Electronic Theses and Dissertations (Masters)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/37990

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End date: 2024Subject: search.filters.subject.SDG-3: Good health and well-being

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 75
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    An Exploration of Audiologist and Patient Communication during Adult Tinnitus Management Sessions in Gauteng, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Stonestreet, Micaela Ruth; Kanji , Amisha; Watermeyer, Jennifer
    Introduction: Tinnitus is a prevalent symptom of hearing loss and can have a significant impact on quality of life. Recently a large body of research exploring patient-centred care and communication practices in audiology has emerged. However, there remains a paucity of research on communication in tinnitus management consultations. Aims: The aim of this study was to explore interactions between audiologists and patients in initial adult tinnitus management sessions. The objectives of this study were to observe the communication processes of audiologists in this setting, as well as explore how audiologists negotiate complexities such as patient expectations, emotions, decision-making and goal setting with patients. Methodology: This study implemented a multimethod exploratory qualitative design incorporating interactional analysis of video recorded audiological initial tinnitus consultations, triangulated with participant interviews. The research was conducted at two hospitals in the public healthcare sector of Gauteng, South Africa. The data comprised of seven video-recorded interactions between five audiologists and seven patients, supplemented with interviews with all 12 participants after the tinnitus consultations. The video-recorded interactions were analysed by means of a hybrid sociolinguistic analysis approach with principles of interactional sociolinguistics and theme-oriented discourse analysis. The video- recorded data was triangulated with the interview data in order to strengthen the analysis and overall confirmability of the study. Results: The findings of this study highlight six communicative actions that contribute to patient-centred communication in initial adult tinnitus management sessions, namely: agenda setting, breaking from a scripted approach, prioritisation of patient concerns, engaging in emotional and psychosocial topics, shared decision-making and expectation setting. The results of this study show that audiologists are not consistently implementing these 5 communicative actions within their adult tinnitus management consultations, which has implications for patient-centred care. Conclusions: The study provides insights into the current communication practices of audiologists in adult tinnitus management sessions in South Africa. The research highlights both the strengths and weaknesses of audiologists in their use of effective communication strategies and patient-centred care, specifically in information exchange, responsiveness to patients’ emotions and psychosocial stressors, and shared decision-making. Audiologists need to consider how they can transform the concepts of patient-centred care and effective communication into practical actions within their tinnitus management. These findings can raise awareness among audiologists about their communication practices in tinnitus management consultations. Additionally, they offer insights into practical communication strategies that can be implemented into tinnitus management consultations and provide valuable insights for future researchers, educators and policymakers.
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    Disability and Masculinity: How Young Men with a Disability Navigate Masculinity in South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Moonsamy, Michaela Anne; Langa, Malose
    This research project aimed to contribute to the body of knowledge in the global south literature on masculinity by exploring how young men with a physical disability construct and navigate masculinity. Theories such as Ecological systems theory, Social identity theory and Gender role strain theory served as the theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews were used as the data collection method. There were seven participants in total, five identifying as black and two identifying as Indian, all with varying degrees of physical disabilities. Participants were selected using purposive snowball sampling. Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the data. Five themes were constructed from the data: How young men with disabilities define their masculinity; Challenges of not meeting Hegemonic Masculinity Standards and the coping strategies used to manage these challenges; Disability and its contribution to identity formation; Relationship with others: living with a disability and how this relationship affects masculine identity; and Embodying masculinity. The study revealed that young men with a disability reject/reformulate hegemonic masculine ideals to standards they can meet but can also simultaneously draw from hegemonic ideals. In addition, various challenges faced by men with a disability were explored as well as how relationships affect identity formation while living with a disability. Limitations and future recommendations are discussed.
