Browsing by Author "Malema, Maphoko Phindile"

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    Effect of a 12-week aerobic exercise programme on percentage body fat, fasting blood glucose and dyspnoea in insulin resistant, obese female university employees in the Western Cape
    (University of the Western Cape, 2021) Malema, Maphoko Phindile; Bassett, S.H.
    Obesity is recognised as a risk factor for non-communicable diseases which has reached epidemic proportions globally. South Africa is one of the developing countries with significant statistical representation reported for these conditions. Obesity is associated with other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia which are all part of what is called metabolic syndrome. As a strategy to reduce the levels of obesity, physical activity has been introduced to compliment clients who are on medication for diabetes.
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    Perceptions and knowledge of health professionals about telerehabilitation in Limpopo Province, South Africa
    (Bentham Science Publishers, 2025) Malema, Maphoko Phindile; Frantz, Jose
    Introduction: In the digital age, telerehabilitation emerges as a promising solution to healthcare disparities, offering healthcare services comparable to in-person care. Telerehabilitation utilizes information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure to deliver rehabilitation services remotely. It requires essential resources such as tablets, computers, and applications like Skype, Zoom, and WebEx for audio-video communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions and knowledge of healthcare professionals about telerehabilitation in the Elias Motsoaledi Municipality, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Methods: Through an exploratory qualitative study design, semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were used. Twenty health professionals were purposefully recruited and interviewed as participants in this study. Participants were recruited and interviewed until data saturation was reached, meaning that categories appeared to guide the collected data without further modification. Healthcare professionals were included if they have a tertiary qualification. A minimum of two years of professional service within their respective profession. Participants were included if they were health professionals in direct contact with patients. Data were collected through one-on-one individual interviews with the 20 participants, using a semi-structured interview guide of open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the transcribed data. The approval to conduct the study was sought from the Biomedical Research Committee. Findings: The analysis revealed three main themes and eleven sub-themes that highlight the perceptions and knowledge of the participants. The participants were knowledgeable about telerehabilitation. Although telerehabilitation is not operationalized in public healthcare facilities, the participants shared their understanding and the benefits associated with it. Furthermore, the participants reported that there is a potential space to implement Telerehabilitation in public healthcare facilities. However, such implementations have serious financial implications, which can serve as a challenge for implementation in South Africa. Conclusion: Therefore, the current study concludes that telerehabilitation is a worthwhile investment in healthcare facilities. Interventions are required by the government to mitigate the implementation challenges of telerehabilitation in South African healthcare facilities. The current study recommends that strategies be required to roll out demo-prototypes of telerehabilitation programs.