Background: The relationship between informational support and use of health care services among individuals newly diagnosed with cancer remains little documented despite its importance for optimal care delivery. Aim: To document the role of informational support in light of patterns of health services used by women and men newly diagnosed with cancer. Method: A sequential mixed methods approach (i.e., quantitative-qualitative) was conducted among women and men newly diagnosed with either breast or prostate cancer. First, an existing quantitative database was used to determine whether an intervention relying on multimedia tool as a complement to the provision of usual cancer informational support to patients (N = 250) would modify subsequent health care service use. A follow-up qualitative inquiry with distinct individuals also newly diagnosed (N = 20) was conducted to explore this relationship further. Next, the resulting quantitative and qualitative findings were merged and reanalyzed using a quantitative-hierarchical approach to enhance our understanding of the phenomenon. Findings: Several personal and contextual factors were found to qualify the relationship between cancer informational support and health service use. Although quantitative analyses showed no significant differences in terms of overall reliance on health care services among participants who received more intense cancer informational support as opposed to those who received care as usual, several sex differences were noted in terms of number of visits to health care professionals, time spent with nurses and satisfaction with cancer information received. Qualitative findings revealed that participants reported a variety of experiences pertaining to cancer information received (e.g., positive, unsupportive or mixed) as well as several processes at play (e.g., cancer information seen as enabling, confirming, or conflicting). These differences in informational support, in turn, influenced their subsequent service utilization (e.g., more phone calls made to health professionals, reduction in face-to-face visits, reluctance to use cancer-related services). The mixed data analysis clarified further the findings allowing a broader perspective to emerge. Conclusion: Findings underscore that the relationship between cancer information and use of services is not as straightforward as initially anticipated. These findings provide initial insights that may inform future research on the topic and assist health care providers in optimizing their cancer informational interventions to guide patients in their reliance on health care services.

Thesis (MFamMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background Diabetes is a significant contributor to the burden of disease in South Africa and to the reasons for encounter in primary care. There is little structured and systematic education of patients that supports self-care. This study was a qualitative assessment of a diabetes group education programme in Community Health Centres of the Cape Town Metropolitan District. The programme offered four sessions of group education and was delivered by trained health promoters using motivational interviewing as a communication style. The aim of the study was to evaluate the programme by exploring the experiences of the patients who attended. Methods Thirteen individual in depth interviews were conducted. Each patient had attended the educational programme and came from a different health centre in the intervention arm of a larger randomised controlled trial. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and then analyzed using the framework approach. Results Patients expressed that they gained useful new knowledge about diabetes. The use of educational material was experienced positively and enhanced recall and understanding of information. The general experience was that the health promoters were competent, utilised useful communication skills and the structure of sessions was suitable. Patients reported a change in behaviour especially with diet, physical activity, medication and foot care. There were organizational and infrastructural problems experienced specifically with regards to the suitability of the venue and communication of information regarding the timing and location of the sessions. Conclusion This study supports the wider implementation of this programme following consideration of recommendations resulting from patient feedback. However, only patients who attended the educational sessions were interviewed and the results of the larger controlled trial must still be obtained.

