The research was directed at assessing the strengths and weaknesses in the application-to-approval process of social grants up to the payment of social grants at pay-points in the South African Social Security Agency (hereafter SASSA). The general aim of the research project was to assess the application-to-approval process of grant administration in SASSA up to the payment of social grants at pay-points. The specific objectives of the study were therefore: * To describe the current application-to-approval process of grant administration; * To assess the strengths and weaknesses in the grant administration process of specified administrative procedures and structural issues as perceived by attesting officials (front-line staff responsible for taking down the grant applications), data-capturer officials (staff responsible for capturing the information on the application form onto the SOCPEN system, pay-point team members (staff responsible for rendering services at pay-points) and beneficiaries at pay-points; and * To provide a report on the strengths and weaknesses of the grant administration process from application to pay-out to the top management of SASSA. The study was conducted in two regions, namely the Northern Cape and the Western Cape. Various offices in the Northern Cape and the Western Cape were therefore part of the research. The grant administration process from application-to-approval includes various stages. The staff members include the screening official (step one) who checks the completeness of the required documentation, followed by attesting official (step two) who takes down the application and captures it on SOCPEN and then forwards it to the next level, namely quality control (step three). Thereafter a verifying official verifies the information captured on SOCPEN against documentation submitted and approves or rejects the application on SOCPEN (step four). Staff at pay-points (where beneficiaries receive their payments) and beneficiaries at pay-points were also part of the research focus. Four different data-collection instruments were therefore used during the research project. The first data-collection instrument was designed to collect data on the actual grant application process and problems and strengths in this regard (questionnaire front-line staff). The empirical investigation revealed the following with regard to the front-line staff: * The majority of front-line staff have considerable working experience (more than five years) in SASSA; * The majority of front-line staff have inadequate work space; * Training, supervision and mentoring support from supervisors and colleagues occurs haphazardly; * The majority of front-line staff receive between 11-29 applications per day and spent 30 minutes or less to take down an application; * Policy documents that regulate the implementation of new policy changes are not always available; * Grant application files get misplaced or lost after processing; * Staff carelessness is one of the main reasons why files get lost or misplaced and * Front-line staff experience technical difficulties with the computer on a regular basis and it takes one to three days to resolve technical difficulties. The second data-collection instrument was developed to collect data on the capturing of the application (questionnaire data-capturer) onto the SOCPEN system. The empirical investigation revealed the following with regard to data-capturers: * The majority of data-capturers have solid work experience as data-capturers in SASSA although some data-capturers have inadequate work space; * Training on the implementation of new policy changes occurs irregularly; * Supervision, mentoring and support from supervisors happen haphazardly; * Data-capturers receive between 20 and 29 applications per day and they capture all applications successfully; * Data-capturers receive support from colleagues on a more regular basis than from supervisors; * Documents or guidelines that regulate the implementation of policy changes are not always available in the work place; * Applications sometimes get misplaced or lost after capturing; * No proper mechanisms are in place to record the movement of files, staff carelessness and either lack of office space or filing space, are the main reasons why applications get lost or misplaced; * Data-capturers sometimes experience technical problems with computers and it takes one to less than five days to resolve technical difficulties; * Data-capturers receive sometimes incomplete applications from the attesting officials (those staff officials who are responsible for taking down the application) and they usually take such applications back to the first attesting officer; * Backlogs in the capturing and approving of normal applications exist and staff shortages and system-related problems are the main reasons why backlogs exist; * Backlogs exist with regard to the capturing and approving of review cases and * Staff shortages, a centralized review