Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Health care educators'

During the past 20 years, the number of children and youth with neurological disorders attending schools has increased dramatically. There are two reasons for this increase. First, medical advances have resulted in more children and youth with neurological disorders surviving. Second, in the past, children with disabilities and health care needs were cared for in hospitals and residential institutions. Since 1975, however, federal legislation has mandated that all children with disabilities be provided a free appropriate public education in the nation's schools and in general education classrooms whenever possible.Unfortunately, school administrators and classroom teachers are not trained in how to accommodate students with neurological disorders. The medical literature provides information regarding the medical aspects of neurological disorders. However, neither the medical literature nor the educational literature provides the specialized knowledge and skills administrators and teachers need to plan for and provide appropriate educational and health related services to children with neurological disorders. This dissertation addresses the need to provide teacher and administrators with practical information about accommodating students with neurological disorders in schools.The purpose of this project was to develop a resource manual which describes the impact of students' neurological disorders on their education. This "user-friendly" resource manual can be used by teachers, administrators, and support staff in developing individualized educational programs for children and youth with neurological disorders. The manual focuses on six neurological disorders about which school personnel have limited knowledge. Section One includes a historical overview of the education of children with neurological disorders and the legislation which mandates that schools must provide all children with disabilities an appropriate education. Section Two describes each neurological disorder by presenting the definition of the disorder and its associated physical and cognitive conditions. Section Three addresses accommodations teachers can use in classrooms to meet the individual physical, cognitive and health care needs of these children.

Thesis (M.S. in human nutrition)--Washington State University, December 2009.
Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb. 11, 2010). "Program in Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism." Includes bibliographical references.

Many elderly adults have fears and concerns regarding sexuality, including the impact of chronic disease on sexual function. Typically, society has negative attitudes toward elderly sexual expression with misconceptions, negative stereotyping and myths compounding ageist perceptions that the elderly become asexual with age. Thus knowledge of and attitudes toward sexuality in the elderly has become an area of interest over the past several decades. In an attempt to promote sexual expression as a right for the elderly and physiological changes viewed in terms of positive adjustment, White (1982) developed an instrument to determine knowledge of and attitudes towards sexuality of elderly people. The Ageing Sexual Knowledge and Attitude Srale (ASKAS) is designed to measure the knowledge of and attitudes toward sexuality held by elderly individuals, or any group of people who have an impact upon the sexual expression of elderly people. This current study seeks to determine the koowledge of and attitudes toward sexuality in the elderly among educators of health care professionals. Demographic and experiential variables of respondents (n=360) were compiled to determine their ability to predict knowledge of; attitudes toward; and the koowledge and attitude relationship of sexuality in the elderly. Lecturers in medicine (n~25), m(n~l 09), ocoupational therapy (n~33), physiotherapy (n~30), psychology (n~93) and social work (n~53) from within Australia, New Zealand and South Africa volunteered as participants. The existence of a weak but significant relationship between knowledge and attitudes of sexuality in the elderly was found. Age was found to be the singular variable predictive of attitude. No differences across country or profession of the respondent were found. A discussion of the implications of the knowledge and attitude relationship is given.

Health care reform has been a controversial topic in America since the early 1900s (PBS, 2010). Today, the United States spends more on health care than any other industrialized nation (National Center for Health Statistics, 2011), but despite spending more, the U.S. has 46.3 million citizens who are uninsured (CDC 2009). To date, only two studies were located that analyzed health educators' behaviors related to health policy (Cooper, 1986; Holtrop, Price, & Boardley, 2000) and no studies were found using qualitative research designs to study health educators' experience with and recommendations for any policy issues, including health care reform issues. The purposes of this study were to explore recommendations from health educators for health care reform in relation to the different levels of the determinants of health ecological model and to examine potential new roles for the health education profession in achieving an effective health care system. An interpretive approach was used to gain contextualized, value-laden, specific knowledge from health educators to understand and interpret their perceptions about what needs to be in place on multiple levels for health care reform to be successful, and the Healthy People 2020 determinants of health ecological model (USDHHS, 2011) was used to elicit their perceptions. Twelve online, chat room focus groups and two online, chat room interviews were held with CHES and MCHES certified health educators over a three-week period. Three overarching themes emerged from the data: prevention, health literacy, and a focus on larger levels of the determinants of health ecological model. In addition to the overarching themes, recommendations were made at each level of the determinants of health ecological model, participants suggested an increased role of health educators in the medical and political setting, and responses revealed that participants in this study were involved in many advocacy experiences. Results of this study suggest that this group of health educators wants to see health care become a right for everyone. Participants want prevention and health education to become a social norm in society and a visible component of health care reform policies in the United States. Basically, there is a real need for our health care system to change into a system that does not focus on treatment after people get sick, but one that focuses on preventing illness and promoting wellness throughout the lifecycle and at multiple levels. Recommendations for the health education profession include compiling priority recommendations into a position statement or white paper to influence policy makers and politicians in Washington D.C. If health educators can become an interest group supporting health care reform proposals that include prevention and health education, then maybe they can influence health policies that promote their recommendations and ideals.

This prospective, exploratory, single case study is about health care simulation as a learning approach for faculty to develop as teams of interprofessional facilitators. The research was aimed at understanding how simulation-based team training, designed around an interprofessional theme, promotes both teamwork and interprofessional facilitator competencies among participants representing 6 health care professions (medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant and pharmacy). The central research question asked how faculty attitudes, knowledge, and skills/behaviors in the areas of teamwork and interprofessional education (IPE) facilitation are characterized after experiencing a faculty development workshop designed as interprofessional simulation based team training (IP-SBTT). Four sub-questions focused inquiry into the workshop’s: use of TeamSTEPPS^®, unique instructional design, impact on the peer-to-peer attitudes of faculty, and impact on faculty’s personal perspectives about simulation-based learning (SBL).

