Little is known regarding registered nurse (RN) information management practice in long-term care (LTC) settings. This study identifies LTC RNs’ information management practice and needs, which are important for designing and implementing health information technology (HIT) in LTC settings. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study combines direct observations and semi-structured interviews, conducted at Alberta’s LTC facilities between May 2014 and August 2015. The constant comparative method of joint coding was used for data analysis. Results: Nine RNs from six nursing homes participated in the study. Based on the RNs’ existing information management system requirements, a graphic information flow model was constructed. Conclusion: This baseline study identified key components of LTC RNs’ information management system. The information flow model may assist HIT developers with future design and development of HIT solutions for LTCs, serve as a communication tool between RNs and developers to refine requirements and support further LTC HIT research. / Graduate

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Šių dienų situacija yra tokia, kad daug gydytojų, slaugytojų ir kitų medicinos personalo darbuotojų išvažiuoja/emigruoja į užsienio šalis, todėl likusiems gydytojams, slaugytojams smarkiai padidėja darbo krūvis. Norint šį krūvį normalizuoti, reguliuoti ar bent jau palaikyti tokį, kad darbuotojai kokybiškai galėtų teikti savo paslaugas, būtinas aiškus darbo pasidalinimas, žinojimas kas už ką atsakingas ir taikyti tai praktikoje. Kalbant apie socialinį sveikatos aspektą – tai turbūt vienintelė sritis, kuria rūpinasi beveik visi darbuotojai, prieinantys ir komunikuojantys su pacientu. Tačiau užtikrinant socialinį sveikatos aspektą labiausiai kompetentingas yra socialinis darbuotojas. Gydytojai ir slaugytojai neturėtų atlikti jo darbo. Tačiau kartais šie darbuotojai neturi kitos išeities, kadangi jų skyriuje nėra specialisto, kuris tuo rūpintųsi. Yra reikalingas tikslesnis darbo organizavimas, kuris priklauso nuo sveikatos priežiūros įstaigos vadovo, tai pat skyrių vadovai, kurie gali įtakoti darbuotojų skaičių ir jų kvalifikaciją savo skyriuje. Kita vertus, vien darbo organizavimo nepakanka, reikalingas tarpusavio susitarimas ir įprotis dirbti tik savo darbą bei „leidimas“ socialiniam darbuotojui atlikti savo pareigas, užtikrinti socialinį sveikatos aspektą. Tyrimo tikslas Įvertinti medikų vadovų požiūrį į socialinio pacientų sveikatos aspekto užtikrinimą. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. nustatyti medikų vadovų vaidmenį užtikrinant pacientų socialinį sveikatos aspektą; 2. apžvelgti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Nowadays many doctors, nurses and other medical staff is emigrating to a foreign countries, therefore, the workload for remaining doctors, nurses greatly increased. In order to normalize or adjust the strain, or at least maintain it’s present level, that employees could provide quality services, it requires a clear division of job, knowledge of who does what and applying it in practice. Speaking about social aspect of health – it is probably the only area, which is cared by almost all workers , communicating with patients. However, ensuring the social dimension of health the most competent is a social worker. Doctors and nurses shouldn’t carry out his work. Sometimes these workers have no choice, because their section doesn’t have the right specialist. It is necessary for accurate labor organization, which depends on the health care manager, as well as department heads, which may affect the number of employees and their qualifications at their department. On the other hand, good organization is not enough, it requires mutual agreement and the habit of doing only their own job and “a pass” for social worker, to perform his duties and to ensure the social ascept of health, is needful. Aim of the study is to evaluate the medical head‘s approach to the social aspect of ensuring the health of patients. Objectives: 1. Set the medical managers role in ensuring patients' social aspect of health. 2. View the ways, how social aspect of patients health is ensured. 3. Value... [to full text]

