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The Language Question and the Use of Paremiography in Modern African Literature: A Case Study of Achebe’s No Longer at Ease and Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman
Get PDFThis paper endeavours to shed some light on the issue of language and the modern African writer. The core concern of this paper is not, however, whether it is significant for African writers to use European languages or African languages in their creative works. On the main, the paper wishes to explore the extent to which the use of transliterated proverbs in African writing contribute to the rekindling of African value systems as well as the affirmation of African indigenous knowledge systems. The analysis of the two texts will be confined to how Achebe and Soyinka abrogate the English language to infuse African speech acts as well as African cosmology through the extensive use of paremiography (proverbial language). The selection of these two texts is intentional in that they project African worldviews in a manner that can contribute to the current debate on the ‘decolonisation of education’ in South Africa as they negate the subordination of African values and cultures
Slaying the Three-Headed Dragon: Spirit Healing from Memetic Infection
Get PDFViolence has a tremendous impact on the social fabric of the Black community at large and on society as a whole. This paper provides an overview of a brief group intervention based on Afrocentric methodology and the seminal work of Dr. Nobles (1986c) on ‘path-of-life development’. Three of Dr. Nobles’ four stages (decomposition, germination and transformation) establish a framework for the intervention presented in this paper as well as an organizing theme for addressing what Dr. Nobles (2015) refers to as ‘memetic infection’.The paper further proposes an African-centred organization of mixed media, as a component of the intervention, to address the lingering psychological effects of chattel slavery, including those that have corrupted and distorted Black identity and African consciousness, owing to ‘memetic infection’ and its outgrowth, the ‘Three-Headed Dragon’. Addressing the ‘Three-Headed Dragon’ – depression, frustration tolerance, anger, cognitive/ emotive factors highly correlated with violent behaviour – has not been central to the efforts of the United States to reduce violence among young men of African descent (Jackson 2015). Finally, Dr. Nobles’ concept of ‘Kinzungu Zongu’ (tornadoes of the mind), and his identification of toxic ‘sensoria information structures’, along with Akbar’s (1986b) assertion that the spiritual psyche of Black youth has been killed by a deliberate falsification of their historical reality, help establish a template for understanding and conceptualizing treatment of ‘spirit illness’ in diaspora as well as continental Africans
A Framework For Person-centred Telehealth Research
No full textThis paper describes a framework for the integration of person-centeredness with telehealth research methodologies. The evidence base for telehealth is improving but research with human subjects continues to be necessary for confidence in the telehealth-related technologies and applications available now and in the future. To identify aspects of person-centred research, an exploratory review of telehealth research was followed by two phases of systematic qualitative analysis. All of the telehealth research reports considered had, as participants, people with diabetes (adolescents and adults). This diagnostic group was chosen to narrow the scope of the analysis to a manageable size. Diabetes is a worldwide disease and predicted to increase in morbidity and mortality in the next decades. A framework for the assessment of person-centred research was devised, based on three ethical concepts: respect, benefit and justice in the sense of fairness. The concepts are described with their related actions. With the application of these concepts and actions during the conceptualisation, design, sample accrual, interventions and data collection segments of telehealth research, the participants who are necessary to advancing telehealth research may have a better experience with the research process. Rather than researchers making assumptions about what people need, the participants themselves can contribute to the research design and data interventions. The study data resulting from the addition of person-centred applications may be more reliable (consistent) and valid (accurate), with participants having a sense of making an important contribution. Participants may also be more willing to continue to serve in future research
Developing a Holistic Competence Model for Telenursing Practice: Perspectives from Telenurses and Managers of Telemedical Service Centres
Get PDFTelenurse’s work performance determines the quality and the efficiency of the service and strongly influences the acceptance of patients and healthcare professionals. Considering this important role, qualification and training of telenurses is of utmost importance for the success of telemedicine providers and the future of telemedicine. However, in Germany the profession “telenurse” is not yet established, nor is there a standardised education programme for telenurses. Purpose: In our study, we seek to identify and describe needed competencies from the perspectives of employees and employers in telemedicine service centres. We develop a systematic competencies concept fundamental for a specific telenurse education curriculum. Methods: We designed an exploratory study as a series of semi-standardised interviews with telenurses and the management of telenursing centres, focusing on knowledge, skills and attitudes needed in telenursing practice. Results: By including the perspectives of employers and employees, we provide a broad view on the skills and competencies needed. We show that telenursing requires a great variety of competencies that can be structured into four categories: professional, methodological, personal and social competencies. Conclusion: Our study provides a comprehensive approach to key competencies of telenurses. The results set out a framework for the development of skills and competencies considering the perception of the telenurse-workplace not only from employers but also from employee’s perspective
Webinars as a Knowledge Sharing Platform for eHealth in South and Southeast Asia
