The study is an exploratory investigation of Pentecostal pastors' perceptions on psychological distress, using grounded theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five senior pastors, of Pentecostal churches in Soshanguve township located near Pretoria in South Africa. Data was analysed using open, axial and selective qualitative research methods. Verification of the results by the participants enhanced the validity and reliability of the research. Results indicate that there seems to be certain similarities between the established frameworks in psychology and the worldview of pastors with regard to psychological distress. It seems as if the pastors share common views about psychological distress with the medical, interpersonal and cognitive schools of thought. Therefore, psychological distress would be regarded as impairment in the social and occupational life spheres. The pastors' referral patterns and strategies to deal with religious clients' psychological distress are discussed, as well as their limitations as mental health care workers for their communities. It is suggested that, to bring psychological services to the black community, psychologists form collaborative relationships with Pentecostal pastors. / Thesis (MA(Clinical Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Psychology / unrestricted

Research has shown that children born low birth weight (i.e., ≤2500 grams) and/or premature (i.e., birth prior to 37 weeks gestation) are at increased risk of experiencing developmental delays, as well as long-standing executive functioning and academic challenges. Despite these well-known risks, children born low birth weight are under-enrolled nationally in Part C Early Intervention (EI) services intended to support developmentally vulnerable children. Little is known regarding why EI enrollment is low in this high risk population, especially given children born LBW are readily identifiable as at increased risk of delays at birth. This study explored EI referral outcomes from a high risk infant follow up program serving children with complex early medical histories that place them at increased risk of experiencing developmental delays to determine how many children referred to EI were ultimately evaluated and enrolled in the program. This explanatory sequential mixed methods study included a quantitative phase characterizing the EI referral outcome and a qualitative phase consisting of interviews with families to explore the parent/caregiver's experience of the EI referral process. Data analysis included descriptive statistics to characterize the sample and Pearson Chi Square and independent samples t-tests to investigate child characteristics associated with successful referral. Qualitative interviews were transcribed and coded for themes in an iterative and cyclical fashion. Results indicate that only 62% of the children who were referred for EI services were evaluated by the program, with about the same percentage of those evaluated being found eligible (67%). Of those who were not found eligible, about a third of children should have qualified based on previous testing and/or medical conditions. However, these qualifying medical conditions were often not clearly documented on the referral form, and not all forms included documentation of the scores from developmental testing. There were also a significant number (71%) of Oregon children referred to EI but never evaluated who were likely to have qualified based on medical history and/or results from developmental testing. There were several key themes identified following analysis of the qualitative interviews. Most critically, the parent/caregiver's perception of the need for the EI referral was identified as an essential factor in facilitating a successful connection to EI. Other key themes included the need to honor the many different demands placed on the caregivers of these high risk children, as well as the necessity of providing clear explanation of the purpose of both the visit to the high risk infant follow up program and the EI referral. The Chronic Care Model is used as a framework for discussing implications for practice.

Title: The power of eWOM and online reviews on Generation Z - a quantitative study about to what degree do eWOM and online reviews influence Generation Z’s purchase intention regarding interior design in Sweden. Background: This thesis explains the influence of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) and online reviews on the purchasing intention of Generation Z, the world's largest consumer group, within the interior design industry in Sweden. As a result of their constant exposure to marketing through various platforms and social media, eWOM and online reviews have become increasingly influential in consumer purchasing intention. Purpose: The purpose of this research is to explain to what degree do eWOM and online reviews influence Generation Z’s (those born between 1995-2005) purchasing intention regarding interior design in Sweden. Method: The empirical findings were obtained using quantitative research with a deductive approach. Data collection was done through an online survey completed by participants born between 1995-2005 and did not exclude any other age groups. After analysing the findings through an independent sample t-test and Cronbach’s alpha test, they were compared and contrasted with the existing literature to determine their similarities and differences. Conclusion: Overall, this research contributes to our knowledge of consumer behaviour and provides guidance for companies and their marketers aiming to target Generation Z. Understanding the influence of eWOM and online reviews enables companies to adapt their marketing strategies to align with this generation's preferences and trust factors.

