Changes such as economic uncertainty, global competition, and an increase in mergers and acquisitions in the past decade have forced organisations to improve organisational effectiveness and streamline operations through downsizing, outsourcing, and restructuring. These actions are associated with large scale workforce reductions. For many employees these changes in working life cause feelings of insecurity of the nature and future existence of their jobs. Interest in the experiences of job loss, job insecurity and stressors associated with organisational restructuring, merging and downsizing has grown considerably during the past few years. The primary objective of this study was to determine the relationship between job insecurity and general health of employees working in a government organisation in the Free State. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A stratified random sample was taken from various occupational levels of a government organisation in the Free State. A total of 130 employees were included of which 83 participants responded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The Job Insecurity Inventory (JII), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), as well as a biographical questionnaire were utilised for the purpose of the study. Results confirmed the reliability and validity of the various measuring instruments. Affective job insecurity showed an association with increased levels of social dysfunction, anxiety and sleeplessness and severe depression. Cognitive job insecurity was however not found to correlate with any of the GHQ subscales. Multiple regression analyses indicated that affective job insecurity holds predictive value with regard to severe depression (12%), as well as social dysfunction (10%). Conclusions were made, limitations of the current research were discussed and recommendations for future research were put forward. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

Changes such as economic uncertainty, global competition, and an increase in mergers and acquisitions in the past decade have forced organisations to improve organisational effectiveness and streamline operations through downsizing, outsourcing, and restructuring. These actions are associated with large scale workforce reductions. For many employees these changes in working life cause feelings of insecurity of the nature and future existence of their jobs. Interest in the experiences of job loss, job insecurity and stressors associated with organisational restructuring, merging and downsizing has grown considerably during the past few years. The primary objective of this study was to determine the relationship between job insecurity and general health of employees working in a government organisation in the Free State. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A stratified random sample was taken from various occupational levels of a government organisation in the Free State. A total of 130 employees were included of which 83 participants responded. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. The Job Insecurity Inventory (JII), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), as well as a biographical questionnaire were utilised for the purpose of the study. Results confirmed the reliability and validity of the various measuring instruments. Affective job insecurity showed an association with increased levels of social dysfunction, anxiety and sleeplessness and severe depression. Cognitive job insecurity was however not found to correlate with any of the GHQ subscales. Multiple regression analyses indicated that affective job insecurity holds predictive value with regard to severe depression (12%), as well as social dysfunction (10%). Conclusions were made, limitations of the current research were discussed and recommendations for future research were put forward. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2005.

<p> This study investigated the presence and roles of Child Life Specialists (CLSs) in camps for children coping with chronic illnesses and conditions. The current research project surveyed 118 camp coordinators and directors regarding their awareness of CLSs as well as the presence and roles of these professionals at their camps. Additionally, 61 Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLSs) were surveyed about their main responsibilities at camp and subjective beliefs regarding the effects of camp on children's health related quality of life (HRQoL). Further areas explored in this research included the applicability of Child Life education and training in the camp environment, Child Life motivations for joining the camp community, and CCLSs' previous experiences in this setting both as campers and counselors. Results indicated that the majority of camp coordinators and directors were aware of CLSs prior to this study as well as indicated that CLSs had worked at their camp. This subset of participants was also significantly more likely to be interested in bringing a CLS or additional specialists to their camp. Further results indicated that CLSs hold a wide range of roles and responsibilities in the camp setting, both paid and volunteer-based. All CCLSs indicated that they felt attending camp had positive effects upon children's HRQoL, particularly in the areas of psychosocial development and coping, as further illustrated by first-hand anecdotes from their time at camp.</p>

<p> In today's health care reformation, called ObamaCare, patient satisfaction plays a prominent role. When facing the increased demand for quality patient care and safety, quality medical service must be improved in various ways by medical professionals and ancillary staff, including clinical laboratory personnel. From the perspective of laboratory medicine, patient satisfaction can be achieved by consistently delivering accurate and reliable laboratory results in a timely manner. This study examines the correlation between patient satisfaction and laboratory personnel job satisfaction levels. Process observation by utilizing root cause analysis and Lean tools is used to investigate whether implemented process improvements promote the efficiency of laboratory service. Statistical data analysis is used to draw conclusions on whether the implemented process improvement has a significant impact on employee and patient satisfaction. This thesis highlights the importance of maintaining continuous process improvement over an extended period of time to achieve and sustain patient satisfaction. </p>