Get PDFSetting up fully functional national eHealth systems is a challenge. Developing eHealth capacities in Asia can be achieved through distance learning such as webinars. The Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN) is a community of about 900 professionals in South and Southeast Asia, convened as a peer group dedicated to strengthening local health systems through the use of information and communications technology. It organised the AeHIN Hour held twice monthly as a venue for knowledge sharing. This paper will describe and analyse the context, inputs, processes and products of the AeHIN Hour webinars implemented over 47 months. Data is analysed through review of literature and AeHIN Hour technical reports. Analysis revealed that the AeHIN Hour provides individuals with a platform to learn and establish connections with other experts and like-minded individuals who could assist them in their current health system strengthening efforts. AeHIN paves the way for countries to recognise challenges and issues they face which are important for substantiating existing technical assistance. Shared interests among stakeholders sustain the activity. Management of the AeHIN Hour should be strengthened in order to maximise its value in building capacities among country-level actors who would shape the course of health systems strengthening
Physician User Perspectives in the Practice of Telemedicine in the Philippines
Get PDFTelemedicine can bridge gaps in healthcare by providing expert opinion to healthcare providers in remote areas, but has remained underutilised locally. Objectives: To determine how the National Telehealth Center, Manila, Philippines, can manage user physician expectations of telemedicine in order to maximise its benefits, by determining which factors influence physicians to adopt and use telemedicine. Methods: A questionnaire was adapted from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model of technology acceptance and sent to rural physicians. Focus group discussions were also held among key informants to determine their perceptions and attitudes towards telemedicine. Results: Social influence was the most important factor that influenced intention to use telemedicine, and with other factors studied (performance expectancy, effort expectancy, attitude, and facilitating conditions) explained 54.8% of the variance in the decision to use telemedicine. Major findings that emerged from the group discussions were the inadequacy of the present telecommunication infrastructure, the need to have specialists always available to answer referrals, while retaining e-mail and SMS for elective referrals. Conclusion: Practical steps such as transmission of constant reminders, improvement of the existing support system, and recruitment of thought leaders can increase the use and adoption of telemedicine among its target user physicians
Changes in Physicians’ Practice Using a Cardiologic Tele-expertise network in Mongolia: An Ethnographic Study on Implementation of Technology in Medical Practice
Get PDFThe Luxembourg Government has supported the Mongolian Government in cardiologic care since 2001 through a telemedicine project. The fundamental strategy was to create a centre disseminating knowledge and providing assistance to physicians through a tele-expertise network. To better understand what factors contributed to the successful implementation of the project. This ethnographic study aims to understand how the project has changed doctors’ practice to identify elements that facilitate acceptance of telemedicine. A qualitative approach based on the central role played by physicians was used. The purpose of this research is to contribute to the development of telemedicine in capitalising on the experience of the Mongolian telemedicine project. We gathered physicians’ insights through participant observation and in-depth interviews of nineteen physicians of the project, added to focus group interviews including nine physicians from the most remote provinces. Our findings show that the technical and social aspects of the project reinforce each other in fostering doctors’ greater autonomy, creating a sense of belonging to a community and promoting ownership of the project, crucial elements for acceptance. The project offers technological support through a tele-expertise network and a dedicated website that help improving professional capacities and participate in increasing physicians’ self-confidence and autonomy. Meanwhile, the technological structure is supported by strong collaboration between physicians, their participation to the project development and involvement toward new professional activities. It results in structuring a community of cardiologists with a great sense of belonging and ownership that created a social environment for the technology to work
HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) in Schools: Ethical Implications to Long Term Support Structures
Get PDFThe argument of this article is that if the recent proposal by the department of Health and Department of education in South Africa for a school-based HIV counselling and testing programme were to be effective, then there is the need to pay much attention to the long term support structures such as Parents, Carers, Guardians and Spiritual leaders as those who will carry the long term responsibilities of the teens once the test is completed. This argument is based on the fact that though the recent promises a potential and positive response in seeing that a number of people know their status and those who test positive can access early medication, the programme may well have negative consequences for families ill-equipped to deal with the outcome of the testing. Through the lens of ethical theory of Consequentialism, the article suggest that there are long term implications for the families as well as, communities therefore all key role players in the adolescent’s life need to rethink their approach of engagement to issues around sex and sexuality, HIV infections and sexual behaviour
Innovative Approaches for Enhancing the 21st Century Student Experience
Get PDFThis paper discusses insights from a project aimed to bring about sustainable strategic change through improving institutional capacity to enhance the 21st century student experience. It sought to build new concepts for understanding Australia’s higher education students, identify new data sources and approaches for measuring the student experience, and engage institutions in enhancement work and new conversations about students. After discussing pertinent contexts and rationales, the paper discusses national research conducted to understand the current state of play. It then proposes the model derived to reconceptualise qualities of a successful experience. It closes by articulating two enhancement strategies developed to seed new practices