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Thesis (MFamMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / Background: An increased incidence of acute group A ß-hemolytic Streptococcal (GABHS) pharyngitis has been reported anecdotally at the Welcare Hospital in Dubai. Aim: To describe the outcomes of patients with acute GABHS pharyngitis who received standard therapy at the Welcare hospital emergency unit in Dubai. Objectives To determine the time elapsed before patients experience a clinically significant reduction in pain. To describe the side-effect profile of standard treatment received for acute GABHS pharyngitis. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study design. Consecutive sampling of 123 patients was done from December, 2013 to March, 2014. A questionnaire was used to record demographic data and severity of GABHS before patients received standard treatment. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain severity at baseline and during follow-up. Adults diagnosed with GABHS pharyngitis who received dexamethasone as part of standard treatment offered were included. Results: Clinical pain relief, which was suggested as a VAS score of 4, was achieved by 5.7% of the patients at 12 hours. At 24 hours, 55.3% of the patients reported a VAS score of 4. The mean VAS score of the patients at this time was 4.12. A total of 99.2% of the patients reported a VAS score of 4 or lower at 36 and 48 hours. Paired t-test revealed statistically significant difference between the VAS scores at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours and baseline (p=0.000). This suggests that clinical pain relief was achieved by 55.3% of the patients at 24 hours. At 48 hours, 21.1% of the patients reported a VAS score of 0. None of the patients reported any side effects associated with the one dose use of dexamethasone. Conclusion: The findings suggest that dexamethasone is safe and effective to use as adjuvant for management of pain associated with acute GABHS pharyngitis. Almost all patients experienced significant pain relief by 36 and 48 hours and no side-effects related to dexamethasone use were recorded. Further definitive randomised controlled trials are needed to establish these findings as evidence for practice. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nie beskikbaar

This thesis represents the first empirical investigation of the impact of strategic planning on budgetary and resources allocation processes within higher educational institutions (HEI) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It has been shown in the accounting literature that, there is a need for studies to assess the links between university strategies and the budgeting and budgetary control processes of those institutions. Such studies of the strategy-budget connection have been called for by a number of accounting scholars in order to learn more about how HEI can better manage and meet their learning and teaching objectives. In addition achieving these plans and programmes has become more complex in what worldwide is an increasingly resource constrained environment. This thesis develops these issues by adding to the literature in a country not previously studied in this context. The study has constructed a theoretical model, which develops certain significant connections between personal and organisational characteristics, university strategies, the budgeting and control processes, and finally the centralisation of financial and administrative decisions within HEI in the UAE. The research model has several further connections particularly between the strategic planning and budgetary processes. In examining the model the researcher has developed new measures derived from the relevant literature for factors in the strategic planning process, the budgeting and budgetary control process and the centralised nature of management decision making in the institutions being investigated. The reliability and validity of these measures were examined by using several statistical techniques through both pilot and comprehensive field studies. In addition, the study approached five universities and two technical colleges within UAE. The sample included a hundred and fifteen subjects represent senior academic, managerial, and financial staff within UAE institutions. Finally, senior members of Ministries of Finance and the HEI themselves were interviewed in order to objectively assess the impact of these issues on the challenges facing these universities and colleges in meeting their objectives. The present study has found significant linkages between strategic planning and the budgetary and control processes that support the model of this thesis and highlight the actual problems created by any missing link in the strategy-budget connection. This is in addition to discovering other problems associated with the whole planning and budgetary processes within UAE HEI. The thesis found more limited support to the interrelationships between personal and organisational characteristics and, the budgeting and control processes. This is due to the structural and institutional nature of the phenomenon under investigation. Finally this thesis has drawn certain conclusions and recommendations thought necessary to improve the situation discovered.

This study focused on quality management at the HCT. The HCT implements a quality programme, the Program Quality Assurance (PQA). Based on the Baldrige’s Education Criteria for Performance Excellence, which comprises seven Criteria, the study added an eighth Criterion, that is, Organisational Culture, to investigate whether or not the added Criterion has any impact on the implementation of the quality programmes. Both quantitative (using questionnaires) and qualitative (using interviews and content analysis of the PQA) approaches were used to identify the influence of Organisational Culture on the seven Baldrige Criteria and on the implementation of the quality programmes by the HCT. A questionnaire based on the SERVQUAL methodology was also employed to identify the extent of satisfaction of the HCT students with the quality of services and programmes offered to them by the HCT. Quantitative Research findings indicated that Strategic Planning is related to Leadership and MAKM, Staff Focus is related to Leadership and MAKM, Process Management is related to Strategic Planning, Staff Focus and MAKM, Process Management and Leadership are indirectly related through Strategic Planning and Staff Focus, Staff Focus is related to Strategic Planning, Student Focus and MAKM, Student Focus and Leadership are indirectly related through Strategic Planning and Staff Focus, Results is related to Process Management and Student Focus, Results and Leadership are indirectly related through Strategic Planning, Process Management, Staff Focus and Student Focus, and There is a relationship between Organisational Culture and the MBNQA seven Criteria. In terms of student satisfaction with the services provided by the HCT, the majority of respondent students agreed with all items of the SERVQUAL questionnaire. The Tangible dimensions were the utmost concern by HCT students, followed by the Assurance dimensions. The HCT’s organisational culture was also found to have substantial influence of the outcomes of the other seven categories of the MBNQA.

