Thesis--Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 1997. / Includes loose errata slip. Appendices: p. [215]-[219]. Includes bibliographical references and index. Includes bibliographical references (p. [220]-262).

Thesis--Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 1997. / Includes loose errata slip. Appendices: p. [215]-[219]. Includes bibliographical references and index. Includes bibliographical references (p. [220]-262).

The background and problem statement centre on the evolution of technology within teaching and learning, which involves undergraduate student nurses, as well as the use of social media as interactive teaching and communication tool. While examining the background to this topic, the researcher recognised a need to gain a deeper understanding of responsible social media use by undergraduate student nurses to the benefit of all the stakeholders, namely the Nursing Education Institution (NEI), applicable health care facilities, the patients and the student nurses. The study starts off with a literature review to peruse what is known about social media and information communication technology by undergraduate student nurses within a Higher Education (HE) environment. Literature shows that nurses in their work environment are not excluded from social media interaction processes. Within this context, social media offers improved contact and communication in general and in the working environment through the internet. The aim of this study is to explore and describe responsible use of social media by undergraduate student nurses. Methodology: The study followed a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design. All-inclusive, probable and purposive sampling (Brink, van der Walt & van Rensburg, 2006:134) was applied to select participants from a population of undergraduate student nurses (N=200, n=39). Prospective participants were informed by the researcher regarding the research by means of a Power Point slideshow and from there prospective participants had to make an informed decision to participate voluntarily in the research. Data was collected by means of an unstructured conversation between the researcher and participants via the real-time, online Chat Room of Sakai 2.9.1. Sakai 2.9.1 refers to an educational software platform which is a Java-based, service-oriented application used in an open source academic community. Sakai 2.9.1 is used within this context as a Course Management System and Virtual Learning Environment. The following questions were asked: “Tell me how you use your social media (e.g. Facebook™, Twitter™, WAYN™, LinkedIn™, WhatsApp™, etc.)”; “How do you access and on which device do you use social media?”, “What is your view of responsible social media use as a student nurse?” Although it was an all-inclusive sample and all members of the population were invited to participate, the sample size was established once the research reached data saturation (Brink et al., 2006:135). Thirty-nine participants (n=39) participated and the analysed results were first confirmed in a focus group. Six (6) main themes where identified, namely: social media as a quick academic reference; the social communication uses of social media; social curiosity; multiple social media registrations, but limited social media use; student nurses’ need for guidelines regarding responsible social media use and a need to share photographs on social media. The final conclusion was that student nurses entered the nursing profession with established social media skill. Yet, student nurses need guidance to divert social media use from a social perspective to social media use within a professional capacity. Recommendations for enhanced responsible social media use by student nurses where formulated. (Word count: 489) / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The background and problem statement centre on the evolution of technology within teaching and learning, which involves undergraduate student nurses, as well as the use of social media as interactive teaching and communication tool. While examining the background to this topic, the researcher recognised a need to gain a deeper understanding of responsible social media use by undergraduate student nurses to the benefit of all the stakeholders, namely the Nursing Education Institution (NEI), applicable health care facilities, the patients and the student nurses. The study starts off with a literature review to peruse what is known about social media and information communication technology by undergraduate student nurses within a Higher Education (HE) environment. Literature shows that nurses in their work environment are not excluded from social media interaction processes. Within this context, social media offers improved contact and communication in general and in the working environment through the internet. The aim of this study is to explore and describe responsible use of social media by undergraduate student nurses. Methodology: The study followed a qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design. All-inclusive, probable and purposive sampling (Brink, van der Walt & van Rensburg, 2006:134) was applied to select participants from a population of undergraduate student nurses (N=200, n=39). Prospective participants were informed by the researcher regarding the research by means of a Power Point slideshow and from there prospective participants had to make an informed decision to participate voluntarily in the research. Data was collected by means of an unstructured conversation between the researcher and participants via the real-time, online Chat Room of Sakai 2.9.1. Sakai 2.9.1 refers to an educational software platform which is a Java-based, service-oriented application used in an open source academic community. Sakai 2.9.1 is used within this context as a Course Management System and Virtual Learning Environment. The following questions were asked: “Tell me how you use your social media (e.g. Facebook™, Twitter™, WAYN™, LinkedIn™, WhatsApp™, etc.)”; “How do you access and on which device do you use social media?”, “What is your view of responsible social media use as a student nurse?” Although it was an all-inclusive sample and all members of the population were invited to participate, the sample size was established once the research reached data saturation (Brink et al., 2006:135). Thirty-nine participants (n=39) participated and the analysed results were first confirmed in a focus group. Six (6) main themes where identified, namely: social media as a quick academic reference; the social communication uses of social media; social curiosity; multiple social media registrations, but limited social media use; student nurses’ need for guidelines regarding responsible social media use and a need to share photographs on social media. The final