http://hdl.handle.net/11189/490 2026-08-12T12:38:14Z 2026-08-12T12:38:14Z Chiya, Mondli Jooste, Karien Williams, Amy http://hdl.handle.net/11189/10658 2026-08-06T20:46:15Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Waves of hurt faced by families due to a hospitalised relative with COVID-19 in the Cape Flats Authors: Chiya, Mondli; Jooste, Karien; Williams, Amy Abstract: Background: Family members value each other, particularly during troubled times, and the consequences of a sudden disruption to their family environment could imply difficult adjustments, affecting their well-being. They did not expect that a family member would get severely ill due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It was unclear what the experiences of family members were on the sudden hospitalisation of a close relative diagnosed with COVID-19. Aim: To gain insight into the experiences of family members with a close relative unexpectedly hospitalised with COVID-19. Setting: Two health clinics in Cape Town, were identified that family members visited after the hospitalisation of a close relative with COVID-19. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was followed including 11 participants, heterogeneously purposefully sampled. Individual interviews lasted 30 min– 45 min, posing semi-structured questions - probing led to thematic saturation. Data coding resulted in four themes with 11 categories. Results: Nursing communication with communities during COVID-19 could identify the presence of emotionally wounded states of family members. Nurses should be competent in techniques to relieve the fear of families around their isolated hospitalised relatives. Further research can explore family-orientated interventions needed to deal with fear of losing a hospitalised relative being critically ill. Conclusion: The need of families for ‘nearness’ to a close relative needed to be understood - it meant more than physical proximity.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Ndlovu, Nqobile Erasmus, Rajiv Zemlin, AE http://hdl.handle.net/11189/10596 2026-07-07T20:45:41Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Narrative review: continuous professional development training programmes in Africa and their limitations Authors: Ndlovu, Nqobile; Erasmus, Rajiv; Zemlin, AE Abstract: Continuous professional development (CPD) represents a cornerstone in the advancement of professional skills and knowledge across various sectors. It is globally recognised as a transformative process that unlocks potential, increases capacity, and fosters personal growth. This narrative review article aimed to understand how the CPD training programmes for laboratory professionals are implemented and sustained in Africa. A narrative review was conducted where a comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and web searches for white and/or grey literature, facilitated by a custom Python script. A combination of keywords, truncations, and subject headings targeted four key themes: Continuing professional development (and related terms), laboratory professionals, African countries, and aspects of implementation and scoring. The search was restricted to articles in English published from 2009 to 2024. While the actual training needs and gaps for CPD programmes are widely known, the actual implementation of CPD has remained a challenge. In the past, CPD training programmes have been implemented to address the lack of skills and the insufficient and skewed distribution of these health workers. This approach is not sustainable and has led to some challenges with coordination, quality assurance, and regulation. Each country has its unique context and training needs; therefore, CPD needs to be more coordinated and tailored so that professionals are given the right training for their needs. What this study adds: Addressing training gaps for laboratory professionals in Africa will require a well-structured, coordinated and tailored approach that will deliver a continent-wide CPD programme.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Garba, Idris Engel-Hills, Penelope http://hdl.handle.net/11189/10595 2026-07-06T20:49:52Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Paediatric diagnostic reference levels for common computed tomography procedures: a systematic review Authors: Garba, Idris; Engel-Hills, Penelope Abstract: Background: Previous paediatric diagnostic reference levels (PDRL) literature reviews for commonly performed procedures of the brain, chest and abdomen revealed wide DRL variation and deviation of scanning protocols across CT centres. The current review went further to determine the extent and possible factors of DRL variation in the same procedure, age or weight group, between scanners and CT centres for the standardisation of CT practice globally. Methods: The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) flow chart was used to screen articles in Science Direct, Medline, Academic Search Complete via EBSCOhost, PubMed, and CINAHL via EBSCOhost including the Google search engine. Results: A total of 6573 articles were retrieved and screened against the established criteria and finally, 52 articles were selected and synthesised narratively. Conclusion: The findings of this review show variation of brain PDRLs up to a factor of 2 fold for the same examinationandagegroup.Factorsattributabletodosevariationsnotedinthisreviewwerelargelyrelated to the setting of the scan protocols such as the use of different phantom sizes, dose parameters, and age groups. This indicates the need to standardise methods of establishing PDRLs and alignment with the European Commission and ICRP recommended guidelines are proposed.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z JANSE VAN RENSBURG, SUSAN Van Toorn, Ronald Jaftha , Mariaan Kemp, Merlisa Engel-Hills, Penelope Kotze, Martha http://hdl.handle.net/11189/10594 2026-07-06T20:50:59Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Epstein-Barr virus infection and vitamin D deficiency are both “causal” for multiple sclerosis (MS) - could the common denominator be their effects on hepcidin levels? Authors: JANSE VAN RENSBURG, SUSAN; Van Toorn, Ronald; Jaftha , Mariaan; Kemp, Merlisa; Engel-Hills, Penelope; Kotze, Martha Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder characterized by damage to the myelin sheaths surrounding axons in the central nervous system, causing decreased axonal signal transmission and disability in people with MS. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection and vitamin D deficiency have been put forward as causal factors for the development of MS, but their effects have not been conclusively linked to the disruption of myelin maintenance. Interestingly, both EBV infection and vitamin D deficiency increase the levels of hepcidin, an acute-phase peptide hormone that inhibits iron absorption. The current understanding of iron dysregulation in MS is that iron accumulates in deep gray matter brain structures which leads to disability progression. However, recent studies have revealed that the apparent iron influx may be an artefact of disease-related brain atrophy, and that iron is in contrast depleted in the deep gray matter in MS, which could cause iron deficiency in oligodendrocytes (the cells producing myelin), leading to their demise due to a mitochondrial energy deficit, with consequent demyelination. EBV infection, vitamin D deficiency and iron deficiency may converge as causal risk factors for MS. Dismantling the current understanding that iron excess underpins MS would improve testing and optimization of iron parameters and vitamin D as part of clinical management of MS. This review additionally explores the risk factors for lytic reactivation of EBV which is hypothesized to drive MS disease activity. Conversely, ensuring that EBV remains in a latent state by ameliorating these risk factors may prevent MS exacerbations and disease worsening.

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