Coventry University

About: Coventry University is a education organization based out in Coventry, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Higher education. The organization has 4964 authors who have published 12700 publications receiving 255898 citations. The organization is also known as: Lanchester Polytechnic & Coventry Polytechnic.

The Importance of Pretesting Questionnaires: A Field Research Example of Cognitive Pretesting the Exercise Referral Quality of Life Scale (ER-QLS).

Abstract: The development of questionnaires, surveys and psychometric scales is an iterative research process that includes a number of carefully planned stages. Pretesting is a method of checking that questions work as intended and are understood by those individuals who are likely to respond to them. However, detailed reports of appropriate methods to undertake pretesting are currently underrepresented within the literature. This study presents a detailed protocol of a cognitive interview pretesting approach that informed the development of the Exercise Referral Quality of Life Scale – a measure of life-quality designed specifically for structured clinical exercise settings. This documented approach to pretesting proved a vital stage in the scale development process, without which the item problems detected would have carried forward into the statistical analyses. The current protocol intends to contribute to reducing the current shortfall in pretesting guidance for practitioners and researchers.

Do green practices really attract customers? The sharing economy from the sustainable supply chain management perspective

Abstract: The notion of the sharing economy has been introduced in many sectors and provided significant benefits to consumers and asset owners. Despite the remarkable improvement of the sharing economy in recent years, its relationship with sustainability remains insufficiently researched. This study adopts a sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) perspective. A large-scale survey with 420 participants showed that investment recovery (IR) practices and corporate social responsibility (CSR) conducted by sharing economy platforms significantly and positively affect customers’ intention to use sharing economy-based services/products, whereas internal green management (IGM), supplier green management (SGM), eco-design (ECD) and customer green management (CGM) practices do not. A follow-up qualitative study with ten participants provided further explanations and supported the findings of the survey. This study links the sharing economy and sustainability by testing the effectiveness of sharing economy platforms’ sustainable practices and proposes the best practices for sharing economy platforms to maintain a long-term sustainable marketplace.

A 12-month follow-up study of self-management training for people with chronic disease: are changes maintained over time?

Abstract: Objective. A previous study reported some improved outcomes at 4-month follow-up after attendance on a lay-led, chronic disease self-management course (CDSMC). The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes were maintained over time (i.e. at 12 months) and to describe participants' current use of self-management techniques. Design. The study was a 12-month follow-up of a sample of 171 participants who attended a CDSMC in the UK. Method. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaires mailed to participants 12 months after they commenced a CDSMC and via telephone interviews with a sub-sample. Results. The sample had a mean age of 54 years, mean disease duration of 16 years, 73% were women, and chronic diseases included endometriosis, depression, diabetes, myalgic encephalomyelitis, osteoporosis and polio. The significant improvements in outcomes identified at 4 months (i.e. cognitive symptom management, self-efficacy, communication with physician, fatigue, anxious and depressed moods and health distress) were sustained at 12 months. No significant changes between 4- and 12-month assessments were found on any study variables. Interview data confirmed that participants continued to use some of the self-management techniques learned on the course. Conclusion. Attendance on the CDSMC may lead to longer-term changes in key outcomes such as self-efficacy, use of some self-management behaviours and some aspects of health status (e.g. fatigue, depressed mood).