Corporate social responsibility: A strategy for sustainable business success. An analysis of 20 selected British companies

Purpose – This paper attempts to prove that strategically investing in corporate social responsibility (CSR) will maximize profits while satisfying the demands from multiple stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach – The paper adopts a quantitative analysis and exploratory approach. It studies the CSR practices of 20 selected UK companies. The analysis of CSR policies is based on the global reporting initiative (GRI) guidelines. The analysis took a further step in examining the trends of earnings per share (EPS) of the selected companies. Findings – The findings revealed that out of the 20 selected companies, only four achieved all six guidelines as per the GRI. In regression analysis of the variables CSR and EPS, a very weak (causal) but positive relationship was evident (R2=0.147). Research limitations/implications – The study was applied to 20 selected companies in the UK. Future research should be extended to a larger sample in order to analyze the strength of the relationship between EPS and CSR. The study applied variables of CSR based on GRI. Other measures may reveal different insights. Practical implications – In the strategic sense, CSR investments are not just another business cost but are essential for a firm's continued survival in the ever increasingly competitive business world of today. This understanding is crucial as there is an escalation of concern by both society and corporations in the modern world. More so, it is increasingly and widely accepted that attempting to isolate business from society is unrealistic and that dichotomising economic and social objectives as distinct and competing is false. Originality/value – The paper applies the variable EPS and seeks to establish a relationship with the CSR as measured according to the GRI

Examining the public policy perspective of CSR implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the public policy perspective of corporate social responsibility (CSR) implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa. There has been an increase in the number of countries adopting a national policy for CSR practice, particularly in the Western society. Despite the growing awareness about the role of government in CSR promotion, governments in Sub-Saharan Africa are yet to evolve policies that could help promote CSR in the region. As drivers of CSR, governments hold resources, like access to regulated parts of society that makes the inclusion of CSR opportunities relevant to strategic and operational management. From the extant literature, the role of government in defining and shaping the field of CSR is gaining wider acceptability. Design/methodology/approach - Using a qualitative research approach, this paper examines the current status of CSR implementation, particularly from the public policy perspective in selected Sub-Saharan African countries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with policymakers and policy implementers. The study adopted a thematic analysis and developed a rigorous phenomenological design to reveal the insights to CSR policy-making. Findings - The findings established that the status of CSR implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa is influenced by absence of national CSR policy, CSR being mainstreamed in government constitution and CSR being a company initiative action to comply with international code of business conduct. Practical implications - The results of this study could have policy implications for both executive and MPs of national governments for CSR regulatory policies. Originality/value - In most developing countries, including Sub-Saharan African countries, the aforementioned institutional conditions are often an exception. There are both no legal and regulatory frameworks for Multinational Corporation activities and their socio-ecological impact, or such regulations may exist but are not adequately enforced (Rwabizambuga, 2007). This situation, unfortunately, has created a huge reporting gap between what organisations do and what they report regarding CSR. Hence, this original study adds to the body of knowledge for this region by revealing the central issues around the phenomenon

State vs non-state armed groups - a political economy of violence

The early 21st century has witnessed the rise in violent extremism with groups such as Al Qaeda and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the Middle East, the Boko Haram in West Africa, and Al Shabaab in East Africa. The activities of these and other non-state armed groups have created a general state of panic and fear that is spreading beyond their areas of operation to other parts of the political world. Rather than diminishing the influence of these groups, the states' counter extremism strategies seem to be further fuelling the extremism and creating new waves of violence that threatens global security and undermines the very essence of our collective wellbeing. This paper examines the socio-economic and political environment in which these armed groups have thrived and poses the question as to whether the failure of politics and development are to blame for the rise of extremism. The paper proposes a new approach to combating extremism that involves re-connecting people with politics and development. The basic contention of this paper is that there has been a failure of the state to satisfy the wellbeing of its citizens. The paper provides an explanation of, but by no means a justification of, the use of violent extremism in the early 21st century

Doctor communication quality and friends' attitudes influence complementary medicine use in inflammatory bowel disease

