Browsing by Author "Bester, Juanita"

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    Evaluering van 'n opleidingsprogram vir vrywillige werkers betrokke by 'n gemeenskapsprojek
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-12) Bester, Juanita; Kapp, C. A.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education . Dept. of Education Policy Studies.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Department of Occupational Therapy of the University of Stellenbosch has been involved in the development of the Volcano Community Project in the Ravensmead area since 1994. A needs assessment conducted in the area has led to the indentification of the following problems: • there are no after school care services in the area; • limited opportunities for individual attention to learners because of a high learner educator ratio; • high incidence of substance abuse amongst the youth; • children loitering in the streets in the afternoon; and • a quarter of all grade one learners in the area repeat their basis year of school. In order to address the abovementioned problems it was decided to recruit unemployed youth within the community as voluntary workers. This group of volunteers received training in the execution of pre-planned developmental stimulation lessons that they then present to grade one and two learners who have problems. The volunteers undergo a training programme in order to equip them to handle the learners. This project is still in progress and it needs to be evaluated in order to gain information which would help to improve the programme as well as the management thereof. The aim of the research was to establish the impact of programme participation on the voluntary workers and that was done by looking at the following: • what the strengths of the project are; • what the weaknesses of the project are; and • which suggestions there are to improve the project. Qualitative formative evaluation research was the paradigm within which the research was executed. Interviews were conducted with the voluntary workers and the following themes/patterns emerged from the data: Strengths of the project: Turnabout in the lives of the voluntary workers; improvement of self-knowledge; development of skills; work satisfaction; and guidance by the students. Weaknesses of the project: Schools where this project is in progress and facilities available at these schools; management of the project; and the group of voluntary workers. Suggestions regarding the project: Encouragement; management; and other logistics. The researcher took each of these main themes and with the help of process/impact rubrics data was interpreted. From these rubrics factors were identified and recommendations made which may contribute to the improvement of the project for example feedback after completion of the task is very important and should be very specific for an individual. Possibilities for the broader application of findings are also suggested.
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    Occupational therapists’ views on core competencies that graduates need to work in the field of neurology in a South African context
    (2020-03) Jacobs-Nzuzi Khuabi, Lee-Ann; Bester, Juanita
    BACKGROUND: The burden of neurologically related conditions in South Africa (SA) necessitates that undergraduate occupational therapy education and training provide students with core competencies to deliver comprehensive, effective client-centred interventions. Given developments in the practice of neurology and changes in policy, funding and infrastructure, it is essential that training remains relevant and responsive to the needs of individuals and their context. Occupational therapists should be in touch with the local context and its challenges and consider the practicalities of the suggested interventionsOBJECTIVES: To explore occupational therapists' perspectives on the knowledge, skills and attitudes that graduates need to work in the field of neurologyMETHODS: An explorative qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews was conducted with 10 occupational therapists in Western Cape Province, SA. Data were analysed using inductive analysisRESULTS: Four themes emerged from the findings, including foundational knowledge and skills, intra- and interpersonal attitudes, suggestions to consider when revising a neurology curriculum and resource constraintsCONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted that, in addition to neurology-specific skills, graduates also require core generic knowledge, skills and attitudes that address the evolving needs of society. These competencies are further necessary to allow graduates to work within the constraints of the health and educational systems
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    Training for transformation : opportunities and challenges for health workforce sustainability in developing a remote clinical training platform
    (Frontiers, 2021-04) Muller, Jana; Reardon, Cameron; Hanekom, Susan; Bester, Juanita; Coetzee, Francois; Dube, Kopano; Du Plessis, Elmarize; Couper, Ian
    Background: In 2018, Stellenbosch University’s Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health led a faculty initiative to expand undergraduate health professions training to a new site, 9 hours drive from the health sciences campus in the sparsely populated Northern Cape Province of South Africa in the town of Upington. This is part of a faculty strategy to extend undergraduate health sciences training into an under-resourced part of the country, where there is no medical school. During 2019, the first year of implementation, four final year medical students undertook a longitudinal integrated clerkship at this site, while final year students from other programmes undertook short 5-week rotations, with plans for extending rotations and including more disciplines in 2020. The aim of this study was to understand stakeholder perceptions regarding the development of Upington as a rural clinical training site and how this influenced existing services, workforce sustainability and health professions education. Methods: An iterative thematic analysis of qualitative data collected from 55 participants between January and November 2019 was conducted as part of the case study. A constructivist approach to data collection was utilized to explore participants’ perceptions, experiences and understanding of the new training site. Triangulation of data collection and reflexive thematic analysis contributed to the trustworthiness of the data and credibility of the findings. Findings: The perceptions of three key groups of stakeholders are reported: (1) Dr. Harry Surtie Hospital and Academic Programme Managers; (2) Supervising and non-supervising clinical staff and (3) Students from three undergraduate programs of the Faculty. Five themes emerged regarding the development of the site. The themes include the process of development; the influence on the health service; workforce sustainability; a change in perspective and equipping a future workforce. Discussion: This case study provides data to support the value of establishing a rural clinical training platform in a resource constrained environment. The influence of the expansion initiative on the current workforce speaks to the potential for improved capacity and competence in patient management with an impact on encouraging a rural oriented workforce. Using this case study to explore how the establishment of a new rural clinical training site is perceived to influence rural workforce sustainability and pathways, may have relevance to other institutions in similar settings. The degree of sustainability of the clinical training initiative is explored.