The study comprises an investigation of the quality of the clinical teaching environment of undergraduate students in the accredited Primary health care ( PHC) facilities used by a provincial nursing college in Limpopo. The researcher, who is employed full time in one of the accredited PHC facilities to which undergraduate students are admitted for clinical practice, became aware of the tension between the undergraduate students and professional nurses working in the PHC facility during the performance of clinical practice. Undergraduate students accused the professional nurses of neither supervising them properly during the execution of their clinical practice, nor assessing them on the prescribed practical outcomes. On the other hand, the professional nurses working in the PHC facility complained that undergraduate students were placed at the PHC facilities in large numbers with no clinical accompanist accompanying them. The research objectives were to determine the quality of clinical practice in the PHC clinical learning environment as rated by undergraduate students allocated by a provincial nursing college located working in a PHC facility in a district of Limpopo Province, and to formulate recommendations for the professional nurses in PHC districtmanagement to incorporate supervision for undergraduate students in order to enhance clinical teaching for undergraduate students in Primary health care facilities. The researcher used a quantitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual design. An all-inclusive sampling method was used to select research participants. Participants were undergraduate students of a provincial nursing college in Limpopo. Informed consent was obtained. Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant authorities. Data was collected by using an internationally validated Clinical Learning Environment Supervision and Nurse Teacher Instrument (Saariskoki & Leino-Kilpi, 2008:259-267).. Data analysis was done by using descriptive statistics and revealed that the clinical practice environment was not conducive to enhancing practical skills development in the real practical PHC practice. Evaluation of study, limitations and recommendations for education, research, practice and policy were discussed. / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The problem of this study is to compare prior health care experience with satisfactory adjustment in a long-term care facility. Both quantity and quality of prior experience in a health care facility are examined in terms of the significance to successful relocation. Demographic data and perceived control of health are examined in relation to significance of the findings.

En France, les infections associées aux soins concernent environ un patient hospitalisé sur vingt. Les pathogènes en cause se transmettent d’unepersonne à l’autre par contact direct entre les personnes mais aussi par les surfaces de contact sur lesquelles certains microorganismes peuventpersister jusqu’à plusieurs mois. Le cuivre étant un puissant antimicrobien naturel, des éléments en alliages de cuivre ont été conçu. Ce travailde thèse vise à étudier la capacité de ces éléments à réduire les contaminations bactériennes lors d’une utilisation prolongée en établissementsde santé. Pour cela, cinq EHPAD et une MARPA (Marne, France) ont été équipées à 50% de poignées de portes et rampes de maintien en alliagesde cuivre. Plus de 1300 prélèvements bactériologiques ont été effectués sur la surface des éléments en établissements entre 1,5 et 3,5 ans aprèsleur installation. Les bactéries récoltées ont été cultivées sur différents milieux gélosés et les unités formant colonie ont pu être dénombrées. Ledénombrement a révélé que les niveaux de contamination sont significativement plus faibles sur les poignées et rampes en cuivre que sur leséléments standards. L’identification des souches bactériennes récoltées a ensuite été effectuée par spectrométrie de masse MALDI-TOF. Cetteanalyse a montré que les genres prédominants sur les surfaces de contact sont Staphylococcus et Micrococcus, et que les genres Staphylococcus,Streptococcus et Roseomonas sont significativement moins fréquents sur les éléments en cuivre. L’espèce pathogène. S. aureus a été observémoins fréquemment sur les éléments en cuivre que sur les éléments standard. Les éléments en alliage de cuivre sont donc efficaces pour éviterdes contaminations bactériennes de surfaces en milieux de santé. De plus, les propriétés antibactériennes des éléments en alliages de cuivresont conservées plusieurs années après leur mise en service, soulignant l’intérêt de leur utilisation en milieu de santé. / In France, healthcare-associated infections concern one on twenty patients during hospitalization. Pathogenic microorganisms spread from oneperson to another by direct contact between people, but also through touch surfaces where the can persist up to several months. Copper is anatural and powerful antimicrobial metal. Thus, copper alloyed elements and surfaces have been designed and manufactured. This thesis workaims to investigate on the ability of copper elements to reduce bacterial contaminations during an extended period of use in healthcare facilities.Five long-term care facilities were 50% outfitted with copper alloyed door handles and handrails. Over 1300 samplings were performed between1.5 and 3.5 years after copper elements installation. Sampled bacteria were cultivated on a range of agar plates and colony forming units werecounted. It revealed that contamination levels were lower on copper door handles and handrails than on controls. Identifications of sampledbacterial strains were then performed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. This analysis showed that Staphylococcus and Micrococcus largelyprevailed on touch surfaces and that Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Roseomonas are significantly less frequent on copper elements surfaces.Pathogenic species S. aureus was less frequently observed on copper elements than on controls. This study suggests that copper alloyedelements are effective to limit bacterial contaminations of surfaces in healthcare facilities. Moreover, these elements still display significativeantibacterial properties after several years of use. Thus, copper alloyed elements represent a very promising solution to control bacterialcontamination of touch surfaces in healthcare facilities.

