UWCScholar

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Development of guiding principles for the use of Virtual Reality (VR) to support teaching and learning for health professions students
(University of the Western Cape, 2026) Yu, Tak Wing
There has been a surge of interest in the use of technology in education, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual reality (VR) is one of the technologies that has become prominent. However, it is uncertain how VR could be used or be useful in Health Professions Education (HPE). And, therefore, this study focuses on undergraduate HPE and the use and application of VR. For VR to be effectively utilised in HPE, a series of events must occur to ensure its success. This includes the acceptance of VR not only by the institution but also by both lecturers (educators) and students. It is also essential to review whether VR is a ‘good fit’ in the HPE curriculum, and if so, where it will most likely be integrated. Like with any technology, there are pros and cons. In this case, VR has side effects, such as cybersickness, particularly with prolonged use, as well as an initial cost. However, these are technical aspects; more importantly, it is the structure of VR and how it can be utilised as an educational tool to benefit learning and teaching. When considering a tool for learning and teaching, educational pedagogy is essential, as it determines effective learning, engagement, learning style, and structured learning. VR is a tool that can support many types of learning, depending on how it is used. This study aims to develop a set of design principles that can guide the integration of VR learning environments in health professions education. This study was carried out at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Faculty of Community and Health Sciences (FCHS). This research used Design-Based Research (DBR) as the overarching research methodology. DBR is well-suited to the study, as it is commonly used in learning science and emphasises a collaborative, participatory approach to educational inquiry. The basic process of DBR involves developing solutions or interventions to problems. DBR consists of six phases: (1) Problem Identification and Analysis, (2) Development of Initial Solution, (3) Iterative Cycles of Testing and Refinement, (4) Reflection and Consolidation, (5) Documentation and Reflection and (6) Generalisation and Theory Development. Ethical clearance and permission to continue with the study were obtained from the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Ethics Committee (HSSREC), Ethics number: HS22/6/55, at the University of the Western Cape.
Nurse-sensitive outcome indicators for adult intensive care units in the South African context
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Sih, Delphine Awah
Background: Quality nursing care is associated with positive patient outcomes. Nurse-Sensitive Indicators are quality measures of patient care directly affected by nursing activities. There is currently no endorsed set of approved Nurse-Sensitive Indicators for use in adult intensive care units (ICUs) in South Africa.Aim: The aim of this research project was to develop Nurse-Sensitive Indicators for monitoring quality of nursing care in adult intensive care units in South Africa.Methodology: A quantitative research approach, based on the Donabedian Conceptual Framework and the Intensive Care Nurse Workload Conceptual Framework, was used to conduct this three-phased research project across four selected hospitals; two public and two private hospitals. Phase 1, included three objectives: 1.) A survey of all adult intensive care unit (ICU) nurses (N=350) using a combination of the Intensive critical care nurse competency scale (ICCNC-S),Response to stressful experiences scale (RSES) and the ICU nurse-physician collaboration scale (ICU-N-P-Q-S) to measure nurse self-assessed and reflective level of ICU nurse competency, ICU nurse resilience, and ICU nurse-physician collaboration respectively. 2.) A survey of critical care family needs inventory (CCFNI) of critical care patient family needs and the Consumer Quality Index of critical care patient family Members perceptions of the Intensive Care Unit (CQI-R-ICU) Scale to determine the family perception of ICU care (N=150). 3.) A retrospective review of critical care patients’ clinical records over a seven-day period to determine the intensive care nurse workload using the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System-28 (TISS-28).
