The focus of this study was the exploration of parents and caregivers experiences of raising children with ADHD and their experiences of services at a public sector hospital. There is a paucity of scholarly studies conducted on this topic in South Africa. The context of the study is the public sector hospital where the researcher is employed as a social worker. Through her interactions with the parents and caregivers of ADHD affected children she became aware of the challenges that they were exposed to and this prompted her to undertake the study. This was a qualitative study and a purposive sample was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants and one focus group was conducted as a method of triangulation, with six participants. This study was guided by two theoretical frameworks, namely the bio-psychosocial and ecosystems approaches. The main conclusions drawn from the findings of the study were that many participants experienced a lack of support from their families and from the hospital. Participants did not have sufficient knowledge of the comprehensive treatment plan available in the management of ADHD. Health care professionals failed to engage in mutual decision making with participants, related to ADHD treatment and they neglected to address the concerns of participants regarding their children. A further finding was that the referral process to allied health professionals was inconsistent. Participants also experienced difficulties with the hospital administrative processes. Based on the findings, the recommendations include the need for more comprehensive support which includes medical and psychosocial support for participants. The limited knowledge base of participants with regard to the nature, causes and the use of medication for ADHD should be addressed by the health care providers. This could be achieved through participant education on the disorder at the initial stages of diagnosis. ADHD should be managed in a more collaborative and co-ordinated manner at the health care facility through an actively interdependent team. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2010.

No description available.

L’étude de la qualité de l’accueil extrafamilial des enfants d’âge préscolaire pose avant tout la question de la conception même de la qualité et interroge les processus en œuvre dans la définition des critères qui la caractérise. Nous constatons l'existence de deux approches majeures en opposition quant à leurs fondements idéologiques, à savoir, une vision normative et universelle de la qualité et une conception subjective et contextualisée. Ce projet pose la question de la pertinence de dépasser cette opposition, pour tendre vers une approche de la qualité intégrant à la fois des dimensions favorisant universellement le bien-être des enfants accueillis et des dimensions spécifiques au contexte culturel, socio-économique et politique. Cette étude interroge ainsi la pertinence d’utiliser le modèle écosystémique comme support théorique au processus de définition de la qualité. Pour cela, deux axes d’étude ont été élaborés reposant respectivement sur une méthode qualitative et quantitative. La réalisation de 103 entretiens semi-directifs a premièrement permis l’identification des spécificités contextuelles françaises par l’étude des valeurs culturelles et personnelles concernant l’accueil de la toute petite enfance. Les résultats mettent en évidence que la représentation sociale de la qualité porte principalement sur les déterminants de la relation professionnel-enfant, où la dimension éducative ne constitue pas un critère de qualité. Les spécificités du contexte socio-économique et de la politique familiale permettent d’apporter un éclairage à ces résultats. Sur la base de ces éléments, le second axe d’étude a investigué les relations de 35 dyades parents-accueillants et plus spécifiquement, l’impact de leurs attentes respectives sur la qualité de leur relation. L’analyse centrée sur la personne a permis l’établissement de profils d’attentes tels que le conseil, le tutorat, le soutien parental, la confidence, le service professionnel ou encore la satisfaction parentale. L’association des profils d’attentes de chacun des membres des dyades a été établie. La relation entre ces dimensions, le stress parental, le soutien social, l’épuisement professionnel et la qualité de la relation parent-professionnel a été examinée. L’influence des attentes parentales et professionnelles sur la qualité perçue de leur relation dyadique souligne l’importance de considérer des dimensions contextuelles dans le processus de définition de la qualité de l’accueil. Les conclusions de cette recherche ouvrent des pistes de réflexion utiles quant à la pertinence d’envisager une nouvelle approche de la qualité reposant sur le modèle écosystémique de la qualité élaboré par Bigras et Japel (2007). / The study of quality in early childhood education requires that the concept of quality itself and the processes used to define quality requirements are investigated explicitly. Currently, there are two opposing approaches to quality. One approach considers quality as a normative and universal concept while the other regards quality as a subjective and contextually specific concept. In this study, we question the pertinence of these two approaches, going beyond this opposition by integrating dimensions that universally favor children’s wellbeing in daycare and dimensions that are specific to cultural, socioeconomic and political contexts. This study is theoretically anchored in the eco-systemic model. The project is structured into two phases. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are employed. First, 103 structured interviews were realized in order to understand specific cultural values associated with quality services in early childhood out of home care in France. Results indicate that quality of adult-child interaction is rarely mentioned and priority is given to the determinant of these interactions. Educational dimensions of this relationship and meeting children’s learning needs are rarely mentioned as constituent factors of quality. Specific aspects of the socioeconomic context and family politics in France clarify these results. On the basis of these initial findings, the second phase of research investigated 35 parent-professional relationships in daycare centers using questionnaires. Specifically, we examined the impact of their respective expectations and attitudes on the quality of their relationship. Person-centered cluster analyses were performed in order to identify mutual attitude profiles. Dyads were characterized on the basis of their expectations. Parent-professional relationships were described using dimensions such as counseling, tutoring, parent supportive, confidential, professional service or parental satisfaction. Associations between these dimensions, parental stress, social support, professional burnout and perceived quality of parent-professional relationship were examined. The identification of attitudes and expectations and their association with both parents and professionals perceived satisfaction with the relationship underscores the importance of considering contextual dimensions in the process of identifying quality in early childhood education and care. In conclusion, we discuss the relevance of this approach to quality based on eco-systemic model of quality developed by Bigras and Japel (2007) as a prerequisite to understanding child wellbeing in out of home care.

No description available.

This research provides a feminist perspective on the lowest paid sector of the United States long-term care industry, Certified Nursing Assistants. This research adds to current feminist scholarship on the modern professional caregiving industry by focusing on the perspective of the workers. As the population of older adults requiring care is expected to increase over the coming decades, the demand for paid caregivers will increase as well. Historically, care work was an expected duty done freely by the women of the family, but today much of the vital intimate caring labor is relegated to paid caregivers. I examine how alternative social, political and economic frameworks can transform United States society’s attitude towards the increasingly relevant issue of caring labor. I argue that incorporating a feminist perspective will be helpful in developing a sustainable model for caring labor that acknowledges the dignity of both patients and their caregivers. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection