Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2009. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

The process of the socialization of first year medical students is analyzed according to a paradigm of adult socialization. This paradigm consists of three sets of variables, that is, independent variable (I), personal background characteristics, independent variable (II), elements of interpersonal relation in which students are involved, and dependent variable, the cultural content of socialization. The study shows (a) that during the first year the medical students tend to think of the first year as the least important period for their later career. Besides being least important, the first year appears to be the most difficult. They also feel hard pressed for time-- there seems to be too much to learn for the time allowed. However, they expect that as they go through medical school, their training will be less difficult. A majority of them find themselves very much involved in the competition among themselves. Their attitudes towards this are rather neutral. They express satisfaction with their faculty members in the given direction in their studies. (b) In the assessment of their performance during their training, a majority of the students classify themselves as average, the reference point of which is largely found in themselves rather than in their fellow students, or in the opinion of the faculty members. (c) With regard to their attitudes and values; students tend to hold the initial values which they had on entering medical school, namely, "people-orientation." No student thinks of himself as a doctor in The first year, in fact, from the beginning he did not expect to establish his professional self-image in the first year. On the other hand, the outline of the image of physician which emerged on entry into medical school remains almost the same at the end of the year with only a slight modification. The image is characterized primarily by personality traits, and a task-oriented emphasis. As the year comes to an end, a substantial proportion of students tend to specify themselves as preferring general practice as their later career. This was not chosen by anyone at the beginning of the year. Their expected income differs little from the actual current income of physicians. They tend to express more satisfaction with their chosen career as they progress through the first year. / Arts, Faculty of / Sociology, Department of / Graduate

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 110-114). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.A. in applied economics)--Washington State University, May 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-48).

Thesis--Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, 1900, no. 613. / Bibliographie: p. [575]-584.

Thesis (doctoral)--Université Paul Sabatier--Toulouse, 1998. / Title from Summary page ; description based on resource as of 2005-06-22. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Illinois State University, 2003. / Title from title page screen, viewed Oct. 15, 2004. Dissertation Committee: Edward R. Hines (chair), Kenneth H. Strand, Ross A. Hodel, Zeng Lin. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-99) and abstract. Also available in print.

The purpose of this study was to examine PA students’ perceptions of their professional training program in relation to stressors imparted by the hidden curriculum of the community of practice during the didactic and clinical years. The cross-sectional study design involved 50 in-person, semi-structured interviews (divided evenly between students in didactic and clinical cohorts) at one Physician Assistant training program in the New York City metropolitan region. Interviews sought to improve understanding about perceptions of stressors, particularly those imparted by the hidden curriculum, and examine mitigating factors within the community of practice. Highlights of results were that daunting stresses in the didactic year were mitigated by faculty support, camaraderie among students, and, at times, students accessing important student services such as psychological counseling. The stressors were exacerbated by disorganized teaching mainly by guest lecturers, including frequent absences, which was perceived by students that their time was not a priority. The stressors of heavy course loads dwindled during the clinical year but were replaced by others related to the hidden curriculum of the medical hierarchy, including occasional depersonalization of patients, teaching by humiliation, and favoritism shown to medical students. The community of practice for Physician Assistant students is highly stressful and psychologically precarious. The culture of PA education would do well to strongly encourage self-care and a greater balance between professional preparation of mental and physical well-being in order to encourage professionalism, improve patient care, and cultivate higher levels of job satisfaction and well-being among students.

Mini-dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Homeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, 2003. / From the world wide sales of homeopathic products for 1997, which were estimated to be $1.15 billion homeopathy is growing and becoming an important aspect of healthcare. In South Africa homeopathy is relatively new and there seems to be limited awareness of homeopathy amongst the public and healthcare authorities. A collection of basic data on treatment and prescribing patterns is urgently needed. A clinical audit, namely, practice based clinical research that allows the effectiveness of homeopathy to be evaluated under 'real-life' circumstances, is required. ABSTRACT A clinical audit includes three areas, quality assurance, treatment outcomes and economic outcomes. The study addressed the first two of these areas. Quality assurance includes documenting practitioner and practice demographics, procedures of diagnosis, care and treatment. The treatment outcomes were assessed by the practitioner and the patient. Patients also gave feedback on consumer satisfaction. The study was carried out by using the survey method and the measuring tool was a series of six questionnaires. The sample of practitioners (n = 30) was drawn from registered homeopathic practitioners of Kwazulu Natal (KZN). Data from 158 patients was collected. The study was completed in 5 stages. Stage 1, was a telephonic contact of all registered homeopaths by the researcher. In Stage 2, a face to face interview of participating practitioners was conducted by the researcher. Stage 3 was the initial consultation, where both the practitioner and patient completed questionnaires. Stage 4 consisted of a follow-up consultation where again the practitioner and patient completed post treatment questionnaires. Stage 5 was the exit questionnaire administered to drop out patients by the researcher telephonically. / M

Approved for Final Submission Master's degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban Institute of Technology, Durban, 2004. / The purpose of this study was to compare the communication patterns in the homoeopathic first consultation between qualified practitioners and student practitioners. The overall patterns were also compared to standard medical literature on patient practitioner dialogue. Patients and methods The research groups consisted of two groups of ten participants: one group of qualified registered, and practicing homoeopaths and the other of student interns at the Homoeopathic Day Clinic at the Durban Institute of Technology. Each participant conducted two consultations which were taped for research purposes. These were conducted in the setting of either their private practices or in the Homoeopathic Day Clinic. These tapes were used to generate a data set that described the relative frequencies of certain utterances according to the Rater Interaction Analysis System (RIAS). This data set was analysed statistically to give a comparison between the two groups, as well as being used to describe the patterns of communication in a homoeopathic setting in the larger context of medical interactions. IV Results Significant statistical differences were noted in the communication patterns of practitioners as opposed to student homoeopaths. / M