The MeerKAT Faint Radio Source Population
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Mdwadube, Mfundo
This research presents a comprehensive multi-wavelength characterisation of the faint radio source population in the ADFS, covering approximately 10 deg2 near the South Ecliptic Pole and comprising a catalogue of 19 406 radio sources detected at 1.28 GHz. Using a dedicated cross-matching graphical user interface adapted from the MIGHTEE (2018) project, approximately 66% of the radio sources were successfully associated with optical and infrared counterparts from the HELP–ADFS master catalogue, with redshift information obtained for 8 944 sources (_ 46% of the full sample). During the cross-matching process, two giant radio galaxies (GRGs) were identified: GRG1 at RA _ 71.39_, Dec _ 􀀀52.9_ with a projected size of _ 1.41 Mpc at I = 0.667, and GRG2 at RA _ 70.33_, Dec _ 􀀀53.54_ with a projected size of _ 1.3 Mpc at I _ 0.24. Spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting using CIGALE was successfully performed for 7 874 sources, corresponding to _ 41% of the full radio catalogue and _ 88% of the redshift-identified sample. Based on the Bayesian AGN fraction and WISE colour–colour diagnostics, 2 116 sources were classified as active galactic nuclei (AGN) and 5 759 as star-forming galaxies (SFGs), with 984 sources remaining unclassified due to unconverged or missing SED fits. Approximately 558 AGN (_ 26% of the AGN population) satisfy the WISE AGN wedge selection criteria. The infrared–radio correlationwas investigated using the @IR parameter. The SFG population exhibits a well-defined correlation with a median @IR = 2.635_0.013, while AGN show systematically lower values (@IR _ 1.95 _ 0.016), consistent with excess radio emission arising from non-thermal AGNrelated processes.
Utilizing reclaimed water to enhance the sustainability of the water environment in valley urbanization in Chongqing
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Ma, Nian
The process of urbanization would result in a series of environmental issues, posing significant challenges to the urban water environment and consequently impact the overall sustainability of urban development. The evaluation of the sustainability of urban water environment has attracted more and more attention from scholars and urban planners in both governments and civil societies. Climate change will exacerbate water scarcity and, along with population growth, land use and energy choices, make the sustainability of water environment a moving target. The cities in valley areas face greater uncertainty in environmental integrity due to their unique spatial patterns and hydrological and water resources conditions. This thesis evaluates the sustainability of the water environment sustainability and the role of reclaimed water use on sustainability in valley cities in Chongqing, Southwestern China, which, like most Chinese cities, are still in the process of urbanization. The study classified valley cities and identified their water environment characteristics by building models of “conceptual valley city” and “conceptual water system”. An evaluation indicator system and methodology for assessing water environment sustainability in valley cities are developed through a comprehensive challenging analysis. The indicator framework encompasses four elements: water resource diversity, water environment quality, water ecological health, and low carbon emissions.
Identification of Operons in clostridium difficile
(University of the Western Cape, 2025) Gountin, Hwenude Judicaëlle Chance
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), an anaerobic, spore-forming, Gram-positive bacterium, is a major nosocomial pathogen that causes severe, toxin-mediated diarrhea and pseudomembranous colitis. Previous studies of pathogenic bacteria, including C. difficile, have investigated the operon structures and their roles in drug resistance and pathogenicity. Despite significant progress in understanding the genome and pathogenesis of C. difficile, predicting operon structures that contribute to its adaptability and virulence remains a challenge. Existing computational tools provide only partial insights, often limited by incomplete genome annotations, environmental variability, and the overwhelming complexity of bacterial regulatory networks. Consequently, there is a need for improved computational frameworks that integrate genomic, transcriptomic, and functional data to accurately predict and analyze operons in C. difficile. Recently, COSMO, an operon predictor developed using ML techniques, was employed to investigate the operon structures and their roles in drug resistance and pathogenicity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, the COSMO algorithm was applied to a published Clostridium genomic dataset. Using COSMO and published RNA-seq datasets for Clostridium difficile, we identified and annotated operons in wild-type (WT) and vanS-mutant strains in the presence or absence of vancomycin or ramoplanin. This study (1) assessed the performance of the COSMO model operon predictions using a set of 28 experimentally validated operons (EVOs), and (3) evaluated the functional implications of the genomic organization of operons in response to vancomycin and ramoplanin antibiotic exposure. COSMO correctly identified 23 of the 28 EVOs, yielding high precision (88.46%) but relatively low sensitivity (45%), with an overall F1 score of 59.74%. The COSMO operon predictions were validated using 28 EVOs across WT and vanS mutant strains in the presence and absence of the two antibiotics. The COSMO algorithm proved reliable across the six experimental conditions, correctly identified 27 out of 28 EVOs each time, but failed to predict one EVO (cprABCK operon CD630_RS07455-CD630_RS07465). Fewer operons retain their original size in the presence of vancomycin in WT strain, and both expansions and contractions in operon boundaries were observed. Similarly, exposure to ramoplanin showed that 19 of the 28 EVOs retained their gene organization and gene content. The data suggest that, in a WT strain, both vancomycin and ramoplanin disrupt the underlying operon organization during the stress response.