政府入口網站含蓋了眾多提供公共服務的網站，讓民眾或企業進行相關業務的辦理、資訊的查詢以及進行交易等行為。全國或是全球需要使用到政府服務，例如政府採購等之使用者皆是政府入口網站之服務對象。因此政府網站在資料流量含量方面較之於一般商業網站更為可觀，亦包含了電子商務性質。在此狀況下，政府角色亦已逐漸從管制調適為服務。就政府體策略或執行計畫而言，實施知識管理除可使行政單位的工作效率提昇，行政流程時間縮短，更可避免重覆錯誤及誤判訊息之可能。 　　本研究主要以行政院公共工程委員會目前所推行之『政府採購電子化』計畫為研究對象，冀於對未來五年能達到政府採購作業全面電子化提出建議。本研究之目標係分析研擬「政府電子採購入口網站」之關鍵成功因素，從而由「政府採購電子化」計畫現行系統歸納出具綜效之整合型「政府電子採購入口網站」功能架構，其工作內容如下： 　　1. 歸納、分析現行各系統及政府採購法推動之問題。 　　2. 瞭解國內政府入口網站之推動情形，分析企業資訊入口網站解決方案現況。 　　3. 利用分析層級程序法（Analytic Hierarchy Process，簡稱ＡＨＰ）歸納出三分類專家，包括工程會內部專家、公部門專家、產業界及學界專家所認為的「政府電子採購入口網站」之關鍵成功因素，同時也分析資訊職務與非資訊職務專家觀點之相異點。 　　4. 根據歸納出來之關鍵成功因素與內部需求，提出具建設性之「政府電子採購入口網站」功能架構雛形，建議工程會推動「政府採購入口網站」提供之功能依據。 　　本研究AHP法研究結果如下： 　　1. 本研究中之各類專家一般認為內在因素比外在環境因素之權重大。 　　2. 第三層關鍵成功因素包括知識管理機制之健全化、政策及法制配合度、使用者服務機制、資訊系統與營運。整體而言，工程會內部專家與產業界及學界專家兩類專家較重視政策及法制配合度構面因素，而公部門專家比較重視資訊系統與營運構面因素。資訊職務專家較重視政策及法制配合度構面因素，非資訊職務專家比較重視資訊系統與營運構面因素。 　　3. 整體最底層關鍵成功因素排名前七項分別為高階長官的參與和支持並訂定明確的目標、即時配合實際狀況，修正、鬆綁法規、充裕的資源配合、提昇法令約束力之效力、提供快速回應問題之機制、介面具親和力、操作流程循序簡單、提供高度的可靠性與穩定性。 　　本研究最後逐一對專家深入訪談、工程會需求訪談、企業資訊入口網站解決方案及關鍵成功因素AHP之分析等結果提出結論與建議。 / An e-Government Portal should integrates numerous websites that offer public service, and provides individuals or enterprises with a platform for trafficking, searching information, and conducting transactions. Thus, all the users, that need to access government service and government procurement information, are potential customers of the e-Government Portal website. Hence, the e-Government Portal website, with e-Commerce quality, has more enormous data flow and database contents in comparison with simple e-Commerce sites. Last but not least, the role of e-Government Portal website is turned gradually into a service provider from its simple transition role of inspection. 　　From government's strategic aspect, actions regarding knowledge management can not only improve the efficiency and streamline the administrative procedures, but also avoid the crisis of repeating failures and misleadings of messages. 　　The object of this research is the Electronic Procurement Plan, which was established and promoted by the Public Construction Commission (PCC) of The Executive Yuan, R.O.C. The goal of the Electronic Procurement Plan is to accomplish the electronic commerce of the government procurement entirely in five years. This study aims to find out the critical success factors (CSF) for the Government Electronic Procurement Portal Website, and to carry out a functional architecture for the synergic Government Electronic Procurement Portal Website via the following working packages : 　　1. to analyze and formulate the problems of promoting the electronic government procurement system and the government procurement law. 　　2. to discuss the ongoing domestic promotion programs of the e-Government Portal websites and analyze the status quo cases of the Enterprise Information Portal (EIP) solution. 　　3. to analyze and compare the critical success factors of the Government Electronic Procurement Portal Website of various expert viewpoints through Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The experts come from the PCC internal public servants, public servants from other government agencies as well as industrialists and scholars. On the other hand, the different viewpoints between the IT background experts and non-IT background experts are also compared. 　　4. to summarize constitutive functional architecture for the Government Electronic Procurement Portal Website according to the resulted CSF and the PCC internal requirements. 　　The results of AHP analysis can be stated as following: 　　1. The internal factors outweigh external factors. 　　