• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.55-74
• /
• 2011

The growth in the use of ubiquitous computing based on mobile services as an enabler to conduct business more effectively has been phenomenal. Technology acceptance model (TAM) has been applied in different contexts to examine a wide range of information technologies (IT). As more and more companies are finding ways to utilize ubiquitous computing based on mobile services, an important issue is to understand what factors will impact the decisions of consumers in adopting the services. Based on TAM with three additional groups of external factors, i.e., service-related factors (ubiquitous access, context awareness) and technology-related factors (perceived security risk, network connectivity) that are theoretically justified as having influence on both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use which are additionally considered, a research model for the investigated technology acceptance was developed and empirically examined, using responses from more than intended users of ubiquitous computing based on mobile services. The specific purposes of this study are as follows. Firstly, this study is to identify service beliefs considering unique characteristics for ubiquitous services such as perceived ubiquitous access and perceived context awareness. Secondly, this study is to investigate network characteristics beliefs such as perceived security and perceived connectivity. Thirdly, this paper investigates the relationship among variables such as ubiquitous characteristics, network characteristics, behavioral beliefs, and intention to use ubiquitous web services. This study uses a structural equation model to test the research model. The major results of this study are as follows. Firstly, ubiquitous access has a influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Context awareness has an influence on perceived usefulness. Secondly, User familiarity has an influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, and intention to use. User innovativeness has an influence on perceived ease of use. Thirdly, perceived security risk has an influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Network connectivity has an influence on perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Fourth, there exist differential effects among factors in structural model among information, transaction, and entertainment services.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.2247-2254
• /
• 2016

Background: The incidence of breast cancer is rising in Oman, and the disease is diagnosed at late stages, when treatment success is limited. Omani women might benefit from better awareness, so that breast cancer can be detected early and treated. This study was conducted to assess Omani women's levels of breast cancer awareness and early detection practice, and explore factors which might influence these levels. Materials and Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted in 2014, including a quantitative survey of 1,372 and a qualitative assessment of 19 Omani women, aged ${\geq}20years$ from five Omani governorates using convenient sampling. Demographic information and scores for awareness levels were used in a multivariate regression model to investigate factors associated with awareness. Thematic analysis and interpretive description were used to analyse the qualitative data. Results: The overall means for early detection and general awareness scores were 0.58 (SD 0.24) and 0.46 (SD 0.21), respectively. General awareness was significantly associated with age, education, income and familiarity with cancer patients (p<0.05), while early detection was significantly associated with age, marital status and education. A majority of women (59.5%) agreed with a belief in 'evil eye' or envy as a risk factor for breast cancer. Women discussed various factors which may empower or inhibit awareness, including the cultural-religion-fatalistic system, personal-familial-environmental system, and healthcare-political-social system. Conclusions: The overall low scores for awareness and early detection, and the survey of local beliefs highlight a severe necessity for a contextually-tailored breast cancer awareness intervention programme in Oman.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7507-7512
• /
• 2015

Background: In the low incoming country Bangladesh, breast cancer is second most common neoplasm and is increasing at an alarming rate among females. Lack of awareness and illiteracy are contributory factors for late presentation and therefore mortality. Purpose: To examine associations of different factors with breast cancer mortality and to raise awareness among the women of society in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: This descriptive case-control study was conducted on 160 participants from April 2011 till July 2014. Through a valid questionnaire covering personal and family history, data were collected by face to face interview. For analyzing correlations among factors with breast cancer data, binary logistic regression, Pearson's ${\chi}^2$-value, odd ratios and p-value tests were conducted with SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age of the patients was 43.0 ($SD={\pm}11.12$). In ascending order the leading significant factors were hormone therapy (p<0.0000, OR=4.897), abortion (p<0.0001, OR=3.452), early start menarche (p<0.0002, OR=3.500), family history (p<0.0022, OR=3.235), and late menopause (p<0.0093, OR=3.674) with both ${\chi}^2$ test and logistic regression analyses. Non-significant factors were cancer experience, fatty food habits, marital status and taking alcohol. Conclusions: Regarding the investigation of this study, significant and insignificant factor's correlation visualization with breast cancer will be helpful to increase awareness among Bangladeshi women as well as all over the world.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.1957-1963
• /
• 2013

