"Giving voice" to the bereaved : family grief and resilience after a child has died
- Authors: Scheepers, Lucas Johannes
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Bereavement -- Psychological aspects , Death -- Psychological aspects , Loss (Psychology) , Grief
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9977 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021096
- Description: This study investigated family grief and resilience following a child’s death. Representing 23 families, 35 bereaved parents completed biographical questionnaires, the Family Hardiness Index, and the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8. Significant positive correlations were found between family hardiness and family adaptation, and between parents’ age and family hardiness. Using grounded theory, interviews allowed for the formulation of categories including grief, continuing bonds, external support, religion, and family hardiness. The study reveals the need for exploring unique experiences of families bereaved by children’s deaths and identifies family hardiness as a potential resilience factor for this population
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Scheepers, Lucas Johannes
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Bereavement -- Psychological aspects , Death -- Psychological aspects , Loss (Psychology) , Grief
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9977 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021096
- Description: This study investigated family grief and resilience following a child’s death. Representing 23 families, 35 bereaved parents completed biographical questionnaires, the Family Hardiness Index, and the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8. Significant positive correlations were found between family hardiness and family adaptation, and between parents’ age and family hardiness. Using grounded theory, interviews allowed for the formulation of categories including grief, continuing bonds, external support, religion, and family hardiness. The study reveals the need for exploring unique experiences of families bereaved by children’s deaths and identifies family hardiness as a potential resilience factor for this population
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A psychobiographical study of Ellen Kuzwayo
- Authors: Arosi, Ziyanda
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9894 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008658 , Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Description: The current study is a psychobiography. The subject was chosen through purposive sampling based on the researcher’s personal interest and the remarkable impact this woman had within her society. Ellen Kuzwayo also meets the requirements of a psychobiography in that she is historically well known, inspirational, and her life has been completed. The study applies a qualitative research method in the form of a psychobiography, which aimed to describe Ellen Kuzwayo`s life accordingto Daniel Levinson`s Life Structure Theory of Adult Development. Levinson`s theory divides the lifespan into four developmental eras, each with its own biopsychosocial character. Each era in turn is divided into shorter periods of development. Levinson`s theory was chosenbecause it is specifically relevant to the development of women. The findings of the study indicate that Kuzwayo’s life was consistent with the pattern of development which Levinson (1996) identified. Kuzwayo was relatively successful in resolving the life tasks and transitional periods proposed by Levinson. This research study has given a positive demonstration of the value of development theory to investigate a particular human life. Furthermore, it emphasized the uniqueness of individuals in coping with the challenges of life. As a result it has opened up the possibility of perceiving people and their actions in a different way. Consequently, recommendations are offered in order to extend psychobiographical research on the life of Ellen Kuzwayo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Arosi, Ziyanda
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9894 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008658 , Kuzwayo, Ellen , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Life cycle, Human , Women, Black -- South Africa -- Social conditions
- Description: The current study is a psychobiography. The subject was chosen through purposive sampling based on the researcher’s personal interest and the remarkable impact this woman had within her society. Ellen Kuzwayo also meets the requirements of a psychobiography in that she is historically well known, inspirational, and her life has been completed. The study applies a qualitative research method in the form of a psychobiography, which aimed to describe Ellen Kuzwayo`s life accordingto Daniel Levinson`s Life Structure Theory of Adult Development. Levinson`s theory divides the lifespan into four developmental eras, each with its own biopsychosocial character. Each era in turn is divided into shorter periods of development. Levinson`s theory was chosenbecause it is specifically relevant to the development of women. The findings of the study indicate that Kuzwayo’s life was consistent with the pattern of development which Levinson (1996) identified. Kuzwayo was relatively successful in resolving the life tasks and transitional periods proposed by Levinson. This research study has given a positive demonstration of the value of development theory to investigate a particular human life. Furthermore, it emphasized the uniqueness of individuals in coping with the challenges of life. As a result it has opened up the possibility of perceiving people and their actions in a different way. Consequently, recommendations are offered in order to extend psychobiographical research on the life of Ellen Kuzwayo.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A psychobiographical study of Martin Luther King Junior: an Adlerian perspective
- Authors: Twaku, Unathi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: King, Martin Luther , Adlerian psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Developmental psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020900
- Description: Martin Luther King Junior was an advocate of non-violent social change strategies; he was a pastor, an author, the first president of the southern Christian leadership conference, a speaker, a Nobel Prize winner, and a leader. Martin Luther King junior was transformed by his deep family roots in the African American Baptist church. His formative experiences in his hometown of Atlanta were his theological studies, his varied models of religious and political leadership and his extensive network of contacts in the peace and social justice movements of his time. Although only 39 at the time of his death, Martin Luther King juniors’ life was remarkable for the ways it reflected and inspired so many of the twentieth century’s major intellectual, cultural and political developments. The primary aim of this study was to explore and describe the psychological development across the lifespan of Martin Luther King junior, by applying Alfred Adler’s theory of individual psychology. Martin Luther King junior’s life was explored in this study through systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of the historic data on his life, which highlighted seven significant historical periods: (a) Childhood and adolescence (1929 – 1944), (b)The inevitable (1944 – 1948), (c) The Purpose in his Destiny (1948 – 1951), (d) Family and mission (1952 – 1959), (e) Movement against segregation (1960 – 1963), (f) History is made (1963 – 1967), and (g) Unfinished business (1968). Adler’s framework was used to recognize, convert and reconstruct his life into a coherent narrative of his psychological development throughout his life. Alexander’s guidelines for extracting salient data was utilised to ensure accurate description of Martin Luther King junior’s life. A conceptual framework that is the Adlerian Matrix was included in the study as guide in presenting the research discussion and findings in an illuminating and integrative manner. The research discussion and findings suggested that Adler’s theoretical framework considers the biopsychosocial, cultural and historic influences in Martin Luther King junior’s personality development. In taking the context into consideration, Adler’s individual psychology identified King junior with a social useful lifestyle because of his high social interest which influenced his striving for superiority. This lifestyle guided his fictional goal which was selfless and aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of others. The private logic about himself, others and the world, which is developed in early childhood, was a positive navigator for the development of his personality and lifestyle. Thus according to the Adlerian theory, King junior could positively balance the resolution of the life tasks of occupation, social and love & marriage. The study of King junior’s personality development has provided an affirmative demonstration of the value of Adler’s psychological theory to understand the process of personality development in an individual life. It has highlighted the value of studying an individual life taking his context, including early experiences, family environment and every action, into consideration to understand the uniqueness of responding to life tasks and his perceptions. Recommendations were made for future research undertakings using psychobiographical research design and methodology to reveal, illuminate and reconstruct the lives of historic personalities
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Twaku, Unathi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: King, Martin Luther , Adlerian psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Developmental psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9967 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020900
- Description: Martin Luther King Junior was an advocate of non-violent social change strategies; he was a pastor, an author, the first president of the southern Christian leadership conference, a speaker, a Nobel Prize winner, and a leader. Martin Luther King junior was transformed by his deep family roots in the African American Baptist church. His formative experiences in his hometown of Atlanta were his theological studies, his varied models of religious and political leadership and his extensive network of contacts in the peace and social justice movements of his time. Although only 39 at the time of his death, Martin Luther King juniors’ life was remarkable for the ways it reflected and inspired so many of the twentieth century’s major intellectual, cultural and political developments. The primary aim of this study was to explore and describe the psychological development across the lifespan of Martin Luther King junior, by applying Alfred Adler’s theory of individual psychology. Martin Luther King junior’s life was explored in this study through systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of the historic data on his life, which highlighted seven significant historical periods: (a) Childhood and adolescence (1929 – 1944), (b)The inevitable (1944 – 1948), (c) The Purpose in his Destiny (1948 – 1951), (d) Family and mission (1952 – 1959), (e) Movement against segregation (1960 – 1963), (f) History is made (1963 – 1967), and (g) Unfinished business (1968). Adler’s framework was used to recognize, convert and reconstruct his life into a coherent narrative of his psychological development throughout his life. Alexander’s guidelines for extracting salient data was utilised to ensure accurate description of Martin Luther King junior’s life. A conceptual framework that is the Adlerian Matrix was included in the study as guide in presenting the research discussion and findings in an illuminating and integrative manner. The research discussion and findings suggested that Adler’s theoretical framework considers the biopsychosocial, cultural and historic influences in Martin Luther King junior’s personality development. In taking the context into consideration, Adler’s individual psychology identified King junior with a social useful lifestyle because of his high social interest which influenced his striving for superiority. This lifestyle guided his fictional goal which was selfless and aimed at contributing to the wellbeing of others. The private logic about himself, others and the world, which is developed in early childhood, was a positive navigator for the development of his personality and lifestyle. Thus according to the Adlerian theory, King junior could positively balance the resolution of the life tasks of occupation, social and love & marriage. The study of King junior’s personality development has provided an affirmative demonstration of the value of Adler’s psychological theory to understand the process of personality development in an individual life. It has highlighted the value of studying an individual life taking his context, including early experiences, family environment and every action, into consideration to understand the uniqueness of responding to life tasks and his perceptions. Recommendations were made for future research undertakings using psychobiographical research design and methodology to reveal, illuminate and reconstruct the lives of historic personalities
