From day's ceremonial, the nursing profession, was held in high esteem and was the most cherished health career amongst the black community. The profession popularised by Florence Nightingale, alias, "The lady with the lamp," highly emphasised absolute virtues, such as selflessness, dedication and hard work, to mention just a few. Some individuals like the late Sister Lekgetha and Cecilia Makiwana later became epitome of the health profession and were marvelled by the community at large. The paradigm has shifted somewhat, unfortunately, with today's nurses capable of leaving their death-bed-ridden patients in hospital wards, to take to the streets in demand of salary increases. Their hostile attitudes are perceived in community circles as irresponsible and uncaring, culminating in poor health service deliveries at health centres. Nurses, on the other hand, cite a number of issues that have rendered the health profession a disaster, in which it find itself. These range from the working conditions to the job description as rolled out by the supervisor and the Department. It is for this reason that a study at the Mafikeng Provincial Hospital was prompted, to try and reach the bottom of the truth. / M. Admin (HRM) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

<p>Much evidence exists that nurses are leaving the public health sector for the private sector, or leaving the country to seek better working conditions and higher salaries. Studies conducted on the job satisfaction of nurses are proof that there is a need to know more about the factors that influence their sense of job satisfaction. Most of these studies focus on the general nursing context. Due to its unique circumstances, many studies abroad have identified the field of psychiatric mental health nursing to investigate job satisfaction of nurses. The minithesis is an attempt to fill the gap that exists in job satisfaction studies in South Africa of nurses in a provincial psychiatric hospital. The study was a cross sectional, correlational, survey design study. The instrument was a self-administered questionnaire, combining a quantitative questionnaire with one qualitative open-ended question. The study was conducted on nurses of all categories in a provincial psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape. Sixty- eight nurses participated in the study. The data was analyzed statistically using the SAS v9 statistical software and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The open-ended question was analyzed qualitatively. The results revealed that the participating nurses were dissatisfied with remuneration, recognition and appreciation, training and development, as well as benefits and incentives. Nurses were most satisfied with supervision and support, interpersonal relationships, and rendering patient care. The study identified the factors influencing job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction of nurses in a provincial psychiatric hospital. Recommendations were made based on the results of the research.</p>

<p>Much evidence exists that nurses are leaving the public health sector for the private sector, or leaving the country to seek better working conditions and higher salaries. Studies conducted on the job satisfaction of nurses are proof that there is a need to know more about the factors that influence their sense of job satisfaction. Most of these studies focus on the general nursing context. Due to its unique circumstances, many studies abroad have identified the field of psychiatric mental health nursing to investigate job satisfaction of nurses. The minithesis is an attempt to fill the gap that exists in job satisfaction studies in South Africa of nurses in a provincial psychiatric hospital. The study was a cross sectional, correlational, survey design study. The instrument was a self-administered questionnaire, combining a quantitative questionnaire with one qualitative open-ended question. The study was conducted on nurses of all categories in a provincial psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape. Sixty- eight nurses participated in the study. The data was analyzed statistically using the SAS v9 statistical software and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The open-ended question was analyzed qualitatively. The results revealed that the participating nurses were dissatisfied with remuneration, recognition and appreciation, training and development, as well as benefits and incentives. Nurses were most satisfied with supervision and support, interpersonal relationships, and rendering patient care. The study identified the factors influencing job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction of nurses in a provincial psychiatric hospital. Recommendations were made based on the results of the research.</p>

Magister Curationis - MCur / Much evidence exists that nurses are leaving the public health sector for the private sector, or leaving the country to seek better working conditions and higher salaries. Studies conducted on the job satisfaction of nurses are proof that there is a need to know more about the factors that influence their sense of job satisfaction. Most of these studies focus on the general nursing context. Due to its unique circumstances, many studies abroad have identified the field of psychiatric mental health nursing to investigate job satisfaction of nurses. The minithesis is an attempt to fill the gap that exists in job satisfaction studies in South Africa of nurses in a provincial psychiatric hospital. The study was a cross sectional, correlational, survey design study. The instrument was a self-administered questionnaire, combining a quantitative questionnaire with one qualitative open-ended question. The study was conducted on nurses of all categories in a provincial psychiatric hospital in the Western Cape. Sixty- eight nurses participated in the study. The data was analyzed statistically using the SAS v9 statistical software and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The open-ended question was analyzed qualitatively. The results revealed that the participating nurses were dissatisfied with remuneration, recognition and appreciation, training and development, as well as benefits and incentives. Nurses were most satisfied with supervision and support, interpersonal relationships, and rendering patient care. The study identified the factors influencing job satisfaction and job dissatisfaction of nurses in a provincial psychiatric hospital. Recommendations were made based on the results of the research. / South Africa

