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Ubuntu leadership as a predictor of employee engagement : a South African study
(AOSIS, 2024-03-21) Chetty, Kerushan; Price, Gavin
ORIENTATION : Ubuntu leadership is increasingly being promoted as a suitable leadership philosophy for South African workplaces, necessitating further exploration of its application and outcomes.
RESEARCH PURPOSE : This study thus investigates Ubuntu leadership as a predictor of employee engagement (EE) in the South African context, considering ethnicity, age and tenure as moderating variables.
MOTIVATION FOR THE STUDY : The necessity to study perceptions of Ubuntu leadership and its influence of EE lies in the need to understand how this culturally rooted leadership style can enhance organisational performance, employee well-being and inclusivity in diverse workplaces.
RESEARCH APPROACH/DESIGN AND METHOD : The study adhered to a positivist philosophical perspective, employing a descriptive research design with a quantitative approach. Data were collected from 193 South African participants through a self-administered online questionnaire. MAIN FINDINGS : The study findings indicated that the practice of Ubuntu leadership, as perceived by employees, significantly predicted EE.
PRACTICAL/MANAGERIAL IMPLICATIONS : Organisational leaders and managers hold a crucial role in shaping the workplace environment, and their acknowledgment of Ubuntu leadership’s fundamental principles, such as fostering authentic relationships, empathy, collaboration and respect, has the potential to boost EE. CONTRIBUTION/VALUE-ADD : The research outcomes offer valuable insights into how Ubuntu leadership can enhance EE and provide proactive measures for its implementation.
Update on the pharmacological management of neurodegenerative diseases : Alzheimer's disease
(Medpharm Publications, 2024) Flepisi, Brian Thabile; Hanser, S.; Balmith, Marissa; brian.flepisi@up.ac.za
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are the most common causes of morbidity and cognitive impairment, particularly among the elderly population worldwide. Due to increasing life expectancy, there has been an increase in the prevalence of NDDs. One of the most common NDDs is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterised by a complex, multifactorial irreversible aetiology, including the progressive loss of neurons. It is also the most common cause of dementia. Pathologically, AD is associated with the presence of amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. The management of AD focuses mainly on establishing an early, accurate clinical diagnosis, early drug administration, treatment of comorbidities and dementia-related complications, as well as treatment of behavioural and psychological symptoms. There is currently no cure for AD, and the currently United States Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) approved drugs only offer symptomatic relief aiming to improve cognitive and behavioural symptoms; however, they do not target the underlying AD pathology or prevent neuronal degeneration. The current US-FDA approved drugs used for the management of AD include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (memantine), and monoclonal antibody against Aβ (Lecanemab). It should be noted that all these approved drugs only assist in the management of symptoms; however, they do not prevent neuronal loss, brain atrophy, and progressive deterioration of cognition associated with AD. To curb the increasing prevalence of AD, new therapeutic strategies are required, including the development of gene therapy, drugs targeting Aβ, and drugs targeting neuronal hyperexcitability among others.
Assessment of teaching strategies and learning style preferences of lecturers and oral hygiene students at a higher education institution in South Africa
(South African Dental Association, 2024) Morule, M.; Bhayat, Ahmed; Madiba, Thomas Khomotjo; Nkambule, Ntombizodwa Rosemary; Mgabe, N.
INTRODUCTION : Lecturers and students at tertiary institutions have different teaching strategies and learning styles (TS&LS) and it is essential to align these strategies and styles to ensure that students understand the concepts they are taught. This study was conducted to assess and compare the TS&LS preferences among lecturers and undergraduate oral hygiene students at a university in South Africa.
METHODS : A cross-sectional study was conducted, inviting all full-time lecturers (35) and undergraduate dental hygiene students (40) registered for the 2021 academic year to participate. The visual, auditory, reading and kinesthetic (VARK) teaching and learning questionnaires (version 7.8) for lecturers and students respectively was utilised to capture the necessary information. This is a validated questionnaire and consists of a variety of questions which students complete using a multiple-choice approach. SPSS statistical package, version 27 was used for statistical analysis with a significance of p< 0.05.
RESULTS : Twenty-seven (27) lecturers (77%) and 40 students (100%) completed the questionnaire. The highest mean teaching scores were in visual (6.44) and auditory (6.22) teaching styles. The highest mean learning scores was auditory (6.43) and visual (5.98). The kinesthetic sensory modality constituted the lowest mean score in both lecturers and students. The majority of lecturers (63%) preferred using a single mode of teaching while 77% of students preferred learning using a multimode approach.
CONCLUSIONS : The most common teaching and learning scores corresponded with each other. The preferred teaching strategy of lecturers was unimodal while the majority of students preferred a multimodal means of teaching. As a result, to improve student understanding and learning lecturers should use multimodal means of teaching.
An assessment of Western Cape metro public dental clinics’ compliance with the primary healthcare package for South Africa : a set of norms and standards
(South African Dental Association, 2024-11) Mohamed-Jacobs, A.; Bookhan, Vinesh; Mkhize, N.M.; Madiba, Thomas Khomotjo
INTRODUCTION: This study explores the compliance of public dental clinics in the Western Cape Metro (WCM), South Africa with the Primary Healthcare Package for South Africa
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES : The study evaluates the availability of prescribed dental consumables, instruments and equipment in primary oral health clinics. Additionally, it seeks to determine the number of clinics providing the basic package of oral health services.
DESIGN : A cross-sectional study
METHODS : This study conducted an audit of 28 public dental clinics in the Western Cape metro. Full-time clinic staff were surveyed using a questionnaire. Equipment and materials were assessed using a checklist. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 28, summarising quantitative variables with proportions, frequencies, means and standard deviations
RESULTS : A total of 15 clinics responded out of the 28 invited with a response rate of 53.6%. Only two clinics offered all services in the basic package of care. Eleven clinics had 80% or more of the required equipment. Ten clinics had 80% or more of the required instruments used to treat pain and sepsis. All the clinics had at least 80% of the required consumables
CONCLUSION : None of the clinics was compliant with national norms and standards.
The misuse of analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories in runners
(Medpharm Publications, 2024) Esterhuizen, C.; Cordier, Werner
Global participation in running has continued to grow over the last decade, with millions of people running weekly, regardless of distance. These events, particularly endurance running events, require months of progressive training and load adjustment, which, combined with other factors, increase the risk of developing running-related injuries. Inflammation is a natural biological response important for healing in musculoskeletal tissue; however, it may also contribute to the unpleasant experience of pain. Runners may suffer from exercise-induced pain and inflammation, necessitating using analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories. Unfortunately, the inappropriate use of these drugs is frequently seen in athletes, which may impact their recovery after injury or general health status. This review presents in brief the current knowledge of running-related pathology and treatment thereof, including considerations of its misuse.