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A psychobiographical study of William Wilberforce
- Authors: Daubermann, Bettina Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Personality development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020857 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021085
- Description: The proposed study is of a psychobiographical nature and employs a qualitative research approach. The individual that forms the subject of this study is William Wilberforce. A social activist most of his life, Wilberforce is best known for his voice and works behind the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the abolition of slavery in 1833. His ambitious nature, social eloquence and verbal intellect resulted in him being elected as a member of parliament in the House of Commons in England during the period 1780 to 1825. Transformed by the Christian faith in 1885, Wilberforce came to the realization he had received a calling from God to speak up for those who could not with a specific task set out before him which was to abolish slavery. It was the purpose of the present research to explore and describe Wilberforce’s psychological development across his life-span according to Carl Rogers’ (1961) personality theory of optimal development. Salient aspects of Wilberforce’s life were related and compared to components of the theory so as to explore and describe the degree of optimal development that Wilberforce reached at different points in his life and whether he could be described as a fully functioning person. According to Rogers’ theory William Wilberforce was chosen as the research subject for his historical contribution to mankind by his devotion to the moral enhancement of his country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Daubermann, Bettina Pamela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Personality development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020857 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021085
- Description: The proposed study is of a psychobiographical nature and employs a qualitative research approach. The individual that forms the subject of this study is William Wilberforce. A social activist most of his life, Wilberforce is best known for his voice and works behind the abolition of the slave trade in 1807 and the abolition of slavery in 1833. His ambitious nature, social eloquence and verbal intellect resulted in him being elected as a member of parliament in the House of Commons in England during the period 1780 to 1825. Transformed by the Christian faith in 1885, Wilberforce came to the realization he had received a calling from God to speak up for those who could not with a specific task set out before him which was to abolish slavery. It was the purpose of the present research to explore and describe Wilberforce’s psychological development across his life-span according to Carl Rogers’ (1961) personality theory of optimal development. Salient aspects of Wilberforce’s life were related and compared to components of the theory so as to explore and describe the degree of optimal development that Wilberforce reached at different points in his life and whether he could be described as a fully functioning person. According to Rogers’ theory William Wilberforce was chosen as the research subject for his historical contribution to mankind by his devotion to the moral enhancement of his country.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
A systematic review of the influence of parenting on the development of antisocial behaviour
- Authors: Jacobs, Philencia Daniela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Antisocial personality disorders , Parenting , Child psychology , Conduct disorders in children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9961 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020144
- Description: The role that parenting plays in the development of antisocial behaviour has been, and is still widely researched. International studies on this topic are vast. In South Africa, however, very little has been researched within this area. This study aimed to systematically review literature on the role of parenting in the development of antisocial behaviour. International literature published between 2000 and 2013 was reviewed in order to gain a better idea of the current state of knowledge on this topic. All of the articles included in the review examined some aspect of parenting behaviour, parenting practices and/or parenting styles related to the development of antisocial behaviour, conduct disorder, and/or oppositional defiant disorder. The articles were systematically assessed, and eight themes emerged which include: effective parenting behaviours; the moderating effects of callous unemotional traits on parenting; parental warmth; parental discipline; parental knowledge and monitoring; parental psychopathology; parenting styles; and parenting during infancy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Jacobs, Philencia Daniela
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Antisocial personality disorders , Parenting , Child psychology , Conduct disorders in children
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9961 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020144
- Description: The role that parenting plays in the development of antisocial behaviour has been, and is still widely researched. International studies on this topic are vast. In South Africa, however, very little has been researched within this area. This study aimed to systematically review literature on the role of parenting in the development of antisocial behaviour. International literature published between 2000 and 2013 was reviewed in order to gain a better idea of the current state of knowledge on this topic. All of the articles included in the review examined some aspect of parenting behaviour, parenting practices and/or parenting styles related to the development of antisocial behaviour, conduct disorder, and/or oppositional defiant disorder. The articles were systematically assessed, and eight themes emerged which include: effective parenting behaviours; the moderating effects of callous unemotional traits on parenting; parental warmth; parental discipline; parental knowledge and monitoring; parental psychopathology; parenting styles; and parenting during infancy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An exploration of affirming family communication in families with adolescent children
- Authors: Jordaan, Cabriere
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communication in families , Families -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9958 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020054
- Description: Affirming or positive family communication is important to equip families and individuals to meet life challenges. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between affirming family communication and family functioning, as well as the relationship between family functioning and the quality of communication between the adolescent and the father and mother respectively. Following this, affirming family communication was explored qualitatively from the perspective of the adolescent. A cross-sectional, quantitative survey research design was combined with an exploratory, qualitative design. The quantitative data was collected by asking participants to complete self-report questionnaires. The qualitative component consisted of focus groups discussing the topic of affirming family communication. One hundred first-year Psychology students of Stellenbosch University in South Africa completed the questionnaires. Fourteen of these students also participated in the focus groups. The quantitative results revealed a significant positive correlation between affirming family communication and family functioning. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between family functioning and openness in communication between the adolescent and the mother and father respectively. Three core categories (with sub- categories) emerged from the content analysis of the focus group discussions. These core categories were verbal affirming communication, non-verbal affirming communication and functional affirming communication. The findings of this study highlight the importance of affirming family communication, especially in families with adolescent children, while also providing a description of affirming family communication from the adolescent’s perspective.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Jordaan, Cabriere
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communication in families , Families -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9958 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020054
- Description: Affirming or positive family communication is important to equip families and individuals to meet life challenges. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between affirming family communication and family functioning, as well as the relationship between family functioning and the quality of communication between the adolescent and the father and mother respectively. Following this, affirming family communication was explored qualitatively from the perspective of the adolescent. A cross-sectional, quantitative survey research design was combined with an exploratory, qualitative design. The quantitative data was collected by asking participants to complete self-report questionnaires. The qualitative component consisted of focus groups discussing the topic of affirming family communication. One hundred first-year Psychology students of Stellenbosch University in South Africa completed the questionnaires. Fourteen of these students also participated in the focus groups. The quantitative results revealed a significant positive correlation between affirming family communication and family functioning. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was found between family functioning and openness in communication between the adolescent and the mother and father respectively. Three core categories (with sub- categories) emerged from the content analysis of the focus group discussions. These core categories were verbal affirming communication, non-verbal affirming communication and functional affirming communication. The findings of this study highlight the importance of affirming family communication, especially in families with adolescent children, while also providing a description of affirming family communication from the adolescent’s perspective.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An exploratory study of the challenges experienced by single mother university students
- Authors: Mapasa, Yolisa Yvonne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teenage mothers -- South Africa , Women college students -- South Africa.
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9962 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020170
- Description: This treatise reports on a qualitative exploratory study that was aimed at identifying and describing the challenges experienced by single mothers who were students at a South African university. The researcher is of the view that single parenthood is a global challenge but very little has been done to explore this phenomenon in South Africa. A purposive convenience sample of four voluntary full time registered single mother students at a university in the Western Cape Province was utilised in the study. The participants ranged in age between eighteen and twenty three years and were English second language speakers. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with the four participants and the data were analysed into qualitative themes. The following main challenges for the sample of single mother university students emerged from the data: (i) Financial challenges. (ii) Concern for the general wellbeing of children. (iii) Difficulties regarding the separation of mother and child. (iv) The importance of tertiary education in finding future employment. (v) Dual role stress. Sub-themes within these main themes were also identified and discussed. Recommendations for future research, based on the findings of this study, are also offered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Mapasa, Yolisa Yvonne
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teenage mothers -- South Africa , Women college students -- South Africa.
