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    Guidelines for pedagogical practices to ensure research preparedness of undergraduate nursing students : a case study of institutional perspectives and practices
    (2023-05) Padayachee, Poovanesthree; Naidoo, V.; Sibiya, Maureen Nokuthula
    Background Rigorous, reliable and credible research has proven to be the success of policy and decision - making amongst world leaders and policy- makers in the provision of healthcare. In science, research is known to be a diligent and systematic inquiry into nature and society and both these exist to validate and refine the existing body of knowledge and generate new knowledge. Progress in meeting students' educational needs with available resources requires institutional commitment to ensuring greater associations between teaching and research activity. Reputations for teaching and research are also becoming interwoven as globally, universities position themselves competitively and define their particular and distinctive approaches to knowledge transfer and knowledge acquisition. Since teaching and research are widely regarded as the two core activities of academics, it is vital to understand that the relationship between them should be enhanced by policy and pedagogical practices under respective institutional circumstances. Aim The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives, practices, and experiences of lecturers involved in research teaching, facilitation and supervision of research projects and proposals in the undergraduate (UG) nursing programme. Ultimately, the aim was to develop a set of guidelines, based on the findings of the study, that may assist to inform and advise all parties of the multiple dimensions and constraints of research methods and pedagogy. It is envisaged that this would be offered in a constructive and meaningful way. Methodology This study utilised a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive design to collect data and to understand and explore pedagogical practices as well as institutional perspectives and practices of teaching and supervising of the research module in the relevant nursing programmes. This method of inquiry assisted the researcher to gain insight and in - depth understanding of the phenomena of the study. The findings of the study, in the form of the themes that emerged, aided in the development of guidelines for pedagogical practices that would serve to ensure research preparedness of UG Nursing students and to enrich the knowledge capacity of postgraduate (PG) students in nursing research. Findings The findings of this study revealed a gap in the facilitation and teaching of research in UG Nursing education. While there has been a shift towards a research and inquiry-based learning environment across the global higher-education sector, international and local institutions are trying very hard to increase UG students’ exposure to research and inquiry, both inside and outside of the classroom, through various individual, departmental or institutional initiatives. However, the success of these initiatives is still highly dependent upon individual academics’ perceptions of the teaching and research relationship and the development of their own academic identity. The participants indicated that there was a lack of structured guidelines to inform the relevant stakeholders on the delivery of the research module in UG Nursing. The findings also revealed that the timeframes for teaching and facilitation of the research module were insufficient. The researcher developed a set of guidelines that would serve to inform and guide lecturers and facilitators of research education in UG Nursing to ensure optimum retention of knowledge capacity of research in PG Nursing and aid post–graduate students to embark on research studies with greater ease
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    Motion palpation used as a postmanipulation assessment tool for monitoring end-feel improvement : a randomized controlled trial of test responsiveness
    (Elsevier BV, 2009-09) Lakhani, Ekta; Nook, Brian; Haas, Mitchell; Docrat, Aadil
    A tenet of motion palpation theory is the ability to confirm postadjustive segmental end-feel improvement (EFI). Only one previous trial has evaluated the responsiveness of EFI; this was a study of the thoracic spine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the responsiveness of postadjustive end-feel for evaluating improvement in putative segmental spinal motion restriction after spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) of the cervical spine.

    Methods

    A prospective, blinded, randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial was conducted with 20 symptomatic and 10 asymptomatic participants recruited from a chiropractic teaching clinic. The treatment group received SMT, and the control group received placebo detuned ultrasound. Responsiveness was evaluated as the etiologic fraction (% of cases with EFI attributable to SMT) and as the sensitivity and specificity of change.

    Results

    For the entire sample, the etiologic fraction was 63% (P = .002), sensitivity was 93%, and specificity was 67%. For symptomatic participants, a strong relationship appeared to exist between receiving SMT and EFI (etiologic fraction = 78%, P = .006; sensitivity = 90%; specificity = 80%). A strong relationship was not found for asymptomatic participants (etiologic fraction = 40%, P = .444; sensitivity = 100%; specificity = 40%), where EFI was recorded frequently, whether participants received SMT or detuned ultrasound.

