bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable consumption
Authors: Kurowska S.
Published: May 2003

Sustainability is one of the most important issues facing the world today, and yet many consumers are confused about what the term means. The question of how to create and maintain a sustainable lifestyle is a complicated one. How can we live in a way that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs? Would consumers understand the issue better if we used the phrase ‘responsible consumption’?

The Welsh Consumer Council is working on a number of projects that look at different aspects of sustainable development. Wales has one of the only governments in the world with a statutory duty to promote sustainable development, and yet patterns of consumption are spiralling out of control. If everyone in the world lived like consumers in Wales, we would need nearly two extra planets to sustain ourselves. In the fields of energy, food, waste, water, and travel, we are using up far more resources than can be replenished.

This paper will examine the progress of sustainable development in Wales in the wake of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in August 2002. It will provide an overview of current consumption patterns and will identify some of the main factors inhibiting people in Wales from making more sustainable consumer choices. It will examine the popular image of sustainability, and will also identify what drivers are in place to encourage sustainable consumption.
Consumption structure and atmospheric pollution in Spain: towards a higher sustainability
Authors: Duarte Rosa , Alcántara Vicent
Published: May 2003

The aim of this paper is to analyse the responsibility of Spanish demand composition (particularly private and public consumption) in the actual levels of atmospheric pollution in Spain. To that end, and on the basis of an input–output model, we set out to identify the environmental pollution generated both directly and indirectly by the economic sectors in order to obtain a determined final demand. We focus on three atmospheric pollutants, namely SOx, NOx and CO2. After identifying the key sectors in the generation of these types of pollution, we estimate the effect that a change in final consumption will have on the global level of pollution. As a consequence, we can evaluate the effectiveness of different demand policies when seeking to control this global pollution. These policies, directed mainly towards a change in private and public consumption, can hopefully contribute towards the objective of achieving sustainable development.
Home hygiene, habits and sustainability in a theoretical framework
Authors: Terpstra P.M.J.
Published: May 2003

The number of intestinal infections that are acquired in the domestic environment is substantial; for The Netherlands 2 million infections per year are estimated. Some of these infections are caused by the consumption of contaminated food. But others are caused by other sources like contaminated surfaces and objects in the living environment, pets and contaminated air. According to present insights this second group of infections might even be bigger then the nutritional part. So it is evident that soil and dirt in a living environment pose a health risk for the people involved.

Domestic cleaning is a proper means to raise the level of hygiene in the home. Efficient cleaning processes do not only remove visible soil and stains but remove micro organisms also in an effective way. Therefore the hidden target of cleaning is the elimination of germs from the living environment.

Traditional cleaning processes were highly efficient in removing both soil and germs. When objects and surfaces were perceivably clean this implied also that they were clean from a hygienic point of view. In the last decades this picture has changed substantially. Visually clean does not imply any longer that the level of hygiene is adequate. Several social changes and technological measures meant to achieve a sustainable society appear to be responsible for this phenomenon. The results of various researches including a recent study on European level into this relationship support this statement.

In the paper the impact of past social and technological changes on home hygiene and the nature of the relation between cleanliness and hygiene in the domestic setting will be elaborated. In addition it will be discussed what implications this change can have for the members of the household, and how a household has to deal with it.
Will consumers accept irradiated food products?
Authors: Nayga Rodolfo M.
Published: May 2003

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 76 million people get sick, more than 300 000 are hospitalised, and 5000 Americans die each year from food‐borne illness. Research over the past 40 years has shown, however, that food irradiation can decrease the incidence of food‐borne illness and disease. Despite this benefit, food irradiation has been the focus of much controversy for years. Proponents of irradiation claim that it will improve food product safety by reducing harmful bacteria. Opponents, on the other hand, raise concerns about its long‐term health effects, nutrient loss, and worker safety at irradiation facilities. The debate intensified recently when the US government approved the use of irradiation to kill E. coli 0157:H7 and other harmful bacteria in ground beef and other raw meat. The US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration are also expected to decide soon whether to allow the process to be used on sandwich meats, hot dogs, and similar packaged food products.

