Describing emotional experiences of the caregivers working in an HIV/AIDS care centre in Gauteng
- Authors: Mayekiso, William Mzimkhulu
- Date: 2012-06-07
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Moral and ethical aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Social aspects , Caregivers - Mental health
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4998
- Description: M.Ed. , Caring for the children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS put a serious emotional strain on the caregivers working in institutions for HIV/AIDS. This study seeks to sensitize policy makers and managers in formal HIV/AIDS care centres about the experiences of the caregivers. Describing emotional experiences of the caregivers broad more light on the challenges facing caregivers working in an HIV/AIDS environment. A phenomenological approach was used to collect data. In exploring emotional experiences of the caregivers a constructivist theoretical framework was followed. Through two focus groups comprising of six participants and four participants in one group respectively and individual interviews caregivers were able to describe their lived emotional experiences of taking care of HIV/AIDS patients. Participating caregivers were interviewed in English, Zulu and Sesotho. Questionnaires were also used in gathering data. 60 questionnaires were distributed to all caregivers working in one centre west of Gauteng. Only 27 caregivers responded to the questionnaires. Data collated revealed that caregivers’ employed in that centre reported to be driven by their desire to give love to children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS Participating caregivers indicated that children who are treated with love show signs of improvement quickly as indicated by Van Dyk (2005). When their patients’ condition improves they also became emotionally fulfilled. Although caring for HIV/AIDS patients involves risks for contracting the HIV they enjoy bringing back smiles in the face of the children under their care. Conditions of service for the caregivers were also raised as another factor that contributes negatively in their emotional experiences. It was revealed that they were caring a heavy load of work due to the number of patients they are taking care and long hours of work. Professional development was also highlighted as one aspect that can improve their working conditions resulting in improved salaries. Hayden and Otaala (2005) found out that training, income generating projects and support could prevent a great deal of stress and distress on the part of children and caregivers living in a residential homes. This was also supported by the participating caregivers during the focus group interviews and individual interviews that they need professional training. 5 In this study it was evident that the work done by caregivers working in an HIV/AIDS environment need to be appreciated and recognized. Participating caregivers reported that in one of the functions held by the centre their contributions were not acknowledged and that had negative impact on their emotional well being. They felt less important than other employees such as professional nurses. Communication breakdown was another factor that came through during the focus group interviews. Caregivers’ indicated that they are regarded as “deadwood”. They are also not consulted in matters that affect them directly citing an incident were counseling sessions was organized for them. Due to the nature of work and their daily experiences with the sick children and bereavement counseling was noted as a critical need during data collection.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mayekiso, William Mzimkhulu
- Date: 2012-06-07
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Moral and ethical aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Social aspects , Caregivers - Mental health
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:2544 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4998
- Description: M.Ed. , Caring for the children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS put a serious emotional strain on the caregivers working in institutions for HIV/AIDS. This study seeks to sensitize policy makers and managers in formal HIV/AIDS care centres about the experiences of the caregivers. Describing emotional experiences of the caregivers broad more light on the challenges facing caregivers working in an HIV/AIDS environment. A phenomenological approach was used to collect data. In exploring emotional experiences of the caregivers a constructivist theoretical framework was followed. Through two focus groups comprising of six participants and four participants in one group respectively and individual interviews caregivers were able to describe their lived emotional experiences of taking care of HIV/AIDS patients. Participating caregivers were interviewed in English, Zulu and Sesotho. Questionnaires were also used in gathering data. 60 questionnaires were distributed to all caregivers working in one centre west of Gauteng. Only 27 caregivers responded to the questionnaires. Data collated revealed that caregivers’ employed in that centre reported to be driven by their desire to give love to children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS Participating caregivers indicated that children who are treated with love show signs of improvement quickly as indicated by Van Dyk (2005). When their patients’ condition improves they also became emotionally fulfilled. Although caring for HIV/AIDS patients involves risks for contracting the HIV they enjoy bringing back smiles in the face of the children under their care. Conditions of service for the caregivers were also raised as another factor that contributes negatively in their emotional experiences. It was revealed that they were caring a heavy load of work due to the number of patients they are taking care and long hours of work. Professional development was also highlighted as one aspect that can improve their working conditions resulting in improved salaries. Hayden and Otaala (2005) found out that training, income generating projects and support could prevent a great deal of stress and distress on the part of children and caregivers living in a residential homes. This was also supported by the participating caregivers during the focus group interviews and individual interviews that they need professional training. 5 In this study it was evident that the work done by caregivers working in an HIV/AIDS environment need to be appreciated and recognized. Participating caregivers reported that in one of the functions held by the centre their contributions were not acknowledged and that had negative impact on their emotional well being. They felt less important than other employees such as professional nurses. Communication breakdown was another factor that came through during the focus group interviews. Caregivers’ indicated that they are regarded as “deadwood”. They are also not consulted in matters that affect them directly citing an incident were counseling sessions was organized for them. Due to the nature of work and their daily experiences with the sick children and bereavement counseling was noted as a critical need during data collection.
