Introduction Service-learning is an educational approach that allows for a structured learning ex... more Introduction Service-learning is an educational approach that allows for a structured learning experience for students, combining community service with preparation and reflection. Through service learning, students not only provide community service but also learn about the context in which the service is provided. Methods Shared Community–Based Practice (SCBP) is a pioneering service-learning initiative of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) for all health and welfare disciplines located within a community setting. It is unique in the sense that it affords students from discipline–specific domains, an opportunity to practice interdisciplinary in a structured and coordinated manner. SCBP was designed to meet discipline-specific, multidisciplinary and personal goals through the development and implementation of an intervention care plan. Four centres in Nyanga and Mitchelll’s Plain were targeted for placement of students in the Community and Health Sciences Faculty at UWC. Focu...
More than a decade ago, literature had highlighted that there is a need to understand the patient... more More than a decade ago, literature had highlighted that there is a need to understand the patients’ view on service delivery and explore whether health professionals acknowledge patient views and make relevant adjustments. Recently, patient satisfaction was identified as a good indicator in measuring effectiveness of a health care service. Rehabilitation services are internationally recognised as one of the key components of heath care. In South Africa, a Primary Health Care (PHC) approach was incorporated in health services since 1994. In South Africa the importance has been recognised as is evident in the current 2020 health plan. Causes of physical disability could be a direct complication of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. Thus the aim of this study was to explore the satisfaction of people with physical disabilities regarding rehabilitation services at the selected rehabilitation centres in the Western Cape. This study employed a qualitative research approach using ...
Introduction: Community Health Centres (CHCs) are overcrowded. The overcrowding poses a problem t... more Introduction: Community Health Centres (CHCs) are overcrowded. The overcrowding poses a problem to health professionals as they are in charge of screening clients and the management of minor health ailments (MHA) in the primary health care setting. Methodology: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the perceptions and attitudes of clients presenting with MHA to those of doctors and clinical nurse practitioners (CNPs) (health professionals) at the CHCs regarding the management of MHA. The study was conducted at the four selected CHC in Khayelitsha and Phillipi, Cape Town. Information was collected from 100 clients and 15 health professionals. Data was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively and the descriptive method was used. Results: All three groups had similar perceptions of what MHAs are and how MHA should be managed. There were different perceptions regarding where these ailments should be managed. The doctors and CNPs were frustrated and felt overburdened by...
Introduction: The attitude of health professionals has a direct influence on quality of care. The... more Introduction: The attitude of health professionals has a direct influence on quality of care. The greatest problem that persons with physical disabilities experience at hospitals is that the health professionals attending to them exhibit inappropriate attitudes and behaviors. Hence, the aim is to determine the perceptions and attitudes of health professionals towards persons with disabilities at the five selected hospitals in the Western Cape. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study that used quantitative methods to collect data using a self- administered, validated questionnaire. The sample consisted of 107 conveniently selected health professionals from five hospitals in the Western Cape. Results: Seventy-five percent of health professionals demonstrated positive perceptions and attitudes towards persons with disabilities in hospitals. Conclusion: Health professionals have positive perceptions and attitudes towards persons with disabilities who were attending hos...
Background: Understanding caregivers’ views on rehabilitation services is important as it may ass... more Background: Understanding caregivers’ views on rehabilitation services is important as it may assist in informing healthcare services and patient management.Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore caregivers’ perceptions and satisfaction regarding rehabilitation services in the Western Cape, South Africa, and to inform clinical practice and policy in this emerging field.Method: This study used a descriptive, qualitative design using in-depth interviews with conveniently selected participants. Interviews were conducted with 13 caregivers of patients with: amputations (3), cerebrovascular accidents (5) and neuromuscular disorders (5). Thematic content analysis was conducted with the transcripts.Results: Four key themes emerged, which were (1) financial difficulties, (2) caregiver and therapist relationships, (3) facility management and (4) caregiver experience with service delivery.Conclusion: Based on the participants’ feedback, the rehabilitation services seem to be meeting...
The provision of specialized care in a time-sensitive manner has shown to be crucial for survival... more The provision of specialized care in a time-sensitive manner has shown to be crucial for survival and recovery of functioning after a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). However, little is known about the provision of TSCI care in different international contexts; information which is required for strengthening policy and practice. The overarching aim of this study will be to explore health care processes and outcomes of TSCI care in South Africa and Sweden. Specific aims will be to: (1) describe acute processes of TSCI care, (2) determine acute- and long-term outcomes of TSCI care, and (3) identify predictors for survival, secondary complications, and functioning 12 months post-injury. A prospective (regional), population-based cohort study where adults with an acute TSCI will be recruited over at least a 1-year period from the City of Cape Town, South Africa, and Stockholm, Sweden. The anticipated sample size inclusive of both international contexts will be 200 participants-based...