This study examines consumer willingness to pay for irradiated beef products. About 58% of the respondents are willing to pay a premium for irradiated beef. An ordered probit with sample selection model was estimated. Our findings suggest that females and those who think that improper handling contributes to food poisoning are more likely to pay a premium of 50 cents per pound of irradiated beef than others. Those who trust the irradiation technology are more likely to pay a premium of between 5 and 25 cents per pound for irradiated beef.
Safe for whom? The tangled web of patient medication
Authors: Gould N.J.
Published: May 2003

Product safety is related to consumer/user competence. Pharmaceutical products usually have high associated risks that can be compounded by irregular consumption practices. Of particular concern are older people who, due to a variety of reasons, cannot comply with pharmacy instructions. Medication compliance for this group often depends on co‐ordinating the efforts of formal and informal carers. Failure to co‐ordinate can lead to both serious medical consequences and litigation against carers.

Based on the experiences of an action research project, the paper initially details the substantive issues within a product/service‐delivery framework. The roles of agents and surrogate shoppers are noted. The wider regulatory and legal context is then explored with reference to the pharmaceutical industry and health and social care providers. These local and global considerations give rise to a discussion of the applicability of existing theoretical approaches to the problem of ensuring the timely and accurate administration of medication for vulnerable older people. In formulating the specifications of service re‐design using complexity and network theories, the continued relevance of traditional (e.g. 4Ps/7Ps) and current (e.g. relationship) marketing paradigms is demonstrated. In conclusion, the paper highlights the need to balance risks, rights and responsibilities in cases where strict forms of empowerment are inappropriate.
How do patients make use of health‐related information from the Internet? Investigating the views of the public and healthcare professionals
Authors: Dolan Gina
Published: May 2003

Patients’ use of health‐related information from the Internet is increasing at an exponential rate. Although we have some information about how health professionals use the Internet (Roscoe, 1998; Wilson, 1999) we know little about how patients utilise this information. Some patients may actively seek information to assume more responsibility for their health. However, others may feel forced into doing so because of failing confidence in health care provision. Health professionals have the potential to assist patients to make sense of health information from the Internet; however, they may not necessarily welcome this role (Wilson, 1999; Eberhart‐Phillips et al., 2000). This study aims to evaluate patient use of such information in primary care and to establish how this can be directed in the future.

851 adult patients from general practice were surveyed about the health information they use, including the Internet. 50 patients from     the     survey     were     then     randomly     selected     for     interview. 12     health     care     professionals     were     also     interviewed     about how patients use the Internet and the impact this has on consultations.

The majority of patients (80%) prefer to use their GP as a source of health information. The remaining sources of information received significantly lower ratings. However, the Internet was the second most preferred source of information (7%).

Of those using the Internet about two thirds felt more prepared and able to participate in decision‐making about treatments.

The majority of patients rely on their doctor for health information. However, many patients actively use the Internet as an information source. The use of Internet information during consultations is on the increase, and although patients are positive about such use, doctors do not necessarily welcome Internet informed patients. It is now necessary to identify the training needs of health care professionals for dealing appropriately with Internet informed patients.
Factors influencing the search for information about genetically modified food products
Authors: Kolodinsky M.J. , Narsana T.R.
Published: May 2003

A recent application of biotechnology to food is genetic modification. Genetically modified (GM) plants, animals and processed foods have been introduced to the international marketplace in the 1990s. As scientific and technological progress in modern biotechnology continues at a breakthrough pace, the consumers are presented with different types and levels of information that is potentially relevant for making choices.

Findings from studies of consumer attitudes and awareness towards GM products have varied greatly. Many studies, however, have indicated that public opinions about GM products are not fully formed and the task of informing the public is far from over. This study expands on previous research by examining the factors that influence the search for information about GM products. Utilizing the theory of consumer behaviour and information search, we analyse consumers’ information search patterns about GM products. Specifically, we estimate the probability that consumers search for information actively, passively or do not search for information at all, and the factors influencing this search.

An ordered probit model is formulated to measure the factors, both economic and behavioural, that influence in‐formation search by consumers for GM products. Variables representing the informational attitudes and behaviour related to GM products have the greatest impact on the probability of searching for information about GM products. With the exception of age, demographic factors are not significant. The results point to information search, not, for the genetically modified characteristic, but instead for the absence of the characteristic.
Use of persuasive techniques on Internet shopping sites
Authors: Subramaniam Anita
Published: May 2003

Huge strides in technological development combined with marketing strategies have led to dramatic changes in the way information is transmitted and communicated to the consumers, and subsequently used by the consumers. Information has become a dominant factor in determining why, where, what, and how consumers shop, process information, and make decisions. While marketing information has always been an important factor in consumer decision‐making, its provision on demand and added convenience via the Internet has created a need to research the nature and amount of information that these technologies provide.