management approach, lack of office space and lack of connectivity points constitute the main reasons why review backlogs exist. The third data-collection instrument (questionnaire pay-point team member) was developed to measure services at pay-points and to determine the problems experienced at pay-points. The empirical investigation revealed the following with regard to this category as seen by pay-point team members: * Some pay-points are not disabled-friendly; * There are not always enough chairs, toilet facilities or drinking water available at pay-points; * Payment contractors and SASSA staff sometimes arrive late at pay-points; * Payments are usually delayed between 15 minutes to less than an hour, but beneficiaries are not always informed about delays; * There are sometimes broken machines at pay-points and this causes 15 to 45 minutes delay in payments; * There is not always enough money at pay-points and it takes an hour to just under two hours to get more money; * Grant recipients hardly ever receive wrong grant amounts; * Hawkers and vendors operate mainly outside the pay-point; * Security guards are available at pay-points and there is access control at pay-points (mainly driven by security guards from the payment contractor) * Not all pay-points are fenced all round and * First Aid kits are available at pay-points most of the time. The fourth data-collection instrument (questionnaire for beneficiaries) was developed to target the beneficiaries who receive grant payments at pay-points. The empirical investigation revealed the following: * Some pay-points are not disabled-friendly; * There are not always enough chairs, toilet facilities or drinking water available at pay-points; * Payment contractors and SASSA staff sometimes arrive late at pay-points; * Payments are usually delayed between 15 minutes to less than an hour, but beneficiaries are not always informed about delays; * There are sometimes broken machines at pay-points and this causes 15 to 45 minutes‟ delay in payments; * There is not always enough money at pay-points and it takes an hour to less than two hours to get more money; * Grant recipients rarely receive wrong grant amounts; * Hawkers and vendors operate mainly outside the pay-point, but there are exceptional cases where they operate inside the pay-points; * Beneficiaries do feel safe at pay-points most of the time; * Beneficiaries mostly live within walking distance from the pay-point; * Beneficiaries hardly experience problems at pay-points and if they do, their problems get resolved; * Not all pay-points provide shelter from the elements; * Beneficiaries are satisfied with the services SASSA renders and the grant has improved their quality of life. Grant administration processes in SASSA are labour-intensive and officials play a vital role in the correct administration of social grants. The study has revealed that although there is clearly some strength in the grant administration process from application-to-approval up the payment of social grants at pay-points, it is unfortunately true that the weaknesses are overwhelming. / Thesis (PhD (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:33:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 297800 bytes, checksum: b0b8648cfc1884058d38c6cbd69af33a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-06-30 / In this research a process evaluation is introduced as a strategy of investigation to evaluate the Health Town Councillor of Ponte Nova-MG. This strategy is linked to the theoretical statements of the evaluation research. It was contextualized the policies applied to the public health field from the 1970s through two complementary axis: the Federal Constitution of 1988 and the Health Organic Laws, 8.080 and 8.142 from 1990, which create and regulate the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). In order to obtain the necessary information to the analysis, it is important to identify the indicators which explain the several forms of participation of the members of all categories in the councillor: government, health workers, professionals and users. With this proposal, the minutes of the meetings of the councillor were analysed from July 2003 to June 2005. Among the results obtained in the research, we can point out the forms of participation of the members of the councillor, identified through indicators like clearances, proposals, suggestions, measures, questions, presentation of results, notices, complaints, deliberations, indictments and comments. Each of these indicators were analysed in relation to the categories represented in the councillor: government, health workers, professionals and users. This analysis revealed the forms of participation of the counselors in the meeetings, that is, the way each category acts in this democractic institution / Nesta pesquisa é introduzida a avaliação de processo como estratégia de investigação para avaliar o Conselho Municipal de Saúde de Ponte Nova MG. Essa estratégia