M.Cur. (Intensive General Nursing) / It appears that the emotions of patients in.the process of undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery have an influence on the rate of mortality. Patients that must undergo this surgery often find themselves in a short term dependent position. The purpose of this study is to determine if the life-style functioning of the patients can be improved by means of a pre-operative rehabilitative educational programme introduced by the professional nurse. A conceptual framework of reference was compiled after completion of the literature review. This served as the preliminary structure of the pre-operative educational programme. The programme consists of three three components, viz. an education booklet, an educational evaluating model and the educationist. A quasi-experimental study was performed on 4 groups (2 experimental groups and 2 control groups) to determine the effect of the structured pre-operative educational programme on the following three factors: - satisfaction with self, others and life; -avoidance of hope threats and -anticipation of a future. From these factors three null hypotheses were formed. An analysis of the data indicated a significant difference between the groups that followed the programme and the groups that did not follow the programme. The null hypotheses were thereafter rejected. The primary recommendation of the study is that all patients in the process of undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery should follow a pre-operative educational programme. This programme has a positive influence on the life-style functioning of the patient and will thus promote the process of rehabilitation.

Evidence suggests that the prevalence of certain non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension, is increasing rapidly, and that patients with these diseases are making significant demands on the health services of the nations in sub-Saharan Africa. However, these countries also face other health-related challenges such as communicable diseases and underdevelopmentrelated diseases. Developing countries like South Africa have limited resources, in terms of man power and financial capital, to address the challenges that they are facing. Non-communicable diseases cannot be ignored and since health care providers cannot meet the challenges, it is worthwhile to empower patients to be involved in the management of their conditions. Patient education is a tool that can be used to enable patients to manage their chronic conditions and thereby reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of these conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a patient education intervention on participants’ levels of knowledge about hypertension and its therapy, beliefs about medicines and adherence to anti-hypertensive therapy. The intervention consisted of talks and discussions with all the participants as one group and as individuals. There was also written information given to the participants. Their levels of knowledge about hypertension and its therapy were measured using one-on-one interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Beliefs about medicines were measured using the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ) whilst adherence levels were measured using pill counts, elf-reports and prescription refill records. The participants’ blood pressure readings and body mass indices were also recorded throughout the study. The parameters before and after the educational intervention were compared using statistical analyses. The participants’ levels of knowledge about hypertension and its therapy significantly increased whilst their beliefs about medicines were positively modified after the educational intervention. There were also increases, though not statistically significant, in the participants’ levels of adherence to anti-hypertensive therapy. Unexpectedly, the blood pressure readings and body mass indices increased significantly. The participants gave positive feedback regarding the educational intervention and indicated a desire for similar programmes to be run continuously. They also suggested that such programmes be implemented for other common chronic conditions such as asthma and diabetes. This study proved that patient education programmes can be implemented to modify patients’ levels of knowledge about their conditions and the therapy, beliefs about medicines and adherence to therapy. However, such programmes need to be conducted over a long period of time since changes involving behaviour take a long time.

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)

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.

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)