This research evaluates the factors that caused unprecedented high levels of non-performing loans (NPLs) in Chinese banks and the measures that have been taken to deal with them. In examining the surrounding issues recommendations are made, which might resolve or at least ameliorate China's non-performing loans problem. An extensive literature is drawn upon and a systematic examination of the factors that were responsible for China's NPLs is presented. The research aims and objectives, and the subsequent research themes were identified after conducting field research in Chinese banks. Six managers in Chinese banks were interviewed and their views on non-performing loans in their respective banks were obtained. These banks included: the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the China Construction Bank, the Bank of China, the Agricultural Bank of China, the State and Development Bank and Citic Bank. The results of the interviews were used to design the questionnaire, which was distributed to 16 different banks. These banks are broadly representative of the main types of bank within China and include four state-owned commercial banks, seven joint-stock commercial banks, three foreign banks, one policy bank and one city commercial bank. Content analysis and descriptive statistical techniques were used to analyse the data and the findings revealed that lending managers generally lack adequate incentives to make efficient lending decisions. Moreover, although political interference in bank lending is quite widespread within China, it is not the only issue and certainly not the major issue in explaining why managers have a tendency to select inefficient projects. The measures taken to deal with NPLs in Chinese banking are also examined and the findings suggest that these have not been totally effective in resolving the problem.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background: Neck pain is a condition that is becoming more common throughout the world and most people can expect to experience some degree of neck pain sometime during their life. There is a need for early diagnosis and follow-up of neck pain to assess a patient’s level of self-rated disability due to the escalating disability burden and compensation costs associated with neck pain. For this reason, disability questionnaires are increasingly used for clinical assessment and as an outcome measurement for the treatment of neck pain. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of disability questionnaires have thus become increasingly necessary when dealing with different cultural groups. Methods: This is a quantitative validity and reliability assessment study comparing the English versions of the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS) to their translated Afrikaans counterparts. The first step was to translate the questionnaires into Afrikaans. The translated questionnaires were then scrutinised and critiqued by an Expert group, who are fluent in both the Afrikaans and English languages, and back translated to English in order or establish their face validity. A small pilot study was conducted with the original and translated versions of the questionnaires to establish their content validity. The translated and original versions of the NDI and QVAS were given to a study group to complete with a suitable time delay between the completions of the questionnaires. The results from the study group were statistically analysed to establish concurrent validity and reliability. Results: There were 50 participants each completing one English NDI and QVAS and one Afrikaans NDI and QVAS. The results indicate high reliability for both the Afrikaans NDI (α = 0.900) and QVAS (α = 0.883). The Afrikaans NDI and QVAS are deemed reliable compared to their English counterparts. The results indicated a significant level of concurrent validity for both the NDI and the QVAS. Both the Afrikaans versions of the NDI and QVAS were deemed reliable and concurrent validity was established. The NDI and QVAS were successfully translated and the Afrikaans versions can now be used in the Afrikaans population as viable alternatives to the English NDI and QVAS. / M

Rationale: Chronic diseases represent an important health burden that often involves major adaptations to manage the disease on a daily basis. Health professionals, such as the family physician, can help a person acquire more power over his or her health (enablement). While it would be useful to measure patient perception of enablement by the family doctor with a valid questionnaire, existing tools present important gaps. Aim and objectives: This study aimed at developing a self-administered questionnaire to measure the perception of patients with chronic diseases of enablement by their family physician. The objectives were: 1) To deepen the conceptualization of enablement by validating the proposed conceptual framework with patients presenting with chronic diseases and to specify the relative importance of its dimensions; 2) To operationalise the dimensions by proposing indicators of these dimensions (pool of items); 3) To verify the content validity of the questionnaire. Methods: An exploratory sequential mixed-method research design was chosen. The descriptive qualitative study (objectives 1 and 2) used in-depth interviews with 30 patients aged 35 to 75 presenting with at least one chronic disease, having the same family doctor for at least one year and recruited through maximum variation sampling. Taped interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Miles and Huberman's mixed coding method (2003a). A three-round e-Delphi study (objective 3) involved 15 Canadian experts in family medicine, able to read in French. The experts scored the items proposed on a 9-point scale (1 = Inappropriate to 9 = Very appropriate) and could suggest rewording and additions. Items scored 7-9 by the experts were considered consensual and were not presented in the following round. Items that were not consensual after the third round were decided upon by the team of researchers. Results: The partnership (the trusting relationship and decisions to be taken) that develops over time was found to be a major component of enablement. The enablement role of the physician goes beyond the medical consultation to defend the interests and safety of the patient's journey through the healthcare system. The trusting relationship combined with a good knowledge of the person may help the family physician better understand and legitimize the various feelings experienced while offering realistic hope . The family physician is in a privileged position to help patients develop their own expertise . Sixty-six items classified into six dimensions were submitted to the experts during the first round of the E-Delphi method. The first round was completed by 13 experts: 21 items were consensual; 25 items were resubmitted without any modification; 16 items were modified and four were rejected. Forty-one items were submitted during the second round, completed by 13 experts: eight items were consensual; 20 items were submitted without any modification; 12 items were modified and one item was rejected. Thirty-three items were submitted during the third round completed by nine experts: 29 items remained intact; three items were modified and one item was rejected. Conclusion: An initial 61-item questionnaire is proposed.