está vinculada aos pressupostos teóricos da pesquisa de avaliação. Para isso, contextualizaram-se as políticas aplicadas ao campo da saúde pública a partir da década de 1970, por meio de dois eixos complementares: a Constituição Federal de 1988 e as Leis Orgânicas da Saúde 8.080 e 8.142 de 1990, que criam e regulamentam o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Para obter as informações necessárias à análise, tornou-se importante a identificação de indicadores que explicitassem as várias formas de participação dos membros de todas as categorias no Conselho, sendo elas governo, trabalhadores da saúde, prestadores de serviços e usuários. Com esse objetivo, foram analisadas as atas das reuniões do Conselho, no período que compreende julho de 2003 a junho de 2005. Dentre os resultados obtidos nesta pesquisa, destacam-se as formas de participação dos membros do Conselho, identificadas a partir de indicadores como: esclarecimentos, propostas, sugestões, medidas, indagações, apresentação de resultados, avisos, reclamações, deliberações, denúncias e comentários. Cada um desses indicadores foi analisado com relação às categorias representadas no Conselho: governo, trabalhadores na saúde, prestadores de serviços e usuários. Essa análise revelou as formas de participação dos conselheiros nas reuniões, ou seja, a maneira com que cada categoria atua nesse espaço democrático

Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-04T19:14:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-04-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Objetivo: Avaliar o processo de implantação do Programa de Prevenção ao Uso de Drogas Unplugged em escolas do ensino fundamental II (6º ao 9º ano) de Florianópolis (SC), São Paulo e São Bernardo do Campo (SP); analisar a fidelidade de implantação do Programa Unplugged de acordo com o registro de professores aplicadores do programa; avaliar a aceitabilidade do Programa Unplugged a partir da ótica dos envolvidos no processo; analisar a percepção de professores, alunos e gestores escolares sobre a implantação do Programa Unplugged para compreensão das dificuldades, facilidades e potencialidades do programa. Métodos: Através de métodos mistos de pesquisa fez-se um estudo de avaliação de processo de implantação do Programa Unplugged de prevenção ao uso de drogas. O programa foi aplicado em 8 escolas públicas de 3 cidades brasileiras e participaram 62 turmas, 36 professores e 1833 estudantes do 6º a 9º ano, no ano de 2013. Na fase quantitativa, os professores preencheram os formulários de fidelidade (aula a aula) e os alunos e professores responderam aos questionários de satisfação global após aplicação do programa em sala de aula. Os dados qualitativos foram coletados através dos grupos focais com roteiro semiestruturado, categorizados em 5 eixos: Experiência anterior com prevenção; Articulações; Implantação; Resultados imediatos e Futuro do Projeto, considerando-se os aspectos de fidelidade, aceitabilidade e viabilidade do programa. Os grupos focais foram realizados ao final do processo de implantação. Foram realizados 14 grupos focais com 100 sujeitos entre professores, gestores políticos, gestores escolares, multiplicadoras e estudantes. Resultados: O programa foi implantado em proporções adequadas nas escolas, tendo sido completado -12 aulas dadas- em 94% das turmas. Os professores avaliaram seu enriquecimento das habilidades de ensino com a aplicação do Unplugged. Identificou-se uma boa interação e relação entre estudantes e professores. A maior parte das dificuldades encontradas no processo de implantação do programa foi descrita pelos professores. Houve grande destaque para a falta de tempo para se dedicar ao programa, desde a preparação das aulas, como a aplicação das mesmas. Os professores e gestores apontaram a importância de incluir o programa no projeto-político pedagógico na escola. A maioria (77,9%) dos estudantes ficou satisfeita ou muito satisfeita com o programa e sugeriu continuidade (76,5%) no ano letivo seguinte. A formação dos professores para trabalhar com a metodologia em sala de aula e a interlocução entre as multiplicadoras, gestão local e a escola apareceu como um aspecto importante implantação do Programa. Conclusões: O Unplugged é um programa viável para expansão de implantação nas escolas brasileiras de acordo com os resultados. No entanto, para garantir continuidade no currículo escolar sem comprometer o conteúdo acadêmico, serão necessárias alterações de logísticas e de processo de trabalho no ambiente escolar. O resultado da pesquisa contribuiu para identificar aspectos operacionais críticos, bem como as potencialidades, dificuldades e facilidades para a sustentação do na prevenção ao uso de drogas como uma política pública. / Objective: To evaluate the implementation process of the Prevention Program Unplugged in middle schools (6th to 9th grade) of Florianópolis (SC), São Paulo and São Bernardo do Campo (SP); to analyze the implementation fidelity of