2. The third-level of factors of AHP architecture includes the solidity of knowledge management, the compatibility of policies and laws, the user service mechanism and the information systems and operations. Generally, the PCC internal public servants, industrialists and scholars pay more attention to the compatibility of policies and laws than the other public servants that put a lot of emphasis on the information systems and operations. The IT background experts value the compatibility of policies and laws, whereas the non-IT background experts emphasize the information systems and operations. 　　3. The top seven priority factors of the rock-bottom level factors include the involvements and endorsements of the top executives and establish the clear goals, the instantaneous emendation and relaxation of the laws, the compatibility of abundant resource, the effectiveness of promoting the law's constraint force, friendly interface and easily sequential operation flow and high reliability and stability. 　　At last, this research leads to the conclusions and suggestions in regard to in-depth experts interviews，PCC internal requirement investigations, EIP solutions and the AHP CSF analysis.

This research conceptualises IT infrastructure management at secondary schools in the WCED (Western Cape Education Department). This includes whether or not secondary schools in the WCED make use of a full time, on-site network administrator or whether a teacher acts as on-site network administrator. The literature review studied the effectiveness of IT infrastructure management which includes hardware, software, policies, computer network, security; staff management and BYOD (bring your own device). The management of IT infrastructure at secondary schools within the WCED differs widely from school to school, and its functionality depends on many factors. The quantitative study revealed problem areas within IT infrastructure management at secondary schools in the WCED. Furthermore the quantitative study also revealed that there is a need for best practice guidelines with regards to IT infrastructure management in order to improve service delivery. The literature review provided sources for best practice IT infrastructure management. / Rekenaar infrastruktuur by sekondere skole in die WKOD (Wes Kaapse Onderwys Departement) word in die navorsing beskryf. Die studie ondersoek verskillende strukture naamlike skole wat 'n voltydse netwerk administrateur het en skole waar 'n onderwyser die verantwoordelikheid aanneem van 'n netwerk administrateur. Die effektiewe beheer van rekenaar infrastrukture word bespreek. Dit sluit hardeware, sagteware, beleid formulasie, rekenaar netwerk, sekuriteit, personeel bestuur, en BYOD (bring jou eie toestel). Die bestuur van rekenaar infrastruktuur verskil van skool tot skool en die effektiewe bestuur daarvan word deur baie faktore beinvloed. Die kwantitatiewe studie het probleem areas vir die bestuur van rekenaar infrastruktuur by sekondere skole in die WKOD uitgewys. Die kwantitatiewe studie het verder die behoefte vir beste praktyk riglyne uitgewys om sodoende better dienslewering te verseker. Die literere studie het beste praktyk riglyne vir rekenaar infrastruktuur bestuur genoem. / Educational Leadership and Management

Text in English with abstracts and keywords in English and Setswana / Aim: The purpose of the research was to determine the magnitude and factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and to explore the experiences of gynaecologists/obstetricians and midwives in the monitoring and prevention of GDM- related adverse maternal outcomes in order to propose best practice guidelines which may be implemented to overcome the problem. Methods: A concurrent mixed methods design was used. Participants for the quantitative study were selected using systematic random sampling, with purposive sampling being used for the qualitative part of the study. A total of 2000 medical records were reviewed using a checklist, in addition to which 7 gynaecologists/obstetricians and 12 midwives were interviewed using an in-depth interview guide. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for the quantitative part, while Colaizzi’s manual qualitative data analysis method wasused for the qualitative part of the study. Findings: The magnitude of GDM was found to be 2.2%. Age and family history of diabetes mellitus were found to be factors associated with GDM (at p < 0.001). Other factors such as obesity, previous GDM, previous history of fetal macrosomia and multiple gestations were identified by respondents as factors related with GDM. In addition, the study explored the experiences of health professionals (HPs) in the monitoring and prevention of adverse maternal outcomes related to GDM, with the results showing some differences in screening and diagnostic techniques. It was also shown that lifestyle modification (physical exercise, diet management) and medication were utilised for managing women with GDM. In this regard, all the HPs agreed that creating awareness is the best intervention for preventing GDM as well as its adverse maternal outcomes. Conclusions: The magnitude of GDM is increasing, and much needs to be done to draw attention to the burden that GDM places on the health of pregnant women and the public. Since GDM is not considered a public health problem, little is being done to monitor the condition and its adverse maternal outcomes. It is hoped that the best practice guidelines developed from this research study may assist in reducing the adverse maternal outcomes of GDM in Ethiopia / Maikaelelo: Lebaka la patlisiso e ne e le go tlhotlhomisa go nna teng le mabaka a a golaganeng le bolwetsi jwa sukiri jwa baimana (GDM), le go tlhotlhomisa maitemogelo a dingaka tsa malwetsi a basadi (gynaeologists/ obstetricians) le babelegisi mo go tlhokomeleng le go thibeleng ditlamorago tse di maswe mo baimaneng tse di amanang le GDM gore go tshitshinngwe dintlhakaelo tse di gaisang tse di ka diragadiwang go fenya bothata. Mekgwa: Go dirisitswe thadiso ya mekgwa e e tlhakantsweng. Banni-le-seabe ba thutopatlisiso e e lebelelang dipalopalo ba ne ba tlhophiwa go diriswa go tlhopha sampole ka go se latele thulaganyo, mme go tlhopha sampole ka maikaelelo go ne ga diriswa mo karolong ya thutopatlisiso e e lebelelang mabaka. Go sekasekilwe palogotlhe ya direkoto tsa kalafi tse 2 000 go diriswa lenanetshekatsheko, mme mo godimo ga moo, go ne ga nna le dipotsolotso le dingaka tsa malwetsi a basadi di le supa le babelegisi ba le 12 go diriswa kaedi ya dipotsolotso tse di tseneletseng. Dipalopalo tse di tlhalosang le tse go sweditsweng ka tsona di ne tsa diriswa mo karolong ya dipalopalo ya thutopatlisiso, fa go dirisitswe mokgwa wa ga Colaizi wa tokololo ya data ya mabaka mo karolong e e lebelelang mabaka. Diphitlhelelo: Go nna teng ga GDM go ne ga fitlhelwa e le 2.2%. Dingwaga le hisetori ya bolwetsi jwa sukiri ya baimana mo lelapeng di fitlhetswe e le dintlha tse di golaganeng le GDM (ka p < 0.001). Dintlha dingwe, jaaka go nona phetelela, GDM mo nakong e e fetileng, go nna teng ga macrosomia ya masea mo nakong e e fetileng le boimana jwa masea a feta bongwe di ne tsa supiwa ke batsibogi jaaka dintlha tse di golaganeng le GDM. Go tlaleletsa foo, thuto e ne ya sekaseka maitemogelo a baporofešenale ba boitekanelo (HPs) mo tlhokomelong le thibelo ya ditlamorago tse di sa siamang mo baimaneng tse di golaganeng le GDM, mme dipholo di bontshitse dipharologano dingwe mo dithekeniking tsa go sekirina le go phekola. Go bonagetse gape gore phetolo ya mokgwa wa botshelo (katiso ya mmele, tsamaiso ya mokgwa wa go ja) le kalafi di ne tsa diriswa go laola bolwetsi jwa basadi ba ba nang le GDM. Mo lebakeng le, baporofešenale botlhe ba boitekanelo ba ne ba dumelana gore go dira temoso ke tsereganyo e e gaisang ya go thibela GDM ga mmogo le ditlamorago tsa yona tse di sa siamang mo