Thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Library and Information Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2002. / The aim of this study was to determine the information needs and uses of the informal sector in Uganda. For this purpose, it was necessary to review literature on the informal sector and to provide an overview of the information systems and services in the country. The demographic, business and cultural characteristics of the informal sector have also been established in order to identify the information needs of the informal sector and to explore the ways in which entrepreneurs seek information and the sources that they use to access such information. The study furthermore explored the uses to which information is put and the impact that it has on the sector. In addition to this, the study identified factors that affect access to information as well as shortcomings in the information services and systems of Uganda. Solutions are suggested to fill gaps that are seen to be present in the system and, finally, an information model, which generates an agenda for further research, is proposed for the sector. The study made use of qualitative study design, the historical survey, observation, and the critical incident method to achieve its goals. The survey covered the populations residing in the various districts of Uganda, including entrepreneurs working in the informal sector. Samples were taken from six districts, of which twenty-eight persons formed the focal discussion group for the pilot district, while six-hundred-and-two entrepreneurs, twenty-three organisation representatives, and thirty-five informants represented the national population sample. Six research instruments were used in the study. The findings show that the informal sector in Uganda dates back to prehistoric times. Uganda's information systems and services vary greatly in that they range from indigenous information systems to the more formal kinds. Adults as well as children are employed in the sector and their income is generally low. While the entrepreneurs encountered in the study usually had a very basic educational background, there were also some well-educated people, including university graduates, working in the sector. Working hours were found to be flexible and depended on the type of activity that the entrepreneurs pursued. The activities of the sector were basically motivated by the need for personal survival, possible opportunities for further training, and the availability of market and specific skills. The study found that some 1,5 million people in the informal sector were employed by about 800,000 entrepreneurial business concerns spread throughout the rural and urban areas. Very little evidence of division of labour and organisation of production was found, while most of the businesses were found to be unregistered. Record keeping, however, was found to be prevalent among the businesses covered in the survey. Personal capital was mostly relied on for starting up the businesses, and products tended to be inferior. There was limited evidence to suggest that cultural beliefs had any influence on the sector's activities and/or performance. The information needs of the sector were found to be contextual. Entrepreneurs typically needed information with regard to the following areas of activity: training and skills, markets and marketing techniques, cheaper sources of raw materials/supplies, finance, tools and equipment, business management and development, information centres, knowledge of production processes, advocacy and lobbying skills, new areas of investment, record keeping, quality improvement and recognition by government. Methods of information seeking were largely found to be informal. The informal entrepreneurs made very little use of reading and libraries for accessing information, and informal sources were used more often than formal sources. However, the radio as a source of information found ubiquitous use among the entrepreneurs. It was found that information is used in marketing, the location of raw materials/supplies, pricing of products and services, improving skills, making decisions, becoming more enlightened, in order to promote self-reliance, and in understanding current affairs, including government regulations and how to deal with and relate to other people. The impact of information use was judged in terms of business improvement, improved coordination of workers and activities, the upgrading of skills and the creation of better opportunities, improved living standards, sales and increased profits, among others. Problems encountered among the informal business communities included the inability to obtain required information, lack of specific sources of information, high cost of information and the time factor involved in getting the required irrforrnation. Many entrepreneurs did not know what information facilities existed and were apathetic in this regard. It was furthermore found that language barriers and illiteracy impacted negatively on entrepreneurs in their efforts to obtain information. Entrepreneurs were furthermore found to have the habit of concealing information from one another. Problems encountered in the usage of information systems in Uganda included the following: limited use of the public library system by entrepreneurs, very few public libraries, the availability of irrelevant information in public libraries for entrepreneurs, lack of information centres for entrepreneurs, very low usage of associations for information, under-developed telecommunications infrastructure throughout the country, wrong timing of programmes on radio, low priority given to information in budgets, the publication of newspapers in a few local languages only, and poor marketing of information services. The study recommends that, in order to increase information availability to the informal sector, it is necessary to deal with the following problems: illiteracy, languages of packaging information, convenient timing of information distributed by means of radio broadcasts, redefining the role of the public library to society, increased research into the specific types of information needed by the entrepreneurs in their different trades. The study urges'government to establish an information centre for entrepreneurs and to increase publication of information in other local languages and other formats as a means of increasing channels of information dissemination. The Government is furthermore urged to work hand in hand with the private sector to increase programmes meant for the informal sector. Organisations owning radio programmes aimed at the sector are urged to plan convenient times for airing programmes for the benefit of the entrepreneurs. Individual entrepreneurs are urged to take information seriously and to use any means available to them to acquire information. Finally, the study shows that there is an urgent need for the establishment of a policy with regard to informal sector information systems and services, and that policy frameworks need to be developed for the information systems in the country. / Makerere University

