OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Mayers, Pat"

Browsing by Author "Mayers, Pat"

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Open Access
An exploratory descriptive study of the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of postgraduate students at the University of Cape Town.
(2018) Mwamba, Bupe; Shea, Jawaya; Mayers, Pat
Globally and in South Africa, university students’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is low. This study was conducted in response to the dearth of information about the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of postgraduate students. Research conducted to explore the SRH knowledge of undergraduate students suggests that the level of SRH knowledge among undergraduate students is low. The aim of this study was to determine the SRH knowledge of postgraduate students at University of Cape Town (UCT), in South Africa. A cross sectional survey design was utilized, using an adapted and pretested online questionnaire. All postgraduate students enrolled in the first semester of 2017 (9444) were invited to anonymously complete the online survey. Four hundred and six (406) students completed the online survey, of whom 293 were female and 107 males. The age range of respondents was between 18 years and 57 years, with the median age for both male and female respondents being 24 years. Six survey responses were excluded from the statistical analysis because of incomplete data. Post graduate students from the African continent comprised 90.75% of the respondents. Most respondents were white (51.50%) from both Africa and abroad. The results indicated that respondents knew about sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) & acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Female respondents were more aware of breast examination, and the role of Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in SRH. Almost half of the respondents in this study (49%) stated that they had no need for more information about contraceptives. Lecturers were identified as one of the top five sources of information across faculties, which could suggest that the university environment provides students with important SRH-related information. Most postgraduate students had knowledge of sexual and reproductive health with regards to contraception, Pap smear, clinical breast examination, STIs, HIV and AIDS. Further research should focus on the relationship between SRH knowledge and usage among this population. As university lecturers were identified as an important source of information across faculties, the University should consider the incorporation of SRH education in the broader curriculum and as an integral component of student health services.
Open Access
Beyond the feeding relationship: mothers' descriptions of interaction within the mother-child dyad
(2009) Barbard, Penelope Jane; Coetzee, Minette; Mayers, Pat
The mother-child relationship is a key determinant of child health. Current evidence acknowledges that impaired mother-child interaction affects social, emotional, cognitive and behavioural development in infants. Disrupted interaction within the mother-child dyad can be caused by a variety of factors including prolonged separation, illness, abusive relationships, maternal stress and other psychosocial disturbances. Post-Partum Depression (PPD), in particular, compromises mother-child interaction. Despite the fact that recent studies have demonstrated that the prevalence of PPD in low-income communities is approximately three times that found in first world countries, mother-child interaction is seldom evaluated and facilitated in primary care. Physical growth is often the only measure of infant health and development. The objectives of this qualitative study were to explore the mother's description of mother-child interaction; the importance that the mother ascribes to this interaction; and the mother's perception of the factors which facilitated interaction within the mother-child dyad. First-time mothers were purposively sampled and semi-structured interviews were conducted. After general inductive analysis of the verbatim transcriptions of the interviews, five main themes emerged. These were: (2)"What I expected" which described expectations around the birth and the impact on mother-child interaction, (2) "Isn't one supposed to feel ... ?" explored the mothers concerns regarding interaction, emotions and adaptation, (3) "Connecting with my baby" described a process of physical connectedness which enhanced emotional connectedness, (4)"We reflect each other's feelings " illustrated how feelings are echoed between mother and baby and empathy developed, and (5) "That helped/hindered our interaction " described factors which eased the fluency of mother-child interaction. These findings are discussed in relation to neuro-scientific developmental theories; namely Porges' Polyvagal Theory of subconscious adaptation for social behaviour and security strategies, and The Mirror Neuron Theory which describes mechanisms of imitation and the development of empathy. Factors which enhanced mother-child interaction are discussed within the context of a changing society. The findings suggest the potential value of including the facilitation of mother-child interaction in the practice of health professionals, particularly midwives and other workers in maternal and child health. This may include training in non-directive counselling of mothers, the recognition of disengaged mother-child interaction, and relationship facilitation. This study emphasizes the importance of mother-child interaction and that health professionals need to be aware of the potential for maternal mental health problems after birth, and the long-term consequences of poor mother-child interaction on infant health.
Open Access
Critical care nurses' experience of the sudden unexpected death of a patient : a phenomenological study
(2003) Turner, Roseanne Elizabeth; Mayers, Pat; Oskowitz, beverley
Bibliography: leaves 115-129.
Open Access
A description of the self-perceived roles of registered nurses in student health services in selected tertiary institutions in South Africa
(2006) Adams, Bridget; Mayers, Pat
Includes bibliographical references.