Advertisements use different forms of persuasion to gain consumer attention, meet their economic and emotional shopping needs, to create a positive image of the product, brand, and the shopping medium, and influence consumers to purchase the product. Persuasion may be classified as functional congruity and self‐congruity routes to persuasion (Johar & Sirgy, 1991). Fifty websites were studied for utilitarian and value‐expressive forms of persuasion by product differentiation. The websites were classified as those selling tangible products only and those selling intangible products only, and those selling both tangible and intangible products. The paper will present results of the study along with a discussion and conclusion with implications on consumer well‐being.
Adolescents as consumers of restricted media content: empowering adults as mediators
Authors: Thompson Sonya
Published: May 2003

Children and youth are a dominant consumer force in the media marketplace and restricted media content is part of the near environment of many adolescents, both at home and in their communities. Yet, little attention has been paid to adolescents as consumers of film, video, DVD, Internet, video games, pay per view, satellite and digital cable television content that has been deemed ‘adult’ or restricted content by government and industry regulators. Using a human ecology framework, this research assess what types of restricted media content 13 and 14 years olds are exposed to at home and in the community, how they come to have access to different types of restricted material, how they regulate their own consumption of sexually and violently explicit media content, what they think is appropriate viewing for themselves.

The media environment of adolescents is continually changing with the proliferation of new technologies, and restricted content is pervasively and aggressively marketed to adolescents. Market forces, government regulation, parental guidance, and media in its social context determine what children are exposed to. This research investigates the interaction between these forces and their outcomes for adolescents in the province of Alberta, Canada. Adolescents in Alberta have the highest rates of film, video, and DVD viewing in Canada, as well as the highest saturation of Internet in homes. Alberta's system of film classification (age restrictions   on   film,   video,   and   DVD)   is   similar   to   that   of most EU countries, providing a context for international comparison.

Findings from this research are critical to policy makers, regulatory bodies, media producers, educators, and parents in establishing practices to protect and educate young consumers. Information about Alberta adolescents’ consumption of restricted media content and how they gain access to it will ultimately affect children and youth by informing the societal forces which govern their media use.
Labels and hangtags: tool for consumer empowerment and education
Authors: Chowdhary Usha
Published: May 2003

Advertisers use social marketing to inform and convince consumers of the available products. The most casual apparel like jeans also comes in several brands ranging from designer names with status appeal to economical choices. Labels and hangtags serve as the first connection between the consumers and the apparel product. They address both intrinsic and extrinsic traits. Consumers use labels for social identification, information acquisition and care instructions. The threefold purpose of the reported study was (1) to determine the compliance of the information on the labels of men's jeans with the federal requirements of permanent care labelling; (2) to examine the content and significance of information on the hangtags; and (3) to determine if the weight/unit of the men's jeans varied across various brands used for the study.

A content analysis of the information on the labels and hangtags of 26 men's jeans was conducted. The information was tabulated and examined for compliance with federal regulations as well as additional information provided to convince the consumer of the products’ authenticity and performance for the intended use.

The findings revealed that labels and hangtags had useful information for persuading the consumer of the longevity of the company and authenticity of the product. The analysed jeans varied for price, style, and weight to meet the satisfaction of a broad spectrum of consumers who could be price conscious, status‐driven, and/or just information‐seekers. The results support the role of social marketing in reaching a variety of consumers by offering choices. This work can be further extended to determine the impact of labels and hangtags on decision‐making across various consumer markets for jeans as well as other apparel categories.
Consumer attitudes and acceptance of genetically modified organisms in Korea
Authors: Kim Hyochung , Kim Meera
Published: May 2003