AIM: To examine the frequency of regular complementary and alternative therapy (CAM) use in three Australian cohorts of contrasting care setting and geography, and identify independent attitudinal and psychological predictors of CAM use across all cohorts. METHODS: A cross sectional questionnaire was administered to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients in 3 separate cohorts which differed by geographical region and care setting. Demographics and frequency of regular CAM use were assessed, along with attitudes towards IBD medication and psychological parameters such as anxiety, depression, personality traits and quality of life (QOL), and compared across cohorts. Independent attitudinal and psychological predictors of CAM use were determined using binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In 473 respondents (mean age 50.3 years, 60.2% female) regular CAM use was reported by 45.4%, and did not vary between cohorts. Only 54.1% of users disclosed CAM use to their doctor. Independent predictors of CAM use which confirm those reported previously were: covert conventional medication dose reduction (P < 0.001), seeking psychological treatment (P < 0.001), adverse effects of conventional medication (P = 0.043), and higher QOL (P < 0.001). Newly identified predictors were CAM use by family or friends (P < 0.001), dissatisfaction with patient-doctor communication (P < 0.001), and lower depression scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In addition to previously identified predictors of CAM use, these data show that physician attention to communication and the patient-doctor relationship is important as these factors influence CAM use. Patient reluctance to discuss CAM with physicians may promote greater reliance on social contacts to influence CAM decisions.Réme Mountifield, Jane M Andrews, Antonina Mikocka-Walus and Peter Bampto

Outcomes and patients’ perspectives of transition from paediatric to adult care in inflammatory bowel disease

This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/4.0/AIM: To describe the disease and psychosocial outcomes of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) transition cohort and their perspectives. METHODS: Patients with IBD, aged > 18 years, who had moved from paediatric to adult care within 10 years were identified through IBD databases at three tertiary hospitals. Participants were surveyed regarding demographic and disease specific data and their perspectives on the transition process. Survey response data were compared to contemporaneously recorded information in paediatric service case notes. Data were compared to a similar age cohort who had never received paediatric IBD care and therefore who had not undergone a transition process. RESULTS: There were 81 returned surveys from 46 transition and 35 non-transition patients. No statistically significant differences were found in disease burden, disease outcomes or adult roles and responsibilities between cohorts. Despite a high prevalence of mood disturbance (35%), there was a very low usage (5%) of psychological services in both cohorts. In the transition cohort, knowledge of their transition plan was reported by only 25/46 patients and the majority (54%) felt they were not strongly prepared. A high rate (78%) of discussion about work/study plans was recorded prior to transition, but a near complete absence of discussion regarding sex (8%), and other adult issues was recorded. Both cohorts agreed that their preferred method of future transition practices (of the options offered) was a shared clinic appointment with all key stakeholders. CONCLUSION: Transition did not appear to adversely affect disease or psychosocial outcomes. Current transition care processes could be optimised, with better psychosocial preparation and agreed transition plans

Rural inflammatory bowel disease care in Australia: disease outcomes and perceived barriers to optimal care

Background: This study aimed to describe and compare disease outcomes in rural patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), review perspectives regarding barriers to optimal rural IBD care and define non-gastroenterologist healthcare practitioners’ exposure to and knowledge of IBD. Method and Materials: Rural patients who had previously completed an IBD questionnaire were identified from a tertiary hospital IBD database and matched for disease, age and gender to metropolitan patients from this same database. A further rural IBD cohort was identified from a rural general practice database in Mount Gambier, South Australia. These patients were invited to complete the same IBD questionnaire relating to disease characteristics and a further questionnaire relating to perceived barriers to optimal care. A questionnaire was also sent to rural healthcare practitioners seeking perspectives on IBD practice, knowledge of IBD management and perceived barriers to care for rural IBD patients. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between rural and metropolitan IBD patients identified on the database. Thirty-three Mount Gambier rural patients returned questionnaires (response rate 30%). No significant difference was found between the Mount Gambier rural cohort and the IBD database metropolitan cohort for the majority of disease complications and outcomes; however variance in medication use and access to imaging was found. A total of 233 healthcare practitioners completed questionnaires (response rate 21%). The majority of rural practitioners felt comfortable with managing IBD, yet 80% of general practitioners felt uncomfortable using immunomodulators. Disease knowledge using a validated tool appeared satisfactory. Teleconferencing and information sessions were suggested as possible interventions to overcome the identified barriers. Conclusion: No statistically significant differences in the rate of patient reported disease complications were found. A variance of practice with respect to methotrexate, iron replacement and hydrocortisone therapy and use of MRI was noted. Descriptive data regarding perceived barriers in addition to these findings will help guide future interventions to enable equality of care for patients with IBD living in regional and remote locations.Bennett AL, Wichmann M, Chi JK, Andrews JM and Bampton P

Rural inflammatory bowel disease care in Australia: disease outcomes and perceived barriers to optimal care

Background: This study aimed to describe and compare disease outcomes in rural patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), review perspectives regarding barriers to optimal rural IBD care and define non-gastroenterologist healthcare practitioners’ exposure to and knowledge of IBD. Method and Materials: Rural patients who had previously completed an IBD questionnaire were identified from a tertiary hospital IBD database and matched for disease, age and gender to metropolitan patients from this same database. A further rural IBD cohort was identified from a rural general practice database in Mount Gambier, South Australia. These patients were invited to complete the same IBD questionnaire relating to disease characteristics and a further questionnaire relating to perceived barriers to optimal care. A questionnaire was also sent to rural healthcare practitioners seeking perspectives on IBD practice, knowledge of IBD management and perceived barriers to care for rural IBD patients. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between rural and metropolitan IBD patients identified on the database. Thirty-three Mount Gambier rural patients returned questionnaires (response rate 30%). No significant difference was found between the Mount Gambier rural cohort and the IBD database metropolitan cohort for the majority of disease complications and outcomes; however variance in medication use and access to imaging was found. A total of 233 healthcare practitioners completed questionnaires (response rate 21%). The majority of rural practitioners felt comfortable with managing IBD, yet 80% of general practitioners felt uncomfortable using immunomodulators. Disease knowledge using a validated tool appeared satisfactory. Teleconferencing and information sessions were suggested as possible interventions to overcome the identified barriers. Conclusion: No statistically significant differences in the rate of patient reported disease complications were found. A variance of practice with respect to methotrexate, iron replacement and hydrocortisone therapy and use of MRI was noted. Descriptive data regarding perceived barriers in addition to these findings will help guide future interventions to enable equality of care for patients with IBD living in regional and remote locations.Bennett AL, Wichmann M, Chi JK, Andrews JM and Bampton P

Colon wall motility: comparison of novel quantitative semi-automatic measurements using cine MRI

Background Recently, cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has shown promise for visualizing movement of the colonic wall, although assessment of data has been subjective and observer dependent. This study aimed to develop an objective and semi-automatic imaging metric of ascending colonic wall movement, using image registration techniques. Methods Cine balanced turbo field echo MRI images of ascending colonic motility were acquired over 2 min from 23 healthy volunteers (HVs) at baseline and following two different macrogol stimulus drinks (11 HVs drank 1 L and 12 HVs drank 2 L). Motility metrics derived from large scale geometric and small scale pixel movement parameters following image registration were developed using the post ingestion data and compared to observer grading of wall motion. Inter and intra-observer variability in the highest correlating metric was assessed using Bland–Altman analysis calculated from two separate observations on a subset of data. Key Results All the metrics tested showed significant correlation with the observer rating scores. Line analysis (LA) produced the highest correlation coefficient of 0.74 (95% CI: 0.55–0.86), p < 0.001 (Spearman Rho). Bland–Altman analysis of the inter- and intra-observer variability for the LA metric, showed almost zero bias and small limits of agreement between observations (−0.039 to 0.052 intra-observer and −0.051 to 0.054 inter-observer, range of measurement 0–0.353). Conclusions & Inferences The LA index of colonic motility derived from cine MRI registered data provides a quick, accurate and non-invasive method to detect wall motion within the ascending colon following a colonic stimulus in the form of a macrogol drink

