Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors of environmental attitude, motivation, destination image, word-of-mouth, and perceived service quality to predict the tourists’ intention to select sustainable tourist destination. It also aims to investigate the moderating effect of knowledge on the relationship between environmental attitude and the tourists’ intention to select sustainable tourist destination. Design/methodology/approach Using survey design, 300 self-administrated questionnaires (both online/hard copy) were distributed to both local and international tourists at different tourism locations in Penang state in Malaysia. A total of 161 questionnaires were returned and analysed by using SPSS and smart PLS software. Findings The findings found that environmental attitude, motivation, and word-of-mouth significantly influenced the tourists’ intention to select sustainable tourism destination, while destination image and perceived service quality have not a significant influence in this study. Furthermore, this study proved that knowledge negatively moderates the positive effect of the environmental attitude on tourists’ intention to select sustainable tourism destination. Research limitations/implications The findings offer important managerial implications for managers of tourism destinations and decision makers in understanding what motivates influence tourists’ intention in selecting sustainable tourism destination. The research scope was limited to convenient sampling and one city (Penang). Thus, the results could not be generalised to all Malaysia or other countries. Originality/value This research contributes to extending knowledge in sustainable tourism destination in the context of emerging markets, especially Malaysia. Moreover, this study found a way to examine the relationship between the environmental attitude and tourists’ intention to select sustainable tourism destination.

To date, research on the prescribing decisions of physician lacks sound theoretical foundations. In fact, drug prescribing by doctors is a complex phenomenon influenced by various factors. Most of the existing studies in the area of drug prescription explain the process of decision-making by physicians via the exploratory approach rather than theoretical. Therefore, this review is an attempt to suggest a value conceptual model that explains the theoretical linkages existing between marketing efforts, patient and pharmacist and physician decision to prescribe the drugs. The paper follows an inclusive review approach and applies the previous theoretical models of prescribing behaviour to identify the relational factors. More specifically, the report identifies and uses several valuable perspectives such as the ‘persuasion theory - elaboration likelihood model’, the stimuli–response marketing model’, the ‘agency theory’, the theory of planned behaviour,’ and ‘social power theory,’ in developing an innovative conceptual paradigm. Based on the combination of existing methods and previous models, this paper suggests a new conceptual model of the physician decision-making process. This unique model has the potential for use in further research.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors affecting consumers' online purchase intention and to explore whether there was any significant difference between the path coefficients for males and females. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected by distributing questionnaires to 668 Indonesian consumers who were actively using the internet. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and multi-group analysis (MGA) in SmartPLS 3.0 software. Findings Results show that performance expectancy, effort expectancy and personal innovativeness are three influential factors and have a higher path coefficient in both the male and female groups. Anxiety shows a negative and significant relationship with online purchase intention for female consumers than for male consumers. Furthermore, the results of MGA analysis indicate that most factor coefficients in the determinants of online purchase intentions are not significantly different between males and females. Practical implications These results help the web retailers to consider the important factors in their strategies when they make strategic decisions as key factors affecting online buying intention. Besides this, the strong relationship between anxiety and intention for females has important implications for managers and designers should pay attention to this factor when designing the content on their business website. Originality/value Even though several marketing scholars discuss the factors influencing online shopping behavior, a few studies have shown the role of anxiety and personal innovativeness and their effect on online purchasing that fitted as supplements into the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). In addition, so far, no studies have effectively made a comparative analysis across gender, i.e. are personal and UTAUT factors in the determinants of online purchase intention significantly different across gender?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine reported literature on the influence of medical representatives (MRs) and other promotional tools on drug prescribing behaviour, and to assess whether this effect is different in developed and developing countries. Design/methodology/approach A survey of the literature was conducted across online databases from 2000 to 2016. Eligible studies addressed MRs and other promotion tools used to influence drug prescribing in developed and developing countries. Findings A total of 40 reviewed studies met the inclusion requirements. In total, 22 of the studies were conducted in developed countries and 18 in developing countries. Out of ten studies that examined the influence of MRs on drug prescribing in developed countries, eight found a positive influence, one found only moderate and one finds no influence. Analogous results were found in developing countries. Six out of ten studies on the influence of MRs conducted in developing countries found a positive effect, three found only moderate effects, while one finds no influence. The influence of promotion tools on prescribing varied in developed countries, five found positive influence, four reported a small effect and one found negative influence. In developing countries, the size of effect also varied, five studies found positive influence of promotion tools on drug prescribing behaviour, five found a negligible or small effect, and one found no association. However, marked differences were observed between two sectors. In the developed countries, MRs are valued as a source of information and can have an effect on prescribing, while it is unreliable in developing countries. Sample drugs are more generally seen as an important promotional tool for prescribing in developed countries than developing countries. Research limitations/implications The results derived from this review are based on studies with varying methodological consistency. The review provides the crucial information that will be valuable to researchers working on comparative analysis of marketing efforts in developing and developed countries. Originality/value This paper is one of the few systematic reviews on the influence of MRs and other promotional tools on prescribing. It compares the influence of MRs and promotional efforts in both developed and developing countries.