Psychographics is the principal technique used by consumer researchers as an operational definition or measure of life style. One aim of psychographics is to provide quantitative measures of consumer lifestyles, in contrast to soft or qualitative research from focused group interviews, depth interviews and similar techniques. The scope of this thesis is to discuss the psychographics analysis and life system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a tool of marketing communication segmentation.

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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) became known to the world when oil was discovered. Since that tine, the country has modernized and developed into one of the largest trading centers in the world. The purpose of this research is to identify companies in the UAE who are currently using public relations, and those that would benefit from its use. The objective is to provide marketing managers with the knowledge of the benefits of public relations and how it could be used to advantage in their marketing plans. Primary and secondary data was selected for the study. Primary data consisted of a survey undertaken by a questionnaire with forty managers of various organizations in the private and public sectors of the UAE to learn how public relations was being used in their marketing strategies, and how much they know about public relations. The results of the survey indicated that most marketing managers were knowledgeable about public relations, but would benefit from learning about how it could be used to greater advantage. It was proposed that seminars be conducted for marketing managers focused on how public relations could be used and the benefits to be derived from its use.

Inclusive education within the United Arab Emirates has started to gain momentum and the roles of teachers have become more challenging. This study investigated teacher views surrounding the inclusion of SEN students into mainstream schools. A qualitative exploratory research design was employed and the social constructivist theory was used as a framework for the research. Purposive sampling was employed, and a total of seven teachers and four parents participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used and findings suggested that UAE teachers experienced various challenges due to the inclusion of SEN students into their schools. Some of the challenges included: lack of professional development, lack of managerial support, parental demands, cultural barriers and the lack of collaborative opportunities. The study recommended varied professional development workshops aimed at developing an understanding of SEN and inclusion within the UAE context. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This descriptive survey was carried out to gather information that could be used to assist in the development of an HIV/AIDS educational program as a way to promote adolescents' health and prevent diseases in the United Arab Emirates. The study examines the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and sources of information of high school students in Sharjah city regarding HIV/AIDS. Anonymous questionnaire with five sections: demographics, HIV/AIDS knowledge, sources of information, attitudes and beliefs was administered to 12th grade high school students from four schools in Sharjah. Analysis of findings showed that 87 percent of students knew that AIDS affects the body's immune system and 68 .5 percent knew that it is not inherited .The majority of students were aware of relationship between drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. However, students lacked information in some areas as HIV/AIDS transmission routes. There was generally a negative attitude towards HIV/AIDS infected people. This was shown in students' responses to some statements that AIDS was "a punishment for those infected for their immoral acts". Moreover, students expressed unwillingness to live with HIV/AIDS infected people. Students were positive in applying prevention, facilitating proper treatment for the diseased and believed that HIV/AIDS education in schools is a necessity. Their HIV/AIDS sources of information were mainly from written materials (journals, newspapers and books). It was concluded that, generally, students in this study had a good knowledge, and some positive attitudes about AIDS. However, the concerns they expressed in relation to their fears of sharing, or living with HIV/AIDS infected individuals, and some of their beliefs, need to be addressed more in the education prevention programs. Students need to be more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS prevention. They indicated desires for more knowledge, especially as they become aware of the increasing risk of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in the Emirates. / Thesis (M.Cur.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002

Inclusive education within the United Arab Emirates has started to gain momentum and the roles of teachers have become more challenging. This study investigated teacher views surrounding the inclusion of SEN students into mainstream schools. A qualitative exploratory research design was employed and the social constructivist theory was used as a framework for the research. Purposive sampling was employed, and a total of seven teachers and four parents participated in the study. Thematic analysis was used and findings suggested that UAE teachers experienced various challenges due to the inclusion of SEN students into their schools. Some of the challenges included: lack of professional development, lack of managerial support, parental demands, cultural barriers and the lack of collaborative opportunities. The study recommended varied professional development workshops aimed at developing an understanding of SEN and inclusion within the UAE context. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)