Thesis (M. Nursing Science) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Introduction: Diabetes mellitus has become a worldwide problem that is continuing to rise resulting in morbidity and mortality in developing countries.Finland developed the FINDRISC tool. Canada uses the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) tool and the Canadian Diabetes Risk Questionnaire (CANRISC), Germany has developed the German Diabetes Risk Score (GDRS). These risk scores are all self-assessment tools meant for assessing the risk of diabetes. They cover variables such as age, waist circumference, height, history of hypertension, physical activity, consumption of alcohol, coffee, whole grains and red meat (Buijsse, Simmons, Griffin & Schulze, 2010). Aim: To determine the feasibility of Home-Based Carers (HBCs) on the use of the FINDRISC tool to assess diabetes mellitus (DM) patients at Ga-Dikgale Village, South Africa. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive cross–sectional design has been used to describe knowledge and practices of HBCs in using FINDRISC tool to assess the Diabetes Mellitus patient at the Dikgale village. Fifty two (52) HBCs have been assessed and homogeneous purposive convenience sampling has been used. A modified (tool) has been used by the HBCs to assess the risk status of people to determine diabetes risk status while the researcher scored the HBCs on the utilisation of modified FINDRISC tool after they have demonstrated all sections of the risk assessment tool. Data analysis has been done using (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) IBM ABSTRACT vii SPSS version 24 software and Microsoft excel sheet. Results: This study has found that HBCs can play in important role in the assessment of patients at risk of developing diabetes in the communities by using the assessment tool. The knowledge and skills of the HBCs that have been acquired throughout the years can be augmented by strengthening the primary health care re-engineering programme and in-service training that can be tailored for proper functioning of the HBCs within the health care team. Conclusion and recommendation: The burden of DM can be alleviated through the use of FINDRISC tool by determining diabetes risk status and employ necessary precautions to assist people who are at risk. This study recommend that the FINDRISC tool be modified in order to be relevant to the African perspective by validating of the tool through taking blood samples from people who are at risk . Keywords: diabetes mellitus, home-based carers, Finnish diabetes risk score tool, feasibility, assessment of patients at risk.

Text in English / Interactive health communication between the health-care professional (HCP) and patient relationship for diabetes health-care positively contributes to patient-centred care. Hence individual patient concerns are addressed and catered for in the medical system. The purpose of this study was to analyse in-depth how HCP-patient relationships and HCP-HCP teamwork dynamics positively contribute to effective diabetes patient care and treatment adherence. Different health communication models and theories were reviewed and a conceptual framework was developed from the literature. A qualitative case study approach was used to collect data at Stanger Hospital’s diabetes clinic. Data was collected using three different methods, namely in-depth interviews with HCPs and patients individually, observations conducted at the clinic analysing both the HCPs and patients, and finally, documentation that emerged as a third data collection method where patient files and diabetes educational material were analysed at the clinic. Triangulation by means of the three methods ensured that reliable, valid and credible data was collected in the field. Diabetes health-care and treatment management are affected by the social context/social system which includes family and culture. These social factors are acknowledged as core in the literature. However, a single comprehensive health communication model did not exist solely in this regard. The data indicated that at the Stanger Hospital’s diabetes clinic, patient-centred (individual tailor-made treatment plans) care was only implemented after patients had defaulted treatment for reasons linked to their social circumstances. The findings of the study indicate that teamwork was favoured in the HCP-HCP relationship at the diabetes clinic, and that this made a positive contribution to effective diabetes patient care. HCPs were overburdened at the clinic since patient numbers were high and there were staff shortages. The patients’ empirical data indicated that interactive communication positively contributed to their medical concerns being catered for at the diabetes clinic, but this tended to occur only after non-adherence. Patients required care and support from HCPs in order to learn to accept diabetes and manage their illness. / Sociology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Sociology)