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    An exploratory study of Soweto matriculants lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mthembu, Nolwazi Londiwe; Rolando, Hayley-Haynes
    A few articles have been published on the COVID-19 pandemic. These studies suggest that COVID-19 might perpetuate and intensify current vulnerabilities among learners in South African schools. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of learners in South Africa, Gauteng, Soweto, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological system’s theory was used to frame this study. Following the researcher's goal to immerse herself in the participants' unfiltered experiences, a qualitative approach was most appropriate for this study. The researcher utilized non-probability sampling with a predetermined criterion for the characteristics of the learners she wished to sample. Nine matriculants from a school in Soweto who matriculated in 2021 were included in the sample. Open-ended questions were used in a semi-structured interview with an interview schedule to elicit information about the participants' experiences of their 2021 matric year. Following the Wits Research Committee's approval and ethical clearance, ethical issues were carefully considered. After the interviews were conducted, the recurring results were analyzed by looking for common themes among all nine participants. The final findings of the study compromised of the unique, yet similar experiences of the participants. It was further established that most participants remain optimistic of the future, despite the unfavourable experiences encountered during their matric year. The principal research question that guided this study was ‘What were the experiences of the 2021 matriculants in Soweto during the COVID-19 pandemic?’
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    Everyday Working Memory: The Ecological Validity of Three Working Memory Tests
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mnisi, Nqobile Nompumelelo; Cockcroft, Kate
    Working memory plays a crucial role in adaptive functioning, yet the ability of traditional working memory tests to predict real-life challenges remains uncertain. Despite their everyday use in laboratory settings, there needs to be more research on the ecological validity of the n- back test, Symbol Span subtest, and Digit Span subtest in capturing everyday life problems related to working memory. This gap is especially noticeable in South Africa, where cultural and contextual factors may influence working memory performance and its impact on daily functioning. This study aimed to address this research gap by assessing the ecological validity of three working memory tests, the n-back test, the Symbol Span subtest, and the Digit Span subtest, in predicting everyday life problems related to working memory. Sixty-nine bilingual and multilingual young adults aged 18 to 25 completed a demographic questionnaire, the Working Memory Questionnaire (WMQ), and the three working memory tests. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and ordinal logistic regression analyses. Significant correlations were found between various working memory tests and specific working memory questions, providing valuable insights into the relationships between these variables. These findings contribute to the understanding of working memory assessment and have implications for everyday functioning, particularly in educational settings, highlighting the relevance of working memory in cognitive processes.
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    Psychologists in training’s Assumption about Mind and Brain in Psychopathology and Clinical Work
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Mavundla, Patricia Lungile; Pitman, Michael
    Research Purpose: The study's objective was to understand how psychologists in training endorsed models of illnesses for mental disorders. The results aimed to understand how they differed in their levels of training, and the results for the theoretical orientations endorsed analysed the mean significance for both the clinical and counselling training groups. Methodology: The study was conducted using first-year master's clinical and counselling psychology students, and the total sample was N = 28. The study's population was drawn from six universities in South African and investigated using a quantitative research design. A survey was used to gather data from the participants, and the data was analysed using the IMB Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 27. An analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was used to analyse the data and four research questions compared how the level of endorsement differed across different models of mental disorders, determined any trends for the different levels of endorsement which differed depending on which training programs the participants received, it also determine whether the theoretical orientation of training receiving differed, and lastly determined whether the effects training received differed based on the individual psychotherapy the participants received. The research questions were used as the framework for the study, with four mental disorders used as items, eight models of illness used to analyse the theoretical orientations endorsed, and a Maudsley Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ) used as a measure for the items. Results: The results indicated a significant difference between the clinical and counselling groups. A line graph illustrated how the mental disorders were endorsed differently, and as a result, the level of endorsement for the social realist model of illness (M=15.28, SD=2.05) was highly endorsed, and the Nihilist model of illness (M=8.21, SD=2.69) was the least endorsed. Discussion: Participants from diverse institutions had an impact on how well they understood the different mental disorders and endorsed the models of illnesses. Considering that there was not enough data entry, there were a few deviations with the data collection and the results could not comply with a larger population of trainee psychologist. Conclusion: The outcome of this study aims contribute to research in academia in terms of understanding the factors that influence the choice of treating mental disorders and may help enhance psychologists’ choice of choosing the correct models of illnesses as a part of intervention in their clinical work.
