Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for a Masters Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for neck pain in the white population in the greater Durban area. The rational for this study was that there have been few epidemiological studies done on neck pain and even less when concerning different population groups. Discrepancies between population groups have been found in various pain related studies. The present epidemiological study eliminated any possible variables between population groups by studying only the white population in a specific geographical area (Durban). Therefore, physicians treating people with neck pain should use the risk factors that were established in this and other studies and integrate them in their treatment protocol. The study was conducted at three shopping centres around Durban that were randomly selected. Each shopping centre was grouped by the socio-economic status of the surrounding suburbs. There were 900 participants surveyed at three shopping centres by means of a questionnaire. The data were then statistically analysed using SPSS version 15. It was found that the overall prevalence of neck pain was 45%. The participants in this study that had neck pain were more likely to be females that were married or previously married, had a job that caused their heads to turn or to work with their arms above their heads. Lifestyle factors included one or a combination of the following: lead a stressful lifestyle, were emotional, had perceived bad posture, had previously experienced neck or head trauma, slept in awkward positions, watched television, required glasses and did not play squash.

Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2010. / Objective: Majority of studies to date have focused on injury profiles and types of injuries in rugby, without looking at the risk factors associated and the management of these injuries. It was thus the aim of this study to determine the risk factors and management of rugby injuries in the greater Durban area. Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional based study, using a self-administered questionnaire, developed specifically for this research utilizing a focus group and pilot study. The questionnaire details a patient injury history, rugby history, resources, management, coaching and training parameters. Letters of informed consent and the questionnaire were distributed to 300 players / coaches for completion and data was analysed using Pearson’s correlation and t-tests. Results: A response rate of 70% (n=210) was achieved. Selected risk factors were found to be significantly related to current and / or previous injury. New risk factors which did significantly impact injury, were also determined. Conclusion: It is advised that coaches and players take note of significant injury risk factors and management protocols in order to improve player health and decrease injury risk. Further research may look into the factors identified in order to set up better structures in order to prevent further injuries.

Eating disorders are among the most common psychological problems faced by women. Perfectionism, impulsivity and poor self-esteem have been identified as significant risk factors for the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Further, elevated body mass has been found to amplify the effect of these risk factors on the development of eating pathology. However, although the symptoms associated with eating disorders have been theorised to lie on a continuum with frank eating disorders at one end and normative eating concerns at the other, there is limited research and findings are mixed about the correlates and predictors of dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours in non-clinical populations. The present research contributes to a clearer understanding of risk factors associated with dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours in non-clinical populations. Correlational analyses in the present study indicated that dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours are associated with increased perfectionism, lowered self-esteem and elevated body mass. Regression analyses identified body dissatisfaction as a significant predictor of bulimic symptomatology. Further research is needed to extend these results. The current study found that dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours occur in non-clinical populations and are associated with similar risk factors to those associated with eating pathology in clinical populations. Further, it advocates the need for early detection and intervention of eating disturbances in at risk non-clinical samples, particularly in relation to body image dissatisfaction. Finally, it highlights the need for further research focussing on non-clinical samples in order to more clearly understand the correlates and predictors of dysfunctional eating attitudes and behaviours in these populations.