baimaneng. Ditshwetso: Go nna teng ga GDM go a oketsega, mme go tshwanetse go dirwa go le gontsi go lemosa ka mokgweleo o bolwetse jono bo o bayang mo boitekanelong jwa baimana le setšhaba. Ka ntlha ya gore GDM ga e kaiwe jaaka bothata jwa boitekanelo jwa setšhaba, ga go dirwe go le kalo go tlhokomela bolwetsi le ditlamorago tsa jona tse di sa siamang mo baimaneng. Go solofelwa gore dintlhakaelo tsa tiriso e e gaisang tse di dirilweng mo thutopatlisisong eno di ka thusa go fokotsa ditlamorago tse di sa siamang tsa GDM mo baimaneng kwa Ethiopia. / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Public Health)

Abstracts in English, Zulu and Afrikaans / Globally, Visitor Information Centres are increasingly recognised touchpoints contributing to the success of tourism destinations. In Gauteng, South Africa, their numbers continue to decline. The service level of these remaining VICs differ across and fall below expectation. Furthermore, most models of operation are obsolete, with these centres having minimal exposure to best practices. Limited research focuses on the supply side, namely the staffing and management of centres. The study focuses on Gauteng VICs and the best practices that could improve future effectiveness. An exploratory design was followed which commenced with a concise review of best practice literature, global case studies and examples on the operation of effective VICs. An empirical study then reported on the opinions of 25 VIC staff and eight managers from eight Gauteng VICs regarding the current situation and future needs. A two-tiered approach was used to gather data via two custom-designed surveys with Gauteng VIC staff and managers respectively. A snowball sample of 25 staff members and a purposive sample of eight key informants were obtained. Data were analysed quantitatively using SPSS and qualitatively using thematic content analysis; and presented in three parts. The literature, the findings and the researcher’s recommendations culminate in a best practice framework for Gauteng VICs. The framework advocates for an integration of traditional and new media services and platforms in the dissemination of tourism information based on the funding available to a particular VIC. It is envisaged that if managers implement the best practice framework, it could avert further decline in the number of VICs. Moreover, it could improve their effectiveness in meeting the needs of the technologically-savvy and the traditional visitor, thereby ushering the Gauteng VICs into the 21st century. / Emhlabeni jikelele, izikhungo zolwazi zabavakashi (VICs) ziya ngokuya ziqashelwa njengamaphuzu okuxhumana abamba iqhaza ekuphumeleleni kwezindawo zezokuvakasha. EGauteng, eNingizimu Afrika inani labo, liyaqhubeka ngokwehla. Amazinga okusebenza kwalokho kwama-VIC asele ahluka ezindaweni zonkana futhi awela ngezansi kokulindelekile. Ngaphezu kwalokho, izinhlobo eziningi zezifanekiso zomsebenzi azisetshenziswa, nalezo zikhungo nokuba nokubanakaliswa okuncane nemikhuba ephambili. Ucwaningo olulinganiselwe lugxile ohlangothini lokunikezela, okuyizikhungo zabasebenzi nokuphathwa. Lolu cwaningo lugxile kuma-VIC aseGauteng kanye nemikhuba ephambili engase ithuthukise ukusebenza ngokuzayo. Umklamo oyisibonelo walandelwa okuyinto eyaqala ngokubuyekeza okufingqiwe okuhamba phambili kwezincwadi, izifundo zomhlaba nezibonelo zokusebenza ngempumelelo kwama-VIC. Ucwaningo lomdlandla lwabika ngemibono yamalungu abasebenzi abangama -25 beVIC nabaphathi abayisishiyagalombili abavela kuma-VIC ayisishiyagalombili aseGauteng mayelana nesimo samanje kanye nezidingo esikhathini esizayo. Izindlela ezimbili zokuhlaziya zasetshenziswa ukuqoqa imininingwane ngokusebenzisa izinhlolovo ezimbili ezenziwe ngokwezifiso nabasebenzi be-VIC eGauteng nabaphathi ngokulandelana Isampula yokudluliselwa (snowball sampling) kwamalungu abasebenzi abangama-25 kanye nesampula yokwahlulela ekhethayo (purposive sampling) yabafundisi abamqoka abayisishiyagalombili yatholakala. Imininingwane yahlaziywa ngokufanelekile kusetshenziswa iSPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) futhi ngokufanelekile kusetshenziswa ukuhlaziywa kwezindikimba okuqukethwe futhi yethulwa izingxenye ezintathu. Imibhalo, okutholakele kanye neziphakamiso zomcwaningi zifinyelele emkhubeni ophezulu wohlaka lwama-VIC aseGauteng. Uhlaka lummela ukuhlanganiswa kwendabuko futhi ukusebenzisa kwezokwazisa ngezinkundla ekusabalalisweni kolwazi lwezokuvakasha kusekelwe ngokuxhaswa ngezimali okutholakala ku-VIC ethile. Kucatshangwa ukuthi uma abaphathi beqalisa umkhuba ophambili wohlaka, kungase kugweme ukwehla okwengeziwe kwenani lama-VIC. Ngaphezu kwalokho, kungase kuthuthukise ukuphumelela kwabo ekuhlangabezaneni nezidingo zobuchwepheshe zokwenza izinqumo ezinhle kanye nesivakashi sendabuko, kanjalo kubonise ama-VIC ku-21st Century. / Besoekersinligtingsentrums word wêreldwyd toenemend erken as kontakpunte (touchpoints) wat tot die sukses van toerismebestemmings bydra. Die aantal besoekersinligtingsentrums in Gauteng, Suid- Afrika, toon ’n afname. Die diensvlakke van die oorblywende sentrums verskil en voldoen nie aan verwagtinge nie. Die bedryfsmodelle van die meeste van hierdie besoekersinligtingsentrums is ook verouderd en die betrokke sentrums het minimale blootstelling aan beste praktyk. Beperkte navorsing fokus op die aanbodkant, dit wil sê, die personeelvoorsiening en bestuur van besoekersinligtingsentrums. Hierdie studie fokus op besoekersinligtingsentrums in Gauteng en die beste praktyke wat hulle doeltreffendheid in die toekoms kan verbeter. Die navorser het ’n verkenningsontwerp gebruik, beginnende met ’n bondige oorsig van literatuur oor beste praktyk, wêreldwye gevallestudies en voorbeelde van die werkswyse van doeltreffende besoekersinligtingsentrums. Die navorser het daarna in ’n empiriese studie verslag oor die menings van 25 personeellede van besoekersinligtingsentrums en 8 bestuurders van 8 besoekersinligtingsentrums in Gauteng rakende die huidige stand en toekomstige behoeftes van die sentrums gelewer. Die navorser het ’n tweevlakkige benadering gevolg om data in te win deur twee aangemete opnames te gebruik om data van onderskeidelik personeellede en bestuurders van besoekersinligtingsentrums in Gauteng te bekom. ’n Sneeubalsteekproef van 25 personeellede en ’n doelbewuste steekproef van 8 sleutelrespondente is bekom. Data is kwantitatief met behulp van die Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) en kwalitatief deur middel van ’n tematiese inhoudsanalise ontleed en in drie dele aangebied. Die literatuur, die bevindings en die navorser se aanbevelings het op ’n raamwerk van bestek praktyk vir Gautengse besoekersinligtingsentrums uitgeloop. Ingevolge hierdie raamwerk moet tradisionele en nuwe mediadienste en -platforms geïntegreer word na gelang van die befondsing wat tot ’n bepaalde besoekersinligtingsentrum se beskikking is. Daar word voorsien dat indien sentrumbestuurders die bestepraktyk-raamwerk implementeer, dit ’n verdere afname in die aantal besoekersinligtingsentrums kan verhoed. Daarbenewens kan die raamwerk lei tot ’n verbetering in Gautengse besoekersinligtingsentrums se vermoë om in die behoeftes van beide tegnologies bedrewe en tradisionele besoekers te voorsien, en sodoende daartoe bydra dat die sentrums by die 21ste eeu aanpas. / Transport Economics, Logistics and Tourism / M. Com. (Tourism Management)