A dissertation completed in partial compliance with the requirements for a Master's Degree in Technology Chiropractic, Durban Institute of Technology, 2006. / Neck pain is a common problem, globally, as well as in South Africa. Zulu is the first language of a very large proportion of the South African population, and as such, addressing the needs of this population group with respect to neck pain is a priority. Many reliable pain indexes exist in English to record the degree of disability with regards to neck pain. These are invaluable tools in aiding the health practitioner to assess the progress of treatment and the severity of the patient's disability. Two of the most credible and frequently used indexes are the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College Neck Disability Index (CMCC NDl) and the Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SFMPQ). However, no such scale exists in Zulu. The purpose of this pilot investigation was, firstly, to analyze and critique the Zulu translations of the CMCC NDl and the SFMPQ in order to establish their face validity. Secondly, to establish their concurrent validity ensuring that the translated questionnaires are specific and sensitive enough to use as tools in data collection when compared to their English counterparts. Thirdly, to make recommendations for further improvement in terms of the Zulu questionnaires and lastly, to make recommendations for further studies for improvement in terms of the use of these questionnaires as research tools amongst the Zulu speaking population of South Africa. Firstly, the CMCC NDl and the SFMP questionnaires were translated into Zulu by means of a focus group. These versions were then assessed by means of a focus (or discussion) group, to assess their face validity. Changes were made to the original translations according to the recommendations of this group. These versions were then assessed with regards to their concurrent validity with the original English versions. Fifty volunteers, who were literate in both English and Zulu and who have suffered with neck pain, filled in both the Zulu and English versions of both questionnaires. / M

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background: Neck pain is a condition that is becoming more common throughout the world and most people can expect to experience some degree of neck pain sometime during their life. There is a need for early diagnosis and follow-up of neck pain to assess a patient’s level of self-rated disability due to the escalating disability burden and compensation costs associated with neck pain. For this reason, disability questionnaires are increasingly used for clinical assessment and as an outcome measurement for the treatment of neck pain. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation of disability questionnaires have thus become increasingly necessary when dealing with different cultural groups. Methods: This is a quantitative validity and reliability assessment study comparing the English versions of the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and the Quadruple Visual Analogue Scale (QVAS) to their translated Afrikaans counterparts. The first step was to translate the questionnaires into Afrikaans. The translated questionnaires were then scrutinised and critiqued by an Expert group, who are fluent in both the Afrikaans and English languages, and back translated to English in order or establish their face validity. A small pilot study was conducted with the original and translated versions of the questionnaires to establish their content validity. The translated and original versions of the NDI and QVAS were given to a study group to complete with a suitable time delay between the completions of the questionnaires. The results from the study group were statistically analysed to establish concurrent validity and reliability. Results: There were 50 participants each completing one English NDI and QVAS and one Afrikaans NDI and QVAS. The results indicate high reliability for both the Afrikaans NDI (α = 0.900) and QVAS (α = 0.883). The Afrikaans NDI and QVAS are deemed reliable compared to their English counterparts. The results indicated a significant level of concurrent validity for both the NDI and the QVAS. Both the Afrikaans versions of the NDI and QVAS were deemed reliable and concurrent validity was established. The NDI and QVAS were successfully translated and the Afrikaans versions can now be used in the Afrikaans population as viable alternatives to the English NDI and QVAS. / M

The objectives of this dissertation were to: (1) discover whether commenters and non-commenters on an international marketing questionnaire differ based on sociodemographic, nationality, and personality characteristics; (2) determine whether commenters with greater life satisfaction are more likely to provide positive comments; (3) determine whether commenters differ in response styles due to their national background; and (4) discover whether commenters differ (based on sociodemo-graphic, nationality, and personality characteristics) in their propensity to comment on the design rather than on other questionnaire issues. An exploratory design was used to satisfy these objectives.

Title:Analysis of Physical Fitness of the Police of the Czech Republic Objectives:The main objective of this theses is to help find a solution of selected motoric ability among adults, particullary cadets, who study at the programm of Basic Professional Training at the Ministery of the Interior's school in Prague. Methods:To collect results of selected motoric abilities we used motoric test according to the UNIFITTEST 6 - 60. We used questionaires to collect basic data and data about physical and mental stress indicators. Results:We found out that performance of the Czech policemen is sometimes below average when compared with the general standards and that received data doesn't meet our expectation. Key words:Police of the Czech Republic, physical fitness, motoric ability, speed, strenght, endurance, motor tests, UNIFITTEST Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Title: Leisure-time physical activities of students of FTVS UK specialization TVS Aims: To obtain information about students of 3rd year undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport specialization TVS and their habits in leisure activities and sports. Compare the information about students learning the different specializations. Identify, describe and compare other factors affecting the participation of students on lemure-time physical activities and sports. Methods: Collection of information and the actual survey was conducted using questionnaires and document analysis. Subsequently, the results were analyzed using statistical methods and calculations. Results: The survey found that among students of different study directions are the differences in participation in leisure-time physical activities. Students of Sport specialization operate more in competitive sport than other directions, but don't lag behind in participation in leisure-time physical activities. Most aktive in these activities are students of direction Outdoor activities. Furthermore, it was found that with the advent of the high school students at changing habits and attitudes to sport. Students are less involved in competitive sport clubs and begin to pay more attention to sport in their own time and in...