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9962 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020170
- Description: This treatise reports on a qualitative exploratory study that was aimed at identifying and describing the challenges experienced by single mothers who were students at a South African university. The researcher is of the view that single parenthood is a global challenge but very little has been done to explore this phenomenon in South Africa. A purposive convenience sample of four voluntary full time registered single mother students at a university in the Western Cape Province was utilised in the study. The participants ranged in age between eighteen and twenty three years and were English second language speakers. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with the four participants and the data were analysed into qualitative themes. The following main challenges for the sample of single mother university students emerged from the data: (i) Financial challenges. (ii) Concern for the general wellbeing of children. (iii) Difficulties regarding the separation of mother and child. (iv) The importance of tertiary education in finding future employment. (v) Dual role stress. Sub-themes within these main themes were also identified and discussed. Recommendations for future research, based on the findings of this study, are also offered.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Antimicrobial activities of three medicinal plants against selected diarrheagenic pathogens
- Authors: Nkosi, Themba Johan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Anti-infective agents , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Materia medica, Vegetable
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10126 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020759
- Description: Diarrhea is a global concern that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have confirmed to be the second major cause of death in children under the age of five. Major bacterial pathogens that cause diarrhea include Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Shigella species and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic therapy is recommended depending on the severity and presentation of the disease; however, the appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is an emerging global threat to the ability to treat these bacterial infections. This situation could be overcome by the discovery of new natural antibiotics. Plants have been a source of medicine for centuries and have been used to treat diseases including diarrhea. This makes plants a natural potential target to study for their antibiotic properties. The objective of this study was to determine the antibiotic properties of medicinal plants against known pathogens that cause bacterial diarrhea. Three medicinal plants, Cassia abbreviata, Kigelia africana, and Geranium incanum were investigated for their antimicrobial properties against these strains of microorganisms: American Type Culture Collection (ATTC) and Clinical Strains (CS). The plant materials were ground into powder, which was then dissolved in methanol, acetone and distilled water to extract the active compounds. The plant extracts were then used to (i) determine their antibiotic activity, (ii) determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs), (iii) analyze the thin layer chromatography (TLC) fingerprints, and (iv) analyze the autobiography assay. The results obtained in this study met the aim and objectives of this study. The antimicrobial activities of the selected plants were obtained as discussed in Chapter 2 and 3. These results indicated that the traditional plants could be used as antimicrobials. In the screening assays, the test microorganisms were inhibited by the plant extracts, when they were subjected to plant extracts. This was performed on Mueller Hinton agar as sensitivity testing, which revealed clear zones of inhibition. The MIC values for each plant extract were established which ranged from 0.101 to 13.3 mg/dl. The TLC analysis revealed the spots which contained the active compounds which inhibited the bacterial growth. A bioautography assay was performed on the TLC plates, which exposed the exact spots containing the active compound inhibiting the bacteria. These results are clearly consistent with what former scientists have observed. Detailed explanations on the results are in Chapter 3 and 4 of this paper. It is important to note that all the procedures performed in this study were in vitro assays. Some effective in vitro assay activity may not always result in the same effective in vivo activity, because some active compounds may be metabolized and degraded into inactive metabolites. For this reason, the in vitro results obtained in this study, may not reflect the true effectiveness of the compounds in in vivo trials. It is therefore advised that future scientists should take a step further in analyzing the plant extracts through in vivo assays. Further testing and study on these plants at an advanced molecular level will be beneficial in the medical fields in the search for new antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. Purification and further analysis of their products can be helpful in the production of pure natural medicines. This will discover the active ingredients and compounds responsible for inhibition of the microorganisms. This will make the compounds potential candidates for a scientific validation and analysis for future scientists to bring a new dawn in the fight against infectious diseases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Nkosi, Themba Johan
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Anti-infective agents , Drug resistance in microorganisms , Materia medica, Vegetable
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10126 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020759
- Description: Diarrhea is a global concern that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have confirmed to be the second major cause of death in children under the age of five. Major bacterial pathogens that cause diarrhea include Escherichia coli, Salmonella species, Shigella species and Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic therapy is recommended depending on the severity and presentation of the disease; however, the appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is an emerging global threat to the ability to treat these bacterial infections. This situation could be overcome by the discovery of new natural antibiotics. Plants have been a source of medicine for centuries and have been used to treat diseases including diarrhea. This makes plants a natural potential target to study for their antibiotic properties. The objective of this study was to determine the antibiotic properties of medicinal plants against known pathogens that cause bacterial diarrhea. Three medicinal plants, Cassia abbreviata, Kigelia africana, and Geranium incanum were investigated for their antimicrobial properties against these strains of microorganisms: American Type Culture Collection (ATTC) and Clinical Strains (CS). The plant materials were ground into powder, which was then dissolved in methanol, acetone and distilled water to extract the active compounds. The plant extracts were then used to (i) determine their antibiotic activity, (ii) determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs), (iii) analyze the thin layer chromatography (TLC) fingerprints, and (iv) analyze the autobiography assay. The results obtained in this study met the aim and objectives of this study. The antimicrobial activities of the selected plants were obtained as discussed in Chapter 2 and 3. These results indicated that the traditional plants could be used as antimicrobials. In the screening assays, the test microorganisms were inhibited by the plant extracts, when they were subjected to plant extracts. This was performed on Mueller Hinton agar as sensitivity testing, which revealed clear zones of inhibition. The MIC values for each plant extract were established which ranged from 0.101 to 13.3 mg/dl. The TLC analysis revealed the spots which contained the active compounds which inhibited the bacterial growth. A bioautography assay was performed on the TLC plates, which exposed the exact spots containing the active compound inhibiting the bacteria. These results are clearly consistent with what former scientists have observed. Detailed explanations on the results are in Chapter 3 and 4 of this paper. It is important to note that all the procedures performed in this study were in vitro assays. Some effective in vitro assay activity may not always result in the same effective in vivo activity, because some active compounds may be metabolized and degraded into inactive metabolites. For this reason, the in vitro results obtained in this study, may not reflect the true effectiveness of the compounds in in vivo trials. It is therefore advised that future scientists should take a step further in analyzing the plant extracts through in vivo assays. Further testing and study on these plants at an advanced molecular level will be beneficial in the medical fields in the search for new antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. Purification and further analysis of their products can be helpful in the production of pure natural medicines. This will discover the active ingredients and compounds responsible for inhibition of the microorganisms. This will make the compounds potential candidates for a scientific validation and analysis for future scientists to bring a new dawn in the fight against infectious diseases.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Barriers to implementation of evidence-based practices in a critical care unit
- Authors: Bowers, Candice Andrea
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Evidence-based medicine , Critical care medicine , Nursing ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10048 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013612
- Description: Over the last three decades there has been a greater need for health care practitioners to base their decision on the best available in order to optimise quality and cost-effective patient care. Evidence-based practice necessitates guideline development, education and review in order to achieve improved patient outcomes. However, initiatives that endeavour to disseminate and implement evidence-based practice have faced barriers and opposition. Barriers that might hamper the implementation of evidence-based practice include characteristics of the evidence itself, personal, institutional or organizational factors. The research study explored and described the barriers to implementation of evidence-based practices in a critical care unit. Based on the data analysis, recommendations were made to enhance the implementation of evidence-based practices in the critical care unit. A quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used to operationalize the research objectives. The target population comprised professional nurses in the critical care unit. Non-probability sampling was used to obtain data by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive data analysis was applied, using a statistical programme and the aid of a statistician. The results are graphically displayed using bar graphs and tables. Recommendations for nursing practice, education and research were made. Ethical principles have been maintained throughout the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Bowers, Candice Andrea
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Evidence-based medicine , Critical care medicine , Nursing ethics
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10048 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1013612
- Description: Over the last three decades there has been a greater need for health care practitioners to base their decision on the best available in order to optimise quality and cost-effective patient care. Evidence-based practice necessitates guideline development, education and review in order to achieve improved patient outcomes. However, initiatives that endeavour to disseminate and implement evidence-based practice have faced barriers and opposition. Barriers that might hamper the implementation of evidence-based practice include characteristics of the evidence itself, personal, institutional or organizational factors. The research study explored and described the barriers to implementation of evidence-based practices in a critical care unit. Based on the data analysis, recommendations were made to enhance the implementation of evidence-based practices in the critical care unit. A quantitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was used to operationalize the research objectives. The target population comprised professional nurses in the critical care unit. Non-probability sampling was used to obtain data by means of a structured self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive data analysis was applied, using a statistical programme and the aid of a statistician. The results are graphically displayed using bar graphs and tables. Recommendations for nursing practice, education and research were made. Ethical principles have been maintained throughout the study.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Biological activities of medical plants traditionally used in the Eastern Cape to treat pneumonia
- Kamanga, Melvin Chalochapasi
- Authors: Kamanga, Melvin Chalochapasi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communicable diseases -- Eastern Cape , Medicinal plants -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10124 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020051
- Description: Infectious diseases such as pneumonia still pose a major global health concern. Currently, the world is facing widespread emergence of acquired bacterial resistance to antibiotics which constitute one of the chief causes of infectious diseases. The accumulation of different antibiotic resistance mechanisms within the same strains has induced the appearance of the so called “superbugs”, or “multiple-drug resistant bacteria”. Due to antibiotic resistance, attention is currently being drawn towards biologically active components isolated from plant species commonly used as herbal medicine, as they may offer a new source of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities. This is the basis of this study. In this study four medicinal plants namely, Cassia abbreviata, Geranium incanum, Pelargonium hortorum and Tecoma capensis were investigated for their antimicrobial potential. In vitro antimicrobial activity using agar disc diffusion method, agar dilution method and broth microdilution plate determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), were carried out against ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) strains and clinical isolates known to cause pneumonia. Aqueous, methanol and acetone extracts from the selected plants were thus tested against strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The plants exhibited pronounced antimicrobial activity and were more active against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. During agar disc diffusion method, the highest inhibition zone was demonstrated by the acetone extract of P. hortorum (IZ=22mm and AI=0.73) against the reference strain of S. pneumoniae (ATCC 49619). The range of zones of inhibition in diameter across strains of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae was 7mm to 22mm with activity index range of 0.23 to 0.74. The lowest MIC produced by medicinal plants in the study during agar disc diffusion method against S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae strains, was 2.5mg/ml. In broth microdilution plate assay, the lowest MIC demonstrated by C. abbreviata, T. capensis and P. hortorum extracts on tested bacteria was 0.031mg/ml and that of G. incanum was 0.063mg/ml. Candida albicans strains were only inhibited at 20mg/ml by the study plants. The highest activity among the individual extracts was shown by P. hortorum methanol extract which inhibited 71% of the studied bacteria. T. capensis methanol extract was the least and inhibited only 17% of the tested bacteria. The strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the highest resistance to medicinal plants employed in this study. Traditional preparation of selected medicinal plants did not show any significant antimicrobial activity. Bioactive analysis of compounds on study plants was carried out using standard methods which revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, phytosterol, saponins, tannins and triterpenoids. Comparison of the inhibitory effect of the plant extracts against some broad spectrum antibiotics revealed that the tested medicinal plants showed greater antimicrobial activity than standard antibiotics. However, there was no correlation between the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the bacteria and the effects of the plants, signifying that plants probably function through different mechanisms. Bioautographic findings on thin-layer chromatography plate, exhibited clear zones of inhibition of bacterial growth with the Rf value range of 0.09 to 0.94. Anti-mutagenic activity was assayed by the Ames mutagenicity test in the plate-incorporation method using histidine mutants of S. typhimurium strains TA 100. The selected plant extracts at 2.5mg/ml and 5mg/ml did not induce mutagenesis in the absence of liver-metabolizing enzymes. The study results indicated that the selected plants are capable of inhibiting the growth of the studied pathogenic microorganisms to a varied degree. The leaves of G. incanum, P. hortorum, T. capensis as well as the stem bark of C. abbreviata could be novel sources of antimicrobial agents that might have broad spectrum activity. The anti-mutagenic properties of the studied medicinal plants may also provide additional health supplemental value to the other claimed therapeutic properties of the plants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Kamanga, Melvin Chalochapasi
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Communicable diseases -- Eastern Cape , Medicinal plants -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MTech
- Identifier: vital:10124 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020051
- Description: Infectious diseases such as pneumonia still pose a major global health concern. Currently, the world is facing widespread emergence of acquired bacterial resistance to antibiotics which constitute one of the chief causes of infectious diseases. The accumulation of different antibiotic resistance mechanisms within the same strains has induced the appearance of the so called “superbugs”, or “multiple-drug resistant bacteria”. Due to antibiotic resistance, attention is currently being drawn towards biologically active components isolated from plant species commonly used as herbal medicine, as they may offer a new source of antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities. This is the basis of this study. In this study four medicinal plants namely, Cassia abbreviata, Geranium incanum, Pelargonium hortorum and Tecoma capensis were investigated for their antimicrobial potential. In vitro antimicrobial activity using agar disc diffusion method, agar dilution method and broth microdilution plate determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), were carried out against ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) strains and clinical isolates known to cause pneumonia. Aqueous, methanol and acetone extracts from the selected plants were thus tested against strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The plants exhibited pronounced antimicrobial activity and were more active against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. During agar disc diffusion method, the highest inhibition zone was demonstrated by the acetone extract of P. hortorum (IZ=22mm and AI=0.73) against the reference strain of S. pneumoniae (ATCC 49619). The range of zones of inhibition in diameter across strains of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae was 7mm to 22mm with activity index range of 0.23 to 0.74. The lowest MIC produced by medicinal plants in the study during agar disc diffusion method against S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae strains, was 2.5mg/ml. In broth microdilution plate assay, the lowest MIC demonstrated by C. abbreviata, T. capensis and P. hortorum extracts on tested bacteria was 0.031mg/ml and that of G. incanum was 0.063mg/ml. Candida albicans strains were only inhibited at 20mg/ml by the study plants. The highest activity among the individual extracts was shown by P. hortorum methanol extract which inhibited 71% of the studied bacteria. T. capensis methanol extract was the least and inhibited only 17% of the tested bacteria. The strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae showed the highest resistance to medicinal plants employed in this study. Traditional preparation of selected medicinal plants did not show any significant antimicrobial activity. Bioactive analysis of compounds on study plants was carried out using standard methods which revealed the presence of anthraquinones, flavonoids, phytosterol, saponins, tannins and triterpenoids. Comparison of the inhibitory effect of the plant extracts against some broad spectrum antibiotics revealed that the tested medicinal plants showed greater antimicrobial activity than standard antibiotics. However, there was no correlation between the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the bacteria and the effects of the plants, signifying that plants probably function through different mechanisms. Bioautographic findings on thin-layer chromatography plate, exhibited clear zones of inhibition of bacterial growth with the Rf value range of 0.09 to 0.94. Anti-mutagenic activity was assayed by the Ames mutagenicity test in the plate-incorporation method using histidine mutants of S. typhimurium strains TA 100. The selected plant extracts at 2.5mg/ml and 5mg/ml did not induce mutagenesis in the absence of liver-metabolizing enzymes. The study results indicated that the selected plants are capable of inhibiting the growth of the studied pathogenic microorganisms to a varied degree. The leaves of G. incanum, P. hortorum, T. capensis as well as the stem bark of C. abbreviata could be novel sources of antimicrobial agents that might have broad spectrum activity. The anti-mutagenic properties of the studied medicinal plants may also provide additional health supplemental value to the other claimed therapeutic properties of the plants.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Body fatness and associated selected health risk factors among 10 to 12 year-olds in Port Elizabeth schools
- Authors: Sanderson, Andrea
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Obesity in adolescence -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Obesity -- Risk factors -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , School children -- Nutrition -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10109 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020152