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were first used to designate micro organisms that had had genes from other species transferred into their genetic material by the then‐new techniques of ‘gene‐splicing.’ Cultivation of GMOs has so far been most widespread in the production of soybeans and maize. The United States holds almost three‐fourths of the total crop area devoted to GMOs. Because many crops have been imported from the US, there is a large possibility for consumers to intake the products of GMOs in Korea. The safety of GMOs is not scientifically settled at this time, however. Additionally, the research regarding the GMOs issue of consumers has rarely been conducted in Korea. This study therefore focused on the consumer attitudes about GMOs and willingness to purchase them. The data were collected from 506 adults living in Seoul, Daegu and Busan, Korea, by means of a self‐administered questionnaire. Frequencies and chi‐square tests were conducted by SPSS. The results of the survey were as follows. First, the consumer concerns about GMOs were high but recognition was low; many respondents answered they did not have exact information about GMOs, although they had heard about them. Second, almost 93% of the respondents desired the labelling of GMOs. Third, the level of acceptance of GMOs was high; two‐thirds of the respondents showed that they were willing to buy GMOs. Finally, many respondents worried about the safety of GMOs in that 73% of the respondents primarily wanted to be informed about safety of GMOs. This study suggests that the consumer education about GMOs should be conducted through mass media and consumer protection organisations.
Consumers’ awareness and information need about food hygiene in Korea: focused on pesticide residues and food borne illness
Authors: Kim Meera , Kim Hyochung
Published: May 2003

This study investigated consumers’ awareness and information need about food hygiene especially focused on pesticide residues and food borne illness in Korea. The data were collected from 350 adults living in Daegu and Busan, Korea by a self‐administered questionnaire. Frequency and chi‐square tests were conducted by SPSS. The results of the survey were as follows: Firstly the consumers’ concerns about food hygiene were high. About three‐fourths of the respondents answered that they were ‘somewhat’ or ‘highly’ concerned about pesticide residues and food borne illness. Especially women and the older showed more concerns than men and the younger. Secondly, the respondents worried about eating vegetables, fruits and grains in turn because of pesticide residues, and did not trust the results from food hygiene tests by the Government. Thirdly, three‐fourths of the respondents used the way to wash food stuffs with water several times to clean pesticide residues. Fourth, about four‐fifths of the subjects worried about food borne illness caused by fish to the extreme and about two‐thirds answered that un‐fresh or contaminated food stuffs were the major factor of food borne illness in cooking. Finally, the respondents primarily wanted to get the information about harmfulness of pesticide residues in foods, and methods to choose fresh food regarding food borne illness. Under the situation of the lack of educational programs for food hygiene in Korea, the educational contents for food hygiene to improve public health can be developed on the basis of this study.
Perceived consumer competence of college students: a qualitative exploratory study
Authors: Lachance Marie L.
Published: May 2003

Considering the large sums of money young people spend on goods and services and the huge importance marketers grant to them, it is easy to agree on the very important role they play in today's consumer society. Autonomous role enactment involves the attainment of a certain level of performance which implies certain socially desirable behaviours. However, studies about consumer skills are rather sparse. Consequently, we do not know if young people present the necessary abilities to make educated choices, protecting their own interests and exerting their responsibilities as citizens in the community and by this, contributing to balancing the market forces. The data presented are an extract from the qualitative part of a larger study about the consumer skills of French Canadian college students. Thirteen students, aged from 18 to 22 years old, were recruited in three colleges of the Quebec City area through personal contacts with academic members. They participated in semistructured interviews during the months of November and December 2001. During the discussions, they expressed their perceptions of the skills necessary for being an educated consumer, their own level of competence in this area, the general level of competence of people of their age and that of older adults. They identified the most significant agents in their consumer socialisation and detailed the nature and content of these influences. This information implements research in consumer behaviour from a non‐commercial perspective and has helped to plan the quantitative stage of the study which is presently under way. The study is financed by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
A comparative investigation between functional foods and their alternatives with respect to medical claims made
Authors: Harrison Catherine , Brown Ian
Published: May 2003

This study sets out to investigate claims made by manufacturers regarding the medical benefits of some functional foods. A range of functional foods has come onto the market, providing the potential for customers to tailor their food choices more closely to their needs, providing they understand how to incorporate the appropriate products into their diet.

Claims regarding beneficial effects include: prevention or reduced risk of a symptom or disease such as osteoporosis with those foods enriched with calcium, enhancement of the digestive system by using probiotic yoghurt drinks or the treatment of disease by introducing plant sterols to reduce LDL cholesterol and thus the risk of heart disease.

Data were collected from the nutritional information provided by the manufacturers and analysed comparatively by contrasting the functional food with their ‘everyday’ alternative, which do not make any special claims.

Results     show     that     in     the     majority     of     cases     the     actual claims     made     by     the     manufacturer     were     not     substantiated and actually proved misleading and deceptive. It was considered that most products were over‐rated with regard to price and function.

