UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Wegner, Lisa"

Browsing by Author "Wegner, Lisa"

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Adolescent substance use: a prospective longitudinal model of substance use onset among South African adolescents
(Informa Healthcare, 2009) Patrick, Megan E.; Collins, Linda M.; Smith, Edward A.; Caldwell, Linda L.; Flisher, Alan J.; Wegner, Lisa
Substance use onset among Colored adolescents between eighth and ninth grades in an urban area of Cape Town, South Africa was examined using latent transition analysis. Longitudinal self-report data regarding substance use (N = 1118, 50.9% female) were collected in 2004 and 2005. Results indicated that the pattern of onset was similar across genders; adolescents first tried either alcohol or cigarettes, followed by both, then dagga (cannabis), and then inhalants. The prevalence of lifetime cigarette use was slightly greater for females; dagga (cannabis) and inhalant use were greater for males. The similarity of developmental onset in the current sample to previous international work supports the promise of adapting prevention programs across contexts. The study’s limitations are noted.
Boys are victims, too: the influence of perpetrators’ age and gender in sexual coercion against boys
(SAGE Publications, 2018) Miller, Jacqueline A.; Smith, Edward A.; Caldwell, Linda L.; Mathews, Catherine; Wegner, Lisa
Sexual coercion among adolescent boys in South Africa is an underresearched topic despite the frequency of such events. Although quantitative research has illuminated the prevalence of sexual coercion toward boys, it has provided little understanding of the context of sexual coercion for adolescent boys. Given the often severe consequences of sexual coercion, it is important to further understand these experiences to inform prevention efforts. The current study aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of the context of sexual coercion. Data come from the baseline assessment for a translational research evaluation of a school-based intervention. The current study focuses on a subset of early and middle adolescent boys who reported experiencing sexual coercion (n = 223). Analyses examine boys’ reports of their perpetrators’ characteristics and details about the sexual coercion encounter. Logistic regression is used to examine how coercion tactics used by the perpetrator differs depending on the perpetrator’s age and gender. Eighth-grade boys were most likely to report that their perpetrator was a similar-aged female and that perpetrator’s age played a particularly important role in what tactics were used. Adult perpetrators were more likely to use physical force, threaten them, harass them electronically, and drink or use drugs at the time. Results provide important insight into boys’ experiences of sexual coercion that have implications for both future research and intervention efforts. Although much research is needed on the topic, intervention programs should recognize that both male and female adolescents can be victim and perpetrator.
Boys Are Victims, Too: The Influence of Perpetrators’ Age and Gender in Sexual Coercion Against Boys
(SAGE Journal, 2021-04) Miller, Jacqueline A.; Smith, Edward A.; Caldwell, Linda L.; Mathews, Catherine; Wegner, Lisa
Sexual coercion among adolescent boys in South Africa is an underresearched topic despite the frequency of such events. Although quantitative research has illuminated the prevalence of sexual coercion toward boys, it has provided little understanding of the context of sexual coercion for adolescent boys. Given the often severe consequences of sexual coercion, it is important to further understand these experiences to inform prevention efforts. The current study aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of the context of sexual coercion. Data come from the baseline assessment for a translational research evaluation of a school-based intervention. The current study focuses on a subset of early and middle adolescent boys who reported
Clients' perceptions of an occupational therapy intervention at a substance use rehabilitation centre in the Western Cape
(Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa (OTASA), 2015) Bell, Teneil; Wegner, Lisa; Blake, Lauren; Jupp, Leigh; Nyabenda, Fides; Turner, Tamryn
Substance use among adolescents is a significant health and social problem and affects occupational performance. While occupational therapy interventions are available at substance use rehabilitation centres in the Western Cape, little is known about clients' perceptions of the usefulness of these interventions. A qualitative study was conducted to address this gap, specifically exploring clients' perceptions of the usefulness of the intervention on their occupations post discharge. The occupational therapist at a particular centre was interviewed as a key informant. Eight participants who attended the aftercare programme at the centre took part in three focus groups. Four themes emerged from the analysis of data: "We taking the drugs away, but we need to give them something back in that place"; "I don't want to be that person I was in the past"; "Keeping me clean"; "Take us out into the life". Participants perceived skills development, work training, life skills and leisure exploration to be useful. However, team members' roles and treatment objectives should be clarified to the clients to ensure that clients understand why they are participating in therapy. Finally, there should be more community-based, out-patient support programmes for adolescents so that the appropriate services are more easily accessible.