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    An investigation of the financial and psychological impact of COVID-19 on students at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Maepa, Pontsho; Ntshongwana, Zintle
    The 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) intensified poverty, hunger, and health problems while having severe effects on sustainability measures. People faced psychological and financial difficulties because of the financial hardship caused by the pandemic.This study explored the financial and psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among students on students from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. A case study design was employed in this investigation. Ten (10) full-time University of Witwatersrand students, ages 18 to 30, were chosen using a purposive sampling technique. Individual interviews using a semi-structured interview guide were used to gather the data. The study found that while some participants reported minimal financial impact and effective coping strategies, others faced challenges with accommodation deposits, National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) delays, and psychological distress. The study identified a range of emotional responses, including anxiety and academic concerns. Moreover, the transition to online learning presented both benefits and drawbacks, influencing students' academic performance and engagement. The study recommends considering the financial implications of accommodation deposits, ensuring timely disbursement of NSFAS allowances, and emphasizing interactive elements in online learning. Acknowledging the psychological toll, universities are urged to enhance mental health support services. Future pandemic responses should prioritise maintaining a supportive residential environment for students.
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    Experiences and support needs of adults living with substance use disorders during the COVID-19 lockdown in Mamelodi
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Masemola, Portia; Bala, Samkelo
    In the global spectrum substance use has substantially increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and substance use was reported as a way to cope with anxiety concerning the COVID-19 lockdown. In South Africa, the prolonged effects of lockdowns on psychosocial support services resulted in decreased availability of services aimed at assisting persons living with substance use disorders and these changes in service provision seemed to precipitate relapse. Prior to the COVID- 19 pandemic, people living with substance use disorders in South Africa, had limited access to harm reduction services, the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent lockdown, created new challenges in providing treatment, care and support to people living with substance use disorder. The negative effects of COVID-19 on services aimed at assisting persons living with substance use disorders, needed to be investigated hence patient disengagement and attrition from treatment increased during this period. Evidence-based knowledge is needed to locally and internationally reporting on how substance use disorders were affected by COVID-19 lockdown, and to highlight more effective ways to prepare for future emergencies. This study intended to contribute to an emerging body of literature reporting on adults living with substance use disorders within the South African context during the COVID-19 lockdown particularly in Mamelodi Township. A qualitative research approach was adopted to explore and contextualise the experiences and support needs of adults living with substance use disorders during the COVID-19 lockdown in Mamelodi Township. This was achieved by conducting face to face semi-structured interviews with ten (10) participants (9 males and 1 female) residing in Mamelodi township, between the ages of (19-35) years living with substance use disorders, who were selected through the usage of purposive sampling technique. An interview guide with open-ended questions was utilized as an instrument to collect data from research participants. The thematic analysis method was utilized in the study to assist in reaching a holistic understanding of the phenomenon being studied. In carrying out this study ethical requirements such as informed consent, debriefing, beneficence, confidentiality, and proper record keeping were adhered to as well as the avoidance of harm. The study also employed the contextual research design to extensively explore the experiences and support needs of adults living with substance use disorders during the COVID-19 lockdown in Mamelodi township. The findings of the study confirmed that there was limited support for adults living with substance use disorder during COVID-19 lockdown in Mamelodi. Access to community-based support services was quite limited due to lockdown regulations and participants ii had to rely mainly on the support that they got form their families and other local organisation such as churches, NGOs etc for support during the difficult period of COVID-19 lockdown. Contingency measures need to be put in place to ensure the continuity of uninterrupted services community-based support services in times of a pandemic in future.
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    Perceptions of Mental Health in low-middle- income South Africa
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Ndlazi, Simphiwe; Harvey, Clare
    Mental health is an important contributing factor to well-being. Understanding mental health is crucial in influencing an individual’s help-seeking behaviour. This study aimed to explore and discover perceptions of mental health in Low-Middle income (LMI) communities in the South African context, as well as gain an in-depth understanding of what informs the perceptions of mental health. Furthermore, the aim was to establish information on the role of perceptions of mental health. Finally, the aim was to contribute to the current scope of knowledge on perceptions of mental health and improve the academic research attention given to perceptions of mental health in the South African context. The study employed a qualitative approach and used one-on-one, semi-structured interviews as a method of data collection. Seven individuals above the age of eighteen years were invited to be participants. Based on the findings, mental health is recognised in LMI communities however, it is also stigmatised. It has been discovered that financial strain and joblessness are major contributors to mental health issues among LMI communities. Additionally, individuals have reported insufficient mental health resources and care within these communities, including a shortage of qualified professionals in public clinics. This study has the potential to improve the awareness on the prevalent perspectives and stigma surrounding mental health and other significant mental health issues in LMI communities, such as resource allocation. The study also highlights the urgency of developing effective policies and tailored interventions that are context-sensitive to address the disparities in quality mental health care in LMI communities.