Många patienter med obstruktivt sömnapnésyndrom (OSAS) som behandlas med Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) avbryter sin behandling i ett tidigt skede. Att inte vara följsam behandlingen kan innebära olika hälsorisker för patienten som kan få allvarliga konsekvenser. Kommunikationssituationen vid det initiala utprovningsbesöket kan därför påverka huruvida patienten inte blir följsam och fullföljer behandlingen. Syftet med denna studie var att belysa hur vårdpersonal beskriver sina erfarenheter av kommunikationssituationen vid det initiala utprovningsbesöket av CPAP. En kvalitativ intervjustudie genomfördes med 23 personer som alla möter denna grupp av patienter.  Som analysmetod användes induktiv innehållsanalys. Vid analysen av materialet framkom tre kategorier; Bygga en relation, Inta ett pedagogiskt förhållningssätt samt Stödja patientens delaktighet. Dessa tre kategorier mynnade ut i ett tema som visade på hur kommunikationssituationen beskrevs Skapa förutsättning för lärande hos patienten. Studien belyser vikten av en samskapande vård och ett personcentrerat förhållningssätt där patienten ses som en partner i de beslut som tas samt hur vårdpersonalens pedagogiska förhållningssätt påverkar kommunikations-situationen på olika sätt. Erfarenheterna som beskrevs i studien upplevdes påverka patientens möjligheter till lärande i situationen för en ökad följsam till sin CPAP-behandling. / Many patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) treated with Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) interrupt their treatment at an early stage. Not having adherence to the treatment implies various health risks for the patient that can have serious consequences. Therefore, the communicationsituation at the initial testing visit may affect whether the patient does not follow up and completes the treatment. The purpose of this study was to illustrate how healthcare professionals describe their experiences of the communicationsituation at the initial visit testing CPAP. A qualitative interview study was conducted with 23 people who all meet this group of patients. As an analytical method, inductive content analysis was used. In the analysis of the material three categories was revealed; Build a Relationship, Take an Educational Approach and Support the Patient's Participation. These three categories emerged in a theme that demonstrated how the communication situation was described as Creating a prerequisite for learning for the patient. The study highlights the importance of a person-centered approach, a co-productive care where the patient is seen as a partner in the decisions and how the healthcare professionals' pedagogical approaches affect the communicationsituation in different ways. The experiences described in the study were perceived to affect the patient's ability to learn in the situation for an increased adherence to the CPAP treatment.

A qualitative study following a phenomenological approach was undertaken to explore voluntary counselling and testing nurses' perception of educating HIV+ people about ARVs. Non-probability convenience sampling was used and in-depth semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data from 12 participants. The most important results were:  The need for extensive education on ARVs since it is a new technology used to curb the infection therefore clients need the information in order to use them effectively.  Stumbling blocks encountered when educating HIV+ people about the drugs. The problems are mainly due to the nurses lack of current knowledge about the drugs; patients' low economic status; severe side effects; difficulties in behaviour change; poor quality of life on ARVs and medical terminology.  Inability of clients to comply to the regimen because of severe side effects, complex regimen, lack of support from family and friends, lack of motivation, depression, cultural beliefs, lack of knowledge on how to use them and financial constraints.  Challenges for continuous education because of current nursing shortage, negative attitudes of some nurses, demotivation and inadequate funding for such activity. Recommendations include provision of continuing education and the incorporation of ARV therapy knowledge in the basic nursing curriculum in nursing education. / Health Studies / MA (HEALTH STUDIES)

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is described as a crisis by the Global Report (UNAIDS 2004:13). Swaziland¡¦s King Mswati III also declared the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a disaster when the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate increased from 3.9% in 1992 to 42.6% in 2004 (MOHSW 2004:3). In responding to the increasing numbers, the Government of Swaziland established various programmes; one of them being the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services to meet societal needs. The MOHSW designed guidelines to be utilized when training nurses to be pre and post HIV test counselors (TASC 2003:2). The period of training ranges between 1 to 2 weeks, after which they are deployed to the VCT centres where nurses provide counseling and testing, treatment of opportunistic infections and distributing antiretroviral drugs. Much research has been done in Swaziland on HIV/AIDS however; there is insufficient knowledge on the impact of HIV/AIDS on nurses working at the VCT services. The objectives of the study were to: ,,« Explore and describe the experiences of nurses working in the VCT services. ,,« Explore and describe the experiences of clients receiving VCT services. ,,« Design and develop an empowerment programme for nurses working in the VCT services in Swaziland. ,,« Formulate and describe guidelines for the implementation of the programme. In this qualitative study, the exploratory descriptive and contextual methodology was utilized to look into lived experiences of nurses and clients. This was done within the adaptation of the intervention Design and Development genre proposed by Rothman and Thomas (1994). Data was collected through purposive sampling and analysed according to Tesch¡¦s methods (Tesch 1990:890) The study revealed one major theme; constant experience of stress that was related to psychological and physical factors (categories). Nurses identified the complexity of HIV/AIDS, shortage of staff, lack of social support, lack of a supportive working environment, and a need for staff development under psychological factors. Clients identified stigma and discrimination. Constant exhaustion and development of medical conditions were identified as physical factors that led to constant experience of stress. Conclusions drawn from the data analysis revealed that nurses were stressed and felt disempowered at working in the VCT services. An empowerment programme was designed and developed to enable these nurses to deal with issues and VCT services for rendering quality care and enjoy the work they do. Guidelines were formulated to implement the empowerment programme. The study concluded with the identification of limitations and recommendations for future endeavours. / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil.

