Thesis (Ph.D.)--Xianggang Zhong wen da xue, 2006. / Adviser: Lam Mong Chow. Includes bibliographical references (p. 368-403)

Abstract Background: Foot screening is an important part of diabetic care as it prevents significant morbidity, loss of function and mortality from diabetic foot complications. However, foot screening is often neglected. This project was aimed at educating health care workers (HCWs) in a primary health care clinic to increase diabetic foot screening practices. Methods: A quality improvement project using a plan, do, study, act (PDSA) cycle was used. HCW needs were assessed using a questionnaire; this was followed by a focus group discussion with HCWs, which was recorded, transcribed and assessed using a general inductive approach for common themes. Staff training was done using the Diabetic Foot Assessment Questionnaire. Patient information pamphlets and screening tools were made available to all clinical staff. Thirty-two consecutive diabetic patient folders were audited to compare screening in 2013 to that in the first half of 2014 after initiation of the PDSA cycle. Results: HCW confidence in conducting foot screening using the Diabetic Foot Assessment Questionnaire improved markedly after initial training. Diabetic foot screening practices increased from 9% in 2013 to 69% in 2014 after the first PDSA cycle. A strengths, opportunities, aspirations and results (SOAR) analysis showed promise for continuing quality improvement cycles. Conclusions: The findings showed a significant improvement in the number of diabetic patients who received foot screening. A feedback session was held with the team of HCWs involved in the project to discuss their experience and for future improvement planning. Using strategic planning with appreciative intent based on SOAR, proved to be inspirational and will be used in the planning of the next cycle.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University

No description available.

In 'n streekopname in 'n gebied rondom Loolekop wat die sentrale karbonatietpyp van die Palaborwa Stollingskompleks vorm, is sowat vyftig histories bekende terreine opgespoor wat in drie groepe verdeel is op grond van die metaalbewerkings- en woonterreinoorblyfsels van die terreine. Steekproefopgrawings is op elf terreine uitgevoer ten einde meer van die aard en omvang van metaalbewerking in die navorsingsgebied, nl. die Loole-terreinkompleks vas te stel, terwyl die argeologiese oorblyfsels ook met behulp van etnohistoriese inligting aangaande vroeë baPhalaborwa-gemeenskappe geskakel is. Opgrawings toon dat yster en koper in die navorsingsgebied bewerk is met behulp van verskillende prosesse en in verskillende tipes oonde. Die bewerking van die metale toon sekere voorkomsgebiede - hoewel dit beïnvloed kon word deur die vernietigingswerk van moderne mynbedrywighede. Mondelinge oorlewering verbind die metaalbewerkers met verskillende vroeë baPhalaborwa-gemeenskappe, terwyl die groepe terreine in 'n relatiewe chronologie georden word met behulp van radiokoolstofdaterings, historiese inligting en die kenmerke van terreine. ENGLISH : In a regional survey in an area around Loolekop which represents the central carbonatite pipe of the Palaborwa Igneous Complex, about fifty historical known sites were identified and divided into three groups according to the metalworking and occupational remains on these sites. Test excavations were conducted on eleven of the sites in order to gain information on the nature and extent of metalworking in the research area, viz. the Loole site complex, while the archaeological remains were also coupled with ethnohistorical evidence regarding early baPbalaborwa communities. The excavations indicated that iron and copper had been worked in different processes and with different furnaces. The working of the metals indicate certain areas of preference - although this may have been influenced by the destruction of archaeological sites due to modern mining activities. Oral tradition couples the metalworkers with different early baPhalaborwa communities, while the different groups of sites were arranged in a relative chronology aided by radiocarbon dating, historical information and the characteristics of sites. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Anthropology and Archaeology / unrestricted

There has been a world-wide shift from an expectation of long-term, organisation led employment to one where knowledge workers are comfortable with driving their own careers and accruing career capital independent of the organisation. Little empirical research exists in the field of career capital. This research aims to determine the relevant components of career capital and the methods used by high - value knowledge workers to acquire their career capital. Differences in these areas, between sub-groupings, are examined, as are the reasons for future career changes. The research was conducted in a large financial institution using two phases. The first qualitative phase set out to determine valid constructs for phase two. The quantitative second phase used a structured questionnaire administered through both focus groups and electronically, with 113 high - value knowledge workers providing the data. The research findings show that high - value knowledge workers are self - monitors. They rely heavily on their emotional intelligence, social networking and a yearning for knowledge. A new model, the “symbiosis model”, has been created to facilitate a successful and symbiotic relationship between organisations and high - value knowledge workers. A set of recommendations has been provided for both. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This thesis describes a study that aimed to assess the psychophysiological effects of offshore survival training, and to investigate whether responses of trainees differed according to age. A group of 99 subjects, randomly selected from across a wide age range, volunteered and subsequently were monitored during the training. The sample population were split into 2 groups according to the training course attended, refresher or combined survival and fire fighting course. Physiological and psychological measurements, chosen as indicators of stress, were performed on these subjects. Attention was centred on 4 particular events: helicopter underwater escape training (HUET); simulated platform abandonment using totally enclosed motor propelled survival craft; simulated platform abandonment into liferafts; and self rescue from a smoke filled room. State anxiety and urinary free cortisol were assessed early on each morning. Anxiety was also measured before the 4 chosen events. Early morning anxiety and urinary free cortisol were observed to peak on the first day of training, then each showed a very similar pattern of a decline to a plateau. On assessing all combined subjects' anxiety scores in sequence, values were found to be relatively lower towards the end of the course. These results suggested that subjects suffered from pre-course apprehensions that may have caused elevations in anxiety scores during the course. It was also found that subjects with high urinary free cortisol values on day 1, had relatively higher heart rates later in the course. Despite variation between the training courses, very similar mean heart rates were recorded in combined and refresher subjects. Relatively elevated heart rates were detected during the HUET brief. This was proposed to be the result of psychological activation, probably anxiety. Indicators of links among physiological and psychological measures were thus detected. Stronger and more consistent relationships may have been observed had more extensive data been available. Age effects were also detected, older refreshers had lower levels of anxiety, but found the course relatively more demanding. The lower anxiety levels were proposed to result from older refreshers having more training experience.

