Masters Degrees (Office of the Dean: Health Sciences)
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Browsing Masters Degrees (Office of the Dean: Health Sciences) by Advisor "Nel, M. M."
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Item Open Access Computer-assisted learning: a web-based application in histology(University of the Free State, 2003-11) Hugo, Alwyn Pieter; Buys, J.; Nel, M. M.Abstract not avilableItem Open Access Experiences of Free State emergency medical care practitioners regarding paediatric pre-hospital care(University of the Free State, 2015-05) Butler, Markes Wayne; Nel, M. M.; Kruger, S. B.English: In this research project an in-depth study was done with a view to investigating the experiences of the Free State emergency medical care practitioners regarding paediatric pre-hospital care. The purpose of the study was to render a contribution to the improvement of the operational readiness for paediatric emergency medical care and transportation. It is trusted that this will ensue in a lower mortality and morbidity rate within the Free State Emergency Medical Services (FSEMS). This study thus can serve as a directive for the development of high quality care for paediatric patients in the pre-hospital environment. It can also help solve deficiencies in this medical care environment. The problem that was addressed in the study was the limited data and population-based information available in the pre-hospital environment with regard to paediatric patients, which might suggest that paediatric patients are underserved by the emergency medical care services. This can be contributed to or interpreted as due to a lack of proper size equipment and the limited ability, skills and knowledge of emergency medical personnel for dealing with paediatric patients. To address this problem it was endeavoured to determine what the experiences of emergency medical care practitioners in the Free State were with regard to paediatric pre-hospital care. In order to address the problem stated, the following research questions were asked: 1. How can emergency medical care practitioners’ experiences regarding paediatric prehospital care be conceptualised and contextualised? 2. What are the Free State emergency medical practitioners’ experiences and views regarding paediatric pre-hospital care? 3. What are the factors that influence the Free State emergency medical practitioners’ experiences and views regarding paediatric pre-hospital care and how do these factors influence emergency medical care practitioners’ experiences? 4. Can paediatric pre-hospital emergency medical care within the Free State emergency medical services be improved? The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of Free State emergency medical care practitioners regarding paediatric pre-hospital care. By doing this, deficiencies that may hamper effective paediatric pre-hospital care might be identified and reduced and/or eliminated. A quantitative study was done with elements of qualitative feedback included in the questionnaire. The methods that were used to collect data and which formed the basis of the study comprised a literature review, followed by a questionnaire survey as empirical study. The purpose of the literature review was to gain a background and information on the experiences of emergency care medical practitioners working with paediatrics. The bulk of the literature comprised international sources as very little research has been done in South Africa on this ramification of medical care. The questionnaire for the collection of empirical data was based on the findings of the literature review. The aim of the questionnaire was the investigation of the experiences of EMC personnel’s experiences with paediatric patients. The population comprised EMC practitioners working in the Free State province, and a sample of 197 practitioners, selected by means of stratified random sampling, participated in the survey. The quantitative data were analysed by a statistician, using frequencies and percentages, and the researcher analysed the qualitative data by reading the responses, summarising findings and categorising the findings in themes. These findings were compared with the findings of the literature review and used to make recommendations in an endeavour to improve the experiences of EMC practitioners in the Free State, and improve the mortality and morbidity rates of paediatric patients making use of emergency medical care facilities. The recommendations of the study have a bearing on the following: 1. Standardisation of training for EMC practitioners to ensure that all practitioners are adequately trained. 2. More paediatric education and training initiatives should be taken to ensure that EMC practitioners understand the differences between paediatric patients and adult patients. 3. Practitioners who infrequently practise paediatric skills in the pre-hospital environment must be retrained and assessed regularly for safe practice (CPD). 4. Specialised paediatric equipment is the ideal, but not always affordable, therefore it is important to ensure that basic medical equipment are available and in a working condition. Creating quality service standards within the EMC services through consultation with patients and employees to understand each set of priorities better. 5. Improvement in the working conditions and remuneration of EMC practitioners to improve the standard, attitude and morale of personnel. 6. Retention of qualified EMC practitioners to enhance service and to improve the professional image of the emergency services. 7. Creating a forum where practitioners can articulate their feelings and challenges.. 8. Educating the community about the emergency services available including paediatric care. 9. Creating interdisciplinary training opportunities for EMC practitioners and hospital personnel. 