Magister Commercii - MCom / Broad access to healthcare services is a key factor of human development in any country. The current health care situation in South Africa can be diagnosed as critical. The hospitals are understaffed, over-occupied and the diseases like Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) give health care workers additional challenges. The demand for management skills in the health sector including those for nurse managers is high. A recent World Health Organization (WHO) study of nurses working in maternal health services identified good management as more important than salary, unless the remuneration was dramatically higher. In South Africa, little empirical research exists about the management skills of nurse managers, even though proper management of human resources is vital to achieve better outcomes and access to health care around the world. In South Africa, a greater focus on human resource management in health care and more research is needed to develop new policies that will help to address the skills gap of nurse managers. The object of this research project was to identify the gaps between required and existing management skills of senior nurse managers in South Africa in private and public hospitals. Once identified, this skills gap assessment can be used by employers and policy-makers to define the management education that nurse managers require. The research is based on a survey of nurse managers in private and public hospitals using a questionnaire. The survey instrument was based on prior research of hospital managers' competencies in South Africa, and a review of the related theoretical literature. / South Africa

Introducción: El Sarcoma de Kaposi (SK) es una enfermedad neoplásica por Herpesvirus 8 en sinergia con el VIH. En la actualidad, no existe tratamiento con evidencia científica que respalde su efectividad y disminución de mortalidad. Objetivo: Evaluar si el uso del tratamiento oncológico disminuye la mortalidad a tres años de inicio de TARV de los pacientes con VIH y SK. Materiales y métodos: Un estudio transversal analítico se realizó en tres hospitales nacionales entre el 2008 y 2018. Los pacientes con SK se dividieron entre aquellos que recibieron TARV y aquellos que recibieron TARV con tratamiento oncológico. La historia clínica y la ficha TARV fueron revisadas. Resultados: La media poblacional fue de 45,02 años para los pacientes de bajo riesgo (DE:12,56). En el análisis bivariado se encontró asociación significativa entre mortalidad y abandono del TARV (p=0,046). No se identificó asociación significativa de la mortalidad al momento de elegir tratamiento oncológico más TARV o TARV solo como tratamiento inicial (PR: 0,92; IC 95% 0,326;2,575). En el modelo ajustado no se observa asociación significativa entre las variables Evento de Muerte y Tratamiento. Conclusiones: El tratamiento oncológico no disminuye la mortalidad a tres años de inicio de TARV de los pacientes con VIH y SK. Existe aumento de mortalidad en pacientes con VIH y SK que abandonan TARV. El Estadiaje de SK, Rango de CD4 Inicial, Orientación Sexual, entre otros, no resultaron influyentes en la mortalidad. Fallecieron 27,9 % de pacientes con VIH y SK durante el periodo de estudio. Existen diversos factores aumentan la incidencia de VIH y SK. / Introduction: Kaposi's Sarcoma (KS) is a neoplastic disease caused by Herpesvirus 8 in synergy with HIV. Currently, there is no treatment with scientific evidence to support its effectiveness and decrease in mortality. Objective: Assess whether the use of cancer treatment reduces mortality three years after starting ART in patients with HIV and KS. Materials and methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in three national hospitals between 2008 and 2018. KS patients were divided between those who received ART and those who received ART with cancer treatment. The clinical history and the ART file were reviewed. Results: The population mean was 45,02 years for low-risk patients (SD: 12,56). In the bivariate analysis, a significant association was found between mortality and abandonment of ART (p=0,046). No significant association was identified between mortality and initial treatment, be it cancer treatment plus ART or ART alone (PR: 0,92; 95% CI 0,326;2,575). In the adjusted model, no significant association was observed between the variables Death Event and Treatment. Conclusions: Cancer treatment does not reduce mortality three years after starting ART in patients with HIV and KS. There is an increase in mortality in patients with HIV and KS who abandon ART. KS Staging, Initial CD4 Range, Sexual Orientation, among others, were not influential in mortality. 27.9% of patients with HIV and KS died during the study period. There are several factors that increase the incidence of HIV and KS. / Tesis

Thesis (M. Nursing) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / Background: Emergency departments (EDs) as the hospitals' front door have a critical role in ensuring access to and efficient care of acute illness and injuries in the healthcare system. The environment in EDs is physically and emotionally demanding and burdened by complex patient loads, long shifts, and administrative challenges resulting in high pressure and high volume workloads amongst the staff members. Purpose: The study aimed to develop support strategies for the resuscitation team in EDs of Mankweng and Pietersburg public hospitals in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Study method: A descriptive, phenomenological, and explorative research design was used to explore the resuscitation team's experiences and the available strategies to support them. Purposive and convenience sampling methods were used to select five Medical doctors and twelve Professional nurses to participate in the study. The sample size was determined by the depth of the information obtained from the participants.Data was collected through semi-structured individual interviews. Interview guide was developed to guide with organised line of questioning and thinking. Qualitative data analysis using Tesch's approach was then followed. The quality of data was ensured by applying four elements; credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability. Turfloop Research Ethics Committee, the Limpopo Department of Health, and the Mankweng/Pietersburg Ethics Committee permitted the study. The study's details were explained to potential participants, who then agreed to be part of the study and signed consent forms. Results: The following themes emerged: Challenges related to the shortage of resources in the ED, challenges related to lack of standardized procedures and policies for handling the resuscitation process, psychological challenges of resuscitation failure, leadership, and managerial support challenges, and challenges related to education and training of the resuscitation team. Conclusion: This study's results indicated that the resuscitation teams of EDs from Mankweng and Pietersburg Public Hospitals face challenges that cause them stress and burnout. The challenges result from an increased overload of work with no personnel and material resources. They become demoralized by being engaged in failed resuscitation with no psychological support from the management. They don't receive any debriefing or counseling post failed resuscitation and no educational backing of the management. The study's findings guided the researcher in developing strategies to support the resuscitation teams in the EDs of Mankweng and Pietersburg Public Hospitals.

The purpose of the study was to describe the support services available for nurses who care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Pretoria urban pubic hospitals. Problems faced by nurses in HIV/AIDS care support preferences were also investigated. The study was conducted between March and April 2003, using a descriptive design. Respondents comprised eighty-seven (87) nurses who were conveniently selected from five (5) hospitals. Results reveal that support available is inadequate in both quality and coverage of nurses. Other significant findings are inadequate job preparation, shortage of nurses and that nurses prefer to receive support from both within and outside the hospital. It has been recommended that management should work with nurses to design support interventions that match the identified problems/needs. Nurses need to take an active role in caring for themselves and more in-service training opportunities need to be created for nurses. / Health Studies / MA (Health Studies)

M.A. (Public Health) / Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) adherence is a crucial component of the patient management framework for people living with Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). Trait emotional intelligence is “the constellation of behavioural-dispositions and self-perceived abilities to recognise, process, and utilise emotion-laden information”. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there was a correlation between ART adherence behaviour and behavioural-dispositions related to trait emotional intelligence among HIV/AIDS infected people receiving ART at the regional public hospitals in Addis Ababa. The study used observational, analytical, and cross-sectional research design. The participants were selected through a proportionally stratified systematic random sampling method. Data collection was through a structured self-report questionnaire format. The findings showed that 79.1% had optimal ART adherence behaviour; 84.4% had average trait emotional intelligence. The research finding showed a statistically significant positive correlation between ART adherence behaviour and behavioural-dispositions related to trait emotional intelligence at (r =0.417, n=392, P<0.001). / Health Studies

Lam Lop Chi. / Thesis submitted in: August 2005. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 114-126). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.I / Abstract in English --- p.II-IV / Abstract in Chinese --- p.V-VI / List of Abbreviations --- p.VII-IX / List of Figures --- p.X / List of Tables --- p.XI-XII / Table of Contents --- p.XIII-XV / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Risk factors --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3 --- Overseas guidelines in CAD management --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Angioplasty in CAD intervention --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5 --- Prevention or Intervention? --- p.21 / Chapter 1.6 --- Economic impact on PCI --- p.24 / Chapter 1.7 --- Cost of illness --- p.28 / Chapter 1.8 --- Hypothesis --- p.30 / Chapter 1.9 --- Objectives --- p.30 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Cost of AMI Study / Chapter 2.1 --- Background --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2 --- Objective --- p.32 / Chapter 2.3 --- Method --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4 --- Results --- p.35 / Chapter 2.5 --- Discussion --- p.49 / Chapter 2.6 --- Study limitations --- p.58 / Chapter 2.7 --- Conclusions --- p.58 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Angina study / Chapter 3.1 --- Background --- p.60 / Chapter 3.2 --- Objective --- p.76 / Chapter 3.3 --- Hypothesis --- p.76 / Chapter 3.4 --- Method --- p.76 / Chapter 3.5 --- Results --- p.79 / Chapter 3.6 --- Discussion --- p.93 / Chapter 3.7 --- Study limitations --- p.101 / Chapter 3.8 --- Conclusions --- p.101 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Overall Discussion --- p.103 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Conclusions --- p.112 / References --- p.114 / Appendix --- p.127