The purpose of this paper is to examine existing literature on physicians' perceptions towards brand medicines, to examine the extent to which brands influence drug prescription and whether pharmaceutical industry influences the prescription of brands, as well as to examine the loyalty of physicians to a brand when prescribing drugs or willingness to switch to generic drugs. Methods: Related articles published in different online databases from 2000 to 2017 were surveyed; 38 scientific articles indexed in Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed were selected for review. Articles focused on physicians' perceptions towards brand drugs and its effect on prescribing were extracted. The experimental design and quantitative and qualitative methods used in the studies were analyzed. The deductions made in each study were examined in tandem with the objective of the review. Findings: The studies showed that physicians from high-income countries are inclined to prescribe generic drugs more than brand, whereas those from low-income countries heavily prescribe the brand drugs. The studies also revealed that brand influences the prescribing behavior of physicians. Five studies reported that marketing endeavors encourage the physicians to prescribe brand medicines, while three studies stated that physicians have a high loyalty toward brand medicines irrespective of country's income. Other studies provided evidence that physicians are disposed to switching from brand to generic medicines under certain conditions. Marked differences in the prescribing generic drugs use by physicians among different age were observed. General physicians and pediatrics were more likely to suggest switching from the brand to generic drugs. The majority of physicians were familiar with biosimilars drugs. Conclusion: Generally, the studies showed that physicians tend to have mixed views regarding prescribing brand medicines. The perceptions of physicians towards the brand drugs were found to differ in relation to the nature of healthcare system and level of development.

Background:Previous attempts to develop an instrument to measure factors that influence prescribing decisions among physicians were relatively insufficient and lacked validation scale.Objective:We present a new tool that attempts to address this shortcoming. Hence, this study aims to develop and validate a self-administrated instrument to explain factors that influence the prescribing decisions of physicians.Methods:The questionnaire was developed based on literature and then subjected to an exhaustive assessment by a board of professionals and a pilot examination before being administered to 705 physicians. Three pre-tests were carried out to evaluate the quality of the survey items. In pre-test 1, after items are generated and the validity of their content is assessed by academics and physicians. In pre-test 2, the scale is carried out with a small sample of 20 respondents of physicians. In pre-test 3, fifty drop-off questionnaires were piloted amongst physicians to test the reliability.Results:On the basis of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analyses using SmartPLS 3, the content and convergent validity of the instrument were confirmed with 44 items grouped into four categories, namely, marketing efforts, patient characteristics, pharmacist variables, and contextual factors with 13 reflective constructs.Conclusions:The study outcomes prove that the scale is more valid and reliable for measuring factors that influence the decision of the physician to prescribe the drug. The development and presentation of a scale of thirteen factors related to physicians prescribing decisions help to ensure valid findings and facilitates comparisons of studies and research settings.

No abstract

Objectives There is a lot of debate over the influence of marketing efforts on the prescribing decisions of physicians. Accordingly, this study is an attempt to determine the influence of four marketing efforts (available information on a drug, brand of a drug, medical representatives (MRs) and sales promotion) on the drug prescribing decisions of physicians in Yemen. Method A survey research was conducted among physicians in Yemen. A total of 393 usable questionnaire responses were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM). Four hypotheses were proposed on the influence of marketing efforts on drug prescription, and the relationships were validated. Key findings The study found that marketing efforts have varying effects or no effect. Available drug information, sales promotion and effectiveness of medical representatives (MRs) were found to have no effect on the prescribing decisions of physicians, while the brand of a drug has a positive and significant effect. Conclusions This research showed how some marketing elements (available information on a drug, brand of a drug, sales promotion and effectiveness of MRs) could be used to explain the prescribing decisions of physicians. The study found that information available on a drug, sales promotion and effectiveness of MRs have no significant effect on prescribing decisions. On the other hand, the prescribing decisions of physicians were shown to be significantly and positively influenced by drug brands.