<p> Mobile medical applications are emerging as a significant part of the healthcare industry. Despite this popularity, mobile medical application development has proven difficult due to several factors. Moreover, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 2013 publishing of strict regulatory requirements has further complicated development efforts.</p><p> Consequently, this thesis addresses the market need to design mobile medical applications in a manner that simultaneously ensures conformance to regulatory requirements and facilitates commercial success. Thoroughly analyzed as a solution is the integration of Agile tools, practices, and principles with the Waterfall model for software development to develop a quality system that delivers safe and effective mobile medical applications in a manner that promotes commercial success.</p><p> Specifically, this thesis provides an Agile augmented Waterfall model for mobile medical application development that ensures conformance with regulatory requirements and responds to unique market development needs, thus orienting the organization towards commercial success.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-11, Section: B, page: 6636. Adviser: Eric Oldfield. Includes bibliographical references. Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

Therapeutic footwear is provided to patients with the primary aims of reducing foot pain and improving foot health. Therefore, it is of concern that patients choose not to wear it. This choice has been attributed to its poor appearance. However, there may be other reasons for this choice and the reasons may be more complex than previously acknowledged. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the users’ experiences of this footwear. In the context of this study the ‘users’ are women with rheumatoid arthritis. This study was based on an interpretive phenomenological approach (IPA) that employed conversational style interviews to gather data. Ten women with RA and experience of wearing the footwear were recruited and following ethical approval the interviews were carried out, transcribed, organised and analysed. Five organising themes emerged as findings. These were the participants: • feelings about themselves, • feelings about the footwear, • unmet needs and expectations, • behaviour with the footwear and • feelings about the consultation with the practitioner. The final, global theme was that the patient/practitioner consultation has a powerful influence on the women’s feelings about themselves, the footwear, their expectations of it and their behaviour with it. This study has provided insight into their experiences of this footwear in that, unlike any other intervention, it replaces something that is normally worn and is part of an individual’s perception of self and their perception of how others see them. The footwear impacts more on women’s emotions than previously acknowledged and in addition, it has been found that the consultation influences their emotions and behaviour with the footwear. As well as improvements in footwear design and the service that delivers it, the training of the practitioners in a more patient focussed consultation style could improve the women’s experience and engagement in the footwear as a health intervention, as well as something that is ‘worn’.

Guidelines for the management of asthma in the UK have been published (BMJ, 1990, Thorax, 1993 and 1997) and embraced by many GP practices with improved outcome for patients. The study aims to observe and follow a cohort of adult asthma subjects from differing primary health care settings over a two-year period. Also to assess a newly devised patient focused morbidity index (Q score) by comparison to an established asthma specific quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ, Juniper et al, 1993). One hundred and fourteen subjects from four GP Practices, two inner city and two suburban were studied. Morbidity was assessed by AQLQ and Q score (Rimington et al, 2001), psychological status by the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale (Zigmond and Snaith, 1983). Spirometry values (forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and details of current treatment as per BTS guidelines treatment step were recorded as markers of asthma severity. Subjects were assessed at baseline, twelve and twenty-four months. A random sub set of patients was asked to repeat certain elements of the study protocol at two weeks in order to assess the reliability of the Q score. The Q score correlated from baseline to two weeks (rs=0.61) as did AQLQ symptom score (rs=0.74) both p<0.01. At baseline AQLQ symptoms correlated with PEF (rs=0.40, p<0.001) and with BTS guidelines treatment step (rs=0.25, p=0.001) as did the Q score. Similar levels of correlation were reported for FEV1 with symptoms. HAD scores also correlated to AQLQ and Q score, but there was little correlation with lung function. At one and two year follow up no significant differences were observed in subjective or objective markers of asthma. There was a significant increase (p<0.001) in the number of subjects in the higher BTS guidelines treatment steps from baseline to twelve and twenty-four months while psychological symptoms remained high for inner city patients. In conclusion the Q score yields similar results to the AQLQ and is quick and easy to use in any busy clinic. The GP practice, at the forefront of asthma care should be offering appropriate therapy and regular review. The Q score used as a patient focused morbidity index can be a useful audit tool. Altering medication can give the impression of treating asthma but with out short-term reassessment the same levels of morbidity can persist.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2006.