Browsing by Author "Julie, H."

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    Exploring midwives' experiences of managing patients' perinatal loss at a maternity hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2016) Williamson, Melissa Grace; Julie, H.; Kearns, E.
    Perinatal deaths are emotion-laden events not only for the mothers, but also for physicians and midwives. Hence, mothers experiencing the phenomenon need support to overcome the experience. If the loss occurs in a health institution, the responsibility of supporting the woman is borne by healthcare providers, particularly midwives. However, limited information exists on how midwives manage patients who experience perinatal loss in health institutions. Consequently, this study on midwives' experiences of managing patients' perinatal loss at a maternity hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa was conducted. The aim of the study was to explore midwives' management of patients with perinatal loss. The study utilised a qualitative research design and employs a phenomenological approach. Purposive sampling was used to select eight registered midwives to participate in the study. Data was collected by means of in-depth unstructured interviews, which were audio-recorded. It was then analysed by utilising Colaizzi's (1978) steps of phenomenological data analysis. Four themes emerged from the data, namely, knowledge of perinatal loss, challenges when managing patients, managing perinatal loss, and getting emotionally involved. Themes were informed by several subthemes. In addition, implication on practice indicates that improving support to mothers with pregnancy loss requires a multi-disciplinary approach or teamwork from various professionals in order to enhance mutual collaboration between families and healthcare workers. The study concludes that nursing education programmes should be reviewed to ensure that they include midwives' needs in the area of managing clients experiencing a perinatal loss. Hence, student midwives should be given more clinical experience of caring for bereaved couples under supervision, as well as compassionate support, which would assist them to develop these skills before they graduate.
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    An investigation into patients perceptions of contributing factors towards their aggressive and violent behaviour after admission to a mental health facility
    (University of the Western Cape, 2006) Van Wijk, Evalina; Julie, H.; Traut, A.; Dept. of Nursing; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    Aggressive and violent behaviour in inpatient mental health facilities is found worldwide and is a frequent and serious clinical and nursing care problem. Despite the importance of international research findings and recommendations, it appears that patients perceptions of the possible contributing factors toward aggressive and violent behaviour in mental health facilities is an area of enquiry that has not been widely explored in South Africa in general, or in the Western Cape, in particular. It is against this background that this study endeavoured to investigate the external and situational contributing to patients aggressive and violent behaviour in mental health facilities in Cape Town, as seen from patients perspectives.
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    Mental health nurses’ knowledge, attitude and practices related to tobacco dependence among mental health care users at a psychiatric institution in the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2021) Sigenu, X; Julie, H.
    Research reported that it is very challenging for mental health care users to quit smoking and the risk of relapsing after quitting is high. However, tobacco dependence treatment is possible and potentially lifesaving for people. The delivery of tobacco dependence treatment by nurses is influenced by a variety of factors, including lack of knowledge and skills, limited professional leadership, and smoking within the profession. There is a strong link between mental illness and smoking-related diseases, including cancer, respiratory diseases and heart diseases that are linked with depression. There is a high incidence of cancer in people with bipolar mood disorder and schizophrenia due to smoking. In spite of this, smoking is regarded as part of the culture of psychiatric institutions and tobacco is seen as “necessary self- medication for the mentally ill”. Historically, cigarettes have been used for behavioural reinforcement within the psychiatric setting. Mental health nurses also have the highest rate of smoking behaviour, which is coupled with permissive attitudes towards smoking among Mental health care users. It is also reported that nurses lack knowledge regarding the interaction of tobacco dependence with treatment of mental disorders. Nurses are also regarded as role models and therefore, nurses’ beliefs and attitudes regarding the smoking behaviour of mental health care users have an influence on any smoking cessation interventions. The psychiatric institution where the researcher was employed had recently implemented a smoke-free policy in the wards. The aim of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practices of mental health nurses related to tobacco dependence among MHCUs in a psychiatric institution in the Western Cape. The researcher used a descriptive survey design to carry out this study at a selected government-funded tertiary psychiatric hospital in theWestern Cape, South Africa. The target population comprised all mental health nurses permanently employed at this institution (169) and all-inclusive sampling was used. Data was analysed using SPSS Statistics version 24. The findings of the study reveal mental health nurses had good knowledge on tobacco dependence among MHCUs and that they had positive attitudes regarding the need to combat tobacco dependence among MHCUs. This is revealed through their knowledge on the dangers of smoking to MHCUs. The quality of training influences knowledge, which in turn cultivates a positive attitude regarding the need to combat tobacco and smoking addiction among MHCUs. There is also difference between the attitudes of non-smokers and those of smokers regarding the treatment of nicotine and tobacco dependence in MHCUs. For instance, mental health nurses who smoke perceive smoking as a necessary element for creating relationships with their patients, and therefore they tend to have a relaxed attitude towards treating smoking addiction among patients. Those who do not smoke tend to perceive combating nicotine dependence as essential. A recommendation is that some form of training for mental health nurses is needed to cultivate positive attitudes towards strategies meant to curb smoking addiction.
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    The readiness of professional Nurses in the Khayelitsha health sub-district to render mental health care services as stipulated in the Healthcare 2010 plans for the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2008) Molopo, Fundiswa Olivia; Julie, H.; Dept. of Nursing; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
    The study aims to assess the readiness of professional nurses in Khayelitsha health sub district to render mental health care services as stipulated in the Healthcare 2010 Plans for the western Cape. The Main objectives are to assess the readiness of professional nurses in the Khayelitsha health sub district to render mental health care services after de institutionalisation of mentally ill persons in terms of skills and resources, as well as to explore feelings and perceptions of professional nurses regarding the Healthcare 2010 plans for the Western Cape with refernce to mental health.