Introduktion: Antibiotikaresistens är ett globalt problem och inkluderar MRSA, meticillinresistenta stafylokocker. Det saknas översiktsstudier som sammanfattar viktiga resultat gällande upplevelser av att bära på antibiotikaresistenta bakterier, främst gällande MRSA-bärare. För att bedriva ett effektivt folkhälso- och smittskyddsarbete är det viktigt att undersöka upplevelser, resurser och strategier kring bärarskapet hos dessa individer. Syfte: Att undersöka hur individer som bär på MRSA upplevde MRSA-bärarskapet ur ett salutogent perspektiv utifrån känsla av sammanhang (KASAM), med avseende på begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet. Metod: En strukturerad litteraturstudie gjordes där 10 vetenskapliga artiklar analyserades genom tematisk analys utifrån ett salutogent perspektiv. Resultat: Elva subteman identifierades och relaterades till tre teman som utgjordes av de främsta komponenterna av KASAM: begriplighet, hanterbarhet och meningsfullhet. Begriplighet beskriver hur individen uppfattar sin situation som MRSA-bärare och utgörs av subtemana ”Pestsmittad, smutsig och invaderad”, ”Chock, rädsla och skam”, ”Utanförskap, ensamhet och stigmatisering”, ”Okunskap, osäkerhet och ett gåtfullt hot” och ”Nuet störs, framtiden påverkas”. Hanterbarhet beskriver hur individen försöker hantera MRSA-bärarskapet och utgörs av subtemana ”Skydda andra från smitta”, ”Söka information” och ”Informera och utbilda vårdpersonal”. Meningsfullhet utgörs av MRSA-bärarnas beskrivningar av vad som ger dem engagemang och motivation och utgörs av subtemana ”Ta kontroll över situationen”, ”Tid, aktivt lärande och reflektion” och ”Goda möten och relationer”. Slutsats: Upplevelsen av MRSA-bärarskapet innebär ofta ett stort lidande för individen med flertalet begränsningar av livet. Att leva med MRSA är att befinna sig på ett kontinuum av salutogenes/patogenes, där möten och relationer med vårdpersonal spelar en avgörande roll för var individens hälsa positioneras. Det finns en outnyttjad salutogen potential i vårdpersonalens möten och interaktioner med MRSA-bärare. / Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is a global problem and includes MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Reviews summarising important results concerning experiences of being colonised with MRSA are lacking. For efficient public health and infection prevention work, it is important to examine the experiences, resources, and strategies these individuals have regarding colonisation. Aim: To explore how individuals colonised with MRSA experienced this from a salutogenic perspective, based on Sense of Coherence (SOC), with respect to comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. Methods: A structured literary review was conducted where 10 scientific articles were analysed through thematic analysis from a salutogenic perspective. Results: Eleven subthemes were identified and related to three themes composed from the main components of SOC. “Comprehension” describes how the individual perceives their situation as colonised with MRSA and consists of the subthemes "Plague infected, dirty and invaded", "Shock, fear and shame", "Exclusion, loneliness and stigmatisation", "Ignorance, uncertainty and a mysterious threat" and "The present is disrupted, the future is affected". “Manageability” describes how the individual tries to manage the MRSA colonisation and consists of the subthemes "Protect others from infection", "Seek information" and "Inform and educate healthcare workers". “Meaningfulness” consists of the descriptions of what gives the commitment and motivation and consists of the subthemes "Take control over the situation", "Time, active learning and reflection" and "Good encounters and relationships". Conclusion: The experience of being colonised with MRSA often involves immense suffering for the affected individual. Living with MRSA is to exist on a continuum of salutogenesis/pathogenesis, where encounters and relationships with healthcare professionals play a key role in where the individual's health is positioned. There is an untapped salutogenic potential in healthcare professionals' encounters and interactions with MRSA carriers.

