Knowledge, attitudes and practices of central Gauteng occupational health nurse practitioners related to travel health and medicine
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Date
2016-10-17
Authors
Botha, Lynette Ann
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Abstract
Background: Travel medicine (TM) is fast becoming an interdisciplinary speciality that is required for all medical and nursing practitioners. To facilitate comprehensive nursing care to a community of workers, in workplace settings where workers are required to travel, the occupational health nurse practitioner (OHNP) should be able to provide travel health education and guidance.
Purpose and objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Occupational Health Nurse Practitioners (OHNPs) related to travel health and medicine. The objective of the study was to describe the knowledge, attitude and practices of OHNPs related to travel health and medicine, in the Central Gauteng district, including the Vaal Triangle and West Rand.
Research design and method: The study was a quantitative, descriptive survey. The survey design was cross sectional using a structured, open and closed ended, self-administered questionnaire that was designed by the researcher using Research Electronic Data Capture Software, version 6.9.5 (REDcap).
Data Analysis: Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. Statistical assistance was obtained from a biostatistician from the Medical Research Council in Pretoria. Data were analysed by using the Data Analysis and Statistical Software Version 13 software (STATA) and presented in tables. Categorical data was presented using frequencies (counts) and percentages.
Findings: No hypothesis was formulated for the study because the outcomes were not predictable. The study was guided by specific research questions that confirmed leisure, occupational travel and migration was increasing, leading to the rapid spread of disease. OHNPs indicated that the inclusion of travel medicine in the OHN curricula was important.
Conclusions: In view of the fact that limited research has been done in the South African context on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the OHNPs related to travel health and medicine, the researcher embarked on this research endeavour to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of OHNPs within their OH practice. Provision of travel medicine services is a future role for OHNPs as it forms part of a comprehensive wellness/health promotion programme.
Description
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirement
for the degree
Master of Science in Nursing
February 2016