scholarly journals How is Clinical Trial Reimbursement Money Spent? South African Trial Participants’ Reported Reimbursement Spending Patterns and Perceptions of Appropriate Reimbursement Amounts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Milford ◽  
Tammany Cavanagh ◽  
Yolandie Ralfe ◽  
Virginia Maphumulo ◽  
Mags Beksinska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Risk Minimization ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Spending Patterns ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Reimbursement Amount ◽  
Trial Participants ◽  
The Ideal

AbstractReimbursement of participants in clinical trials is extensively debated. Guidance recommends that compensation should reflect time, inconvenience and reimbursement of expenses. This study describes how participants spend their reimbursement and perceptions of appropriate reimbursement amounts. This was a sub-study of the evidence for contraceptive options and HIV outcomes (ECHO) trial. Participants were from two sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A mixed methods approach was used. 500 participants completed a questionnaire, and 32 participated in one of four focus group discussions (FGD). The majority (81%) used reimbursement for transport to the research site, followed by toiletry purchases (64%). Many described how reimbursement supplemented income, used to cover basic living costs. Some used money to buy luxury items and takeaway foods. The ideal reimbursement amount per visit ranged: ZAR150-ZAR340 (US$10–24). Reimbursement spending and perceptions are in line with local guidance. Reimbursement should consider risk minimization together with ensuring informed, voluntary decision making.

scholarly journals Using the South African Triage Scale for prehospital triage: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Dixon ◽  
Taylor Burkholder ◽  
Jennifer Pigoga ◽  
Michael Lee ◽  
Kubendhren Moodley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Emergency Care ◽  
Prehospital Emergency Care ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Prehospital Triage ◽  
Prehospital Emergency ◽  
Hospital Resources

Abstract Background Triage is a critical component of prehospital emergency care. Effective triage of patients allows them to receive appropriate care and to judiciously use personnel and hospital resources. In many low-resource settings prehospital triage serves an additional role of determining the level of destination facility. In South Africa, the Western Cape Government innovatively implemented the South African Triage Scale (SATS) in the public Emergency Medical Services (EMS) service in 2012. The prehospital provider perspectives and experiences of using SATS in the field have not been previously studied. Methods In this qualitative study, focus group discussions with cohorts of basic, intermediate and advanced life support prehospital providers were conducted and transcribed. A content analysis using an inductive approach was used to code transcripts and identify themes. Results 15 EMS providers participated in three focus group discussions. Data saturation was reached and four major themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: Implementation and use of SATS; Effectiveness of SATS; Limitations of the discriminator; and Special EMS considerations. Participants overall felt that SATS was easy to use and allowed improved communication with hospital providers during patient handover. Participants, however, described many clinical cases when their clinical gestalt triaged the patient to a different clinical acuity than generated by SATS. Additionally, they stated many clinical discriminators were too subjective to effectively apply or covered too broad a range of clinical severity (e.g., ingestions). Participants provided examples of how the prehospital environment presents additional challenges to using SATS such as changing patient clinical conditions, transport times and social needs of patients. Conclusions Overall, participants felt that SATS was an effective tool in prehospital emergency care. However, they described many clinical scenarios where SATS was in conflict with their own assessment, the clinical care needs of the patient or the available prehospital and hospital resources. Many of the identified challenges to using SATS in the prehospital environment could be improved with small changes to SATS and provider re-training.

scholarly journals Iterative Adaptation of a Maternal Nutrition Videos mHealth Intervention Across Countries Using Human-Centered Design: Qualitative Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmin Isler ◽  
N Hélène Sawadogo ◽  
Guy Harling ◽  
Till Bärnighausen ◽  
Maya Adam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
South African ◽  
Maternal Nutrition ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Video Adaptation ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Human Centered Design ◽  
Depth Interviews

BACKGROUND Mobile health (mHealth) video interventions are often transferred across settings. Although the outcomes of these transferred interventions are frequently published, the process of adapting such videos is less described, particularly within and across lower-income contexts. This study fills a gap in the literature by outlining experiences and priorities adapting a suite of South African maternal nutrition videos to the context of rural Burkina Faso. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the key components in adapting a suite of maternal nutrition mHealth videos across settings. METHODS Guided by the principles of human-centered design, this qualitative study included 10 focus group discussions, 30 in-depth interviews, and 30 observations. We first used focus group discussions to capture insights on local nutrition and impressions of the original (South African) videos. After making rapid adjustments based on these focus group discussions, we used additional methods (focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and observations) to identify challenges, essential video refinements, and preferences in terms of content delivery. All data were collected in French or Dioula, recorded, transcribed, and translated as necessary into French before being thematically coded by two authors. RESULTS We propose a 3-pronged Video Adaptation Framework that places the aim of video adaptation at the center of a triangle framed by end recipients, health workers, and the environment. End recipients (here, pregnant or lactating mothers) directed us to (1) align the appearance, priorities, and practices of the video’s protagonist to those of Burkinabe women; (2) be mindful of local realities whether economic, health-related, or educational; and (3) identify and routinely reiterate key points throughout videos and via reminder cards. Health workers (here, Community Health Workers and Mentor Mothers delivering the videos) guided us to (1) improve technology training, (2) simplify language and images, and (3) increase the frequency of their engagements with end recipients. In terms of the environment, respondents guided us to localize climate, vegetation, diction, and how foods are depicted. CONCLUSIONS Design research provided valuable insights in terms of developing a framework for video adaptation across settings, which other interventionists and scholars can use to guide adaptations of similar interventions.

