Browsing by Author "Myburgh, Naomi"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Adapting and piloting a cognitive-behavioural group therapy-based anxiety intervention programme for vulnerable children from a disadvantaged background within the South African context
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2019-12) Myburgh, Naomi; Loxton, H. S.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Anxiety is a prevalent psychological problem amongst children worldwide and has been identified as a concerning mental health issue in need of intervention, especially amongst vulnerable children within disadvantaged South African contexts. Within such contexts, access to mental health services is particularly limited due to a lack of resources that diminish service delivery capacity. Importantly, anxiety symptoms have demonstrated a trend towards the development of anxiety disorders and numerous associated negative outcomes in the absence of intervention. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)-based programmes have been established as an efficacious response to child anxiety disorders and effective as a preventive approach. Notably, preventive interventions have the potential to reduce demands on resources and increase reach with more universal dissemination by non-expert programme facilitators. Recent advances in CBT-based anxiety intervention research have pointed to the potential of brief, intensive formats as a cost-effective, accessible and child-friendly treatment alternative for childhood anxiety problems. The potential value of the contextual adaptation of evidence-based programmes and outcomes measures to fit with new priority populations has also been established. The adaptation of existing interventions may overcome context-specific barriers to the delivery of programmes. The current study was motivated by a dearth of intervention research in the South African context and the need for accessible, cost-effective and contextually tailored mental health services for vulnerable children in disadvantaged semi-rural farming communities in South Africa. In response, the current study was implemented in two phases. Phase 1 entailed the contextual adaptation of the group, CBT-based, Dutch Dappere Kat anxiety prevention programme, based on information obtained from multiple community consultations. This resulted in the formulation of the brief, intensive, Afrikaans Ek is Dapper (BRAVE) group CBT-based anxiety prevention programme. Phase 2 entailed a pilot study implementation and evaluation of the BRAVE programme with a mixed methods quasi-experimental design (with an immediate intervention group, a delayed intervention group, and pre-, post- and follow-up outcomes measures). A sample of 21 children (aged 9 to 14 and in Grades 3 to 7) participated in the pilot study implementation and programme evaluation on three semi-rural farm sites. Quantitative data pertaining to the preliminary effectiveness of the BRAVE programme were collected at four-time points (T1-T4). Qualitative data pertaining to the perceived effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of the BRAVE programme were collected session-wise and at 3-months post-intervention. The pilot study mixed methods preliminary effectiveness evaluation produced promising trends in response to the BRAVE programme with a significant reduction in overall anxiety symptom scores over time. However, significance findings were variable and were interpreted with caution in the context of concerns with the outcomes measures identified in Phase 1 and the relatively small sample size of Phase 2. Qualitative data indicated promising outcomes in terms of the perceived effectiveness and benefit of the programme with reports of the acquisition, application and generalisation of programme-based coping skills post-intervention. Furthermore, feasibility outcomes were good and indicated that a brief, intensive implementation on farm sites by programme facilitators is worth considering. Finally, the programme and its adaptations yielded good acceptability as reported by both participants and programme implementation observers. The outcomes and findings of the current South African study, a first of its kind, was critically reviewed with recommendations for future research of a similar nature. Keywords: anxiety symptoms, vulnerable children, CBT-based programmes, brief intensive prevention, contextual adaptation, vulnerable children, pilot study.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Violence in nursing : competing discourses of power, care and responsibility
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-03) Myburgh, Naomi; Swartz, Leslie; Khalil, D.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology.
    Much research has focused on the social and psychological dimensions of nursing; yet we have not identified the thoughts and feelings of health care professionals as a priority in trying to understand a variety of nursing phenomena. There is a need to explore how nurses understand their social and psychological worlds, specifically with regards to the phenomena of violence, abuse and neglect within health care. Therefore, this study has attempted to answer the following research question: How do nurses understand and talk about the occurrence of violence towards patients? The research question demanded the use of qualitative methods to collect and analyse data. In-depth interviews, consisting of open-ended questions were conducted. 11 female participants were enlisted from a tertiary hospital labour ward in Cape Town by means of convenience sampling. Data were transcribed and analysed using a combination of methods. In addition to more traditional methods, I have also included autoethnography in this thesis.