The South African National Development Plan (NDP) (National Planning Commission, 2011, p. 1) provides the road map for a reformed public health system by 2030. The proposed health system will be facilitated by, amongst others, training an appropriate balance of healthcare professional s including a cadre of community health workers (CHWs) that have a broad skills mix suited to reaching a larger number of people with first level intervention. With this in mind, a pilot group of CHWs were up-skilled as Rehabilitation Care Worker s (RCWs). The training program was a joint project between the Division of Disability Studies and the Departments of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy at UCT. Problem: Little is known about the perspectives of RCWs on the benefits and challenges of additional training in rehabilitation and disability related skills. Rationale: To inform the curriculum for a rehabilitation care worker (RCW) training program and the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDoH) of ways in which this cadre of worker could contribute to the realization of the 2030 Healthcare Plan. Aim: To describe the outcomes of a pilot RCW training program from the perspective of the pilot group of graduates. The objectives were to identify the areas of practice where RCWs feel competent/incompetent, to identify aspects of the health services where RCWs believe they can contribute the most/the least and to identify the facilitators/barriers they experienced when deployed in the health field. Methodology: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted. Method: Focus groups were carried out with three groups of six participants. Findings: The plot that permeated the participants’ perspectives revolved around how the RCWs were pioneers in breaking new ground for the Western Cape Department of Health (WCDoH). Two themes informed the plot: "we move health services to a new level" and "we manage change in new ways". Discussion: It is argued that the pilot RCW curriculum achieved its’ objective of equipping a cadre of worker with basic rehabilitation, care and disability inclusion skills. While the envisaged role of RCWs in the health service and in making the NDP a reality is supported, it is argued that attention needs to be given to supervision structures and to training of all other health workers in order to promote inter professional practice. Conclusions: The pilot group of RCWs believe that they have acquired a new and large variety of skills that have enabled them to make a broad and positive impact in their places of work, at home and in the broader community.

In in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), where there are very few trained physicians and nurses, community health workers (CHWs) are often the only providers of healthcare to millions of people. Such LMIC are countries that are classified, based on their geographic region and Gross National Income (GNI), as low-middle income by the World Bank Group, the worlds largest development bank. Research has shown digital health tools to be an effective strategy to improve the performance of frontline line health workers. The aim of this review was to systematically examine the literature on digital health tools that are used for decision support in LMIC and describe what we can learn from studies that have used these tools. As part of a larger parent study the following databases were searched: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Global Health Ovid, Cochrane and Global Idex Medicus, to find ariticles in the following domains: training tools, decision support, data capture, commodity tracking, provider to provider communication, provider to patient communication and alerts, reminders, health information content. These domains were selected based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) framework for classifying digital health interventions. Content from all seven of these domains informed a series of reviews however this review focuses on how digital tools are used to provide decision support to FLHWs. Included studies were conducted in LMIC in Africa, Asia, North America and South America with the most common users of the tools being CHWs. Most tools for FLHW decision-support used in the interventions described in included articles were in either the pilot or prototype phases, and offered maternal and child health care services. Although decision support was the primary digital health function of all these studies, there was considerable variation in the number of digital health functions of each tool with most studies reporting decision support and data capture as their primary and secondary functions respectively. All the studies found their intervention to have beneficial effects on one or more of the following outcomes: beneficiary engagement, provider engagement, health effects and process/outputs. These findings show great potential for the use of decision support digital health tools as a means of improving the outcomes of health systems through; reducing the work load of FLHWs, reducing the costs of health care, improving the efficiency of service delivery and/or improving the overall quality of care.

