Strategic and focused solutions to challenges faced by medical postgraduate students, in performing research at a South African University

Background and objectives: Poor research output is a major issue at some South African Universities especially among medical postgraduate students. A number of students struggle to complete the research component, which is a requirement for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).Aim: To evaluate and uncover factors hindering research performance at a South African university, with a plan to implementing strategic and focused remedial action.Methods: Post-graduate students in the School of Medicine were enrolled in a cross-sectional descriptive study. Using self-administered questionnaires, students were requested to provide information on barriers hindering research performance. Raw data from questionnaires was captured and analysed using STATA software.Results: A total 125 questionnaires were returned however some participants did not answer all the questions. The major reasons for non-performance were cited as; lack of prior research experience with only 14 per cent having had prior research exposure. Regarding association of research methodology (REME) course attendance with students starting research activities, 90 per cent of those that had attended the REME course, had started research activities at the time of this study. Research supervision was cited as inadequate by 48 per cent of respondents, while 61 per cent cited excessive workload as factor another factor hampering research course attendance and research participation. Most students indicated the need to have research taught and incorporated in the Masters curriculum, with time ring-fenced for research activities.Conclusion: Prior research exposure and attendance of a research course were important factors influencing students’ participation in research and should be encouraged. The institution should strive to improve supervisory and mentoring support as well as provide bio-statistics support. There is a need to ring-fence time specifically for research activities in order to counter the workload issue as a deterrent to research activities

Factors affecting the adoption of personal safety apps among Millennials in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract: Numerous studies around the world have examined how young people use digital technology mostly for social interaction, but also for marketing related purposes. However, few studies have addressed how mobile applications have been adopted in developing economies such as South Africa. Specifically, given that issues of personal safety are paramount in South Africa, which grapples with high levels of crime, it is necessary to explore factors that could affect the adoption of mobile safety applications. Theoretically, the study relies on the Generational Cohort Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model to provide insight into patterns of behaviour regarding the use of personal safety apps by college students

Global media hegemony and the transformation bliss in post-colonial Africa : real independence or mere change of masters?

Abstract: This article presents a conceptual analysis of the relationship between global media hegemony and transformation trajectories within post-colonial African states. It acknowledges that, following the attainment of independence, most African governments adopted the ‘developmental state’ paradigm to redress erstwhile colonial practices in anticipation of a new progressive social order. In many contexts, this ushered noble structural changes that promised stable institutions, constitutionality and good governance. In the contrary, the past two decades have witnessed evidence of weak political and socio-economic systems, largely blamed on inter alia, dictatorship, maladministration and poor implementation of policies

The Influence of Social Media on the Transparency and Accountability of the South African Public Sector

There is a growing debate on the potential role of social media in improving government transparency and accountability and, ultimately, policy-making. This article analyses the contribution of social media, specifically Twitter, in increasing government transparency and accountability in South Africa by transferring information between the government and the public. To achieve this aim, we conducted an in-depth analysis of Twitter content, focusing on a curated selection of randomly selected top hashtags that became prominent in the South African context. These hashtags represent notable trends such as #FeesMustFall, #ZumaMustFall, #NotInMyName, #AmINext, and the #ThaboBester saga. By examining the discourses surrounding these hashtags, we aimed to uncover insights into how social media interactions intersected with government actions and reactions. Our results indicate that these hashtags served as potent catalysts for public engagement, driving discussions that critiqued government decisions and compelled timely reactions from the government

Applications of Pharmacogenetics in Revealing Variations in Pharmacodynamics

In the past two decades many drugs were discovered through the developments taking place in molecular biology techniques. Drug action is now more defined. In addition to known pharmacogenetic variations on drug metabolism, variations in drug targets are also emerging. These targets include receptors, transporters, enzymes, channels and intracellular coupling processes. This review article presents the latest findings of genetic variations in pharmacological targets related to disorders of major systems such as central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and the respiratory system especially in relation to asthma and the HLA antigen genotype in hypersensitivity reactions.East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 12 (2009) 65-7

Adverse drug reaction reporting among health care workers at Mulago National Referral and Teaching hospital in Uganda

Background: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are an important contributor to patient morbidity and hospitalisation in Uganda. Under-reporting of ADRs may increase medicine-induced morbidity and mortality among patients. This study determined the extent of ADR reporting, and associated factors, among healthcare workers in Uganda.Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional, study was conducted. Pretested, semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 289 randomly sampled healthcare workers over a three-month period in Mulago National Referral Hospital, Uganda. The primary outcome was the proportion of healthcare workers who had ever reported an ADR. Data was double-entered in Epidata version 3.0, cleaned and exported to STATA version 10.1 for analysis.Results: The overall response rate was 77.2% (n=223). The majority of the respondents were females (139, 62.3%). The median age of all respondents was 32.6 years (min-23; max-65). Only about 16.6% (n=37) of healthcare workers had ever reported an ADR. Very few (n= 84, 37.7%) healthcare workers knew the tools used in ADR reporting. Less than a quarter (n=41, 18.4%) of the healthcare workers knew where to report ADRs. Lack of training was reported as the major (56.5%, 126) deterrent to reporting ADRs by healthcare workers.Conclusion: Adverse drug reactions are under-reported in Uganda, and healthcare workers have insufficient knowledge of existing pharmacovigilance systems, including ADR reporting systems. To address these challenges, there is need to sensitize and train healthcare workers in patient-centred aspects of medicine surveillance, so as to provide appropriate care while optimising patient safety.Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, ADR, adverse effects, reporting, healthcare worker, pharmacovigilance, Ugand