- Full Text:
The effects of an individualised cognitive-behavioral and electromyographic feedback intervention on HIV-seropositive patients.
- Authors: Messinis, Lambros
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Mental health , AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , Exercise therapy - Psychological aspects
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2596 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6045
- Description: Ph.D. , The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has taken on pandemic proportions world wide, providing the health care system with the greatest challenge since its existence. At present, infection with the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is incurable, fatal and dangerously contagious influencing the health of the public as well as exerting profound effects on political, social and economic circumstances of the world. The challenge was and still is, to develop an effective treatment method for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and /or Clinical AIDS. Up to the present time no effective treatment method has been found, as the retroviral agents typically only cause a temporary inhibition of the progression of the HIV and not a permanent cessation of the activity of the virus. In the absence of any pharmacological treatment, behavioral interventions and in particular biopsychosocial interventions utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy and ergometric aerobic exercise take on particular importance as adjunctive treatment methods, especially during the asymptomatic and early symptomatic HIV, (CDC stages 2 and 3 and WR stages 2-4 A), but non-Clinical AIDS stages. Adding Electromyographic-feedback assisted relaxation training to the above therapeutic modalities increased the likelihood of addressing specific physiological variables associated with HIV-seropositivity, and served as a direct operant intervention in indirectly enhancing immune system functioning, through psychophysiological mechanisms or by means of the relaxation effect which it produces. In South-Africa the HIV\ AIDS situation is further compounded by a number of social and economic factors in a society expressing rapid political changes against a background of apartheid. Herein, issues of poverty, violence, proper medical care for HIV sufferers, especially in the rural areas where antiviral medications and other health services are not easily accessible, inadequate housing and unemployment place even greater burdens on the already under-served HIV sufferer. With the above aspects in mind and considering the seriousness of the AIDS pandemic in South-Africa as well as the absence of effective pharmacological agents in curing this disease, an 8-week combined biopsychosocial treatment intervention utilizing individualised cognitive-behavioral therapy, aerobic exercise and Electromyographic-feedback assisted relaxation training was developed. The objective of this research was to determine whether the combined biopsychosocial treatment intervention that had been developed would serve as a successful adjunctive treatment method to the present pharmacological treatments, especially during the asymptomatic and early symptomatic stages of HIV-infection where the apparent sluggishness of immunological functioning may be most amenable to interventions that enhance effector functions and communication between CD4 T-lymphocytes, CD8 T-lymphocytes, macrophages and B cells via increases in lymphokine production. The intervention further aimed to decrease depression, physiological tension and anxiety and fatigue levels, as well as increase vigor-activity levels important in the overall health status of HIV-seropositive patients. The intervention was implemented on a group of South- African asymptomatic and early symptomatic (CDC stages 2 and 3 and WR stages 2-4 A) HIV- seropositives. The results of the research revealed no statistically significant between-group differences in any of the cellular immune measurements. Clinically and statistically significant withingroup differences were however found in baseline to post-test measures of total lymphocyte counts in subjects of the experimental group. Statistically significant between-group differences were also found in the tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, fatigue-inertia and vigor-activity levels of experimental subjects as compared to control group subjects. The study further found that subjects who recorded lower depression and tension-anxiety levels at baseline and post-intervention phases had higher CD4 -T lymphocyte counts and therefore, increased resistance to HIV-related infections and diseases. The study also revealed significant within-group differences in terms of the baseline to post-test relaxation effect of the EMG-feedback assisted relaxation training, as well as clinically significant within-group increases in the CD4-T lymphocyte counts of experimental subjects who experienced this relaxation effect.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Messinis, Lambros