The purpose of this study was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a pre-operative health education programme provided to cardiac surgery patients at a private hospital in Gauteng. A questionnaire was used to collect data and indicated that most patients were satisfied with the pre-operative education that they received before their cardiac surgery procedure, and therefore felt well prepared for the operation. It is, however, evident that family involvement with pre-operative education was not satisfactory. This lack of family involvement is a limitation in the present programme. The study also noted that patients must be informed about visiting hours, and the intense feeling of the endotracheal tube post-operatively should be emphasised. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Asthma is not a disease with a single etiology but a very complex syndrome. Irrespective of a better understanding of the pathophysiology of asthma and its related therapeutic regimens the disease still escalates in prevalence and severity. Characteristic features of chronicity and remission ensures a fertile ground for non-compliance by patients. This quantitative, descriptive study set out to determine the asthma knowledge, asthma control and quality of life of adult asthmatics who attended the respiratory outpatient clinic at Tygerberg Hospital. The purpose was to determine an association between asthma knowledge, asthma control and asthma quality of life. A statistically significant association was found between asthma control and asthma quality of life, not with knowledge of asthma for either of the concepts. Important gaps in knowledge were identified namely an inability to recognise nocturnal coughing as a risk factor. The increased role of nurse practitioners in asthma care is highly recommended. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The humanised Aids patient increasingly finds itself a part of mainstream popular rhetoric. There was a time however, when the Aids patient was no more than a disease ravaged corpse without rights. Conventional histories and analyses tend to gloss over this fact, or argue that the new, authentic patient is a triumph of wisdom over brute ignorance, fear and superstition. Such accounts overlook their own role and the part played by the bio-medical sciences in constructing the Aids patient. This thesis, in contradistinction, traces the Aids patient's portrayal in South African bio-medical discourses, applying to it the work of Michel Foucault. In doing so the dynamic interactions of power and knowledge are brought under the spotlight. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge of TB patients receiving TB treatment at a clinic in Tshwane regarding the condition and their treatment. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted. Data was collected using a self-designed structured questionnaire administered by the researcher and nurses. The population consisted of diagnosed TB patients. The total sample consisted of 74 respondents. The respondents were described in terms of inter alia their demographics, aspects of their health and TB and aspects related to clinic visits. For the knowledge about TB a competency indicator was set at 70% which means that those that achieved this were regarded as knowledgeable. Those that were found to be not knowledgeable were 41.9% of the sample. The mean score achieved by the group was 61% with a standard deviation of 25. Recommendations were made to amend knowledge deficits of TB patients and for further research / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Introdução: as tecnologias educativas podem ser aplicadas por meio de materiais educativos, folhetos, vídeos, jogos ou qualquer outra estratégia que tenha por objetivo auxiliar a compreensão e aumentar o conhecimento de pacientes sobre sua saúde ou tratamento. Objetivo: avaliar a eficácia de uma tecnologia educativa impressa na redução de sinais e sintomas perioperatórios em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia ortognática. Método: trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado controlado desenvolvido no período de janeiro de 2013 a agosto de 2015, dividido em duas fases: um estudo piloto sem randomização para teste da intervenção e instrumentos, com oito pacientes; e, em segundo momento, o estudo clínico com as alterações decorrentes do estudo piloto. A amostra randomizada por blocos foi constituída de quarenta pacientes (vinte experimental e vinte controle), com seguimento de 45 dias. No grupo experimental, foi realizada a orientação pré-operatória pela enfermeira com auxílio da tecnologia educativa construída previamente para esse perfil de paciente e com orientação sobre os cuidados pós-operatórios (higiene oral, dieta, exercícios faciais, hidratação labial, exposição ao sol, abertura limitada da cavidade oral, controle da