This study investigated the attitudes and perceptions of nurse managers regarding cost containment issues in selected public hospitals in the Port Elizabeth metropole of the Eastern Cape. Four hospitals participated in the study, and 211 nurse managers completed questionnaires. The results obtained from the participants’ responses indicated that: ✦ Nurse managers are ill-prepared for many responsibilities regarding cost containment, and need appropriate orientation and preparation both during their initial formal, and during their nurse management and in service training in order to fulfil their “financial” or cost containment role more effectively. ✦ Nurse managers perceived the relationship between the productivity of staff and cost containment positively, but were reportedly unable to • prevent nurses from leaving their points of duty • curb the rate of absenteeism among nurses • reduce the number of resignations ✦ Nurse managers suggested that more effective hospital cost containment efforts should ensure that • effective security checks are performed to curb losses of stock and equipment • more public telephones are installed in hospitals • stricter controls regarding wheelchairs are implemented The rationalisation of staff and services, as well as specialised equipment among the four public hospitals could enhance these hospitals’ cost containment results. However, this would necessitate reorganising these hospitals’ services at provincial level. The nurse managers required more knowledge about hospitals’ financial management and cost containment issues. Guidelines for such a course were developed addressing: analysis of monthly variance reports; budgeting for manpower; balance statement; calculations for the supplies and expenses budget; income statements; the hospital’s budgetary cycle; break-even analysis; analysis of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis. / ADVANCED NURSING SCIENCES / D.Litt. et Phil.

Interactive version of the thesis is filed with the printed copy in the UNISA archives / The study investigated and described public hospitals in terms of management processes with reference to financial planning, organizing, leading and control in order to identify deficiencies in the financial management of public hospitals. The aim was to identify gaps in the management of financial processes and to provide guidelines and strategies to improve these. The purpose of the research was addressed within a quantitative approach applying exploratory and descriptive designs. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data that fit the objectives of the research. The study population compassed all 27 public hospitals as study units in a specific geographic area, namely Mpumalanga Province with the following inclusion criteria: active patient capacity of 100 beds and more, which employ personnel such as (1) medical, (2) paramedical and (3) administrative and a working application of the BAS as financial accounting system since its interception in the year 2000. Nine public hospitals were randomly selected as the sample hospitals. Within the nine hospitals, four groups of staff were selected by means of stratified random sampling, namely management, health professionals, and financial and administrative staff. The number of staff selected within each hospital differed, from 15 to 50, amounting to a sample size of three hundred (n=300). A response rate of 66.66% v (n=182) was achieved. The sample consisted of 4 (2.27%) chief executive officers, 3 (1.70%) financial managers, 84 (47.72%) unit managers and 91 (50.00%) subordinates. The response rate of 66.66% in this study was an indication of the unavailability of the health care professionals (which include management, health professionals and financial and administrative staff) within the nine public hospitals. The major inferences drawn from this study are that the different health care professions have a poor perception of the scope of financial management in terms of financial needs, utilization of resources, the scope and function of leading and delegation, and applying appropriate financial control methods. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Services Management)

This study investigated the attitudes and perceptions of nurse managers regarding cost containment issues in selected public hospitals in the Port Elizabeth metropole of the Eastern Cape. Four hospitals participated in the study, and 211 nurse managers completed questionnaires. The results obtained from the participants’ responses indicated that: ✦ Nurse managers are ill-prepared for many responsibilities regarding cost containment, and need appropriate orientation and preparation both during their initial formal, and during their nurse management and in service training in order to fulfil their “financial” or cost containment role more effectively. ✦ Nurse managers perceived the relationship between the productivity of staff and cost containment positively, but were reportedly unable to • prevent nurses from leaving their points of duty • curb the rate of absenteeism among nurses • reduce the number of resignations ✦ Nurse managers suggested that more effective hospital cost containment efforts should ensure that • effective security checks are performed to curb losses of stock and equipment • more public telephones are installed in hospitals • stricter controls regarding wheelchairs are implemented The rationalisation of staff and services, as well as specialised equipment among the four public hospitals could enhance these hospitals’ cost containment results. However, this would necessitate reorganising these hospitals’ services at provincial level. The nurse managers required more knowledge about hospitals’ financial management and cost containment issues. Guidelines for such a course were developed addressing: analysis of monthly variance reports; budgeting for manpower; balance statement; calculations for the supplies and expenses budget; income statements; the hospital’s budgetary cycle; break-even analysis; analysis of cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis. / ADVANCED NURSING SCIENCES / D.Litt. et Phil.

Interactive version of the thesis is filed with the printed copy in the UNISA archives / The study investigated and described public hospitals in terms of management processes with reference to financial planning, organizing, leading and control in order to identify deficiencies in the financial management of public hospitals. The aim was to identify gaps in the management of financial processes and to provide guidelines and strategies to improve these. The purpose of the research was addressed within a quantitative approach applying exploratory and descriptive designs. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data that fit the objectives of the research. The study population compassed all 27 public hospitals as study units in a specific geographic area, namely Mpumalanga Province with the following inclusion criteria: active patient capacity of 100 beds and more, which employ personnel such as (1) medical, (2) paramedical and (3) administrative and a working application of the BAS as financial accounting system since its interception in the year 2000. Nine public hospitals were randomly selected as the sample hospitals. Within the nine hospitals, four groups of staff were selected by means of stratified random sampling, namely management, health professionals, and financial and administrative staff. The number of staff selected within each hospital differed, from 15 to 50, amounting to a sample size of three hundred (n=300). A response rate of 66.66% v (n=182) was achieved. The sample consisted of 4 (2.27%) chief executive officers, 3 (1.70%) financial managers, 84 (47.72%) unit managers and 91 (50.00%) subordinates. The response rate of 66.66% in this study was an indication of the unavailability of the health care professionals (which include management, health professionals and financial and administrative staff) within the nine public hospitals. The major inferences drawn from this study are that the different health care professions have a poor perception of the scope of financial management in terms of financial needs, utilization of resources, the scope and function of leading and delegation, and applying appropriate financial control methods. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Services Management)