Introduktion: Depression är en sjukdom som drabbar stor del av världens befolkning vilket skapar ett stort lidande för den enskilde och samhället. Standardbehandlingen är antidepressiva läkemedel i kombination med psykologisk behandling. Social aktivitet på recept har setts som ett komplement till standardbehandlingen för att lindra symtom och adressera grundorsaken till psykisk ohälsa. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att ge en översikt över den senaste forskningen gällande social aktivitet på recept för vuxna med depression. Metod: En strukturerad litteraturstudie har genomförts som grundar sig på 22 både kvalitativa och kvantitativa originalartiklar. Sökningen genomfördes i databaserna PubMed, Web of Science, Europe PMC och PsycINFO. Tematisk analys enligt Braun & Clark (2006) användes för att identifiera och analysera återkommande teman och mönster imaterialet. Resultat: Den tematiska analysen skapade sex teman. Flertalet studier visade att social aktivitet på recept främjade livskvalitet, minskade depression och ökade självkänslan. Samtidigt visade några studier på liten eller ingen effekt i socioekonomiskt utsatta områden. Hälso- och sjukvårdens resurser minskade liksom användandet av antidepressiva läkemedel förutom bland vuxna över 65 år. Upplevelsen var att social aktivitet på recept skapade en känsla av meningsfullhet, ökad social gemenskap och ökad kontroll över sitt psykiska välbefinnande. Slutsats: Social aktivitet på recept kan vara en lämplig behandlingsmetod och hälsofrämjande insats för vuxna med depression. Effekten av social aktivitet på recept kan skilja sig mellan olika åldersgrupper och socioekonomiska förutsättningar, vilket är viktigt att betänka under implementeringsfasen. En förutsättning för remiss till social aktivitet på recept är att individen söker hjälp för sina besvär. / Introduction: Depression affects a large part of the world's population, which creates great suffering for the individual and the society. The standard treatment is antidepressants combined with psychological treatment. Social prescribing has been seen as a complement to the standard treatment for symptom relief and to address the root cause of mental illness. Aim: The aim of the study was to provide an overview of the latest research regarding social prescribing for adults with depression. Methods: A structured literature review was carried out based on 22 qualitative and quantitative original articles. The articles have been found in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, Europe PMC and PsycINFO. Thematic analysis according to Braun & Clark (2006) was used to identify and analyze recurrent themes and patterns in the material. Results: The thematic analysis resulted in six themes. Several studies showed that social prescribing improved quality of life, reduced depression, and increased self-esteem. Meanwhile, some studies showed small to no effect in socio-economically vulnerable areas. Health care resources and the use of antidepressants decreased, except among adults over 65. The experience was that social prescribing created a sense of meaning, increased social belonging and increased control over one's psychological well-being. Conclusion: Social prescribing may be an appropriate treatment method and health promotion intervention for adults with depression. The effect of social prescribing can differ between age groups and socioeconomic standard, which is important to consider during the implementation phase. A qualification for referral to social prescribing is that the individual seeks help for their problems.

There is ever-increasing pressure on school officials to provide a safe school environment that is conducive to learning. There is also a growing concern from teachers and administrators that many students are unrecognized for their continual appropriate behavior(s), in part, because of the attention consumed by both challenging students and students with exceptional talents and abilities. In response, a School-Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) approach is growing in popularity to address both of these issues. SWPBS is implemented across an entire school population and involves all individuals whether they are challenging, exceptional, or typical. The initial research shows encouraging results and supports the effectiveness of a School-Wide Positive Behavior Support program. This study focused on the development, implementation, and results of a SWPBS program at a rural high school. Data collected included office daily referrals, suspensions, expulsions, attendance, and the number of reinforcers (Mo-Bucks) distributed by staff. Outcome data indicated that compared to the year prior to the SWPBS program's implementation, there was a reduction in office daily referrals, a reduction in expulsions, and an increase in attendance. The results of this 3-year study supported the effectiveness of SWPBS as an intervention for reducing disruptive behaviors at the high school level for typical students as well as for students with special needs.

