A thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M.Sc. in Physiotherapy at the Stellenbosch University. / Thesis (MSc (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background Albeit Virtual Reality (VR) has been shown to be a useful adjunct in the reduction of pain during burn care and therapy, the current VR systems are expensive and may not be economically feasible for developing countries such as South Africa, where health budgets are stringent. Objective The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of a lowcost VR system (eMagin Z800 3DVisor), used in conjunction with pharmacologic analgesics, on reducing pain and anxiety in adult burn injury patients undergoing physiotherapy treatment, compared to pharmacologic analgesics alone at a South African hospital. Study design Single-blinded, within-subject study design. Methods Pain and anxiety outcome measures were measured by a blinded assessor using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale and Burn Specific Pain and Anxiety Scale. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests as well as the Student’s paired t-test were used to analyze data. Main findings Eleven eligible adult burn injury patients consented to participate in this study (3 female, 8 male; median age 33 years: range 23-54 years). A marginal (p=0.06) to insignificant (p=0.13) difference between the two conditions (analgesics with VR and analgesics alone) in reducing pain was found. No significant difference (p=0.58) was found between the two conditions (analgesics with VR and analgesics alone) for anxiety. Interpretation There is a trend that a low-cost VR system, when added to routine pharmacologic analgesics, is an economically feasible and safe adjunct therapy and could be of considerable benefit if implemented into the current pain management regimen of burn injury patients at a South African Hospital. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond Ofskoon dit al bewys is dat Virtuele Realiteit (VR) ’n nuttige hulpmiddel is om pyn tydens die versorging en behandeling van brandslagoffers te verlig, is die huidige VR stelsels duur en dalk nie uitvoerbaar in ontwikkelende lande soos Suid-Afrika waar die gesondheidsbegrotings beperk is nie. Doel Om die uitwerking te bepaal van ’n laekoste VR stelsel (eMagin Z800 3DVisor) op die vermindering van pyn en angs by volwasse pasiënte met brandwonde wat fisioterapeutiese behandeling in ’n Suid-Afrikaanse hospitaal ondergaan. Studieplan ’n Enkel-blinde, binnesubjek-ontwerp. Metodes Volwasse proefpersone is opeenvolgend gewerf by die brandeenheid van die Tygerberg-hospitaal. Die laekoste VR stelsel, tesame met pynstillers, is ewekansig aan een helfte van die pasiënte in’n fisioterapeutiese behandelingsessie toegewys en die proefpersone is slegs een keer getoets. Die pyn en angs se resultaatmetings is deur ’n blinde meting gedoen deur die numeriese pynskattingskaal en die brandspesifieke pyn- en angsskaal te gebruik. Beskrywende statistieke, Chi-kwadraat-toetse en studente se gepaarde t-toets is gebruik om die data te analiseer. Bevindings Elf geskikte volwasse pasiënte met brandwonde het ingestem om aan die studie deel te neem, drie was vroulik en agt was manlik (mediaan-ouderdom 33; reeks 23-54). ’n Marginale (p=0.06) tot onbeduidende verskil (p=0.13) is gevind tussen die twee kondisies om pyn te verlig (met of sonder die toediening van VR). Wat angs betref, is geen beduidende verskille (p=0.58) tussen die twee kondisies (met of sonder die toediening van VR) gevind nie. Interpretasie Daar is ’n neiging dat ’n laekoste VR-stelsel, wanneer dit saam met die gewone farmakologiese pynstillers gebruik word, ’n veilige en ekonomiese praktiese adjunk therapie is en beduidend voordelig kan wees wanneer dit geïmplementeer word as deel van die huidige pynbeheerregimen van brandslagofferpasiënte by ’n Suid-Afrikaanse hospitaal.