The work concludes that whilst functional foods are now established on the market in many cases the claims are not substantiated and in some cases products have been withdrawn.
Developing the conceptual framework of consumer sciences in higher education in the UK
Authors: Bailey Sue
Published: May 2003

Recent subject benchmarking statements by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (2002) have included the subject of consumer sciences at bachelor's level. This is significant in that part of the aim of subject benchmark statements is to describe the nature and characteristics of specific degree level subject areas and to identify the ‘typical substantive core’.

Consumer science/studies have therefore been defined as: ‘interdisciplinary subjects which seek to understand the relationships between the consumer and the economic, technical, social and environmental forces which influence the development and consumption of goods and services’ (QAA, 2002).

If we are seeking, therefore, to encourage empowered consumers, we need to have an understanding of how the context of consumption and consumerism is positioned within current course structures. During the last five years developments and change in both the subject area and courses has made it increasingly necessary to explore the boundaries and development of degree level courses in the subject area in the United Kingdom.

Research is therefore being undertaken to investigate the existence of a unique body of knowledge that currently defines the subject field, given its inter and multidisciplinary focus.

This research has also aimed to track the changes and developments in courses and to map the forms of knowledge within the subject field between higher education institutions. This has been undertaken by comparing original studies of degree content areas, interviews and surveys of core academic staff and undertaking a recent follow up of this work. The results of this research will be available for presentation at the conference.
An investigation into breakfast clubs and their potential to improve diets of primary school children
Authors: Lee Gemma , Brown Ian
Published: May 2003

The diets of school children have been a major cause for concern for a considerable time. There is a whole host of evidence to suggest that inadequate dieting beginning in childhood is a major underlying cause of ill health in later life. The link between diet and disease is now well established, as is the need to improve the health of the nation. A number of issues have been raised in recent years including the need for nutritional standards for school meals, however, not enough has been done to eradicate these problems in schools.

This research looks into one particular provision – breakfast clubs for primary school children. Research suggests that a large proportion of school children are missing out on this vital meal and the opportunity to gain a substantial proportion of the essential daily nutrients required for adequate growth and development. Breakfast clubs are intended to provide children with the opportunity to receive a nutritious breakfast at the beginning of the day.

The objective of the work was to investigate breakfast clubs and establish how they could help to overcome some of the problems associated with poor nutrition in school children. An investigation was carried out using two samples of school children, one already attending a breakfast Club and one not. Comparisons were made between the two groups to see which was providing children with the most nutritious start to the day via a series of food diaries. It was concluded that the breakfast clubs provide children with higher intakes of all the nutrients surveyed and made a significant contribution towards improving the diets of the primary school children.
The attitudes and nutritional knowledge of 11–12 years olds in Merseyside and Northern Ireland
Authors: Frobisher C. , Jepson M. , Maxwell S.M.
Published: May 2003

School is a major area for providing young people with nutritional knowledge and skills. In Northern Ireland home economics is taught to 11–12 years olds (CCEA,1998). The 1988 Education Reform Act introduced the national curriculum and home economics as a subject was effectively abolished in English schools. Key stage 3 pupils in England are taught nutrition in Science, Design and Technology and in the cross curricular theme of health education (SCAA, 1996).

The aim of the study was to compare the attitudes and nutritional knowledge of children in Merseyside, England (M) and Northern Ireland (NI). A questionnaire was designed, which examined attitudes to aspects of healthy eating and tested the subject's knowledge, practical and theoretical, on nutrition and healthy eating. Subjects aged 11–12 years were recruited (M:541, NI:128).

The results indicate that the healthy food message seems to have been better learnt by children in Merseyside but results of surveys in Merseyside into eating habits suggest that many have not put this knowledge into practice.
Social desirability affects nutritional and food intake estimated from a food frequency questionnaire
Authors: Barros R. , Oliveira B. , Moreira P.
Published: May 2003

In order to assess the influence of social desirability in a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), 483 Portuguese university students (133 women and 350 men) were recruited to a two‐part self‐administered questionnaire: the first part included the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale (M‐CSDS), physical activity data and self‐reported height and weight; the second part, a validated semiquantitative FFQ. All subjects completed the first part of the questionnaire but only 40.2% returned the FFQ fairly completed (no statistically significant differences were found between the two groups, for any of the variables studied). Statistical analysis included reliability and test–retest of M‐CSDS, correlation and general linear model (GLM).

