Online LARPing has been practiced for a long time, but gained its popularity as the Covid-19 pandemic hit. However, online platforms have some drawbacks and limitations in various aspects, for example, in embodiment, in accessibility, etc. This thesis aims to gain deeper insights into factors influencing players in terms of embodiment during online LARPing and important features that future online LARP designers should pay attention to. This thesis is a qualitative research aiming to create design guidelines through empirical investigations of online LARPing. For the empirical investigations, the study embraced an ethnographic approach through participatory observations, complimented by analysis of scripts and interviews with writers. The study then used the findings from the empirical investigations to understand what make players feel more embodied during an online LARPing and let the results inform the creation of design guidelines that could bring a higher degree of embodiment to online LARPing. The work is mainly a design proposal or a design guidance intended for future online LARP designers, instead of building a new technology or a new prototype. The design guidelines aim to create comprehensive recommendations to bring out more embodiment while LARPing online.

Till akutmottagningen söker patienter i alla åldrar. Akutsjuksköterskan ska ha kunskap om och kunna omhänderta alla patienter som kommer till akutmottagningen. Pediatriska patienter har särskilda behov, deras fysiologi skiljer sig gentemot vuxna och de utgör därför en specifik patientgrupp. De kommunicerar och uttrycker sig inte heller som vuxna och kan redan i tidig ålder ge uttryck för smärta på sina egna sätt. Patientens aktiva deltagande varierar och patienten kan behöva olika former av stöd beroende på var i vårdprocessen de befinner sig. Det finns många faktorer som påverkar ett omhändertagande, både positivt och negativt. Syftet med studien var att belysa främjande och hindrande faktorer vid omhändertagande av barn på somatisk akutmottagning och utformades efter PEO (Population, Exposure, Outcome). Som metod användes en strukturerad litteraturöversikt med systematisk sökmetod. Resultatet av sökningarna i PubMed och Cinahl gav 15 artiklar med mixad ansats som analyserades med integrerad analysmetod. Det framkom sex huvudkategorier. Kommunikation och information med föräldrar som tar upp vikten av en öppen kommunikationsmiljö, informationsöverföring, sjuksköterskors centrala roll för kommunikation och att använda olika informationskällor för att underlätta kommunikationen. Under rubriken “kommunikation med barnet” framkom delaktighet i samtal om vårdprocessen, åldersanpassad kommunikation och information samt kommunikation om smärtupplevelser. Distraktion, smärtlindring, visad omtanke samt vårdmiljö var andra faktorer som visade sig påverka omhändertagandet av barn på somatisk akutmottagning. Slutsatsen från studien indikerar att omhändertagande av barn på somatisk akutmottagning kräver fokus på barnets delaktighet, familjecentrerad vård och kommunikation. Främjande faktorer kring omhändertagande är aktiv kommunikation, åldersanpassad och tillfredsställande information, distraktioner, snabb smärtlindring, anpassade vårdmiljöer samt visad omtanke. Hindrande faktorer är osäkerhet från närstående, lång väntan på smärtlindring och kommunikationssvårigheter. För ett effektivt och tillfredsställande omhändertagande av pediatriska patienter behöver hänsyn tas till de här främjande och hindrande faktorerna. / Patients of all ages come to the emergency department. The emergency specialist nurse must have knowledge of and be able to care for all patients who come to the emergency department. Pediatric patients have special needs, their physiology differs from that of adults and they therefore constitute a specific patient group. They do not communicate and express themselves like adults but can already at an early age express pain in their own ways. The patient's active participation varies and the patient may need different forms of support. There are many factors that affect emergency care, both positive and negative. The purpose of the study was to elucidate promoting and hindering factors in the care of children in somatic emergency departments and was designed according to PEO (population, exposure, outcome). The method used was a structured literature study with a systematic search. The result of the search in Pubmed and Cinahl yielded 15 articles with a mixed approach that were analyzed using an integrated analysis method. Six main categories emerged. Communication and information with parents that address the importance of an open communication environment, information transfer, nurse´s central role in communication and using different sources to facilitate communication. Under the heading "communication with the child", participation in conversations about the care process, age-appropriate communication and information and communication about pain experiences emerged. Distraction, pain relief, caring and care environment were other factors that were found to affect the care of children in somatic emergency departments. The conclusion from the study indicates that caring for acutely ill children requires a focus on the child's participation, family-centered nursing and communication. Promoting factors regarding emergency care are age-appropriate information, distractions, rapid pain relief, adapted care environments and shown consideration. Impeding factors are uncertainty from relatives, long waits for pain relief and communication difficulties. For good emergency care of pediatric patients these promoting and hindering factors need to be taken into account.