A cross-sectional descriptive study of occupational therapy students’ perceptions and attitudes towards spirituality and spiritual care in occupational therapy education
(Springer, 2016) Mthembu, Thuli Godfrey; Roman, Nicolette V.; Wegner, Lisa
Spirituality and spiritual care both have received increased attention over the course of this past decade from different disciplines. However, for many years, in the occupational therapy profession, the importance of spirituality and spiritual care seems to be controversial because it is unclear how these concepts are integrated in occupational therapy education. Although occupational therapy students are being educated to consider a holistic and client-centred approach, spirituality is not regarded within this framework which diminishes the integrity of holistic approach. In South African occupational therapy education, it is unclear whether any single course on teaching and learning of spirituality and spiritual care exists. Thus, the aim of this study was to describe occupational therapy students’ perceptions and attitudes regarding spirituality and spiritual care in occupational therapy education. A cross-sectional descriptive study design of undergraduate occupational therapy students from one educational institution was used. Data included demographic characteristics, responses on Spiritual Care-Giving Scale (SCGS), Spiritual and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS) and Spirituality in Occupational Therapy Scale (SOTS). A response rate of 50.5 % (n = 100 out of 198) was achieved. In the SCGS, among the factors only factor 1 had the highest mean value score showing consistent agreement about spirituality, whereas in the SSCRS only three factors were found to have highest mean score and one with lowest mean score. In SOTS, participants had a highest score mean in relation to formal education and training about spirituality. Thus, in the integration of spirituality and spiritual care a holistic approach needs to be considered in education to enhance students’ knowledge of how to address mind, body and spirit needs.
Curriculum transformation: a proposed route to reflect a political consciousness in occupational therapy education
(Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa, 2012) De Jongh, Jo-Celene; Hess-April, Lucia; Wegner, Lisa
Introduction: Curriculum review is an ongoing, dynamic, long-term process that forms part of occupational therapy education. The Department of Occupational Therapy, University of the Western Cape (UWC) recently responded to the challenge of becoming socially responsive and politically relevant by engaging in curriculum review. The review revealed that political reasoning was not clearly delineated previously in the curriculum. In response to this problem, over a period of several years we engaged in a process of curriculum transformation so that students become politically conscious. Methods: The process entailed environmental scanning, feedback from teaching staff and clinicians, students’ evaluations, regular curriculum revision meetings, academic development meetings, workshops and seminars. A qualitative study using a cooperative enquiry approach was conducted to analyse the data. Findings: From the analysis the following themes emerged: (1) identifying the essence of occupational therapy education at UWC, (2) understanding political practice on a theoretical and then a personal level, (3) integrating and operationalising political consciousness into the curriculum. We discuss the debates and critical questions raised in our efforts to develop a curriculum that prepares graduates to be politically conscious and socially responsive. Finally, we present key strategies for the way forward. Conclusion: Curriculum transformation around a political practice of occupational therapy does not merely mean just a change in curriculum content, but requires the internalisation of a political consciousness by educators individually and collectively.
Doing a leisure activity because there is nothing else to do: Related outcomes and intervention effects for adolescents
(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Motamedi, Mojdeh; Caldwell, Linda L.; Weybright, Elisabeth H.; Jones, Damon; Wegner, Lisa; Smith, Edward A.
This study examined whether a leisure-focused intervention, HealthWise, was related to reduced youth polysubstance use and delayed sexual debut via reducing how often youth did leisure activities because there was nothing else to do. HealthWise was compared to a no-intervention control for 5,610 high school students from eighth to tenth grades in townships near Cape Town, South Africa. Three specific leisure activities were examined: spending time with friends, playing sports, and going to parks. Among girls, spending time with friends because there was nothing else to do significantly mediated the effect of HealthWise on reducing frequent polysubstance use in the past month. For boys, spending time in parks because there was nothing else to do mediated the effect of HealthWise on delayed sexual debut. Results partially supported the HealthWise logic model of impacting risky behaviors via leisure and the value of prevention programs addressing the reasons behind leisure choices.
