019 applying content analysis approach. The four-step Scott method was used to include the documents in terms of authenticity, credibility, representation and meaningfulness. After retrieving the related documents, they were coded with the implicit and explicit approach. MAXQDA10 was used for content analysis.
Findings
The findings show that according to the framework of effective factors on the strategic purchasing of health services, seven main factors are determined as the main essential factors in purchasing advanced medical equipment. These factors consist of health care providers, health service buyers, purchaser and service provider contracts, payment mechanisms, organization and management evaluation of health technology including expensive medical equipment and technology-related.
Research limitation/implication
The study had some limitations as follows: the proposed method should be tested and its feasibility has to be investigated through appropriate tools for Iranian insurance companies and those with the similar settings.
Practical implication
The results of this study can shed more light for policy makers affiliated in Ministry of Health as the main service provider, Ministry of Welfare and the insurance agencies as the main purchasers of health services on paying attention to these seven main themes extracted from the upstream documents and laws and regulations of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Social implication
The strategic purchasing of expensive high technology-based medical equipment is a necessity for Iranian public health insurance organizations that is emphasized in national documents in the way of implementing this necessity.
Originality/value
This study examines all the laws and regulations and all related documents in the strategic purchasing of health services related to advanced medical equipment, giving an analysis of the most important challenges and requirements of implementing strategic purchasing in the health services provision sector with expensive medical equipment.
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The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to investigate the general rules of diplomacy and the manner of the Islamic government's behavior with other nations and governments from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this viewpoint paper is to investigate the general rules of diplomacy and the manner of the Islamic government's behavior with other nations and governments from the viewpoint of Sufi mystics. This viewpoint is of the opinion that the aim of diplomacy in Islam is not only to get benefits for the country. The author argues that the aim of diplomacy in Islam is to develop human transcendence by divine teachings and is superior to just material benefits and privileges exchange. Basically, the Islam's government does not look at the other countries as a source of exploitation but as a brother or neighbor attempting to organize relations. In the current system of international relations in the world, so much attention has been paid to material benefits; but ethics and spiritualities are ignored.
Design/methodology/approach
Islamic diplomacy with the aim of improving the moralities and spiritualities attempts to create relations with other countries. Some principles for reaching this goal based on Islamic Sufism standpoints are provided.
Findings
A total of 23 principles are introduced.
Research limitations/implications
Comparative researches in other religions' Gnosticism will be helpful.
Practical implications
These principles can be used for applied debates in the field and be added to new international regulations.
Social implications
The author argues that the delicateness, truthfulness, and righteousness of Islamic Sufism, may turn the attentions of scholars and researchers to this viewpoint, and a new set of regulations to be codified.
Originality/value
Political scientists have not touched the topic from a Sufi point of view. This paper brings this approach to a new challenging arena for those who are engaged in it.