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Mental health , AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , Exercise therapy - Psychological aspects
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:2596 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/6045
- Description: Ph.D. , The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has taken on pandemic proportions world wide, providing the health care system with the greatest challenge since its existence. At present, infection with the Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is incurable, fatal and dangerously contagious influencing the health of the public as well as exerting profound effects on political, social and economic circumstances of the world. The challenge was and still is, to develop an effective treatment method for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and /or Clinical AIDS. Up to the present time no effective treatment method has been found, as the retroviral agents typically only cause a temporary inhibition of the progression of the HIV and not a permanent cessation of the activity of the virus. In the absence of any pharmacological treatment, behavioral interventions and in particular biopsychosocial interventions utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy and ergometric aerobic exercise take on particular importance as adjunctive treatment methods, especially during the asymptomatic and early symptomatic HIV, (CDC stages 2 and 3 and WR stages 2-4 A), but non-Clinical AIDS stages. Adding Electromyographic-feedback assisted relaxation training to the above therapeutic modalities increased the likelihood of addressing specific physiological variables associated with HIV-seropositivity, and served as a direct operant intervention in indirectly enhancing immune system functioning, through psychophysiological mechanisms or by means of the relaxation effect which it produces. In South-Africa the HIV\ AIDS situation is further compounded by a number of social and economic factors in a society expressing rapid political changes against a background of apartheid. Herein, issues of poverty, violence, proper medical care for HIV sufferers, especially in the rural areas where antiviral medications and other health services are not easily accessible, inadequate housing and unemployment place even greater burdens on the already under-served HIV sufferer. With the above aspects in mind and considering the seriousness of the AIDS pandemic in South-Africa as well as the absence of effective pharmacological agents in curing this disease, an 8-week combined biopsychosocial treatment intervention utilizing individualised cognitive-behavioral therapy, aerobic exercise and Electromyographic-feedback assisted relaxation training was developed. The objective of this research was to determine whether the combined biopsychosocial treatment intervention that had been developed would serve as a successful adjunctive treatment method to the present pharmacological treatments, especially during the asymptomatic and early symptomatic stages of HIV-infection where the apparent sluggishness of immunological functioning may be most amenable to interventions that enhance effector functions and communication between CD4 T-lymphocytes, CD8 T-lymphocytes, macrophages and B cells via increases in lymphokine production. The intervention further aimed to decrease depression, physiological tension and anxiety and fatigue levels, as well as increase vigor-activity levels important in the overall health status of HIV-seropositive patients. The intervention was implemented on a group of South- African asymptomatic and early symptomatic (CDC stages 2 and 3 and WR stages 2-4 A) HIV- seropositives. The results of the research revealed no statistically significant between-group differences in any of the cellular immune measurements. Clinically and statistically significant withingroup differences were however found in baseline to post-test measures of total lymphocyte counts in subjects of the experimental group. Statistically significant between-group differences were also found in the tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, fatigue-inertia and vigor-activity levels of experimental subjects as compared to control group subjects. The study further found that subjects who recorded lower depression and tension-anxiety levels at baseline and post-intervention phases had higher CD4 -T lymphocyte counts and therefore, increased resistance to HIV-related infections and diseases. The study also revealed significant within-group differences in terms of the baseline to post-test relaxation effect of the EMG-feedback assisted relaxation training, as well as clinically significant within-group increases in the CD4-T lymphocyte counts of experimental subjects who experienced this relaxation effect.