Quandaries of contract cheating in South African higher education institutions: The way forward

This research aimed to examine the quandaries of contract cheating faced by higher education institutions (HEIs) in South Africa. Based on a desktop study utilizing unobtrusive research methods such as documentary analysis and conceptual analysis of authoritative sources to conceptualise and provide context to contract cheating, the data drew secondary data from published journal articles. Findings demonstrated that the key quandaries of contract cheating are attributed to limited awareness of the concept, the undetectable nature of the action, the lack of law (lacuna) from the national point of view, gaps in existing institutional policies on misconduct, ambiguity in the conceptualisation, and expansion in the availability of this practice as evident in the increase use of custom essay websites, essay mills and file-sharing sites across the globe. To address these challenges, South African HEIs need to acknowledge that contract cheating is a problem which exists in institutions. Therefore, South African HEIs must revisit institutional policies on intellectual integrity and include a delineation of contract cheating, making a clear distinction between plagiarism and collusion. Additionally, South African HEIs must raise awareness of contract cheating amongst their students, invest in software that detects authenticity, such as Authorship Investigate, AI-Emma or Ouriginal, and design student-support-intervention marketing strategies to deter students from turning to contract cheating websites

EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY'S TRADE POTENTIAL AND PERFORMANCE WITH EUROPEAN UNION: A PERSPECTIVE OF SELECTED FRUIT AND VEGETABLE COMMODITIES

Based on the impressive growth trend within the export-driven horticulture sector over the past 2-3 decades among the East African Community (EAC) member states, this paper aims at predicting the trade potential and performance of a selected fruits and Vegetables (FVs) within the European market. Within the gravity model framework, based on the Zero Inflated Poisson (ZIP) estimator, we use the out-of sample approach to predict potential trade flows of FVs by using highly disaggregated panel data. In light of ascertaining trade performance of EAC member states' FV commodities within the EU market, we use the Relative Difference index. Empirical results reveal that Asparagus from Kenya has room for trade expansion across all the EU-member states while Beans and pepper from Uganda also have a large un-exploited market within the EU market. Similarly, Beans from Tanzania also have room for trade expansion across many EU member states. Results further revealed that EAC member states exhibit poor trade performance within the EU-market in the various FV commodities, which suggests that there exists some barriers to trade between the EAC and EU. Thus, it is incumbent upon EAC member states to foster trade cooperation in horticultural commodities with the EU member states

Factors Influencing the Growth of South Africa’s Agricultural Exports toWorld Markets

The paper assesses the factors influencing South Africa’s agricultural export growth to its cardinal destinations between 2001 and 2014. A gravity model was used to present investigation of trade flows that has been validated as a suitable tool in determining export growth. The findings indicate that an improvement in South Africa’s and importer’s GDP causes an increase in agricultural exports. Distance and political stability have been shown to have no influence on the growth of agricultural exports to its trading partners. The importer’s population and the export capacity showed a positive relationship on the growth of South Africa’s agricultural exports to its trading partners. Trading agreements, which include AGOA and the TDCA with the EU, show a positive impact on increase in export performance. Therefore, the results suggest that South Africa should focus on countries with a growing population and GDP to improve agricultural export growth and market diversification

The link between career outcomes expectancy and career decision-making self-efficacy of STEM students in a South African university

The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), one of the highly researched career theories, suggested that outcomes expectance and self-efficacy are crucial factors in the career selection process. The result of career outcomes expectancy (COE) and career decision-making self-efficacy (CDSE) may be pivotal in an individual’s shunning or being more inspired in their career behaviour. Both factors together are important in career decision-making. The aim of this study was to investigate the association among COE and CDSE of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students at a South African university. The article is based on a quantitative study conducted among a sample of 322 STEM students, of which 203 responses were received. The career outcomes expectancy scale (COES) and career decision self-efficacy scale (CDSES) were used in the collection of data. Data were analysed with the IBM SPSS version 26 software and descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, linear regression and multivariate analytical tools were engaged. Findings show that age and race significantly associated with CDSE. Additionally, COE was found to have a statistically significant relationship with CDSE and that CDSE positively predicted COE. The environment of upbringing was also found to be influential in participants’ CDSE and COE. In line with extant literature, the discussion of the findings is made to proffer recommendations that have implications for practice, policy and further studies