Browsing by Author "Cloete, Karen J."
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemFacial affect recognition and exit examination performance in medical students : a prospective exploratory study(BioMed Central, 2014-11) Roos, Tessa C.; Niehaus, Dana J. H.; Leppanen, Jukka M.; Ras, Johan; Cloete, Karen J.; Jordaan, Esme; Koen, LiezlBackground: Facial affect recognition (FAR) abilities underpin emotional intelligence (EI). The latter is suggested to predict academic success and to be important for clinician-patient interaction. It is therefore of interest to investigate the possible association between FAR and academic performance in undergraduate medical students. Methods We assessed the association between the ability to recognize emotions through facial expression and exit examination performance, a measure of clinical proficiency, in undergraduate medical students stratified by gender at a South African tertiary institution using a prospective descriptive design. Data on the perception of facial expressions and exit examination marks were obtained from 144 (61%) females and 93 (39%) males with a mean age of 24.1 ± 1.6 years. Facial affect recognition measures on the Hexagon and Animation tasks were individually correlated with academic performance indicators using Pearson correlation. Results The perceptual discrimination of anger was associated with improved performance in anaesthetics (r = .24; p = .004) and urology (r = .24; p = .001), while the recognition of happiness was associated with decreased performance in obstetrics (r = −.21, p = .002). Gender was an effect modifier in the relationship between perceptual discrimination of anger and urology performance (p = .03), with a strong positive relationship for males, but a non-significant relationship for females. Conclusion There was no overall correlation between FAR and overall academic performance or with gender. However, subject (specialty) specific findings with recognition of specific emotions and with gender as effect modifier poses interesting questions about EI and FAR and prompts further research into FAR as a useful tool. Being an objective test and offering a more focused assessment makes FAR worthy of further application.
- ItemFungi associated with the skin of a southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) from South Africa(Taylor & Francis group, 2010-09) Reeb, Desray; Best, Peter; Botha, Alfred; Cloete, Karen J.; Thornton, Meredith; Mouton, MarnelCutaneous fungi are known to affect parts of the outermost skin layers of mammals, including the epidermis, stratum spinosum and stratum corneum, as well as mucocutaneous membranes, genitalia or external ears. Relatively little is known about fungal infections of Mysticete cetaceans and studies are needed to determine the fungal diversity associated with these marine mammals. This case report was aimed at identifying the fungi associated with the skin of a diseased neonatal southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) found stranded in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Initial physical examination on site revealed hyperplasia of the follicular and epidermal epithelium. Preliminary examination of skin biopsies using scanning electron microscopy indicated that the skin was colonized by fungal hyphae. Isolation methods yielded a number of fungal isolates, which were identified using standard morphology and rDNA sequence data. These analyses confirmed colonization of the cutaneous layers by species belonging to the genera Fusarium, Chaetomium and Penicillium. Moreover, all isolates were capable of degrading keratin, indicating that skin may act as a natural substrate for these fungi. This study is the first report of the association of these fungi with southern right whale skin.
- ItemTrauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and the effect of explanatory variables in paramedic trainees(BioMed Central, 2014-04) Fjeldheim, Celine B.; Nothling, Jani; Pretorius, Karin; Basson, Marina; Ganasen, Keith; Heneke, Robin; Cloete, Karen J.; Seedat, SorayaAbstract Background: Emergency healthcare workers, including trainees and individuals in related occupations are at heightened risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression owing to work-related stressors. We aimed to investigate the type, frequency, and severity of direct trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms and other psychopathology amongst paramedic trainees. In order to create a risk profile for individuals who are at higher occupational risk of developing PTSD, we examined risk and resilience factors that possibly contributed to the presence and severity of posttraumatic symptomatology. Methods: Paramedic trainees (n = 131) were recruited from a local university. A logistic regression analysis was conducted using the explanatory variables age, gender, population group, trauma exposure, depression, alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, resilience and social support. Results: 94% of paramedic trainees had directly experienced trauma, with 16% meeting PTSD criteria. A high rate of depression (28%), alcohol abuse (23%) and chronic perceived stress (7%) and low levels of social support was found. The number of previous trauma exposures, depression, resilience and social support significantly predicted PTSD status and depression had a mediating effect. Conclusion: There is a need for efficient, ongoing screening of depressive and PTSD symptomatology in trauma exposed high risk groups so that early psychological supportive interventions can be offered. Background Emergency healthcare workers, including trainees and individuals in related occupations are at heightened risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression owing to work-related stressors. We aimed to investigate the type, frequency, and severity of direct trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms and other psychopathology amongst paramedic trainees. In order to create a risk profile for individuals who are at higher occupational risk of developing PTSD, we examined risk and resilience factors that possibly contributed to the presence and severity of posttraumatic symptomatology. Methods Paramedic trainees (n = 131) were recruited from a local university. A logistic regression analysis was conducted using the explanatory variables age, gender, population group, trauma exposure, depression, alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, resilience and social support. Results 94% of paramedic trainees had directly experienced trauma, with 16% meeting PTSD criteria. A high rate of depression (28%), alcohol abuse (23%) and chronic perceived stress (7%) and low levels of social support was found. The number of previous trauma exposures, depression, resilience and social support significantly predicted PTSD status and depression had a mediating effect. Conclusion There is a need for efficient, ongoing screening of depressive and PTSD symptomatology in trauma exposed high risk groups so that early psychological supportive interventions can be offered.