dor, repouso, banho e curativos), além da orientação habitual do cirurgião. O grupo controle recebeu somente as orientações rotineiras do cirurgião. Para a análise da intervenção, foram aplicados instrumentos para avaliar o conhecimento sobre os cuidados pós-operatórios, ansiedade pré e pós-procedimento pelo inventário de ansiedade IDATE traço e estado, sinais e sintomas do pós-operatório por instrumento de avaliação clínica. Na análise estatística, foi aplicado teste modelo de efeitos mistos para investigação dos dados do inventário de ansiedade traço-estado, teste de conhecimento e avaliação clínica, com exceção das medidas de peso corporal e dor para os quais foram utilizados GEE (=5%). Resultados: em relação ao teste de conhecimento observou-se melhora significativa do conhecimento no grupo experimental (p=0,000), o Inventário de ansiedade IDATE estado não apresentou diferença estatística entre a evolução nos dois grupos (p=0,818), e também no IDATE traço (p=0,906). Na avaliação dos sinais e sintomas por meio da análise clínica, não se observou diferença significativa entre a evolução dos grupos em todos os itens avaliados, mas notou-se no grupo experimental reduções mais expressivas entre o primeiro e segundo retorno em alguns sinais e sintomas do que no grupo controle. Esses pacientes também apresentaram menor dificuldade em realizar as refeições, iniciaram os exercícios faciais precocemente e utilizaram métodos de conforto para dormir e respirar melhor, itens correspondentes na orientação e na tecnologia educativa impressa aplicada. Conclusão: a estratégia de orientação e aplicação da tecnologia educativa para pacientes submetidos a cirurgia ortognática foi efetiva para o conhecimento dos pacientes sobre a cirurgia e o autocuidado. Observou-se melhora dos desfechos avaliados e sua implantação merece ser considerada para auxiliar o pós-operatório desses pacientes. NCT01803204. / Introduction: educational technologies can be applied through educational materials, brochures, videos, games or any other strategy which has the objective of assisting the understanding and raise awareness of patients about their health or treatment. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a printed educational technology in reducing signs and symptoms in perioperative patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. Method: this is a randomized controlled clinical trial carried out from January 2013 to August 2015, divided into two phases: A pilot study without randomization to test the intervention and instruments with eight patients, and the second time, the study clinical with the changes arising from the pilot study. A random sample of blocks consisted of 40 patients (20: experimental and 20: control), with follow-up of 45 days. In the experimental group the preoperative orientation was conducted by nurse with the help of educational technology previously built for this patient profile and guidance on post-operative care (oral hygiene, diet, facial exercises, lip hydration, sun exposure, aperture limited the oral cavity, pain control, rest, bathing and dressing), besides the usual surgeon orientation. The control group only received routine guidance of the surgeon. To evaluate the intervention were implemented instruments to assess knowledge about post-operative care, pre and the post-procedure Anxiety Inventory STAI trait and state anxiety, signs and symptoms postoperatively by clinical assessment tool. Statistical analysis: applied testing mixed-effects model for data analysis inventory of State-trait anxiety, knowledge test and clinical evaluation, with the exception of body weight measurements and pain that were used GHG (=5%). Results: in relation to knowledge we observed significant improvement of test knowledge in the experimental group (p=0.000), the state STAI Anxiety Inventory showed no statistical difference between the evolution in both groups (p=0.818), and also in trace IDATE (p=0.906). In the evaluation of the signs and symptoms through clinical evaluation there was no significant difference between the evolution of groups in all items, but was noted in the experimental group more decreases between the first and second return in signs and symptoms than in group control. These patients also had less difficulty in performing meals, facial exercises began early and comfort of methods used to sleep and breathe better by matching items in orientation and printed educational technology applied. Conclusion: the orientation of strategy proposed and application of educational technology for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery was effective in patients\' knowledge about surgery and self-care. There was a significant improvement in outcomes, although without statistical significance and the use of educational technologies deserve to be considered to assist the postoperative these patients. NCT01803204.