program Unplugged according to teachers that delivered the program; to assess the acceptability of the Unplugged program from the perspective of those involved in the process; to analyze the perception of teachers, students and school administrators about the implantation of the Unplugged program to understand the difficulties, facilities and capabilities of the program. Methods: Mixed methods were used in this process evaluation study. The program was implemented in 8 public schools in three Brazilian cities and delivered in 62 classes by 36 teachers to 1833 students from 6th to 9th grade, in 2013. In the quantitative phase, teachers filled out the fidelity check list (class by class) and students and teachers answered to the global satisfaction questionnaires after classroom program implementation. Qualitative data were collected through focus groups with semi-structured guide, categorized into five areas: Previous experience with prevention; joints; Implantation; Immediate results and future of the project, considering the aspects of fidelity, acceptability and feasibility of the program. The focus groups were conducted at the end of the implantation process. 14 focus groups were conducted with 100 subjects among teachers, stakeholders, school managers, coaches and students. Results: The program was delivered in appropriate proportions in schools and have been completed -12 lessons - in 94% of classes. Teachers realize an enrichment of their teaching skills with the application of Unplugged. We identified a good interaction and relationship between students and teachers. Teachers described most of the difficulties encountered in the process of program implantation. There was great emphasis on the lack of time to devote to the program, from the preparation of lessons to the application of them. Teachers and managers pointed out the importance of including the program in political-pedagogical project of the school. Most of students (77.9%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the program and suggested continuity (76.5%) in the next school year. The training of teachers to work with the methodology in the classroom and the dialogue between the coaches, stakeholders and the school staff appeared as an important aspect of the program implantation. Conclusions: According to the results, Unplugged is a program feasible to be implanted and expanded in Brazilian schools. However, to ensure continuity without compromising the academic curriculum content it will require logistical and process changes in the school environment. The study results helped to identify critical operational aspects, as well as the opportunities, difficulties and facilities to support the prevention of drug use as a public policy. / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

The subject of this diploma thesis is an analysis of the system of recruiting and selecting employees in a selected organization. In the theoretical part there is a defined of the personnel activities, the methods of recruitment and selection of employees. Also, the methods, which are used for the evaluation of the whole process. The practical part characterizes the selected company, its history and its organizational structure. This part also describes currently used methods of recruiting and selecting workers. The Conclusion contains proposals for changes that could lead to an improvement and acceleration of the whole process.

Submitted by Irene Nascimento (irene.kessia@ufpe.br) on 2016-08-22T18:54:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DissertacaoCD_LuizFelipeLiborio.pdf: 3777707 bytes, checksum: a7937e9fc359d5b560c37ea3abf5e74c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-22T18:54:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) DissertacaoCD_LuizFelipeLiborio.pdf: 3777707 bytes, checksum: a7937e9fc359d5b560c37ea3abf5e74c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-27 / Capes / Atualmente, é cada vez mais exigido como critério competitivo a aderência do processo de software de uma organização a um modelo ou norma de qualidade. Alcançar altos níveis de aderência é uma tarefa complexa para as organizações, pois a atividade de avaliar essa aderência exige cuidado ao ser realizada. Com isso, busca-se cada vez mais o apoio de ferramentas de avaliação computadorizadas, cujo objetivo é agilizar e tornar mais confiável o processo de avaliação dos processos de software. Ainda assim, um dos fatores que tendem a dificultar a utilização e propagação do uso de ferramentas é a atualização das normas de qualidade e dos métodos de avaliação associados, que visam se adequar constantemente às boas práticas do mercado. Ora, se uma ferramenta é criada baseada na norma de qualidade e no seu método de avaliação, qualquer mudança em algum dos dois componentes significa mudanças na ferramenta, gerando custos de manutenção e de distribuição da nova versão da ferramenta. Este trabalho busca criar uma engine de geração que seja sensível a esses mudanças, sem que seu processo de desenvolvimento necessite ser executado novamente. Para isto, utiliza o processo MDD (Model-Driven Development) para atender a esses requisitos, dado que o seu objetivo é transformar elementos mais abstratos em elementos mais concretos utilizando uma sucessão de transformações, através de modelos. O objetivo deste trabalho é, então, aplicar as regras de MDD aos modelos de qualidade e métodos de avaliação. Isto torna possível a criação de ferramentas para avaliação baseada nos modelos necessários à avaliação. Ou seja, através de um modelo de processo e de um metamodelo da norma de qualidade, além do método de avaliação, é possível criar de forma automática via MDD uma ferramenta que possa ser atualizada sob demanda, sem que seu código-fonte precise ser alterado manualmente. / Nowadays, it is increasingly required as a competitive criteria the adherence of an organization to a software model or quality standard process. Achieving high levels of adherence is a complex task for organizations, because the activity of evaluating this adherence requires care to be performed. Thus, it is increasing the nedd of computerized evaluation tools whose goal is to speed up and make more reliable the process of evaluating software processes.Still, one of the factors that tend to hamper the use and propagation of tool use is the change of the quality standards and assessment methods, which aim to adapt constantly to best practices in the market. So, if a tool is created based on quality standard and its evaluation method, any change in any of the two components mean changes in the tool, generating costs of maintaining and distributing the new version of the tool. This work seeks to develop a tool that is sensitive to that changes, but without the need of performing its development process again. For that, it uses MDD (Model- Driven Development) processes meet these requirements, since their goal is to transform more abstract elements into more concrete elements using a succession of transformations, through models. So, the goal of this work is to apply the rules of MDD to quality models and assessment methods. It makes possible to create tools based on models. In other words, through a process model and a metamodel quality standard, besides the evaluation method, it is possible to create automatically via MDD a tool that can be updated on demand, without its source code need to be changed manually.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-18T18:55:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Hayleno Santos Hossoe.pdf: 1576603 bytes, checksum: 60c6a3883010aca17d23a469e91a34bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-22 / This research has as main objective to evaluate the reception and the adequacy of the advertising of the Campanha Nacional de Vacinação do Idoso Contra a Gripe of the district of São Luís do Maranhão in the year of 2006, considering its goals and its proposal of communication. Therefore, an ex-post evaluation of the implementation of the program of vaccination, classified as process of evaluation, was carried through aiming to relating the adequacy of the advertising campaign to the objectives and goals of this program, using an exploratory and qualitative approach. Documentary research, direct observation and focal group were used as techniques for data collection. Six participants of third age focal groups were carried through after the propagation of the 2006 campaign, in order to apprehend the generated effect of the communicative process in its target public. The accomplishment of each focal group was segmented in two stages. The first one was guided by a halfstructuralized script in order to motivate the quarrel of the participants on the campaign without showing its parts. The second stage was based on the exposition of the advertising parts of the campaign in order to stimulate the memory of the participants and to make possible the apprehension of the reception of the message without the interference of any imperfection in the distribution of the communication. The data collected through direct observation and the focal group participants` comments made possible the constitution of a research corpus on which an Analysis of Content was carried through by techniques of Thematic Analysis, with the purpose to compose an index which makes possible to extract, to classify and to regroup the speech of the subjects, in order to allow the identification of the elements that constituted the reception of the advertising campaign from the point of view of the integrants of its target public. Through the Thematic Analysis and the evaluation of the implementation process, it was possible to conclude that imperfections occurred in the process of distribution of parts of the advertising campaign, but they did not harm the positive results and reached number of vaccine covering in the year of 2006. / Esta pesquisa tem como principal objetivo avaliar a recepção