- Description: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the body fatness and associated selected health risk factors among 10 to 12 year old adolescents attending schools in Port Elizabeth. Therefore the objectives of the study were to determine the following for the participants: • Level of fatness: weight, height, waist circumference, maximum hip circumference and skinfolds; • Fat intake; • Level of physical activity involvement (IPAQ). To achieve the aim and objectives of this study, the literature pertaining to Childhood Obesity and the possible effects thereof, were reviewed. Both an ex post facto quasi experimental and randomized one-group posttest only designs were used to describe the level of fatness and to identify the incidence of overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 10 to 12 years attending schools in Port Elizabeth. The test battery included anthropometric measurements that were identified from the literature as the factors most important to categorise body fatness such as weight, height, circumferences and skinfolds to determine the level of fatness of the participants. A 21-item Fat Measure for Dietary Intake and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered to determine the levels of fat intake and physical activity. Three hundred (300) adolescents were assessed of which 143 were male and 157 were female. In terms of socioeconomic status, 71.3 percent were from the ‘less poor’ quintile schools and 28.7 percent were from the ‘more poor’ quintile schools. The results obtained from the evaluation of the samples were compared in terms of their descriptive statistics and the differences were tested for statistical and practical significance. The results from the study showed that 26.7 percent of the participants were overweight and 14.7 percent were obese according to their skinfold measurements. In terms of body mass index, 79.7 percent of the participants were overweight and 14.3 percent were obese. These results are far higher than majority of the studies included. Physical activity indicated a reduction in body fatness and the most physically active participants were obese. Lastly, body fat percentage and body mass index are very closely related.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Sanderson, Andrea
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Obesity in adolescence -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , Obesity -- Risk factors -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth , School children -- Nutrition -- South Africa -- Port Elizabeth
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10109 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020152
- Description: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the body fatness and associated selected health risk factors among 10 to 12 year old adolescents attending schools in Port Elizabeth. Therefore the objectives of the study were to determine the following for the participants: • Level of fatness: weight, height, waist circumference, maximum hip circumference and skinfolds; • Fat intake; • Level of physical activity involvement (IPAQ). To achieve the aim and objectives of this study, the literature pertaining to Childhood Obesity and the possible effects thereof, were reviewed. Both an ex post facto quasi experimental and randomized one-group posttest only designs were used to describe the level of fatness and to identify the incidence of overweight and obesity among adolescents aged 10 to 12 years attending schools in Port Elizabeth. The test battery included anthropometric measurements that were identified from the literature as the factors most important to categorise body fatness such as weight, height, circumferences and skinfolds to determine the level of fatness of the participants. A 21-item Fat Measure for Dietary Intake and International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered to determine the levels of fat intake and physical activity. Three hundred (300) adolescents were assessed of which 143 were male and 157 were female. In terms of socioeconomic status, 71.3 percent were from the ‘less poor’ quintile schools and 28.7 percent were from the ‘more poor’ quintile schools. The results obtained from the evaluation of the samples were compared in terms of their descriptive statistics and the differences were tested for statistical and practical significance. The results from the study showed that 26.7 percent of the participants were overweight and 14.7 percent were obese according to their skinfold measurements. In terms of body mass index, 79.7 percent of the participants were overweight and 14.3 percent were obese. These results are far higher than majority of the studies included. Physical activity indicated a reduction in body fatness and the most physically active participants were obese. Lastly, body fat percentage and body mass index are very closely related.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Compound distribution models for athletics records
- Authors: Hanly, Erin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Athletics , Statistics -- Sports , Forecasting -- Sports
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018609
- Description: World records in athletics capture the attention of both the general public and the academic community. Athletics records provide a wealth of quantifiable data, which represent the pinnacle of human ability at the time of the record. This research discusses modelling the progression of athletics world records using a compound distribution model which is found in actuarial statistics. Compound distributions allow for the simultaneous modelling of the frequency of record breaking and of the amount by which the record is improved at each record-breaking performance. A number of assumptions accompany the use of the compound distribution model. This research evaluates the athletics data for adherence to these assumptions, before carrying out distribution-fitting and goodnessof-fit testing. Forecasts of future performance are obtained by means of a simulation method. The forecasts obtained from the compound model are compared to forecasts obtained from non-linear models which have been proposed in literature. This research focuses on short-term forecasts, however, a modification to the compound model which allows for longer-term forecasts is also illustrated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Hanly, Erin
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Athletics , Statistics -- Sports , Forecasting -- Sports
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10105 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1018609
- Description: World records in athletics capture the attention of both the general public and the academic community. Athletics records provide a wealth of quantifiable data, which represent the pinnacle of human ability at the time of the record. This research discusses modelling the progression of athletics world records using a compound distribution model which is found in actuarial statistics. Compound distributions allow for the simultaneous modelling of the frequency of record breaking and of the amount by which the record is improved at each record-breaking performance. A number of assumptions accompany the use of the compound distribution model. This research evaluates the athletics data for adherence to these assumptions, before carrying out distribution-fitting and goodnessof-fit testing. Forecasts of future performance are obtained by means of a simulation method. The forecasts obtained from the compound model are compared to forecasts obtained from non-linear models which have been proposed in literature. This research focuses on short-term forecasts, however, a modification to the compound model which allows for longer-term forecasts is also illustrated.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Dambudzo Marechera: a psychobiographical study
- Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Authors: Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Marechera, Dambudzo, 1952-1987 , Developmental psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Authors -- Biography , Authors, African -- 20th century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020777
- Description: Marechera the Zimbabwean writer, poet and novelist emerged in the late 1970s as a new voice in African literature, but his writing career lasted less than a decade. It was his iconoclastic, dense style that expressed the psychological disintegration prevalent in Africa during this period and challenged the central beliefs of both the nationalist and post-independence eras. Defying the limitations of nationality, race and culture, Marechera’s writing explores universal issues, particularly urban existence in the late twentieth century. Marechera’s life and work were closely linked. His outspoken views and unorthodox lifestyle brought him into frequent conflict with the authorities and contributed to him being perceived as a cult figure. Through his work and personality he became a major inspiration and role model for the younger generation of writers in Zimbabwe and other African countries. The present study is a psychobiographical case study with the primary aim being to explore and describe the personality development of Dambudzo Marechera (1952-1987) using Alfred Adler’s theory of Individual Psychology. It was through the use of a theory of psychological development that a better understanding of Marechera’s personality, based on his cultural and historical background was achieved and a new interpretation and explanation was reported. The findings of the study can be generalised to the theory of individual psychology through the process of analytical generalization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Muchena, Kudakwashe Christopher
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Marechera, Dambudzo, 1952-1987 , Developmental psychology , Psychology -- Biographical methods , Authors -- Biography , Authors, African -- 20th century
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9964 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020777
- Description: Marechera the Zimbabwean writer, poet and novelist emerged in the late 1970s as a new voice in African literature, but his writing career lasted less than a decade. It was his iconoclastic, dense style that expressed the psychological disintegration prevalent in Africa during this period and challenged the central beliefs of both the nationalist and post-independence eras. Defying the limitations of nationality, race and culture, Marechera’s writing explores universal issues, particularly urban existence in the late twentieth century. Marechera’s life and work were closely linked. His outspoken views and unorthodox lifestyle brought him into frequent conflict with the authorities and contributed to him being perceived as a cult figure. Through his work and personality he became a major inspiration and role model for the younger generation of writers in Zimbabwe and other African countries. The present study is a psychobiographical case study with the primary aim being to explore and describe the personality development of Dambudzo Marechera (1952-1987) using Alfred Adler’s theory of Individual Psychology. It was through the use of a theory of psychological development that a better understanding of Marechera’s personality, based on his cultural and historical background was achieved and a new interpretation and explanation was reported. The findings of the study can be generalised to the theory of individual psychology through the process of analytical generalization.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Endotracheal tube verification in the mechanically ventilated patient in a critical care unit
- Authors: Fataar, Danielle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Respirators (Medical equipment) , Critical care medicine , Intensive care units
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10020 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008057 , Respirators (Medical equipment) , Critical care medicine , Intensive care units