This research report on Social Workers' Orientation to Client problems is based on the theoretical framework worked out and presented in a monograph by Andrew Billingsley, The Social Worker in a Child Protective Agency (3). Briefly, Billingsley, in his doctoral dissertation, considered in depth the reasons for the lack of professionally trained social workers in child protective services. The data to be tested in our report was the result of material accumulated in a 1967 University of British Columbia, School of Social Work thesis entitled: Social Workers' Perceptions of Child Abuse and Neglect (4). The main hypothesis in our study is that professional education and/or work experience in the field of social work will tend to influence the social workers' cognitive and psychodynamic orientations and choice of reference group. Our findings indicate that social workers with substantial work experience appeared to be associated with low psychodynamic orientations. In parts, our results differed from Billingsley and these differences are discussed in our conclusions. Our findings have also indicated the need for further research in several areas. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The purpose of this project was to explore for the possible existence of value orientations as factors operative in the social work judgment process. The study first tested for differences in value orientation between social workers. The extent to which these value orientations dominate the pre-disposing attitudes of the social worker was to be determined for the case of diagnosis of families in crisis. Utilized as a test for value orientation were five constructs developed by Charles Morris. These constructs as characterized by their titles were: A. Social Restraint and Self-Control; B. Enjoyment in Action; C. Withdrawal and Self-Sufficiency; D. Receptivity and Sympathetic Concern; E. Self -Indulgence (or Sensuous Enjoyment). The study was designed to scale the ratings in responses from a sample of social workers. Its purpose was to obtain information showing relative preference for each of the five value orientations so that a relationship could be tested for with a similar scaling of the importance each respondent attached to diagnostic criteria of family crisis. The items used to test for preferred diagnostic criteria were evolved by adapting a problem area list developed by Brim, Fairchild and Borgatta. The original items were modified and appropriately revised by testing them with a special group of respondents whose evaluation of the original list was the basis for developing the final list of items. A questionnaire consisting of three parts was sent to 300 social workers selected randomly from the Directory of members of the National Association of Social Workers. One hundred fifty-eight usable responses were received. Personal information such as age, sex, marital status, religion, place of employment and work background was obtained along with ratings and rankings of the aforementioned value orientations and diagnostic criteria items. A listing of the ranking of value orientation in its relationship with the employment setting of the social worker showed some differences between sub-groups of the sample. Administrators and Community Organizers tended to emphasize Construct A: Social Restraint and Self-Control, while social workers seeing individuals and families as part of their work tended to emphasize Construct C: Withdrawal and Self-Sufficiency. .Variations along lines of age, sex, marital status and religion also were identified but in more complex combinations. Scores were developed for the ratings of value orientation items and diagnostic criteria items. These were on a seven point scale. A factor analysis of the resultant matrix of correlations between these thirty-one items produced nine dimensions. An orthogonal rotation was used in the factor analysis. The nine factor dimensions are characterized by their titles as follows: (1) External as Opposed to Internal Influences on Family Functioning; (2) Communication between Members in the Family; (3) Focus on Over Descriptive Characteristics; (4) Focus on Family Unity and Loyalty; (5) Focus on Self-awareness and Introspection; (6) Focus on Group Activity; (7) Focus upon Static as Opposed to Dynamic Attributes; (8) Focus upon Responsiveness to Environment; (9) Focus on Current Circumstances of the Crisis Situation. The value orientation items were represented particularly in Factor (5) with a focus on self-awareness and introspection. Factor 4 (8) was a low preference dimension and emphasized the value orientation favoring receptivity and sympathetic concern. Practitioners of social work with families tended to prefer items favoring the individual above the social order. They tended to prefer value orientations that emphasized self-awareness and permitted gratification. The study disclosed four value dominated factors in diagnosis: (1), (5), (7), and (8) as listed above. Factors (2), (3), and (9) were found to be "value free" factors in diagnosis. Factors (4) and (6) seemed to be value tinged in that only a mild loading on a single philosophy construct emerged in the factor analysis on both of these factors.