conclusion was that student nurses entered the nursing profession with established social media skill. Yet, student nurses need guidance to divert social media use from a social perspective to social media use within a professional capacity. Recommendations for enhanced responsible social media use by student nurses where formulated. (Word count: 489) / MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Problem statement: There seem to be perceptual incongruence between systems development managers and developers. Research shows that while managers are more positive towards systems development methodologies, developers on the other hand seem to resist and not to use systems development methodologies in their entirety but instead adapt, tailor, modify and change them depending on the project at hand (contingent use). Systems development managers can exert power through a variety of influence bases. However, these power influences may be perceived differently by developers. While some might feel constrained, others might actually feel liberated by the existence of the same influence base. Main findings: IS managers are using systems development methodologies to gain control over team members. However, there was no clear perception on whether systems development methodologies were enslaving systems developers. This was indicated by the majority of the respondents neither agreeing nor disagreeing to that effect. The research showed that most organisations are adapting the use of systems development methodologies on a project to project basis, which is referred to as the contingent use of systems development methodologies. Research method followed: The positivistic research paradigm was used as it allowed the researcher to find out patterns and regularities between power, systems development methodologies’ use and success. A survey was conducted and a questionnaire was used for data collection purposes. Questionnaire data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21, Release 20.0.0 software package tools. Principal conclusion: Power is interpreted in terms of the type of power that can be exercised by IT professionals specifically IS developers and their respective managers at the workplace. The roles assumed and the different power types that may be exercised in organisations provide a link as to who has the final say when it comes to the use and success rate of systems development methodologies. The contingent use of systems development methodologies provides a form of “freedom” to systems developers. Based on the research findings, the research proposes an answer to the question – are systems development methodologies enslaving systems developers and empowering IS managers? / MSc (Computer Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Problem statement: There seem to be perceptual incongruence between systems development managers and developers. Research shows that while managers are more positive towards systems development methodologies, developers on the other hand seem to resist and not to use systems development methodologies in their entirety but instead adapt, tailor, modify and change them depending on the project at hand (contingent use). Systems development managers can exert power through a variety of influence bases. However, these power influences may be perceived differently by developers. While some might feel constrained, others might actually feel liberated by the existence of the same influence base. Main findings: IS managers are using systems development methodologies to gain control over team members. However, there was no clear perception on whether systems development methodologies were enslaving systems developers. This was indicated by the majority of the respondents neither agreeing nor disagreeing to that effect. The research showed that most organisations are adapting the use of systems development methodologies on a project to project basis, which is referred to as the contingent use of systems development methodologies. Research method followed: The positivistic research paradigm was used as it allowed the researcher to find out patterns and regularities between power, systems development methodologies’ use and success. A survey was conducted and a questionnaire was used for data collection purposes. Questionnaire data was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 21, Release 20.0.0 software package tools. Principal conclusion: Power is interpreted in terms of the type of power that can be exercised by IT professionals specifically IS developers and their respective managers at the workplace. The roles assumed and the different power types that may be exercised in organisations provide a link as to who has the final say when it comes to the use and success rate of systems development methodologies. The contingent use of systems development methodologies provides a form of “freedom” to systems developers. Based on the research findings, the research proposes an answer to the question – are systems development methodologies enslaving systems developers and empowering IS managers? / MSc (Computer Science), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Due to the fact that the function of dispensing is not the exclusive practice of a single profession, there is much conflict surrounding the issue: it forms the crux of the pharmacy profession but it also forms part of doctors’ scope of practice. Separation of the acts of prescribing and dispensing would prevent the interest of the doctor, who has the potential to profit from selling medicines, being placed above the interest of the patient. It would, however, also affect the essential services that many dispensing doctors provide to pensioners, unemployed patients, those not covered by a medical scheme and those in rural areas. The implications of doctor dispensing are not clear as conflicting evidence suggests that dispensing doctors prescribe more medicine items, injections and antibiotics while preferring certain brand names on the one hand but on the other, evidence shows that dispensing doctors dispensed less expensive medicines compared to other health care providers. The main objective of this study was to analyse the prescribing patterns of dispensing doctors and other medicine providers in a section of the private health care sector of South Africa for 2005 to 2008 by using a medicine claims database. A retrospective drug utilisation review was conducted by extracting data from a medicine claims database for a four–year period, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008. The results revealed that dispensing doctors had a lower cost per prescription compared to other health care providers (R112.66 ± R4.45 vs. R258.48 ± R23.93) and also had a lower cost per medicine item (R39.62 ± R2.18 vs. R112.43 ± R7.56) for the entire study