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Library and Information Science) in the Department of Information Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2013. / Agriculture is the dominant sector in Zimbabwe’s economy, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and providing an income to over 75% of the population. Agricultural research and extension is undertaken in both public and private sector institutions across the five agro-ecological regions of the country. The aim of this study was to investigate the information needs and challenges of agricultural researchers and extension workers in the public sector in Zimbabwe. The government is responsible for agriculture in Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (MoAMID). The study focused on researchers falling under the Department of Research and Specialist Services (DR&SS) and extension workers under the Department of Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (AGRITEX). The study utilized both quantitative and qualitative methods; a questionnaire was distributed to researchers and extension workers, and interviews were conducted with key informants and librarians. An observation schedule on the state of agricultural libraries in Zimbabwe was also used. The respondents were drawn from eight provinces and research institutes as defined in the target population. Mashonaland Central Province produced the highest number of respondents because the population for the province included ward and village extension workers in addition to the district and provincial extension officers and supervisors targeted in each province. Forty four (44) districts participated from the projected sixty (60), while sixteen (16) out of seventeen (17) research institutes responded, although there were variations in responses per institute. The findings of the study indicated that the respondents held qualifications ranging from certificates (for extension workers at ward level) to doctorates for senior researchers in their respective areas of work. The study also showed that the agricultural researchers were generally younger than extension workers, and on average the majority of both categories of respondents had less than 10 years working experience. The majority of the respondents also had less than five years working experience in their current positions. In terms of gender, there were more males than females in both categories of respondents. The study revealed that the information needs of the researchers and extension workers aligned with the major agricultural disciplines of crop science, animal science, agricultural engineering, although agricultural economics did not attract prominence. v The respondents were using various sources of information in fulfilling their information needs, ranging from libraries to internet sources (including databases and other electronic sources), consulting colleagues, workshops and seminars, and personal collections. The level of usage and preferences differed, but overall agricultural researchers showed a preference for electronic sources while extension workers preferred print sources. Departmental collections were especially prominent among the extension workers, and these were mentioned as their first point of call when they were in need of information. Library usage was low, and it was observed that the Ministry of Agriculture’s libraries were not adequately equipped to meet the information needs of the researchers and extension workers. The materials were dated, and the libraries had no budget for the acquisition of new resources. Internet access was limited to institutions with access to internet connections and requisite technologies like computers; the TEEAL database, for example, was only available on standalone access at the Central Library. The different available resources were considered to be important sources of agricultural information. The use of indigenous knowledge by both researchers and extension workers in agriculture was also evident in the study. The study revealed that agricultural research prioritisation was determined by the government, national needs, and the availability of funds in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including farmers. The research extension model that is used suggests a communication pattern where researchers reach the farmers through the extension system and also through direct contact with the farmers. The reverse – farmer to researcher - also shows communication in the opposite (upward) direction. Overall, the researchers and extension workers appear to play a pivotal role in disseminating agricultural information to the farmers. Various channels also appear to be used to communicate agricultural information, including the media, pamphlets and posters, and public gatherings like field days and agricultural shows. Lack of material in local languages was identified as a major challenge in the communication process, although some translation was being done. This challenge was exacerbated by the land reform programme, which has seen a massive increase in the number of people directly involved in farming. The Ministry of Agriculture was seen to lack a clear policy on the management of information generated by its departments, including research and extension. This was vi despite mention by the respondents that the information was adequately captured. The study showed that ICTs were used to generate information which was subsequently distributed as hard copies. The distribution of such material was hampered by lack of resources like printers and toners. ICTs such as the radio, television, the internet, databases, and telephones were also being used to disseminate agricultural information, although databases were hampered by the lack of computers. Mobile phones, although not readily available as office equipment, were highly utilised in the communication process. The study revealed that there is collaboration between agricultural researchers and extension workers and with other stakeholders at both local and international level in the areas of material production, research facilities, and training. Linkages were also evident with farmer organisations in the areas of funding, farm research, and materials production. The study concluded that funding was one of the main challenges facing research and extension in Zimbabwe, with donor funding having dried up in recent years. Although privatisation and charging for services have been considered as alternatives for income generation, they face criticism for discriminating against poor farmers. The study recommends that the Central Library should be empowered in terms of personnel and other resources in order to address the information needs of researchers and extension workers. It also recommends the strengthening of the delivery of research and extension services by capacitating research and extension institutions through adequate ICTs, funding and enhanced collaboration with relevant stakeholders among other issues. / University of Zululand

