scholarly journals Self-ear cleaning practices and the associated risk of ear injuries and ear-related symptoms in a group of university students

Author(s):  
Nasim Banu Khan ◽  
Sivashnee Thaver ◽  
Samantha Marlene Govender

Self-ear cleaning is the insertion of objects into the ear canal to clean it, a widespread practice that has the potential to compromise its integrity as a natural, selfcleansing mechanism, and a risk factor for possible injuries. The practice is common among young adults and highest in university than any other graduates. This study aimed to determine the self-ear cleaning practices and associated risk of injury and related symptoms in undergraduate students at KwaZulu-Natal University. The descriptive survey utilized a self-administered questionnaire. Of the 206 participants that responded, 98% engaged in self-ear cleaning, with 75% indicating that it was beneficial. The commonest method (79.6%) being the use of cotton buds, with an associated injury rate of 2.4%. There was no statistically significant associations between those who used or did not use cotton buds and the symptoms experienced. The complications indicate that self-ear cleaning does pose a risk for injury, necessitating more community information and education.

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 810-819
Author(s):  
Atasha Reddy ◽  
Sanjana Brijball Parumasur

This study assesses employee perceptions of the influence of diversity dimensions (race, gender, religion, language, sexual orientation, attitudes, values, work experience, physical ability, economic status, personality) on their interactiions with co-workers as well as on their organization in its daily operations. These perceptions were also compared and gender related correlates were assessed. The study was undertaken in a public sector Electricity Department in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The population includes 100 employees in the organization, from which a sample of 81 was drawn using simple random sampling. Data was collected using a self-developed, pre-coded, self-administered questionnaire whose reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings reflect that employees perceive that their interactions with co-workers are most likely to be influenced by attitudes, work experience and personality and that daily organizational operations are most likely to be influenced by race, work experience and attitudes. Furthermore, religion and sexual orientation are perceived as having the least influence on co-worker interaction and day-to-day organizational operations. In the study it was also found that employees perceive that race followed by gender influences day-to-day organizational operations to a larger extent than it influences co-worker interactions. Recommendations made have the potential to enhance the management of workforce diversity


Author(s):  
Sana Jeewa ◽  
Stephanie Rudwick

AbstractThe South African University of KwaZulu-Natal has developed an ambitious language policy aiming “to achieve for isiZulu the institutional and academic status of English” (UKZN LP 2006/2014). Part of this ambition is a mandatory Zulu language module that all undergraduate students have to pass if they cannot prove knowledge of the language. In this article, we examine attitudes of South African Indian students towards this compulsory module against the strained history and relationship between Zulu and Indian people in the province. Situated within the approach of Language Management Theory (LMT), our focus is on students as micro level actors who are affected by a macro level policy decision. Methodologically combining quantitative and qualitative tools, we attempt to find answers to the following broad question: What attitudes do South African Indian students have towards Zulu more generally and the UKZN module more specifically? The empirical findings show that students’ motivations to learn Zulu are more instrumental than integrative as the primary goal is to ‘pass’ the module. South African Indian students have developed a blind spot for the prevalence and significance of Zulu in the country which impacts negatively on the general attitudes towards the language more general and the module more specifically. Language ideologies that elevate the status of English in the country further hamper the success of Zulu language learning.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 32694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genesis Souza Barbosa ◽  
Caio Guilherme Silva Bias ◽  
Lorene Soares Agostinho ◽  
Luciana Maria Capurro de Queiroz Oberg ◽  
Rafael Oliveira Pitta Lopes ◽  
...  

AIMS: To verify the effectiveness of the simulation in the self-confidence of nursing students for extra-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. METHODS: A quasi-experimental, before and after, single-group study, was performed with nursing undergraduate students. The sample was recruited among university students who were in the second or third year of graduation and accepted to participate in the research. The intervention protocol consisted of individual participation in a emergency simulated clinical scenario. The simulated scenario adopted consisted of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in extra-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest, using the Mini Anne Plus® low fidelity manikin. In addition to the sociodemographic variables, students' self-confidence for emergency action was analyzed, evaluated by the Self-Confidence Scale, before and after each simulation. Marginal and homogeneous Wilcoxon homogeneity tests were applied, and the accepted significance level was 5%.RESULTS: Thirteen two undergraduate students in nursing between the ages of 18 and 38 participated in the study. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed in the answers of all the questions of the Self-confidence Scale when compared before and after the simulation. There was also a statistically significant increase (p < 0.001) in cardiological, respiratory and neurological scores after simulation.CONCLUSIONS: The simulation proved to be an effective educational strategy in increasing the self-confidence of nursing students to perform extra-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation.


1987 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-451 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Martin ◽  
Garland E. Blair ◽  
Robert M. Nevels ◽  
Mary M. Brant

The present study was undertaken to estimate the relationship between a personal philosophy of human nature (whether man is essentially good or evil) and an individual's self-esteem, as measured by the Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory and the Self-esteem scale of the Jackson Personality Inventory. For 19 male and 21 female undergraduate students, correlations of age and sex with self-esteem were calculated. The multivariate analysis of variance indicated a nonsignificant relation between scores on philosophy of human nature of students and their scores on the two measures of self-esteem. Correlations of age and sex with self-esteem were also nonsignificant. The Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory scores and those on the Self-esteem scale of the Jackson Personality Inventory were significantly correlated at .59.