The examined case was the shared experiences of 9 faculty who participated in a 2-day, 14-hour workshop conducted in a university based simulation center. The workshop entailed immersion in team-based scenarios involving IPE issues. Learning objectives focused on facilitation skills. Data from multiple sources included video recordings of all activities, media material, observation notes/tool, surveys and a focus group interview. An iterative analysis of the evidence employed the use of HyperRESEARCH, qualitative data analysis software for video and text. Twelve key findings are based on triangulation of the frequency of coded behavioral markers on 12.5 hours of video, quantitative and qualitative data from post-simulation survey data, as well as focus group interview results.

Triangulation via analysis using 3 theoretical constructs lead to the study conclusions which are presented in 3 thematic clusters: (a) IP-SBTT enhances attitudes of mutual trust and team orientation, and the knowledge achievement of shared mental models; (b) the TeamSTEPPS framework is an effective approach to developing teams of IPE facilitators, and the Tension Triangle framework closely aligns with SBL components; and (c) Interprofessional-Meta-Simulation Based Team Learning (IP-M-SBTL) fosters an increased awareness of the emotional vulnerability associated with SBL, and enhanced self-reflection skills, increasing competence in interprofessional facilitation. The IP-M-SBTL model for faculty development is strongly recommended for building teams of interprofessional facilitators.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD
The mental health care environment is a stressful environment because of the environment, perceived unpreparedness of students and the emotional demands placed on the students which are inherent in the nature of the work. The use of the self as a therapeutic tool also presents challenges for students. Whilst researchers have identified supportive interventions and strategies to address students support needs in mental health care settings, these interventions/strategies focus on meeting clinical learning objectives with the assumption that if the student learning needs are met, they will feel emotionally supported. Literature and experience indicates that it is imperative that in this field of study, students should be prepared to cope emotionally with the demands of mental health work. The aim of this research was to develop a model of emotional support for student nurses working in mental health care settings. A theory-generating design based on a qualitative, explorative and descriptive research approach was used to achieve the aim of the study. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants namely: students, educators and clinical staff who met the eligibility criteria. A sample of 40 students, nine educators and nine clinical staff who worked in the four psychiatric hospitals and community mental health clinics in the Western Cape participated in the study. Data collection was by means of focus group interviews (students) and indepth individual interviews (educators and clinical staff). Data was analysed by means of Tesch’s method of content analysis. The model was developed by means of the four steps of the theory generation process. Step one was concept development which consisted of two sub-steps namely concept identification and concept definition. A total of 22 concepts were identified which was further synthesised into six main concepts. The main concepts which were used to develop the model were: positive self-concept; positive work environment; academic and professional development; effective communication; formal and informal supportive interventions and collaboration between the Higher Education Institution and the mental health care setting. Step two of the theory generating process was model development. These main concepts were placed in relation with each other which formed an emotional support model for students working in mental health care settings. Step three was model description. The model was described using the three phases of interpersonal communication namely orientation phase, working phase and the termination phase. A visual application of the model which depicts the main concepts, the process and the context was shown. Step four dealt with the development of the guidelines for the implementation of the emotional support model. A critical reflection of the model was done using five criteria for model evaluation according to Chinn & Kramer. Trustworthiness of the data was ensured by means of applying Guba’ model of truth value, applicability, consistency and neutrality. Reflexivity was used by the researcher to further enhance trustworthiness. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from the relevant authorities. The ethical principles of respect for human dignity, beneficence and justice were applied throughout the study. Limitations were identified and ecommendations for nursing practice, education concluded the study.

The purpose of this study was to deepen understanding of collaborative partnerships between early childhood educators and parents, with a focus on promoting healthy eating to children. The study took a predominantly qualitative approach, with in depth case studies of two long day care services. Interviews, observations and policy analysis were conducted to explore policies, procedures and practices of ECEC services in relation to healthy eating, educators’ and parents’ perceptions of their roles, and barriers and enablers to communication. The findings of this study have implications for both the early childhood and nutrition sectors.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to evaluate the self-efficacy of novice nursing and allied health educators as it pertains to their overall desire to enhance their knowledge of educational instruction. Many nursing and allied health faculty transition from clinical practice to teaching with little to no formalized knowledge in education (Cangelosi, 2014; Gresham-Anderson, 2015). Bandura’s (1977a) theory of social learning and self-efficacy was utilized as the theoretical framework for the study. This study was guided by four research questions used to investigate how the self-efficacy of nursing and allied health professionals changed as participants became more experienced educators, the types of learning opportunities the contributors participated in, and the supports and barriers novice educators faced when making the transition from being a practitioner to becoming a teacher. A survey was utilized to gain the data needed. A total of 202 surveys were sent to allied health personnel in higher education institutions in a Midwest state. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. In the findings, most of the survey respondents noted their self-efficacy was lower when entering the teaching field as compared to working in their designated allied health field. However, by participating in self-directed learning, professional development, and mentoring, the survey respondents noted self-efficacy increased as they became more skilled as instructors. Implications for practice included providing a formalized orientation process, investment in faculty development, as well as mentoring for novice teachers. Future research studies could gain a more comprehensive understanding of the barriers novice educators face when transitioning from clinical practice to academia and the steps taken to improve self-efficacy.

This study was undertaken to determine the degree of relationship in perceptions held by three health care administrative groups between the desirable and actual role functions of the hospital nursing service administrator. This descriptive study surveyed hospital Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), and Nursing Service Administrators (NSAs) in 100 randomly selected general hospitals, and chairpersons of graduate programs in nursing service administration. The instrument for this study was the Beliefs Concerning Role of Hospital Nursing Service Administrator, a 12-item instrument designed to determine some of the desirable (optimal) and actual (currently performed) role functions of the hospital Nursing Service Administrator (NSA), as perceived by the three health care adminstrative groups in the study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data gathered from the 12 position statements, warranting the following conclusions: (1) The Cramer's V measure of association revealed little or no association among Chief Executive Officers, Nursing Service Administrators, and Chairpersons on the 12 role functions perceived as desirable (or necessary for optimal effectiveness) for the individual currently in the position of Nursing Service Administrator. (2) The Somers' d measure of association revealed that little or no association existed between the Chief Executive Officers' and the Nursing Service Administrators' perceptions on the 12 role functions currently performed by the Nursing Service Administrator. (3) The Somers' d measure of association revealed that little or no association existed between the size of the hospital and the total responses of the hospital personnel to each of the 12 role functions perceived as desirable (or necessary), and those currently performed by the Nursing Service Administrator (NSA). (4) The Cramer's V measure of association revealed that little or no association existed between the type of control of the hospital (ownership) and the total responses of the hospital personnel to each of the 12 role functions perceived as desirable (or necessary), and those currently performed by the Nursing Service Administrator. (5) Demographic data from the Nursing Service Administrators in the study who held the master's degree in nursing revealed greater than half indicated that the master's in business administration would have been the best type of preparation for their current position. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)