The Cronbach's alpha of M‐CSDS was 0.64 and a test–retest correlation of 0.80 was obtained in a subsample of 35 subjects who completed the scale twice. We found a significantly positive correlation between social desirability and vitamin E for women; when adjusted for physical activity, body mass index and energy, social desirability was positively correlated with vitamin E, magnesium and fibre for women; and vitamin C, magnesium and fibre, for men. In GLM, social desirability produced a significant upward bias in dietary fibre, sugars, β‐carotene, vitamins C, E, magnesium, potassium and iodine, for women; and in dietary fibre, pufa n‐3, folate, vitamins C, E, magnesium, manganese and potassium, for men.

In GLM, and for both genders, social desirability produced a significant upward bias in vegetable consumption. Moreover, social desirability produced for women a significant downward bias in white bread, onion and beer, and for men in biscuits.
Physical properties and degradability of PHB/chitosan blend films
Authors: Kim Meera , Jeon Soyun , Kim Hyochung
Published: May 2003

Synthetic polymers are rarely degraded in nature and cause environmental pollution. Biodegradable films have been developed to alleviate the pollution. Many countries have great interests in biodegradable food packaging films. Poly (3‐hydroxy butyric acid) (PHB) is a natural biodegradable plastic with biocompatibility. However, PHB has some problems of application to the food system because it is brittle and stiff. Because PHB has a poor site for chemical modification, the blends of PHB with flexible polymers can overcome these undesirable properties. Therefore, we prepared the blend films of PHB with chitosan, analysed the mechanical properties and barrier properties against water vapour, oxygen and lipid and monitored biodegradability of PHB/chitosan films in this study.

The degree of crystallinity of PHB/chitosan films by X‐ray diffraction decreased with increasing chitosan concentration. The granular sizes of the films were reduced with the addition of chitosan to the film in the micro structural observation by a scanning electron microscope. Mechanical properties, including tensile strength and percent elongation of the blend films increased with increasing chitosan ration in the films. It is demonstrated that mechanical properties of the films were improved by the addition of chitosan. The water vapour permeability (WVP) of the PHB film was the highest and WVP was decreased by the addition of chitosan. Oxygen permeability of the films decreased as chitosan amount increased. The films had very good barrier property against lipid. The consumed oxygen of PHB film was greater than that of chitosan film for incubation on the biodegradability determination of the films. Therefore, the blend films could be expected to increase the rate of degradation in natural environments.
Adult consumer education across Europe – redressing the market or reaching the vulnerable consumer
Authors: Schuh Maria , Kitson Mike
Published: May 2003

Consumer education is an important EU and United Nations priority. In most countries’ formal education systems, it is not a single discipline in its own right, but a cross‐curricular subject involving many areas of the school curriculum. Adult consumers are expected to be critical and informed consumers but may not know how to acquire the appropriate skills. The formal school system in many countries has failed to deliver these skills and values and adults need consumer education through both formal and informal means. With increasingly varied societies consumer education will help to produce active socially responsible citizens and citizenship is an essential element of the delivery of consumer education to adults. It is particularly important that consumer education should reach the vulnerable groups in society. Increasing globalisation and business power necessitate ethical and sustainable business practices; an informed, educated and empowered consumer will strengthen the market place to the benefit of both consumers and business.

Unlike school education, adult education across Europe is fragmented     with     a     mixture     of     formal     education,     including training for vocational qualifications, continuing and community education,   and   informal   education,   an   essential   contributor   to life‐long   learning   delivered   through   media,   women's   groups, consumer groups and many other large and small organisations.

The     issues     have     been     addressed     by     the     EU     Socrates supported     CEA     (Consumer     Education     for     Adults)     project which     has     10     partners     from     7     European     countries     drawn from non‐government organisations, teacher training and adult education institutions, universities and research institutes. The project   has   produced   a   training   manual   for   adult   consumer education, a training module, piloted in Vienna, which includes a handbook of teaching materials and a video, and has initiated a dialogue between consumers, consumer educators, business and producers.
An investigative study of adult consumer education and lifelong learning needs in the United Kingdom and Latvia
Authors: Kitson Mike , Dislere Vija , Harrison Helen
Published: May 2003

Consumer education in Latvia is in the early stages of development and should be seen in the context of the rapidly changing society in the post‐Soviet era and the increasing influence of the marketplace, and Latvia's position as a new accession   country. The   Latvia   University   of   Agriculture   is in the process of developing an adult consumer education programme.