För individer med parodontal sjukdom är egenvården betydelsefull för en bättre prognos. Förebyggande åtgärder kan behöva ses i ett större sammanhang om det ska vara möjligt att främja tandhälsa eller förhindra fortsatt tandsjukdom. En insikt i patientens upplevelser och syn på sin förbättrade egenvård kan vara värdefull för att bättre förstå vad som behöver hända för att det ska ske en förflyttning mot en bättre hälsa. Syftet var att beskriva innebörden av ett upplevt förbättrat munhälso¬relaterat beteende sett utifrån ett patientperspektiv. Studiepopulation & metod: Deskriptiv fenomenologisk metod (Giorgi) valdes för insamling och analys av data. Det gjordes ett urval från patienter på en privat praktik för allmäntandvård.Resultatet visade fenomenets generella struktur med dess åtta inbördes bestånds-delar som i korthet är: a) förändring som en successiv ökning, b) förändrad syn på egenvård, c) detaljerad förståelse, automatisk rutin, och förbättring, d) uppmaningar och feedback upplevs förstärkande, e) goda tankar och tillfredställande känsla över sin egen förmåga, f) medverkan och tilltro till expert samt stimulans och upprätthållande, g) negativa erfarenheter och begränsningar, h) relatera sig själv till dåtid, nutid, framtid och andra.Diskussion: Ett salutogent patientcentrerat perspektiv framträdde. Det visade ett komplext samspel mellan förstärkande inre och yttre faktorer som slutligen resulterade i ett förbättrat munhälsorelaterat välbefinnande samt en egenvårdsrutin som upplevs som väl integrerad i vardagen. Resultatet tyder på att en förbättrad egenvård ger en ökad munhälsorealterad livskvalitet som kan behöva undersökas närmre. / For individuals with parodontal disease self-care is important for the prognosis. To be able to prevent progression of oral diseases health promotion and preventive interventions should be seen in a larger context. An insight in the patient´s experiences of her improved self-care could be valuable for a better understanding of what it´s like to move towards the direction of a better health.The aim was to describe the meaning of a perceived improved oral health related behavior from the patients´ perspective.Study population & method: Descriptive phenomenological method (Giorgi) was chosen for collection and analysis of data. A selection from patients in a private dental practice was made.The result showed the general structure and its eight constituents: a) change as a successive increase, b) a changed view on self-care, c) a detailed understanding, an automatic routine, and improvement, d) motivating challenges and feedback are perceived as strengthening, e) good thoughts and a satisfying feeling over own capacity, f) complicity and credence to an expert, and stimulation and maintenance, g) negative experiences and limitations, h) relating yourself to past time, present time, future and other people.Discussion: A salutogenic patient-centered perspective appeared. It showed a complex interaction between strengthening internal and external factors which finally resulted in improved oral health related wellbeing and a self-care routine which was experienced as well integrated in the everyday life. The result indicates that improved self-care results in increased oral health related quality of life which needs further investigation.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie ondersoek handel oor die psigometriese verwantskappe tussen verskeie konseptualiserings van psigologiese optimaliteit. Die konsepte selfaktualisering (vanuit 'n humanistiese raamwerk), gevoel van koherensie en aangeleerde vernuftigheid (vanuit 'n behavioristiese en salutogenesis paradigma) is vir die doeleindes van hierdie ondersoek gekies. Die gekose meetinstrumente, naamlik die Persoonlike Orientasievraelys vir selfaktualisering, die Lewensorientasievraelys vir gevoel van koherensie en die Selfkontroleskedule vir aangeleerde vernuftigheid, is op 'n steekproef van 200 middelvlakbestuurders in 'n semi-staatsdiensorganisasie afgeneem. Pearsonkorrelasiekoeffisiente is bereken en 'n faktorontleding is gedoen. Daar is verskeie beduidende korrelasies verkry tussen die subskale van die Persoonlike Orientasievraelys en die Lewensorientasievraelys, maar slegs enkele beduidende korrelasies tussen die Persoonlike Orientasievraelys en die Selfkontroleskedule. Die Lewensorientasievraelys en die Selfkontroleskedule het egter beduidend gekorreleer. Die faktorontleding het getoon dat selfaktualisering aan die een kant, en gevoel van koherensie en aangeleerde vernuftigheid aan die ander kant as twee verskillende konstrukte van psigologiese optimaliteit beskou kan word. / The relationships between various conceptualisations of psychological optimisation are investigated. The concepts of self-actualisation (from a humanistic paradigm), sense of coherence and learned resourcefulness (from a salutogenesis paradigm) are relevant. The measuring instruments were the Personal Orientation Inventory (POl), the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) and the Self Control Schedule (SCS). They were administered by means of random sampling of 200 middle level managers in a semi-government organisation. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated and a factor analysis was done. Several significant correlations were obtained between the subscales of the POl and the OLQ, but limited correlations were found between the POl and the SCS. However, significant correlations between the OLQ and the SCS were apparent. The factor analysis demonstrated that self-actualisation on the one hand and sense of coherence as well as learned resourcefulness on the other hand may be regarded as two seperate constructs of psychological optimisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / Thesis (M.Com.)--Universiteit van Suid Afrika, 1994.

