scholarly journals A Framework to Guide ICT Solution for Language Barrier in South African Healthcare

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Phathutshedzo Makovhololo ◽  
Tiko Iyamu
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
English Language ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Language Barrier ◽  
Mobile Systems ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The Impact

In recent years, healthcare service providers have increasingly employed mobile systems in delivering services. However, the nature of the diversities in tribes and languages within many developing countries enhance the difficulty of delivering or receiving the services which are provided by many healthcare organisations. This is so because the English language is the primary medium of communication, although many healthcare recipients are not conversant in English as they cannot speak English fluently or understand it coherently. The objective of the study was to understand the impact which language barrier have on healthcare services. The interpretivist approach was employed. The case study approach was applied. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured technique. The analysis of the data was guided by two theories, actor network theory and diffusion of innovation. From the findings, a framework was developed, which is intended to guide a solution that can be provided to address the barrier in the South African healthcare environment.

The South African Perspective of the Impact of Language on the Delivery of Healthcare Services

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Tiko Iyamu ◽  
Phathutshedzo Makovhololo
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Healthcare Facility ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Mobile Systems ◽  
The South ◽  
Language Semantics ◽  
The Impact

Despite its essentiality, spoken languages continue to pose severe challenges within the South African health facilities, which can be attributed to the country's adaptation of 11 official languages. Some of the challenges can be attributed to the fact that the limits to an individual's language are commensurate to the limits to an individual's real-life world and meaning, which are often influenced by semantics. The objectives of this study was to establish the factors that influence spoken languages, and how the semantics in the languages can be translated from local dialects to English by using mobile systems. The interpretivist approach was applied in the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interview technique. The actor-network theory was used as a lens to guide the analysis of the data. From the analysis, the following factors—heterogeneity of networks, bilingualism, healthcare facility, and information engine—were found to influence language semantics in South African healthcare. Based on the findings, a framework was developed that can be used to understand how language semantics influence healthcare services in the country. Thus, the study can be of interest to healthcare practitioners, language specialists for translation purposes, and IT experts for support and enablement.

scholarly journals Assessing whether medical language is a barrier to receiving healthcare services in Bangladesh: an exploratory study

BJGP Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. bjgpopen18X101641 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badrul Alam Bhuiyan ◽  
Ishrat Jahan Urmi ◽  
Mahbub Elahi Chowdhury ◽  
Tajrian Rahman ◽  
Abu Syed Hasan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
English Language ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Medical Language ◽  
Health Service Providers ◽  
Prior Consent ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
The Impact

BackgroundIn many global settings, medical language acts as a barrier to accessing and using health services. However, this issue remained unexplored in Bangladesh, where the non-native English language is commonly used for health care.AimTo examine whether medical language is an obstacle for obtaining health services in Bangladesh and to provide policy recommendations.Design & settingAn exploratory study was undertaken to identify the impact of medical language on general practice. Data were collected online from Bangladeshi people between July–November 2014.MethodA semi-structured questionnaire was developed through Google Forms for data collection. The snowball technique was applied to obtain data purposively from 50 participants. With prior consent, the questionnaire along with the online link was sent to responders by email. When responders clicked on the 'submit' option of the questionnaire, responses were stored online automatically in the pre-built system. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS (version 22). Textual data analyses (especially of suggestions of the responders) were conducted using a thematic approach.ResultsAmong study participants, 44% (n = 22) said that English language was the choice for writing prescriptions by health service providers in Bangladesh, and 26% said that a mixture of Bengali and English was used. Around 30% of the study participants could not understand medical language used by doctors (this includes those who were not sure or preferred not to say). Among responders, 78% said that medical language was affecting the treatment process and 48% were of the opinion that it was acting as a barrier in receiving health services.ConclusionMedical language is acting as a barrier in the health services of Bangladesh. Tailored interventions must be developed and implemented to overcome medical language barriers in health services in order to strengthen the health system.

scholarly journals Modeling the adoption of cloud computing to assess South African SMEs: An integrated perspective

10.29007/j2nc ◽  
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Ayong ◽  
Rennie Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Cloud Computing ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
South African ◽  
Diffusion Of Innovation ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Cloud Service ◽  
Cloud Services ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Cloud Computing Adoption

The adoption of cloud computing among SMEs in developing countries, particularly South Africa, is still very low. The purpose of this study is to develop a conceptual model to assess the critical factors that influences South African SMEs to adopt cloud services. This paper proposes an integrated conceptual model that incorporates critical factors from the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory, institutional theory, transaction cost theory, organisation theory, information security theory, and trust theories. Cloud computing adoption research dominated by the DOI perspective, can benefit from further cross- fertilization with different theories to explain and predict patterns of cloud services use in the SME context. This model is expected to offer deeper insights and practical value to SME decision makers, cloud service providers, regulatory agencies and government responsible for establishing cloud computing adoption strategies for SMEs in South Africa. We intend to apply this model to survey research in future studies.

scholarly journals A decade of embedding: Where are we now?