Mixed-methods research to assess care coordination experiences among NCORP clinical trial participants.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (28_suppl) ◽  
pp. 168-168
Author(s):  
Izumi Okado ◽  
Ian Pagano ◽  
Anamalia Su'esu'e ◽  
Kevin Cassel ◽  
Jessica Rhee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Care Coordination ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Additional Benefit ◽  
Cancer Clinical Trial ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Trial Participants

168 Background: According to the Institute of Medicine, care coordination (CC) is a critical component of high-quality cancer care; however, many patients with cancer continue to experience fragmented care. CC experiences among cancer clinical trial (CT) participants are relatively unknown. Using mixed methods, we examined perceptions of CC among patients enrolled on therapeutic CTs conducted through the Hawaii Minority/Underserved NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Methods: Forty-five CT participants completed the validated Care Coordination Instrument (CCI). The CCI assesses cancer patients’ perceptions of CC overall and across Communication, Navigation, and Operational domains. Data from 45 non-CT participants matched by age, gender, cancer type (breast, GI, other), and clinical stage from our prior studies served as a control group. Paired t-tests were used to compare the CCI scores between the two groups. Three semi-structured focus group interviews were conducted with 14 CT participants in 2020 and 2021. Results: The mean age of CT participants was 61.7 ( SD = 9.4), with the majority being female (67%) and Asian (56%). The most common cancer disease sites were breast (27%) and GI (16%). CT participants reported significantly higher total CC scores than non-participants ( p =.0008). Similar trends were found for Navigation ( p =.007) and Operational ( p =.001) domain scores. 56% of CT participants reported receiving moderate to high-intensity CC assistance from their clinical research professionals (CRPs). Content analysis of focus group discussions revealed that the majority of CT participants’ comments aligned with CC domains; 42% Communication, 30% Navigation, and 28% Operational. Nearly half of focus group discussions centered on CRPs (47%), including CC support provided by CRPs (26%). Other key themes that emerged from the focus groups included general CT experiences (22%) and CRP involvement as an additional benefit to CT participation (15%). Conclusions: Clinical trial participants perceive better CC than non-CT participants, partly attributed to CC support provided by CRPs. Our findings highlight a generally unrecognized yet integral role of CRPs as part of a cancer clinical trial care team. CRP involvement may be an additional benefit of CT participation and contribute to improved quality and value for patient-centered cancer care.

scholarly journals Educating Progressed Learners in Times of COVID-19: How Can Bricolage Help?

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-36
Author(s):  
Bekithemba Dube ◽  
Xolisile P. Ndaba
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Main Argument ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Attitudes Towards Science ◽  
Thematic Approach

This paper discusses using bricolage to mitigate the struggles faced by progressed learners in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Most progressed learners perform poorly in many subjects, especially sciences. Their struggle has stimulated the need to find ways to enhance their performance. Reinvented artefacts and processes can be used for emancipation, and to transform agendas for improving the performance of progressed learners. To collect data, we used participatory action research, which uses a thematic approach to make meaning of data. We created a WhatsApp group to enable focus group discussions for collecting data, to circumvent COVID-19 restrictions. The group had 14 members, among whom teachers and learners from rural schools. The study found that the factors that contributed to poor performance were a lack of teaching and learning materials, too few teachers, less than optimal teaching methods and learners’ attitudes towards science subjects. The main argument of the article is that, in this time characterised by the COVID-19 pandemic, embracing bricolage has the impetus to mitigate challenges relating to the education of progressed learners. Thus, it is important to emancipate teachers, so that they can bricolise the environment for teaching and learning.

scholarly journals Support of the Implementation of a Whistleblowing System for Smoke-Free Environments: A Mixed Methods Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 12401
Author(s):  
Al Asyary ◽  
Meita Veruswati ◽  
La Ode Hasnuddin S. Sagala ◽  
La Ode Ahmad Saktiansyah ◽  
Dewi Susanna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Smoking Behavior ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
The Other ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Municipal Governments ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Smoke Free Policy

Enforcement of a smoke-free policy is of vital concern in support of the health of smokers and bystanders. Indonesia has issued a smoke-free law, but implementation and enforcement lie with the regional and municipal governments. In a survey of 225 respondents recruited via schools, knowledge about the health effects of smoking and the smoke-free regulation, as well as attitudes towards and commitment and support of the enforcement of the smoke-free regulation in the Kendari City through an electronic whistleblowing system was examined. Furthermore, the participants were asked about the smoking status and smoking behavior. About half of the respondents were students (teenagers), the other half—their parents. Male respondents were strongly overrepresented (85%). Only 18% of the respondents declared to be smokers, mostly adults and males. Both the smokers and the non-smokers supported the smoke-free law and its enforcement through a whistleblowing system. Representatives of the local government were interviewed and participated in focus group discussions. In general, they also exhibited strong support of an electronic enforcement tool. However, issues of efficiency, costs, and responsibility must still be resolved. Nevertheless, an electronic whistleblowing system has the potential to further the health and livelihoods in a community like the Kendari City.

