MCur / Department of Advanced Nursing Science / Historically, cancer is regarded as a disease with very devastating effects on human beings because it leads to many deaths across the world, compared to AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria collectively. Cancer diagnosis has impacted negatively on patients and their immediate families and has caused unbearable consequences. Unlike other chronic diseases, cancer patients undergo different types of treatments which affect their well-being and as a result they tend to have different experiences to those of other chronic diseases sufferers. The study design used was a quantitative cross sectional survey. The purpose was to investigate the impact of cancer diagnosis on cancer patients in Vhembe district. The target population included all patients in the Vhembe District of Limpopo, South Africa who have been diagnosed with cancer in the past six months. Using a probability simple random, a sample of 207 patients diagnosed with cancer, from seven selected hospitals in Vhembe District were selected as respondents and a self -administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analysed using a software package for descriptive statistics (SPSS version 23). Graphs, tables and charts were used to display the results visually and chi-square to compare variables. Ethical principles of privacy, anonymity, informed consent were considered. The findings revealed that cancer diagnosis has negative outcomes as patients experience physical hardship, psychological stress, financial difficulties, as well as interference with family and social life. The study recommended that cancer patients and their families, be supported through the cancer journey. / NRF

PhD (Gender Studies) / Institute for Gender and Youth Studies / Suicidal behavior has become a serious public health concern worldwide. Globally, the rate of suicide increased by 60% in the past years. In South Africa, about 9.5 % of nonnatural deaths in young people is due to suicidal behavior, and there are 667 deaths due to suicide every month (Birmingham & Solihull, 2012). Suicide has left a trail of psychological problems which impact negatively on the health and well-being of people. Worldwide, there is a gender difference in suicidal behaviour. Women have higher rates of suicide attempt while men are more likely to commit suicide (Cheong, Choi, Cho, Yoon, Kim & Hwang, 2012). Most studies focus on suicide while suicide attempt has been neglected in scholarship. As a result, there is very little attention to how gender influences suicidal behavior in society. This exploratory study sought to explore the phenomenon of suicide attempt among young female suicide survivors at Tshilidzini Regional Hospital in Vhembe District in the Limpopo Province in South Africa. The study approach was qualitative in nature and the study population comprised of all young female suicide survivors and all family members who often accompanied patients to the hospital. Nonprobability convenience sampling technique was used to select the study participants. The study sample consisted of 20 participants (10 young female suicide survivors and 10 family members). Ethical considerations were taken into account to protect the participants. In-depth face-to-face unstructured interviews and focus group discussion were used as a method of data collection. Content analysis was used for analysing data in this study. The study found that suicidal behaviour by young females was mainly due to intimate relationship problems. The study recommended the development and use an effective suicide screening tool and a multi-pronged strategy to curb incidences of suicidal behaviour by young females. / NRF

MCur / Departrment of Advanced Nursing Science / In mental health, a Maximum-Security Ward is a special setting for care of patients who are unique and exceptional. People who have committed crimes due to their mental conditions are admitted for care, treatment and rehabilitation. Patients admitted in this ward are verbally and physically aggressive, violent, unpredictable, unmanageable and at times manipulative. Professional nurses working in the Maximum-Security Ward are at risk of suffering from occupational stress, burnout, lack motivation and are anxious. The aim of this study is to investigate the experiences of professional nurses working in the Maximum-Security Ward at Hayani hospital. A qualitative approach using a descriptive, exploratory and contextual design was used. A purposive, convenient sampling was used to sample professional nurses working in the Maximum-Security Ward of Hayani hospital. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. A voice recorder was utilised to record all data and the researcher being the main instrument for data collection. Dependability, confirmability and transferability were upheld to ensure trustworthiness of the findings. Data was analysed using Tech’s eight steps approach. Three themes with their categories and subcategories emerged after data analysis. The themes were as follows: the participants’ views on type of patients admitted in the ward, participants’ views on safety in the ward and participants’ views on staff interaction. The study recommended the following: Emotional counselling and debriefing sessions to be conducted at regular intervals or after a traumatic incident. Motivational and team building activities to be organised for professional nurses. Safety of professional nurses must be of significant value. More support is needed in times of emotional difficulties. Development of a model to support professional nurses. / NRF