- Full Text:
The effects of an anger-expressive cognitive-behavioural intervention programme on HIV-seropositive patients
- Authors: Lamb, Torsten Rainer
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) , AIDS (Disease) - Epidemiology , AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Mental health , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Research - South Africa , Behavior therapy , Group psychotherapy , Cognitive therapy , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/382928 , uj:9573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5997
- Description: D.Phil. , This thesis presents an intervention programme that aims to facilitate anger-expression and takes psychosocial and immunological variables into account. The present research argues that if the effects of the programme are validated, similar programmes may yield similar benefits for other participants in future intervention programmes in a South African context. The nature, course and effects of the HIV disease are described and include specific processes and mechanisms of influence in physical, mental and social terms. Biological processes that result from immunological deficiencies causing AIDS are analyzed and an explication of disease progression is offered. Psychological and social aspects related to immune-system deterioration carry implications for patients and influence their prognosis. The research was conducted in the context of a biopsychosocial conceptualization and was aimed at reducing levels of anger and helping establish recourses in the patients to manage infection and disease, as well as improve or at least retard decrements in immunological functioning. The goal of this intervention programme was to reduce levels of anger, anxiety, depression and social isolation. This would in turn increase the participant's personal sense of self-control, self-efficacy and self-esteem. Changes in these factors would help retard the overall HIV disease progression. An intervention programme was tailored to address the specific needs of HIV- infected patients. The group intervention was focused in such a way that relevant psychological, behavioural and social aspects were addressed. The programme borrowed and used aspects of different models and reformulated an intervention that would best address the specific needs of the participants. It was possible to isolate specific problems and focus the intervention on these specific areas, such as depression, anger, social isolation and hopelessness. For example, it was possible to take into account the participants' low self-efficacy and problems related to a lack of interpersonal coping skills and develop the participants' confidence and assertiveness (Antoni, 1991)
- Full Text:
- Authors: Lamb, Torsten Rainer
- Date: 2012-08-16
- Subjects: AIDS (Disease) , AIDS (Disease) - Epidemiology , AIDS (Disease) - Psychological aspects , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Mental health , AIDS (Disease) - Patients - Research - South Africa , Behavior therapy , Group psychotherapy , Cognitive therapy , Psychometrics
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/382928 , uj:9573 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/5997
- Description: D.Phil. , This thesis presents an intervention programme that aims to facilitate anger-expression and takes psychosocial and immunological variables into account. The present research argues that if the effects of the programme are validated, similar programmes may yield similar benefits for other participants in future intervention programmes in a South African context. The nature, course and effects of the HIV disease are described and include specific processes and mechanisms of influence in physical, mental and social terms. Biological processes that result from immunological deficiencies causing AIDS are analyzed and an explication of disease progression is offered. Psychological and social aspects related to immune-system deterioration carry implications for patients and influence their prognosis. The research was conducted in the context of a biopsychosocial conceptualization and was aimed at reducing levels of anger and helping establish recourses in the patients to manage infection and disease, as well as improve or at least retard decrements in immunological functioning. The goal of this intervention programme was to reduce levels of anger, anxiety, depression and social isolation. This would in turn increase the participant's personal sense of self-control, self-efficacy and self-esteem. Changes in these factors would help retard the overall HIV disease progression. An intervention programme was tailored to address the specific needs of HIV- infected patients. The group intervention was focused in such a way that relevant psychological, behavioural and social aspects were addressed. The programme borrowed and used aspects of different models and reformulated an intervention that would best address the specific needs of the participants. It was possible to isolate specific problems and focus the intervention on these specific areas, such as depression, anger, social isolation and hopelessness. For example, it was possible to take into account the participants' low self-efficacy and problems related to a lack of interpersonal coping skills and develop the participants' confidence and assertiveness (Antoni, 1991)
- Full Text:
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »