Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree in Masters of Technology: Nursing, Durban University of Technology, 2012. / Palliative care research in South Africa is at an early stage and there is an increasing need to develop a body of evidence that is relevant to South African conditions. One of the biggest challenges that palliative care in Africa faces is the projected increase in the number of cancer patients in the developing world by 2050, many of whom will need palliative care. There is a concern at present about the integration of oncology and palliative care services in South Africa and whether or not cancer patients are able to access quality palliative care. Palliative care plays an important role in improving quality of life for people and family members affected by life-threatening illness. It pursues its goal by relieving pain and other distressing symptoms in cancer patients and giving psychosocial support to patients and their families. It should begin at diagnosis and continue throughout treatment, follow-up care, and at the end of life in addition to the cancer treatment which is given Aim of the study The aim of this study was to assess the integration of palliative care in the caring of cancer patients in the selected oncology clinics in the eThekwini district in KZN. Methodology A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used to guide this study. The study was participative in nature and employed a focus group methodology. The participants in this study were professional nurses who were working at the selected sites in the public urban oncology clinics for more than three months. Two focus groups were conducted within one month of each other at selected oncology sites with participation from 16 oncology nurses. Findings Findings indicated that most participants understood palliative care as end of life care when a patient is beyond curative treatment and that it is often the doctor who determines eligibility. Participants also perceived palliative care in terms of different types of medical treatment. The findings indicated nurses only contacted hospices when the patient was at the last stage of their illness, were often not aware of all the hospices in the area, and acknowledged that communication between the oncology clinics and hospices was not good. Some nurses believed that palliative care is also provided in the oncology clinic and that it is not only the hospices that provide palliative care. Only one oncology nurse who participated in the study mentioned that she is trained in palliative care, but they all showed interest in becoming more knowledgeable in this area and improving relationships between oncology clinics and the palliative care team/hospices.

Thesis (MTech. degree in Nursing)--Tshwane University of Technology, 2010. / Cervical cancer, breast cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma are the three most common cancers in women in sub-Saharan Africa. The health care providers in developing countries regularly encounter women with advanced, incurable cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can however, be prevented, even among women at high risk for the disease, through screening using relatively simple technologies. The purpose of the study was to determine whether the supportive-educative role of the oncology nurse can contribute to the prevention of primary and secondary cervical cancer, breast cancer and Kaposi's sarcoma in women living in Soshanguve, South Africa.

M.Cur. (Nursing Administration) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Thesis (MCur)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Against the background of the approach to make the follow up care to oncology patients more accessible and with the emphasis on quality care, it was indicated that this service needs to be evaluated. A study based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods (also called triangulation) was conducted to formulate structure, process and outcome standards for a comprehensive follow up care for the oncology patients and to evaluate this service according these standards. The most important results are: • The quality of care relating to the structure standards was optimal regarding the organization of the patient's visits, follow up treatment and referrals. A suboptimal standard was found regarding the general management system. • In the process standards focusing on the physical and psychosocial needs of the patient, a suboptimal standard was found regarding all aspects. Nursing practice leading to subobtimal care of patients is a major cause for concern. • With the outcome standards reflecting in patient satisfaction, positive as well as negative opinions and perceptions were found. Recommendations include: • Upgrading of management systems • Empowerment of the nurses with knowledge and scientific competencies • Attention to the opinions and perceptions of the patients to completely involve the patient in the service and treatment process. Keywords: Oncology follow up service I formulation of structure, process and outcome standards. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Teen die agtergrond van die benadering om opvolgdienste meer toegangklik te maak vir onkologiese pasiënte, met die beklemtoning van gehaltesorg, is dit aangedui dat hierdie diens geëvalueer moes word. 'n Studie gebaseer op 'n kombinasie van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes (genoem triangulasie) is uitgevoer om struktuur, proses en uitkomsstandaarde vir 'n omvattende opvolgdiens aan onkologiepasiënte te formuleer en die diens aan die hand daarvan te evalueer. Die belangrikste resultate is: • Die gehalte van sorg wat verband hou met die struktuurstandaarde was net optimaal ten opsigte van die organisasie van die pasiënt se besoeke, opvolgbehandeling en verwysings. 'n Suboptimale standaard is gevind ten opsigte van die algemene bestuurstelsel. • In die prosesstandaarde wat fokus op die fisiese en psigososiale behoeftes van die pasiënt, is 'n suboptimale standaard in alle aspekte gevind. Verpleegpraktyk wat lei tot suboptimale sorg van pasiënte is 'n groot bron van kommer. • Met die uitkomsstandaarde wat reflekteer in pasiënttevredenheid is positiewe maar ook negatiewe opinies en persepsies gevind. Aanbevelings sluit in: • Verbetering van bestuurstelsels • Bemagtiging van die verpleegkundige met kennis en wetenskaplike vaardighede • Aandag aan pasiënte se opinies en persepsies ten einde die pasiënt ten volle te betrek by die hele diens en behandelingsproses. Sleutelwoorde : Onkologiese opvolgdiens / formulering van struktuurproses en uitkomsstandaarde.

MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / See the attached abstract below