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie ondersoek handel oor die psigometriese verwantskappe tussen verskeie konseptualiserings van psigologiese optimaliteit. Die konsepte selfaktualisering (vanuit 'n humanistiese raamwerk), gevoel van koherensie en aangeleerde vernuftigheid (vanuit 'n behavioristiese en salutogenesis paradigma) is vir die doeleindes van hierdie ondersoek gekies. Die gekose meetinstrumente, naamlik die Persoonlike Orientasievraelys vir selfaktualisering, die Lewensorientasievraelys vir gevoel van koherensie en die Selfkontroleskedule vir aangeleerde vernuftigheid, is op 'n steekproef van 200 middelvlakbestuurders in 'n semi-staatsdiensorganisasie afgeneem. Pearsonkorrelasiekoeffisiente is bereken en 'n faktorontleding is gedoen. Daar is verskeie beduidende korrelasies verkry tussen die subskale van die Persoonlike Orientasievraelys en die Lewensorientasievraelys, maar slegs enkele beduidende korrelasies tussen die Persoonlike Orientasievraelys en die Selfkontroleskedule. Die Lewensorientasievraelys en die Selfkontroleskedule het egter beduidend gekorreleer. Die faktorontleding het getoon dat selfaktualisering aan die een kant, en gevoel van koherensie en aangeleerde vernuftigheid aan die ander kant as twee verskillende konstrukte van psigologiese optimaliteit beskou kan word. / The relationships between various conceptualisations of psychological optimisation are investigated. The concepts of self-actualisation (from a humanistic paradigm), sense of coherence and learned resourcefulness (from a salutogenesis paradigm) are relevant. The measuring instruments were the Personal Orientation Inventory (POl), the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ) and the Self Control Schedule (SCS). They were administered by means of random sampling of 200 middle level managers in a semi-government organisation. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated and a factor analysis was done. Several significant correlations were obtained between the subscales of the POl and the OLQ, but limited correlations were found between the POl and the SCS. However, significant correlations between the OLQ and the SCS were apparent. The factor analysis demonstrated that self-actualisation on the one hand and sense of coherence as well as learned resourcefulness on the other hand may be regarded as two seperate constructs of psychological optimisation. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / Thesis (M.Com.)--Universiteit van Suid Afrika, 1994.