Purpose: Little is known about the heart rate (HR) responses at the onset of exercise, at peak exercise, and recovery in apparently healthy men and women. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal HR acceleration at the onset of exercise, define the HR acceleration profile, determine if traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are associated with abnormal HR acceleration, and identify whether abnormal chronotropic responses cluster with abnormal HR acceleration in an asymptomatic, self-referred, adult population. Methods: A retrospective examination of a symptom-limited maximal treadmill test was performed for participants of a university-based fitness program between 1990 and 2006. Records were analyzed for various HR responses from individuals (N=947) of both sexes who represented a broad range of age and fitness levels (mean VO2: 32.9±9.4ml∙kg-1∙min-1). Abnormal HR acceleration at minute 1 and ⅓ total exercise time was defined as a HR increase from standing rest of ≤14 and ≤28 beats respectively. Results: The prevalence of abnormal HR acceleration at minute 1 and ⅓ total exercise time was 30.6% and 31.3% respectively. The mean HR increase during the first minute and ⅓ total exercise time was 20.5 ± 10.3 and 33.7 ± 10.4 beats respectively. Abnormal accelerators had a significantly better CVD risk factor profile (lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, BMI, total cholesterol, triglycerides, higher VO2, and higher percent of regular exercise) than normal accelerators, despite consisting of a greater percentage of current smokers. Lastly, abnormal HR acceleration showed higher prevalence with abnormal HR recovery than with chronotropic incompetence. Conclusions: In the present study cohort, a lower HR increase at the onset of exercise was associated with a better CVD risk factor profile but the same differences were not seen at ⅓ total exercise time. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The primary purpose of this research study was to cross-validate the risk factors in the Osteoporosis Risk Assessment by Composite Linear Estimate [ORACLE] as a screening tool in a population of healthy U.S. women at various menopausal stages. The secondary purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential use of physical activity history and relevant osteoporosis risk factors to effectively determine current bone status for a mixed menopausal population. Third, the purpose of this study was to compare Omnisense quantitative ultrasound [QUS] and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DXA] diagnostic values of osteopenia/osteoporosis based upon T- and Z-scores. Methods: Fifty-six female subjects (46.1 ± 6.3 years) in pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal stages who volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects completed an osteoporosis risk factor and physical activity history questionnaire. Subjects underwent laboratory testing comprised of distal radius quantitative ultrasound scan, dual hip and spine DXA scans, and a one week physical activity assessment. Results: Logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine the ability of the ORACLE to predict low BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar spine. There were no significant relationships between the group of ORACLE variables and BMD status at either the femoral neck or lumbar spine. In addition, none of the individual variables (age, BMI, use of HRT therapy, previous fracture, speed of sound [SOS]) were found to be significant predictors of low BMD at the femoral neck or lumbar spine. Notably, SOS measures from the Omnisense QUS were not found to have a strong positive predictive ability, with sensitivity values between 0-20% and specificity values between 81-86% at the femoral neck and lumbar spine. When the cohort was divided into normal and overweight/obese groups, sensitivity and specificity of QUS measures was not improved in the normal BMI group compared to the overweight/obese group. The use of physical activity variables to predict low BMD revealed some relationships trending toward significance, supporting previous research. Linear regression analyses revealed that the individual accelerometry variable of moderate-vigorous non-bout activity counts at the lumbar spine approached significance as a predictor of low BMD (p = 0.081). A significant correlation (r = 0.31, p < 0.05) between steps/day and subjective measures of current weight-bearing activity support the validity of the physical activity recall method for current physical activity. Conclusions: This study found that the ORACLE risk factors were not a valid osteoporosis screening tool in a mixed menopausal population of U.S. women. Secondarily, subjective and objective physical activity measures were non-significant predictors of current low BMD, but greater levels of moderate to vigorous non-bout activity counts trend towards being a significant predictor of higher BMD at the lumbar spine. Finally, results showed that Omnisense QUS measures were not found to be significantly related to DXA measures. Key Words: bone mineral density, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, osteoporosis, physical activity, quantitative ultrasound. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

General relationships between the proposed risk factors of perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, depression, and interoceptive awareness and the presence of bulimic symptoms were examined in this study. Interactions between these risk factors presented by previous theoretical models were also explored through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis. A sample consisting of 200 female undergraduate students completed the following measures: The Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS), The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and the Questionnaire for Eating Disorder Diagnoses (Q-EDD). Taken together, the proposed risk factors of perfectionism, body dissatisfaction, depression, and interoceptive awareness were found to make a difference in predicting the presence of eating disorder symptoms. Body dissatisfaction served as the strongest predictor of bulimic symptoms in college women of all risk factors tested in this study. Direct relationships between perfectionism and depression, depression and body dissatisfaction, and body dissatisfaction and bulimic symptoms were supported by the current study's data. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Bakgrund: Postoperativa sårinfektioner [PSI] är en allvarlig komplikation och ett hälsoproblem som orsakar lidande för patienten. Såsom vid alla operativa ingrepp förekommer en risk att få PSI i operationssåret/-såren efter Coronary Artery Bypass Graft [CABG], men det finns redan en rad kända riskfaktorer som ökar risken för PSI. Syfte och metod: Syftet med rapporten var att undersöka om kombinationen av ett antal sedan tidigare kända riskfaktorer ökade risken för PSI efter CABG på ett mellansvenskt sjukhus åren 2009-2012. En retrospektiv journalgranskningsstudie med totalt 228 patienter genomfördes. Resultat: Av 228 undersökta hade totalt 50 patienter rapporterat sårinfektion och 73 patienter hade ≥ 3 riskfaktorer. Bland de som hade ≥ 3 riskfaktorer rapporterade 32,9% PSI och bland de som hade &lt; 3 riskfaktorer rapporterade 16,8% PSI. Risken att få PSI efter CABG-kirurgi är nästan dubbelt så stor (RR=1,960) hos patienter med ≥ 3 riskfaktorer jämfört med patienter med &lt; 3 riskfaktorer (X2=7,516 df=1 p=0,006). Slutsats: Det finns en signifikant högre risk för PSI efter CABG vid förekomst av tre eller fler än tre patientrelaterade riskfaktorer jämfört med färre än tre riskfaktorer. Fler, större studier av detta slag efterfrågas då denna rapport kan ge en fingervisning om hur situationen föreligger på ett mellansvenskt sjukhus. / Objective: Postoperative surgery site infections [SSI] is not only a severe complication but a health problem which often cause suffering and prolonged hospitalization among afflicted patients. As with all surgical procedures, a coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] always implicates a risk for SSI and a number of risk factors have to be taken into account when dealing with it. The objective of this report is to investigate if a combination of several patient-related risk factors implicates greater risk of getting SSI after CABG. Method: A quantitative retrospective journal review of 228 patients who completed a CABG between 2009-2012 was performed on a university hospital in central Sweden. Result: Among 228 patients a total of 50 reported SSI and 73 patients had ≥ 3 patient-related risk factors. Among those who had ≥ 3 risk factors 32.9% reported SSI and among those who had &lt; 3 risk factors 16.8% reported SSI. The risk of getting SSI after CABG is almost twice as high (RR = 1.960) in patients with ≥ 3 risk factors compared to patients with &lt; 3 risk factors (X2 = 7.516 df = 1 p = 0.006). Conclusion: There is a significantly higher risk of getting SSI after CABG in the presence of three or more than three patient-related risk factors, compared with fewer than three risk factors. More, larger studies of this kind are in demand since this report provides an indication of how the situation may prevail on a central Swedish university hospital.