Canadian cancer clinics are straining to keep up with growing numbers of patients and, as a result, the capacity to provide follow-up care to cancer patients is being stretched. The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has structured its community follow-up program to ensure the routine follow-up of patients who have finished active cancer treatments. Follow-up letters are routinely sent to family physicians and some specialists requesting information on the disease status of their cancer patients. For this thesis, I conducted a mail survey of 925 Saskatchewan physicians serving 21,000 patients to learn about general practitioners' and specialists' views of the follow-up program. A 52.5% response rate was achieved. <p>The program was considered useful for 91.5% of physicians, with the follow-up letter serving an important role in reminding physicians to see their cancer patients for follow-up. High percentages of physicians indicated a need for additional patient-specific information (59.3%), clinical information (73.0%) and training (34.9%) to do follow-up. Logistic regression analyses found female gender, a specialty in general practice and lower physician confidence in following cancer to be associated with the need for additional patient information. Lower physician confidence was associated with the need for additional clinical information and a specialty in general practice and lower physician confidence were associated with the need for more training.<p>Percentages of physicians saying they were very confident in following various cancers ranged widely from 19.1% for lymphomas to 54.2% for breast cancer. All regression models regarding physician confidence in following six different cancers had a common correlate: the need for additional training. A physician�s number of follow-up patients was a significant correlate in four of the six regression models and physician specialty was included in half of the models.<p> The results suggest areas of the program and physician need that should be addressed to ensure the delivery of quality follow-up care and the survey findings will be helpful in devising strategies to this end. At the same time, responses indicate the program to be an essential component in the delivery of community-based follow-up care in Saskatchewan.

Canadian cancer clinics are straining to keep up with growing numbers of patients and, as a result, the capacity to provide follow-up care to cancer patients is being stretched. The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has structured its community follow-up program to ensure the routine follow-up of patients who have finished active cancer treatments. Follow-up letters are routinely sent to family physicians and some specialists requesting information on the disease status of their cancer patients. For this thesis, I conducted a mail survey of 925 Saskatchewan physicians serving 21,000 patients to learn about general practitioners' and specialists' views of the follow-up program. A 52.5% response rate was achieved. <p>The program was considered useful for 91.5% of physicians, with the follow-up letter serving an important role in reminding physicians to see their cancer patients for follow-up. High percentages of physicians indicated a need for additional patient-specific information (59.3%), clinical information (73.0%) and training (34.9%) to do follow-up. Logistic regression analyses found female gender, a specialty in general practice and lower physician confidence in following cancer to be associated with the need for additional patient information. Lower physician confidence was associated with the need for additional clinical information and a specialty in general practice and lower physician confidence were associated with the need for more training.<p>Percentages of physicians saying they were very confident in following various cancers ranged widely from 19.1% for lymphomas to 54.2% for breast cancer. All regression models regarding physician confidence in following six different cancers had a common correlate: the need for additional training. A physician�s number of follow-up patients was a significant correlate in four of the six regression models and physician specialty was included in half of the models.<p> The results suggest areas of the program and physician need that should be addressed to ensure the delivery of quality follow-up care and the survey findings will be helpful in devising strategies to this end. At the same time, responses indicate the program to be an essential component in the delivery of community-based follow-up care in Saskatchewan.

The aim of this thesis has been to explore the interrelationship between elderly people and information. A case-study approach was adopted which examined whether the information needs of elderly people (consumers) in relation to community care had, in their perception. been addressed by the Information Strategy developed by the Social Services Department of one shire county (providers) in response to the Community Care Act 1990 to provide information about its services and how to access them. Two key findings emerge from the research. Firstly, elderly people's information needs in relation to community care have not been addressed by the Information Strategy. Secondly, the Strategy has encountered a number of implementation problems, namely communication difficulties, interagency issues and the gatekeeping role of frontline staff in information provision. The findings from the thesis suggest that a Community Care Information Strategy should be based on three key elements. It should acknowledge that elderly people are likely to comprise the largest single group in receipt of community care services. It should recognise that potential and current users of community care services are a heterogeneous group, with a diverse range of information and service needs. Finally, it should be based on an understanding of the information seeking behaviour of potential and current users of community care services and their preferred methods of information provision, and on an awareness of the likely barriers to information which may be in operation.

When women are faced with the diagnosis and treatment options for their care, they have high a need for information that persists throughout the course of their illness. When information needs are met, women are able to make informed decisions regarding their care, have increased quality of life, and cope better with their illness. The objective of this study was to identify the information needs of postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer making treatment decisions regarding endocrine therapy. An integrative review of research was conducted to collate and describe the information needs assessment methodologies used to identify information needs for women with breast cancer. Based on this review and our long-term goal of identifying a list of questions or information needs of women at this stage of their cancer treatment, we conducted a qualitative descriptive study to identify information needs and interviewed 17 post-menopausal women with early stage breast cancer and 4 healthcare providers. Women were asked to describe the questions they had or the information that they needed when endocrine therapy became part of their care. The healthcare providers described the information that they felt was important for women to know in regard to endocrine therapy. A list of 91 questions regarding endocrine therapy was identified; including information needs related to side effects, drug characteristics, financial cost, and survival/recurrence. Most women were not aware that they had a choice about the different types of endocrine treatment and often followed the physician’s recommendations. This study supports the assertion that postmenopausal women with breast cancer wish to be informed that they have a choice and desire information to make the best personal choice in collaboration with the physician. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of both the common and individual patients’ information needs and present options to assist women making the best decisions about their care. / Thesis (Master, Nursing) -- Queen's University, 2010-06-25 15:21:29.869

No description available.

Higher education institutions in South Africa are pressured to produce high quality and quantity research output. In order to produce research, information is needed. Very little research has been done on the information needs of veterinary science researchers and the role and services of veterinary libraries. The aim of this study was to determine what the information needs, information seeking behaviour and information use behaviour of veterinary researchers are, and how these needs are being met by the library. Researchers and information specialists at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, were used as a case study. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected by means of questionnaires, focus group interviews, a citation analysis and LibQual results (only as additional information). Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the data. The study found that the information needs of researchers are influenced by the research environment, they need access to information and information resources and prefer electronic information sources. Although many of the information needs are addressed by current library services, a number of potential areas of improvement were identified. These include technical support with accessing online collections, support with research methodology and publishing, improved collection building practices and dedicated library spaces for researchers. Findings revealed a considerable gap between researchers’ expectations from information specialists and their own perceptions of roles to fulfil. Researchers are often not aware of the information organising skills and expertise of information specialists. It is recommended that information specialists need to make researchers aware of their skills and expertise. The study contributes to the limited literature on the information behaviour of veterinary researchers and libraries supporting their needs. / Dissertation (MIS) -- University of Pretoria, 2015. / mn2015 / Information Science / Unrestricted

