Perceptions, knowledge and attitude of primary health care staff on the implementation of an ideal clinic strategy
- Authors: Messiahs, Avril
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Primary health care -- South Africa , Clinics -- South Africa Nurses -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32204 , vital:31985
- Description: The study sought to understand the perceptions, knowledge and attitude of primary healthcare (PHC) staff with the implementation of the ideal clinic strategy (ICS). The ICS is a new standard of healthcare process implemented by the South African Department of Health (SA DoH) at PHC level in both private and public sector. This study however only focuses on the public sector. The ICS is implemented in accordance with the guidelines stipulated in the SA DoH Strategic Plan 2014 – 2019. The study utilised a quantitative methodological approach to investigate the research question. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Nelson Mandela University and the National Department of Health to conduct the study in 10 clinics that were identified as ideal clinics in the rolling out of the ICS. The sample consisted of 48 clinical and 146 non-clinical staff within primary healthcare (PHC) facilities of the elected 10 clinics. One hundred and ninety-four (194) questionnaires were therefore distributed to these staff members, but only 135 usable questionnaires were returned. This translated into a response rate of 69.6%. The empirical results showed that: - most participants were knowledgeable about the implementation of the ICS; - females were more knowledgeable about the strategy than males, although the difference was not significant; - male participants were however more engaged with the ICS than females; - clinical staff members were perceived to be more engaged in the implementation of the ICS than the non-clinical staff; - more than half of the participants (53.5%) perceived the implementing the ICS as not being easy; and - more females than males perceived the implementation of ICS as being easy. The study provides important recommendations based on the above-mentioned findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
- Authors: Messiahs, Avril
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Primary health care -- South Africa , Clinics -- South Africa Nurses -- South Africa -- Attitudes
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/32204 , vital:31985
- Description: The study sought to understand the perceptions, knowledge and attitude of primary healthcare (PHC) staff with the implementation of the ideal clinic strategy (ICS). The ICS is a new standard of healthcare process implemented by the South African Department of Health (SA DoH) at PHC level in both private and public sector. This study however only focuses on the public sector. The ICS is implemented in accordance with the guidelines stipulated in the SA DoH Strategic Plan 2014 – 2019. The study utilised a quantitative methodological approach to investigate the research question. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Nelson Mandela University and the National Department of Health to conduct the study in 10 clinics that were identified as ideal clinics in the rolling out of the ICS. The sample consisted of 48 clinical and 146 non-clinical staff within primary healthcare (PHC) facilities of the elected 10 clinics. One hundred and ninety-four (194) questionnaires were therefore distributed to these staff members, but only 135 usable questionnaires were returned. This translated into a response rate of 69.6%. The empirical results showed that: - most participants were knowledgeable about the implementation of the ICS; - females were more knowledgeable about the strategy than males, although the difference was not significant; - male participants were however more engaged with the ICS than females; - clinical staff members were perceived to be more engaged in the implementation of the ICS than the non-clinical staff; - more than half of the participants (53.5%) perceived the implementing the ICS as not being easy; and - more females than males perceived the implementation of ICS as being easy. The study provides important recommendations based on the above-mentioned findings.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2018
The effects of turtle-introduced nutrients on beach ecosystems
- Le Gouvello Du Timat, Diane Zelica Marie
- Authors: Le Gouvello Du Timat, Diane Zelica Marie
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Sea turtles , Sea turtles -- Conservation , Green turtle
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6959 , vital:21175
- Description: Resource subsidies are flows of nutrients from one ecosystem to another. Sandy beach ecosystems are at the interface between land and sea and thus receive nutrients from both land/seascapes. The seasonal nesting of sea turtles introduces large inputs of eggs, and so nutrients, onto sandy beach ecosystems, but little is known about the effects of these spatially and temporally variable nutrient input pulses on the dynamics of consumers in the recipient system. In this study, I examined the ecological role of sea turtles as vectors of nutrients that introduce large amounts of nutrients (in the form of eggs) from distant foraging grounds into nutrient-poor beach ecosystems. Although some of the nutrients return to the sea in the form of hatchlings, nutrients from unhatched and depredated eggs, dead and predated hatchlings, as well as chorioallantoic fluid and egg shells remain on the beach and presumably enter sandy beach food webs. I hypothesized that turtle nutrients significantly increase the availability of nutrients to sandy beach ecosystems and that those nutrients are incorporated by both terrestrial and marine food webs. These hypotheses were tested by comparing isotopic signatures of 13C and 15N of consumers on beaches with high and low turtle nest densities. The response of meiofauna to the decomposition of turtle eggs was also investigated. I predicted that meiofaunal abundance is positively affected by turtle nutrients and that higher meiofaunal abundances will be obtained in decomposing, depredated nests. I tested this hypothesis by comparing meiofaunal abundance in naturally predated nests to densities away from turtle nests (as a control). An in situ experiment that mimics conditions of naturally predated sea turtle nest, was set up to test meiofaunal community responses to turtle nutrients over time. The study indicates that sea turtle eggs represent a short pulsed resource subsidy that increases the nutrient and energy budget of sandy beach ecosystems. The results show that of the five potential nutrient pathways tested, ghost crabs appear to consume egg nutrients in measurable quantities, altering their diet and feeding behaviour according to food availability. The study also showed that there was a strong, but short-lived positive response of meiofauna to the introduction of nutrients, with increased abundance of all taxa in predated nests and experimental treatments. This response was particularly strong for nematodes which peaked in abundance after seven days. I conclude that turtle-derived nutrients represent a pulsed resource subsidy that makes significant contribution to the energy budget of sandy beach/dune ecosystems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