period from 2005 to 2008. Dispensing doctors provided more items per prescription compared to other health care providers (2.85 ± 0.05 items vs. 2.30 ± 0.06 items) but other health care providers claimed more prescriptions per patient per year (7.50 ± 1.15 prescriptions vs. 3.29 ± 0.07 prescriptions). A higher percentage of generic medicine items were provided to patients visiting dispensing doctors. Dispensing doctors treated a majority of patients aged above 19 to 44 years of age while other health care providers treated a majority of patients above 59 years of age. Both dispensing doctors and other health care providers treated a majority of female patients and issued a majority of medicine items to treat acute conditions. The results also revealed that dispensing doctors generally provided relatively inexpensive medicine items, including generic and innovator items, for female and male patients of all ages while other health care providers showed the opposite trend and issued relatively expensive medicine items to these patients. However, when analysing the top twelve pharmacological groups claimed, dispensing doctors had relatively higher costs compared to other health care providers for nine of the pharmacological groups (central nervous system, analgesic, cardio–vascular, ear, nose and throat, dermatological, urinary system, antimicrobial, endocrine system and cytostatic). The pharmacological groups contributing to the highest number of medicine items and highest medicine cost contribution were the antimicrobial group for dispensing doctors and cardio–vascular group for other health care providers. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Due to the fact that the function of dispensing is not the exclusive practice of a single profession, there is much conflict surrounding the issue: it forms the crux of the pharmacy profession but it also forms part of doctors’ scope of practice. Separation of the acts of prescribing and dispensing would prevent the interest of the doctor, who has the potential to profit from selling medicines, being placed above the interest of the patient. It would, however, also affect the essential services that many dispensing doctors provide to pensioners, unemployed patients, those not covered by a medical scheme and those in rural areas. The implications of doctor dispensing are not clear as conflicting evidence suggests that dispensing doctors prescribe more medicine items, injections and antibiotics while preferring certain brand names on the one hand but on the other, evidence shows that dispensing doctors dispensed less expensive medicines compared to other health care providers. The main objective of this study was to analyse the prescribing patterns of dispensing doctors and other medicine providers in a section of the private health care sector of South Africa for 2005 to 2008 by using a medicine claims database. A retrospective drug utilisation review was conducted by extracting data from a medicine claims database for a four–year period, from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2008. The results revealed that dispensing doctors had a lower cost per prescription compared to other health care providers (R112.66 ± R4.45 vs. R258.48 ± R23.93) and also had a lower cost per medicine item (R39.62 ± R2.18 vs. R112.43 ± R7.56) for the entire study period from 2005 to 2008. Dispensing doctors provided more items per prescription compared to other health care providers (2.85 ± 0.05 items vs. 2.30 ± 0.06 items) but other health care providers claimed more prescriptions per patient per year (7.50 ± 1.15 prescriptions vs. 3.29 ± 0.07 prescriptions). A higher percentage of generic medicine items were provided to patients visiting dispensing doctors. Dispensing doctors treated a majority of patients aged above 19 to 44 years of age while other health care providers treated a majority of patients above 59 years of age. Both dispensing doctors and other health care providers treated a majority of female patients and issued a majority of medicine items to treat acute conditions. The results also revealed that dispensing doctors generally provided relatively inexpensive medicine items, including generic and innovator items, for female and male patients of all ages while other health care providers showed the opposite trend and issued relatively expensive medicine items to these patients. However, when analysing the top twelve pharmacological groups claimed, dispensing doctors had relatively higher costs compared to other health care providers for nine of the pharmacological groups (central nervous system, analgesic, cardio–vascular, ear, nose and throat, dermatological, urinary system, antimicrobial, endocrine system and cytostatic). The pharmacological groups contributing to the highest number of medicine items and highest medicine cost contribution were the antimicrobial group for dispensing doctors and cardio–vascular group for other health care providers. / Thesis (M.Pharm. (Pharmacy Practice))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Please read the abstract in the section 00front of this document / Thesis (PhD (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Computer games have not only invaded the lives of children, but the lives of adults as well. Increasingly, computer games have become a part of popular culture. Initially computer games were considered to be a waste of time, time that could have been better spent doing more worthwhile activities such as studying and physical exercise. Recently, however, attitudes towards computer games have changed; teachers, parents and researchers have started to regard computer games as a possible educational resource. During this new information age it is possible that the children who are part of the Net generation have started to think and process information differently, and that they may have different educational needs. Some researchers think that computer games may serve as an educational tool to support their learning. This literature survey provides an overview of current literature on computer games and education. The review examines the aspects of computer games that support learning, such as motivational factors, social interaction and learning through doing. Further, the review studies the negative aspects that prevent games from being accepted as an educational tool such as the violence portrayed, game addiction, negative stereotyping and asocial behaviour. The Net generation is also examined. The review looks at their characteristics, thinking patterns, skills and their expectations of education. The review then serves as a basis to provide some guidelines for the selection and usage of computer games in the classroom. / Dissertation (MEd (Computer-Integrated Education))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / unrestricted