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    Hearing function of paediatric patients with cancer in Johannesburg, South Africa: relationships and influences explored
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Chauke, Tlangelani Nyeleti; Khoza-Shangase, K.
    According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are about 466 million people living with a disabling hearing loss globally, with almost 34 million of them being children, and approximately 7 million of these children are living in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In South Africa, the incidence of childhood cancer represents approximately 1% of all cancers in the population. The standard treatment in South Africa consists of platinum compounds such as cisplatin and carboplatin. Morbidity factors amongst childhood cancer survivors include hearing loss. Between 20% and 70% of patients suffer from cisplatin and carboplatinum-related ototoxicity. In any context including the South African context, for preventive audiology, it is important to describe and characterise the hearing function of paediatric patients with cancer. Aim: The main aim of the current study was to investigate the hearing function of paediatric patients with cancer in Johannesburg, South Africa. Methodology: A descriptive retrospective record review design was adopted in this study. The patient records were reviewed from Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital oncology and audiology units. Non- proportional quota sampling was used in this study. Data was reviewed from 47 patient records from the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital audiology and oncology units. Analysis: In this current study, descriptive and inferential statistics were used in order to indicate any patterns the data may have assumed and to help summarise the collected data. Findings: Demographic and diagnostic factors were thought to have an influence on the hearing function of the paediatric population with cancer. When establishing if a relationship existed between age of diagnosis, gender, race, type of cancer, treatment duration, and type of treatment and hearing function, all the objectives were found to be statistically non-significant, except for the type of cancer which was found to have a statistically significant association. The researcher was 95% 8 confident that the true prevalence of hearing loss in the paediatric population with cancer would fall between 23.5% and 51.2%. The prevalence of hearing loss was found to be 36.2%. Conclusion: The participants who were found to have a hearing impairment, had a hearing impairment due to ototoxicity. As evident from all the audiological assessments administered, there was an evident change in the hearing function of participants from session one to two. Implications: It was recommended by the researcher that audiological monitoring as well as screening protocols be implemented in the oncology and audiology units. Current findings could contribute towards identifying risk factors that are associated with hearing loss in the paediatric population with cancer. These findings could possibly help guide future researchers, audiologists, pharmacists, oncologists, or policy makers in in developing treatment protocols, policies and interventions that may help minimize the effects and risks of cancer treatment on the hearing function of this population without having to compromise the effectiveness of their treatment. Implications for future research are also raised by current findings.
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    Investigating the performance of South African children from an under-resourced background on selected verbal subtests of the WISC-V and SSAIS-R
    (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024) Rampai, Tsholofelo; Vorster, Adri
    Given the South African context and the scarcity of valid and reliable individual intelligence measures to assess the intellectual functioning of a broad spectrum of children from different socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, continued research must be done on the utility, validity, and reliability of available measures. Taking this into consideration, the present study aimed to investigate and compare the performance of a sample of South African children who predominantly speak English as a Second Language (ESL) and who come from an under-resourced background on selected verbal subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Fifth Edition (WISC-V) and the Senior South African Individual Scales – Revised (SSAIS-R). In addition, the study investigated the internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity of these subtests in the present sample. The children's biographical information was obtained from a demographic questionnaire. The sample consisted of 58 participants (N= 58) from grades 4 to 7 living and developing in under-resourced contexts. Based on the data spread, parametric statistics in the form of a paired t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and Spearman-Brown split-half formula were used to address the aims of the study and answer the research questions. The findings highlighted the different factors that might influence assessment results in South Africa, particularly for children from under-resourced contexts. The current study can be a stepping stone for further research into the appropriateness of commonly used individual intelligence measures in under-resourced contexts, given that not all South African contexts have been investigated regarding psychological assessments and individual intelligence measures.