Thesis (MScPhysio (Interdisciplinary Health Sciences))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Introduction In clinical physiotherapy, there is a growing importance for the accuracy and reliability of assessment and outcome measures. The purpose of this study is to develop a valid outcome measure for orthopaedic trauma inpatients. Item generation was done by conducting a systematic review of published functional outcome measures and patients' interview. Item reduction was conducted by using a panel of physiotherapists and patients. Objectives The overall study objectives were: 1) To determine if a functional outcome measurement scale for trauma inpatients exists and has been published; 2) To generate functional items for the construction of a new outcome measurement tool for trauma inpatients; 3) To construct a new outcome measurement tool for trauma inpatients and assess elements of validity and reliability (face and content validity, response to change, internal consistency and floor and ceiling effects) of the new developed outcome measure. Methodology Convenience sampling was applied to collect data from 35 trauma inpatients in trauma wards at Rashid Hospital in Dubai, UAE. 88% of the trauma inpatients were male (total sample n= 100), mean age =34.75, and the standard deviation = 14.46. 21 functional activity items were generated from the collated results of the patient interviews. Internal consistency reliability, responsiveness and floor and ceiling effect were assessed. Data analysis was conducted using Statistica Version 7. Results The final number of functional activity items included in the newly developed Functional Scale outcome measure was 29 activity items relevant for trauma inpatients. A Cronbach's alpha ranged between 0.76 and 0.97. The lowest alpha result was for the 'ADL' activities at follow-up (0.76). The highest alpha result was for 'out of bed' activity at admission and discharge (0.97). The response to change of the Functional Scale for trauma inpatients over time results illustrates that there was a significant difference in the mean scores over three administrations of 'Bed', 'Out of bed' and 'ADL' activity items of Functional Scale for trauma inpatients (p=O.OOOO). In general, there was no significant floor and ceiling effects at admission or discharge for 'bed', 'out of bed' and 'ADL' activities, except there was a floor effect noted at discharge for 'bed' activities and 'ADL' activities, and a ceiling effect noted at admission for 'out of bed activities' only. Discussion and Conclusion The newly developed Functional Scale outcome measurement for trauma inpatients has been shown to be internally consistent and appears to be valid with respect to response to change in this sample of trauma inpatients. The results of this study thus suggest that the Functional Scale for trauma inpatients may be an appropriate tool when the goal is the assessment of change in disability functions in trauma inpatients, although further psychometric testing may be required.

Bibliography / Thesis (PhD ( Interdisciplinary Health))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: It is increasingly being recognized that how intensive care services are delivered may have a greater impact on patient outcome than the individual therapies. Uncertainty regarding the optimal physiotherapy service provision model in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) exists. Methodology: The aims of this study were to 1) develop an evidence-based physiotherapy protocol; 2) validate the content of the protocol; and 3) conduct an explorative intervention trial to compare usual care to the estimated effects of providing a physiotherapy service guided by an evidence-based physiotherapy protocol by a dedicated physiotherapist. A systematic review process was used to synthesize the evidence in eight subject areas. The GRADE system was used to formulate best practice recommendations and algorithm statements. Forty-two experts from a variety of disciplines were invited to participate in a Delphi process. Finally, the evidence-based physiotherapy protocol was implemented in a surgical ICU over four three-week intervention periods by a group of research therapists. The outcomes measured included ventilator time, ventilation proportions, failed extubation proportions, length of ICU and hospital stay, mortality, functional capacity, functional ability and cost (using nursing workload as proxy). Results: Fifty-three research reports in eight subject areas were identified, 23 draft best-practice recommendations and 198 algorithm statements were formulated. The draft protocol consisted of five clinical management algorithms. Fifteen international research experts and twelve national academics in the field of critical care agreed to participate in the Delphi process. Consensus was reached on the formulation of 87% (20/23) recommendations and the rating of 66% (130/198) statements. The risk of an adverse event during the protocol care intervention period was 6:1000 