    Conclusion

    The findings of this study showed that motion palpation of end-feel assessment appears to be a responsive postmanipulation assessment tool in the cervical spine for determining whether perceived motion restriction found before treatment improves after SMT. This observation may be limited to symptomatic participants.
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    Towards the institutionalisation of community engagement in higher education in South Africa
    (AFRICAN SUN MeDIA, 2020-12-01) Bhagwan, Raisuyah
    Although discourse related to the salience of community engagement in higher education has proliferated, little has focused on the process of institutionalisation of community engagement in South Africa. This paper presents findings from a national study that explored how community engagement could be institutionalised at higher education institutions locally. A qualitative research approach was used to guide the study and semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with members of executive management, members from the directorate and office of community engagement and academics from six universities nationally. Data revealed that there were eight key factors deserving of consideration in order to institutionalise community engagement through teaching and research, student involvement, transforming institutional infrastructure and through community partnerships.
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    A study to explore the perceptions that South African chiropractors have regarding the perceived role and impact of research within the profession
    (2012) Gordon, Julani; Korporaal, Charmaine Maria
    The Chiropractic profession has made significant progress with regard to the production of high quality and clinically relevant research in the last 20 years. This correlates with a spike in development within the chiropractic profession as well as its acceptance by the medical fraternity and public. The responsibility for continuing this positive trend is dependent on the chiropractic graduates and practitioners of the future. Therefore, it is important to establish the current perceptions and utilization of research by Chiropractors, so that future research can be built around the needs and requirements of today’s practitioners, thereby ensuring the profession’s continued development and future in health care. The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions that Chiropractors have of research and its relevance / utilization in practice. Method: The study was a quantitative questionnaire based, self administered survey. The sample group included all Chiropractic practitioners currently practising in South Africa (N=515). Results: There was a response rate of 35% (n=174). The results indicated that the perception of research was very positive overall, with the strongest positive response being that research adds credibility to the profession. However, most respondents disagreed with the statement that chiropractors who had done research had an advantage above those who had not. There was a positive, albeit weak correlation between perceptions and utilization of research, indicating that as perceptions increased, so did utilization of research. The area of greatest concern was that even though a high degree of research utilization was reported by chiropractors, research was least likely to be used to change conditions, policies or practices in practice. v Conclusion: The most significant factors associated with positive perceptions and utilization were found to be publishing in a journal and receiving referrals from other health care practitioners. Chiropractors who indicated an interest in doing research again were also very positively linked to utilization. It would seem that even though chiropractors perceive research positively, their implementation into practice has some hurdles that impede the full integration of research into practice. As very few demographic and personal attributes of the South African chiropractor were found to be primarily responsible for low utilization of research in practice, it can be hypothesised that the factors impeding research implementation are most likely environmental in nature.
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    The attitudes of chiropractic students towards research at Durban University of Technology
    (2010) Rieder, Ryan; Talmage, Grant L.; Korporaal, Charmaine Maria
    Background: The aim of this study was to determine the attitudes of Chiropractic students towards research at Durban University of Technology (DUT). The Chiropractic profession has made significant progress with regard to the production of high quality and clinically relevant research (Newell and Cunliffe, 2003; Hawk et al, 2008) and the continuation of this research effort will be the responsibility of the graduates that constitute the future profession (Newell and Cunliffe, 2003). Furthermore Cull, Yudkowsky, Schonfeld, Berkowitz and Pan (2003) state that the greatest predictor of this is a positive attitude, therefore it is essential to establish the present attitudes amongst the students. Method: The study was a quantitative questionnaire based, self administered, attitudinal survey. The sample group included all the Chiropractic students registered at DUT (n=185). Results: There was a response rate of 74,59%. The results indicated that on average students thought that the research subjects and courses taught at DUT were not interesting and that they did not adequately prepare them to perform research. The majority of the students felt that the research process was completely vague to them and that they felt insecure about their knowledge of research methodology. It was evident that students thought that DUT staff members placed a great emphasis on research and that they were easy to approach with regards to research. The area of greatest concern was that although students thought that the student researcher relationship was of great importance, they indicated that it was difficult to find a supervisor and they also indicated that inadequate supervision had delayed their research progression. For the most part students thought that research was important and they enjoyed listening to and reading research. However, only slightly positive scores were recorded when students were asked if they wanted to do research in the future, as they felt it was difficult and time consuming. Conclusion: Many factors were significantly associated with positive attitudes towards research at DUT and the strongest correlation between scales was between the importance of research and positive feelings towards research (r=0.713). Most students felt research was important and that it made them more knowledgeable however, if given the choice they would study at an institute where research was not mandatory.