The purpose of the study is to contribute to the development of a tool that can support the rehabilitation care worker towards intervention planning and the monitoring of their clients. The National Health Insurance and the Framework and Strategy for Disability and Rehabilitation of the South African Department of Health are strategies to work towards accessible, affordable, equitable and quality health care, which includes health promotion, disease prevention, curative, rehabilitation and palliative services for all South Africans. Both strategies emphasise the use of community health workers and mid-level workers as a key component of primary health care. In the Western Cape provincial Department of Health a new cadre, namely the rehabilitation care worker has been introduced as a member of the rehabilitation team. The introduction of the rehabilitation care worker is still in the pilot phase. The rehabilitation care workers face many barriers to providing effective care. One such challenge is the lack of a contextually relevant resource tool to collect information on the rehabilitation and health needs of persons with disabilities. The aim of the study was to develop a contextually relevant resource tool that would support the rehabilitation care worker in understanding and documenting how the rehabilitation and related health needs of persons with disabilities are met in home- and community-based settings. Three specific objectives were defined: i) to develop the content and domains of the rehabilitation and health information tool; ii) to establish the validity (face and content) of the rehabilitation and health information tool; and, iii) to test the application of the rehabilitation and health information tool on a sample of persons with disabilities. This study was an exploratory descriptive study adopting a sequential mixed methods design. There were two phases in this study. Phase 1 involved qualitative research methods in the development of the rehabilitation and health information tool through the use of document review and a focus group discussion with experts. Phase 2 of the study involved quantitative research methods in the field testing of the rehabilitation and health information tool by the rehabilitation care workers on a sample of persons with disabilities. The results of phase 1 included the development of the rehabilitation and health information tool, which was deemed by the experts to be a comprehensive, contextually relevant tool with face and content validity and could be easily administered by the rehabilitation care worker. The conceptual framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health provided domains that could comprehensively document the multidimensional needs of persons with disabilities. The result was a draft rehabilitation and health information tool with 17 questions ranging across the domains of activities of daily living, sexual health, health behaviours, barriers and facilitators to good health, finance and understanding of disability. Changes were proposed to the wording, layout and flow of the tool and the persons with disabilities’ goals were included as an element . The inclusion of the end users as experts in the development resulted in a richer understanding needed for the shaping of this tool. The results of phase 2 highlighted that the rehabilitation and health information tool was able to describe the rehabilitation and health needs of persons with disabilities. Additionally the tool was able to document the specific goals of the persons with disabilities which is useful to plan and monitor intervention. The rehabilitation care workers reported the tool to be useful, easy to use, and provided a structured manner to collect information. They also reported that it was useful in stimulating conversations on sensitive topics. However, it was indicated that it took too long to complete and there were components that were incomplete. The rehabilitation and health information tool requires further refinement, validation and further follow-up testing before it can be formally adopted and implemented as part of the rehabilitation care worker’s standard practice.

Purpose of the Study The purpose of this study was to compare perceptions of vocational business teachers, entry-level office workers, and employers regarding employable qualifications for entry-level office workers in Utah. Business teachers, entry-level office workers, and employers were asked the following questions: 1. What occupational skills are performed by entry-level office workers? 2. What level off education is needed for entry-level office workers? 3. What are the reasons for selecting entry-level office worker applicants? 4. What are the reasons for not selecting entry-level office worker applicants? --- 5. What are the areas in which improvement should be made in the preparation of entry-level office workers? 6. What are the causes for termination of entry-level office workers ? 7. What are the personal characteristics desired by employers for entry-level office workers? 8. What is the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities in school to the job success of entry-level office workers? 9. What is the relationship between participation in on-the-job training programs and the job success of entry-level office workers? 10. What types of methods are used in the selection of entry-level office workers? 11. What further training is conducted by employers after hiring an entry-level office worker? Procedure The data for this study consisted of information obtained by questionnaires from vocational business teachers, entry-level office workers, and employers of entry-level office workers. Eighty percent of the 95 teachers surveyed responded, while 72 percent of the 232 businesses surveyed responded to the questionnaire. The data were then analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, Scheffe analysis, descriptive analysis and Chi-square programs. Principal Findings There is a difference between the perceptions of vocational business teachers, entry-level office workers, and employers regarding employable qualifications for entry-level office workers in Utah. Teachers indicate a greater frequency and a greater importance for the skills than did employers or employees. However, they do agree on the most important skills and the least important skills . There was a discrepancy among the three groups regarding the skills which were ranked between most important and least important . Teachers gave more importance to skills such as shorthand, filing, and running duplicating machines, while employers and employees gave more emphasis to the skills which require some sort of decision making or human relations skill. The three groups agreed that entry-level office workers need to complete high school before securing a job and that some college training was advisable. Personality was given as the primary reason for selecting entry-level office workers, while inability to communicate with employers was given as the primary reason for not hiring entry-level office workers. Once hired, making costly mistakes continuously was the reason given by the three groups for termination of entry-level office workers. Teachers viewed the ability to follow suggestions and instructions, employers the concern for productivity, and employees the ability to write and speak effectively as the areas most in need of improvement for entry-level office workers. Interviewing was the most common method used by employers in selecting entry-level office workers. Conclusion A continual evaluation of business education programs should occur to keep business education programs current with the changing demands of today's business world.