e a adequação da publicidade da Campanha Nacional de Vacinação do Idoso Contra a Gripe do ano de 2006, no município de São Luís do Maranhão, frente a suas metas e a sua proposta de comunicação. Dessa forma, foi realizada uma avaliação ex post, classificada como avaliação de processo, no que se refere à implementação do programa, com o propósito de relacionar a adequação da campanha publicitária aos objetivos e metas do programa, utilizando uma abordagem exploratória e qualitativa. Como técnicas para coleta de dados foram utilizadas a pesquisa documental, a observação direta e o grupo focal. Foram realizados seis grupos focais com integrantes de grupos da terceira idade, após a veiculação da campanha de 2006, a fim de apreender os efeitos do processo comunicativo gerados em seu público-alvo. A realização de cada grupo focal foi segmentada em duas etapas, sendo a primeira orientada por um roteiro semiestruturado, de modo a motivar a discussão dos participantes sobre a campanha sem que fossem exibidas peças da mesma. A segunda etapa foi baseada na exposição das peças publicitárias da campanha como forma de estimular a lembrança dos participantes e possibilitar a apreensão da recepção da mensagem sem a interferência de possíveis falhas na distribuição da comunicação. Os dados coletados através da observação direta e do grupo focal possibilitaram a constituição de um corpus de pesquisa sobre o qual foi realizada uma Análise de Conteúdo, através das técnicas de Análise Temática, com a finalidade de compor um índex como forma de extrair, classificar e reagrupar as falas dos sujeitos, de modo a permitir a identificação dos elementos que constituíram a recepção da campanha publicitária do ponto de vista de integrantes de seu público-alvo. Através da Análise Temática e da avaliação do processo de implementação, foi possível concluir que ocorreram falhas no processo de distribuição das peças publicitárias da campanha, mas que não chegaram a prejudicar os bons resultados e índices de cobertura vacinal alcançados no ano de 2006.

Les habiletés motrices des jeunes sont en déclin depuis plusieurs années au Canada. Plusieurs interventions ou programmes ont ainsi été développés, et ce, en vue d’améliorer la pratique d’activités physiques (AP) à long terme chez les enfants. Quelques études ont réalisé une évaluation des effets de ces programmes mais peu d'entre elles ont procédé à une évaluation de leur processus d'implantation. Or, l'évaluation de processus est importante pour comprendre les freins ou facteurs facilitants qui peuvent moduler les résultats. Cet aspect est d'autant plus important quand une intervention est déployée dans plusieurs milieux à la fois. Notre étude vise à évaluer le programme Bleu Blanc Bouge en Action (BBBEA) de la Fondation des Canadiens pour l’Enfance afin de rendre compte des facteurs qui ont pu faciliter ou nuire à son implantation. Trois composantes du processus d'implantation ont été évaluées : le « Reach », la « dose delivered » et la « dose received ». Les données ont été collectées au moyen d'une grille d’observation créée à partir de la grille SOFIT (McKenzie, Sallis et coll. 1991) ainsi qu'au moyen d'un questionnaire auprès des parents des jeunes (n=238) des six écoles participantes. Quatre des six séances de BBBEA ont fait l'objet d'observations auprès d'un échantillon de deux des six milieux ciblés par le programme. Les observations ont porté à la fois sur les interventions des animateurs et sur les activités d'un sous-échantillon de jeunes (Montréal-Nord : n = 35 et Verdun : n = 38). Nos résultats indiquent que la clientèle ciblée par BBBEA (des jeunes ne sachant pas patiner) compose près de 75 % des participants du programme. La part relative du temps d’engagement moteur est significativement plus élevée (50,5 % contre 41,0 %) dans le milieu comportant davantage de jeunes sachant patiner, ce qui suggère un effet d’entraînement du groupe sur les apprenants. Un constat positif du programme est que le temps d’engagement moteur dans les deux milieux étudiés est semblable ou supérieur à celui de programmes de promotion de l’activité physique comparables à BBBEA. Lors de jeux et d’activités libres, l’engagement moteur des jeunes est significativement plus faible dans le milieu où l’effet d’entraînement du groupe est moins manifeste. Ceci suggère que des activités plus structurées (éducatifs lors de la pratique d'une habileté motrice) seraient favorables à l’engagement moteur des jeunes lorsque ceux-ci semblent peu engagés ou autodidactes. / Canadian youth’s motor skills have been declining over the last few years. Many interventions or programs have been developed to enhance children’s long term physical activity practice. Some studies evaluated the effects of those interventions, but only a small number carried on a process evaluation of the implementation. A process evaluation is important to get a better understanding of barriers and facilitators of the intervention. These components of evaluation