Open Access
A descriptive survey of the nursing workforce in critical care unit in hospitals of the Western Cape Province
(2006) Gillespie, Rencia S; Kyriacos, Una; Mayers, Pat
A global shortage of Registered Nurses (RNs) has been reported internationally, and confirmed in South Africa by the National Audit of Critical Care services. Critical Care Nurses (CCNs) especially are in great demand and short supply. This has affected the quality of patient care. The purpose of this study was to perform a workforce analysis and needs assessment of critical care nursing services in the Western Cape Province as at 1 January 2005. The study design is a descriptive survey conducted on site in the critical care units of the private and public sector hospitals of the Western Cape, using a structured questionnaire, with a 96.5% return rate. Findings showed that the 35 hospitals surveyed in the public and private healthcare sectors had 80 functional critical care units including Intensive Care Units and High Care Units for adults, children and neonates, and High Dependency Units for adults. Factors that contribute to the demand for critical care nurses include the number of critical care beds, patient admissions, severity of illness, available facilities, medical, nursing and support staff. Compared to internationally accepted norms, the Western Cape units have a deficit of 74% of Registered Nurses (RNs) in the public sector hospitals, and a deficit of 82% in the private sector. This equates to an actual shortage of 3010 RNs for both sectors. If all categories of nursing staff are included in the calculation, the public sector meets 49% of its requirements and the private sector 24%. Half of the private sector and 28.9% of the public sector Registered Nurses are Critical Care Nurses. Few measures appear to be taken to recruit and retain nursing staff. The number of students being trained at both the undergraduate (300 during 2004) and the postgraduate (80 CCNs during 2004) level at the educational institutions, in conjunction with the hospitals, is inadequate. Clinical training institutions are available, but the numbers of educators and clinical mentors are inadequate to train the number of nurses required to meet the demand.
Open Access
Effects of a psychosocial intervention on the quality of life or primary caregivers of women with breast cancer in Abuja, Nigeria
(2017) Gabriel, Israel Olatunji; Mayers, Pat
Studies have shown that limited attention has been paid to the psychosocial wellbeing of caregivers of patients undergoing care and treatment for breast cancer in Nigeria. There are no interventions in place to cater for their needs despite, the psychological problems faced by this group of people. This study investigated the effectiveness of a psychosocial intervention in term of impact on the quality of life (QOL) of primary caregivers of women with breast cancer in Abuja, Nigeria. Using a quasiexperimental design, sample of 108 participants assigned to the intervention and control groups, the study made use of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC) to measure caregiver burden and QOL respectively. The hypothesis for the study was that the primary caregivers of women with breast cancer who receive a psychosocial intervention programme will report improved QOL compared with caregivers who do not attend a psychosocial intervention programme. The study established that there were a negative linear relationship between caregiver burden and QOL (R = -0.45, p < 0.001) as a basis for intervention, and also that 29% variance of QOL could be explained by caregiver burden. The intervention results showed that at baseline 51.9% participants reported moderate to severe burden and 48.1% reported severe burden. These figures reduced to 22.3% and 12.6% for moderate to severe and severe burden respectively at 6 weeks after intervention, and further reduced to 18.6% and 4.9% respectively at 12 weeks after intervention. Comparing the QOL of the intervention and control groups, the results showed a significant difference on the score at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. However, looking at performance of the intervention group, there was no significant different at baseline and 6 weeks (t=0.83, p < 0.05), and baseline and 12 weeks (t=1.65, p < 0.05). With reference to the caregiver burden of the intervention and control groups, it was found that a significant difference existed at baseline (t=9.33, p < 0.001). In respect of the impact of the intervention on caregiver burden of the intervention group, results showed a significant difference between baseline and 6 weeks (t=30.34, p < 0.001) and between baseline and 12 weeks (t = 36.80, p < 0.001) after intervention. The study concluded that the psycho-education intervention significantly affected caregiver burden but did not affect caregivers' QOL. Therefore, there is a need for a psycho-education intervention for caregivers of patients with breast cancer, in order to reduce the burden and help them cope with the work of caregiving. Appropriate supportive interventions should be made available to support the close family members of patients with breast cancer in order to reduce caregiver burden. Relevant stakeholders in the healthcare sector especially in palliative care should promote awareness of carer needs. The provision of intervention programmes for caregivers requires further research to develop contextually specific programmes and services which will improve the QOL of caregivers.