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Nursing Johannesburg, 2017 / The Hajj is widely recognized as the world’s largest and globally most diverse kind of mass gathering. This annual five day gathering takes place in the city of Mecca and includes between 2.5 and 3.5 million participants. This poses a great concern by the organizers as the risk for the spread of infectious disease due to overcrowding is greatly increased. These diseases are increasingly being recognized as a potential threat to both local and international public health systems. The lack of understanding of the infectious diseases that originate and disseminate during the Hajj was raised in the Jeddah declaration. Furthermore, despite the protective measures put in place, poor health practices from selective use of the measures by the participants contributes to the increased risks. Exploring the health information needs of the pilgrims attending Hajj, would help in knowing what is required to reduce poor health practices and simplify and improve compliance with protective measures against infectious diseases before, during and after Hajj, and this will help in minimising the spread of infectious diseases in the Hajj. The aim of this study was to explore the health information needs of the pilgrims attending Hajj in order to know what was required to reduce poor health practices and simplify and improve compliance with protective measures against infectious diseases before, during and after Hajj, and this would help in minimizing the spread of infectious diseases in the Hajj. In this study, a qualitative research design was used and focus group discussion using semi-structured questions was conducted. The members were purposely recruited and divided into four groups, two groups of males and two of females. The division of participants into focus groups was in part done in compliance with the Muslim beliefs. Data were collected using a focus group discussion with semistructured questions that was recorded using a tape recorder. These discussions were transcribed verbatim before being analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of the study showed that pilgrims need a holistic health educational program that addresses their experiences of illnesses and chosen format as educational pamphlets are no longer effective. The findings also revealed that collaboration, surveillance and screening of pilgrims for diseases prior to departure are useful as they help in spreading messages of health and diseases issues with simplicity and yield effective result as well as identifying those at risk of contracting infectious diseases, spreading infectious diseases and exacerbating their diseased conditions. The study recommends the use of digital technology such as an app for phone to send health information to participants and promptly identify and manage individuals who develop illness during mass gathering events like Hajj. It also recommends the incorporation of mass gathering medicine into the curriculum of Nursing program in order to effectively train and equip nurses with better preparation measures against infectious diseases during mass gatherings like Hajj / MT 2019

Abstract INFORMATION NEEDS AND INFORMATION SOURCES OF PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH RARE CANCERS By Dana L. Ladd, Ph.D., MS, SLIS BACKGROUND: Approximately 25% of all cancers diagnosed are considered rare. Patients may face many significant challenges including difficulty obtaining information about their rare conditions. Patients often have high information needs and may seek desired information from a variety of informational sources including healthcare providers, media, print, government and non-profit organizations in order to meet their needs. Accessing reliable consumer-level information can be challenging and often information needs are unmet. Dissatisfaction with health information provision can result in negative health-related outcomes and factors including decreased health-related quality of life. METHOD: This cross-sectional design study used validated measures to assess the information needs, information sources, information satisfaction, and health-related quality of life of patients diagnosed with rare cancers (n=113). Adult patients at the VCU Health Massey Cancer Center who had been diagnosed with a rare cancer in the past 12 months were contacted via mail survey. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patients’ information need and information received levels. Unmet needs were analyzed using a two-sample T-test. Chi-square tests were used to analyze information needs and received by demographics for gender and race and logistic regression analysis was used for age. Descriptive statistics summarized information sources used and preferred. Finally, descriptive statistics were used to summarize information satisfaction. The relationship between information satisfaction and health-related quality of life was assessed using a two-sample T-test. RESULTS: Study participants had high information needs, particularly for information about disease, medical tests, and treatment. Though patients also reported receiving information at high levels, 21 participants (18.9%) reported being unsatisfied with information provision. Unmet needs were found for information about disease and on the item level for information about causes of cancer, whether their cancer was under control, expected benefits of treatment, and financial, insurance, and work-related information. Although participants reported preferring information from their healthcare providers, they most commonly sought information from the Internet more than any other source. CONCLUSION: By identifying patients’ information needs and sources, this study fills an important gap in the information needs and sources literature of patients diagnosed with rare cancers. Identification of these needs allows healthcare providers to tailor information provision to more effectively meet patients’ information needs.