are some of the most important criteria to explain the divergent results of an intervention deployed in various environments. Our research was an evaluation of the Bleu Blanc Bouge en Action (BBBEA) program of the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation aiming to reflect elements impairing or enabling its implementation. Three components of the implementation process have been evaluated: the Reach, the dose delivered and the dose received. Data was collected with an observational form adapted from the System for observing fitness instruction time (SOFIT) (McKenzie, Sallis et al. 1991) and with questionnaire distributed to the parents of the youth of the six targeted participant schools. A sub-sample of 35 children from Montréal Nord and 38 from Verdun were observed during 4 of the 6 skating lessons. Results show that targeted participants (children that do not know how to skate) compose almost 75 % of the program’s attendees. Physical engagement proportion was significantly higher (50.5 % vs 41.0 %) in the environment composed of a higher number of children knowing how to skate, suggesting a ripple effect on the learners. As a positive outcome, MVPA (moderate to vigorous physical activity) proportion in both neighborhoods was equal or higher than other programs comparable to BBBEA. During “game” or “free play” contexts, children’s physical activity levels were significantly lower in the context where the ripple effect was the weakest. This suggests that structured activities (drills during motor skills practice) favor youth’s physical engagement when they are disengaged or less autodidact.

Magister Public Health - MPH / In this study a process evaluation of the action planning process of the HealthKick programme in disadvantaged primary school settings in the Western Cape was conducted. A qualitative methodology was adopted to best determine the experiences of the participants and the underlying factors involved. Four schools were randomly selected to participate. Four focus group discussions were conducted with educators, and four in-depth interviews were conducted with principals and champions at schools, (champions are either an educator or school governing body member selected to be the driver of the project at each school, as well as the liaison person between the school and the HealthKick project team). Semi-structured interview guides were used to steer the discussions. Interviews and focus groups were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. The data was thematically analysed with the assistance of Atlas ti computer software. The results of this study indicated that the action planning process did not take place as designed by the project team. Several challenges were identified and experienced by participants. The results further indicated that the challenges of time, workload and competing priorities were intrinsically linked. Positive experiences were also reported and various enablers to the process were identified, such as the facilitation process, the receipt of the resource toolkit as well as the complementary nature of the HealthKick curriculum to the normal academic curriculum. / South Africa

Magister Public Health - MPH / The aim of this study was to conduct an evaluation of the campaign implementation between 2009 and 2012, taking account of its implementation plan. This qualitative evaluation study employed a descriptive study design focusing on whether the programme components were being implemented as planned and whether any issues that have arisen, require attention. Key Informant Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 12 respondents drawn from the study population of people who were directly involved with the campaign, and a documents review was also conducted.

The aim of the thesis is to design and implement a simulator of image reconstruction during x-ray computed tomography fluoroscopy. Apart from quantitative evaluation of particular imaging process parameters influence, the intended program application will lie in optimization of these parameter values. Introductory part is focused on brief theoretical description of x-ray computed tomography imaging process. Emphasis is placed on fluoroscopy-specific approaches, particularly the division of scanned projections into chosen amount of sectors as well as fluoroscopic imaging process evaluation methods. The subsequent part deals with program implementation and its limitations and sketches the possible working framework. Moreover, one of the chapters is devoted to optimization of imaging process parameters measurement. The final part aims at impact analysis of particular process parameters as well as fluoroscopic imaging process optimization approaches. The thesis consists also of a didactic simulator enabling real-time intervention simulation with manual instrument manipulation. Since both simulators are intended for teaching purposes, the thesis is supplemented with a laboratory exercise draft.