Browsing by Author "Havemann-Serfontein, Anne"

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    A selected group of nurses' experience of termination of pregnancy support services at a health care facility in the Western Cape
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-03) Havemann-Serfontein, Anne; Loxton, H. S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this pilot study was to do a needs analysis with a selected group of nurses with regard to the following three aspects: nurses' experiences of their involvement in termination of pregnancy (TOP) services, the effects of their involvement in TOP service provision on a personal, familial and career level, as well as their needs with regard to support. An important aspect of the needs analysis was to develop a questionnaire which can be used as basis for future research purposes. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual research design was applied in order to conduct this study. Participants were recruited from a health care facility in the Western Cape, v~ and the small sample group (seven out of a possible fifteen) consisted of a selected group of nurses who are currently involved in performing TOPs, as well as nurses involved in pre- and/or post-procedure care of patients. Each participant completed a self-administered biographical dataand semi-structured questionnaire, which was compiled specifically for the purpose of the pilot study. Specific guidelines according to previous research findings were incorporated. The results of the pilot study revealed that most of the participants experience some sort of cognitive, emotional and/or behavioural reaction before, during and after TOP procedures are performed. -Feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger, depression and guilt were reported in some cases, as well as moral-ethical conflicts. With regard to the effect on a personal, familial and career level, it was confirmed that the work has an effect on the majority of respondents' personal life and career to a certain extent, although family life did not seem te be affected significantly. The results conveyed that the majority of the nurses experienced that the impact of their work with TOPs seemed to be different from that of their other nursing duties. It was found that participating nurses are in need of some sort of support service, and that the practicality of the services which are currently provided, should be investigated further. Although the ability to generalise the results, was limited by the small research sample, valuable information was gained with regard to nurses' needs for support, as confirmed by other South African research findings. Suggestions for improvements in the questionnaire, as well as other further research possibilities, are provided.