This study investigated factors influencing the quality of data for the Tuberculosis (TB) control programme in Oshakati District in Namibia. A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted using 50 nurses who were sampled from five departments in Oshakati State Hospital. Data was collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The results indicated that the majority (90%) of the respondents agreed that TB training improved correct recording and reporting. Sixty percent of the respondents agreed that TB trainings influenced the rate of incomplete records in the unit, while 26% of the respondents disagreed with this statement. This indicates that TB trainings influence the quality of data reported in the TB programme as it influences correct recording and completeness of data at operational level. Participants’ knowledge on TB control guidelines, in particular the use of TB records to, used to capture the core TB indicators influenced the quality of data in the programme. The attitudes and practises of respondents affected implementation of TB guidelines hence, influencing the quality of data in the programme. The findings related to the influence of the quality of data in the TB programme and its effect to decision-making demonstrated a positive relationship (p=0.0023) between the attitudes of study participant on the use of data collected for decision-making. Knowledge, attitudes and practice are the main factors influencing the quality of data in the TB control programme in Oshakati District. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenology study was to explore and describe the meaning employees attribute to the lived experiences of returning to work after cancer treatment. Semi-structured interviews were held with eight participants and a thematic data analysis method was used. The results indicate that cancer survivors experience various challenges that make it difficult to function as they did before the diagnosis when they return to work. A critical hermeneutical reflection against the literature followed the structural analysis and resulted in a contextual framework that incorporated the individual and organisational perspective on the various influences involved in supporting cancer survivors to maintain their wellbeing when they return to work. Four phases, repression, comprehension, activation and reintegration, were identified when they tried to cope/adjust on their return to work. The corresponding forms of organisational support they expected through these phases were labelled motivation, information, navigation and stabilisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Orientador: Vera Lucia Gil da Silva Lopes / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T22:55:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Monlleo_IsabellaLopes_M.pdf: 586069 bytes, checksum: 706db2a35c57b9e799229264653c4708 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2004 / Resumo: As anomalias craniofaciais estão entre os defeitos congênitos humanos mais freqüentes e demandam assistência multiprofissional, integral e especializada, cujo custo é elevado. O médico geneticista destaca-se na equipe por ter habilidades para a caracterização etiológica e nosológica dessas condições, fundamentais para o aconselhamento genético e a correta obtenção de dados epidemiológicos. Todavia, o acesso ao tratamento ainda é precário em muitas nações, motivo pelo qual a Organização Mundial de Saúde vem estimulando pesquisas sobre oferta de serviços e qualidade da assistência prestada. Além disso, é reconhecido que a ampla variação da qualidade e dos custos da assistência estão relacionados às características estruturais e funcionais dos serviços. A primeira iniciativa para atenção a portadores de Anomalias Craniofaciais no Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil ocorreu em 1993. Com a criação da Rede de Referência no Tratamento de Deformidades Craniofaciais, o atendimento foi ampliado, contando atualmente com 29 centros credenciados. Até o momento, esses centros não foram caracterizados. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a organização dessa Rede, descrever a estrutura e funcionamento dos centros que a integram e verificar a oferta e o acesso à genética clínica nesses locais. Para coleta dos dados, foi utilizado um questionário semi-estruturado, remetido por correio. Os resultados demonstram agregação de centros no Sudeste, em universidades e na área de fissuras labiopalatais, com atendimento de rotina em cerca de 90% deles. A denominação da rede de assistência não parece corresponder à sua atual abrangência. As equipes estão constituídas de acordo com critérios americanos em 14 e, com europeus, em cinco centros participantes do estudo. Há geneticistas clínicos em 13 centros. Dentre esses, 61,8% contam com apenas um especialista dessa área. Apesar da baixa inserção do geneticista, em 22 centros, pais e pacientes solicitam informações sobre etiologia e prevenção que são fornecidas em 80,0% dos centros; todavia em 55% deles essa atividade é realizada por médicos não geneticistas e outros integrantes da equipe. Em conclusão, os dados sugerem a necessidade de revisão da definição, objetivos, abrangência e critérios de credenciamento dos centros de atendimento e caracterizam a precariedade da oferta e do acesso à genética clínica na Rede de Referência no Tratamento de Deformidades Craniofaciais / Abstract: Craniofacial anomalies are one of the most common birth defects in man, which have considerable medical costs in view of the long, specialized and complex treatment. The presence of the Clinical Geneticist on the team is important for clinical and etiologic characterization of these anomalies, genetic counseling and epidemiologic register. As the access for treatment is not easy in many countries, the World Health Organization launched a project for research availability and quality of the specialized services. Previous research demonstrates that variation of costs and quality of the services were related with theirs structural and functional characteristics, as well. The first initiative for public craniofacial anomalies health care in Brazil was in 1993. An important improvement occurred with the creation of the Net for Craniofacial Deformities Treatment, which is composed by 29 centers. Until now, these centers had not been studied before. The aims of this study were to evaluate the Net for Craniofacial Deformities Treatment, to describe the structural and functional characteristics of these centers and the access for genetic evaluation and genetic counseling for individuals and families in them. Data were collected by a questionnaire mailed for all these centers. The results showed an increased of centers in Southeast and in universities. Cleft lip and palate is the main clinical condition treated. Routine attendance occurred in 90% of the centers. Teams¿ composition is similar to American criteria in 14 of the centers and to European, in 5. The denomination of this assistance net does not seem in accordance to its actual activities. Clinical geneticist was present in 13 centers and 61,8% had one professional. In spite of few Clinical Geneticists in the composition of the teams, in 22 centers of attendance patients and parents asked for etiology and prevention, which have been done in 80% of them. These informations are transmitted by a non-specialized physicians and others members of the team in 55% of the centers. These data suggested that it would be necessary the revision of definition, goals, activities and standards for inclusion of the craniofacial centers. They also demonstrated that the availability and the access for clinical geneticist is not enough in the Net for Craniofacial Deformities Treatment of Brazil / Mestrado / Genetica Medica / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