När en grupp utvecklare jobbar med samma kodbas kan konflikter uppstå med avseende på implementationen av moduler eller delsystem som varje utvecklare individuellt jobbar på. Dessa konflikter måste snabbt lösas för att projektet ska fortskrida och inte stagnera. Utvecklare som sällan kommunicerar framför ofta okompatibla moduler eller delsystem som kan vara svåra eller omöjliga att integrera i kodbasen, detta leder ofta till s.k. “integration hell” där det kan ta väldigt lång tid att anpassa ny kod till en befintlig kodbas.En strategi som man kan ta till är “continuous integration”, ett arbetssätt som erbjuder en rad fördelar när man jobbar i grupp på en gemensam kodbas. Continuous integration är möjligt att tillämpa utan verktyg eftersom detta är ett arbetssätt. Däremot kan processen stödjas av ett s.k. “CI-system” som är något av en teknisk implementation eller påtagligt införlivande och stöd för arbetsmetoden “continuous integration”.Denna rapport syftar till att ge en inblick i vad ett CI-system är och vad den principiellt består av. Vi undersöker vad ett CI-system absolut måste bestå av genom en litteraturundersökning och en marknadsundersökning. Vi ställer upp dessa beståndsdelar som “funktionella” och “icke-funktionella” krav för ett typiskt CI-system. Vi kan på så vis kvantifiera och kategorisera olika komponenter och funktionaliteter som bör innefattas i ett typiskt CI-system. I denna rapport finns även ett bihang som visar hur man kommer igång med att bygga en egen CI-server mha. CI-systemmjukvaran “TeamCity”.Slutsatsen av vår rapport är att CI-system är ett viktigt redskap som kan underlätta mjukvaruutveckling. Med hjälp av CI-system kan man stödja utvecklingsprocessen genom att bl.a. förhindra integrationsproblem, automatisera vissa delar av arbetsprocessen (kompilering av källkod, testning av mjukvara, notifikation om stabilitet av kodbas och distribution av färdig mjukvara) samt snabbt hitta och lösa integrationsfel. / When a group of developers work on the same code base, conflicts may arise regarding the implementation of modules or subsystems that developers individually work on. These conflicts have to be resolved quickly in order for the project to advance at a steady pace. Developers who do not communicate changes or other necessary deviations may find themselves in a situation where new or modified modules or subsystems are impossible or very difficult to integrate into the mainline code-base. This often leads to so called “integration hell” where it could take huge amounts of time to adapt new code into the current state of the code-base. One strategy, which can be deployed to counteract this trend is called “continuous integration”. This practice offers a wide range of advantages when a group of developers collaborates on writing clean and stable code. Continuous integration can be put into practice without the use of any tools as it is a “way to do things” rather than an actual tool. With that said, it is possible to support the practice with a tangible tool called a CI-system.This study aims to give insight into the makings of a CI-system and what it fundamentally consists of and has to be able to do. A study of contemporary research reports regarding the subject and a survey was performed in order to substantiate claims and conclusions. Core characteristics of CI-systems are grouped into “functional requirements” and “non-functional requirements (quality attributes)”. By doing this, it is possible to quantify and categorize various core components and functionalities of a typical CI-system. This study also contains an attachment which provides instructions of how to get started with implementing your own CI-server using the CI-system software ”TeamCity”. The conclusion of this study is that a CI-system is an important tool that enables a more efficient software development process. By making use of CI-systems developers can refine the development process by preventing integration problems, automating some parts of the work process (build, test, feedback, deployment) and quickly finding and solving integration issues.

