The purpose of the study was to determine whether it was possible to predict the socio-demographic characteristics of physicians who adopt a new paradigm in medicine, wellness. A major objective of the research was to test the "marginal man" hypothesis. The literature suggested that there are at least three types of innovations: technological, organizational, and paradigmatic. Literature on the diffusion of innovations in medicine showed that high status physicians adopt technical innovations; more marginal, particularly young physicians and those of a liberal political orientation, most often adopt organizational innovations. Few studies dealing with paradigmatic innovations were found. Historical evidence supports the notion that family practitioners might be more accepting of the new paradigm. Physicians in Tucson, Arizona were surveyed concerning their attitudes and practices in the areas of health education and wellness, examples of the new paradigm in medicine. They were also asked about hospital-based health education services and competition between physicians and hospitals, examples of organizational innovation. The analyses revealed that family practitioners, women and government physicians were most supportive of wellness, affirming the research hypothesis and the "marginal man" hypothesis. The analysis also suggested that younger and more liberal physicians were more favorably disposed toward hospital involvement in health education. Liberal physicians were also not concerned about competition in health education service. These findings are similar to those found by other researchers of organizational innovations in medical care. Several methodological problems were noted, which render the findings suggestive rather than conclusive. The findings do suggest, however, that physician resistance to wellness will continue because of a medical paradigm conflict.

Objective To conduct an evaluation of the pilot implementation of the World Health Organization Health Promoting Hospitals initiative and its self-assessment tool in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal in 2004/2005 Study design This evaluation utilised a cross-sectional design that incorporated both qualitative and quantitative research methods. Main measures Throughout the Health Promoting Hospital pilot project the opinions and responses of those with a legitimate interest in the initiative were monitored. Data collection methods utilised in this evaluation included participant observation, the World Health Organisation metaevaluation questionnaire, records of workshops and feedback meetings and secondary analysis of all data collected by the six pilot hospitals during the implementation of the project in KwaZulu-Natal. Results Major constraints were found to be time, human and financial resources, lack of training and expertise and insufficient support for the project. The self-assessment tool was found to be insufficiently adapted and not all outcomes were found to be reliable and useful. Despite this, institutional staff found the Health Promoting Hospital project to be capacity building and morale boosting. Relationships between health service levels improved. All hospitals who participated recommended that other hospitals become Health Promoting Hospitals. Conclusion If the World Health Organisation Health Promoting Hospital initiative with its selfassessment tool is to be rolled out to the rest of KwaZulu-Natal province, then substantial changes have to be made to the process. Amongst these are: further adaptation of the selfassessment tool, improved methods of data collection, provision of sufficient resources and increased and sustained provincial support for the project. In addition it is imperative that outcome and impact evaluations be done. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2008.

This study was designed to answer the following research questions: "To what extent do undergraduate health education programs offer a worksite health promotion course?" "What are the components included in the worksite health promotion courses offered by colleges and universities?" "Does program approval or accreditation impact whether or not a program offers a worksite health promotion course?" and "Does CHES preparation of students impact whether or not a program offers a worksite health promotion course?"Data were collected from colleges/universities across the nation using a written, mailed questionnaire. From the analysis of the data it was found that 24.7% of the undergraduate health education programs surveyed offer a worksite health promotion course, none of the components on the checklist were present in all WHP course syllabi, there does not appear to be a statistically significant relationship between a program having SABPAC approval or having NCATE accreditation and the offering of the WHP course, and there does not appear to be a statistical significant relationship between a program preparing it students for the CHES examination in the offering of a WHP course. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

M.Cur. / In a changing South-Africa new challenges regarding multiculturality emerge. In psychiatric nursing the psychiatric nurse also faces new challenges. During a cultural discussion, the personnel of a private psychiatric clinic realised that culture has numerous different meanings. (that numerous different meanings may be attached to culture). Culture has an interesting nature and certain expectations exist around culture. I have described this discussion in order to present a qualitative, descriptive, singular case study, within the paradigm of the Theory for Health promotion in Nursing. The data was processed according to the recommendations of Tesch (in Creswell, 1994:155). The discussion is presented according to certain themes. No guidelines have been set, but I have made certain recommendations that may be utilised in training of psychiatric nurses as well as in practise and research in the field of psychiatric nursing. The discussion was important because the participants were able to develop a sensitivity toward culture. This lead to the promotion of co-operation, productivity, and mutual understanding and respect within the context. The importance of the description of the discussion lies in the information that has been generated. This information will be available and will be incorporated as part of the body of knowledge in psychiatric nursing.

There is an escalation of HIV and AIDS among the youth in South Africa and other developing countries. Research on HIV and AIDS risk factors has tended to focus more on poverty, gender, race, illiteracy, and violence than personality factors that could influence an individual` s health-protective behaviour. Previous studies have also shown that wealth, education, race, and gender may not make an individual more or less vulnerable to HIV infection. This study argued that locus of control could influence an individual` s health-protective behaviour and that external locus of control could be a risk factor in HIV and AIDS risk reduction. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a locus of control-based training programme in reducing HIV and AIDS risk among university students. The locus of control-based variables that formed the training programme for HIV and AIDS risk reduction among university students were: social systems control, self-control, fatalism, achievement-oriented behaviour, deferment of gratification, personal values and expectancies, and social alienation. These locus of control-based variables were regarded as contexts in which individuals could exhibit health risk behaviours. A sample of 257 first-year university students participated in the study. There were (N = 170) female participants and (N = 87) male participants drawn from the University of the Witwatersrand. The study was a pretest-posttest repeated measures design. Data were analysed using t tests, correlations, multiple regression, structural equation modelling, and repeated measures tests. The results of this study showed significant differences in health risks between participants with an external locus of control and participants with an internal locus of control. There was a significant relationship between locus of control-based variables and HIV and AIDS risk. The locus of control-based training programme significantly modified personality and significantly reduced locus of control-based health risks and HIV and AIDS risk. Directions for future research on locus of control, health risks, and HIV and AIDS risk could focus on the development and implementation of various locus of control-based training programmes in South Africa. Locus of control should be targeted as a health risk factor in HIV and AIDS risk reduction training programmes.

The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative data on members' opinions toward a university health promotion program. A survey research approach was used. A systematic sample of one-half of the Lifestyle Enhancement Center (LeClub) student membership list at Indiana State University was selected to participate in the study. Of the 667 questionnaires mailed, three hundred four subjects completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the subjects was 21 years. One hundred sixty eight subjects (55.5%) strongly agreed that they are receiving their money's worth at LeClub. Current LeClub members felt very strongly or agreed they would recommend LeClub to others (96.7%).T-tests and ANOVA were used to test the hypotheses. No statistically significant difference was found between males and females, among students of varying academic standing, and between new and prior members regarding opinions toward LeClub. A significant difference was found between various levels of participation and opinions regarding a health promotion program (P < 0.01). Those who used the facility the most had the strongest and most positive opinions towards the program. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

Outreach is recommended as an intervention for racial and ethnic minorities who underutilize traditional mental health services (e.g., Brinson & Kottler, 1995). Yet, the availability of outreach services at university counseling centers for students of color has not been studied. In addition, no study has examined factors influencing the availability of outreach services for racial and ethnic minorities. The primary purpose of the current study was to investigate the availability of outreach for racial and ethnic minorities and how these services are influenced by institution size, staff size, institution type, accreditation, and organizational cultural competence. One hundred and fifty one counseling center directors completed an online survey. It was hypothesized that counseling centers’ organizational cultural competence would predict the availability of outreach services for racial and ethnic minorities beyond that of institution size, staff size, institution type, and accreditation. The results supported this hypothesis. Among the variables examined, organizational cultural competence was the greatest predictor of the availability of outreach for students of color. The results suggested that counseling centers with greater levels of organizational cultural competency also had a greater availability of outreach services for students of color. The implications of these findings for theory, research, and practice are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a school-based wellness program, Looking Good...Feeling Great! (Zacour & Zacour, 1991), on ninth grade students' wellness levels, and to evaluate student and teacher impressions of the program. Experimental groups (n = 62) from one urban and two suburban secondary schools participated in the four day 175 minute Looking Good...Feeling Great! program, while control groups (n = 37) from the same schools followed their regular academic schedules. All participants completed TestwellTM (National Wellness Institute, Inc., 1994), a wellness inventory for high school students, as a pretest, one week later as a posttest, and one and one half months later as a follow-up test. Student focus groups and teacher interviews were conducted after the posttest. Results showed that (a) experimental group wellness scores significantly increased from pretest to posttest (ES = .22), (b) experimental groups maintained their increased wellness levels one and one half months following completion of the program (ES = .24), and (c) there was no significant effect of gender on experimental group wellness scores, although females scored significantly higher than males overall. In general, students and teachers conveyed favourable impressions of the program. However, somewhat negative impressions of the program from the students and teacher at the urban secondary school imply that this type of school may benefit from a wellness program that better suits the needs of its constituents. The results indicate that the Looking Good...Feeling Great! program can be an effective tool in helping adolescents acquire healthy lifestyles through the enhancement of wellness levels.

The purpose of this study was to collect and evaluate information on health services provided to children enrolled in the Beaverton School District. The primary areas of inquiry in the study were (1) parents attitudes concerning how existing programs have affected their children, (2) parents perceptions of needed and/or additional health services which could be provided by the school system, (3) parents attitudes toward budgetary decisions concerning possible changes and improvements in health services.

No description available.