10. Creating interdisciplinary training opportunities for EMC practitioners and hospital personnel to learn effective communication skills and to highlight the importance of effective communication for quality patient care. It is trusted that this research report and the recommendations will make a meaningful difference to paediatric care by EMC practitioners in the Free State.Item Open Access The impact of an interactive education strategy in radiography education(University of the Free State, 2003-11) Brussow, S. M.; Nel, M. M.; Joubert, G.English: Increased access to higher education to address equity is a major objective of The National Plan for Higher Education (NPHE) in South Africa. This increased access necessitated more flexible entry requirements to admit previously disadvantaged learners. These learners are, however, inadequately prepared for higher education. Higher education institutions should take this into account in teaching and learning. The rationale for this study was to address the access-success imbalance in higher education mentioned by South Africa's Minister of Education. This research study was thus undertaken to evaluate the impact of an interactive educational strategy in radiography education.The research took the form of an exploratory, descriptive and quantitative experimental study comprising of a literature review and an experimental investigation. The literature review covered mainly two aspects: The first aspect consisted of factors associated with academic achievement, namely cognitive ability, self-regulation, self-efficacy, motivation, approaches to learning, effective study skills, and learning styles. In the second place, educational strategies were reviewed in the literature, while interactive education was seen as an opportunity to foster the factors associated with effective learning. Effective learning entails encouraging self-regulation, nurturing self-efficacy, raising motivation, promoting a deep approach to learning, teaching and assessing study skills, and accommodating differences in learning styles when teaching. Since the key to effective learning is rooted in the engagement of learners in active and collaborative learning experiences, this productive interaction between learners and facilitators - which enhances educational events and promotes learning - was therefore explored. The overall goal of the study was to make a contribution towards optimising the effectiveness of education and training in the radiography programme in the School of Health Technology at the Technikon Free State. The aim was to explore the impact of an interactive education strategy in radiography education on 30 second-year learners enrolled for the modules Radiographic Practice and Clinical Radiographic Practice II (RAD 20 at and KLD 20 at) in 2002, gauged by summative assessment and learner perception. The empirical study involved a Learning Preference Inventory (LPI) which provided details on learners' learning preferences. The outcome of the LPI directed the design of the Structured Interactive Sessions (SIS), the intervention in which an attempt was made to address the learners' learning preferences. The learners were divided into three study groups, namely a formal lecture group, a self-activities group, and a self-study group. A pre-post test model was used to quantitatively evaluate the improvement in academic performance after the SIS intervention and subsequently a questionnaire survey was carried out to assess learners' perception(s) of the effectiveness of the interactive and self-directed approach to education in radiography. The results of the three measures, i.e. the LPI, the questionnaire, and the pre-post test model used in the study, shared a prevalent important component, namely the significant role of the facilitator. The LPI results demonstrated dominance in prevalence for a teacher-structured learning environment. The aforementioned fact is confirmed by the distribution of test scores in the pre-test indicating that the groups with no facilitator guidance had lower test marks than the group who received formal lectures. The learners' perception and experiences verified a preference for facilitator-guided activities in class. The researcher realises the limitations of the study, namely that the study is restricted to performance after a single intervention in a controlled test situation, while learners from one programme were used and the contribution of only interactive education on learning, rather than combinations of factors, was quantitatively explored. It is therefore recommended that both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as well as a larger and more diverse study group, would provide a more widely applicable measurement for academic improvement after an interactive intervention. The findings of the present study suggest a possible link between interactive educational strategies and academic achievement. The findings also support the literature on academic performance in which motivation through interaction between the facilitator and the learners plays an important role.Item Open Access The needs and opportunities for post-graduate education and training programmes for the optometry profession in post-apartheid South Africa(University of the Free State, 2003) Kriel, Stefanus Johannes; Nel, M. M.English: This research study was undertaken to determine the needs and opportunities for post-graduate education and training programmes in optometry in post-apartheid South Africa. The rationale for this study can be found in the stimuli which contributed to the commencement of the study, namely the Vision 2020 - The Right to Sight Campaign of the World Health Organisation that