- Description: Critically ill patients often require assistance by means of intubation and mechanical ventilation to support their spontaneous breathing if they are unable to maintain it. Mechanical ventilation is one of the most commonly used treatment modalities in the care of the critically ill patient and up to 90% of patients world-wide require mechanical ventilation during some or most parts of their stay in critical care units Management of a patient’s airway is a critical part of patient care both in and out of hospital. Although there are many methods used in verifying the correct placement of the endotracheal tube, the need and ability to verify placement of an endotracheal tube correctly is of utmost importance, because many complications can occur should the tube be incorrectly placed. Since unrecognized oesophageal intubation can have many disastrous effects on patients, various methods for verifying correct endotracheal tube placement have been developed and considered. Some of these methods include direct visualization, end-tidal carbon dioxide measurement and oesophageal detector devices. This research study aimed to explore and describe the existing literature on the verification of endotracheal tubes in the mechanically ventilated patient in the critical- care unit. A systematic review was done in order to operationalize the primary objective. Furthermore, based on the literature collected from the systematic review, recommendations for the verification of the endotracheal tube in the mechanically ventilated patient in the critical care unit were made. Ethical considerations were maintained throughout the study and the quality of the systematic review was ensured by performing a critical appraisal of the evidence found.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Fataar, Danielle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Respirators (Medical equipment) , Critical care medicine , Intensive care units
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10020 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008057 , Respirators (Medical equipment) , Critical care medicine , Intensive care units
- Description: Critically ill patients often require assistance by means of intubation and mechanical ventilation to support their spontaneous breathing if they are unable to maintain it. Mechanical ventilation is one of the most commonly used treatment modalities in the care of the critically ill patient and up to 90% of patients world-wide require mechanical ventilation during some or most parts of their stay in critical care units Management of a patient’s airway is a critical part of patient care both in and out of hospital. Although there are many methods used in verifying the correct placement of the endotracheal tube, the need and ability to verify placement of an endotracheal tube correctly is of utmost importance, because many complications can occur should the tube be incorrectly placed. Since unrecognized oesophageal intubation can have many disastrous effects on patients, various methods for verifying correct endotracheal tube placement have been developed and considered. Some of these methods include direct visualization, end-tidal carbon dioxide measurement and oesophageal detector devices. This research study aimed to explore and describe the existing literature on the verification of endotracheal tubes in the mechanically ventilated patient in the critical- care unit. A systematic review was done in order to operationalize the primary objective. Furthermore, based on the literature collected from the systematic review, recommendations for the verification of the endotracheal tube in the mechanically ventilated patient in the critical care unit were made. Ethical considerations were maintained throughout the study and the quality of the systematic review was ensured by performing a critical appraisal of the evidence found.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Experiences of professional nurses with regard to accessing information at the point-of-care via mobile-computing devices at a public hospital
- Authors: Benjamin, Valencia
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Information storage and retrieval systems -- Hospitals , Point-of-care testing , Public hospitals -- Medical staff
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10060 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020193
- Description: Mobile computing devices are capable of changing how healthcare is delivered in the future, since they aim to merge and integrate all services into one device that is versatile, customisable, and portable. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses with regard to accessing information at the point-of-care of the patient, in order to develop guidelines that could assist other professional nurses with implementing the mobile computing device for accessing information at the point-of-care of patients. To achieve the purpose of the study, a qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was used to conduct this research – to gain an understanding of how the professional nurses experienced accessing information at the point-of-care via mobile computing devices. The study was conducted among the professional nurses employed at the public hospital, who were trained and provided with the mobile computing device for accessing information at the point-of-care for more than two years. In-depth interviewing was conducted to obtain the data. Data analysis was done using Tesch‘s method to make sense out of text and data. Four themes were identified, namely, the professional nurses‘ expression of various experiences regarding the training received; the need for support in implementing the mobile computing device; the accessing of information at the point-of-care as beneficial for educational purposes; and the accessing of information at the point-of-care as beneficial to patient care. Two main guidelines were developed. The study concludes with recommendations made with regard to the areas of nursing practice, education and research. Throughout the study, the researcher abided by the ethical considerations. The aspects of trustworthiness implemented in this study, included dependability, credibility, transferability and confirmability (Holloway & Wheeler, 2010:298).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Benjamin, Valencia
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Information storage and retrieval systems -- Hospitals , Point-of-care testing , Public hospitals -- Medical staff
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10060 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020193
- Description: Mobile computing devices are capable of changing how healthcare is delivered in the future, since they aim to merge and integrate all services into one device that is versatile, customisable, and portable. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of professional nurses with regard to accessing information at the point-of-care of the patient, in order to develop guidelines that could assist other professional nurses with implementing the mobile computing device for accessing information at the point-of-care of patients. To achieve the purpose of the study, a qualitative, explorative, descriptive, and contextual design was used to conduct this research – to gain an understanding of how the professional nurses experienced accessing information at the point-of-care via mobile computing devices. The study was conducted among the professional nurses employed at the public hospital, who were trained and provided with the mobile computing device for accessing information at the point-of-care for more than two years. In-depth interviewing was conducted to obtain the data. Data analysis was done using Tesch‘s method to make sense out of text and data. Four themes were identified, namely, the professional nurses‘ expression of various experiences regarding the training received; the need for support in implementing the mobile computing device; the accessing of information at the point-of-care as beneficial for educational purposes; and the accessing of information at the point-of-care as beneficial to patient care. Two main guidelines were developed. The study concludes with recommendations made with regard to the areas of nursing practice, education and research. Throughout the study, the researcher abided by the ethical considerations. The aspects of trustworthiness implemented in this study, included dependability, credibility, transferability and confirmability (Holloway & Wheeler, 2010:298).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Exploring managers' experiences of a monitoring and evaluation dashboard in an Eastern Cape hospital complex
- Authors: Scholl, Joy
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Management -- Evaluation , Organizational effectiveness -- Evaluation , Dashboards (Management information systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10008 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021089
- Description: Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are essential tools for businesses, projects and service delivery structures. The majority of managers in health institutions are from a clinical background and do not use business intelligence principles to manage or monitor performances in their domains. Literature has revealed that managers in South African public health institutions do not monitor and evaluate their data regularly; likewise the most important information is not consolidated for easy reference and assessment. A pilot study of the introduction of an M&E dashboard was implemented at the East London Hospital Complex (ELHC) in May 2011 at the request of the Superintendent General of the Eastern Cape Department of Health to address this challenge. The current study explored the experiences of managers in the implementation of an M&E dashboard at the ELHC in the Eastern Cape. To establish managers’ experiences, a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study was undertaken to gain insight, while accurately depicting the experiences and perceptions of managers of the dashboard. A survey questionnaire was developed to undertake a case study with respondents, who were involved in the initial implementation of the dashboard project at the ELHC. The results were analysed and recommendations were made addressing the design of the dashboard, and communication and change management in the introduction of the monitoring and evaluation tool. Further recommendations were made relating to future potential research in this area. An important finding of the research is that thirty-one (31) of the thirty-four (34) managers (91 percent) responded positively about the dashboard, while 9 percent were neutral. None of the respondents encountered negative experiences of utilising the dashboard. This indicates that the implementation of the dashboard was an overwhelming positive experience. The dashboard can be implemented in other healthcare institutions in the Eastern Cape, thereby encouraging more reliable methods to monitor data, improve staff efficiency and above all service delivery to patients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Scholl, Joy
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Performance -- Management , Management -- Evaluation , Organizational effectiveness -- Evaluation , Dashboards (Management information systems)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10008 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021089
