Browsing by Author "Pretorius, Chrisma"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
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    Cognitive rehabilitation groups : a thematic analysis of feasibility and perceived benefits for clients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury living in the Western Cape
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2015--08-20) Wilson, Abigail; Wills, Peta; Pretorius, Chrisma; Swartz, Leslie
    Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has a significant impact on the burden of care within the South African setting, impacting on the individual, the family, and the community as a whole. Often the consequences of TBI are permanent, resulting in numerous financial and emotional stressors. Objective: This research focusses on the experience of outpatient cognitive rehabilitation groups for individuals who have suffered moderate to severe brain injuries within the South African setting. Method: Participants with moderate to severe brain injury were required to attend five cognitive rehabilitation groups and engage in a semistructured interview. Qualitative data were examined via thematic analysis, to determine participants’ subjective experiences of group participation. Results: There is a need within the South African setting for cognitive rehabilitation and support groups for individuals who have experienced a TBI. The benefits were notable for both the individuals attending and their support systems. In spite of the benefits there were notable limitations to attendance, including financial restrictions and transport limitations. Conclusion: According to participants and their families, there is a scarcity of resources within the Western Cape for clients who have sustained a TBI. Despite limitations in capacity to attend there appears to be a need for structured outpatient cognitive rehabilitation programmes integrating the complex cognitive and emotional challenges faced by individuals with TBI and their families.
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    Die ervaring van aktiewe betrokkenheid by 'n aanlyn Facebook-ondersteuningsgroep as ʼn vorm van ondersteuning vir individue wat met Meervoudige Sklerose gediagnoseer is
    (Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, 2016-09) Pretorius, Chrisma
    AFRIKAANS OPSOMMINGl: Hierdie studie benut 'n kwalitatiewe metodologie om 'n grootliks onverkende onderwerp, nie net in Suid-Afrika nie, maar wêreldwyd te ondersoek. Bestaande navorsing oor ondersteuningsnetwerke vir mense met meervoudige sklerose (MS) is beperk. Die doel van die studie was om die ervarings van aktiewe betrokkenheid by ʼn aanlyn Facebook-ondersteuningsgroep vir individue wat met MS gediagnoseer is, te ondersoek. Die studie fokus spesifiek op die hulpbronne, asook die uitdagings verbonde aan die aktiewe betrokkenheid by hierdie groep. Tematiese ontleding is gebruik om tien semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met individue wat met MS gediagnoseer is en aktief by ʼn aanlyn Facebook-ondersteuningsgroep betrokke is, te ontleed. Verskeie temas het in die studie na vore gekom. Die temas sluit verskeie vorms van ondersteuning in, naamlik emosionele, instrumentele, inligtings- en waarderingsondersteuning sowel as sosiale kameraadskap. ʼn Aantal uitdagings is ook geïdentifiseer en sluit emosionele uitdagings, beperkte inligting, onderlinge vergelyking en ʼn behoefte aan persoonlike kontak in. Hierdie studie is die eerste van dié aard en voorsien dus ʼn platform om MS-lyers se ervarings van aanlyn ondersteuningsgroepe te verstaan. Die bevindinge van hierdie studie ondersteun verder oor die algemeen wat in die bestaande literatuur rapporteer word oor die ervarings van mense met ander kroniese siektetoestande en dra dus by tot die beperkte navorsing wat tot op hede daaroor beskikbaar is. Laasgenoemde kan heel moontlik gesien word as een van die belangrikste bydraes van hierdie studie, gegewe die eksponensiële groei in die gebruik van aanlyn ondersteuningsgroepe onder mense met verskeie kroniese siektetoestande wêreldwyd. Dit is my hoop dat die perspektiewe van die MS-lyers wat aangebied is in hierdie studie sal voortgaan om bewustheid te verhoog oor hierdie degeneratiewe toestand en verder ʼn opvoedkundige bydrae sal lewer tot die medici, familie en vriende van diegene met MS. Op ʼn praktiese vlak kan hierdie studie veral ʼn bydrae lewer tot gesondheidsorgwerkers wat met MS-lyers werk, deur hulle in te lig oor die waarde wat hierdie tipe van aanlyn ondersteuningsgroep vir MS-lyers kan hê. Die gesondheidsorgwerkers kan weer mense met MS aanmoedig om deel te neem aan hierdie tipe aanlyn ondersteuningsgroepe en sodoende ʼn positiewe bydrae maak tot die ondersteuning wat hulle ontvang.
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    The experiences of individuals with multiple sclerosis in the Western Cape, South Africa
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2014-04) Pretorius, Chrisma; Joubert, Ninon
    Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating and degenerative lifelong neurological disease that seems to be growing increasingly more prevalent in South Africa. Objectives: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the personal experiences of individuals with MS in the South African context. The focus of this study was on the challenges faced by individuals with MS, as well as the resources that help them to cope with this debilitating, neurological condition. Method: Thematic analysis was used to explore the semi-structured interviews that were conducted with ten individuals with MS. Results: Several themes emerged that related to the participants’ experiences of living with MS. These themes included several challenges faced by the participants on a daily basis, such as the process of being diagnosed, daily life, invisible illness and medical aid schemes. Numerous resources that help these individuals to cope with MS also emerged from the data analysis and consisted of social support, mobility aids, religion and knowledge about MS. Conclusion: It is evident from the findings of this study that although individuals living with MS, which is a debilitating neurological condition, face several challenges on a daily basis, they often have several resources that help them to cope effectively with this condition. The findings of this study regarding knowledge of the challenges faced and the resources utilised by individuals with MS will hopefully create awareness of the disease and contribute to and inform the design and implementation of interventions for such individuals.
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    The impact of an online Facebook support group for people with multiple sclerosis on non-active users
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2014-11) Steadman, Jacqui; Pretorius, Chrisma
    Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease and there is little research on support networks for people with MS (PwMS). More specifically, most studies on online support groups focus on those who actively participate in the group, whereas the majority of those who utilise online support groups do so in a passive way. Objectives: This study therefore aimed to explore the experiences of non-active users of an online Facebook support group for PwMS. Emphasis was placed on the facilitators and the barriers that were associated with membership to this group. Method: An exploratory qualitative research design was implemented, whereby thematic analysis was utilised to examine the ten semi-structured interviews that were conducted. Results: Several facilitators were acquired through the online support group; namely emotional support (constant source of support, exposure to negative aspects of the disease), informational support (group as a source of knowledge, quality of information) and social companionship (place of belonging). Some barriers were also identified; namely emotional support (emotions lost online, response to messages, exposure to negative aspects of the disease), informational support (information posted on the group, misuse of group) and social companionship (non-active status) Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that the non-active members of the online support group for PwMS have valid reasons for their non-active membership status. More important, the findings suggest that the online Facebook support group provided the group members with an important support network in the form of emotional support, informational support and social companionship, despite their non-active membership status or the barriers that have been identified.
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    Initial experiences of family caregivers of survivors of a traumatic brain injury
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2015) Broodryk, Mandi; Pretorius, Chrisma
    Background: There seems to be a paucity of research on the initial subjective experiences of family caregivers of survivors of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Objective: To explore the challenges that family caregivers face during the initial stages of recovery of a relative who has sustained a TBI. Methods: Thematic analysis was used to explore the findings from semi-structured interviews that were conducted with 12 female family caregivers of relatives who had sustained a TBI. Results: Family caregivers recalled their initial experiences of the shock at hearing the news about their relative’s TBI, negative experiences in hospital and frustrating interactions with healthcare professionals as particularly challenging. Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasise caregivers’ need for support, information and psycho-education, especially from healthcare professionals, from the very beginning stages of recovery from a TBI. Practical and physical needs with regard to admission to and care in the hospital were also highlighted. This research will hopefully contribute to creating awareness amongst healthcare professionals on how they can contribute to improvement of the services provided by the healthcare system based on the experiences of the caregivers who participated in this study.
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    People with psychogenic non-epileptic seizures : a South African perspective
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2015-07) Pretorius, Chrisma; Cronje, Gretha
    Background: Psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) is a disabling disorder which has a negative effect on the quality of life of individuals with PNES. A clear understanding of the disorder is necessary, however, to date, research about PNES in South Africa is limited. Objectives: The aims of this study were to explore the demographic variables of individuals with PNES in South Africa, to review the available body of research on PNES, and to compare it with our results. Method: Twenty-two people with PNES, with confirmed video EEG, were recruited by means of convenience sampling from two hospitals. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographic variables of the participants. Results: Internationally comparable results revealed misdiagnoses and low treatment delivery amongst a primarily female population. Conclusion: This study provided greater insight into individuals with PNES in South Africa, highlighting the need for more information, support, effective treatment and accurate diagnosis of PNES.