Educators’ and students’ needs regarding teaching and learning strategies for integrating spirituality and spiritual care in occupational therapy education
(Sabinet, 2018) Mthembu, Thuli G.; Wegner, Lisa; Roman, Nicolette V.
Spirituality and spiritual care are both generating considerable interest as part of holistic and client-centred approaches of the profession of Occupational Therapy. Concerns have been raised regarding the teaching and learning needs of occupational therapy educators and students regarding spirituality and spiritual care. The aim of this study was to explore educators’ and students’ needs regarding teaching and learning strategies for integrating spirituality and spiritual care in the South African occupational therapy education. An interpretive, qualitative exploratory-descriptive approach was used with nine educators and 29 students who were purposively recruited from a university in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Four focus group discussions were used for data collection and thematically analysed and managed in Atlas.ti 7. Two themes emerged: “We actually use transformative learning as a pedagogical approach,” and “We need philosophical guidelines for integrating spirituality”. These results imply that the transformative learning theories could contribute significantly to the integration of spirituality and spiritual care in occupational therapy education. Additionally, the findings support the use of critical reflection and consciousness-raising as teaching and learning strategies for spirituality. Overall, the findings indicated that the phases of transformative learning could be used to integrate spiritualty and spiritual care in occupational therapy education. This study suggests a basis for development of guidelines to assist the educators and students to address the need for integrating spirituality in the occupational therapy classroom.
An exploratory factor analysis into the applicability of the Spirituality Care-Giving Scale, the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale and the Spirituality in Occupational Therapy Scale to the South African context
(Occupational Therapy Association of South Africa, 2016) Mthembu, Thuli G.; Roman, Nicolette V.; Wegner, Lisa
Spirituality and spiritual care are both considered as important elements of health sciences education; however, limited research has been conducted with occupational therapy students using spirituality scales. Therefore, this study assessed the internal consistency component of reliability and carried out factor analyses of three spirituality scales which examined the perceptions and attitudes of South African undergraduate occupational therapy students regarding spirituality and spiritual care. This study used a cross-sectional survey design using convenience sampling to recruit 100 participants. The internal consistency of the instruments evaluated showed satisfactory reliability: i.e. the Spiritual Care-Giving Scale (α=0.946), the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (α= 0.764) and the Spirituality in Occupational Therapy scale (α=0.868). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of Sampling Adequacy values was 0.862, 0.883, and 0.868 respectively, indicating the appropriateness of the factor analysis. Factor analysis from varimax rotated results was also performed to identify the patterns of spirituality and spiritual care within the instruments. The total variances of the instruments were acceptable at 59.1, 67.6 and 69.8% respectively. An implication of these findings is the possibility that exposing occupational therapy students to spirituality and spiritual care could be useful for them to gain insight into and be sensitive to the clients’ spiritual needs. Further research should be undertaken in other institutions of higher learning that offer occupational therapy programmes.
Exploring occupational therapy students' perceptions of spirituality in occupational therapy groups: a qualitative study
(Taylor & Francis, 2017) Mthembu, Thuli G.; Wegner, Lisa; Roman, Nicolette V.
An exploratory-descriptive qualitative research approach explored occupational therapy students' perceptions of spirituality in occupational therapy groups during the group fieldwork process. Four focus group discussions were conducted and thematically analyzed. Four themes related to the metaphoric expressions of spirituality emerged: (1) occupational group therapy is a vehicle for spirituality; (2) spiritual journey in occupational therapy groups; (3) engaging in occupations facilitates spirituality; and (4) make use of the resources to service the driver and vehicle. Occupational therapy groups appeared to be the facilitators of spirituality through engagement in occupations, which enhanced quality of life, health, and well-being of group members.