resulted in the resolution of the World Council of Optometry, entitled the Global Vision Care Campaign. That the abovementioned are fully endorsed by the South African government, is substantiated by policy documents such as the White Paper for the Transformation of the Health System (RSA DoH 1997) and the National Prevention of Blindness Programme (RSA DoH 2000). These aspects resulted in, inter alia, the identification of issues like preventable blindness; the importance of public health; public needs; the lack of human resource development; demographic representation; and the lack of clear clinical competency guidelines. The problem statement pertains to the career ladder for optometry, already accepted in South Africa. It opened the door for magister programmes, allowing practitioners to develop clinical and speciality skills within the scope and parameters set forth and regulated by the Professional Board for Optometry and Dispensing Opticians. Despite this career ladder, there. is a need for a programme aimed at providing education and training to learners in order to become competent to render a professional specialist service in optometry and to contribute to the enhancement of the discipline through research. Such a programme must afford professional optometrists the opportunity to further their education and training in terms of the optometry career ladder, in addition to gaining certain therapeutic privileges and speciality skills. The research took the form of a descriptive and an exploratory survey, comprising a literature review and an empirical investigation. The literature study covered two aspects, namely in the first place factors . influencing the design of optometry education and training programmes. Features like the changing health scene; the history of the development of the optometry profession; the transformation of the health care system in South Africa and the eye care needs of the South African population; as well as the transformation of education and training in South Africa were dealt with. The second aspect covered by the literature review was a selective review of optometry training, which dealt with optometric education and training in South Africa; its history and the current state of affairs; as well as legislation in South Africa. Subsequently optometric training in the rest of Africa and the developed world was discussed in broad terms. The empirical study entailed a questionnaire survey carried out among South African optometry practitioners. A quantitative design was employed, but - because the questionnaire also contained some open-ended questions - the study had a qualitative dimension as well. The overall goal and objectives were to make a contribution to eye care and the prevention of blindness, as well as to make a meaningful contribution to education and training in optometry. The aim was to determine the needs of optometrists with regard to optometric education and training and the opportunities existing in South Africa, measured against the background of the needs of society (from the optometrists' perspective). The objectives were in the first place to enhance competence beyond graduate level, thereby better serving the eye care needs of the population of South Africa in particular and, in an indirect way, of neighbouring countries. In the second place the objective was to make recommendations concerning the delivery of relevant and applicable post-graduate studies at Optometry Schools/Departments. All of these aspects were achieved by conducting the above-mentioned literature study and by using the findings from the questionnaire. The research design consisted of a needs analysis in the form of the questionnaire survey used as the method to determine the needs of optometrists in respect of post-graduate studies, as well as to obtain their views regarding existing opportunities in this regard. The questionnaire consisted of six categories, each containing five different types of items (cf. 5.4.1; Appendix C). Four rounds of questionnaires were sent out over a period of 16 weeks and the response rate was 70.2% (cf. 5.5). After the returned questionnaires had been analysed by the Department of Biostatistics at the University of the Free State, it became possible for the researcher to draw conclusions; discuss the findings; make recommendations; and identify the limitations of the study. Each of the six categories was followed by a summative conclusion as well as by the main findings of the content of that specific category. The main findings as well as those obtained via the literature study, enabled the researcher to make recommendations on post-graduate optometric education in South Africa. Different factors, which are listed under the following headings and subheadings, influenced these recommendations: - Points of departure: These include accessibility; affordability; personal development; professional development; addressing public need; addressing higher education and health policies; addressing research; addressing management skills; and addressing HPCSA Regulations. - Role-players: The role-players include, infer alia, students; providers; the Professional Board; individual optometrists and associations; industry; the public; the State; professional stakeholders; SAQA; and the CHE. - Post-graduate optometric education and training itself was divided into three aspects, namely: -Recommendations concerning the programme. -Recommendations with regard to CPO. -Recommendations on clinical competence based on public needs. The recommendations on clinical competencies were extensively detailed, since they may serve as a basis for the SGB of Optometry and Opticianry. As this study also focused on the public need, the detail in the recommendations regarding competency will help