Article Database

Pharmacology of Common Analgesic and Sedative Drugs Used in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

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In this review of analgesic and sedation medication in neonates, important classes of old and newer medications commonly used in the neonatal intensive care unit setting are discussed. In addition to drug metabolism, efficacy, and safety for individual drugs, new insights into multimodal analgesic approaches suggest ways in which multiple analgesic drug classes can be combined to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. Opiate pharmacogenetics and the potential for a precision therapeutics approach is explored, with a final description of gaps in knowledge and a call for future research of pain and sedation control in the neonatal population.

Improving Recognition and Reporting of Adverse Drug Reactions in the NICU: A Quality Improvement Project

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Increasing Resident Racial and Ethnic Diversity through Targeted Recruitment Efforts

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Physicians from racial minorities, including African American, Hispanic, American Indian, and certain Asian subgroups, are under-represented in medicine compared with the larger population ( http://www.aamcdiversityfactsandfigures2016.org/). These physician groups are referred to as under-represented in medicine (URM or UIM).The Association of American Medical Colleges defines UIM as “those racial and ethnic populations that are underrepresented in the medical profession relative to their numbers in the general population,” allowing for a shift in focus away from discrete racial groups to a continually evolving definition based on US demographics. Many graduate medical training programs struggle to recruit UIM trainees given the limited candidate pool matriculating from US medical schools. Without concerted efforts to address racial and ethnic diversity, diversification of training programs is unlikely to occur.

Pharmacologic Management of Severe Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

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Few medications are available and well tested to treat infants who already have developed or inevitably will develop severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (sBPD). Infants who develop sBPD clearly have not benefited from decades of research efforts to identify clinically meaningful preventive therapies for very preterm infants in the first days and weeks of their postnatal lives. This review addresses challenges to individualized approaches to medication use for sBPD. Specific challenges include understanding the combination of an individual infant’s postmenstrual and postnatal age and the developmental status of drug-metabolizing enzymes and receptor expression. This review will also explore the reasons for the variable responsiveness of infants to specific therapies, based on current understanding of developmental pharmacology and pharmacogenetics. Data demonstrating the remarkable variability in the use of commonly prescribed drugs for sBPD are presented, and a discussion about the current use of some of these medications is provided. Finally, the potential use of antifibrotic medications in late-stage sBPD, which is characterized by a profibrotic state, is addressed.

Consequences of Impulse Buying Cross-Culturally: Or What Will My Friends Think if I Buy That?

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Assessing the Damage: An Exploratory Examination of Electronic Word of Mouth

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This study attempts to examine the influence that negative WOM (NWOM) has in an online context. It specifically focuses on the impact of the service failure description and the perceived intention of the communication provider on consumer evaluations of firm competence, attitude toward the firm, positive word of mouth and behavioral intentions.

Studies of communication persuasiveness focus on “who says what; to whom; in which channel; with what effect (Chiu 2007).” In this research study, we examine electronic web posting, particularly focusing on two aspects of “what”: the level of service failure communicated and perceived intention of the individual posting. It stands to reason electronic NWOM that appears to be trying to damage a product’s or firm’s reputation will be viewed as more biased and will thus be considered as less credible. According to attribution theory, people search for the causes of events especially those that are negative and unexpected (Weiner 2006). Hennig-Thurau and Walsh (2003) state “since the reader has only limited knowledge and trust of the author of an online articulation the quality of the contribution could be expected to serve as a potent moderator of the articulation-behavior relationship. We therefore posit the following hypotheses:

H1. Subjects exposed to electronic NWOM describing a high level of service failure will provide lower scores on measures of (a) firm competence, (b) attitude toward the firm, (c) positive word of mouth, and (d) behavioral intention than will subjects exposed to electronic NWOM describing a low level of service failure.

H2. Subjects exposed to electronic NWOM with a warning intent will provide lower scores on measures of (a) firm competence, (b) attitude toward the firm, (c) positive word of mouth, and (d) behavioral intention than will subjects exposed to electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent.

H3. Level of service failure in electronic NWOM will interact with the perceived intention of the electronic NWOM, such that there will be a decrease in mean response on measures of (a) firm competence, (b) attitude toward the firm, (c) positive word of mouth, and (d) behavioral intention from electronic NWOM with a warning intent to a vengeful intent.

The main study involved a 2 (service failure severity) x 2 (NWOM with warning versus vengeful intent) factorial experiment. Stimuli were presented to subjects online using a mock online web posting. The scenario described a service failure associated with non-acceptance of a gift card in a brick-and-mortar retail establishment. A national sample was recruited through an online research firm. A total of 113 subjects participated in the study. A total of 104 surveys were analyzed. The scenario was perceived to be realistic with 92.3% giving the scenario a greater than average response. Manipulations were satisfactory. Measures were pre-tested and validated. Items were analyzed and found reliable and valid.

MANOVA results found the multivariate interaction was not significant, allowing our interpretation to proceed to the main effects. Significant main effects were found for post intent and service failure severity. The post intent main effect was attributable to attitude toward the firm, positive word of mouth and behavioral intention. The service failure severity main effect was attributable to all four dependent variables: firm competence, attitude toward the firm, positive word of mouth and behavioral intention.

