Malaria is a disease affecting millions of people in 109 malarious countries and territories, causing approximately one million deaths annually. In 2004 one of the parasites causing human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, was among the leading global causes of death from a single infectious agent, especially in Africa (WHO, 2008:23). Treatment of this disease with single active pharmaceutical ingredients has led to the emergence of resistant P. falciparum parasites, resulting in the most severe form of this illness. Alarmingly, the poor quality of commercially available antimalarial products, especially in Africa, has increasingly been reported as a major cause of resistance to antimalarials. In Pakistan it was found that a P. falciparum epidemic that initially was attributed to drug resistance, was actually caused by substandard sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine products, causing a 50 times higher incidence of malaria in these areas than elsewhere (Leslie et al., 2009:1758). Other results indicated that up to 10% of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine tablets, sampled in six African countries, failed the assay test, whilst up to 40% failed the USP dissolution test. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 20 - 90% of products failed quality requirements during 1999 and 2000 in seven African countries (WHO, 2003:263). Cases like these have raised the awareness of the vast number of inferior products that are being distributed. The subsequent need for establishing mechanisms to proactively detect substandard medicines, specifically antimalarials, easily and effectively had indirectly led to the origin of this study, long before it was formally undertaken. Testing monographs for pharmaceutical products are developed to formalise, or standardise, the regulation of pharmaceutical dosage forms. Problems have, however, been reported with regards to the inadequacy of existing antimalarial monographs in assuring quality medicines, fit for their intended use. The WHO had requested the Research Institute for Industrial Pharmacy, incorporating the Centre for Quality Assurance of Medicines (RIIP®/CENQAM®), both operating at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North–West University, to develop monographs for three immediate–release antimalaria dosage forms, namely amodiaquine tablets, sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine fixed–dose combination tablets and mefloquine tablets. The undertaking of these projects, to develop specifications for the quality control of these pharmaceutical products, formed the object of this research study. Data had been accumulated since 2000, as a result of continuous requests by the WHO to help solve problems that had been experienced with analytical test methods, especially from manufacturers. These requests either led to the refinement of existing methods, or to the development of new ones. The success with which these outcomes were implemented worldwide, finally led to the decision to publish these research findings under the umbrella of this project. The proud product is a comprehensive package of tests for three commercial antimalarial products, the outcomes of which are hoped to contribute towards the combat against resistance formation to these important disease fighters. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Malaria is a disease affecting millions of people in 109 malarious countries and territories, causing approximately one million deaths annually. In 2004 one of the parasites causing human malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, was among the leading global causes of death from a single infectious agent, especially in Africa (WHO, 2008:23). Treatment of this disease with single active pharmaceutical ingredients has led to the emergence of resistant P. falciparum parasites, resulting in the most severe form of this illness. Alarmingly, the poor quality of commercially available antimalarial products, especially in Africa, has increasingly been reported as a major cause of resistance to antimalarials. In Pakistan it was found that a P. falciparum epidemic that initially was attributed to drug resistance, was actually caused by substandard sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine products, causing a 50 times higher incidence of malaria in these areas than elsewhere (Leslie et al., 2009:1758). Other results indicated that up to 10% of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine tablets, sampled in six African countries, failed the assay test, whilst up to 40% failed the USP dissolution test. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 20 - 90% of products failed quality requirements during 1999 and 2000 in seven African countries (WHO, 2003:263). Cases like these have raised the awareness of the vast number of inferior products that are being distributed. The subsequent need for establishing mechanisms to proactively detect substandard medicines, specifically antimalarials, easily and effectively had indirectly led to the origin of this study, long before it was formally undertaken. Testing monographs for pharmaceutical products are developed to formalise, or standardise, the regulation of pharmaceutical dosage forms. Problems have, however, been reported with regards to the inadequacy of existing antimalarial monographs in assuring quality medicines, fit for their intended use. The WHO had requested the Research Institute for Industrial Pharmacy, incorporating the Centre for Quality Assurance of Medicines (RIIP®/CENQAM®), both operating at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North–West University, to develop monographs for three immediate–release antimalaria dosage forms, namely amodiaquine