Families of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) and disabilities who lived in rural communities faced a variety of economic, social, and environmental challenges. Bronfenbrenner (1979, 2005) in his Bioecological Theory of Human Development offered an insightful lens for understanding the nested environments in which these families interact. This model was used as the overarching framework for this dissertation. The three manuscripts contained in this dissertation have included analyses of the involvement and participation of families of CSHCN and disabilities in the creation of a medical home located in a rural southwestern border community. These studies were critical for the medical home professionals - family involvement was at the core of the medical home philosophy. The overarching purpose of this dissertation was to set the foundation for successful family participation and feedback in the medical home. Within the first manuscript, I used the Medical Home Family Index to discover families’ (a) perceptions of interactions with medical professionals and (b) ratings of the quality of care within the medical home. Families of CSHCN (N = 92) completed the Medical Home Family Index and descriptive statistics as well as Chi-Square analyses were completed. Significant associations between families’ home languages and the amount of time the CSHCN had been receiving services at the medical home and the families’ responses were found. No associations between the children’s ages and the families’ responses were found. Recommendations for medical home professionals to complete the partner index, the Medical Home Index, were included. The purpose of the second manuscript was to examine the support needs of families of CSHCN and disabilities. Relationships between the severity of the children’s special health care needs and disabilities and the potential services they required were explored. For this study, a small sample (N = 25) of families of CSHCN completed the Family Needs section of the Center for Medical Home Improvement Family Survey, an in-depth, five-part survey designed to have families report on the services and supports that their CSHCN actually received. Families of CSHCN identified the need for therapies to be provided within the community. Findings from this study supported the creation of a pilot program in which parents were active participants in an intensive summer program designed to address the language and communication needs of their children. The purposes of the third manuscript were to (a) conduct research in two settings - a rural medical home and the families’ natural environments, (b) identify families’ perceptions of a targeted summer language intervention program, and (c) determine what changes in young children’s communication skills could be measured when parents were active members in a targeted summer language intervention program. For the third study, fourteen children with language delays and their families participated. Children were assessed using the Battelle Developmental Inventory-2nd Edition or the Preschool Language Scale-4th Edition. Intervention was conducted within a pediatric medical home and families continued the intervention at home. For both test results, the treatment had a significant effect. All families indicated a strong desire to continue the program and families who were most concerned with their children’s language were most satisfied with the program. This pilot program model was an example of ways that interventions could be extended successfully beyond traditional settings.

A quasi-experimental design was used to examine the differences in myocardial infarction (MI) patients' self-care behaviors, satisfaction, knowledge, and feelings of security after participation in a structured cardiac teaching program presented by one designated patient educator. Thirty subjects diagnosed with first time uncomplicated MIs were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15) which received conventional unstructured teaching. Four self-report questionnaires were developed and used. Patient satisfaction with teaching was greater for the experimental group (t = -2.65; df = 28; p ≤ 0.05). No differences were found between groups regarding information retained at time of discharge from the hospital or two weeks later, or in readiness for post-hospital self-care. Self-care behaviors were improved clinically in both groups, but somewhat more in the experimental group. The findings suggest this structured cardiac teaching program presented by one designated patient educator enhanced patient satisfaction and may have improved self-care.

Thesis (MPhil)-- Stellenbosch University, 2013.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: At the core of clinical education, within the allied health professions, is the teaching-learning relationship between the clinical educator and the student which is reinforced by and grounded in the explanatory theories of socio-constructivism, experiential learning and positioning. A good teaching-learning relationship is fundamental to the success of the students’ learning in the clinical environment. Clinical educators fulfil a dual role as mentors and assessors to students. The purpose of this study is to explore the students’ and clinical educators’ perceptions of the dual role of a clinical educator of students in the physiotherapy clinical environment, and how the perceptions of both parties influence the teaching-learning relationship. By following a phenomenological qualitative research approach with an interpretivist paradigm the researcher obtained data from focus groups and individual interviews. Data analysis involved a contextualised interpretive content analysis paradigm. The perceptions of the participants in the teaching-learning relationship, their particular expectations, challenges and preferences, reflect their experiences and are presented in the findings of the study. The findings of this study are comprehensively discussed and recommendations are made to transform the teaching-learning relationship by repositioning the participants (both students and clinical educators) in order to enhance the quality of the clinical learning experience within the physiotherapy clinical environment.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onderrig-leerproses-verhouding tussen die kliniese dosent en die student vorm die kern van kliniese onderrig, ondersteun deur en op grond van die verduidelikende teorieë van sosiale konstruktivisme, leerervaring en posisionering, vir verwante gesondheidsberoepe. Die onderrigleerproses- verhouding word daarom beskou as die grondslag vir die sukses van leergeleenthede, aangesien die kwalitiet van die verhouding deurslagggewend is om studente se leerproses in die kliniese omgewing te ondersteun. Kliniese dosente speel ‘n dubbele rol as mentors en assessore vir studente. Die doel van die studie is om studente en kliniese dosente se sienings van die dubbele rol van ‘n kliniese dosent van studente binne die kliniese onderrigveld van fisioterapie in die kliniese omgewing te ondersoek, asook hoe die persepsies van albei partye die onderigleerproses- verhouding beinvloed. Die data word verkry van fokusgroepe en individuele onderhoude deur ‘n fenomenologiese kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering met ‘n interpreterende paradigma te volg. Die data is ontleed volgens ‘n kontekstuele interpreterende inhoudsontledingsproses. Die persepsies van die deelnemers aan die onderrig-leerprosesverhouding, hul spesifieke verwagtinge, uitdagings en voorkeure as drie breë temas van hierdie tesis, weerspieël hul ervarings en word weergegee in die bevindings van die studie. Die navorsing bespreek hierdie bevindings en doen regstellende aanbevelings oor die bevindings. Hierdeur kan die onderrig-leerproses-verhouding, deur herposisionering van albei partye (studente sowel as kliniese dosente), getransformeer word en die gehalte van die kliniese leerervaring in die fisioterapeutiese kliniese omgewing verbeter word.

Thesis (MTech (Environmental Health and Occupational Studies))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016
Currently, the world faces many challenges such as a food shortages, fossil fuel depletion, floods, earthquakes, recession, wars, and climate change. It also faces diseases such as Human Immune Deficiency Virus /Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome /Sexually Transmitted Infections and Tuberculosis (HIV/AIDS /STI and TB). This study focused on HIV/AIDS/STI and TB, and the impact of changes in sexual behaviours of student peer educators as a result of peer education programmes offered by the HIV/AIDS Unit at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT). Although young people today have a better understanding of risky sexual behaviours, HIV remains a health problem among the youth in South Africa. HIV/AIDS is a disease that affects all sectors of the population- rich and poor, young and adult, educated and uneducated. Tertiary institutions are places where many young female and male students live independently, unsupervised by their parents or guardians, in either private accommodation or student residences. Under these circumstances it may be expected that some students will explore and experience intimacy in their relationships. Hence, universities could play a vital role in shaping students’ attitudes and behaviours towards relationships, safer practices, and respect for others. Given the current absence of a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS, peer education should appear as an important tool in HIV prevention strategy. It draws on several well-known behavioural theories and many researchers view peer education as an effective behavioural change strategy. A formal structured Peer Education Programme was initiated and implemented at the HIV/AIDS Unit at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) since 2004. This initiative was in line with one of the twelve strategic objectives of the HIV/AIDS Unit at the CPUT. This study therefore, aimed to assess the reflexive effect that the Peer Education Programme had on student peer educators who volunteer their services at the HIV/AIDS Unit at CPUT. It further attempted to assess the effect of the Peer Education Programme on changes in sexual behaviours that could occur amongst student peer educators. The purpose of this programme was to explore peer educators who were based in the HIV/AIDS Unit applying their acquired knowledge and skills; so that they may become role models for their peers by practising what they taught, and not taught what they proposed to practice. The study furthermore, forms on how effective the Peer Education Programme of CPUT’s HIV/AIDS Unit is in changing sexual behaviours of the student peer educators.

In this study a process evaluation of the action planning process of the HealthKick programme in disadvantaged primary school settings in the Western Cape was conducted. A qualitative methodology was adopted to best determine the experiences of the participants and the underlying factors involved. Four schools were randomly selected to participate. Four focus group discussions were conducted with educators, and four in-depth interviews were conducted with principals and champions at schools, (champions are either an educator or school governing body member selected to be the driver of the project at each school, as well as the liaison person between the school and the HealthKick project team). Semi-structured interview guides were used to steer the discussions. Interviews and focus groups were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. The data was thematically analysed with the assistance of Atlas ti computer software. The results of this study indicated that the action planning process did not take place as designed by the project team. Several challenges were identified and experienced by participants. The results further indicated that the challenges of time, workload and competing priorities were intrinsically linked. Positive experiences were also reported and various enablers to the process were identified, such as the facilitation process, the receipt of the resource toolkit as well as the complementary nature of the HealthKick curriculum to the normal academic curriculum.

The purpose of this study is to describe the perceptions of medical educators regarding the care perspective and to examine implications for medical ethics education. After many years of being omitted from the theory of medical ethics, the care perspective is beginning to emerge in theoretical discussion. Work to date does not tell us whether or how physician-educators view or use the care perspective in medical practice and/or in medical ethics education. Yet it is physician-educators who influence the content and focus of medical ethics education. In this exploratory, qualitative study, in-depth focused interviews were conducted with ten physician-educators who teach medical ethics at one academic medical center. A systematic multiple level analysis of participants' responses led to the identification of themes, patterns and interrelationships of data which were supported by case stories. The study yielded thick, rich narrative descriptions and the original commentary was retained to preserve the language, imagery and reflections of the physician-educator's experiences, styles and approaches. The findings suggest that some physician-educators use several different approaches to the medical ethical decision making process including the care perspective. They believe the care perspective: is implicit in medical practice; is essential and should be made explicit in the medical ethical decision making process, where as an ethical approach, it may avert certain ethical dilemmas and even lawsuits; must be made explicit in medical ethics education, both in the classroom and clinical setting; and instruction should be extended over the entire period of a medical student's education. The purpose of this study is to learn how the care perspective is regarded, understood and used, if at all, by physicians who are directly involved in medical ethics education. While the findings contribute to a larger understanding of the place of the care perspective in medical practice and in medical ethics education, they also raise new questions that suggest further study.

D.Cur.
Nurse educators have a multifaceted and ambiguous professional as well as personal role. They teach nursing theory, accompany student nurses in the clinical area and are expected to carry out research. Very few — in the nursing colleges — are actually involved in scientific study and relate this to unavailability of resources like sponsorship and time, to support such efforts. Added to this is their personal role as spouse or partner, as parent, as significant other and as friend. Faced with the challenges of the change from curative to the primary health care approach to health services delivery, and according to provincial legislation, the restructuring and rationalisation of health services, induding rationalisation of nursing colleges, the nurse educator is negatively affected by these changes and gets stressed. As a result of the complex and changing social, economic and political dimate, these challenges pose a threat to the nurse educator, who perceived herself as being unable to cope. Change occurs continuously in nursing, and therefore in nursing education, because of the dynamic health care system. Change, for better or for worse, can be stressful. It puts big demands on a person's ability to cope. The nurse educator in this changed climate, being unable to cope, gets stressed, and if any stressful situation is allowed to progress to distress, the health — mental, physical and spiritual — of the nurse educator might be adversely affected. Supporting the nurse educator to cope with this change may help her to accept the dynamic changes taking place around her. Learning to cope will not only give nurse educators control over their lives and well-being, but would leave them free to concentrate on helping themselves and others and teaching student nurses. The purpose of this research was to generate and describe a support approach and to describe guidelines to operationalise the support approach, for the psychiatric nursing clinical specialist to utilise for the nurse educator who is working in a nursing college that is earmarked for rationalisation, in order to promote, maintain and restore mental health as an integral part of health. Based on the above discussion, the following questions were addressed in this research: How do nurse educators experience life in all its dimensions? What support do they think they should receive? What approach can be described to support the nurse educator? What guidelines can be described to operationalise the support approach? A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was followed. The research was conducted in four phases with a pilot study preceding the first phase of the research. In phase one, phenomenological interviews were conducted with seven nurse educators to explore their experience of life in all its dimensions. Data was analysed according to Tesch's method. Based on the results of analysed data, fear and uncertainty, anger and hope/hopefulness were the identified themes. In phase two, focus group discussions were held with the same group of nurse educators to explore their views on what could be done to support them. Selfmanagement, justice and fairness and enrichment were the identified themes. In phase three themes from phase one and phase two were utilised to form a bridge, leading to the description of an approach to support nurse educators. Phase four dealt with the description of guidelines to operationalise the support approach. Recommendations and limitations of the research were also discussed.

This qualitative research study examined the patient education experience from the point of view of health care professionals, namely doctors of chiropractic in the Greater Toronto Area practicing for up to ten years. Health care professionals’ views and beliefs of this important aspect of health care have not been well studied. Patient education is defined as, “the process by which patients learn or acquire knowledge about his/her health status or condition and may involve learning in the cognitive, affective, and/or psychomotor domains.” The study explored eight participants’ views on the nature of patient education in their early and current practices by examining their feelings, beliefs, and use of patient education, its role in their practices, as well as the perceptions of their roles as patient educators. Two semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of the participants. The transcribed interviews underwent detailed qualitative analysis to determine response trends and consensus. The key findings revealed that the participants felt that, while they were well prepared in their undergraduate curricula to diagnose and treat patients, they were not as well prepared to be effective patient educators when they entered practice. Early in their careers, they did not understand or appreciate patient education’s importance and value as a component of their practice. Over time, their beliefs and understanding of patient education changed and participants reported that with experience, they began to value patient education to a greater extent. Changing values reflected changing behaviours. For example, participants increased their time and efforts related to patient education with increased clinical experience. A variety of teaching aids were used with wall charts/posters, three dimensional anatomical models, printed materials and images from textbooks being among the most common. Most of the teaching described by the participants would be characterized as transmission with a one-way flow of information from the doctor to the patient. To a great extent, patient education involved speaking with individual patients. Participants reported encountering, throughout their careers, intrinsic and extrinsic barriers that interfered with the effectiveness of their patient education. The findings suggest that curricular planners for health care professional programs, and specifically for chiropractors, might consider developing content aimed at improving students’ patient education knowledge and skills.

M.Cur.
The rationalization of nursing colleges was implemented to change the manner in which the state institutions were administered for the purpose of improving service delivery, reduce state expenditure and maximize the utilization of these state institutions by making them accessible to all eligible users. The nurse educators’ experiences in this regard had to be explored and described because people react differently even to the best of intentions. The following research questions that gave direction to the research study were formulated. • What are the experiences of the nurse educators following the rationalization of the nursing colleges in Gauteng? • What are the supportive guidelines that can be formulated to assist the nurse educators cope in the nursing college that has undergone the rationalization process? The purpose of the research was to describe the supportive guidelines that might assist the nurse educators cope in the receiving nursing college that had undergone the process of rationalization. The objectives that would enable the fulfillment of the research purpose were formulated. The objectives of the study were: • To explore and describe the experiences of the nurse educators in a nursing college that has undergone the process of rationalization. • To conceptualize the experiences of the nurse educators • Describe the supportive guidelines to assist the nurse educators cope in the nursing college that has undergone the process of rationalization. A qualitative, contextual, exploratory, descriptive and phenomenological research design was used to address the research questions and objectives (Mouton 1998). The study was conducted in two phases. Phase one focused on the description and exploration of the nurse educators’ experiences following the rationalization of nursing colleges in Gauteng. Phase two focused on the conceptualization of findings and the description of the supportive guidelines. The method of selecting the participants of the study was purposive so that participants who met the criteria could be included in the study. The sample was obtained from the target population of thirty six nurse educators who were deployed from the nursing colleges that were closed down and those who were employed in the nursing college before the implementation of the rationalization of nursing colleges in Gauteng. A pilot study of four nurse educators was done. The four nurse educators were not included in the focus group interview. Twelve nurse educators from General Nursing Science, Midwifery, and Psychiatry and some of the managers (HOD’s) participated in the study. Community Nursing Science nurse educators were not available due to work commitment outside the nursing college. A focus group interview (Krueger 1994) was conducted within ethical considerations. Audio tapes were used to capture the data. Field notes of the gestures and emotions expressed by the nurse educator during the interview were taken. Tech’s (in Cresswell 1994) protocol to systematically process the contextual data was utilized. Trustworthiness was maintained to ensure credibility of the study (Lincoln & Guba 1985.) The two categories, seven sub categories and the related themes that emerged from data analysis were conceptualized and supported by relevant literature. The two main categories were positive experiences and negative experiences. The sub-categories of the positive experiences were: sharing of resources, empowerment of the nurse educators, collaboration of the receiving nursing college with the community to improve nursing education and acquisition of trans- cultural knowledge. The sub- categories of the negative experiences were: fear, perceived behavior of the authorities concerned with rationalization of nursing colleges in Gauteng and aspects pertaining to racial issues. These categories and their related themes were conceptualized and supported by relevant literature. Guidelines that would assist the nurse educators cope in the receiving nursing college were formulated. It is recommended that the authorities concerned with the rationalization of nursing colleges in Gauteng and the management of the receiving nursing college should consider the guidelines to assist the nurse educators cope in the receiving nursing college and in future rationalization of the nursing college. In conclusion, the study has sheared light on the importance of conducting a research before implementing a major change such as rationalization of state institutions to ensure sustenance of the objectives of the change. The employees’ wellbeing should be considered because the success of the rationalization depends on them. Rationalization of institutions, whether public or private, requires effective management to facilitate a reasonable integration process.

Health education is critical to the success of a community health program. Yet the majority of research on health education is conducted from the point of view of programme designers or evaluators. Where health educators themselves are the focus, data is often generated through surveys, questionnaires, field notes, or quantitative measures. Narrative accounts by health educators describing their activities and their perceptions of programme efficacy are thus a neglected line of inquiry. My thesis examines one group of health educators who trained and worked with Sidney and Emily Kark at the Institute of Family and Community Health in Durban during the 1940s and 1950s. The importance of health educators in the Institute's project has often been acknowledged by key figures like the Kark, but few scholars have highlighted the contributions of these paraprofessionals. As catalysts of change and disseminators of knowledge, their role was encapsulated by health educator Neela Govender: "So many things people can do to [become] aware of health problems, and how much they themselves could be responsible for their own health ... that's not something they can forget. They will pass it on to another generation, or influence each other. We sow the seed, and it must grow, and spread". In focusing on the health educators' role, I seek to integrate perspectives of "history from below" to enhance previous analyses that concentrated on doctors and government administrators as the main architects of the Institute of Family and Community Health. To this end, I have collected testimony of health educators as a valuable source of historical evidence, which not only uncovers a foot soldier's view of what the Karks called a "practice of social medicine" but also illuminates various social, political, and economic contexts underpinning health education in South Africa. This study used oral history techniques to explore how retired health educators perceived their experiences at the Institute. It thematically analysed their narratives to gain a sense of their training, goals, methods and working conditions in segregationist and apartheid-era South Africa. My interview subjects were predominantly women whose work reflected the centrality of maternal, child, and family health to the Institute. As intermediaries between the clinic and the community, they were integral to the Institute of Family and Community Health's investigation of the links between health and culture. The themes of race, gender and culture were as pertinent in the mid-twentieth century as they are today in the delivery of health services; health educators' narratives might provide insights into how such conceptual factors influence the operation of community health programs in contemporary South Africa. The ways in which the Institute's health educators became active agents in the face of oppressive circumstances also contain potential lessons for their counterparts currently struggling to address an HIV/AIDS epidemic with inadequate resources and governmental support.
Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse the attitude, intention and behaviour of Queensland nurses towards computerisation in their workplace using quantitative and qualitative survey methods. It also identifies possible mediators and moderators of this relationship using the Theory of Reasoned Action in a path model. Other moderating variables such as age group, previous computing experience, computing ability, computer usage, educational levels and gender were used in this study.

The Theory of Reasoned Action is used by Fishbein and Ajzen to predict volitional behaviour and to assist in understanding psychological determinants. One thousand questionnaires were distributed to registered nurses in Queensland and 330 (33%) valid responses were received. A qualitative telephone survey (n = 40) was also employed to validate the quantitative survey. The results of this study found that positive attitudes were found to influence the intention of nurses to use computers in the workplace.

Although normative beliefs and motivation to comply were found to have a direct influence on subjective norm, subjective norm was not found to be significantly associated with one's intention to perform the behaviour. However, a positive outcome evaluation and behavioural beliefs were found to be directly associated with one's behaviour which were mediated through positive attitudes. It was also demonstrated that all positive intentions produced positive behaviour (action of using computers at work).

The study demonstrated the positive effect of prior computing experiences before starting nursing and the effect of high computer usage frequency on one's intention. An inverse effect was demonstrated between nurses who had good experiences with computer and their intention to use computer. In addition, the study found that older, less educated female nurses demonstrated a higher intention to use computers in the workplace. The qualitative study also supported the quantitative study. The qualitative study provided the researcher with reasoning as to why nurses behave a certain way towards computerisation in the workplace. It was used as a reasoning tool to confirm some of the respondents' actions.

This research has its own limitations. It was conducted in late 1999 and computerisation has since then penetrated Australian hospitals to a greater extent than ever before. In addition, the survey tool could also be tested for its construct and criterion related validity. This would improve the sensitivity of the survey tool. Notwithstanding that, the results from this study would significantly benefit management in the identification of groups of nurses who are likely to resist the computerisation process in the workplace.

The rapid increase in HIV-infections is changing the face of modern society. The number of HIV/AIDS orphans for sub-Saharan Africa is expected to increase to 18, 67 million in 2010. Education has a pivotal role to play in effectively dealing with the effects of the pandemic, as well as creating awareness among learners. The focus of this study is to explore educators’ perceptions of teaching learners about HIV/AIDS and of schools as care-giving centres for orphans and vulnerable children. The HIV/AIDS education curriculum has been introduced in a milieu of change and restructuring in South African education, presenting particular challenges for educators. This study set out to uncover how educators are engaging with their new roles and responsibilities when teaching HIV/AIDS education.
Sociology
MA (Social and Behaviour Studies in HIV/ Aids)

The impact of HIV and AIDS has threatened to destroy the education sector in South Africa. This qualitative study set out to investigate the psychosocial problems and needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS in Johannesburg Inner City schools. The study explores and describes the need to develop and implement a comprehensive and holistic treatment, care and support programme for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. This study also reviews HIV/AIDS policies and programmes implemented by the Department of Education to indicate that these interventions are not effective in addressing the problems and needs of these educators. Therefore, the study contends that the Department of Education should revise and reformulate these HIV/AIDS policies and programmes to cater for the needs of educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS. Ten educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS from two selected Johannesburg Inner City schools participated in this study. Phenomenological strategies and in-depth interviews were used to capture day-to-day personal life experiences of these educators. The findings of the study reveal that there is a need for an urgent response by the Department of Education to develop and implement treatment, care and support programmes for educators infected with HIV and/or affected by HIV and AIDS.
Sociology
M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

Contexte: Depuis 1985, l’Association des services de garde en milieu scolaire du Québec (ASGEMSQ) a pour principale mission de veiller à l’amélioration de la qualité des services de garde des écoles québécoises afin que chaque enfant puisse évoluer dans un milieu de qualité, respectueux de son bien-être et de son développement. En partenariat avec Québec en forme, l’ASGEMSQ joint sa voix au vaste mouvement d’initiatives favorisant l’adoption de saines habitudes de vie et a amorcé des actions menant au développement d'un environnement favorable à une saine alimentation et à l'activité physique dans les services de garde en milieu scolaire. À cette fin, les responsables des services de garde en milieu scolaire y exercent un rôle déterminant. Objectif: Les objectifs principaux de ce mémoire sont d’étudier des perceptions des responsables des services de garde en milieu scolaire du Québec à l’égard du contexte des repas et des facteurs liés à son déroulement ainsi que d'identifier leurs besoins de formation en nutrition. Méthodologie: À l’automne 2014, un sondage électronique fut envoyé aux 1 655 responsables des services de garde en milieu scolaire du Québec. Des statistiques descriptives et des tests de chi-carré furent menés (SPSS, version 17.01). Résultats: Un total de 624 réponses fut analysé, donnant un taux de réponse de 38%. Le contexte du repas semble être un moment relativement agréable pour la majorité des enfants et du personnel éducateur. Différents obstacles ont une relation statistiquement significative avec la perception générale du contexte du repas comme étant agréable pour la majorité des enfants tels que le non-respect des consignes de la part des parents à l’égard du contenu de la boîte à lunch, le rythme personnel selon lequel les enfants s’alimentent, la nécessité d’encadrer adéquatement des enfants ayant des besoins spéciaux, le non-respect du code de vie de l’école par les enfants, et l’attitude générale du personnel. Les résultats démontrent un intérêt considérable de la part du personnel éducateur pour différentes formations en nutrition. De plus, l'intérêt pour certains thèmes de formation a une relation statistiquement significative avec certains obstacles liés au bon déroulement du repas et certaines caractéristiques du milieu. Conclusion: Les données confirment le besoin d’outiller la main d’œuvre et de maintenir des partenariats avec l’école et les parents pour que le repas en milieu scolaire soit agréable. Le service de garde en milieu scolaire primaire est un milieu à documenter. Il constitue un milieu de vie fréquenté quotidiennement par la majorité des enfants. Avec la collaboration des responsables des services, des directions d’école et des parents, des interventions peuvent être planifiées pour en faire un milieu propice à l’adoption de saines habitudes de vie. Ce portrait des contextes de repas dans les écoles primaires du Québec s’inscrit dans la volonté de comprendre les environnements alimentaires pour en faire des milieux favorables à l’adoption de saines habitudes de vie.
Context: Since 1985, the main objective of the Association des services de garde en milieu scolaire du Québec (ASGEMSQ) has been to improve the quality of child care services in schools so that each child could develop in an environment that contributes to its well-being and growth. In partnership with Québec en forme, ASGEMSQ joined a national movement searching to promote healthy lifestyles and initiated actions leading to the development of environment conductive to healthy eating and physical activities in school child care services. To this end, child care providers definitively play a decisive role. Objective: The main objectives of this research are to study the perceptions of school-age child care providers in Quebec with regards to the meal period and the factors that may impair its development, as well as to identify their training needs in nutrition. Methodology: During fall 2014, an electronic survey was sent to 1655 child care providers from Quebec schools. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted (SPSS, version 17.01). Results: In total, 624 responses were obtained, a 38% response rate. The meal context appears to be a relatively pleasant moment for the majority of children and educators. Different obstacles had statistically significant relationship with the perception of the meal context as being enjoyable for the majority of children, namely failure from parents to comply with instructions regarding lunch box content, children personal eating pace, the need to appropriately support children with special needs, non-compliance to the school code of conduct and the general attitude of the school's staff. The results show considerable interest from child care providers in various nutrition training activities. Moreover, specific training themes have a statistically significant relationship with obstacles related to a favorable meal context and to certain characteristics of the environment likely to impact them. Conclusion: The data confirm training needs and the importance to support partnerships with school and parents so that the meal context represents enjoyable moments. Elementary school day care is an environment to be documented. It constitutes a living environment that a majority of children experiment on a daily base. In collaboration with child-care center managers, school principals and parents, actions can be planned to create environments that support the adoption of healthy lifestyles. This transversal study conducted in Quebec's elementary schools contributed to the study on the importance of the environments on overall healthy lifestyles.

Magister Public Health - MPH
The global problem of overweight and obesity is disturbing judging by the World Health Organization 2008 statistics which estimate that 1.4 billion and 500 million adults are overweight and obese. Thus, as a major risk for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are the foremost cause of disability and death, the problem of obesity needs to be addressed not only globally but in South Africa as well. South Africa’s burden of disease includes NCDs and causes of death of diseases such as diabetes (3%), cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) (11%), cancer (7%) and chronic respiratory diseases (3%). The HealthKick study is a school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention programme in the Western Cape, S.A., aimed to promote healthy behaviours such as healthful eating and physical activity in children, parents and teachers to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. During the formative phase of the study it emerged that educators were at high risk for NCDs because of their high levels of obesity. This study therefore aimed to describe primary school educators’ perceptions regarding body weight, related health risks and barriers to weight management. A qualitative approach was used to collect data and included focus group discussions (FGDs), and in-depth individual interviews (IDIs). In addition anthropometric measurements were taken. Four schools were purposively selected and a total of thirty one male and female educators participated in the seven focus group discussions and four in-depth interviews from the four schools. Male FGDs and IDIs and female FGDs and IDIs were conducted separately. The focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic data analysis was conducted with the use of ATLAS ti 6.1 computer software.The results of the study indicate that educator perceptions regarding their own body weight varied slightly from the actual. Positive and negative weight loss experiences and feelings regarding their own body weight were expressed. Educators appeared knowledgeable about overweight/obesity and its health risks for particular NCDs. Several personal barriers were identified by the educators; however, of particular interest were the barriers relating to the school environment, identified barriers included lack of time, heavy workloads and school responsibilities. Several factors for consideration emerged relating to implementing an educator weight management programme in the schools. These included: the involvement of the department of education (DOE), the type of activities planned and the time of implementation.