This study was designed to evaluate the quality of informed consent practiced by healthcare professionals in South Africa using an empirical quantitative methodology combined with medicolegal analysis to produce an interdisciplinary thesis on bioethics and medical law. Informed consent is an ethical and legal doctrine derived from the principle of respect for autonomy, whereas the rights to bodily integrity, privacy and human dignity are constitutionally protected in South Africa. The National Health Act 61 of 2003 codified requirements for informed consent by stipulating that healthcare providers must inform healthcare users about diagnosis, risks, benefits, treatment options, and the right of refusal, while taking into consideration users language and literacy levels. However, African communities are inherently challenged by problems of poverty, poor education, power asymmetry, and unfamiliarity with libertarian rights-based autonomy, which could affect informed consent practice. An empirical study was conducted at randomly selected public hospitals in EThekwini metropolitan municipality involving 927 participants; comprising 168 medical doctors, 355 professional nurses, and 404 patients. The study showed that healthcare professionals had limited knowledge regarding ethical and legal requirements for informed consent, and were partially compliant with current informed consent regulations. Barriers to informed consent identified were language, poor education, workload, and lack of interpreters. Most patients attending public hospitals were indigent, but preferred full information disclosure, and a shift from informed to shared-healthcare decision-making. The study recommends that a corps of trained interpreters should be introduced at public hospitals. This will improve providerpatient communications and minimize workloads, increase job satisfaction, and the overall quality of healthcare service delivery. Analysis of recent South African case law on informed consent revealed vacillations between the “reasonable doctor” and “prudent patient” standards of information disclosure which are inconsistent with the jurisprudence from comparative foreign common law jurisdictions. Therefore, South African court judgments on informed consent ought to be re-evaluated to establish a uniform standard of information disclosure consistent with international jurisprudence, current legislation, and constitutional protections relating to human dignity and security of the person. / Jurisprudence / LL. D.

The purpose of the study was to describe the support services available for nurses who care for patients with human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in Pretoria urban pubic hospitals. Problems faced by nurses in HIV/AIDS care support preferences were also investigated. The study was conducted between March and April 2003, using a descriptive design. Respondents comprised eighty-seven (87) nurses who were conveniently selected from five (5) hospitals. Results reveal that support available is inadequate in both quality and coverage of nurses. Other significant findings are inadequate job preparation, shortage of nurses and that nurses prefer to receive support from both within and outside the hospital. It has been recommended that management should work with nurses to design support interventions that match the identified problems/needs. Nurses need to take an active role in caring for themselves and more in-service training opportunities need to be created for nurses. / Health Studies / MA (Health Studies)

Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) adherence is a crucial component of the patient management framework for people living with Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV). Trait emotional intelligence is “the constellation of behavioural-dispositions and self-perceived abilities to recognise, process, and utilise emotion-laden information”. The purpose of the study was to determine whether there was a correlation between ART adherence behaviour and behavioural-dispositions related to trait emotional intelligence among HIV/AIDS infected people receiving ART at the regional public hospitals in Addis Ababa. The study used observational, analytical, and cross-sectional research design. The participants were selected through a proportionally stratified systematic random sampling method. Data collection was through a structured self-report questionnaire format. The findings showed that 79.1% had optimal ART adherence behaviour; 84.4% had average trait emotional intelligence. The research finding showed a statistically significant positive correlation between ART adherence behaviour and behavioural-dispositions related to trait emotional intelligence at (r =0.417, n=392, P<0.001). / Health Studies / M. A. (Public Health)

Recognising the enormous challenges in South Africa confronting the nursing of the mentally ill, the project was conducted in a public hospital in Gauteng. The purpose of the research was to describe professional nurses' perception of nursing mentally ill people in a general hospital setting and was carried out amongst a sample size of 124 professional nursing staff using a self-administered tool. The study looked at four different types of perceptions guided by categories of conceptual framework proposed by Mavundla (2000:1569-1570), namely perception of self, perception of patients, perception of environment and perceived feelings. The study found that the majority of professional nurses have a predominantly positive self- perception of nursing mentally ill people in a general hospital, although a significant number have a negative perception of patients, the nursing environment and perceived feelings. Lack of knowledge, skill and experience affect the nursing care of mentally ill people in the general hospital. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)