- Description: Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) are essential tools for businesses, projects and service delivery structures. The majority of managers in health institutions are from a clinical background and do not use business intelligence principles to manage or monitor performances in their domains. Literature has revealed that managers in South African public health institutions do not monitor and evaluate their data regularly; likewise the most important information is not consolidated for easy reference and assessment. A pilot study of the introduction of an M&E dashboard was implemented at the East London Hospital Complex (ELHC) in May 2011 at the request of the Superintendent General of the Eastern Cape Department of Health to address this challenge. The current study explored the experiences of managers in the implementation of an M&E dashboard at the ELHC in the Eastern Cape. To establish managers’ experiences, a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study was undertaken to gain insight, while accurately depicting the experiences and perceptions of managers of the dashboard. A survey questionnaire was developed to undertake a case study with respondents, who were involved in the initial implementation of the dashboard project at the ELHC. The results were analysed and recommendations were made addressing the design of the dashboard, and communication and change management in the introduction of the monitoring and evaluation tool. Further recommendations were made relating to future potential research in this area. An important finding of the research is that thirty-one (31) of the thirty-four (34) managers (91 percent) responded positively about the dashboard, while 9 percent were neutral. None of the respondents encountered negative experiences of utilising the dashboard. This indicates that the implementation of the dashboard was an overwhelming positive experience. The dashboard can be implemented in other healthcare institutions in the Eastern Cape, thereby encouraging more reliable methods to monitor data, improve staff efficiency and above all service delivery to patients.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Gaze behaviour of volleyball players during successful serve reception
- Authors: Ramphomane-Aandahl, Bonolo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Gaze -- Psychological aspects , Visual perception , Volleyball players
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10113 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021007
- Description: The aim of this study was to identify and compare the gaze behaviour of both advancement levels (Advanced and Not Advanced) and genders (female and male) during successful serve reception. A quantitative, exploratory and quasi-experimental research design was used in which 50 ToppVolley Norway student athletes aged 16 to 19 years were sampled. The gaze behaviour of junior volleyball athletes was assesed as they received two types of serves (1 float and 1 top spin jump serve) and performed a forearm and/or overhead pass to a setter’s target while wearing an ASL mobile eye tracker. Gaze characteristics such as fixation number, fixation duration and areas of interest were used to achieve the aim of the study. The study found that Advanced participants differed from the Not Advanced athletes in employing fewer (9.70 ± 1.14 versus 10.77 ± 3.63 , p<.05, d>.20 ) fixations but for longer durations per fixations (1.64 ± 0.20 versus 1.60 ± 0.34, p<.05, d>.20 ) in receiving the float serve. Contrary, for the reception of the top spin jump serve, the Advanced athletes employed more fixations (12.11 ± 2.40 versus 11.83 ± 2.17, p<.05, d>.20 ) but for shorter durations per fixations (1.57 ± 0.26 versus 1.65 ± 0.34 sec, p<.05, d>.20 ) than the Not Advanced athletes. Male athletes in this study were more experienced than their female counterparts (5.97 ± 1.62 years versus 4.75 ± 1.59 years, p<.05, d>.20 ) with males employing more fixations than the females (11.02 ± 3.63 versus 9.19 ± 1.55 and 12.26 ± 2.46 versus 11.36 ± 1.69, p<.05, d>.20 ) for the float and top spin serves respectively but for shorter durations per fixation (1.62 ± 0.27 versus 1.76 ± 0.29 sec (float) and 1.56 ± 0.32 versus 1.73 ± 0.28 sec (top spin) p<.05, d>.20 ) than the female athletes. These results and findings suggests that Advanced athletes for both serves attended to the most appropriate visual information through the top-down approach, their knowledge and past experiences. For gender differences, the results show that the female athletes employed fewer fixation points in receiving float serves, however the employment of fewer fixation points during the top spin jump serves was due to receiving serves characterised by easily identifiable trajectories and lower speeds. The contradicting finding of the Advanced athletes employing more fixation points for the top spin jump serve may be due to task complexity demands. Thirteen areas of interests were also identified. The combined results for both gender and advancement levels suggest that the athletes fixated on similar areas of interests, primarily the upper body and secondary on the ball (flight), serve reception phase, arrival at target and contact point. The aim and objectives of this study were achieved in that both absolute and relative values for number of fixations, duration of fixations and areas of interest fixated on, were established. However the outcome of comparisons made, were not all expected particularly that of the Advanced group for the top spin jump serve. Possible explanations were offered, but further research is required in this regard.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Ramphomane-Aandahl, Bonolo
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Gaze -- Psychological aspects , Visual perception , Volleyball players
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:10113 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021007
- Description: The aim of this study was to identify and compare the gaze behaviour of both advancement levels (Advanced and Not Advanced) and genders (female and male) during successful serve reception. A quantitative, exploratory and quasi-experimental research design was used in which 50 ToppVolley Norway student athletes aged 16 to 19 years were sampled. The gaze behaviour of junior volleyball athletes was assesed as they received two types of serves (1 float and 1 top spin jump serve) and performed a forearm and/or overhead pass to a setter’s target while wearing an ASL mobile eye tracker. Gaze characteristics such as fixation number, fixation duration and areas of interest were used to achieve the aim of the study. The study found that Advanced participants differed from the Not Advanced athletes in employing fewer (9.70 ± 1.14 versus 10.77 ± 3.63 , p<.05, d>.20 ) fixations but for longer durations per fixations (1.64 ± 0.20 versus 1.60 ± 0.34, p<.05, d>.20 ) in receiving the float serve. Contrary, for the reception of the top spin jump serve, the Advanced athletes employed more fixations (12.11 ± 2.40 versus 11.83 ± 2.17, p<.05, d>.20 ) but for shorter durations per fixations (1.57 ± 0.26 versus 1.65 ± 0.34 sec, p<.05, d>.20 ) than the Not Advanced athletes. Male athletes in this study were more experienced than their female counterparts (5.97 ± 1.62 years versus 4.75 ± 1.59 years, p<.05, d>.20 ) with males employing more fixations than the females (11.02 ± 3.63 versus 9.19 ± 1.55 and 12.26 ± 2.46 versus 11.36 ± 1.69, p<.05, d>.20 ) for the float and top spin serves respectively but for shorter durations per fixation (1.62 ± 0.27 versus 1.76 ± 0.29 sec (float) and 1.56 ± 0.32 versus 1.73 ± 0.28 sec (top spin) p<.05, d>.20 ) than the female athletes. These results and findings suggests that Advanced athletes for both serves attended to the most appropriate visual information through the top-down approach, their knowledge and past experiences. For gender differences, the results show that the female athletes employed fewer fixation points in receiving float serves, however the employment of fewer fixation points during the top spin jump serves was due to receiving serves characterised by easily identifiable trajectories and lower speeds. The contradicting finding of the Advanced athletes employing more fixation points for the top spin jump serve may be due to task complexity demands. Thirteen areas of interests were also identified. The combined results for both gender and advancement levels suggest that the athletes fixated on similar areas of interests, primarily the upper body and secondary on the ball (flight), serve reception phase, arrival at target and contact point. The aim and objectives of this study were achieved in that both absolute and relative values for number of fixations, duration of fixations and areas of interest fixated on, were established. However the outcome of comparisons made, were not all expected particularly that of the Advanced group for the top spin jump serve. Possible explanations were offered, but further research is required in this regard.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Guidelines for a therapeutic programme to address the mental health needs of adolescents being treated in a psychiatric hospital
- Authors: Smith, Lourett
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teenagers , Psychiatric hospitals , Mental health facilities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10036 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010963 , Teenagers , Psychiatric hospitals , Mental health facilities
- Description: It is estimated that about 10 million children and adolescents worldwide, annually suffer from psychiatric disorders. They often require hospital treatment because they are not coping with their psychiatric condition at home or there is a lack of supervision. Suicide amongst adolescents who are experiencing a crisis is a bleak reality. In-patient treatment provides the necessary structure and supervision in order to secure a stable environment which is vital for treating adolescents. Treatment usually includes a therapeutic programme provided by members of the multi-professional team. Since there is at present no adolescent in-patient treatment facility in the Nelson Mandela Bay to provide psychiatric care to adolescents who are experiencing a mental problem, these patients are admitted to psychiatric hospitals which cater only for the needs of adult patients or they are referred to facilities in other provinces. The goals and objectives of this study are firstly, to explore and describe the perceptions of mental health professionals working in psychiatric hospitals regarding what should be included in a therapeutic programme for adolescents and secondly, to develop guidelines for treating adolescents that can be implemented in psychiatric hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay. The study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual design. The research population included various professionals who provide services at psychiatric hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay. Purposive sampling was utilized. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information-rich data and field notes were kept. The interviews were transcribed and Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. Themes were identified and grouped together to form new categories. An independent coder assisted with the coding process to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. Literature was reviewed in order to identify research that was done previously regarding adolescent psychiatric in-patient programmes in order to bridge the gaps that were identified. The researcher ensured the validity of the study by conforming to Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness which consists of the following four constructs, namely, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The researcher ensured that the study was conducted in an ethical manner by adhering to ethical principles such as beneficence, justice and fidelity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Smith, Lourett
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Teenagers , Psychiatric hospitals , Mental health facilities