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 5-25
Author(s):  
Anna M. Maldoni ◽  
◽  
Emmaline L. Lear ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Student Learning ◽  
Literacy Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Academic Literacy ◽  
Specific Model ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Support Program ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Comparative Results ◽  
The Impact

Over the last 10 years the higher education sector has undergone a myriad of changes both in student demographics and the influx of international students. With these changes, concerns about the ability of students to meet the English language and academic demands of tertiary study have come to the forefront. This paper reports on a project of embedding academic literacy into nine units across four disciplines, which spanned the duration of a decade. The paper documents the process by which the Unit Support Program (USP) evolved from a discipline-based reading program in a university preparation context to an embedded, integrated and team-taught approach in the university mainstream. It sought to determine whether the introduction of the program improved student learning in the discipline, specifically in English language and academic literacy development. Using data drawn from over 2500 students relating to progression rates, final grades, participation levels, and qualitative data relating to student and staff perceptions, this longitudinal study demonstrated a positive relationship between embedding academic literacy in the disciplines and student learning. The added benefit of academic socialisation for staff is also a reported result of this study. Although significant ongoing institutional support is needed, this paper advocates that an embedded, integrated and team-taught model should be incorporated into the first year of study. Using a case study approach, this paper firstly explains the rationale to embed language and academic literacy development within disciplinary contexts; the framework from which the Unit Specific Model emanated; and the team teaching approach used in the delivery of the Unit Support Program (USP) across a variety of disciplines. It considers the comparative results for both participating and non-participating groups, and the impact of collaboration across the faculty on the success of USP. Finally the paper recommends strategies for the long term sustainability of these programs.

scholarly journals Dividend tax, dividend payments and share values: a South African perspective

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 242-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Me Stéfani Coetzee ◽  
Johannes de Wet
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Share Price ◽  
Dividend Payment ◽  
Share Prices ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Dividend Payments ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Dividend Tax ◽  
Payment Policies

The study investigates the impact of changes in dividend taxes on dividend payment policies and in turn, the impact of dividend payments on share prices. An event study approach is used to analyse the share price movements before, on and after dividend announcement dates. The results for companies of which the dividend paid resulted in an increase in the dividend payout ratio were that share prices responded positively to the announcement on the announcement date and for the few days thereafter. The findings again underline the paradoxical nature of dividends and although a better understanding of the impact of dividends on South African companies was gained, the dividend puzzle remains largely unsolved.

scholarly journals South African universities in a time of increasing disruption

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Coetzee ◽  
Brownhilder Neneh ◽  
Karlien Stemmet ◽  
Jana Lamprecht ◽  
Constance Motsitsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
South African ◽  
Curriculum Design ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
African Students ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
South African Universities ◽  
The Impact

Background: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have disrupted the higher education environment in unprecedented ways.Aim: This article identifies the impact of increasing disruption driven by the 4IR and COVID-19 on the content and curriculum design of degree programmes in economic and management sciences offered by South African universities.Setting: Six South African and five top-tier US and UK universities.Methods: The study used a non-positivist qualitative research design and specifically the case-study approach. A document analysis of the information in university yearbooks and prospectuses was conducted, using a purposive sampling design.Results: An online presence will become more important due to increased disruption, and will not only ensure an additional revenue stream, but also promote continuity in operations and mitigate threats from competitors. COVID-19 has accelerated the extent of this disruption and expedited the migration to online teaching and learning platforms.Conclusion: Since science, technology, engineering and mathematics are integral to the majority of 4IR-related modules, South African universities must not shy away from degree programmes that ignore inter- and multi-disciplinary curriculum designs. Coupled with the challenges facing the majority of South African students to access electronic devices, data and the internet, COVID-19 has thrust this challenge to the forefront in the South African higher education landscape. By comparing the developments in South African universities with those in trendsetting, top-tier, global universities, management can assess the extent to which they are internationally competitive and adapting to the demands of the 4IR.

An ANT Analysis of Healthcare Services for the Nomadic Patients of Namibia

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiko Iyamu ◽  
Suama Hamunyela
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Nomadic People ◽  
Geographical Locations

Patients seek attention and treatments to various types of diseases and symptoms. Diseases infection and symptoms are often not predictive. Normally, there is a spread and movement of people across the geographical locations, of both the rural and urban communities, in countries including Namibia. As such, healthcare could be needed at any location, and at any time. There is significant mobility of individuals and groups within a country. Unfortunately, the healthcare services are not always as mobile at the level and speed that individuals and groups does in Namibia. Hence, there is need for the mobility of healthcare services at both primary and secondary healthcare levels, particularly in the developing countries, such as Namibia. The population of Namibia is scantly spread among its towns and cities. The major towns and cities are situated, in the average of 175km far apart from each other, in the country's 825, 418km square landscape. The spread necessitates movements of individuals and groups, particularly the old, poor, and nomadic people. Unfortunately, healthcare records in the country are not centralised and virtualised, making accessibility into patients' records difficult or impossible, from any location. As a result, healthcare service delivering is challenged. This study therefore explored and examined the possibility of mobility of healthcare services to those who live in the country. The study employed the qualitative research method, within which data was gathered from primary healthcare service providers, using open-ended questionnaires. The Moments of Translation from the perspective of actor-network theory (ANT) was used as a lens in the analysis of the data, to examine and understand the power and factors, which influences mobility of healthcare service in Namibia. Categorisation of Patients, Response Time, Understanding the Actors, Actors' participatory to service delivery, and Actors' Alliance were found to be the influencing factors in the provision of mobility of healthcare services.

An ANT Analysis of Healthcare Services for the Nomadic Patients of Namibia

2017 ◽  
pp. 775-790
Author(s):  
Tiko Iyamu ◽  
Suama Hamunyela
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Urban Communities ◽  
Healthcare Service ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Actor Network Theory ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Nomadic People ◽  
Geographical Locations

Patients seek attention and treatments to various types of diseases and symptoms. Diseases infection and symptoms are often not predictive. Normally, there is a spread and movement of people across the geographical locations, of both the rural and urban communities, in countries including Namibia. As such, healthcare could be needed at any location, and at any time. There is significant mobility of individuals and groups within a country. Unfortunately, the healthcare services are not always as mobile at the level and speed that individuals and groups does in Namibia. Hence, there is need for the mobility of healthcare services at both primary and secondary healthcare levels, particularly in the developing countries, such as Namibia. The population of Namibia is scantly spread among its towns and cities. The major towns and cities are situated, in the average of 175km far apart from each other, in the country's 825, 418km square landscape. The spread necessitates movements of individuals and groups, particularly the old, poor, and nomadic people. Unfortunately, healthcare records in the country are not centralised and virtualised, making accessibility into patients' records difficult or impossible, from any location. As a result, healthcare service delivering is challenged. This study therefore explored and examined the possibility of mobility of healthcare services to those who live in the country. The study employed the qualitative research method, within which data was gathered from primary healthcare service providers, using open-ended questionnaires. The Moments of Translation from the perspective of actor-network theory (ANT) was used as a lens in the analysis of the data, to examine and understand the power and factors, which influences mobility of healthcare service in Namibia. Categorisation of Patients, Response Time, Understanding the Actors, Actors' participatory to service delivery, and Actors' Alliance were found to be the influencing factors in the provision of mobility of healthcare services.

Readiness for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

2021 ◽  
pp. 12-29
Author(s):  
Dagogo William Legg-Jack
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
South African ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Readiness To Learn ◽  
Acceptance Model ◽  
The Impact

This chapter explored the readiness of a South African university to take part in the fourth industrial revolution by exploring the experiences of students in science and technology on the impact of COVID-19 in the learning of their practical modules. Guided by two research questions, namely how the COVID-19 has impacted students' engagement with their practical modules and students' readiness to learn remotely and carry out the practical aspects of their modules, the chapter employ a qualitative case study approach to explore the views of students that offer courses that involve practical. Seven fourth-year students were purposively selected as study sample. Data were generated online using Google forms and were analysed thematically. The chapter was framed using the technology acceptance model. Findings revealed the following: ease and clarity of concept, lack of interaction with others, lack of motivation, lack of access to ICT facilities, lack of relevant materials to execute practical tasks, and lack of conducive learning environment.

scholarly journals Changing thoughts towards digital literacy interventions for South African entrepreneurs

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Riana A. Steyn
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Software Systems ◽  
Adoption Of Technology ◽  
Literacy Interventions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Standard Software

It has long been the focus of many countries around the world to see their entrepreneurs grow and to introduce interventions to assist them, as they realise the impact these entrepreneurs have on their economies. Technology is believed to be one of the biggest tools that entrepreneurs can use to assist them in growing sustainable businesses. There is an increased need for small businesses to employ information and communication technology (ICT) to enhance their businesses as part of their countries’ socio-economic development. This, in turn, leads to an increased need for digital literacy interventions for these entrepreneurs. Many interventions have tried to assist a country’s residents to adopt ICT and enhance their digital literacy levels. However, many of these did not have the desired outcomes. Many barriers prevent these initiatives from being successful, for example difficulty in retaining the current workforce, a lack of skills and human capital development, a lack of resources, security concerns, mistrust regarding ICT and ICT service providers and a lack of trust. Data were gathered over three years (2012, 2013 and 2017) to determine whether there has been any change in the uptake of technology over time, whether technology is indeed the answer to many entrepreneurs’ problems and whether some of the barriers could be overcome. An interpretivist paradigm using a qualitative approach was employed and 193 entrepreneurs were interviewed over three years to see if there was any change in their adoption of technology, which should be the case if one recognises the pace at which technology is changing. The identified barriers no longer seem to exist for South African entrepreneurs. It emerged that technology adoption and digital literacy studies should be industry-specific and should not be based on a generic approach. Thus, digital literacy cannot be used as a broad term and needs to be focused for each sector. This article proposes that most entrepreneurs have addressed one of the main barriers. These main barriers include a lack of expertise, in-house knowledge or a one-stop shop to assist with ICT queries and problems. Most of the entrepreneurs now have access to an information technology consultant or expert who can help them to become more digitally literate. Although many new technologies are being developed, certain standard software systems, such as the Microsoft Office package, will always be used. Thus, these standard software systems should be the focus of digital literacy training interventions. These interventions should be simple and easily accessible to everyone.

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