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No description available.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University.

A 1979 survey of labor practices of 321 randomly selected Virginia dairy herds was analyzed and labor data were combined with DHI records to determine for Holstein herds the relationship of labor management with subsequent enrollment in the Dairy Herd Improvement program, and the effect of labor management variables on the change in production variables through eight subsequent years. Employees classified as herds person received the highest monthly cash wage ($964) and those classified as calf person received the lowest wage ($562). Herds persons were the most educated type of employee with 65% having at least a high school education and half of those having attended college. The percent of farms remaining on DHI was influenced by cash wage, 67% for under $300/mo and 87% for above $999/mo. For production, 31% of the low production herds remained on DHI versus 84% for high production. In 1978, herds persons trained before hiring were associated with 955 kg more fat corrected milk per year. Herds where herds persons worked many hours for low pay had the largest increase in days open from 1978 to 1986. Milkers with more education were associated with a larger increase in fat corrected milk, but employment status for herds persons was more influential than for milkers in reducing mastitis. Increase in $100 in pay benefits for feeders working many hours resulted in 300 kg more milk. Feeders who were qualified before hiring also increased milk yield. High pay and many hours of work for fieldmen led to a significant 4 d reduction in days open, while low pay and many hours were related to increased breedings per conception. The importance of employees being trained before hiring was beneficial for most types of employees and several production variables. Difficulty keeping good workers, though detrimental to remaining on DHI, was associated with improved production, possibly because of a demand for quality efforts. Availability of educational programs was associated with reduced production, while availability of reading materials was beneficial to many DHI variables. Though not all results can be explained, several models had squared correlations between 50 and 80%. / Master of Science

The culinary industry is well known for its unforgiving workplace conditions and precarious employment relationships. Low pay, unpredictable schedules, and workplace harassment are commonplace. However, workers in the industry are often dedicated to their craft and passionate about the industry in which they work. This thesis aims to come to a better understanding of the working lives of young kitchen workers in Toronto. Using a narrative approach to research, this thesis draws on the experiences of nine young kitchen workers. Their narratives are analyzed through examining their participation in communities of practice and their experiences of employment strain. It seeks to answer the question of why these individuals enjoy their work but often hate their jobs. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA) / The culinary industry is well known for its unforgiving workplace conditions and precarious employment relationships. Low pay, unpredictable schedules, and workplace harassment are commonplace. However, workers in the industry are often dedicated to their craft and passionate about the industry in which they work. This thesis aims to come to a better understanding of the working lives of young kitchen workers in Toronto. Using a narrative approach to research, this thesis draws on the experiences of nine young kitchen workers. Their narratives are analyzed through examining their participation in communities of practice and their experiences of employment strain. It seeks to answer the question of why these individuals enjoy their work but often hate their jobs.

No description available.