The aim of this study is to investigate and compare teachers’ attitudes to the current testing regimes for the 14-19 age cohorts in England and Sweden. A literature review reveals the historical and political contexts to the prevalent testing regimes in the two countries. One important finding is that the central tests in Sweden have clearly defined objectives whereas the tests’ objectives in England are, at best, insufficiently communicated but at worst not clearly thought through. The study also comprises a questionnaire with the purpose of collecting comparable material of teachers’ attitudes in both countries. Despite the small sample, the results clearly highlight significant discrepancies between objectives and achievements on the one hand and between English and Swedish attitudes on the other. Differences arose between the two countries on how well the objectives of tests are being met. English respondents are more positive towards external marking; meanwhile teaching to the test is seen as a lesser problem in Sweden. Many of these discrepancies and differences in attitudes can be explained from historical and cultural differences to education and assessment systems.

Magister Curationis - MCur / The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is a formative and summative assessment method used in several health science disciplines. The primary focus of this research study was to explore and describe the experiences of student midwives of the OSCE as used in a specific university context and determine how effective it is in preparing student midwives for clinical practice. However the researcher acknowledges the value of the OSCA (Objective Structured Clinical Assessment), which was not used in the context where the study was conducted. Due to the scarcity of academic literature in South Africa and internationally regarding the experiences of student midwives of OSCE assessments, this research study attempted to increase evidence of students’ experiences for improving the OSCE as an assessment method at a school of nursing used in this study. Research purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore and describe student midwives’ experiences of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, at the SoN, at a university in the Western Cape, and ascertain whether it prepared them adequately for clinical practice. Research design: A qualitative approach with an exploratory descriptive design was used for the investigation of the student midwives' experiences of this assessment method. Sample: Purposive sampling was utilised to select third year Bachelor of Nursing students, who completed the OSCE during semester one in 2014, at a University in the Western Cape. Nine participants were interviewed. Data collection: The data collection was obtained through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis: The data analysis was done manually using the Thomas (2003) data analysis process. Saturation was reached after nine interviews, when no new relevant knowledge was being acquired. Findings: OSCE preparation was supported by theory and clinical learning opportunities. The OSCE environment was found to be challenging and stressful. Alignment of OSCE stations to clinical skills, theory, clinical practice and appropriateness of time allocation. Students had differing views about their level of confidence and competence. Recommendations: Although the OSCE is a valued instrument in the summative assessment of midwifery students, attention must be given to the careful planning of the OSCE environment and the use of simulation techniques. Adequate support for students is essential, and adherence to a standard method of facilitation in clinical learning, in the skills laboratory, is crucial to fairness in learning and assessment. The direct input from valuable stakeholders in clinical training, such as educators and clinical supervisors, must be considered in order to identify ways to improve the OSCE.

Magister Curationis - MCur / The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) is widely accepted as an effective means of assessing clinical competence and nursing skills. However, little is known the stress amongst first year nursing students associated with the first OSCE in all universities. In view of the paucity of literature available on stress associated with the OSCE, this study determined the perception of stress by the first year nursing students' associated with their first OSCE at this university. A quantitative, descriptive survey design is employed. The instrument used is an adapted form of an existing self-administered Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) questionnaire. This measures perception of stress, factors causing stress and the incidence of stress. Of the total of 213 first year nursing students who were invited to be part of the study, 82 completed the questionnaires. This represents a response rate of 38%. The data was analysed using Statistica 13. Descriptive statistics are used do the calculations. The results are presented in percentages and tables.The findings indicate that more than half (n=54), of the respondents experienced moderate stress levels. For these respondents, the most prevalent factor causing stress was the insufficient time to complete the OSCE. Ninety three percent (93%) (n=74) of the respondents perceived the incidence of stress at a moderate level. There was a statistically significant difference between those who perceived factors causing stress at a low level and those who perceived factors causing stress at a moderate level. Based on the findings of the study on perception of stress during the OSCE, it is recommended that practice session assessments should be conducted throughout the year to help to reduce stress for students during the OSCE. A follow-up qualitative research study should also be conducted in the same setting so the students’ experiences of stress during the first OSCE can be explored in depth. Although the relatively small sample of this study (38%) means the results cannot be generalised, this study does contribute to the literature on the stress experienced during the OSCE.

The aim of the this dissertation was to introduce a set of examinations of clinical functions in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), which would be optimum for utilisation in physiotherapeutic practice, and also to compare changes to the individual examinations of this set after the patients underwent therapy consisting of aerobics training. We also monitored the persistence of the therapy's effect a month after its termination. The research was conducted on a set of 6 probands in the case of whom MS had been definitively confirmed, motor handicaps predominated, and the EDSS ranking was 3 to 5. Aerobic training took place twice a week for eight weeks. The intensity and length délka zátěže were stipulated individually according to the zátěžového vyšetření. After the therapy there were significant improvements (a p-value less than 0.05) only in the examination of cognitive functions, though we recorded a relatively significant improvement (a p-value of almost 0.05) in the case of investigations of balance, the functions of the upper limbs, and trembling in the upper limbs. On the other hand there was a relatively significant deterioration in the investigation of dysmetry in the lower limbs. We ascribe the overall minimal improvements in most of the functions investigated partly to the very unfavourable...

No description available.

Magister Legum - LLM

The objective of this study was to evaluate copper sulphate densitometry as a screening method for anaemia in children. The accuracy of copper sulphate densitometry was also compared to clinical assessment for the presence of pallor and haemoglobin measurement with a BMS-haemoglobinometer. Different observers performed these three screening tests independently. For the purposes of this study, anaemia was defined as a laboratory haemoglobin (Hb) concentration below 10 g/dl. A cross-sectional screening study was undertaken, where the results of the different screening tests were compared to laboratory haemoglobin determination (gold standard). The study sample consisted of one hundred consecutive children, aged between 6 months and 6 years, whose parents had given informed written consent for participation. The study was conducted in the Paediatric Outpatient Department of Pretoria Academic Hospital (73 children) and a local creche (27 children). In this study sample, the prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 10 g/dl) was 17% (95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) 10.2; 25.8). Clinical assessment by students for the presence of pallor had a sensitivity of 41.2% (95%CI 19.4; 66.5), specificity of 81.9% (95%CI 71.6; 89.2), positive predictive value of 31.8% (95% CI14.7; 54.9) and negative predictive value of 87.2%(95%CI 77.2; 93.3). The likelihood ratio for detection of anaemia by clinical assessment was 2.3. Copper sulphate densitometry had a sensitivity of 88.2% (95%CI 62.3; 97.9), specificity of 89.2% (95%CI 79.9; 94.6), positive predictive value of 62.5% (95% CI 40.8; 80.5) and negative predictive value of 97.4% (95%CI 90.0; 99.5) to screen for anaemia. The Likelihood Ratio of a positive copper sulphate-screening test was 8.17. On average, haemoglobin concentration was underestimated by 0.29 g/dl with the BMS-haemoglobinometer, with the 95% limits of agreement ranging from underestimation by 1.3 g/dl to over-estimation by 1.9 g/dl. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both the copper sulphate test and measurements with the BMS-haemoglobinometer predicted anaemia accurately. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve for the haemoglobinometer was 0.94 (95%CI 0.87; 1), while the area under the curve for copper sulphate densitometry was 0.89 (95% CI 0.73; 1). Used together, the area under the ROC curve was 0.95 (95% CI 0.89; 1). In resource-poor settings, copper sulphate densitometry could be an accurate, inexpensive and simple screening method for anaemia in children. / Dissertation (MSc (Clinical Epidemiology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Clinical Epidemiology / unrestricted

