Journal of Consumer Sciences

Unveiling End-users' Satisfaction and Actual Use of Blockchain in e-Health: Empirical Evidence from Bangladesh

2024-09-29T20:17:45+07:00

Data safety and security have become threatening issues in the health industry. Against this backdrop, blockchain technology has opened up a new window for healthcare stakeholders. This research aims to enhance the understanding of the factors that influence user satisfaction and actual use behavior of blockchain technology in the electronic health sector in Bangladesh. A convenience sampling collected primary data (270 responses) from nurses, doctors, emergency staff, and laboratory technicians. AMOS and SPSS were used for analysis. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, assessing normality, common method bias, validity, reliability test and regression weight analysis. The findings of this study reveal that the task characteristics, performance expectancy, information quality, and service quality of blockchain are significantly related to end-user satisfaction. Performance expectancy had the greatest weighted influence on satisfaction. End-user satisfaction reflects strong usage behavior towards blockchain technology in Bangladesh. Surprisingly, system quality does not substantially affect user satisfaction derived from blockchain technology. This study analyzes the most critical predictors of satisfaction evoked by using blockchain, particularly relevant to the context of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), such as Bangladesh. To our knowledge, limited studies have yet examined user satisfaction and actual use behavior through the lens of IS success, Task Technology Fit (TTF), and UTAUT models in Bangladesh's e-health sector. This study is anticipated to provide an opportunity for additional investigation into the potential uses of blockchain in the medical field and other commercial sectors.

Brand Attachment: The Moderating Effect of High and Low Involvement Products

2024-07-02T09:32:13+07:00

Brand attachment can be considered one of the predictors of consumer commitment to a brand. Based on this key concept, the type of products can condition the consumer's relationship with the brand. This study analyses the moderating effect that the brand’s involvement (high or low) has on the relationship between brand attachment and some of its antecedents (brand personality, perceived quality, brand awareness, and brand credibility) and effects (brand loyalty, purchase intention, and perceived risk). This causal research, with 1922 valid surveys (simple random sampling procedure), was carried out in three main cities of Ecuador (Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca): 1150 high-involvement and 722 low-involvement products. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation models, and multi-sample analysis. Results show that brand personality influences brand attachment and loyalty with a higher moderating effect on products with low involvement. Additionally, brand attachment influences brand loyalty with a higher moderating effect on highly involved products. As practical implications, we state that brand managers of high-involvement products must invest in digital tools that maximize the information available to the public to make decisions. Additionally, low-involvement product brand managers must invest in an identifiable image to make it easy for customers to find their brand. This research adds value because no research has been identified that addresses the study of attachment by comparing its operation in high and low-involvement contexts. It opens future research by introducing new variables in the brand personality scale in combination with that of attachment.

Understanding Zillennials Consumer Green Behavior of Reducing Plastic Bag Use through the Theory of Planned and Interpersonal Behavior

2024-07-02T09:32:12+07:00

Adopting cloth bags over single-use plastic bags is a significant consumer behavior. Employing the theory of of planned and interpersonal behavior, this study aimed to understand the relationship between customers' intentions to use cloth bags and their awareness of the environmental impact of plastic bags. Through purposive sampling, 277 individuals born after 1980 and making at least one to three in-person retail and Internet purchases each month were selected as participants. The data were processed using descriptive and quantitative analysis tools using SEM (Structural Equation Model) analysis. The findings reveal that creating the next generation of habit bags can significantly enhance social awareness of plastic bag usage and the environment. However, no evidence suggests that the EAPB increases the intention to use cloth bags. The more the SP and SBPB intervene, the more the IUCB contributes to changing consumer behavior to use fewer plastic bags. Therefore, Habit Bag Use can positively influence pro-environmental behavior, as this study combined the theory of Interpersonal Behavior and the theory of Planned Behavior. These results contribute to the theoretical framework for understanding how the millennial generation's interpersonal conduct, reflected in their bag-using behaviors, influences their behavior in minimizing plastic bag usage. These findings imply that the adoption of single-use or non-plastic bag habits can motivate people to reduce their usage of plastic bags, a behavior that is further encouraged by laws prohibiting the use of plastic bags.

Factors affecting Ethiopian Consumers’ Attitudes towards Purchasing Locally Produced Apparel: An Empirical Study

2024-07-02T09:32:12+07:00

: Currently, customers have an ever-expanding choice of purchase options owing to globalization, which leads to increased competition. Globalization and current marketing trends have made consumers more sensitive and challenging than ever. As consumers are the most important asset any business has, organizations must understand consumers’ behavior to maintain a strategic advantage in today's increased competition and globalized marketing. In this regard, this study aimed to assess the determinants of Ethiopian consumers' purchasing behavior in locally-produced apparel by using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model. Cross-sectional data from 539 consumers were collected using convenience sampling and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The structural equation model results showed that all variables had a positive and significant effect on the dependent variables, which means that all hypotheses are supported. The results also indicate that consumers' attitude toward locally produced apparel was the most influential determinant of their purchasing intention towards locally produced apparel, followed by perceived behavioral control and subjective norms. Further, consumers' purchasing intention is more influential in their purchasing behavior than perceived behavioral control. The findings of this study provide insight into domestic apparel consumption, as well as the factors affecting consumer purchasing intentions and behavior in the Ethiopian context. The results from the measurement and structural models offer key inputs for policymakers, marketers, manufacturers, and retailers.

Consumer Protection Regarding Health Information and Warnings on Tobacco Cigarette Packaging

2024-07-02T09:32:11+07:00

Indonesia is one of the countries that has a cigarette community, it becomes a problem when the packaging on cigarettes does not provide accurate information, this certainly blames consumer protection. This study aims to delineate consumer protection measures regarding tobacco cigarette circulation without providing accurate information. Conducted in a normative framework. The findings suggest that legal protection for cigarette consumers who receive unclear or inaccurate information on cigarette product packaging can encompass preventive and repressive legal measures. Preventive measures are outlined in PP No. 109 of 2012 and PERMENKES No. 28 of 2013, specifically in Article 4 sub-articles c and i. Conversely, repressive measures enable individuals to file complaints with the Consumer Dispute Settlement Agency (known as BPSK) or initiate lawsuits. Furthermore, the responsibility of business actors to provide accurate information is underscored by Decision Number 32/Pid.B/2021/Pt. Pbr. This responsibility extends not only to distributors but also to cigarette manufacturers, such as PT. Leadon International, found in violation of various regulations, including Article 8 paragraph (1) sub-paragraphs a I, and j of the Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL), in conjunction with Article 14 of Government Regulation Number 109 of 2012, and Article 10 paragraph (2) sub-paragraph a and paragraph (3) of PERMENKES No.28 of 2013. Sanctions for producers should adhere to Article 19, in conjunction with Article 62 paragraph (1) of the GCPL. At the same time, distributors face reprimands for product withdrawals as stipulated in Article 60 paragraph (3) of PP No. 109 of 2012.

Consumption and Consumer Preferences of Fresh and Frozen Potatoes in Semarang City

2024-07-12T08:17:57+07:00

Farmers, producers, and other parties involved in the agricultural production chain of vegetable commodities place a high value on knowing consumer preferences when making decisions on developing and manufacturing agricultural food products. This study aims to investigate consumer behavior and identify information on consumer preferences for both fresh and processed (frozen) potatoes. The study was conducted in Semarang City, using a survey method. Purposive sampling method was employed to recruit 100 respondents, aged above 21 years, residents of Semarang City, and had consumed at least fresh and/or frozen potatoes in the last month. A questionnaire using Google Forms was employed to gather data online. It was distributed via social media platforms. The data collected was analyzed by descriptive and conjoint analysis. The results showed that the most frequent consumption was once a week with regular types of fresh potatoes being consumed; the respondents' spending on potato consumption was ≤ IDR 25,000/ month, and they consumed ≤2 kg of potatoes per week. Potato consumer preferences showed that the fresh potato attributes most liked by consumers are large tuber size, smooth skin, and ≤5 lateral buds, with the number of lateral bud attributes being the most prioritized. The most preferred attributes for frozen potatoes are a straight form, priced at IDR 39,000 to 58,000, batter-coated flavor, 801-1000 gr size packaging, and branded, with the shape attribute being the most prioritized. These findings suggest that farm producers can develop innovative potato varieties with fewer lateral buds and shapes for frozen potatoes.