Physical inactivity is identified as one of the major risk factors for the development of coronary heart diseases. It has been well documented in research literature that regular engagement in physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits has a positive influence on the risk of developing coronary heart diseases. Research literature reveals that these diseases have a negative influence on the productivity of the employee. In the light of the above mentioned, the fact has become clear that the health of the employee is of major concern to the employer. Healthy employees mean better productivity and better financial benefits for the company. The aim of this research is therefore to determine the physical activity, lifestyle and coronary index profiles of employees working at an electricity supply company in South Africa. Furthermore the aim is to determine the influence of physical activity and lifestyle on the coronary health of the same population. A total of one hundred and seventy nine (N=179) voluntary subjects between the ages of 26 and 65 years (46.1 ± 9.5), who were part of a non-random availability population, took part in the study. Data was collected by means of questionnaires. The Physical Activity Index questionnaire of Sharkey and Gaskill (2007) was used to collect data on the physical activity of respondents, the Lifestyle Index questionnaire of Belloc and Breslow (1972) was used to determine the lifestyle practises of the respondents and the Coronary Risk Index of Bjiirstrom en Alexiou (1978) was used to determine the coronary risk index of the respondents. The physical activity index profile of the respondents was classified as average (25.6 ± 35.6), as was the case with their lifestyle index profile (4.5 ± 1.3) and coronary risk index profile (25.5 ± 7.5). In spite of these findings, it was found that the majority of respondents in fact led a sedentary life (58.1%). That means that the respondents have an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. The results further showed that age, exercise, gender and stress was identified as the major contributors to increased risk of developing coronary heart diseases. The fact emerged that the majority of respondents were unaware of their cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure status. These findings are problematic, for it is well documented in research literature that these three factors are major contributors to the development of coronary heart disease. In terms of the influence of physical activity and lifestyle on coronary health, a statistic meaningful (p < 0.05) difference was found in terms of physical activity and lifestyle habits on the coronary health of the employees. Wellness programs that are implemented by companies are of great value. These programs give the workers the opportunity to take responsibility for their health and provide them with the necessary tools to manage their health on optimal levels. Companies that succeed in motivating their staff to engage in these wellness programs, can empower their staff to care for their own health. This means less risk of developing coronary heart diseases, increased productivity and decreased absenteeism, sick leave and medical costs. / Thesis (M.A. (Human Movement Science))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

From the researcher’s personal work experience it was found that there appeared to be a cycle of poverty and welfare dependency in multi–problem poor families. This research was undertaken as a means to lay foundational work in identifying risk and protective factors in multi–problem poor families living in Cape Town. A qualitative research approach was utilised and interviews were conducted with participants that met the selection criteria. The objectives of the research were to gather data in the form of deep, descriptive narrative accounts of multi–problem families’ chronosystems and current life issues, with a focus on the life challenges and difficulties that put the family at risk. The data was collected by means of interviews utilising a semi–structured interview schedule as well as tools such as genograms, ecomaps, and life lines (see Addendum 4). Analysed data indicated themes of intergenerational risk factors that included substance abuse, domestic violence, teenage pregnancy and early school dropout. It was also found that within the current generation, absent parents was a major risk factor for children. Protective factors and variables that promoted resilience in families were also explored. It was found that religious beliefs, community support systems and personal resources were the major protective factors in these families. The research findings led to the identification of a number of early–intervention projects and programmes that could be implemented to address the identified risk factors in multi–problem poor families. These interventions include school literacy and support programmes, improved sex education in schools and community support forums. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

The focus of this empirical study was on the antecedents of resilience among poor, English second-language (ESL) adolescent learners. The reasons why some adolescents in this situation are resilient and others are not, are indicated in this study. Adolescents qualify as being resilient if they are exposed to significant threat to their development, indicating high risk to the individual, and their adaptation to the threat is successful, due to support, resources or intervention. Thirty three resilient and 32 non -resilient poor, ESL adolescent learners were selected to participate in the empirical study. My study was a mixed method study because I made use of quantitative research (a survey questionnaire completed by the 65 selected learners), and qualitative research (semi-structured interviews with two identified resilient learners and a group interview with elders who are knowledgeable about young people in this community). The conclusions of my study emphasise that dynamic interactions between individual attributes, familial support, community resources, and cultural ties empower some adolescents to overcome hardships and be resilient. My findings are supported by literature. My findings cannot be generalised, as the adolescents in my study were all black, South African youth from an impoverished community in the Vaal Triangle. This is an explorative study, and themes that were identified as contributing to resilience in my study, need to be explored in future studies. / Thesis (M.Ed.)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.