Exploring the lived experience of leisure travelling for people with disabilities
(University of the Western Cape, 2018) van der Westhuizen, Yolanda; Wegner, Lisa; Hess-April, Lucia
Historically travelling was an option only for the affluent; however, with the turn of the 20th century, travelling shifted to an important form of free-choice learning by means of discovery. Travelogues of able-bodied travellers state that travelling offers them an opportunity for constructing new identities as it broadens their perspectives of self. This caused the researcher to question if the same experiences could be prompted amongst people with disabilities. Various disciplines recognise that travelling is a valuable opportunity for growth, but no literature could be found within Occupational Therapy. This led to the research question explored in this study: what is the shared, lived experience of travelling for people with disabilities? The objectives of this study are to describe and explore the purpose and overall experiences of travelling for people with disabilities, explore how people with disabilities perceive, understand and make sense of their experiences of travelling, and lastly to explore the meaning that travelling has for people with disabilities. The theoretical framework underpinning this study is the Peron-Environment-Occupation Model and the Model of Human Occupation, with specific reference to the philosophy of occupational science. Embedded in a philosophical worldview of social constructivism, a Hermeneutical Phenomenological design was chosen using a qualitative approach. Through purposive sampling, six participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was applied to analyse data subsequent to cross analysis, thereby developing a composite understanding of the meaning of travelling to the participants. The findings present three themes, namely: a Double edged sword which highlights the contradictory effects that travelling can have, followed by People are part of the package, which emphasises the participants’ interpretations of the immense role that society plays in disability, and lastly the most prominent theme Pilgrimage to self-discovery. Additionally, an Integrated Model was developed which integrates two prominent models within Occupational Therapy. Conclusively this study provides insight into how travelling facilitated the participants to develop a new identity.
Forced sexual experiences and sexual situation self-efficacy among South African youth
(Wiley, 2015) Miller, Jacqueline A.; Smith, Edward A.; Coffman, Donna; Mathews, Catherine; Wegner, Lisa
Nearly 20% of South African youth experience forced or coerced sexual intercourse. Understanding the factors associated with forced sex is important for informing prevention programs aimed at reducing sexual violence and HIV and AIDS. Multilevel regression models test the association between sexual situation self-efficacy and forced sex among 2,893 South African adolescents. Findings suggest that youth are more likely to experience forced sex after periods of time when their levels of self-efficacy are lower than their average levels of self-efficacy. Furthermore, youth who are lower on their self-efficacy compared to their peers are more likely to experience forced sex. Implications for prevention research are discussed.
Guidelines for leadership development using leisure education as a tool for youth with physical disabilities in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Malema, Makhaya Johannes; Wegner, Lisa
Youth need to build their resilience, feel empowered, take the initiative and become independent for their leadership development. The application and use of leisure education amongst youth with disabilities for developing leadership appears feasible, although it has never previously been researched. It is noted that leisure plays a significant role in the lives of all persons, and people with disabilities should also embrace opportunities to obtain the positive benefits of leisure.
Guidelines to integrate spirituality and spiritual care in occupational therapy education: A modified Delphi study
(Taylor & Francis, 2018) Mthembu, Thuli G.; Wegner, Lisa; Roman, Nicolette V.
This modified Delphi study aimed to develop educational guidelines for integrating spirituality and spiritual care into occupational therapy education. The first round comprised a self-administered questionnaire, the second round used a faceto-face workshop, and last round reviewed the developed educational guidelines, which reached the highest agreement and median values greater than 3.25. A panel of 18 comprised occupational therapy educators, clinicians, and nursing experts were recruited. A total of 126 out of 142 items reached the highest agreements from the panel participants, categorized based on the content knowledge-based, importance, skills, ethics, pedagogical approaches, teaching and learning strategies, and assessment of student learning.
Healthwise South Africa: cultural adaptation of a school-based risk prevention programme
(Oxford University Press, 2008) Wegner, Lisa; Flisher, Alan J.; Caldwell, Linda L.; Vergnani, Tania; Smith, Edward A.
There is a need for effective prevention programmes aimed at reducing risk behaviour among South African adolescents. Health Wise South Africa is a school-based programme designed to reduce sexual and substance use risk behaviour, and promote positive use of leisure time among high-school learners (students). Based on successful programmes in the United States of America, Health Wise was developed for use in South Africa and pilot tested in four South African high schools. We carried out a process evaluation to establish the fidelity of implementation and make sure HealthWise was culturally relevant. Data sources comprised focus groups with educators and learners, lesson evaluations and observations, and interviews with school principals. Qualitative analysis of data highlighted pertinent cultural and contextual factors and identified areas for modifying Health Wise in order to promote better programme-consumer fit. These areas centred on time, language, and leisure. We noted a dynamic tension between the educators’ desire to adhere to plan, and to make adaptations in accordance with learners’ needs and the context. Ultimately, researchers need to find a balance between fidelity of implementation and programme adaptation to obtain effective programmes that are culturally acceptable to local consumers.
