DQ1
Utilizing the mass media article published within the last year that describes findings of an epidemiological study.
Then, use the peer-reviewed research article on which the mass media report is based
Post a response to the following:
Briefly summarize the study you found and then include the citations for both the mass media and the peer-reviewed articles.
Explain what epidemiological concepts are included in the mass media article (e.g., measures of association, study design, confounders, and bias) and how they compare to those in the peer-reviewed article.
Give your assessment of how well the mass media article represented the actual research that was conducted. Describe any obvious omissions from the mass media article that epidemiologists critiquing the study would need to know.
Finally, imagine that a patient brings this mass media article to you and asks you for your informed opinion. Explain how you would respond or interpret the article for the patient.
DQ2
Post a scholarly response to the following criteria:
• Analyze a strategy for stakeholder selection and building an effective quality improvement team.
• Recommend the stakeholder roles required for a selected quality improvement initiative.
o Provide a rationale for selecting these roles.
o What is an ideal number of stakeholders to include?
o What is the importance of intermittent stakeholder assessment throughout the project?
• Explain potential challenges of a new quality improvement team.
o What is the role of the project leader to mitigate these challenges?
Popularity and Users
Microlending is an established financial service with a global presence, valued at hundreds of billions of dollars and expected to continue growing significantly.
Popularity: It is most prevalent in developing economies, particularly the Asia-Pacific region (e.g., India, Bangladesh, Indonesia) and parts of Africa and Latin America, where the informal sector is large and access to traditional banks is scarce.
Users:
Individuals: Low-income entrepreneurs, small business owners, farmers, and women in both rural and urban areas who are often excluded from formal banking.
Global Companies/Institutions:
Microfinance Institutions (MFIs): Dedicated organizations, both non-profit (NGOs) and for-profit (e.g., BRAC, ASA).
Commercial Banks: Increasingly incorporating microfinance products into their portfolios (known as Downscaling).
Social Investors: Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIVs) and impact funds that blend social and financial returns.
Sample Answer
Contemporary Finance Topics: Microlending and Green Financing
This analysis covers two contemporary finance topics: Microlending and Green Financing.
1. Microlending
Definition and Real-Life Examples
Microlending (or Microcredit) is the practice of extending very small loans to impoverished borrowers who typically lack collateral, steady employment, or a verifiable credit history. It is a key component of the broader concept of Microfinance, which provides essential financial services (loans, savings, insurance) to the financially excluded, often in developing countries. The purpose is to enable recipients to engage in income-generating activities and build self-sufficiency.