treatment sessions (p=0.34). Patients admitted to the unit during the protocol care intervention period were less likely to be intubated (RR 0.16 95%CI 0.07 – 0.71; RRR 0.84 NNT 5.02; p=0.005) or fail extubation (RR 0.23 95%CI 0.05 – 0.98; RRR =0.77 NNT 6.95; p=0.04). The mean difference in the daily unit TISS-28 score between the two condition periods was 1.99 95%CI 0.65 – 3.35 (p=0.04). Patients managed by the protocol tended to remain in the hospital for a shorter time after unit discharge (p=0.05). There was no difference in the time spent on the ventilator (p=0.50), mortality (p=0.52) or in the six minute walk distance (p=0.65). In addition there was no difference in the proportion of patients who reached independence in any of the Barthel Index activities measured within 48 hours of discharge from the unit. Conclusions: The use of an evidence-based physiotherapy protocol for the comprehensive physiotherapeutic management of patients in a surgical ICU was feasible and safe. The preliminary results of this study suggest that a physiotherapy service, which is guided by an evidence-based protocol and offered by a dedicated unit therapist, has the potential to lower the cost of ICU care and facilitate the functional recovery of patients after unit discharge. This information can now be considered by administrators to optimize the physiotherapy service provided in ICU. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding: Daar word toenemend erken dat die wyse waarop dienste gelewer word, ‘n groter impak mag hê op die uitkoms van pasiënte as die spesifieke modaliteite in gebruik. Onsekerheid heers tans oor die optimale fisioterapie diens model om te volg in ‘n chirurgiese intensiewe sorg eenheid (ISE). Metodologie: The doel van hierdie projek was om 1) ‘n bewysgesteunde protokol te ontwikkel; 2) die geldigheid van die protokol te bevestig; en 3) om deur middel van ‘n eksploratiewe studie die uitkoms van pasiënte te vergelyk wanneer die fisioterapie diens gelewer word aan die hand van die bewysgesteunde protokol deur ‘n toegewyde fisioterapeut, teenoor wanneer die gewone fisioterapie diens gelewer word. Die empiriese bewyse in agt onderwerp areas is gesintetiseer na afloop van ‘n sistematiese literatuur oorsig proses. Die GRADE sisteem is gebruik om beste praktyk aanbevelings en algoritme stellings te formuleer. Twee en veertig kundige persone van verskeie disiplines is genooi om deel te neem aan die Delphi proses om die geldigheid van die protokol te bevestig. Uiteindelik is die geldige bewysgesteunde protokol oor ‘n tydperk van vier drie weke intervensie periodes deur ‘n groep navorsings terapeute in ‘n chirurgiese ISE geïmplementeer. Die tyd wat pasiënte geventileer is, die proporsie pasiënte wat geïntubeer en geherintubeer is in die tydperk, die lengte van ISE en hospitaal verblyf, mortaliteit, funksionele kapasiteit asook funksionele vaardigheid en koste (deur die verpleeg werkslading te gebruik as ‘n indikasie van koste) is gemeet. Resultate: Drie en vyftig navorsings verslae in agt onderwerp areas is geïdentifiseer, 23 konsep aanbevelings en 198 algoritme stellings is geformuleer. Die konsep protokol het uit vyf algoritmes bestaan. Vyftien internasionale en twaalf nasionale kundiges het die uitnodiging aanvaar om aan die delphi proses deel te neem. Konsensus is bereik vir die formulering van 87% (20/23) van die aanbevelings en die gradering van 66% (130/198) van die algoritme stellings. Die risiko vir ‘n ongunstige episode tydens die protokol intervensie periode was 6:1000 sessies (p=0.34). Pasiënte wat tydens die protokol intervensie periode tot die eenheid toegelaat is was minder geneig om geïntubeer te word (RR 0.16 95%CI 0.07 – 0.71; RRR 0.84 NNT 5.02; p=0.005) of om ‘n ekstubasie te faal (RR 0.23 95%CI 0.05 – 0.98; RRR =0.77 NNT 6.95; p=0.04). Die gemiddelde verskil in die daaglikse eenheid TISS-28 telling tussen die twee intervensie periodes was 1.99 95%CI 0.65 – 3.35 (p=0.04). Patiente wat tydens die protokol intervensie periode behandel is was geneig om vinniger uit die hospitaal ontslaan te word nadat hul uit die eenheid ontslaan is (p=0.05). Daar was geen verskil in die ventilasie tyd, (p=0.50) die mortaliteit (p=0.52) of die afstand wat pasiente in ses minute kon aflê binne 48 uur na ontslag uit die eenheid (p=0.65) nie. Daar was ook geen verskil in die proporsie pasiente wat onafhanklikheid bereik het in enige van die kategorieë van die Barthell Index instrument nie. Gevolgtrekking: Die gebruik van die protokol vir die omvattende hantering van pasiënte in ‘n chirurgiese eenheid is haalbaar en veilig. Die voorlopige resultate van hierdie studie dui daarop dat wanneer ‘n fisioterapie diens in ‘n chirurgiese ISE gelewer word aan die hand van ‘n bewysgesteunde protokol deur ‘n toegewyde fisioterapeut dit die potensiaal het om ISE koste te verminder en die funksionele herstel van pasiente na ontslag uit die eenheid te fasiliteer. Hierdie inligting kan nou deur administrateurs oorweeg word om ‘n optimale fisioterapie diens in ‘n chirurgiese ISE te verseker.

