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Experiences and perceptions of fourth-year undergraduate nursing students of person-centred care: A qualitative study
(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Grootboom-Nzesseu, Amelia Janice; Eygelaar, Elsa; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Nursing and Midwifery.
Person-centred care (PCC) is a critical component of effective healthcare delivery, emphasising individualised care that respects and responds to patient's preferences, needs, and values. Nursing students play a vital role in delivering PCC in clinical settings, but their experiences and perceptions can vary widely due to several factors. A conducive educational environment, supportive leadership, and effective communication are essential for fostering PCC. However, barriers such as insufficient leadership, inadequate resources, hierarchical power dynamics, language barriers, institutional discrimination, inadequate clinical supervision, and limited placement time in the clinical setting for practical experience can impede the development and implementation of PCC among nursing students. These barriers may lead to misunderstandings, reduced engagement, and compromised patient care quality. Given the importance of preparing future nurses to deliver PCC effectively, it is necessary to explore the experiences and perceptions of fourth-year undergraduate nursing students regarding PCC. A qualitative research methodology was employed, using an exploratory-descriptive research design to gain in-depth insights into the experiences and perceptions of fourth-year undergraduate nursing students. The study population consisted of nursing students in their final year of study. A purposive sampling method was used. Semi-structured focus group discussions were conducted using an interview guide with open-ended questions, and data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis approach. The study revealed several barriers that affect nursing students’ ability to deliver PCC. Participants identified ineffective leadership, a lack of role models, and insufficient training opportunities as major challenges in developing their PCC skills. Additionally, hierarchical power dynamics, inadequate resources, communication barriers related to language differences, and experiences of institutional discrimination were highlighted as further hindrances to the practice of PCC. Participants also reported that inadequate support from clinical leaders and a lack of clarity regarding expectations created additional obstacles to delivering PCC effectively. Fourth-year undergraduate nursing students identified multiple challenges within their clinical education environment that hinder the effective delivery of PCC. Establishing a supportive educational framework that prioritises leadership development, fosters open communication, and addresses discriminatory practices is essential for enhancing PCC competencies among nursing students. This is crucial to ensuring high-quality, person-centred healthcare delivery as an integral component of nursing education.
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Audience trust in journalism: an exploratory case study of the youth in Philippi East
(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Ginya, Sive Faith; Wasserman, Herman; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism.
The South African mainstream media has been criticised for catering to the elite audience to generate revenue while neglecting the realities of the citizens who live in townships and informal settlements. It has been asserted that many black, poor young South Africans do not recognise the stories of their communities in the mainstream news media. This study explored the experiences of the youth between the ages of 18 to 35 years in Philippi East. The study examined whether these youths find the news content of the South African mainstream media relevant to their lived realities, and if they feel like they are represented in the news content. The researcher conducted a thorough literature review looking at the different aspects of trust in journalism, the South African media landscape, the role of the South African news media, and criticism of the South African news media. The researcher utilised the folk theory of trust in journalism, which refers to the popular existing beliefs that the audience or the public have about journalism, and the place theory as this study's theoretical points of departure. The study employed the qualitative exploratory case study design to gain an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of these youth and collected data using semi-structured focus group interviews and individual interviews. The non-probability sampling procedure was employed to recruit and select participants. The researcher used inductive thematic analysis to analyse the data collected. The study found that the youth in Philippi East trust the news media as an institution that educates and informs the public about things happening around the world and in their communities. However, the Philippi East youth feel like they are not well represented in the news content of the South African mainstream media because the media only focuses on the mass shootings and seasonal floods that occur in Philippi East and excludes the art and educational events hosted in this community. In addition, these youth expressed confidence and satisfaction with the accuracy of the stories shown on the news about Philippi East. Finally, the study found that the youth in Philippi East expressed different views on whether they find the news content relevant to their lived realities. While some said they find the news content of the South African mainstream media relevant to their lived realities some said they find the news content irrelevant to their experiences claiming that the news media focuses on stories of rich people, and political content and neglects the realities of township residents.
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The Energy Demand And Fulfilment Thereof For Electric Minibus Taxis In Sub-Saharan Africa
(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Giliomee, Johannes Human; Booysen, M. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
The need to electrify the paratransit industry in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is urgent, with emissions from transport being detriment to both planet- and human-health. The dominant vehicle mode in this industry is the minibus taxi, with millions operating every day across the continent. Targeting the electrification of this vehicle will thus have impactful consequences. However, considering the relatively unknown nature of their operations, the limited range of electric vehicles, and electricity scarcity in the region, the electrification of this industry requires comprehensive energy analysis. This includes both the energy usage of an electric minibus taxi, and how this energy can be supplied. This thesis provides an in-depth analysis on the energy efficiency and requirements of an electric minibus taxi, the expected electrical supply requirements for charging, and how sustainable long-distance trips can be achieved. It is found that the energy efficiency is heavily dependent on the driving scenario. Urban, inter-city, uphill, and downhill driving scenarios are analysed, with results ranging from 0.29 - 0.51 kWh/km. On average, an energy efficiency of 0.39 kWh/km is found using high-frequency mobility data as input. It is also found that the sampling frequency of mobility data used as input to energy models has a substantial effect on energy analysis, as a low sampling frequency (minutely) fails to capture full micro-level movements. The daily energy requirement of an electric minibus taxi is reliant on the operation of the vehicle, such as the total distance travelled during the day, and whether the vehicle operates in an urban or inter-city scenario. As such, average energy requirements range from 56 - 215 kWh/day for taxis travelling 81 - 296 km/day. Furthermore, high-frequency mobility data is used to improve an existing micro-mobility simulation tool. Various shortcomings in the simulation are found, such as a misrepresentation of the physical road infrastructure, inaccurate waypoint progression, and an unrepresentative driving style. To assess the grid-impact, a software tool is developed to simulate charging of a minibus taxi fleet. For the applied use case of minibus taxis operating in Johannesburg, South Africa, a peak grid-load of 12 kW/taxi, and grid-drawn energy of 87.4 kWh/taxi/day are found. As minibus taxis are predominantly used by daily commuters, these charging peaks are seen multiple times per day (specifically during the morning and evening). To reduce the electrical supply requirements, a solar and external battery system is added to the simulation. For an external battery capacity equivalent to 50% of the electric minibus taxi’s capacity and solar system sizing of 9.45 kWpk/taxi, the average peak power draw is reduced by 66%, while total grid-drawn energy reduced by 58%. To enable sustainable long-distance paratransit, an operational plan using swappable, solar-charged battery bank trailers is developed. Compared to an electric minibus taxi, this operational plan increases vehicle range by 120%, reduces average recharging downtime by 74%, and reduces CO2 emissions by 80%. Although it is clear that there are many obstacles to overcome in the pursuit of electrifying paratransit in SSA, the methodologies and results presented in this thesis lay the foundation for future research and electric minibus taxi implementation in SSA.
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Democratic Demise? A longitudinal study of political support in South Africa over 20 years
(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Giles, Sarah Beth; Schulz-Herzenberg, Collette; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science.
Citizen support for democratic actors and institutions and, to an even greater extent, the democratic regime and political community, is a vital component for regime legitimation and the consolidation of democracy. Theories of political support argue that should poor performance of political actors and institutions persist for an extended period, this may begin to erode the diffuse base of support for the democratic regime and political community. The poor performance of political actors and institutions over recent years in South Africa provides an ideal country context for testing this hypothesis. This quantitative study traces citizen support for democratic actors and institutions as well as support for the democratic regime and political community over 20 years in democratic South Africa, observing a decline in support for almost all of the above-mentioned political components. A declining trend in support for the political community is, however, less clear. This study employs statistical analysis to determine correlations between measures of support for actors and institutions (specific support) and support for the democratic regime and political community (diffuse support). Despite clear indications that specific support for political actors and institutions as well as diffuse support for the political regime have both declined over time, it appears that these two trends are unrelated. This finding is in contrast with the broader literature on political support, which argues that declines in specific support will eventually erode support for the broader democratic system. These findings may indicate that South Africans distinguish between regime type and regime performance, which represents a positive outcome for democratic consolidation and legitimacy.
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A psychogeographical approach to understanding artists' experiences and perspectives in maboneng's changing cultural and economic space
(Stellenbosch University, 2024-12) Ghoos, Baylee; Donaldson, R.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Geography & Environmental Studies.
This study aimed to do a psychogeographical investigation to understand the impact of urban regeneration on the role of artists in Johannesburg’s Maboneng District. Furthermore, to investigate the consequences of nocturnal urban regeneration on the evolving urban landscape, particularly focusing on the night-life economy and entertainment sector within Maboneng. This exploration began by delving into the realms of psycho-geography, a theoretical lens that helps one decipher how individuals perceive and interact with urban spaces. This foundation allowed the complex interplay between urban regeneration and the psychological dimensions of the environment to be analyzed. Central to this research was the exploration of artists' experiences and perceptions within Maboneng. Through interviews, discussions, and psychogeographical experiments, a comprehensive understanding of how artists interact with and contribute to the cultural fabric of this precinct was gained. Finally, this study aimed to uncover the tangible effects of the nighttime economy and entertainment sector on the daily lives and livelihoods of artists residing and working in Maboneng. This research has highlighted versatile transformations occurring within Maboneng, highlighting the challenges, opportunities, and complexities of urban regeneration. The urban environment has an ever-changing nature, where the nighttime economy and artistic creativity intersect, leaving an unforgettable mark on the heart of Johannesburg.