Open Access
Evaluation of the development needs of palliative care programme managers in the context of providing quality palliative care to increasing numbers of patients in Kenya, Malawi and South Africa
(2013) McGarvie, Susan; Gwyther, Liz; Mayers, Pat
This study intended to identify the professional development needs of palliative care programme managers in hospices in Kenya, Malawi and South Africa. The findings reveal that palliative care programme managers have professional development needs related to their management function that include an on-going professional development programme, training in management functions and palliative care training for non-clinical managers and staff.
Open Access
Experiences of informal women caregivers in caring for people living with HIV and AIDS in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
(2008) Pallangyo, Eunice; Mayers, Pat
Aim of the study: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of informal women caregivers of people living with HIV and AIDS at home in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The study took place in Temeke district in the Dar es Salaam region through the auspices of Pastoral Activities and Services for people with AIDS, Dar es Salaam Archdiocese (PASADA), a non-governmental organization that provides home-based care services. Research design and method: The research design was a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study based on the interpretive paradigm. The study population was informal women caregivers looking after spouses or relatives at home who were living with HIV and AIDS (staged at World Health Organization clinical stages III and IV), some on antiretroviral therapy and others not. Purposive sampling was used to select participants who were attending PASADA's community centre. Data were collected using semi-structured· interviews which were audio-recorded. Eight participants were interviewed in order to explore their individual experiences of caring for people living with HIV and AIDS. Data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. The recorded data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Anonymity and confidentiality of the study participants was maintained throughout. Findings: Themes which emerged from the data were as follows: social and economic situation; HIV-related stigma and discrimination; stress and burn-out: treatment and support system; care burden and the challenges. Financial problems made an impact on food security, and the caregivers also had to cope with multiple illnesses in the people under their care. The lack of support for the caregivers increases their vulnerability to stress and burn-out.
Open Access
Experiences of registered nurses of their role in carrying out the induced sputum procedure in diagnosing childhood Tuberculosis
(2011) Isaacs, Whasiefa; Duma, Sinegugu; Mayers, Pat
Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease dating back at least 5000 years, but the TB epidemic is said to be getting worse than at any other time in history (Puri & John, 1997: 12). Someone is infected with TB every second, with a death from TB every 15 seconds, and one out of every three of these infections being in a child (Zar, Hanslo, Apolles, Swingler & Hussey, 2005: 130). The purpose of this study was to explore and describe registered nurses' experiences of their role with regard to the induced sputum procedure to diagnose childhood TB.
Open Access
Exploring the challenges of facilitating participatory action research with people living with HIV
(2005) Butchart, Wendy Ann; Khalil, Doris; Mayers, Pat
This study describes a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project that was conducted in Masiphumelele (an informal settlement near Cape Town) in 2003/2004 with a group of 5 black, HIV positive people. The original aim of the study was to facilitate an empowerment process aimed at helping the participants find some solutions to their problems. PAR is, however, an unpredictable process that is shaped by the participants and thus often reaches entirely different outcomes from the original goals of the process. This study encountered a number of challenges which necessitated a change in the aims and of the study. The most serious challenge was the withdrawal of the participants halfway through the study due to financial reasons. Because of this, it was not possible to reach the original goal of seeking solutions to the participants problems. The research aims were therefore adjusted to the following: • To create an opportunity for a group of people living with HIV/AIDS to engage in a participatory process aimed at self-awareness and empowerment. • To record and analyse this process with the intention of producing insight into the use of PAR in the context of poverty and HIV/AIDS and to identify the challenges involved. At the stage the participants withdrew, the researcher had conducted 5 focus group discussions, which had been recorded and transcribed. In the focus groups, the participants had described their circumstances and their needs and had started to discuss what problems they would like to address. The researcher achieved closure by negotiating with the participants that she would analyse the data and return to give feedback. Two further focus groups were conducted some time later, at which this feedback was given and the participants were asked to comment on their experience of the process. The participants were also consulted on the utilisation of the findings and they decided that they would like to participate in distributing the findings to their community. A number of recommendations for future PAR studies are drawn from this research.
Open Access
A grounded theory of the Kenya human interaction model for mental health nursing practice
(2016) Wagoro, Miriam Carole Atieno; Duma, Sinegugu; Mayers, Pat; Chitere, Preston
Background: Although mental disorders is of great public health concern among Kenyan populations, mental health services remain poor. Some of the reasons attributed to delivery of poor mental health services are unfavourable work environment and lack of policy guidelines including a conceptual model of nursing.Quality of mental health nursing care significantly impacts on general mental health services in Kenya since they are predominantly provided by nurses. Lack of a model to guide care and improve mental health services created the need to develop the Kenyan Human Interaction Model for mental health nursing practice. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to discover and develop a Kenyan model for mental health nursing guided by two research questions, namely: What are the views of Kenyan mental health nurses with regards to human being, environment, mental health nursing and mental health: What is the appropriate model for mental health nursing practice in Kenya? Methodology: Straussian Grounded Theory method was used in the study. Data were collected for 6 months through in-depth interviews with 33 registered mental health nurses selected by open, purposive and theoretical sampling methods. Inductive and deductive data analysis of the nurses' description of their views and recommendations on the nursing metaparadigms were done Findings: A substantive theory of the Kenyan Human Interaction Model for mental health nursing practice was developed .The four metaparadigm concepts of the discovered theory are: 1. Human being as a unique biopsychosocio-spiritual being and causal condition 2. Environment consisting of homely and hostile dimensions 3. Mental health nursing as a holistic care founded on human interaction 4. Mental health (consequence of holistic care) with optimum and illness dimensions. Mental health nursing was discovered as the central phenomena interacting with its causal, contexts and intervening conditions to determine the mental health dimension of the human being. The quality of mental health nursing determines the mental health dimensions and is influenced by the environment and nurses' characteristics as contexts and intervening conditions respectively. These interactions lead to consequences discovered as optimum mental health. The Kenya Human Interaction Model for mental health nursing practice is customized to the Kenyan situation and contributes knowledge which is relevant to mental health nursing practitioners, students, educators and administrators.
Open Access
An interdisciplinary study exploring how health communication can most effectively explain Antiretroviral Medication (ART) and motivate adherence among young people
(2016) Hickson, Warren; Mayers, Pat; Newing, Helen
The aim of this study was to explore factors contributing to the success of health communication strategies and supporting visual communication tool(s) designed to explain antiretroviral medication (ART) adherence, and motivate young people who live with HIV to follow an adherence regime. The study drew from the social sciences, including psychology, health sciences and communication. Currently there are an estimated 6.8 million people living with HIV in South Africa, making it the site of the largest HIV epidemic in the world (UNAIDS, 2014). Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is the only effective treatment for HIV and is one of the most demanding medicine regimes, requiring a 90% compliance. Various studies have documented worryingly poor levels of adherence to ART, especially amongst adolescents and young adults in South Africa. The empirical research consisted of a qualitative case study in Khayelitsha, a periurban township on the edge of Cape Town. It focused on young people from Khayelitsha and health care professionals - doctors, nurses, HIV counsellors and pharmacists. Using grounded theory data collection was carried out during two phases of fieldwork, interspersed with periods for data processing and analysis. The principal methods used were focus groups, semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Two key factors emerged from the data that form the basis of a new theoretical understanding: first, concerning how young people become motivated to learn about treatment and adhere to it, and second, concerning how information about treatment can best be communicated to them. In relation to the first of these, findings showed that young people were traumatised by an HIV diagnosis, fearing both that they would get sick and suffer an early death and also that they would be rejected by their belonging groups. This meant that they could not take in the factual information offered, and in addition, had no motivation to do so because the diagnosis resulted in a loss of hope for their present and future lives. According to young people, motivation was an outcome of re-connecting to one or more trusted significant other(s) from within their belonging group, who accepted and supported them. This in turn affirmed their prior belonging identities of son, daughter, cousin or close friend and then reconnected them to their present and future hopes. This renewed motivation to live was the basis for their becoming motivated to learn about treatment and adhere to it. In relation to the second factor, this study found that current communications about treatment were not effective. Specifically, the use of metaphors, which was seen among clinicians as a method of simplifying the complexity of ART adherence messages, was in fact creating confusion. Also, the use of printed information in isolation was not effective; communication was much more effective when it provided a space for discussion. These two key factors form the basis of a health communication strategy for young people who live with HIV and need to adhere to ART. Following on from these findings the study included the production of a film and animation that were identified as the visual communication media that would best support young people's understanding and motivation to adherence. The film presents a case study of a young person who overcame their initial diagnosis shock and, through the acceptance and support of his family, learned to live a normal life with HIV. Young people had said that they wanted to be able to view a film of this kind soon after their diagnosis. The animation, which was designed using a participatory process, used 'iso-type' as the central visual language. It was piloted, and this showed that the best use of a visual communication tool was in a setting that allowed young people to talk about prior losses to HIV within their families and community and about their confusion about treatment, and to ask questions about the meaning of complex biomedical concepts such as an undetectable viral load. All young people who visited the clinics, irrespective of test results, said that they wanted to learn about ART so that they could support friends and family members who lived with HIV, change perceptions about HIV among peers and better prepare in the case of becoming HIV positive themselves. Therefore it is recommended that communication strategies should target patients, their belonging groups and the wider community. This substantive theory contributes knowledge relevant to how ART adherence is communicated to young people. More broadly, this thesis argues that an interdisciplinary approach is required if communication practitioners are to properly understand the meaning that a population attributes to a health challenge; especially in the context of motivation and understanding. It is only when those meanings are fully identified through consolidated social science research that a communication strategy and supporting visual tools can be successfully designed.
Open Access
Interpreting and the clinician : a conversational analysis of the interpreted consultation in a paediatric hospital
(2004) Prince, Leyla A; Penn, Claire; Mayers, Pat
The utilization of interpreters in medical interviews has increasingly become a focus of research, both globally and in South Africa. Effective communication lies at the core of the delivery of a patient-focussed approach to health care and this has been a factor in the drive to improve service delivery, especially from a communication perspective. A number of studies in health care have focussed on the medical interaction between health professionals and their patients. In this study, the aim was to describe and analyse interpreted diagnostic consultations, specifically focussing on the interactions between the health professional, trained interpreter and caregiver. The research was conducted at a tertiary level children's hospital in Cape Town. A qualitative research design was employed in this study. The participants were three health professionals [medical doctors], and a trained interpreter, all employed at a tertiary level children's hospital in the Western Cape, and three caregivers of the children attending the outpatients department. Video recordings of initial assessment consultations were made and thereafter each participant in the consultation, was interviewed. Detailed analysis of the consultations was done using the methods of conversational analysis. Thematic analysis of the post-consultation interviews was done and the findings triangulated with the themes emerging out of the conversational analysis. The findings resulting from the conversational analysis, suggest that interactions taking place in this study could be described as institutional interactions. This was suggested on the basis of the patterns of interactional behaviour, which emerged in the communications of the participants, the interactional strategies used and the interpreter models employed. The need for training for health professionals in interactional strategies also became apparent and highlighted aspects, which may be included in future training of health professionals, which may serve to advance the quality of communication in medical interactions.
Open Access
An investigation into violence against nurses in the southern region of Malawi Chimwemwe Chikoko.
(2011) Chikoko, Chimwemwe; Mayers, Pat
Incidences of violence in nursing have been reported in local media in Malawi. Although violence in the health sector is not a new concept, it has become a global concern in the 21st century (Needham, Kingma, O'Brien-Pallas, McKenna, Tucker & Oud, 2008:6). The aim of the study was to investigate and describe the nature and extent of violence against nurses and the perceived effects thereof on nurses in selected health facilities in the southern region of Malawi.
Open Access
Knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nurses towards organ donation and transplantation in a selected campus of a college in the Eastern Cape
(2016) Gidimisana, Nozibele Dorothy; Fouché, Nicola A; Mayers, Pat
South Africa has a low organ donation and transplantation rate despite the availability of medical professionals with the expertise to perform such transplants. This can be attributed to various factors, such as knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation and transplantation. Despite the efforts of the Organ Donor Foundation in South Africa by conducting awareness and education campaigns organ donation rates remains low. There is a wide discrepancy in the rate of organ donation among the different ethnic groups in the country, perhaps due to a lack of knowledge or for cultural or religious reasons. Nurses, as health-care providers, have an important role to play in enabling patients and families to deal with the topic of organ donation. This cross-sectional study investigated the knowledge and attitudes of 268 pre-registration nursing students towards organ donation, at a nursing college in Mthatha, using an anonymous, self- administered questionnaire for data collection. A stratified convenient sampling method was used. The data was captured and analysed using the SPSS statistical package, Version 21; thereafter, descriptive and cross-tabulation analyses were performed on the data. Results: The majority of respondents (62.8%) were aware of organ donation with a small number (1.6%) registered as organ donors. Ethnicity and religion did not influence an individual's decision to donate his/her organs, which suggested that the decision was a personal one. There was no association between age group and willingness to donate a kidney to a relative, although younger respondents were willing to donate kidneys as living donors. There was also no clear relationship between gender and willingness to donate an organ (p-values of 0.03). Knowledge about organ donation was seen as a strong predictor of the attitudes towards organ donation. The majority of respondents were willing to donate organs for transplantation to save the lives of others. It is highly recommended from the results of the study that awareness campaigns to promote organ donation using various strategies and emphasising altruistic motives can increase the organs for donation.
