Browsing by Author "Chetty, Devina Preabruth"

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    Exploring the attitudes, knowledge and perceptions of clinical pharmacists’ on antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) participation and the discord between pharmacy education and actual clinical practice
    (2024) Chetty, Devina Preabruth
    Introduction: Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is a critical global intervention aimed at optimising antimicrobial use and decreasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with pharmacists playing a pivotal role within AMS teams. However, AMS is not comprehensively taught in pharmacy curricula and little is known about the relevance of pharmacists' training to meet AMS needs in South Africa. This study aimed to determine the attitudes, knowledge and perceptions of clinical pharmacists’ towards AMS participation and training in South Africa. This aim will be achieved by determining the attitudes, knowledge and perceptions of pharmacists’ towards their role and participation in AMS; in addition to exploring clinical pharmacists’ perception on the relevance of pharmacy training on pharmacy practice with regards to AMS. Methods: A quantitative cross sectional research design was selected for this study. The study was conducted using a self-administered survey. Categorical variables were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to determine differences between variables. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Reliability coefficient was tested, Cronbach’s alpha score of 0.90 for perceptions, 0.91 for participation and 0.91 for factors affecting participation. Results: Pharmacists demonstrated a good attitude, knowledge and perception towards AMS (median 4.3). There were statistically significant differences in AMS participation between pharmacists of different years of experience (P=0.005), sector of employment (P=0.01), position of employment (P=0.015) and in the presence of AMS programmes (P=0.004). Pharmacists indicated that undergraduate studies less than adequately prepared them for their role in AMS (median 4.3). Conclusion: Pharmacists show positive attitudes, knowledge and perceptions towards AMS. Education and training in AMS principles is obtained through Master’s programmes, short courses, CPDs and workshops. It is insufficiently incorporated in undergraduate programmes.
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    Life skills gained from the MBA : a South African perspective .
    (2017) Chetty, Devina Preabruth
    Background: The Masters of Business Administration degree is a much sought after management qualification globally. Most students pursue the MBA to enhance their knowledge of business, improve their managerial skills and employability and to earn more money. However despite its popularity, it has been noted in research that the MBA curricula adequately develop analytical skills such as accounting, strategy and statistics but fails to develop students’ problem solving, communication, critical, interpersonal and leadership skills. Life skills have become imperative in today’s fast paced, rapidly changing global business environment. Purpose: This research aims to identify life skills gained by the South African MBA students and to match specific life skill development to specific courses, incidents or events that occurred during their studies. Method: Qualified MBA graduates as well as MBA students in their final year of study were targeted for this study. The survey instrument was emailed to the target population. The research methodology used was quantitative in nature with a few open ended question. Key Findings: Self-management, communication and emotional intelligence were identified as the three most important life skills. Sustainability orientation, life-long learning, cross-cultural sensitivity and networking skills were not viewed as important career-related skills. A correspondence analysis of the data that links the development of life skills to specific teaching methods shows that there is an association between teaching methods and life skills development. Subsequent to the analysis of the data, life skills were grouped according to skills that relate to one’s self or ‘intrinsic’ and skills that one uses when relating to others or ‘extrinsic’. Group activities are associated with the development of many life skills whilst field trips, international trips and social responsibility activities were perceived to be insignificant in the development of life skills.