Malaria is a major public health problem in under developed countries especially countries undergoing war or conflict due to breakdown of health system and exposure of the vulnerable population through displacement. The knowledge, practice and attitude (KAP) of community members have direct influences on malaria preventive measures. A quantitative, explorative and descriptive study was conducted among rural communities of Mundri East County using interview schedules to ascertain malaria related knowledge, practices and attitude and the common factors hindering the malaria control measures at house hold level. Data were collected from 68 respondents from the randomly selected household through personal interviews using a pre-tested interview schedule which was analysed using the SPSS version 15 computer soft ware program. Most of the respondents demonstrated some understanding of malaria as a disease, its transmission, prevention and treatment, although there is a need to improve this through the preferable and acceptable community channels as well as the methods of accessing the modern and scientifically proved and acceptable methods. Given the relatively moderate acceptability of malaria control measures used by the participants in Mundri East County, there is need to conduct further research on the practical implemented measure including the local herbs used for preventive and treatment of malaria Understanding the factors that inhibits or promotes the malaria control measures at community level is necessary for better planning and implementation of malaria intervention programme, which keeps complex and sensitive matters such as educational background, religious and cultural beliefs, and political affiliations in mind. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Career success has become one of the most central issues in the 21st century as the nature of careers has undergone major changes over the past two decades. The change in perception that has taken place in terms of the nature of work has led to increased uncertainty about career development as a construct and as a practice. Career success has therefore become not only of interest and concern for individuals, but also a priority to organisations as the realisation of employees’ personal goals and success can eventually contribute to the realisation of the organisation’s goals and successes. Therefore the general objective of this study was to explore the experience and conceptualisation of career success among South African executives. This study utilised a qualitative research design with an exploratory approach to investigate executives’ conceptualisation and experience of career success. A non-probability purposive, voluntary sample of 24 participants was drawn from two seperate international financial organisations with offices located in Johannesburg. The data collection process was performed through semi-structured individual interviews and the verbatim transcriptions that were captured from these interviews, were analysed using content analysis. The twelve main themes that were extracted from the interviews are set out as follow: general conceptualisation of career success; executives’ personal meaning associated with career success; transformation of perceptions; future goals of executives; factor’s influencing executives’ career success; personality attributes related to career success; contributing factors to the career success of executives; hindering factors in career success; potential for experiencing turnover intention; consequences of career success; role of the organisation; and prerequisites for career success. It is crucial that organisations be made more aware of the significance of executives’ conceptualisation and experience of career success (as highlighted within this research).This is especially the case when considering future career and succession planning and mapping. Organisations should be familiar with the potential influencing and hindering factors (e.g. lack of opportunities, lack of support, organisational culture, etc.). They should be prepared to address the adverse impact that these factors could have as obstacles to employees and particularly for executives to attain career success. If these hindrances are not addressed it could lead to increased job dissatisfaction and consequently increased turnover intention. They should also be alert to the contributing factors and other factors conducive to career development (e.g. support and buy-in from organisation, or being given challenges and opportunities) that facilitate career success. By providing an environment that helps career development along, the experiece of career success is increased. This can lead to various positive outcomes, such as increased job performance, organisational commitment, employee engagement, career satisfaction and talent retention. Talent retention is particularly important as one can gather from the data collected among the executives. Thus, in order to retain them as valuable employees, it is crucial to address and fulfil their career needs accordingly. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Career success has become one of the most central issues in the 21st century as the nature of careers has undergone major changes over the past two decades. The change in perception that has taken place in terms of the nature of work has led to increased uncertainty about career development as a construct and as a practice. Career success has therefore become not only of interest and concern for individuals, but also a priority to organisations as the realisation of employees’ personal goals and success can eventually contribute to the realisation of the organisation’s goals and successes. Therefore the general objective of this study was to explore the experience and conceptualisation of career success among South African executives. This study utilised a qualitative research design with an exploratory approach to investigate executives’ conceptualisation and experience of career success. A non-probability purposive, voluntary sample of 24 participants was drawn from two seperate international financial organisations with offices located in Johannesburg. The data collection process was performed through semi-structured individual interviews and the verbatim transcriptions that were captured from these interviews, were analysed using content analysis. The twelve main themes that were extracted from the interviews are set out as follow: general conceptualisation of career success; executives’ personal meaning associated with career success; transformation of perceptions; future goals of executives; factor’s influencing executives’ career success; personality attributes related to career success; contributing factors to the career success of executives; hindering factors in career success; potential for experiencing turnover intention; consequences of career success; role of the organisation; and prerequisites for career success. It is crucial that organisations be made more aware of the significance of executives’ conceptualisation and experience of career success (as highlighted within this research).This is especially the case when considering future career and succession planning and mapping. Organisations should be familiar with the potential influencing and hindering factors (e.g. lack of opportunities, lack of support, organisational culture, etc.). They should be prepared to address the adverse impact that these factors could have as obstacles to employees and particularly for executives to attain career success. If these hindrances are not addressed it could lead to increased job dissatisfaction and consequently increased turnover intention. They should also be alert to the contributing factors and other factors conducive to career development (e.g. support and buy-in from organisation, or being given challenges and opportunities) that facilitate career success. By providing an environment that helps career development along, the experiece of career success is increased. This can lead to various positive outcomes, such as increased job performance, organisational commitment, employee engagement, career satisfaction and talent retention. Talent retention is particularly important as one can gather from the data collected among the executives. Thus, in order to retain them as valuable employees, it is crucial to address and fulfil their career needs accordingly. / Thesis (MCom (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013.

Malaria is a major public health problem in under developed countries especially countries undergoing war or conflict due to breakdown of health system and exposure of the vulnerable population through displacement. The knowledge, practice and attitude (KAP) of community members have direct influences on malaria preventive measures. A quantitative, explorative and descriptive study was conducted among rural communities of Mundri East County using interview schedules to ascertain malaria related knowledge, practices and attitude and the common factors hindering the malaria control measures at house hold level. Data were collected from 68 respondents from the randomly selected household through personal interviews using a pre-tested interview schedule which was analysed using the SPSS version 15 computer soft ware program. Most of the respondents demonstrated some understanding of malaria as a disease, its transmission, prevention and treatment, although there is a need to improve this through the preferable and acceptable community channels as well as the methods of accessing the modern and scientifically proved and acceptable methods. Given the relatively moderate acceptability of malaria control measures used by the participants in Mundri East County, there is need to conduct further research on the practical implemented measure including the local herbs used for preventive and treatment of malaria Understanding the factors that inhibits or promotes the malaria control measures at community level is necessary for better planning and implementation of malaria intervention programme, which keeps complex and sensitive matters such as educational background, religious and cultural beliefs, and political affiliations in mind. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

No description available.

Objectifs. Les services hospitaliers d’urgence sont souvent engorgés, et les visites pour des raisons de santé mentale (SM) y contribuent particulièrement. Au Québec, les grands utilisateurs de ces services en SM ont contribué en 2014-15 à près de la moitié du volume des visites aux urgences en SM. Or, le recours fréquent aux urgences par les mêmes patients témoigne généralement d'une inadéquation des services offerts à ces derniers. Pour mieux desservir ces patients et améliorer l’efficacité de l’urgence, il est crucial de mieux comprendre les facteurs facilitant ou entravant les services d’urgence dans leur réponse aux besoins des grands utilisateurs de ces services. Cette étude vise ainsi à identifier les facteurs qui facilitent ou entravent l'efficacité des services d'urgence à répondre aux besoins des grands utilisateurs de ces services en SM (3+ visites/année). Méthode. L’étude utilise un devis qualitatif basé sur la méthode d’étude de cas unique; le cas étant une urgence d’un institut universitaire en SM. Les participants provenaient de l’urgence, d’autres services de l’hôpital (ex. : module d’évaluation-liaison) ou étaient des partenaires de l’urgence du territoire (ex. : centres de crise). L'analyse des données a été guidée par un cadre conceptuel composé de quatre catégories de facteurs facilitant ou entravant l’efficacité de l’urgence, reliés au système de santé, à l’organisation des services, aux professionnels de la santé et aux profils des patients. Résultats. Plus d'entraves que de facteurs facilitants ont été relevées, qui étaient principalement liées au système de santé, comme l'indisponibilité des services en SM et la complexité de la gestion des services, ainsi qu'aux profils des patients, comme certains profils cliniques. Les facteurs facilitants étaient surtout liés aux caractéristiques organisationnelles, notamment les innovations implantées à l'urgence ou en partenariat avec l’urgence, bien que globalement peu déployées. Conclusion. En explorant les facteurs pouvant influencer l'efficacité de la réponse aux besoins des patients grands utilisateurs des services d'urgence en SM, cette étude prépare le terrain pour des recherches futures qui examineront et démontreront l'impact de ces facteurs. Cela permettra de mieux comprendre comment optimiser la réponse aux besoins de ces patients. Mots clés : urgence, grands utilisateurs, santé mentale, facteurs facilitants ou entravants, efficacité, réponse aux besoins / Objectives. Hospital emergency departments (ED) are often overcrowded, and mental health (MH) visits contribute particularly to this situation. In Quebec, frequent users of emergency services accounted for nearly half the volume of ED visits for mental health reasons in 2014-15. Frequent recourse to ED by these patients generally reflects the inadequacy of services available to them. To better serve these patients and improve the ED effectiveness, it is crucial to better understand factors that facilitate or hinder ED services in responding to needs of their frequent users. Thus, this study aims to identify facilitators and barriers to ED effectiveness in meeting the needs of high ED users (3+ visits/year) with mental health issues. Method. The study is based on a qualitative investigation, using a single case study method. The case was an emergency at a mental health university institute in a large urban center of Quebec. Participants came from the ED, other hospital departments (e.g., assessment-liaison module), or were partners of the ED in the territory (e.g., crisis centers). Data analyses were guided by a conceptual framework consisting of four categories related to the health care system, organization of services, health care professionals, and patient profiles, with possible facilitating or hindering factors to ED effectiveness subsumed under