Master of Public Health - MPH / This mini-thesis, assessed the use of ORT as a treatment for childhood diarrhoea in primary health care facilities in the Cape Metropole from the caregivers' perspective. Awareness and knowledge of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and the preparation abilities of sugar salt solution (SSS) by caregivers of children younger than 5 years attending the health facilities were assessed. The availability of resources and utensils for the use of ORS packets and SSS and the accessibility to health facilities by caregivers were also determined. Using a cross sectional descriptive study design, a baseline situation review was carried out. Primary health care facilities in three heath districts namely; Khayelitsha, Nyanga and Oostenberg were purposely selected. Ninety-two caregivers in 12 facilities participated in the study. Basic analyses of quantitative data were done using Epi-Info 2002 software. Qualitative data were analysed manually. The study found that according to caregivers, all facilities used ORS packets as their immediate treatment for uncomplicated diarrhoea, and recommended sugar salt Diarrhoea Management in PHC Facilities solution as home treatment. Ninety-one percent of caregivers used ORT at home before they presented to the health facility.Of the caregivers who were advised by the health worker to use SSS at home, 60.7%, 55.8% and 60.2% in Oostenberg, Khayelitsha and Nyanga districts respectively remembered the correct ingredients and quantities to make the solution at home. Of those given ORS packets, 94.5%, 99.0% and 98.5% respectively, remembered the quantity of water to be mixed with each packet. Packets were found to be convenient and were preferred by many caregivers as compared to SSS. The advice or health education messages given to caregivers were often unclear, and there were language barriers in Brighton and Bloekombos clinics in the Oostenberg district. A litre bottle was available in 47% of caregivers' homes, 82 % had a teaspoon and all of them had access to running water. Twelve percent and 11 % admitted to not having sugar and salt respectively when they wanted to make SSS. Eighty-eight percent walked to the health facility and 12% used taxis or buses. The study concludes that ORT is widely used in primary health care facilities for diarrhoeal disease treatment, however caregiver's knowledge and preparation abilities of SSS is still limited. The resources and utensils to prepare ORT at home were fairly available in many homes, which makes SSS preparation at home feasible and acceptable.

<p>The purpose of this study was to examine and describe how politicians and directors of care define and experience quality in aged care facilities. Further on we wanted to compare on which fundamental principles the participants base their opinion about quality and how they work with quality. To reach our aim we conducted five interviews with politicians and directors of care. The results show that it is hard to determine quality in an unambiguous and objective way. Quality in aged care appears to be about relations and encounters amongst people. The participants in our study agree that experiences are subjective and depending on individual expectations.</p><p>There are fundamental principles shared by both politicians and directors of care regarding safety and respect of human integrity. Directors of care point out the difficulties in having multiple perspectives to consider, residents and their relatives have other expectations on what services should be provided than the directors of care understand to be their assignment from the local government. It appears to be a gap between political goals and reality. The future will bring changes, regarding both needs and expectations. The participants see a challenge in developing aged care and meeting new generations of elderly.</p>

The purpose of this study was to examine and describe how politicians and directors of care define and experience quality in aged care facilities. Further on we wanted to compare on which fundamental principles the participants base their opinion about quality and how they work with quality. To reach our aim we conducted five interviews with politicians and directors of care. The results show that it is hard to determine quality in an unambiguous and objective way. Quality in aged care appears to be about relations and encounters amongst people. The participants in our study agree that experiences are subjective and depending on individual expectations. There are fundamental principles shared by both politicians and directors of care regarding safety and respect of human integrity. Directors of care point out the difficulties in having multiple perspectives to consider, residents and their relatives have other expectations on what services should be provided than the directors of care understand to be their assignment from the local government. It appears to be a gap between political goals and reality. The future will bring changes, regarding both needs and expectations. The participants see a challenge in developing aged care and meeting new generations of elderly.

published_or_final_version / Mental Health / Master / Master of Social Sciences