Curationis ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Mbambo

The aim of this descriptive survey was to do a job analysis of different categories of nurses in a District Health System in order to clarify job expectations, describe current practice of nurses in hospitals and clinics and to make recommendations about skills mix in district services. This article deals with the clinics only.


Curationis ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
L.R. Uys

The aim of this descriptive survey was to do a job analysis of different categories of nurses in a District Health System in order to clarify job expectations, describe current practice of nurses in hospitals and clinics and to make recommendations about skills mix in district services.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 148-177
Author(s):  
Andréia Lionço ◽  
Ivano Ribeiro ◽  
Jerry Adriani Johann ◽  
Geysler Rogis Flor Bertolini

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the attitudes, perceptions and behavioral intentions of young Brazilian customers regarding the purchase of clothing made of environmentally sustainable fabrics, particularly denim produced with cotton and the addition of Tencel® in its composition.Method: A self-administered questionnaire was supplied to 252 undergraduate students of the course Applied Social Sciences from two universities. The data were analyzed using the statistical method of structural equation modeling.Findings: The results showed that the consumer knowledge, perceived effectiveness and personal relevance affect the attitude and subjective norm, to a greater or lesser degree. However, they do not affect the perceived behavioral control.Originality/value: The study shows a synthesis of elements that can assist academic researchers and marketing practitioners in decoding the factors that influence young Brazilian consumers towards the purchase of environmentally sustainable apparel and textiles.Theoretical contributions: This study contributes to understanding the complex relations among the variables such as consumer knowledge, perceived consumer effectiveness and perceived personal relevance and, according to the TPB, the three independent determinants of behavioral intention, namely attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control.Practical contributions: These results point out that, in addition to the investment in environmental education made by educators and institutions, producers should invest in better communication strategies in order to enable these consumers to improve their knowledge of ecologically sustainable clothing options and thus increase their purchase intentions of such products, contributing to the preservation and improvement of the environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doret Botha

Orientation: South Africa has been suffering from persistently high levels of unemployment since 2008. The youth is regarded as the most at-risk group in the South African labour market and unemployment amongst the youth is considered one of the most critical socio-economic problems in South Africa. Increasing one’s employability is essential to securing employment and enhancing one’s well-being.Research purpose: This study aimed to explore the self-perceived employability of undergraduate students at a South African university.Motivation for the study: Currently, there is a scarcity of published research on the self-perceived employability amongst undergraduate students at higher education institutions in South Africa.Research approach/design and method: The study was conducted within a positivistic research paradigm. A quantitative-based cross-sectional survey design was used. Convenience sampling was used to select the students who were included in the survey. Data were collected through a web-based survey, using a standardised coded questionnaire that consisted of a five-point Likert-type scale.Main findings: The results indicated that the respondents were relatively confident about their internal employability, but they were less confident about their opportunities in the external labour market.Practical/managerial implications: Understanding one’s employability and the accompanied issues creates awareness of one’s potential, skills and knowledge to become a successful citizen and employee.Contribution/value-add: The study shed light on the self-perceived employability of undergraduate students at a South African university and consequently contributes to the existing literature on employability in the South African context.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddoju Aishwarya

The present study explored the correlations between the four humor styles and the Dark Triad traits of personality. Participants were 202 undergraduates from India who finished the humor Styles Questionnaire, the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale, and the MACHIV. Results intimated that member who scored higher on sub-clinical psychopathy and Machiavellianism exhibited a more inclination to utilise negative humor styles (self-defeating and aggressive). whereas, individuals who got higher scores on narcissism were progressively inclined to have a preference toward affiliative humor or style and self-enhancing humor style and they negatively correlated with negative humor styles. The study was conducted to help understand the personality traits of individuals with various genre of humor and help to explain the nature of the Dark Triad traits of personality. It said to shed light on the interpersonal styles employed by people who exhibit these attributes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL3) ◽  
pp. 1069-1076
Author(s):  
Sundar R ◽  
Yuvaraj Babu K ◽  
Gayathri R

Oral health status is directly proportional to a person's oral health behaviour. Oral health of a person can be determined by their regular oral habits like brushing, flossing, smoking and regular dental check-up. Maintenance of poor oral health can lead to severe dental problems. The aim of the study is to create awareness about oral health and behaviour among the dental and engineering undergraduate students. The self-administered questionnaire prepared about oral health behaviour, distributed to 100 dental and engineering graduate students through online google link and data is collected and analysed. From the collected data, 87.18% of dental students brush daily, and 84.62% of engineering students use dental floss to clean the gap between the teeth. This survey helps to bring knowledge on the awareness of oral health behaviour among the dental and engineering students. From this survey, we have concluded that dental students have good oral hygiene when compared to engineering students.


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