each category. Results. More barriers than facilitators were identified, most of which were related to the healthcare system (e.g., the unavailability of MH services and the complexity of ED management), but also to patient profiles (e.g., certain clinical characteristics). The facilitators were mainly related to organizational characteristics, notably innovations implemented in, or in partnership with, the ED, although few were deployed overall. Conclusion. By exploring factors that can influence effectiveness in meeting the needs of high ED users, this study sets the scene for future research that would examine and demonstrate the impact of these factors. This will help us to better understand how to optimize the response to these patients' needs. Keywords: emergency department, frequent users, mental health, facilitating or hindering factors, effectiveness, response to needs

MENVSC / Department of Ecology and Resource Management / The main objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of municipal solid waste management system, its potential implication in Vhembe District Municipality, South Africa and to recommend strategies for effective management of municipal solid waste in the district. To achieve this, structured questionnaires, interviews, field observations and focus group discussions were used to collect primary data within the district. The study focused on the four local municipalities: Makhado, Thulamela, Musina and Collins Chabane. Desktop study was also undertaken to gather secondary data by reviewing journals, technical reports, books and articles. The study adopted a mixed method approach comprising of triangulation of qualitative and quantitative design. The target groups of the study were selected through purposive sampling. The respondents in the study were 21 officials from local municipalities including directors, waste managers, superintendents, landfill supervisor and interns. Data was collected using focus group interviews and questionnaires and analysed using descriptive statistics which involve the presentation of numerical facts, or data, in either tables or graphs form. Municipalities in the district are producing a considerable amount of solid waste. Municipalities do not adhere to the existing guidelines on waste minimization at source, for example; they do not have zero waste strategy (3R) reduce, reuse and recycle, which is the highest priority of the National Waste Management Policy. Lack of the application of existing waste management policy leads to large amount of solid waste eventually ending up in landfill sites. The study recommends to municipalities to develop operational and monitoring waste management plans which will create continuous improvement on waste management. In the district, it was observed that the bulk of waste generated per month within municipalities is general waste comprising 64%, as compared to garden waste and building rubbles. There are no equipment and programs in place by municipalities to encourage waste separation at source, for example, municipalities do not have household‟s recyclable receptacles to encourage separation at source. Municipalities do not have weighbridge to quantify waste entering the site. It was observed that Thulamela and Collins Chabane Local municipalities create compost from garden waste received at the landfill sites, whereas Musina and Makhado Local Municipalities do not create compost from garden waste. Garden waste is dumped and compacted with other waste materials in the landfills. All municipalities should create compost from garden waste received at the landfill sites as it helps to extend the life span of the landfills because it v reduces the amount of waste to the landfill. There is lack of prioritization within municipalities, for example, in Makhado Local Municipality, when the new financial start, budget is allocated to other proposed projects by councilors as they consider waste management projects not a priority. It was observed that within the district, there is high level of illegal dumping in catchment areas and open spaces especially at Musina Local Municipality. Musina Local Municipality is using a quarry as disposal site which was not lined and it has led to contamination of underground water by leachate, whereas Thulamela, Collins Chabane and Makhado Local Municipalities are using lined landfill sites to avoid contamination of underground water. The available vehicles within the municipalities are not enough to meet the demand and some of them are too old, for example, tractors and trucks used by Makhado Local Municipality are 20 years old and they often breakdown, whereas Thulamela, Collins Chabane and Musina Local Municipalities are not using old vehicles as they auctioned old vehicles and bought new ones. Vhembe District Municipality should manage waste in accordance to the new approach of source separation, waste reduction, reuse and recycling by developing environmental awareness programmes supported by the placement of the recyclable receptacles at strategic points to collect recyclable materials which will reduce large amount of waste which eventually ends up in landfills. The study recommends that municipalities should have law enforcement structure which will create and enforce the laws/policies as it helps municipalities to implement effective waste management system and monitoring structure to monitor prioritization and budget allocation to avoid any wastage. Municipalities should have landfill monitoring committees to facilitate the compliance on the development and operation of the landfills to avoid the use of quarry as landfill sites. / NRF