Background: Rehabilitation is of fundamental importance for the persons with disability to achiev... more Background: Rehabilitation is of fundamental importance for the persons with disability to achieve functional independence and have an improved quality of life. To enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation, it is important to seek clients’ perspectives of the rehabilitation services and to incorporate these perspectives into the planning and delivery of rehabilitation services. The aim of this study was to explore the persons with physical disabilities’ experiences of the rehabilitation services they received at Community Health Centres (CHCs). Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were used to collect data. Ten persons with physical disabilities, who had received rehabilitation services at CHCs participated in the in-depth interviews. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: The clients experienced problems with accessing transport and o...
The 2010 South Africa health plan has highlighted the need to ensure a qualified workforce in ord... more The 2010 South Africa health plan has highlighted the need to ensure a qualified workforce in order to improve access to quality health care.
To establish satisfaction level of persons with disabilitiesregarding health services at primary ... more To establish satisfaction level of persons with disabilitiesregarding health services at primary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia.Key stakeholders views on satisfaction of services is an important componentof service rendering thus obtaining information is important in assistingwith the evaluation of health care service delivery. This will assist in improvingeffectiveness and availability of health care services to persons with physicaldisabilities.All persons with disabilities attending both rehabilitation centres andprimary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia, were targeted for this study. Willing participants were convenientlyselected to take part in the study.A cross sectional, descriptive study design using quantitative methods of data collection was used. The GeneralPractice Assessment Questionnaire was adjusted, piloted for Ndola population and used in this study to establishsatisfaction of participants. The study was ethically cleared at the University of the Western Ca...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the activity limitations of patients ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the activity limitations of patients following in-patient rehabilitation and the factors influencing functional ability as measured by the Spinal Cord independence measure III (SCIM III). A longitudinal study design was utilised to study the change in functional abilities of patients with spinal cord injury between admission and discharge. A convenient sampling strategy was employed, in which every consecutive patient admitted to the rehabilitation centre within a three-month period was eligible for the study. Demographic-, medical, and process of rehabilitation data were collected and collated from the patients’ medical records using a data gathering sheet that was validated and tested for reliability. functional abilities were measured by the SCIM III. Seventy-six patients met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 58 paraplegics and 18 tetraplegics. The mean age of this cohort was 34.14 years. A significant difference (p&...
Evaluation of rehabilitation programmes is essentialin order to monitor its effectiveness and rel... more Evaluation of rehabilitation programmes is essentialin order to monitor its effectiveness and relevance. There is howevera need to consider policies when conducting evaluation researchin rehabilitation. The aim of this paper is to present the theoreticaland legislative underpinnings of rehabilitation in South Africa.A narrative review of national and international disability legislationand empirical research in context of rehabilitation was conducted.The findings of this review reveals that as a fluid construct, thediscourse of rehabilitation has been underpinned by the changingtheoretical and socio-political understandings of disability. This inturn has influenced various international and national health anddisability policies and legislations that oversee the implementation ofrehabilitation practice. Despite this, there has been little evaluationof public health rehabilitation services in context of these policies and legislations in South Africa. The fluidity of rehabilitationne...
Background: Measurement of the extent of disability post-stroke is important to determine the imp... more Background: Measurement of the extent of disability post-stroke is important to determine the impact of disability on these individuals and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing the impact of their disability. Instruments used to measure disability should, however, be culturally sensitive.Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a disability assessment using the World Health Organization’s Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS).Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. The study population included a conveniently selected 226 stroke patients living within community settings. These patients were followed up 6–12 months following the onset of the stroke and are currently residing in the community. Disability was measured using the WHODAS 2.0 and the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The WHODAS 2.0 enabled the assessment of disability within the domains of cognition, mobility, ...
Rehabilitation is important for persons with disabilities as it contributes to their sense of aut... more Rehabilitation is important for persons with disabilities as it contributes to their sense of autonomy, self-worth and social participation, and improves their quality of life. Improving the quality of rehabilitation services requires the dialogue of patients' perceptions with those of service providers, in order to recommend informed reform. The objective was to explore the experiences of persons with physical disabilities and service providers, regarding the multi-disciplinary rehabilitation services provided at a community-based out-patient rehabilitation centre. A qualitative, exploratory study design was used to collect the data. A focus group was conducted with conveniently selected persons with physical disabilities. Three in-depth interviews were conducted with purposively selected key informants. All ethical considerations were adhered to during the implementation of the study. Patients and service providers had different experiences regarding accessibility to rehabilit...