A comparative study between the UK and Latvia was designed to test the hypothesis that many adult consumers lack knowledge and understanding of their consumer rights and responsibilities. A sample of adults in both countries completed a consumer rights questionnaire investigating attitude, knowledge and critical thinking ability. The UK questionnaire was modified, taking into account the different consumer environment in the two countries, to compare the need for adult consumer education in Latvia and the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom results showed that the group overall were not confident that they knew enough about consumer rights and legislation or to resolve consumer problems and were unsure about their consumer responsibilities. Levels of knowledge were poor, leaving adults vulnerable to exploitation in the marketplace, uninformed about their responsibilities to voice dissatisfaction about goods and services, and unaware of how their consumer behaviour can affect the wider community.

Adult participants in Latvia thought that they lacked education in consumer legal rights and responsibilities and did not have the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to manage consumer problems effectively.

Results in both countries indicate that adult consumer education is needed, supplemented by a comprehensive package of adult consumer education. Despite the cultural differences between the two countries, the analysis showed that similar adult consumer skills and attitudes were needed.

This joint research has shown that this methodology could be used to determine adult consumer and life‐long consumer education needs in other European countries and internationally.
Consumer empowerment in consumer education. Experiences from educational and consumer studies of youngsters
Authors: Benn Jette
Published: May 2003

The aim of consumer education has mainly been to teach and educate students to be and act as informed, rational and prudent consumers. This understanding of consumption as reasoned behaviour or action is inadequate in the late modern society, where consumerism is first and foremost characterised by globalisation, cultural change and the liberation of the individual.

The results of a research study involving Danish pupils aged 12–19 present a picture where consumption is both connected to material and immaterial aspects of life. Consumption as such has a significant impact on and meaning for the single person: it becomes a way human beings communicate and interact. Consumption is part of children's and youngsters’ formation and socialisation, and     plays     a     role     in     the development     of     identity   and self‐conception.

Formal institutional consumer enlightenment and the education     of     students     in     a     class     stand     in     contradiction to informal consumer socialisation and the education of individuals. The educational project may be described as ‘educating for critical consumer awareness and action competence’. But consumer education is located in the field of tension between ‘consumership’ and ‘citizenship’. The pilot study seeks to address and integrate consumer socialization and consumer education in order to reflect on empowerment as part of education.
Consumer education in the UK: new developments in policy, strategy and implementation
Authors: Brennan Carol , Ritters Katrina
Published: May 2003

Consumer education is an integral part of the European Community's consumer policy. It plays a key role in consumer empowerment, helping consumers gain the skills, attitudes and knowledge they need to be able to gear the choices they make as consumers to their economic interests and to protecting their health and safety. In its policy statement, the Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection states that the European Community is aware that joint   measures   at   national   and   Community   levels   should be more structured, in order to achieve maximum effectiveness.

This presentation/paper aims to set out the current policy and strategic context for consumer education and empowerment in the UK; review the role of UK government bodies and other agencies concerned with developments; review recent literature; present the results of interviews with an extensive range of key stakeholders and the results of a survey of service heads for Trading Standards throughout the UK. It will consider implementation, partnership, resources, ideas and opportunities.

The research found that the agenda for consumer education in the UK is at an interesting stage of development. The Enterprise Act 2002 gives the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) a statutory power to carry out educational activities. Consumer education is also moving up the agenda in the Trading Standards Service. In addition, the teaching of citizenship in English schools is already stimulating new developments in consumer education.

The paper will consider the need for organisations like these to work together to build on these policy developments and ensure that consumer education gains the profile it needs to influence consumer attitudes and behaviour.
How to create tools to empower the consumer – the challenges of home economics/FCS and home economics teacher education
Authors: Turkki Kaija
Published: May 2003

The aim of this presentation is to introduce some new frameworks that have been under discussion in developing university studies in the field of home economics or family and consumer sciences in Finland. The empirical data is derived from students’ contributions during their university studies in the degree program for home economics teachers at the Master's level. The main data is based on students’ opinions and conceptions about strengths (S), weaknesses (W), opportunities (O) and threats (T) of their university discipline and field to meet the future challenges. All students are at the level of advanced studies (mainly 4th year), and the number of students is 34. All have some school experience as a home economics teacher and most also have some other work experience in the field of home economics, family and consumer sciences.

The research questions were: (1) How do the students see their field according to the SWOT analysis? and (2) What type of developments do they pose for the future? There was also an implementation section. Students were asked to produce their own ‘action plan’ for the next few years.

The preliminary data analysis reveals that inside the discipline and the field there are several empowerment elements, but also that they are not used as efficiently as they could be.

In conclusion, most students have a very realistic view of their studies. They can analyse them in diverse ways, and reveal important qualifications. They are aware of the various challenges that face us in both the present and future societies. Students also see that home economics not only gives them tools that are relevant in present school situations, but the subject includes such future potentials that can be used in directing the school towards the more open learning environments. Home economics has its place inside the education system. Both the idea of ‘home economics teacher as a researcher’ and ‘home economics teacher as an educator’ were seen as important aims to maintain in the university degree.
An evaluation of the effects of Colour Me Beautiful on women's shopping habits
Authors: Grove‐White Ann
Published: May 2003

The research presents a case study about the way that women make decisions about colour and dress prior to, and after a visit to an image consultancy, Colour Me Beautiful. It specifically asks to what extent women feel they have benefited from such a consultation in relation to the fashion system and the experience of shopping.

The first section argues that the interviewees, prior to a consultation, had adopted a narrow and restricted mode of decision‐making in relation to clothes and colour due to a variety of social and personal reasons. The second section explores the processes by which the majority of interviewees began to gain confidence and a renewed interest in selecting clothes after a colour consultation. Such a ‘technology of the self’ enabled the respondents to ‘play’ with the fashion system, in a way that they had not felt able to do before. In particular the mechanisms of expertise and meaning were central to this process of change.
Transcriptional activation of nitric oxide synthase‐2, and NO‐induced cell death, in mouse cerebrovascular endothelium exposed to Neisseria meningitidis
Authors: Constantin Despina , Ala'Aldeen Dlawer , Murphy Sean
Published: May 2003

The site and mechanisms by which meningococci gain access to the CNS are unclear. In this study we determined whether production of nitric oxide (NO) is part of the host (endothelial cell) response to meningococcal cell lysate, and the consequences for endothelial cell viability. Expression of NO synthase type II (NOS‐2) mRNA, protein and enzyme activity were investigated in mouse cerebrovascular endothelial cells exposed to sonicated Neisseria meningitidis. The production of nitrite peaked after 48 h of incubation, and this reflected transcriptional activation of the NOS‐2 gene and increased expression of the NOS‐2 protein. This endothelial response was independent of meningococcal lipopolysaccharide production. Endothelial cell death occurred as a result of NO production, and addition of a NOS inhibitor prevented cell death, but the cells did not exhibit features of apoptosis. However, inhibition of poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) decreased the rate of cell death by more than 40%. These data indicate that N. meningitidis increases expression of NOS‐2 in endothelial cells and causes cell death. Such an effect could contribute to meningococcal entry into the CNS in situ.
Dopamine transport function is elevated in cocaine users
Authors: Mash Deborah C. , Pablo John , Ouyang Qinjie , Hearn W. Lee , Izenwasser Sari
Published: May 2003

Dopaminergic transmission has been suggested to be a primary mechanism mediating reinforcement, withdrawal and craving associated with psychostimulant addiction. Pyschostimulants attenuate dopamine transporter (DAT) clearance efficiency, resulting in a net increase in synaptic dopamine levels. Re‐uptake rate is determined by the number of functional DAT molecules at the membrane surface. Previousin vivoimaging studies in humans andin vitrostudies in post‐mortem human brain have demonstrated that chronic cocaine abuse results in a neuroadaptive increase in DAT‐binding site density in the limbic striatum. Whether this increase in DAT availability represents an increase in the functional activity of the transporter is unknown. Here, we present evidence that DAT function is elevated by chronic cocaine abuse. The effect of increasing post‐mortem interval on the functional viability of synaptosomes was modeled in the baboon brain. Baboon brains sampled under conditions similar to human brain autopsies yielded synaptosomal preparations that were viable up to 24 h post‐mortem. Dopamine (DA) uptake was elevated twofold in the ventral striatum from cocaine users as compared to age‐matched drug‐free control subjects. The levels of [3H]DA uptake were not elevated in victims of excited cocaine delirium, who experienced paranoia and marked agitation prior to death. In keeping with the increase in DAT function, [3H]WIN 35,428 binding was increased in the cocaine users, but not in the victims of excited delirium. These results demonstrate that DA uptake function assayed in cryopreserved human brain synaptosomes is a suitable approach for testing hypotheses of the mechanisms underlying human brain disorders and for studying the actions of addictive drugs in man.