to ensure that the care which the public receive, is optimised. In order not to confuse the professional competencies with the categories of the questionnaire, they were divided into six sections, namely Sections A to F. Each of these sections was divided under the headings "Outcomes"; "Performance criteria"; and "Indicators". Hereafter a framework as a starting point for post-graduate education and training programmes was proposed. In summation, the researcher is of the opinion that the overall goal and objectives of the study were addressed and realised and that meaningful recommendations were made. The latter are in line with legislation and with the policy documents referred to earlier. In addition, recommendations on clinical competencies are in line with international norms. Conclusions are, infer alia, as follows: - Based on current undergraduate programmes, there is a need for a post-graduate programme aimed at providing education and training to learners. - The articulation between the under- and post-graduate programmes will result in an overview of the undergraduate programme. - The role and functions of the Professional Board are pivotal to the success of education at both under-and post-graduate level. - As the current optometry educational model fails to address the immediate public need, this study provides at least some of the guidelines in the design of a new model. - It is clear that CPO (Optometry) is in its infancy in South Africa and its success depends on whether it can influence the delivery of services positively. It is of the utmost importance, however, that - for CPO to be effective - it will need to articulate with formal qualifications. The researcher realises the limitations of the study, namely in the first place that the opinion on the public need was limited, as it was optometrists who were the respondents to this category of the questionnaire. In the second place, literature and statistical sources of the South African situation were limited in that epidemiological data are incomplete and fragmented. In addition, clinical training in optometry had stagnated during the apartheid years. It is recommended that this study be followed by the compilation of a model for post-graduate education and the development of a detailed curriculum plan, as that is essential in order for these recommendations to be successfully implemented. The researcher is of the opinion that the profession as a whole needs a leadership and management model that would ensure cohesion between all the facets of the eye care field. These facets must include, but not be limited to, elements like the providers of education; the quality assurer; professional associations; the State; clinical training networks; service delivery structures; programme development at all levels; as well as CPO articulation with all education and training structures and neighbouring countries. Such a model will provide direction and momentum to education- and needs-driven eye care services in South Africa and will open the way for the profession to develop to its full potential.Item Open Access The utilisation of video as primary content delivery medium for staff development of health professions educators(University of the Free State, 2012) Baird, Nico Henk; Nel, M. M.; Kruger, S. B.This study originated from a need to provide staff development resources to health professions educators. The need for content to be delivered effectively at a time and place that suit staff best is a challenge that Faculties of Health Professions Education must meet. In this research project, an in-depth study was done by the researcher with a view to utilising video as primary content delivery medium for staff development of health professions educators. The problem that was addressed is how content can be delivered to health professions educators at a time that will suit them best and in a medium that can be consumed effectively. The aim of the study was to determine the value of the use of online video as primary medium for content delivery for staff development of health professions educators. The methods that were used and which formed the basis of the study comprised a literature review, and – as the empirical study - the development of an online video course. On completion of the course, a questionnaire survey to determine the value of the utilisation of video as primary content delivery medium for staff development of health professions educators was conducted. In order to provide a scientific basis, the researcher created on online course which was presented to health professions educators. These participants completed the course as well as the survey to supply the researcher with the necessary data as to their experiences while taking part in the course. The resulting data that was retrieved indicated to the researcher that the positive aspects of video as primary content delivery medium in health profession education, far outweighed the negative aspects and that it was also overwhelmingly embraced by the participants. The ability of staff to access content on demand, played a major role in the success of content delivery through video. From the literature study it is also clear that video as primary content delivery medium in Higher Education, as well as Health Professions Education has many advantages. It is clear to the researcher from the literature study and the feedback provided by participants, that using video as primary content delivery medium should be greatly considered and implemented in faculties of health professions. Recommendations in this regard were made. The sound research approach and methodology ensured the quality, reliability and validity of this study. This completed research study can form the basis for a subsequent research study.