Thesis (MScPhysio (Physiotherapy))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / Information on the normal gross motor skills in a healthy population is important since normative data provides a benchmark for health professionals to evaluate deviations from the norm. The Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) was developed to assist with the motor assessment of young infants from birth through to independent walking. The validation of the Canadian cohort for the AIMS needs to be done with regards to infants in South Africa (Cape Town), before it can be utilised by health professionals working in Paediatric Health Care. To determine if the Canadian norms for the AIMS are valid for infants aged 4 - 18 months within the Cape Metropole, South Africa. A prospective descriptive study was conducted to validate the AIMS. A total of 67 infants from one private and one public institution participated in the study. Infants were assessed at 4, 8, 12 and 18 months of age with the AIMS. Results were analysed using ANOVA and t-tests to determine the relationship between age, ethnicity, gender and clinics.The AIMS gross motor scores of this sample of infants were not significantly different from the Canadian norms, bar at 4 months. Female infants performed significantly (p<0.05) better than males at four months. It was not possible to convert the 18 month old infants‟ raw scores into percentile rankings and therefore it could not be compared to the Canadian norms. The results yielded from this study indicate that the AIMS is a valid assessment tool for healthy infants from 8 - 12 months of age within the Cape Metropole, South Africa, however, care should be taken when infants‟ scores at 4 months are compared to the scores of the normative sample. The AIMS can therefore be used by health care professionals at the Baby Well clinics in the Cape Metropole to assess gross motor development in infants for this age group and can consequently refer infants who may display delays in motor development to appropriate paediatric specialists. The results from this pilot study also make provision for future in-depth research on the AIMS with a larger cohort and with more ethnic diversity.

Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nurse managers are responsible to staff different hospital units and departments with sufficient, trained and experienced personnel. Most critical care units in the private healthcare in South Africa are staffed below maximum workload levels and additional staff is supplemented when needed. Current staffing management strategies comprises the application of the patient acuity score, the utilisation of contracted agency staff and ward staff who assist occasionally in the critical care unit (CCU). The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of critical care nurses regarding staffing management within critical care units in private health care institutions in the Western Cape. The following objectives were set to: - explore the experiences of CCNs regarding staffing management strategies such as o the patient acuity score o the employment of ad hoc agency staff and o the utilization of ward staff A descriptive design with a qualitative approach was applied. A sample size of n=15 was drawn from a total population of N=377, using purposive sampling technique. A pilot-test was also completed. The trustworthiness of this study was assured with the use of Lincoln and Guba’s criteria of credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. All ethical principles were met. The findings of the study demonstrated that nurses perceive the workload in critical care units as heavy. The utilisation of the acuity score does not really assist in relieving the workload as managers tend not to consider the staffing requirements as predicted by the acuity score due to budget constraints. The enrolled nurses who assist occasionally in the critical care unit require supervision as well as ongoing development to ensure safe and quality patient care. Yet agency nurses were perceived as either extraordinary good or incompetent. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Verpleegbestuurders het die verantwoordelik om verskillende hospitaaleenhede en departemente met voldoende opgeleide en ervare personeel te voorsien. Die meeste kritieke sorgeenhede in Suid-Afrika word met minder as dan die maksimum werkladingsvlak beman en addisionele personeel word aangevul wanneer nodig. Huidige personeelbestuurstrategieë behels die toepassing van die pasiënt akuïteit telling, die gebruik van ingekontrakteerde agentskap-personeel en saalpersoneel wat per geleentheid in die kritiekesorgeenheid help. Die doel van die studie was om die ervaringe van kritieke-sorgverpleegsters ten opsigte van personeel bestuur binne die kritiekesorgeenhede in die privaat gesondheidsorginstellings in die Weskaap, te ondersoek. Die volgende doelwitte is gestel: - Om die ervaringe van kritieke-sorgverpleegsters aangaande personeelbestuur-strategieë te ondersoek, soos: o die pasiënt akuïteit telling o die gebruik van agentskapverpleegpersoneel en o die gebruik van saal personeel, te ondersoek ’n Beskrywende kwalitatiewe studie is toegepas. ’n Steekproef van n=15 is uit ’n totale populasie van N=377 getrek deur die doelgerigte steekproeftegniek te gebruik. ’n Loodstoetsing van die semi-gestruktureerde vraelys is ook gedoen. Die betroubaarheid van hierdie studie was verseker deur van Lincoln en Guba se kriteria vir geloofwaardigheid, oordraagbaarheid, betroubaarheid en bevestigbaarheid gebruik te maak. Daar is aan alle etiese vereistes voldoen. Die bevindings van die studie toon dat die verpleegpersoneel die werklading in die kritiekesorgeenheid as veeleisend ervaar. Die aanwending van die pasiënt akuïteit-telling dra nie werklik by tot verligting van die werklading nie, aangesien bestuurders weens begrotingsbeperkings neig om nie die personeelbenodigdhede soos deur die akuïteit-telling voorspel in ag neem nie. Die ingeskrewe verpleegsters wat per geleentheid in die kritieke-sorgeenheid hulp verleen, benodig toesig asook volgehoue ontwikkeling ten einde veilige en kwaliteit pasiëntsorg te verseker. Die agentskapverpleegpersoneel is egter as baie bekwaam of onbevoeg beskou.