Improvements in printing technology and the wide accessibility of advanced printers has resulted in an increase in counterfeiting. Of particular interest to forensic document examiners, ink analysis of security documents has emerged as an important tool for the analysis, comparison, and association of inks to a potential production source. In this study, methods were developed for Py-GC/MS, ATR-FTIR, DART-MS, and MALDI-MS analyses of printing inks of four classes: 78 inkjet inks, 76 toners, 79 offset inks, and 86 intaglio inks in order to generate information on the organic chemical characterization of the inks to determine the ability to associate and discriminate the inks for uses in security document examinations. The suite of analytical techniques evaluated in the study focused on having the following analytical characteristics: 1) rapid analysis time, 2) little-to-no sample preparation, 3) minimal destructiveness to the sample, 4) allow for association of inks with the same source of origin as well as discrimination of inks originating from different sources. As a result of this study, a novel searchable library database of inks was developed for use with each analytical chemical method that allows for data fusion. Py-GC/MS analysis was used to achieve >63% discrimination of toner inks on the basis of the characterization of polymer degradation products. The combination of a protocol implementing first ATR-FTIR and subsequently DART-MS analysis resulted in >96% discrimination for toners, 95% for inkjet, >92% for offset, and >54% for intaglio. In addition, a case study was performed using DART-MS to illustrate its utility as a tool for ink analysis in document examination. The results of MALDI-MS analyses from two different instruments resulted in >90% discrimination of a subset of all inks by characterizing the colorant molecules present in ink formulations. A study characterizing luminescent compounds present in the formulation of inks in crossed-line intersections was performed using a combination of MALDI-MS, LC-MS, and TLC. Overall, it was shown that the combination of analytical techniques included within this dissertation can provide information on the organic chemical composition of four classes of printing inks, which is useful for the future of document examination.

Elemental analysis can become an important piece of evidence to assist the solution of a case. The work presented in this dissertation aims to evaluate the evidential value of the elemental composition of three particular matrices: ink, paper and glass. In the first part of this study, the analytical performance of LIBS and LA-ICP-MS methods was evaluated for paper, writing inks and printing inks. A total of 350 ink specimens were examined including black and blue gel inks, ballpoint inks, inkjets and toners originating from several manufacturing sources and/or batches. The paper collection set consisted of over 200 paper specimens originating from 20 different paper sources produced by 10 different plants. Micro-homogeneity studies show smaller variation of elemental compositions within a single source (i.e., sheet, pen or cartridge) than the observed variation between different sources (i.e., brands, types, batches). Significant and detectable differences in the elemental profile of the inks and paper were observed between samples originating from different sources (discrimination of 87 – 100% of samples, depending on the sample set under investigation and the method applied). These results support the use of elemental analysis, using LA-ICP-MS and LIBS, for the examination of documents and provide additional discrimination to the currently used techniques in document examination. In the second part of this study, a direct comparison between four analytical methods (µ-XRF, solution-ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS and LIBS) was conducted for glass analyses using interlaboratory studies. The data provided by 21 participants were used to assess the performance of the analytical methods in associating glass samples from the same source and differentiating different sources, as well as the use of different match criteria (confidence interval (±6s, ±5s, ±4s, ±3s, ±2s), modified confidence interval, t-test (sequential univariate, p=0.05 and p=0.01), t-test with Bonferroni correction (for multivariate comparisons), range overlap, and Hotelling’s T2 tests. Error rates (Type 1 and Type 2) are reported for the use of each of these match criteria and depend on the heterogeneity of the glass sources, the repeatability between analytical measurements, and the number of elements that were measured. The study provided recommendations for analytical performance-based parameters for µ-XRF and LA-ICP-MS as well as the best performing match criteria for both analytical techniques, which can be applied now by forensic glass examiners.

The major topic of this thesis is explanation of the idiom Fraud examination. It is based on comparison to standard financial audit in sense of verification of the financial statements of the company by independent auditor. There are also described the most common ways of business criminality which are divided by the principle of their commitment -- corruption, asset misappropriation and financial statement fraud. Subsequently there are described basic methods of forensic examination, requirements set on fraud examiners, tools used by examiner during his examination and conclusion of the fraud examination. Next part of the thesis introduces statistics of fraud occurrence in the USA and in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The very last part of the thesis deals with particular forensic examination which took place in Czech television in 2000.