Objective: To assess oral cancer awareness, its associated factors and related sources of information among a selected group of Malaysians. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on all Malaysian ethnic groups aged ${\geq}15$ years old at eight strategically chosen shopping malls within a two week time period. Data were analysed using chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression. Significance level was set at ${\alpha}$ <0.05. Results: Most (84.2%) respondents had heard of oral cancer. Smoking was the most (92.4%) recognized high risk habit. Similar levels of awareness were seen for unhealed ulcers (57.3%) and red/white patches (58.0%) as signs of oral cancer. Age, gender, ethnicity, marital status, education, occupation and income were significantly associated with oral cancer awareness (p<0.05). Conclusions: There was a general lack of awareness regarding the risk habits, early signs and symptoms, and the benefits of detecting this disease at an early stage. Mass media and health campaigns were the main sources of information about oral cancer. In our Malaysian population, gender and age were significantly associated with the awareness of early signs and symptoms and prevention of oral cancer, respectively.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.9
• /
• pp.3927-3930
• /
• 2015

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal cancer and the incidence is increasing in many developing countries. While it can be detected early and even prevented through screening and removal of premalignant lesions, there are barriers to screening which include low level of knowledge and awareness of CRC. This study assessed the level of knowledge of CRC in Brunei Darussalam. Materials and Methods: A total of 431 (262 male and 161 female) subjects participated in this questionnaire study. Subjects were scored on their knowledge of signs/symptoms (maximum 10 correct answers) and known risk factors for CRC (maximum 10 correct answers) and were categorised into poor (0-2), moderate (3-4) and satisfactory (5-10). Comparisons were made between the various patient factors. Results: Overall, 54.1% could not name any CRC signs/symptoms or associated risk factors. Most were not aware of any screening modalities. The overall scores for CRC signs/symptoms and risk factors were $1.3{\pm}1.39$ (range 0-6) and $0.6{\pm}1.05$ (range 0-5) respectively. Overall, the breakdown of scores was: poor (78.1%), moderate (20.3%) and satisfactory (6.2%) for signs/symptoms and poor (93.2%), moderate (6.2%) and satisfactory (0.7%) for risk factors. Higher level of education, female gender and non-Malay race were associated with higher scores for both signs/symptoms and knowledge of screening modality; however the overall scores were low. Conclusions: Our study showed that the general knowledge of CRC in Brunei Darussalam is poor. Being female, with higher levels of education and non-Malay race were associated with higher scores, but they were still generally poor. More needs to be done to increase the public knowledge and awareness of CRC.

• Information Systems Review
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.21-46
• /
• 2012

Organizations that make widely use of information technologies can be more efficient. But, the dependence of information technologies leads to an increase in threat of security. This is the reason why organizations are investing in security risk management (SRM) which is designed to protect of information assets. Noting a lack of empirical research in SRM, we investigate the key factors having a direct effect on performance of SRM. Particularly, this study focused on identifying factors influencing awareness of SRM and Intention to develop SRM in Organization. Based on relevant literature review, six motivating factors, including Behavior for Security Management, Compliance with Security Policy, perceived Benefits, Perceived Sacrifice, Social Pressure, Experience of Security Risks, were initially identified. The results indicated that most perception factors were positively related to Organization's intention to develop SRM and awareness of SRM, which then had positive impact on performance of SRM. But Perceived Sacrifice was not significantly related to two variables which is Organization's intention to develop SRM and awareness of SRM.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.418-425
• /
• 2016

