Thesis (M. Communication Pathology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Summary in English and Afrikaans. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Thesis (MSW(Social Work))-University of Pretoria, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Arch.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Includes special study report entitled : Palliative design for terminal ill patients. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration and Dept. of Sociology. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2005. / "A dissertation in public affairs and administration and sociology." Advisor: Robert D. Herman. Typescript. Vita. Title from "catalog record" of the print edition Description based on contents viewed June 23, 2006. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 194-204 ). Online version of the print edition.

The thesis identifies a multiplicity of existing challenges and dilemmas in the hospice care field, such as the increasing demands, limited access, difficulties caused from people with life-limiting conditions living at home and other concerns. The thesis proposes a way of combining the advantages of Serious Games and mobile apps to possibly solve some challenges, namely, a digital app designed for patients from a Serious Game perspective, which could be a complement of current hospice care services and assist in remote hospice care. The analysis of existing resources exposes a lack of hospice care apps containing game elements and designed for patients. The thesis therefore formulates two criteria and conducts a review of apps in health & fitness category in the Swedish App Store. Criterion 1 is for identifying the apps and functions that meet the needs of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Criterion 2 is for making sure the functions selected containing game elements. The thesis identifies and lists 85 eligible functions and provides brief summaries and analyses. These outcomes can be considered as Reference functions for improving existing hospice care apps and inspiring future researchers and designers.

Bereavement intervention is subsumed within palliative programme philosophy which encompasses the family as the unit of care and provides a continuum of care that extends beyond the death of a family member. There is no available research on the effect of post-bereavement intervention within palliative programming, and very limited research exists that evaluates the effect of intervention on bereavement outcome. This exploratory study endeavors to differentiate bereavement outcome between two populations having palliative/hospice program support but only one choosing to participate in bereavement follow-up. A mixed strategy of quantitative and grounded theory approaches provided an expanded analysis through which meaning structures and time/process parameters for grieving individuals were explored. The study extended from idiosyncratic data into the realm of larger systemic interactions. An important finding was that the amount of time for preparation for the death of a family member is crucial. Other mitigating factors influencing the grief outcome were social support, network viability, and age. / Arts, Faculty of / Social Work, School of / Graduate

The aim of this study sets out to better understand nephrology nurses’ lived experiences of dying and deaths of patients with ESKD following withdrawal of dialysis. A qualitative research design using an interpretative phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of a purposive heterogeneous sample of eight nephrology nurses who were working in private dialysis units. Information was gathered by phenomenological conversations and feed-back sessions. Colaizzi’s phenomenological method was employed to formulate four main themes: 1. Emotional trauma 2. Detachment 3. Loss of altruistic values in nursing 4. being-with-death For the participants in this study, emotional trauma was the most significant. The participants experienced a sense of powerlessness which caused emotions of hopelessness and anger and subsequently a sense of premature mourning and detachment. This state of hopelessness proved to be an obstacle in patient care, resulting in the altruistic values of nursing to be no longer applied. The participants’ ontological confrontation of being-with-death was evident, as they came to terms with the reality of their own death. Recommendations are offered to address the educational aspects of death and dying for nephrology nurses. This study endorses the need for further research into patients with ESKD ‘end-of-life’ which can influence how healthcare professionals should treat these patients during this phase.

No description available.

MA, Faculty of Humanities (Social Anthropology), University of the Witwatersrand, 2001