No / OBJECTIVES: Legislation and health policy enabling nurses and pharmacists to prescribe a comprehensive range of medicines has been in place in the UK since 2006. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical appropriateness of prescribing by these professionals. METHODS: A modified version of the Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) was used by 10 medical, seven pharmacist and three nurse independent raters to evaluate a sample of 100 audio-recorded consultations in which a medicine was prescribed by a nurse or pharmacist. Raters were current prescribers with recognized experience in prescribing. Consultations were recorded in nine clinical practice settings in England. RESULTS: Raters' analysis indicated that, in the majority of instances, nurses and pharmacists were prescribing clinically appropriately on all of the ten MAI criteria (indication, effectiveness, dosage, directions, practicality, drug-drug interaction, drug-disease interaction, duplication, duration, cost). Highest mean 'inappropriate' ratings were given for correct directions (nurses 12%; pharmacists 11%) and the cost of the drug prescribed (nurses 16% pharmacists 22%). Analysis of raters' qualitative comments identified two main themes: positive views on the overall safety and effectiveness of prescribing episodes; and potential for improvement in nurses' and pharmacists' history-taking, assessment and diagnosis skills. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses and pharmacists are generally making clinically appropriate prescribing decisions. Decisions about the cost of drugs prescribed and assessment and diagnostic skills are areas for quality improvement.

The present study attempted to assess the effectiveness of the Zimbabwean secondary school guidance and counselling services from school counsellors' and students' perspective. Available literature shows that students worldwide, including Zimbabwe, experience problems which schools should solve through the provision of guidance and counselling. It was therefore, important to the researcher to assess the effectiveness of the school guidance and counselling services in meeting students' concerns. The research design consisted of a literature and an empirical study. The survey method was used in the empirical study. A self constructed questionnaire was used. Three hundred and fourteen school counsellors and 636 students participated in this study. The SAS/STAT version 9.1 was used to analyse the data. One way and combined two way frequency tables were calculated. Ratios were calculated to establish the relative rating of each item. Chi-square tests were also calculated. The study revealed that there were differences between the level of the school guidance and counselling services in Zimbabwean secondary schools and the international arena. For example, school guidance and counselling services policy in Zimbabwe was not mandatory as compared to the international policies. The Zimbabwean school guidance and counselling services were not always planned for at the beginning of each year, Students and parents were not frequently involved in needs assessment while the services were not frequently evaluated in comparison with those in the international arena. The study also revealed that some biographical variables significantly influenced the way the respondents responded to given items while others did not. The study revealed that the majority of both school counsellors and students viewed the school guidance and counselling services as beneficial and school counsellors as effectively playing their role. The study further revealed that the effectiveness of the Zimbabwean secondary school guidance and counselling services was negatively affected by lack of resources and training in guidance and counselling and non-counselling duties performed by school counsellors. Recommendations for future approaches and strategies in secondary school guidance and counselling services in Zimbabwe are made. Areas for further research are proposed. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Psychology of Education)