scholarly journals The VAT in Practice: Equity, Enforcement and Complexity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Mascagni ◽  
Roel Dom ◽  
Fabrizio Santoro
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
The Self ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Qualitative Information ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Mixed Methods Approach ◽  
Administrative Capacity ◽  
Indirect Taxes ◽  
Lower Income Countries

The value added tax (VAT) is supposed to be a tax on consumption that achieves greater economic efficiency than alternative indirect taxes. It is also meant to facilitate enforcement through the ‘self-enforcing mechanism’ – based on opposed incentives for buyers and sellers, and because of the paper trail it creates. Being a rather sophisticated tax, however, the VAT is complex to administer and costly to comply with, especially in lower-income countries. This paper takes a closer look at how the VAT system functions in practice in Rwanda. Using a mixed-methods approach, which combines qualitative information from focus group discussions with the analysis of administrative and survey data, we document and explain a number of surprising inconsistencies in the filing behaviour of VAT-remitting firms, which lead to suboptimal usage of electronic billing machines, as well as failure to claim legitimate VAT credits. The consequence of these inconsistencies is twofold. It makes it difficult for the Rwanda Revenue Authority to exploit its VAT data to the fullest, and leads to firms, particularly smaller ones, bearing a higher VAT burden than larger ones. There are several explanations for these inconsistencies. They appear to lie in a combination of taxpayer confusion, fear of audit, and constraints in administrative capacity.

scholarly journals Emphasising the usefulness of simulations in audit education: Student perceptions at a SAICA-accredited South African university

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 485-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rikus De Villliers
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
South African ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Accounting Education ◽  
Education Student ◽  
Learning Tools ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Form Part

The use of active learning tools such as simulations in accounting education are increasingly stressed by accounting educationalists locally and abroad. This study highlights the benefits of using simulations and how their challenges can be mitigated. The objective was to obtain students’ views on the use of simulations in the field of auditing. A qualitative approach in collecting the data was followed, including focus group discussions with third-year audit students at a SAICA-accredited South African university. The results form part of a bigger project involving the development of a simulation instrument for purposes of audit education. The qualitative results showed that the use of simulations in specifically audit education is invaluable to the learning process. The recommendations made on the basis of the content analysis also hold value for lecturers in the wider accounting pedagogy. Areas for further research and development are outlined, and the study’s limitations are acknowledged.

scholarly journals Perspectives on Stock Theft Prevention in the Selected Provinces of South Africa: Failures and Successes

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 1029-1038
Author(s):  
Witness Maluleke ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
South African Police Service ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
South African Police ◽  
Data Collections ◽  
The Relationship

Residents of Limpopo (LIM) and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Province are witnessing higher rates of stock theft, with the inhabitants of the selected communities living in fear for the prevention of this scourge. This study explores the extent of this crime in the selected areas of LIM and KZN, considering contributory factors, determining the relationship between the South African Police Service Stock Theft Units (SAPS STUs) and other relevant stakeholders, as well as looking at existing strategies (And their failures and successes) in responding to this crime effectively. A qualitative research approach coupled with Non-probability: Purposive sampling was used in this study. The targeted population consisted of 113 participants. For data collections, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and Observation Schedules were adopted. lack of appropriate preventative measures has led to rise of stock theft, it was, therefore, discovered that both the affected livestock farmers and members of the community lost confidence toward the police, Besides, the perspectives on stock theft prevention in LIM and KZN reflect a greater challenge, with inadequate solutions present, since the current preventative measures are ineffective. Thus, understanding stock theft phenomenon is critical to its prevention as the sector of livestock in South Africa is the contributory key to the value of the agricultural economy.

STAD Cooperative Pedagogy in Teaching English First Additional Language in KwaZulu-Natal Secondary Schools

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 47-64
Author(s):  
Samual Amponsah ◽  
Micheal M. van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Student Teams ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological ◽  
Qualitative Phenomenological Study

This article explores the training that English First Additional Language (EFAL) teachers have received on Student Teams Achievement Divisions (STAD) and how they employ it to teach in Kwazulu-Natal secondary schools. Twelve EFAL teachers voluntarily participated in three focus group discussions in this qualitative phenomenological study. An examination of the results showed that while some teachers had received training in the STAD cooperative learning strategy from established institutions, others had to learn it on their own. The findings further established that the teachers were using the active and participative, communicative, and direct instructional approaches to implement the strategy. It was interesting to note that the training received by the EFAL teachers on the use of STAD affected its implementation positively. It was also evident that the core concepts of the strategy and its underlying model resonated in the way the EFAL teachers applied it in their classrooms.

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