Objectives: General livestock farmers are known as a high riskgroup for zoonoses, but studies of general livestock farmers in regard tozoonoses have been rare in Korea. We surveyed awareness of zoonoses amonggeneral livestock farmers to suggest directions for education. Methods: A questionnaire was developed examining the workbehaviors and risk factors of general livestock farmers. We conducted a questionnairesurvey on awareness on zoonoses among 265 general livestock farmers. Results: The awareness rates for zoonosis itself,brucellosis, and q-fever were 13.0%, 65.0%, and 2.3%, respectively. The awarenessrate of zoonoses and brucellosis tended to increase with sex. Conclusions: Livestock is the principal reservoir ofzoonoses. Therefore, effective working guidelines for preventing zoonoses amonggeneral livestock farmers must be developed and an educational program onzoonoses is needed for general livestock farmers. Furthermore, publicityactivities on the prevention of zoonoses are needed for high-risk groups.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.23
• /
• pp.10427-10431
• /
• 2015

Background: To determine the prevalence, types, and risk factors of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) among a group of Arab Jordanian dental patients, and to evaluate their awareness and attitudes toward early diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,041 patients attending a University Hospital for dental care were examined for the presence of OPMDs. Histopathological examination was performed on all cases clinically diagnosed and patients were directly interviewed to evaluate their knowledge and attitudes toward early detection and treatment of oral cancer. Results: The prevalence of OPMDs overall was 2.8%. Lichen planus/lichenoid lesions were the most common lesions (1.8%) followed by leukoplakias (0.48%), chronic hyperplastic candidiosis (0.38%), and erythroplakia (0.096%). Smoking, alcohol, and age (>40 years) were the main identifiable risk factors. Patients with OPMDs displayed a general lack of awareness and negative attitudes towards early diagnosis and treatment. Conclusions: OPMDs among Arab dental patients are relatively uncommon and awareness about oral cancer among Jordanian dental patients is low. Interventions to improve public knowledge about oral cancer and attitudes toward early diagnosis and treatment are urgently indicated.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• v.22 no.10
• /
• pp.282-290
• /
• 2022

A huge budget is spent on technological solutions to protect Information Systems from cyberattacks by organizations. However, it is not enough to invest alone in technology-based protection and to keep humans out of the cyber loop. Humans are considered the weakest link in cybersecurity chain and most of the time unaware that their actions and behaviors have consequences in cyber space. Therefore, humans' aspects cannot be neglected in cyber security field. In this work we carry out a systematic literature review to identify human factors in cybersecurity. A total of 27 papers were selected to be included in the review, which focuses on the human factors in cyber security. The results show that in total of 14 identified human factors, risk perception, lack of awareness, IT skills and gender are considered critical for organization as for as cyber security is concern. Our results presented a further step in understanding human factors that may cause issues for organizations in cyber space and focusing on the need of a customized and inclusive training and awareness programs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.13
• /
• pp.5439-5444
• /
• 2015

Background: One of the main causes of delay in diagnosis of oral cancer is lack of awareness about aetiology and symptoms among the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of patients regarding oral cancer and their attitude towards tobacco cessation. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out in Isfahan-Iran in 2014. A 29-item self-administrated questionnaire was designed and piloted and distributed to patients attending dental clinics. Questions were focused on awareness about oral cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, places in the mouth which are more susceptible and attitude toward tobacco cessation. Chi-square, T-test, ANOVA and logistic regression tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 546 valid completed questionnaires were obtained. The mean knowledge score of patients was 4.1(${\pm}2.7$) out of 13. Some 80% of patients did not know about early manifestations of oral cancer. Only 18% knew the most likely sites of oral cancer. Only 43.1% and 65.2% of patients reported alcohol and tobacco consumption as the main risk factors but they had a fair knowledge about other risk factors. There was no significant difference in Knowledge level between patients regarding their sex, educational levels and age. Most patents (90%) expected their dentists to warn them about the harmful effects of smoking and showed willingness to quit if recommended. Conclusions: Knowledge about oral cancer was found to be quite low. It seems necessary to increase the level of public awareness using educational programs with cooperation of dentists in tobacco cessation programs.