HnRNP K mislocalisation and dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease and ageing

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are a diverse, multi-functional family of RNA-binding proteins. Many such proteins, including TDP-43 and FUS, have been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By contrast hnRNP K, the focus of this thesis, has been underexplored in the context of neurodegenerative disease. The first work to be described here involves a comprehensive pathological assessment of hnRNP K protein’s neuronal localisation profile in FTLD, ALS and control brain tissue. Following pathological examination, hnRNP K mislocalisation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm within pyramidal neurons of the cortex was identified as a novel neuropathological feature that is associated with both neurodegenerative disease and ageing. Double immunofluorescence was used to confirm these neurons were anatomically distinct from those harbouring the classical TDP-43 or Tau proteinaceous inclusions used in the pathological diagnosis of FTLD. Nuclear loss and mislocalisation of hnRNP K to the cytoplasm was then identified to also occur in two further neuronal cell types within the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum and the CA4 region of the hippocampus. As with pyramidal neurons, similar associations were identified between disease, age and hnRNP K mislocalisation in neurons of the dentate nucleus. Hence, neuronal mislocalisation of hnRNP K across the brain has potentially broad relevance to dementia and the ageing process. Almost all hnRNPs have been found to perform essential homeostatic functions in regulating appropriate target gene splicing activity. Recently, several hnRNPs have been found to have important roles in repressing the inclusion of non-conserved, so-called ‘cryptic exons’ within mature mRNA transcripts. Inclusion of cryptic exons following TDP-43 nuclear depletion and subsequent reductions in the functional levels of target transcripts and proteins is an emerging pathogenic theme of several neurodegenerative diseases including FTLD and ALS. To recapitulate the functional implications of the hnRNP K nuclear depletion that is observed in brain tissue, a hnRNP K knockdown neuronal model was developed utilising an iPSC-derived CRISPR-interference based platform. RNA-seq analysis revealed that nuclear hnRNP K protein depletion within cortical neurons is associated with the robust activation of several cryptic exon events in mRNA targets of hnRNP K as well as the upregulation of other abnormal splicing events termed ‘skiptic exons’. Several of these novel splicing events were validated molecularly using three-primer PCRs. Finally, an in situ hybridisation (ISH) based technology (BaseScope™) platform was optimised to visualise novel cryptic events in post-mortem brain tissue. The platform was used to detect a recently discovered cryptic exon within synaptic gene UNC13A and another in the insulin receptor (INSR) gene, two newly described targets of TDP-43. These events were found specifically in FTLD-TDP or ALS brains, validating it as a specific marker of TDP-43-proteinopathy. A methodological pipeline was also developed to delineate the spatial relationship between cryptic exons and associated TDP-43 pathology. Hence, providing a platform for the future detection, validation and analyses of novel cryptic exons associated with hnRNP K protein depletion in pyramidal neurons

Young Peoples’ Experiences of Hearing Voices: A Phenomenological Study of Self and Sense-Making in First-Episode Psychosis

The experience of hearing voices has been theoretically construed in a number of ways. The current dominant approach is psychiatric in nature; often criticised for pathologising the experience and neglecting to explore the subjective meaning the experience holds for people who hear voices. The limited literature, which has explored voice-hearers’ experiences, predominately reflects the experiences of adults, largely neglecting to represent younger peoples’ experiences (i.e. 16 to 25 year olds), when psychosis is most likely to occur and when identity formation and self-development are fundamental. This study aims to explore the impact of hearing voices within first-episode psychosis on young peoples’ sense of self and how they make sense of this experience. This study utilises interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to reflect on experiences of eight young people who hear voices. Three themes were identified: 1). “I’m losing my mind”: The shattered self; 2). “I can’t say it in words”: More than words; 3). “It just makes a lot of sense like, that I was a bit crazy”: Trying to make sense of voices. The transitional process the experience appeared to embody for these young people is outlined in a model. Key components of the model attend to the importance of others and how crucial their response is in helping the young people make sense, but also in their perceptions of themselves and their identity