The study comprises an investigation of the quality of the clinical teaching environment of undergraduate students in the accredited Primary health care ( PHC) facilities used by a provincial nursing college in Limpopo. The researcher, who is employed full time in one of the accredited PHC facilities to which undergraduate students are admitted for clinical practice, became aware of the tension between the undergraduate students and professional nurses working in the PHC facility during the performance of clinical practice. Undergraduate students accused the professional nurses of neither supervising them properly during the execution of their clinical practice, nor assessing them on the prescribed practical outcomes. On the other hand, the professional nurses working in the PHC facility complained that undergraduate students were placed at the PHC facilities in large numbers with no clinical accompanist accompanying them. The research objectives were to determine the quality of clinical practice in the PHC clinical learning environment as rated by undergraduate students allocated by a provincial nursing college located working in a PHC facility in a district of Limpopo Province, and to formulate recommendations for the professional nurses in PHC districtmanagement to incorporate supervision for undergraduate students in order to enhance clinical teaching for undergraduate students in Primary health care facilities. The researcher used a quantitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual design. An all-inclusive sampling method was used to select research participants. Participants were undergraduate students of a provincial nursing college in Limpopo. Informed consent was obtained. Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant authorities. Data was collected by using an internationally validated Clinical Learning Environment Supervision and Nurse Teacher Instrument (Saariskoki & Leino-Kilpi, 2008:259-267).. Data analysis was done by using descriptive statistics and revealed that the clinical practice environment was not conducive to enhancing practical skills development in the real practical PHC practice. Evaluation of study, limitations and recommendations for education, research, practice and policy were discussed.
MCur, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Magister Scientiae (Physiotherapy) - MSc(Physio)
Non-communicable disease (NCD’s) accounts for 80% of the deaths in low and middle socio-economic countries. Emphasis should be placed on the prevention of behavioural risk factors for chronic diseases like alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and smoking to control health risk behaviours in order to lower the amount of deaths caused by NCD’s. In South Africa adolescents indulge in behavioural risk factors that may increase their risk for subsequent chronic diseases of lifestyle. Adolescents should be primary targets for preventative interventions as prevention interventions are usually targeted at healthy individuals. Health education taught in the early years of life is believed to influence the health decisions that individuals make later in life. Health education programmes are currently being implemented worldwide but not many are evaluated to determine the effect of the programme. Thus the aim of this study is to implement and evaluate a health education programme on chronic diseases of lifestyle in a high school in the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

This online study evaluated the efficacy of an e-health avatar/cartoon video with women of color living with type 2 diabetes for a minimum of 2 years. After considerable dropout, the sample size declined from n=149, as 50.3% (n=75, 50.33%) did not complete the survey. After eliminating those who did not watch “all” or “most” of the video, the sample declined further. The final sample (n=64) was 31.3% (n=20) U.S.-born, 100% (n=64) female, 79.7% (n=51) Black, and 12.5% (n=8) Asian—with mean age of 49.28 (Min=22, Max=79, SD=13.24). Using backwards stepwise regression, higher post-video global self-efficacy to perform AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors™ was significantly predicted by: higher level of coping self-efficacy—stopping unpleasant emotions and thoughts (B=0.131, p =.001); and higher age (B=0.026, p=.002) with the R2=.331 (Adjusted R2 =.298; 29.8% of the variance was explained). However, less emphasis should be placed on findings from this controversial regression with small sample size. Instead, as this is an online evaluation of a brief online video intervention, what are important are results of pre- versus post-video paired t-test results. These suggested that engagement in the brief online intervention of watching the new video was associated with: a significant increase in type 2 diabetes self-management knowledge for performing the AADE7™ Self-Care Behaviors; and, a significant increase for stages of change, self-efficacy, and motivation to perform the 7 diabetes self-management behaviors. Finally, the mixed methods data were important for underscoring the value of the study’s quantitative findings. Some 89.1% (n=57) would recommend the video to other women of color living with type 2 diabetes. Reflecting how the video intervention was a true innovation in integrating a brief form of motivational interviewing with relapse prevention, consider sample emergent themes: video was motivational; and video covered relapse prevention and problem solving, using a menu of options. There is value in ensuring exposure to an e-health avatar video on the AADE7 Self-Care Behaviors™ that also integrates the evidence-based approaches of motivational interviewing and relapse prevention, in order to meet the health education needs of those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The people in the organisation are the key to quality and effective change and improvement in schools. A new paradigm in school leadership, namely teacher leadership, grounded in distributed leadership theory and supported by enabling policies, provides a platform for school wide capacity building where more and more people recognise the potential of other team members, promote it and thus give stimulus for significant change. The purpose of the research was to determine the perspectives, perceptions and readiness of educators in the Eden and Central Karoo Education District for teacher leadership, as well as educators’ perceptions regarding the school culture required for teacher leadership to be nurtured and sustained. A total number of 283 educators participated in this study, including principals, members of school management teams, veteran, middle, novice educators and district officials. A series of instruments were used to determine educators’ perspectives, perceptions and readiness for teacher leadership, including the Teacher Leadership Readiness Instrument (TLRI) and the Teacher Leadership School Survey (TLSS). Data revealed that educators held positive assumptions about teacher leadership; that educators were collectively ready for teacher leadership; and that they perceived their school cultures as healthy for teacher leadership practices. Educators used language of leadership which can be associated with the organisational and transformational leadership theory; indicated that they experienced barriers to teacher leadership; and that there is a need for professional development in relation to teacher leadership. A significant difference was found between the preliminary leadership and barriers to teacher leadership perceptions held by district officials and other educators (principal, member of school management team, veteran, middle and novice). A significant difference was also found between members of school management teams and other educators (middle and novice) in relation to their readiness for teacher leadership. Significant relationships were found between educators’ preliminary leadership and readiness for teacher leadership perceptions, as well as between their readiness for teacher leadership and their perceptions about a healthy school culture for teacher leadership. These findings have significant implications for leadership practices, collaboration, capacity-building and improvement in schools, educators’ self-esteem, motivation and productivity, as well as student outcomes.
Educational Studies
Thesis (D. Ed. Education Management))