Specifically, firm competence for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower than electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Attitude toward the firm for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower than electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Positive word of mouth for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower than electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Behavioral intention for electronic NWOM describing high severity of service failure was lower for electronic NWOM describing low severity of service failure. Therefore, H1a, H1b, H1c and Hid were all supported. In addition, attitude toward the firm for electronic NWOM with a warning intent was lower than electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent. Positive word of mouth for electronic NWOM with a warning intent was lower than electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent. Behavioral intention for electronic NWOM with a warning intent was lower than electronic NWOM with a vengeful intent. Thus, H2b, H2c and H2d were supported However, H2a was not supported though results were in the hypothesized direction. Otherwise, there was no significant multivariate service failure severity by post intent interaction, nor was there a significant univariate service failure severity by post intent interaction for any of the three hypothesized variables. Thus, H3 was not supported for any of the four hypothesized variables.

This study has research and managerial implications. The findings of this study support prior research that service failure severity impacts consumer perceptions, attitude, positive word of mouth and behavioral intentions (Weun et al. 2004). Of further relevance, this response is evidenced in the online context, suggesting the need for firms to engage in serious focused service recovery efforts. With respect to perceived intention of electronic NWOM, the findings support prior research suggesting reader’s attributions of the intentions of a source influence the strength of its impact on perceptions, attitude, positive word of mouth and behavioral intentions. The implication for managers suggests while consumers do find online communications to be credible and influential, not all communications are weighted the same. A benefit of electronic WOM, even when it may be potentially damaging, is it can be monitored for potential problems and additionally offers the possibility of redress

CONSUMER ANGER: CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES

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Although consumer anger is a frequently occurring emotion in consumer-to-firm relationships, previous studies have failed to examine the consumer anger phenomena in the consumption setting. This paper uses a critical incident technique to classify the causes of consumer anger and also discusses the consequences of consumer anger for offending firms. Findings indicate that there are three general causes of consumer anger and a litany of consequences for offending firms including exit, reduced patronage levels, location changes, and avoidance of certain employees. Much of marketing research is preoccupied with the creation and maintenance of consumer-tofirm relationships. However, less focus has been placed on the dissolution of those relationships and the damage caused by anger. Given that anger is a frequently experienced emotion (Averill, 1982; Robbins, 2000) and a strong driver of thought and behavior (Frijda, 1986) further examination is warranted. Consumer anger can cause consumers to behave in ways that cost firms money and that damage the consumer-to-firm relationship (Huefner and Hunt, 2000). Therefore, understanding this behavior is in the best interest of firms. The proposed research attempts to fill this gap by exploring the consumer anger phenomena. This research utilized the critical incident to explore consumer anger resulting from personal interactions. This research builds on existing literature by exploring the role of a specific emotion, consumer anger, in the complaint behavior process. Despite the plethora of work conducted in the area, very little of that work focuses on the role of specific emotions. This research will examine the causes of consumer anger and the effect of consumer anger on consumer decisions to continue or terminate their relationships. Anger is associated with appraising an event as harmful and frustrating. It can be aimed at another person, an institution, the situation, or the self. Anger is a special emotion because it carries with it action tendencies. Anger is typically driven by a need to restore equity and justice (Averill, 1982). Behaviors that typically follow anger include aggression, hostility, and revenge. Consumers engage in these behaviors to discourage the service provider from doing what caused the anger and to recover the service failure (Bougie, Pieters, and Zeelenberg, 2003). Prior research suggests that anger is caused by violations of the moral code of conduct or is the result of moral outrage (Diaz and Ruiz, 2002; Weiner, 2000). Anger is also thought to be caused by an inability to attain desired goals (Nyer, 1997). Additionally, feelings of anger are associated with individual perceptions of mistreatment (Rose and Neidermeyer, 1999). However, there has been no research conducted in the consumer context to support these assertions. Hence, there is a need for research into the causes of consumer anger. The consumption setting is special because it involves specific roles, and expectations of its members. Very little research has been conducted regarding the role of consumer anger in the marketplace.

A Model of Consumer Anger

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This research focuses on consumer anger and its ability to drive consumers to suspend or alter their purchase patterns as well as engage in negative behaviors. Attribution theory provides the framework for the study. An online survey of consumers was conducted. The results of the structural equation model revealed that both the psychological contract and the attribution dimensions were significant in the development of consumer anger. In addition, consumer anger and the psychological contract were directly related to consumer decisions regarding future usage. Consumer anger was also directly related to consumer decisions to participate in negative behaviors. Based on the study findings, implications and future research directions are discussed

Generational and Family Structural Differences in Male Attitudes and Orientations Towards Shopping

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New evidence suggests Millennial men are assuming the role for household shopping at a growing pace. This study employs the generational cohort theory to examine differences among male shoppers. Specifically, exploring the variables of family structure and social class relative to male enjoyment of their shopping experience through an online questionnaire. ANOVA and logistic regression were used to analyze the data of 443 respondents. The results show significant differences in the impact of family structures across generations. Present social class and the social class during ones upbringing lead to key differences in Millennials in terms of entertainment facilities and willingness to wait on purchases.

The Consumer Anger Phenomena: Causes and Consequences

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