Career decision-making is complex and dynamic. Cognitive factors that influence career choice are of interest to researchers. In particular, negative career thoughts and career self-efficacy have been found to influence career decidedness. Similarly, cognitive expectancy has been linked to career decidedness through the locus of control construct. Where locus of control has demonstrated salutogenic stress reducing properties in health literature it has also been widely used in career research. Other cognitive expectancies could contribute to the literature pertaining to career choice. In particular, sense of coherence has begun to make inroads to career psychology. Where career decision-making research has been universally conducted with student populations, little has been conducted with adults. Because of developmental factors, student based research may not readily generalize to non-student adult based populations. Researching the career indecision of non-student adults could broaden the literature. Establishing the relationship between career thinking (negative career thoughts & career decision-making self-efficacy) and salutogenic functioning (locus of control & sense of coherence) would provide initial research into the nature of career indecision in non-student adults. A survey design assessed the relationship between career thinking and salutogenic functioning in an adult, career decision-making milieu. Two hundred and twenty five unemployed career undecided adults were sampled from community based career exploration programs. Correlative and regression analysis were conducted on career thinking and salutogenic functioning measures. Data analysis indicated statistically significant findings between career thinking and salutogenic functioning. In particular, negative career thoughts, career decision making self-efficacy, locus of control and sense of coherence were all found to have significant correlations between each other. Career thinking and sense of coherence strongly correlated with level of education, while locus of control negatively correlated with age. Regression analysis indicated that sense of coherence demonstrated stronger relationships to career thoughts than locus of control. Further, sense of coherence significantly predicted negative career thoughts and career decision-making self-efficacy. Locus of control maintained a weak and non-significant predictive relationship with negative career thoughts or career self-efficacy. Results suggest that sense of coherence may contribute to further understanding of career decidedness in adults. Implications for Industrial/Organisational psychology are discussed. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil.(Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

Engineers and scientists have to cope with the challenges of a complex work environment. This study investigated the relationship between burnout, coping and sense of coherence amongst engineers and scientists. The Maslach Burnout Inventory, COPE and Sense of Coherence questionnaires were used. The study was conducted with 272 engineers and scientists at a global petro-chemical company with its head office based in South Africa. A theoretical relationship was determined and an empirical investigation provided evidence of such a relationship. The results confirmed a relationship between burnout, coping and sense of coherence amongst engineers and scientists. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

South Africa's equity legislation demands the incorporation of persons with disabilities in the workforce. Owing to the unique challenges that these people face, they need well-developed salutogenic characteristics such as sense of coherence, self-efficacy and locus of control in order to integrate effectively into mainstream environments. The objective of the research was to explore these salutogenic constructs in the hearing-impaired adult population and to note differences between the different sub-groups within the sample (N = 63). A biographical form and combination of salutogenic questionnaires were employed to measure these constructs. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were utilised to analyse the data. The results showed statistically significant inter-group differences in all three salutogenic constructs. These differences were found for age groups, onset of deafness, deafness category, primary school attended, hearing status of spouse and parents, and level of qualification. / Industrial and Organizational Psychology / M.A. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)

The objective of this exploratory study was to conceptualise the constructs of psychological optimality in order to derive a definition of the concept and to compile a personality profile of the psychologically optimal individual. A sample of 200 employees in a large electricity utility were randomly selected. A psychometric battery comprising seven questionnaires was compiled and administered. The empirical investigation revealed four factors as indicative of psychological optimality. The factors comprise lntrapersonal dimensions, namely successful coping in stressful situations, an internal locus of control, and Interpersonal dimensions, namely interpersonal sensitivity and a commitment to society. It seems that work behaviour would be largely determined by the intra- and interpersonal behaviours. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Industrial Psychology)

Text in Afrikaans / Hierdie navorsing handel oor ouderdom en geslag as veranderlikes in die salutogenese paradigma. Die salutogenese paradigma het sy ontstaan en ontwikkeling aan verskeie navorsingsperspektiewe te danke. Daar is reeds op internasionale gebied breedvoerig navorsing oor hierdie paradigma gedoen. In die Suid-Afrika is die navorsing van Strumpfer en Wissing goed bekend. In hierdie navorsing is daar deur middel van faktorontleding gepoog om die onderliggende dimensies van die konstrukte gevoel van koherensie en geharde persoonlikheid bloot te le. Daar is onderskeidelik twee duidelike faktore vir beide konstrukte bepaal. Die faktore op die Lewensorientasievraelys (OLQ) het noue ooreenstemming getoon met die komponente betekenisvolheid en hanteerbaarheid (OLQ1 ), en verstaanbaarheid (OLQ2) soos deur Antonovsky (1987) bespreek. Die faktore op die "Personal Views Survey" (PVS) het ooreenstemming getoon met die komponente verbintenis en beheer (PVS1) en uitdaging (PVS2), soos deur Kobasa (1979) daargestel. Hierdie navorsingsresultate toon verder dat ouderdom wel die mate van gevoel van koherensie wat 'n individu mag ervaar, kan be"invloed. Alhoewel geslag in 'n mindere mate 'n invloed op die mate van gevoel van koherensie getoon het, behoort geslag (in perspektief van die totale steekproef beskou) nie 'n bepalende invloed uit te oefen nie. In terme van die mate van geharde persoonlikheid wat 'n individu mag ervaar, het ouderdom en geslag geen invloed getoon nie. Daar is ook geen interaksie-effek tussen ouderdom en geslag en die onderskeie konstrukte vasgestel nie. / This research project deals with age and gender as variables in the salutogenesis paradigm. The salutogenesis paradigm owes its origin and development to various research projects. Research in the international field has already been done on this paradigm on a wide sphere. The research of Strumpfer and Wissing is well known in South Africa. In this area of research an attempt is made through the analysis of factors to expose the underlying dimensions of the construct sense of coherence and the construct hardy personality. Two certain factors for both constructs have been indicated. The factors influencing the Orientation to Life Questionnaire indicated a close resemblance with the components of meaningfulness and manageability (OLQ1), and comprehensibility (OLQ2), discussed by Antonovsky (1987). The factors of the Personal Views Survey (PVS) demonstrated a similarity with the components commitment and control (PVS 1) and challenge (PVS2), as stated by Kobasa (1979). The results of this research demonstrates that age may well influence the measure of the sense of coherence which an individual may experience. Although gender indicated a minor measure of influence on the degree of sense of coherence, gender should not (in perspective of this research findings) have a deciding influence. Age and gender indicated no deciding influence in the measure of hardy personality experienced by an individual. Age and gender did not manifest any interaction in the various constructs. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Com. (Bedryfsielkunde)

The research has worked towards the general aim of generating a synthesis of burnout in the nursing profession, and also towards coming to a synthesis of burnout in nursing from the perspective of the salutogenic paradigm. Existing knowledge from the literature has been consolidated and integrated, and 'new knowledge' of the phenomenological experience of the causes and symptoms of burnout and how nurses stay healthy, were presented. Firstly was discovered that burnout, over time is caused by various factors that are individual and personal and therefore not easily discovered by other than the phenomenological method, where the life world of each individual is described. Secondly, the study ofthe strengths that nurses exhibit in order to manage the tension and stress in their lives and not to succumb to illness, proved to be a sound and descriptive paradigm with great utilisation possibilities. Three answers to the salutogenic question, namely sense of coherence, hardiness and learned resourcefulness were presented in great detail. Thirdly, it was stated that the individual nurses and the nursing practice in general be made aware of: (1) the existence of burnout, (2) the contributing factors to burnout, (3) the various manifestations ofburnout at work and in the organisation, and (4) the coping strategies available to counter this problem in a positive and salutogenic manner. The phenomenological results of this research revealed a number of issues that have implications for both the prevention and treatment of burnout in nurses. The results especially established how nurses can operationalise their inherent salutogenic qualities. Specific salutogenic coping strategies emerged via the respondents. The research took a broad view of personality in health research. It studied the psychological processes underlying the observed connections between psychological variables and health outcomes. In order to study the operationalisation of these processes, a phenomenological, person-based approach was followed. They study focussed on health phenomena and the individual nurse was retained as the unit of analysis. This approach represented a movement away from a fragmented science, infatuated with technology and linked to a singular epistemology, towards a focus on the process and dynamics of personal experience. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)