Introduction Service-learning is an educational approach that allows for a structured learning ex... more Introduction Service-learning is an educational approach that allows for a structured learning experience for students, combining community service with preparation and reflection. Through service learning, students not only provide community service but also learn about the context in which the service is provided. Methods Shared Community–Based Practice (SCBP) is a pioneering service-learning initiative of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) for all health and welfare disciplines located within a community setting. It is unique in the sense that it affords students from discipline–specific domains, an opportunity to practice interdisciplinary in a structured and coordinated manner. SCBP was designed to meet discipline-specific, multidisciplinary and personal goals through the development and implementation of an intervention care plan. Four centres in Nyanga and Mitchelll’s Plain were targeted for placement of students in the Community and Health Sciences Faculty at UWC. Focu...
More than a decade ago, literature had highlighted that there is a need to understand the patient... more More than a decade ago, literature had highlighted that there is a need to understand the patients’ view on service delivery and explore whether health professionals acknowledge patient views and make relevant adjustments. Recently, patient satisfaction was identified as a good indicator in measuring effectiveness of a health care service. Rehabilitation services are internationally recognised as one of the key components of heath care. In South Africa, a Primary Health Care (PHC) approach was incorporated in health services since 1994. In South Africa the importance has been recognised as is evident in the current 2020 health plan. Causes of physical disability could be a direct complication of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes. Thus the aim of this study was to explore the satisfaction of people with physical disabilities regarding rehabilitation services at the selected rehabilitation centres in the Western Cape. This study employed a qualitative research approach using ...
Introduction: Community Health Centres (CHCs) are overcrowded. The overcrowding poses a problem t... more Introduction: Community Health Centres (CHCs) are overcrowded. The overcrowding poses a problem to health professionals as they are in charge of screening clients and the management of minor health ailments (MHA) in the primary health care setting. Methodology: The aim of this study was to describe and compare the perceptions and attitudes of clients presenting with MHA to those of doctors and clinical nurse practitioners (CNPs) (health professionals) at the CHCs regarding the management of MHA. The study was conducted at the four selected CHC in Khayelitsha and Phillipi, Cape Town. Information was collected from 100 clients and 15 health professionals. Data was analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively and the descriptive method was used. Results: All three groups had similar perceptions of what MHAs are and how MHA should be managed. There were different perceptions regarding where these ailments should be managed. The doctors and CNPs were frustrated and felt overburdened by...
Introduction: The attitude of health professionals has a direct influence on quality of care. The... more Introduction: The attitude of health professionals has a direct influence on quality of care. The greatest problem that persons with physical disabilities experience at hospitals is that the health professionals attending to them exhibit inappropriate attitudes and behaviors. Hence, the aim is to determine the perceptions and attitudes of health professionals towards persons with disabilities at the five selected hospitals in the Western Cape. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study that used quantitative methods to collect data using a self- administered, validated questionnaire. The sample consisted of 107 conveniently selected health professionals from five hospitals in the Western Cape. Results: Seventy-five percent of health professionals demonstrated positive perceptions and attitudes towards persons with disabilities in hospitals. Conclusion: Health professionals have positive perceptions and attitudes towards persons with disabilities who were attending hos...
Background: Understanding caregivers’ views on rehabilitation services is important as it may ass... more Background: Understanding caregivers’ views on rehabilitation services is important as it may assist in informing healthcare services and patient management.Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore caregivers’ perceptions and satisfaction regarding rehabilitation services in the Western Cape, South Africa, and to inform clinical practice and policy in this emerging field.Method: This study used a descriptive, qualitative design using in-depth interviews with conveniently selected participants. Interviews were conducted with 13 caregivers of patients with: amputations (3), cerebrovascular accidents (5) and neuromuscular disorders (5). Thematic content analysis was conducted with the transcripts.Results: Four key themes emerged, which were (1) financial difficulties, (2) caregiver and therapist relationships, (3) facility management and (4) caregiver experience with service delivery.Conclusion: Based on the participants’ feedback, the rehabilitation services seem to be meeting...
The provision of specialized care in a time-sensitive manner has shown to be crucial for survival... more The provision of specialized care in a time-sensitive manner has shown to be crucial for survival and recovery of functioning after a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). However, little is known about the provision of TSCI care in different international contexts; information which is required for strengthening policy and practice. The overarching aim of this study will be to explore health care processes and outcomes of TSCI care in South Africa and Sweden. Specific aims will be to: (1) describe acute processes of TSCI care, (2) determine acute- and long-term outcomes of TSCI care, and (3) identify predictors for survival, secondary complications, and functioning 12 months post-injury. A prospective (regional), population-based cohort study where adults with an acute TSCI will be recruited over at least a 1-year period from the City of Cape Town, South Africa, and Stockholm, Sweden. The anticipated sample size inclusive of both international contexts will be 200 participants-based...
Background: Rehabilitation is of fundamental importance for the persons with disability to achiev... more Background: Rehabilitation is of fundamental importance for the persons with disability to achieve functional independence and have an improved quality of life. To enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation, it is important to seek clients’ perspectives of the rehabilitation services and to incorporate these perspectives into the planning and delivery of rehabilitation services. The aim of this study was to explore the persons with physical disabilities’ experiences of the rehabilitation services they received at Community Health Centres (CHCs). Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were used to collect data. Ten persons with physical disabilities, who had received rehabilitation services at CHCs participated in the in-depth interviews. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: The clients experienced problems with accessing transport and o...
The 2010 South Africa health plan has highlighted the need to ensure a qualified workforce in ord... more The 2010 South Africa health plan has highlighted the need to ensure a qualified workforce in order to improve access to quality health care.
To establish satisfaction level of persons with disabilitiesregarding health services at primary ... more To establish satisfaction level of persons with disabilitiesregarding health services at primary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia.Key stakeholders views on satisfaction of services is an important componentof service rendering thus obtaining information is important in assistingwith the evaluation of health care service delivery. This will assist in improvingeffectiveness and availability of health care services to persons with physicaldisabilities.All persons with disabilities attending both rehabilitation centres andprimary health care centres in Ndola, Zambia, were targeted for this study. Willing participants were convenientlyselected to take part in the study.A cross sectional, descriptive study design using quantitative methods of data collection was used. The GeneralPractice Assessment Questionnaire was adjusted, piloted for Ndola population and used in this study to establishsatisfaction of participants. The study was ethically cleared at the University of the Western Ca...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the activity limitations of patients ... more The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the activity limitations of patients following in-patient rehabilitation and the factors influencing functional ability as measured by the Spinal Cord independence measure III (SCIM III). A longitudinal study design was utilised to study the change in functional abilities of patients with spinal cord injury between admission and discharge. A convenient sampling strategy was employed, in which every consecutive patient admitted to the rehabilitation centre within a three-month period was eligible for the study. Demographic-, medical, and process of rehabilitation data were collected and collated from the patients’ medical records using a data gathering sheet that was validated and tested for reliability. functional abilities were measured by the SCIM III. Seventy-six patients met the inclusion criteria, consisting of 58 paraplegics and 18 tetraplegics. The mean age of this cohort was 34.14 years. A significant difference (p&...
Evaluation of rehabilitation programmes is essentialin order to monitor its effectiveness and rel... more Evaluation of rehabilitation programmes is essentialin order to monitor its effectiveness and relevance. There is howevera need to consider policies when conducting evaluation researchin rehabilitation. The aim of this paper is to present the theoreticaland legislative underpinnings of rehabilitation in South Africa.A narrative review of national and international disability legislationand empirical research in context of rehabilitation was conducted.The findings of this review reveals that as a fluid construct, thediscourse of rehabilitation has been underpinned by the changingtheoretical and socio-political understandings of disability. This inturn has influenced various international and national health anddisability policies and legislations that oversee the implementation ofrehabilitation practice. Despite this, there has been little evaluationof public health rehabilitation services in context of these policies and legislations in South Africa. The fluidity of rehabilitationne...
Background: Measurement of the extent of disability post-stroke is important to determine the imp... more Background: Measurement of the extent of disability post-stroke is important to determine the impact of disability on these individuals and the effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing the impact of their disability. Instruments used to measure disability should, however, be culturally sensitive.Objective: The aim of this study was to conduct a disability assessment using the World Health Organization’s Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS).Methods: A cross-sectional design was used. The study population included a conveniently selected 226 stroke patients living within community settings. These patients were followed up 6–12 months following the onset of the stroke and are currently residing in the community. Disability was measured using the WHODAS 2.0 and the data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The WHODAS 2.0 enabled the assessment of disability within the domains of cognition, mobility, ...
Rehabilitation is important for persons with disabilities as it contributes to their sense of aut... more Rehabilitation is important for persons with disabilities as it contributes to their sense of autonomy, self-worth and social participation, and improves their quality of life. Improving the quality of rehabilitation services requires the dialogue of patients' perceptions with those of service providers, in order to recommend informed reform. The objective was to explore the experiences of persons with physical disabilities and service providers, regarding the multi-disciplinary rehabilitation services provided at a community-based out-patient rehabilitation centre. A qualitative, exploratory study design was used to collect the data. A focus group was conducted with conveniently selected persons with physical disabilities. Three in-depth interviews were conducted with purposively selected key informants. All ethical considerations were adhered to during the implementation of the study. Patients and service providers had different experiences regarding accessibility to rehabilit...
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