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MCur
- Identifier: vital:10036 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1010963 , Teenagers , Psychiatric hospitals , Mental health facilities
- Description: It is estimated that about 10 million children and adolescents worldwide, annually suffer from psychiatric disorders. They often require hospital treatment because they are not coping with their psychiatric condition at home or there is a lack of supervision. Suicide amongst adolescents who are experiencing a crisis is a bleak reality. In-patient treatment provides the necessary structure and supervision in order to secure a stable environment which is vital for treating adolescents. Treatment usually includes a therapeutic programme provided by members of the multi-professional team. Since there is at present no adolescent in-patient treatment facility in the Nelson Mandela Bay to provide psychiatric care to adolescents who are experiencing a mental problem, these patients are admitted to psychiatric hospitals which cater only for the needs of adult patients or they are referred to facilities in other provinces. The goals and objectives of this study are firstly, to explore and describe the perceptions of mental health professionals working in psychiatric hospitals regarding what should be included in a therapeutic programme for adolescents and secondly, to develop guidelines for treating adolescents that can be implemented in psychiatric hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay. The study followed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, contextual design. The research population included various professionals who provide services at psychiatric hospitals in the Nelson Mandela Bay. Purposive sampling was utilized. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information-rich data and field notes were kept. The interviews were transcribed and Tesch’s eight steps of data analysis were followed to create meaning from the data collected. Themes were identified and grouped together to form new categories. An independent coder assisted with the coding process to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. Literature was reviewed in order to identify research that was done previously regarding adolescent psychiatric in-patient programmes in order to bridge the gaps that were identified. The researcher ensured the validity of the study by conforming to Lincoln and Guba’s model of trustworthiness which consists of the following four constructs, namely, credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability. The researcher ensured that the study was conducted in an ethical manner by adhering to ethical principles such as beneficence, justice and fidelity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Identifying and evaluating risk factors that predict traumatic stress severity in South Africa
- Authors: Van Wyk, Rozelle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Risk factors , Medical personnel -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9968 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020937
- Description: Background: This study identified, addressed and validated risk factors that can be measured in the peri-traumatic period which may eventually be used in predicting the development of traumatic stress. Many people in South Africa possibly suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) if we consider the extent of trauma exposures that is apparent within the South African population. Traumatised individuals are at risk but may remain undiagnosed and untreated. It makes sense for first line and primary health care practitioners (i.e., not highly qualified psychological practitioners) to screen for risk since they have the initial contact with trauma individuals. A relatively easy screening instrument that can be administered time efficiently would be useful in this regard. The principles of this instrument are that it needs to be objectively measurable, quick and easy to administer. No consistent measure geared towards identifying risk factors in such a manner immediately post trauma currently exists in South Africa. Objectives: The overall aim was to start a process of designing a psychometric instrument that is valid in predicting the development of traumatic stress. Since this is the initial stage of constructing a new measure, content validity was of utmost importance. It became imperative to ensure that items were not only relevant and appropriate, but also accurate and capable in identifying at-risk individuals. The proposed end goal is to develop effective identification strategies in South Africa geared towards helping victims of traumatic events. Method: A pilot psychometric questionnaire was compiled using three major international reviews, South African research on known risk factors, and literature on PTSD risk assessment considerations. This preliminary assembled item pool was used as a departure point and evaluated quantitatively as well as qualitatively by expert reviewers who have research and/or clinical experience with PTSD in a South African context. Their feedback resulted in either the omission or the modification of certain items; for some items, further exploration was recommended. The questionnaire was further scrutinised and modified accordingly after qualitative interviews with and critical feedback from the intended administrators or primary health care professionals, namely Registered Counsellors (RCs) and/or nursing staff from a participating general government hospital and a non-government organisation. Findings: Expert reviewers did not agree consistently across all the items. At times they rated certain items as relevant according to the necessity of the information rather than with regards to the relevance of the content of the item – in terms of prediction of PTSD. It was also observed that intended administrators did not always agree with expert reviewers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Van Wyk, Rozelle
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Post-traumatic stress disorder -- Risk factors , Medical personnel -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9968 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020937
- Description: Background: This study identified, addressed and validated risk factors that can be measured in the peri-traumatic period which may eventually be used in predicting the development of traumatic stress. Many people in South Africa possibly suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) if we consider the extent of trauma exposures that is apparent within the South African population. Traumatised individuals are at risk but may remain undiagnosed and untreated. It makes sense for first line and primary health care practitioners (i.e., not highly qualified psychological practitioners) to screen for risk since they have the initial contact with trauma individuals. A relatively easy screening instrument that can be administered time efficiently would be useful in this regard. The principles of this instrument are that it needs to be objectively measurable, quick and easy to administer. No consistent measure geared towards identifying risk factors in such a manner immediately post trauma currently exists in South Africa. Objectives: The overall aim was to start a process of designing a psychometric instrument that is valid in predicting the development of traumatic stress. Since this is the initial stage of constructing a new measure, content validity was of utmost importance. It became imperative to ensure that items were not only relevant and appropriate, but also accurate and capable in identifying at-risk individuals. The proposed end goal is to develop effective identification strategies in South Africa geared towards helping victims of traumatic events. Method: A pilot psychometric questionnaire was compiled using three major international reviews, South African research on known risk factors, and literature on PTSD risk assessment considerations. This preliminary assembled item pool was used as a departure point and evaluated quantitatively as well as qualitatively by expert reviewers who have research and/or clinical experience with PTSD in a South African context. Their feedback resulted in either the omission or the modification of certain items; for some items, further exploration was recommended. The questionnaire was further scrutinised and modified accordingly after qualitative interviews with and critical feedback from the intended administrators or primary health care professionals, namely Registered Counsellors (RCs) and/or nursing staff from a participating general government hospital and a non-government organisation. Findings: Expert reviewers did not agree consistently across all the items. At times they rated certain items as relevant according to the necessity of the information rather than with regards to the relevance of the content of the item – in terms of prediction of PTSD. It was also observed that intended administrators did not always agree with expert reviewers.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
Long-term marital relationships : a male perspective
- Authors: Kew, Wesley
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Married people , Interpersonal relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020066
- Description: Research indicates that determinants such as commitment, communication and attachment facilitate long-term marriages. The present study seeks to understand these and other possible determinants that facilitate enduring relationships. Furthermore, the research focuses exclusively on the determinants that males believe facilitate long-term relationships. Bader and Pearson's transposition of Mahler's Model of Separation Individuation onto adult relationships was used as a theoretical point of departure. Bader and Pearson posit that couples evolve through stages which resemble Mahler's Model of Childhood Development. A qualitative approach using semistructured interviews aided in creating a non-threatening environment whilst collecting data. Purposive non-random sampling was used to identify participants and thereafter participants were obtained via snowball sampling. Tesch's thematic analysis was used to analyse results. The research findings highlight the understanding of what determinants males deem essential to facilitate long-term relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Kew, Wesley
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Married people , Interpersonal relationships
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9960 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020066
- Description: Research indicates that determinants such as commitment, communication and attachment facilitate long-term marriages. The present study seeks to understand these and other possible determinants that facilitate enduring relationships. Furthermore, the research focuses exclusively on the determinants that males believe facilitate long-term relationships. Bader and Pearson's transposition of Mahler's Model of Separation Individuation onto adult relationships was used as a theoretical point of departure. Bader and Pearson posit that couples evolve through stages which resemble Mahler's Model of Childhood Development. A qualitative approach using semistructured interviews aided in creating a non-threatening environment whilst collecting data. Purposive non-random sampling was used to identify participants and thereafter participants were obtained via snowball sampling. Tesch's thematic analysis was used to analyse results. The research findings highlight the understanding of what determinants males deem essential to facilitate long-term relationships.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013