I'm going back to work: perceptions and experiences of back rehabilitated clients regarding their worker roles
(University of the Western Cape, 2004) Soeker, Shaheed; Wegner, Lisa; Pretorius, Blanche; Dept. of Occupational Therapy; Faculty of Community and Health Sciences
Clinical research has shown that patients experience difficulty in adjusting to their pre-morbid worker roles after they have been through a back rehabilitation programme. The pressure and competitiveness of modern day society to achieve competence and to survive has proven to be stressful, both for the injured and uninjured, the unemployed and employed. Back rehabilitation and the successful return of the injured worker to the workplace have been of great interest to industry for the last decade, due to the ever-increasing support of legislature for the injured. There is a range of medical interventions available but few of these achieve successful outcomes due in part to the fact that many intervention strategies do not take the patients perspectives into consideration. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to explore back rehabilitated clients perceptions and experiences of the challenges they face in adapting to their worker roles.
Inconsistent reports of sexual intercourse among South African high school students
(Elsevier, 2008) Palen, Lori-Ann; Smith, Edward A.; Caldwell, Linda L.; Flisher, Alan J.; Wegner, Lisa; Vergnani, Tania
Purpose: This study aims to describe patterns of inconsistent reports of sexual intercourse among a sample of South African adolescents. Methods: Consistency of reported lifetime sexual intercourse was assessed using five semiannual waves of data. Odds ratios related inconsistent reporting to demographic variables and potential indicators of general and risk-behavior-specific reliability problems. Results: Of the sexually active participants in the sample, nearly 40% reported being virgins after sexual activity had been reported at an earlier assessment. Inconsistent reporting could not be predicted by gender or race or by general indicators of poor reliability (inconsistent reporting of gender and birth year). However individuals with inconsistent reports of sexual intercourse were more likely to be inconsistent reporters of substance use. Conclusions: These results suggest that researchers need to undertake efforts to deal specifically with inconsistent risk behavior data. These may include modification of data collection procedures and use of statistical methodologies that can account for response inconsistencies
Interventions for out-of-school contexts
(UCT Press, 2012) Wegner, Lisa; Caldwell, Linda L.
Introduction: Violence has become part of normal,everyday life for many young South Africans.
Investigating the prevalence of health risk behavior and the association with leisure boredom among high school students in Lagos, Nigeria
(University of Western Cape, 2019) Olatunji ,Deji Funmibi; Mthembu, Thuli; Wegner, Lisa
Health risk behaviors are public health problems which are of concern in occupational therapy because they tend to be the causes of disability and death among adolescents and youths in the world. Identifying risk factors related to health risk behaviors is therefore an important part of health promotion. The main aim of this thesis was to investigate the prevalence of health risk behaviors and the association with leisure boredom among high school adolescents in Lagos State, Nigeria.
Leisure boredom and adolescent risk behaviour: a systematic literature review
(Taylor & Francis, 2009) Wegner, Lisa; Flisher, Alan J.
There has been very little research investigating leisure boredom and risk behaviour among adolescents in South Africa. A systematic review of literature was conducted to synthesise current knowledge within the field of leisure boredom and risk behaviour among adolescents. An online and a hand search for relevant articles were conducted using keywords. This resulted in the retrieval of 25 articles that met the inclusion criteria. It was evident that the experience of leisure boredom is influenced by a variety of different factors, not least of which is the environment or context within which adolescents are situated. A key finding was how few studies have focussed on leisure boredom and risk behaviour in adolescents, particularly in the developing world. Also, gaps in the knowledge basis were identified, thus providing direction for future research. The review focuses attention on leisure boredom as a factor contributing to risk behaviour in adolescents. Expanding knowledge in this area is useful for individuals and organisations concerned with adolescent health, education and development.

Browsing by Author "Wegner, Lisa"

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