- Authors: Le Gouvello Du Timat, Diane Zelica Marie
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Sea turtles , Sea turtles -- Conservation , Green turtle
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/6959 , vital:21175
- Description: Resource subsidies are flows of nutrients from one ecosystem to another. Sandy beach ecosystems are at the interface between land and sea and thus receive nutrients from both land/seascapes. The seasonal nesting of sea turtles introduces large inputs of eggs, and so nutrients, onto sandy beach ecosystems, but little is known about the effects of these spatially and temporally variable nutrient input pulses on the dynamics of consumers in the recipient system. In this study, I examined the ecological role of sea turtles as vectors of nutrients that introduce large amounts of nutrients (in the form of eggs) from distant foraging grounds into nutrient-poor beach ecosystems. Although some of the nutrients return to the sea in the form of hatchlings, nutrients from unhatched and depredated eggs, dead and predated hatchlings, as well as chorioallantoic fluid and egg shells remain on the beach and presumably enter sandy beach food webs. I hypothesized that turtle nutrients significantly increase the availability of nutrients to sandy beach ecosystems and that those nutrients are incorporated by both terrestrial and marine food webs. These hypotheses were tested by comparing isotopic signatures of 13C and 15N of consumers on beaches with high and low turtle nest densities. The response of meiofauna to the decomposition of turtle eggs was also investigated. I predicted that meiofaunal abundance is positively affected by turtle nutrients and that higher meiofaunal abundances will be obtained in decomposing, depredated nests. I tested this hypothesis by comparing meiofaunal abundance in naturally predated nests to densities away from turtle nests (as a control). An in situ experiment that mimics conditions of naturally predated sea turtle nest, was set up to test meiofaunal community responses to turtle nutrients over time. The study indicates that sea turtle eggs represent a short pulsed resource subsidy that increases the nutrient and energy budget of sandy beach ecosystems. The results show that of the five potential nutrient pathways tested, ghost crabs appear to consume egg nutrients in measurable quantities, altering their diet and feeding behaviour according to food availability. The study also showed that there was a strong, but short-lived positive response of meiofauna to the introduction of nutrients, with increased abundance of all taxa in predated nests and experimental treatments. This response was particularly strong for nematodes which peaked in abundance after seven days. I conclude that turtle-derived nutrients represent a pulsed resource subsidy that makes significant contribution to the energy budget of sandy beach/dune ecosystems.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2016
The photodecomposition of different polymorphic forms of 1,4-dihydropyridine channel blockers
- Authors: Francis, Farzaana
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Photodegradation , Nifedipine , Nimodipine , Dihydropyridine
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10378 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1496 , Photodegradation , Nifedipine , Nimodipine , Dihydropyridine
- Description: 1,4-Dihydropyridines (DHPs) are a classification of compounds used as calcium channel blockers in the treatment of various conditions. These compounds readily undergo photodegradation. The degradants produced have no pharmaceutical activity and render the drugs ineffective. DHPs also exhibit polymorphism. Nifedipine and Nimodipine are two such drugs. This study aimed to monitor the photodegradation of these two drugs and to establish the effect of particle size, polymorphism and β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the rate of photodegradation. Different polymorphs (namely the amorphous and stable crystalline polymorphs) of the two drugs were prepared for use in the study. Mixtures of each drug with β-CD were also prepared for photostability studies. The mixtures were prepared in a 1:1 molar ratio. The rate of photodegradation was studied with a 500 W metal halide lamp in accordance to ICH guidelines. The study employed samples on a small scale where degradation was analysed with High Performance Liquid Chromatography, and also samples on a larger scale where degradation was monitored with Powder X-ray Diffraction. The two sets of results of observing the degradation process by two analytical techniques where compared in terms of their quantification methods. The extent of photodegradation was suitably modelled and fitted using the Avrami-Erofeyev kinetic equation. Smaller particle size showed increased photodegradation for Nimodipine; the effect was insignificant for Nifedipine however. For both drugs it was found that the amorphous polymorph underwent faster photodegradation. The study showed that β-CD caused an increase in photodegradation for both drugs under these experimental conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- Authors: Francis, Farzaana
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Photodegradation , Nifedipine , Nimodipine , Dihydropyridine
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc
- Identifier: vital:10378 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1496 , Photodegradation , Nifedipine , Nimodipine , Dihydropyridine
- Description: 1,4-Dihydropyridines (DHPs) are a classification of compounds used as calcium channel blockers in the treatment of various conditions. These compounds readily undergo photodegradation. The degradants produced have no pharmaceutical activity and render the drugs ineffective. DHPs also exhibit polymorphism. Nifedipine and Nimodipine are two such drugs. This study aimed to monitor the photodegradation of these two drugs and to establish the effect of particle size, polymorphism and β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the rate of photodegradation. Different polymorphs (namely the amorphous and stable crystalline polymorphs) of the two drugs were prepared for use in the study. Mixtures of each drug with β-CD were also prepared for photostability studies. The mixtures were prepared in a 1:1 molar ratio. The rate of photodegradation was studied with a 500 W metal halide lamp in accordance to ICH guidelines. The study employed samples on a small scale where degradation was analysed with High Performance Liquid Chromatography, and also samples on a larger scale where degradation was monitored with Powder X-ray Diffraction. The two sets of results of observing the degradation process by two analytical techniques where compared in terms of their quantification methods. The extent of photodegradation was suitably modelled and fitted using the Avrami-Erofeyev kinetic equation. Smaller particle size showed increased photodegradation for Nimodipine; the effect was insignificant for Nifedipine however. For both drugs it was found that the amorphous polymorph underwent faster photodegradation. The study showed that β-CD caused an increase in photodegradation for both drugs under these experimental conditions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2011
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »