Theses and dissertations (Management Sciences)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/14
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Item The use of social media as a relationship enhancement communication tool between medical practitioners and patients at Hlabisa Hospital(2022-11) Sikhakhane, Jacqueline T.; Lekhanya, Lawrence MpeleCommunication is a broad concept it is essential in both human and patient care relation and includes all possibilities in which people can exchange information with each other. Good medical practitioner and patient communication have the potential to help facilitate comprehension of medical information and allow for better identification of patient's needs, perceptions, and expectations. Poor communication by healthcare medical practitioners contributes to physical and psychological suffering in patients living a serious disease. Communication breakdowns are global in medicine and lead to a variety of medical errors and patient harm. This study explores the use of social media as a relationship enhancement communication between medical practitioners and patients. It intends to connecting/link positively and constructively the medical practitioner and patients via social media by considering medical ethics. The research will collect data from focus-groups and will include academic journals, books, newspapers, and Reports. The data will be analyzed using the computerized NVivo Software (version 12. Pro) and thematic analysis. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the research methods and population study used with intention of investigating the use of social media as a relationship enhancement communication between medical practitioners and patients. Qualitative approach was used in this study to attain its objectives, 8 participants were used for the sample study of which 4 were patients and 2 were medical practitioners. For the main study 12 participants were used which included 8 patients and 4 medical practitioners. Participants from the sample study were not included in the main study. To conduct this research study non probability sampling will be used mainly because of convenience and cost effective. this study found that WhatsApp and Facebook are the most suitable or used social media platforms to be used at Hlabisa hospital to facilitate communication between medical practitioners and patients as well as an important medium to advertise significant wellness events. whoever will be responsible for the Hlabisa hospital social media platform must be strategic, be well informed, authentic and strategic. use listening skills to check understanding, understand cultural differences and how they might impact communication. Be empathetic toward the patients.Item The role of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 in addressing the challenges of healthcare patients as consumers(2023-11) Ngcobo, Nolwandle Witness; Von Staden, R. E.The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 applies to the healthcare consumer market in South Africa and it is widely accepted that patients accessing healthcare services in both the public and private sectors qualify as consumers (Rowe and Moodley 2013: 02; Slabbert and Labuschaigne 2022: 33). The National health Act 61 of 2003 was introduced with the aim of transforming the healthcare system by providing South Africa’s population, including vulnerable groups, with the “best possible” healthcare services available resources allow, in an equitable manner. Despite progress in transforming the healthcare sector in South Africa, the healthcare system continues to face several challenges, particularly in respect of the quality of healthcare services delivered. There are numerous complaints from patients about the poor-quality of service they receive. The CPA aims to promote and advance the social and economic welfare of consumers, particularly vulnerable consumers, by establishing a legal framework to achieve and maintain a consumer market that is fair, accessible, efficient, sustainable, and responsible and to improve consumer awareness and information. One of the ways in which the CPA wants to achieve these aims is through the fundamental consumer rights. The aim of this study is to investigate the challenges of patients as consumers of public healthcare services in the INanda district of eThekwini and the role of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 in addressing these challenges. The research design used in this study is quantitative. The target population of this study included adult patients as consumers of public healthcare services who reside in Shembes Village, in the Inanda district of eThekwini municipality, in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN), SA and the sample size was 375 respondents. Purposive, convenience non-probability sampling was used in this study for selecting participants. The research instrument used as data collection instrument in the survey employed for this study was a questionnaire comprising closed and open ended questions. Inferential and descriptive statistical analysis of the data was undertaken using SPSS version 27.0 The results from the study found that, in relation to awareness, understanding and infringement of patient rights contained in both the CPA and the NHA, respondents had higher levels of awareness and understanding and lower levels of infringement. The study found no significant difference in awareness and understanding of patient rights in terms of the NHA, when compared to fundamental consumer rights contained in the CPA. Furthermore, patients are confronted with a wide and varied range of challenges. The study concluded that the CPA has a role to play in addressing some of these patient challenges. However, there is a degree of duplication in protection provided to patients in terms of the NHA and the CPA.Item Foodservice satisfaction levels among patients in private hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal(2020-12) Saus, Chad; Sucheran, ReshmaThe quality of foodservice is strongly associated with patient satisfaction in hospitals, and most hospital foodservice organisations are changing their focus on to patient care in order to boost patient satisfaction. The public’s perception of hospitals is always considered as an institution, and institutional catering is generally viewed as low class. This negative image of hospital food is common and is therefore not necessarily related to the food itself but to other factors in hospitals. This study aims to investigate the levels of satisfaction with foodservice amongst patients in private hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal. A quantitative research approach was used for the study, and the data was collected by means of a structured questionnaire that was targeted at patients admitted to various wards at three private hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal. Overall, the study concluded that patients were generally satisfied with the foodservice in hospitals. However, some patients were found to be dissatisfied with cultural considerations in menu choices, meal serving times and the availability of healthy food choices.