The "Dancing with Change" Programme (DWCP) is an ecosystemically informed substance abuse intervention programme that was developed by the participants and myself with the aim of building resilience towards substance abuse among youth. The DWCP was conducted in the school setting, with ten volunteer Grade 7 learners over a ten-week period for an hour a week. The learners' parents participated in an initial needs assessment and in a feedback session at the end of DWCP, together with the life skills teacher and headmaster who observed and contributed to the process. An independent observer, present at each session, served to increase the dependability and confirmability of the evaluation findings. The DWCP appeared to have achieved its goals as defined by the participants. The evaluation findings are presented as a guide for people working in the field of adolescent substance abuse that synthesises best practice and lessons learnt in the field. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

The "Dancing with Change" Programme (DWCP) is an ecosystemically informed substance abuse intervention programme that was developed by the participants and myself with the aim of building resilience towards substance abuse among youth. The DWCP was conducted in the school setting, with ten volunteer Grade 7 learners over a ten-week period for an hour a week. The learners' parents participated in an initial needs assessment and in a feedback session at the end of DWCP, together with the life skills teacher and headmaster who observed and contributed to the process. An independent observer, present at each session, served to increase the dependability and confirmability of the evaluation findings. The DWCP appeared to have achieved its goals as defined by the participants. The evaluation findings are presented as a guide for people working in the field of adolescent substance abuse that synthesises best practice and lessons learnt in the field. / Psychology / M.A.(Clinical Psychology)

Service provision in veterinary oncology in Ontario was examined using a mixed methods approach. First, an interview-based qualitative study explored the service expectations of oncology clients at a tertiary referral centre. Next, a survey-based quantitative study established an understanding of oncology service in primary care practice and investigated the treatment recommendations of practitioners for dogs diagnosed with cancer. The first study, which involved 30 individual and dyadic interviews, identified “uncertainty” (attributable to the unpredictable nature of cancer and its treatment) as an overarching psychological feature of clients’ experience. Consequently, “the communication of information” (both content and process) was the foremost service expectation. For clients, it enabled confidence in the service, the ability to make informed patient care decisions, and preparedness for the potential outcomes of those decisions; it also contributed to creating a humanistic environment, which enhanced client resiliency. Findings suggest that services can support client efforts to manage uncertainty through strategic design and delivery of service, and incorporate intentional communication strategies to support clients’ psychological fortitude in managing the cancer journey. The second study, a vignette-based survey of primary care practitioners across Ontario (N=1071) which investigated veterinarian decision-making in relation to oncology care, determined that 56% of practitioners recommended referral as their first choice of intervention, while 28% recommended palliative care, 13% in-clinic treatment, and 3% euthanasia. Recommendations were associated with patient, client and veterinarian factors. Specifically, referral and treatment were recommended for younger dogs, healthier dogs, and dogs with lymphoma versus osteosarcoma; for strongly bonded clients, and financially secure clients; and by veterinarians who graduated from a North American college, had experience with treating cancer, felt confident in the referral centre, and believed treatment was worthwhile, with variation in relation to practitioner gender and the type of medicine practiced. The human-animal bond appeared to be the primary factor associated with practitioners’ advocacy for quality of medical care for patients. Through a blend of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, this thesis contributes to the evidence upon which best practices may be built so as to enhance the quality of patient and client care in veterinary oncology. / Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust Fund 049406 and 049854