Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, 2011. / Recent homoeopathic graduate studies (Babaletakis, 2006 and Sweidan, 2007) indicate that the majority of qualified Homoeopaths are currently practicing yet are experiencing many difficulties along the way. These setbacks are largely related to financial stresses and the difficulties experienced with regards to maintaining a practice. However, a minority of successful homoeopaths that have managed to overcome these difficulties have been identified. AIM This study aimed to identify a minimum of nine successful homoeopaths, and, through an in-depth interview discover their views on success and how they have managed to build up viable practices. The study aimed to identify the factors contributing to the success of these Homoeopathic practices and establish relationships that may have existed between these factors. METHODOLOGY This research was conducted in a qualitative manner, following an ethnographic approach, which also guided the method of data analysis. It was thus a descriptive, case study research design. Interviewees/subjects were selected through snowball sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with each subject, in which the researcher followed an interview guideline. These interviews were recorded and analysed conceptually. All the transcribed interviews were then further organised by using the software programme NVivo 8.0. which allowed for the process of coding. iv RESULTS Common themes as related to success emerged from the data that was collected. Further analysis revealed links between certain factors that had been identified within the themes. The results reflected that honesty and the ability to listen and understand people, together with perseverance and determination, were qualities that enabled these homoeopaths to achieve success. It was evident that valuing oneself as a practitioner and thus charging accordingly, as well as minimising overheads where possible, all contributed to the viability of the practice. The use of modalities impacted on financial gain and was found to enhance patient numbers. Availability, success of healing and an interactive practitioner - patient relationship was also found to have an effect on patient base stability and size. Burnout was identified as being related to the balance in a practitioner’s lifestyle. A high self-esteem coupled with a good support structure, were factors that minimised burnout. Continued professional development was important to these practitioners as evidently one’s knowledge was seen to have an impact on confidence, patient numbers and thus overall success as a healer. CONCLUSION Success has been attributed to many factors in this study, many of which are interlinked. These findings have provided valuable insight into a successful homoeopathic career.

Thesis (MNutr (Human Nutrition))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to explore the barriers that doctors experience to referring patients to dietitians. The study sample (n = 700) included a selection of all practicing medical doctors and specialists in the Gauteng province of South Africa. Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) was a prerequisite. METHOD: This was a quantitative study using a validated questionnaire e-mailed to participating doctors in order to determine factors affecting their referral practices. The first part of the questionnaire consisted of demographic and general information about the respondent and the second and third parts consisted of a series of closed-ended questions that related to specific issues of nutrition information and dietitian referral practices respectively. The questionnaire comprised a total of 21 questions. Subjects were sent the questionnaire by e-mail and given four weeks to respond. Three reminder e-mails were sent to encourage participation. Statistical analysis methods included: Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson Chi-square, likelihood ratios, linear-by-linear associations, as well as Goodman and Kruskal tau tests. RESULTS: Of the questionnaires sent out, 134 (19%) out of 700 were finally useable. Doctors who had a nutrition component in their training referred patients to dietitians more often than those who did not and older doctors referred to a dietitian less often (Chi-square tests, p < 0.05). A correlation was observed between the duration of medical practice and frequency of referral (p = 0.03) while gender had no influence on referral practice. A correlation (p < 0.001) was also found between frequency of referral and university of study with symmetric measures. Hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus and obesity were identified as the conditions doctors would most likely refer to a dietitian. For 45% of the doctors insufficient time during consultation was the strongest barrier to providing nutrition councelling to their patients. The barrier identified most commonly was that doctors were unaware of dietitians in the vicinity of their practices (49%). Sixty four percent of doctors believed that better marketing by dietitians would increase their referrals, and 21.4% believed that the title ‘nutritionist’ or ‘nutrition specialist’ would be more suitable for the profession of dietetics. CONCLUSION: The findings of the study indicate that a number of factors contribute to the barriers that doctors experience to referring patients to dietitians. Although the study was limited by a small sample, it nevertheless draws attention to the responsibility of both dietitians and doctors to work together toward providing patients with a more efficient team approach treatment and care system. More qualitative studies are needed to explore the identified barriers further, especially within the South African context, as well as to establish appropriate recommendations to overcome the barriers to referral.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Aim of the study The study aimed to identify the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions amongst post graduate homoeopathy students and post basic primary health care nurses serving in a primary health care setting regarding adverse effects associated with childhood vaccinations. Methodology In this qualitative study 18 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant. The interviews were recorded and analysed conceptually. Results The findings of this study revealed that all of the PHC nursing participants were in favour of the childhood immunisation schedule of South Africa, contrary to the homoeopathic participants where the majority of participants were not in favour of the childhood immunisation schedule. Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions varied amongst the homoeopathic participants in contrast to the PHC nursing participants where there was a much more unified stance and cohesive outcome with regard to their attitudes and perceptions. / M

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Homoeopathy, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / Aim of the study The study aimed to identify the knowledge, attitudes and perceptions amongst post graduate homoeopathy students and post basic primary health care nurses serving in a primary health care setting regarding adverse effects associated with childhood vaccinations. Methodology In this qualitative study 18 participants were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant. The interviews were recorded and analysed conceptually. Results The findings of this study revealed that all of the PHC nursing participants were in favour of the childhood immunisation schedule of South Africa, contrary to the homoeopathic participants where the majority of participants were not in favour of the childhood immunisation schedule. Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions varied amongst the homoeopathic participants in contrast to the PHC nursing participants where there was a much more unified stance and cohesive outcome with regard to their attitudes and perceptions. / M

This study aimed at describing and interpreting the changing symbolic meanings of the Acquired Immunodefiency Syndrome (AIDS) which encountering a Human Immunodefiency Virus (HIV)-positive patient introduced into the personal and professional identities of six health care professionals in a subregion of the Eastern Cape. With the exponential increase of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, medical practitioners have become increasingly exposed to HIV infected patients. This study has considered the psychological structures developed by practitioners in an attempt to control and understand their situation in the context of HIV/AIDS. In order to describe these psychological structures the existential phenomenological approaches of L. Binswanger (in Needleman, 1963), A. Giorgi (1975) and F.J.Wertz (1985) were employed. Through these procedures, the structure of the experience of encountering an HIV infected patient was elucidated. This comprised the first goal of this study. The second goal focused on interpreting these descriptions by way of the symbolic meanings and definitions implicit in the structure of this experience. For this latter purpose the approach of symbo1ic interactionism was used, in particu1ar the understandings outlined by H. Blumer (1969). This theory was seen as appropriate in that the encounter between the practitioner and patient was primarily located in interpersonal parameters. The findings were discussed in terms of the two dominant metaphorical frameworks used by the subjects to comprehend the disease - namely the perspectives of society and the biomedical model. These two frameworks were critically evaluated in the context of HIV/AIDS, the needs of HIV infected individuals as well as the needs of the general practitioner. The process of the encounter was found to be very significant for practitioners in terms of their conceptualisations of HIV/AIDS. Old understandings were reinterpreted within the interpersonal context and replaced with more appropriate symbolic metaphors upon which to base practise. This study has revealed these new understandings were limited and constrained with regard to understanding and treating HIV/AIDS in that the subjects were still influenced by the metaphors of the biomedical model. These constraints were examined in the light of both personal and professional meanings and identities. This study concluded by making suggestions for modification of the medical practitioner's role in the context of HIV/AIDS.