A11 - Role of Economics; Role of Economists; Market for EconomistsReturn

Obesity is a significant public health issue as it seems to be the cause for high blood pressure, diabetes and other health problems. The human body cannot function efficiently if it has high body mass index score. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), people with BMI score of ≥ 25 are being categorized as obese. One way to control obesity is to rely on the help of technology such as mobile health applications. In literature, there is a lack in research addressing obese people’s intention of using mobile health applications. Recognising the critical role of their behavioural intention to use mobile health applications, this research investigates the factors affecting behavioural intention to use mobile health applications. Adapting Consumer Acceptance Technology (CAT) model by Kulviwat et al. (2007) and Health Belief Model (HBM) developed by Glanz et al. (2008), this research examines factors of perceived cognition, perceived affection, perceived threat, compatibility, accessibility and attitude towards behavioural intention to use mobile health apps. To test the proposed framework, data were collected using quota sampling, while questionnaires were distributed to 500 obese people in the top 5 percent in the states with the obesity population in Malaysia, namely Malacca, Federal Territory of Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Perlis. Data collected were analysed using Partial Least Square (PLS) software. The results show that relationship between perceived cognition and perceived affection towards behavioural intention to use is partially significant, while significant relationship has been found between perceived threat, compatibility and accessibility and behavioural intention to use. Besides, perceived cognition and perceived affection partially support relationship on attitude. On the other hand perceived threat, compatibility and accessibility fully support relationship on attitude. Finally, the results demonstrate attitude partially mediates the relationship between perceived cognition and perceived affection, while attitude fully mediates the effect of perceived threat, compatibility, accessibility on behavioural intention to use. Findings provided empirical evidence on the collective effect of behavioural intention to use mobile health applications as well as independent effect of perceived cognition, perceived affection, perceived threat, compatibility and accessibility. Besides, findings suggested to encourage individual to use mobile health applications, while related takeholders should continually improve user perception on health applications.

A firm considers various factors when approaching a dividend policy decision. To analyze the determinants of dividend policy in the context of Bangladesh, questionnaire survey has been done from financial decision makers of sample companies. The nonparametric test and factor analysis is used for interpreting results. The research finding exhibits that in the first stage, the economic related factor, legal constraint factor, capital market related factor, residual policy factor, capital source factor and clientele factors are considered in dividend decision making. Then in the second stage, the companies follow the preceding years' pattern of dividend payment. In the next stage, dividend decision is made mainly on the level of earnings and liquidity. The observed result reveals that present earnings and liquidity are the most likely factors for the firm in deciding the payout policy.