A quantitative, descriptive, explorative design was applied to study the problems that hindered the Primary Health Care (PHC) nurses in rendering quality health care in the health facilities in Limpopo province South Africa. The sample consisted of 53 PHC nurses who completed a pre-tested questionnaire which covered various aspects related to the provision of quality PHC services. The data were analysed by computer using SPSS version 15 soft ware. The findings revealed that most of the problems could be attributed to financial constraints, poor budgeting, and shortage of staff to manage large number of patients, lack of enough support from other professional staff, unreliable referral systems and communication networks. PHC nurses work under difficult conditions and often have to improvise to care for patients, but unless more funds are allocated to rural health care facilities and these problems are addressed, more nurses will work under difficult circumstances. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this research is to identify the various levels of health care units, their relationships and the problems hindering an effective referral system. To achieve this goal, use is made of a case study of the West Rand area in Gauteng. The standpoint is that, to achieve Primary Health for all South Africans referral systems within health care units and levels must be reciprocal. It is argued that for Primary Health Care to be successful, it must satisfy the goal of affordability appropriateness and accessibility. Results from the research revealed that four health care levels, namely traditional healers, health NGOs, Clinics, and Hospitals. Though there is some degree of referral in the study area, it was observed that referrals in the study area were not reciprocal. Amongst the major problems identified as hindering an effective referral system in the study area, include lack of cooperation between health institutions, poor health infrastructure and communication network as well as lack of other health paraphernalia. The research also found that government policy towards some of the health institutions (Traditional healers) contributes to the inefficiency of proper referrals in the study area. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die oogmerk van hierdie ondersoek is om die verskillende vlakke van gesondheidsorgeenhede, hulonderlinge verbande en die probleme wat doeltreffende verwysings in die wiele ry, te identifiseer. Dit word gedoen aan die hand van 'n gevallestudie van die Wes-Randarea in Gauteng. Die uitgangspunt is dat doeltreffende Primêre Gesondheid vir alle Suid- Afrikaners afhang van resiprokale verwysingsisteme tussen gesondheidsorgeenhede en -vlakke. Suksesvolle Primêre Gesondheidsorg vereis bekostigbaarheid, toepaslikheid en toeganklikheid. Die ondersoek het vier gesondheidsorgvlakke aan die lig gebring: tradisionele genesers, gesondheids-nie-regerings-organisasies, klinieke en hospitale. Hoewel daar 'n mate van onderfinge verwysing in die studie-area bestaan, was dit nie wederkerig nie. Onder die vernaamste struikelblokke vir 'n doeltreffende verwysingsisteem tel swak samewerking tussen gesondheidsinstellings, gebrekkige gesondheidsinfrastruktuur en kommunikasienetwerk, en 'n skaarste aan ander gesondheidsmiddelle. Die ondersoek het ook bevind dat regeringsbeleid aangaande sommige van die gesondheidsinstellings (tradisionele genesers) bydra tot die ondoeltreffendheid van verwysings in die studie-area.

協同合作(collaboration)是一個以知識為基礎的互動及建構過程，從1990年中葉起在供應鏈中就被廣泛運用在各項議題中。協同供應鏈成員間的關係主要建立在專案上，彼此間可能沒有合作過的經驗，未來也可能沒有再次合作的機會；事實上，選擇值得信任的合作夥伴是協同供應鏈邁向成功的重要步驟。本研究發展了一個選取信任合作夥伴的模式，在於企業發現新的商業機會時，能選擇一個以往沒有合作經驗但具有高度初始信任(initial trust)的候選人。該模式主要採用聲譽系統(reputation system)和推薦網絡(referral networks)來選取最具有良好聲譽的候選人。我們的模式首先是利用推薦網絡蒐尋到與候選人合作過的第三者來取得候選人的主觀及客觀評選資料，接著利用蒐集到的資料計算出初始信任分數最高的候選人作為協同合作夥伴。在實驗中証實本研究確實可以協助企業選取到具有良好特質的候選人，同時本研究也找出了影響實驗結果的關鍵因素及其值。 / Collaboration is an interactive, constructive and knowledge-based process that has been widely discussed since the mid 1990s. Relationships among participants in the collaborative supply chain are based on projects; with participants have neither histories of interaction, nor any plan for future cooperation. However, selecting a right partner is a critical starting point for successful collaboration in supply chain management. This study develops a Reputation-Based Partner Selection Model (RBPS model) for selecting unknown collaborative partners to explore a new business opportunity, ensure that the partners have high levels of initial trust. The proposed model utilizes the referral networks and reputation system to identify the objective and subjective testimonies of partner candidates from third parties who had previously collaborated with the candidates. These information elements are aggregated into an initial-trust score, and the candidate with the highest score is selected to be a collaborative partner. The experiments were designed to test the model that can help the requestor enterprise to select a partner with the highest initial trust among multiple candidates. The results showed that the candidate, with fine temperament in three trust types (as competence, goodwill and predictability), was selected far more often than other competitors after multiple tests of computer simulations. Additionally, the critical factors and values that most affect the results of RBPS model to select the most reputable candidates were identified.