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio) / Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The Uitenhage Provincial Hospital admits many stroke patients. To date, no in-depth study has been conducted on stroke patients admitted to the Hospital. This study identified the profile of stroke patients admitted to the Uitenhage Provincial Hospital and explored the challenges that these patients experienced post stroke. A concurrent mixed model design was used to collect the data. Firstly retrospective data was obtained by means of a quantitative data gathering instrument designed by the researcher. The information obtained, included data relating to demographic characteristics, reported risk factors relating to stroke, stroke onset-admission interval and length of hospital stay, as well as information relating to the process of physiotherapy. Secondly quantitative prospective information was collected by means of the Barthel Index, the Modified Rankin Scale and the Facilitators And Barriers Survey. The sample for the quantitative phase was drawn from medical records of 168 stroke patients admitted to the Uitenhage Provincial Hospital from the 1 of January 2008 up to and including the 31 of December 2009. For the second prospective quantitative part of the study, participants were selected conveniently from the admitted patients. In the qualitative phase, nine participants taken of the sampled participants were selected. The Microsoft Excel 2007 Package and the SPSS 18 for social sciences were used to analyse the quantitative data. Means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages were calculated for descriptive purposes and the Chi-square test was used to test for associations between variables. Qualitative analysis began with the transcription of voice recordings and the translation of relevant Afrikaans transcription into English. Emerging categories were identified within the pre-determined themes. Permission and ethical clearance was obtained from the Higher Degrees Committee and the Senate Research and Grants and Study Leave Committee of the University of the Western Cape and permission to conduct this study was also obtained from the Medical Superintendent of the Uitenhage Provincial Hospital. Altogether 461 patients had been admitted with stroke during the relevant period, but only 168 could be included in the retrospective quantitative study. The mean age of the participants was 61,54 years; 59% were females and 41% males. The majority of the participants (86,9%) were admitted on the same day of stroke onset, and the mean length of hospital stay was 7,38 days. Hypertension was the most common reported risk factor, at 79%. Only 165 of the participants received physiotherapy while hospitalised, with the mean total physiotherapy sessions being 2,56 sessions. In 90% of the cases, physiotherapy sessions were discontinued due to the patient being discharged from the Hospital. The mean Barthel Index score was 81,46 and the family care domain of the Modified Rankin Scale was the most affected. Participants experienced participation restrictions and activity limitations due to stairs, gravel surfaces and kerb cuts. During the qualitative interviews participants reported activity limitations related to walking and activities of daily living. The participants also experienced participation restrictions, which included dependency on others, decreased social support and an array of emotions experienced post stroke. The current study’s findings suggest that the discharge of patients from the hospital post stroke should follow a mulitidisciplinary approach. Rehabilitation professionals should play an active role in the discharge process in providing patient and caregiver education.

The purpose of the study was to describe the determinants and practice of HIV self-testing among health care workers (HCWs) in Nyeri provincial hospital, Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the rate of HIV self-testing, explore the factors influencing the practice and describe access to HIV psychosocial support, care and treatment. The study was guided by the concepts of the protection motivation theory. Data was collected from 348 HCWs and analysed by means of logistic regression. Results showed that 65.8% of the HCWs had practiced HIV self-testing among themselves. Age, self efficacy and response efficacy were found to be significant predictors of HIV self-testing. Willingness to access HIV psychosocial support (71.3%) and care and treatment (73.9%) was high. Self-testing is highly practiced by HCWs. / HIV self-testing among health care workers at Nyeri Provincial Hospital in Kenya / HIV self-testing among health care workers / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of the study was to describe the determinants and practice of HIV self-testing among health care workers (HCWs) in Nyeri provincial hospital, Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the rate of HIV self-testing, explore the factors influencing the practice and describe access to HIV psychosocial support, care and treatment. The study was guided by the concepts of the protection motivation theory. Data was collected from 348 HCWs and analysed by means of logistic regression. Results showed that 65.8% of the HCWs had practiced HIV self-testing among themselves. Age, self efficacy and response efficacy were found to be significant predictors of HIV self-testing. Willingness to access HIV psychosocial support (71.3%) and care and treatment (73.9%) was high. Self-testing is highly practiced by HCWs. / Public Health / M.A. (Public Health)