Open Access
Knowledge, attitudes and application of evidence-based practice by third and fourth year undergraduate nursing students at the University of Rwanda (UR)
(2016) Iradukunda, Favorite; Mayers, Pat
Evidence-based practice (EBP) is an important component in improving the health care outcomes of a country's population. Despite the importance and relevance of EBP to nursing, nurses do not routinely understand and use evidence-based principles in their everyday practice. This may influence the attitudes and knowledge of students who do not become exposed to the practice of EBP during their training. Nurses, who are considered to be the backbone of the health care profession, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, should be introduced to the basic principles of EBP during their pre-registration programmes. Moreover, EBP teaching input should be both theoretical and practical with continuity throughout the whole nursing programme. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge of, attitudes towards and application of EBP by nursing students from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Rwanda. The study design was quantitative, descriptive and non-experimental. A total of 82 students participated in the study. An anonymous, self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from third- and fourth-year nursing students from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences. Ethical approval was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Cape Town's Health Sciences Faculty, and from the Directorate of Science, Technology and Research at the Rwandan Ministry of Education.
Open Access
The lived experiences of mothers regarding care of their hospitalised preterm babies
(2011) Ncube, Rosinah Kereemang; Barlow, Hilary; Mayers, Pat
Trends in neonatal care aim to minimise separation of the baby from the mother in an effort to promote the well-being of both the mother and the baby, with proven positive effects on reduction of neonatal mortality and maternal health benefits, including parental sense of fulfilment and confidence in caring for the baby and reduction in breast and ovarian cancer. The findings of this study demonstrate that there is a need for adequate staff support of mothers while providing care to their preterm babies. The quality of care could be improved by ongoing communication with the mothers while in the neonatal unit, since this promotes their confidence and competence. This in turn enables positive interactions between mothers and their babies and promotes mother-infant attachment.
Open Access
Mental health leadership and patient access to care: a public–private initiative in South Africa
(BioMed Central, 2017-09-06) Szabo, Christopher P; Fine, Jennifer; Mayers, Pat; Naidoo, Shan; Zabow, Tuviah
Background: Mental health leadership is a critical component of patient access to care. More specifically, the ability of mental health professionals to articulate the needs of patients, formulate strategies and engage meaningfully at the appropriate level in pursuit of resources. This is not a skill set routinely taught to mental health professionals. Methods: A public–private mental health leadership initiative, emanating from a patient access to care programme, was developed with the aim of building leadership capacity within the South African public mental health sector. The express aim was to equip health care professionals with the requisite skills to more effectively advocate for their patients. The initiative involved participants from various sites within South Africa. Inclusion was based on the proposal of an ongoing “project”, i.e. a clinician-initiated service development with a multidisciplinary focus. The projects were varied in nature but all involved identification of and a plan for addressing an aspect of the participants’ daily professional work which negatively impacted on patient care due to unmet needs. Six such projects were included and involved 15 participants, comprising personnel from psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy and nursing. Each project group was formally mentored as part of the initiative, with mentors being senior professionals with expertise in psychiatry, public health and nursing. The programme design thus provided a unique practical dimension in which skills and learnings were applied to the projects with numerous and diverse outcomes. Results: Benefits were noted by participants but extended beyond the individuals to the health institutions in which they worked and the patients that they served. Participants acquired both the skills and the confidence which enabled them to sustain the changes that they themselves had initiated in their institutions. The initiative gave impetus to the inclusion of public mental health as part of the curriculum for specialist training. Conclusions: Despite the significant adverse social and economic costs of mental illness, psychiatric and related services receive a low level of priority within the health care system. Ensuring that mental health receives the recognition and the resources it deserves requires that mental health care professionals become effective advocates through mental health leadership.
Open Access
Occupational adaptation : the lived experience of fathers with HIV/AIDS
(2002) Coetzee, Zelda; Mayers, Pat; Wegner, Lisa,
This qualitative, phenomenonological study describes fathers living with HIV/AIDS' experience of occupational adaptation. Rich data was collected through unstructured interviews. The data was analysed by thematic analysis. The level describing the fathers living with HIV/AIDS' experience emerged as adaptive occupations and proxy occupations.
Open Access
Parents' experiences of providing kangaroo care to their preterm infants
(2004) Leonard, Angela; Mayers, Pat
Includes bibliographical references.