Forty spinal cord injury (SCI) patients were studied in order to determine the effects of an attribution based therapeutic recreation program on their perception of freedom in leisure. Perception of freedom in leisure of SCI patients was measured by a seventy-two item scale. This scale was translated into Spanish, adapted, revised, validated, and tested for reliability. The reliability of the Spanish Version of the scale was very similar to the English Version of the scale.

This study employed a case-based research design to document the psychological assessment and treatment of Zanele, a 15-year-old black Xhosa speaking female who was raped twice in 2006 by the same perpetrator. The aim of the study was to explore whether, the model for assessment and intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) developed by Ehlers and Clark (2000) was effective and transportable to the South African context. Zanele had a sufficient understanding of English for assessment to proceed without use of an interpreter. She reported a number of PTSD symptoms which were causing her significant distress and had impacted on her social and educational functioning. These included flashbacks of the perpetrator's face when she looked at the faces of black men, nightmares about the traumas she had endured and feeling isolated from others. A number of cognitive techniques were utilised in this study, however the central interventions included working with triggers, imagery rehearsal techniques with a focus on nightmares, and reliving with cognitive restructuring within and outside reliving. Psychoeducation and increasing her social support were also important components of the intervention. Her progress was monitored by means of several self-report measures which were displayed in graphic and tabular form. In addition, a thematically selective narrative of the assessment and first 23 sessions of the intervention was written which documents some of the central processes set in motion by the interventions. These results provide evidence that this model was both effective and transportable to the South African population. In addition, the study demonstrated that it is possible for a white English speaking clinician to work with a black Xhosa speaking individual and make substantial therapeutic gains.

Valvular disorders can be corrected by means of surgery, after which very comprehensive discharge planning should be implemented to prevent the occurrence of post-operative complications. Advances in medical technology and intellect instigate earlier discharge for patients after they have undergone valvular surgery. The aim of this research study is to establish the extent of discharge planning by nurses for patients who have undergone valvular surgery, so that practice guidelines in the form of an in-service educational framework can be compiled for nurses in the management of these patients post-operatively. Patients, many of whom are from rural areas, are discharged without an adequate referral system. There are, currently, no set guidelines or referral persons to direct these patients during their rehabilitation period. Based on the researcher’s personal observations, it is evident that many patients suffer from bacterial endocarditis or clotted valves due to poor post-surgery management. However, both of these conditions could be avoided if proper health education was given to these patients. The study will take the form of a quantitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual survey. Data will be collected by means of a structured questionnaire that will be completed by the nurses working in the cardiac general ward and the cardiac clinic. Findings of the research study will be used to assist the researcher in developing an in-service educational framework for staff that are both nursing and preparing post valvular surgery patients for discharge. The goal is to prevent complications such as clot formation and endocarditis and to enable patients to deal effectively with their rehabilitation period.

Background: Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality and morbidity in Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). There is a limited amount of research that evaluates the impact of menu-based CR, in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome with Low Troponin levels (ACSLT). Aim: This thesis contains a feasibility study and an exploratory study. The feasibility study aimed to examine the feasibility of a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) which would test the impact of a menu-based CR programme, on individuals diagnosed with ACSLT, against standard care. This feasibility study included staff views. The exploratory study aimed to explore the impact that ACSLT and CR can have on this client group. Method: The feasibility study was a repeated measures case-control trial of menu-based CR based on the theoretical framework of the Common Sense Model of Self-Regulation (CSM), using a range of health assessments. The areas assessed included misconceptions, symptoms, anxiety, depression and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). In addition, focus groups were held with both ward and specialist CR staff to seek their views on the feasibility of a RCT of menu-based CR for ACSLT. The exploratory study consisted of description and analysis of the data that had been collected from the participants over the two year period as above. In addition it included qualitative data that had been collected during interviews with the participants. Findings: Participants (n=33) were recruited from cardiology wards following an admission with ACSLT. They were assessed at baseline (T1), nine months (T3) and 24 months (T4). Twenty-five participants completed the studies. The feasibility study was successful in its aim of testing the CR intervention and protocols for a further RCT. The intervention was acceptable to the participants and to the specialist staff, although the ward staff did not see the need for a RCT. The measures used, with the exception of the self-reporting measures, were suitable and provided a wide range of data that could be utilised in a RCT. However the changes to diagnostic categories meant that a RCT would no longer be feasible. The exploratory study found that both groups were similar on a range of baseline demographic and clinical factors. There was a tendency to benefit within the exploratory study which favoured the intervention. An additional finding from the exploratory study was the degree of uncertainty experienced by the participants, within the context of a changing political and clinical landscape. Discussion and conclusions: The studies presented in this thesis add to our knowledge by highlighting some of the difficulties in designing a RCT of menu-based CR in a specific subgroup of CHD and by presenting outcome data for a small group of participants that have not previously been studied within the literature. This data suggests that there was a tendency to benefit for the intervention that requires further study. Implications for practice: Patients with ACSLT are now being included in CR programmes due to the changes within the diagnostic criteria. Clinicians have little understanding of the impact of CR on this group of patients, or what type of interventions would work best. Large RCT’s will however be problematic and this thesis has highlighted that further work is required to explore how CR can best improve the well-being of individuals with ACSLT.

D.Litt. et Phil. (Psychology) / It has long been known that South Africans are a high risk population for the development of coronary heart disease. Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 8,7% of all deaths in this country in 1988. Despite this distressing situation, rehabilitation facilities for people who have suffered a myocardial infarction or heart attack are relatively scarce. The facilities that exist tend to focus on the biomedical aspects of cardiac rehabilitation such as exercise and diet, and tend to neglect the psychosocial factors. A review of the literature shows, however, that psychosocial factors, and in particular the Type A coronary-prone behaviour pattern are significantly related not only to the development of coronary heart disease, but also to the probability of sUffering and surviving a heart attack. In addition, Type A.behaviour has been shown to be predictive of the risk of a second infarction after an initial attack. For this reason, the proven technology of a treatment programme developed under the auspices of the Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project (Powell & Thoresen, 1986) was applied in an attempt to adapt the programme for the" South African context. The study was aimed at establishing whether the RCPP programme could successfully be employed in this country, and whether the duration could be shortened so as to be more economically viable given the limited economic resources that characterise health care in South Africa. The modified programme was administered to a group of 13 post-myocardial patients at a local cardiac rehabilitation centre. A second group of 11 patients at the same centre served as a no-treatment waiting list control group, but simultaneously underwent an aerobic exercise and cardiovascular counselling programme. Results of the study indicate that 'the modified programme is highly successful in modifying Type A behaviour and its components in South African sUbjects. Comparisons of the experimental and control groups after the intervention showed statistically significant differences on the majority of measures. It was therefore concluded that the modified programme can be used fruitfully in the local context, but it was cautioned that the present sample needs to be followed up over time to ensure that the treatment gains are maintained.

The study purposes were to identify changes in resilience, satisfaction with life (SWL), depression, spirituality, and functional independence (FI) and to examine the relationship between these variables, during the inpatient rehabilitation for a spinal cord injury (SCI). The sample included 42 individuals with a SCI, 33 males and 9 females, who were inpatients with a mean stay of 52 days (SD = 15.78). A repeated measures design was employed with questionnaires completed at three times during rehabilitation. Results indicated that there were significant changes in depression, satisfaction with life, spirituality, and FI during inpatient rehabilitation. Findings also indicated significant correlations between resilience, SWL, spirituality, and depression. Future studies developing interventions, and examining factors that predict resilience could help build resilience and may improve rehabilitation outcomes.

The purpose of this project is to offer a functionally comprehensive application, Cognitive Rehab Solutions (CRS), that is designed for neuropsychologists to deliver restorative cognitive training in areas of attention and memory of persons with brain impairment.