ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This study aimed to find factors influencing the acceptance of telemedicine for adults in Brazil. Moreover, it investigates the moderating role of disease complexity and the generational digital divide phenomenon on the intention to use the telemedicine service. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A quasi-experiment was employed. Primary data were collected using a survey research method considering two different scenarios based on disease complexity and symptom severity. A total of 248 responses were collected using a structured questionnaire. The authors also tested these two scenarios in three generations (X, Y and Z) of adults. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the collected data and test the research hypotheses. FINDINGS: The results indicated that performance expectancy and perceived security and reliability are two predictors of the behavioral intention to use telemedicine, whereas effort expectancy and social influence showed no statistical significance. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that adults tend to adopt telemedicine regardless of the level of disease complexity. Finally, this study does not support the existence of a digital divide in the three generations. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study applies the UTAUT model to assess the telemedicine acceptance for younger generations. It examines patient risk perception (security and reliability) as one antecedent of telemedicine acceptance.
ABSTRACT
Prolactin (PRL) is a key hormone for prostate function, with a basal level in serum and associated with two characteristic circadian peaks. In the male rat, the execution of one bout of sexual behavior with consecutive ejaculations produces a significant transient increase in PRL. However, the impact of a constant sexual life on both PRL levels and prostate function is unknown. Thus, by using constantly copulating males we analyzed the levels of serum PRL, the effect on prostate PRL receptors, and activation of pStat3, pStat5 and Mapk signaling pathways. Sexually experienced Wistar male rats were used, which underwent periodic sessions of sexual behavior tests. Males were subjected to a session of sexual behavior to achieve at least one and up to four ejaculations. Of these, a blood sample was collected from randomly selected males and the ventral prostate was removed for analysis. Serum PRL was quantified, the mRNA for PRL receptors was determined, and signaling pathways were analyzed. Data show that a constant sexual life produced a constant elevation of PRL in serum during four consecutive ejaculations. The ventral prostate showed a different mRNA expression profile for the long and short isoform of the PRL receptor, and both mRNA levels increased. Although the gland did not show modification of the activation of the pStat5 signaling pathway, the levels of pStat3 increased, and the Mapk pathway showed one significant elevation after the third ejaculation. Thus, we showed that an active and constant sexual life produces a sustained increase in serum PRL, its receptors, and the pStat3 signaling pathway. These responses seem to underlie the required physiological need to produce the quantity and quality of prostatic semen to ensure the appropriate environment for sperm to reach and fertilize the ovum.