tablets, sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine fixed–dose combination tablets and mefloquine tablets. The undertaking of these projects, to develop specifications for the quality control of these pharmaceutical products, formed the object of this research study. Data had been accumulated since 2000, as a result of continuous requests by the WHO to help solve problems that had been experienced with analytical test methods, especially from manufacturers. These requests either led to the refinement of existing methods, or to the development of new ones. The success with which these outcomes were implemented worldwide, finally led to the decision to publish these research findings under the umbrella of this project. The proud product is a comprehensive package of tests for three commercial antimalarial products, the outcomes of which are hoped to contribute towards the combat against resistance formation to these important disease fighters. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Gehaltediens lei tot effektiwiteit in enige organisasie. Die meting hiervan behoort 'n prioriteit te wees, maar geskikte, gevalideerde, wetenskaplike meetinstrumente hiervoor bestaan nie. Die algemene doel van die navorsing was die validering van 'n gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek ("Business Principles Orientation") vir die meting van klientediensvaardighede. In die literatuuroorsig is klientediens gedefinieer en vyf dimensies van gehaltediens gei:dentifiseer. Deur empiriese navorsing is die gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek ("Business Principles Orientation") se meting van klientediensvaardighede bepaal, deur dit afte neem op 'n steekproef van 28 kassiere in 'n supermark. Hierdie instrument is gekorreleer met die Servqual-vraelys. Die resultate dui op 'n swak verband tussen die veranderlikes van die Servqual-vraelys en gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek. Hiervolgens is die gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek en die ontwikkelingsverslag wat dit verskaf, nie geldig in die meting van klientdiensvaardighede nie. Aanbevelings ten opsigte van die instrument se verdere verfyning en navorsing word geformuleer. / Quality service leads to effectiveness in any organisation. The measurement of effectiveness should be a priority, but suitable, valid and scientific measurement instruments for this purpose does not exist. The general aim of the research was the validation of a computerized simulation technique ("Business Principles Orientation") for the measurement of client service skills. In the literature survey, quality service was defined and five dimensions of quality service identified. In the empirical research the measurement of client service skills through the use of the computerized technique ("Business Priciples Orientation"), was determined by testing it on a sample of 28 cashiers from a supermarket. This instrument was correlated with the Servqual-questionaire. The results show little correlation between the variables of the Servqual questionaire and computerized simulation technique. In terms hereof the computerized simulation technique and development report that it provides, is not valid in the measurement of client care skills. Recommendations for further refinement and research pertaining to this instrument is formulated. / Industrial & Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Bedryfsielkunde)

Gehaltediens lei tot effektiwiteit in enige organisasie. Die meting hiervan behoort 'n prioriteit te wees, maar geskikte, gevalideerde, wetenskaplike meetinstrumente hiervoor bestaan nie. Die algemene doel van die navorsing was die validering van 'n gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek ("Business Principles Orientation") vir die meting van klientediensvaardighede. In die literatuuroorsig is klientediens gedefinieer en vyf dimensies van gehaltediens gei:dentifiseer. Deur empiriese navorsing is die gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek ("Business Principles Orientation") se meting van klientediensvaardighede bepaal, deur dit afte neem op 'n steekproef van 28 kassiere in 'n supermark. Hierdie instrument is gekorreleer met die Servqual-vraelys. Die resultate dui op 'n swak verband tussen die veranderlikes van die Servqual-vraelys en gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek. Hiervolgens is die gerekenariseerde simulasietegniek en die ontwikkelingsverslag wat dit verskaf, nie geldig in die meting van klientdiensvaardighede nie. Aanbevelings ten opsigte van die instrument se verdere verfyning en navorsing word geformuleer. / Quality service leads to effectiveness in any organisation. The measurement of effectiveness should be a priority, but suitable, valid and scientific measurement instruments for this purpose does not exist. The general aim of the research was the validation of a computerized simulation technique ("Business Principles Orientation") for the measurement of client service skills. In the literature survey, quality service was defined and five dimensions of quality service identified. In the empirical research the measurement of client service skills through the use of the computerized technique ("Business Priciples Orientation"), was determined by testing it on a sample of 28 cashiers from a supermarket. This instrument was correlated with the Servqual-questionaire. The results show little correlation between the variables of the Servqual questionaire and computerized simulation technique. In terms hereof the computerized simulation technique and development report that it provides, is not valid in the measurement of client care skills. Recommendations for further refinement and research pertaining to this instrument is formulated. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M.A. (Bedryfsielkunde)