Orientador: Nilton Carlos Machado / Resumo: Introdução: A Constipação Funcional (CF) constitui um distúrbio de alta prevalência em crianças, associada ao comprometimento na Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS), apesar de existirem poucos instrumentos específicos para avaliar este problema, e nenhum no português brasileiro. Objetivos: Desenvolver e validar um questionário específico de QVRS para crianças com CF, aplicado aos pais ou cuidadores. Métodos: Estudo observacional, transversal, em uma amostra de pais ou cuidadores de crianças de 5 a 15 anos de idade, com diagnóstico de CF, segundo os Critérios de Roma IV. O processo de desenvolvimento do questionário foi realizado em 10 fases, iniciando com geração dos itens relativos à constipação funcional, desenvolvimento de questionários preliminares, apreciação por 11 profissionais da saúde com atuação na área pediátrica, até o desenvolvimento de um questionário preliminar. Após identificar problemas ou incoerências pelos pesquisadores, as questões foram corrigidas, obtendo-se um questionário final (PedFCQuest-PR) com 26 perguntas, divididos em 4 domínios, cada uma com 4 opções de resposta tipo Likert, baseado nos acontecimentos das últimas 4 semanas. O PedFCQuest-PR foi aplicado simultaneamente ao questionário genérico Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Versão 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) a pais/cuidadores das crianças elegíveis para o estudo, assim como foram colhidos dados sociodemográficos, antropométricos e clínicos. Todos os dados foram compilados utilizando-se o progr... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Functional Constipation (FC) is a disorder of high prevalence in children, associated with impairment in Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). There are few specific instruments to assess this problem and none at all Brazilian Portuguese. Objectives: To develop and validate a specific HRQoL questionnaire for children with FC, applied to parents or caregivers. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study in a sample of parents or caregivers of children from 5 to 15 years of age, diagnosed with CF according to the Rome IV Criteria. The process of developing the questionnaire was carried out in 10 phases, starting with the Items generation concerning functional constipation, the development of questionnaires, assessment by 11 health professionals, and development of a preliminary questionnaire. After identifying problems or inconsistencies by the researchers, the questions were corrected, obtaining a final questionnaire named (PedFCQuest-PR) with 26 questions divided into four domains, each with 4 Likert type response options, based on the events of the last four weeks. The PedFCQuest-PR was applied simultaneously to the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL 4.0) to parents/caregivers of children eligible for the study, as well as sociodemographic, anthropometric and clinical trials. All data were compiled using the program GraphPad Prism version 7.0. The statistical tests were bicaudals and the level of significance considered at p <0.05. Results: The... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis (M.Sc.(Physiotherapy)), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, 2009 / Background Lower back pain (LBP) is a very prevalent and potentially disabling condition throughout the world not excluding South Africa. Most people in South Africa make use of Government hospitals making the results of this research applicable to the general population. Questionnaires like the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) are easy and effective research tools to assess disability from LBP but most of them are developed in English. In South Africa however, many people are often not literate in English or struggle to fill in a questionnaire correctly without some assistance. This is possibly due to the previous education system adopted by the Apartheid government, variety of different cultures and the 11 official languages. Objectives To formulate a culturally adapted English version of the ODI suitable for possible use in the Zulu speaking population. Secondly, to establish whether there is a relationship between the degree of assistance needed to fill in the questionnaire and the level of education of the subject. Thirdly, to measure the internal consistency of the modified ODI and lastly to identify inconsistencies when using a translator for data collection. Study Design Explorative cross-sectional study Methods Cultural adaptation of the ODI was done suitable for the Zulu speaking population. Recordings were made of the participants filling in the modified ODI to identify problematic questions and inconsistencies in translations offered by the research assistant. The amount of assistance needed for each participant was scored with a rating scale and relationships were shown with regards to level of education. The internal consistency of the modified ODI was determined. Results A culturally adapted English version of the ODI was produced and problematic phrases altered. Two groups were identified from the data collection process; the assisted (20) and the Independent group (36).Overall the assisted group had lower levels of education and needed up to 100% assistance with the questionnaire compared with the Independent group. The overall Internal consistency of the questionnaire was found to be 0.8183 (Chronbach alpha) which is considered as good reliability. Inconsistencies with translations were identified and reported. Conclusion A significant amount of the target population needed assistance when filling in the English ODI despite the cultural adaptation thereof. This may be due to lower levels of education and the fact that they were mostly schooled in Zulu. Making use of a translator may not be the most reliable form of data collection but keeping in mind the literacy levels in South Africa, it may be a more accurate way of collecting correct data from individuals compared with incurring massive costs in translating of documents into a target language.