Browsing by Author "Mahomed, Ozayr Haroon."
Item An assessment of DSP pharmacy medication delivery for HIV treatment in a family practice in KwaZulu-Natal.(2014) Reddy, Vinothan Vadival.; Mahomed, Ozayr Haroon.Abstract available in PDF file.Item The impact of lean thinking on operational efficiency in a rural district hospital outpatient department in KwaZulu-Natal.(2013) Naidoo, Logandran.; Mahomed, Ozayr Haroon.Introduction Health-care service in South Africa, especially in the public sector, is fraught with numerous problems, including ineffective operations management in health care facilities. This contributes to poor service delivery and a lackluster work environment. Non-value-adding activities result in, inter alia, long cycle and waiting times, and low staff morale. With Lean thinking, health care managers could tackle specific issues to improve operational efficiency. Aim The purpose of the study was to apply Lean thinking, and to determine its effect on efficiency and staff morale within the outpatient department at Catherine Booth Hospital, in order to inform recommendations to improve operational efficiency in rural district hospital outpatient departments. Methods An operational action-research study design was used. The study sample consisted of all service nodes and employees of the outpatient department in Catherine Booth Hospital. Cycle and waiting times were iteratively measured for all service nodes. Statistical analyses on pre- and post-intervention results were carried out. Results Cycle and waiting time targets were met and exceeded in three service nodes, but only the Investigations node showed statistically significant results (cycle time reduced from 16.7 to 12.2 minutes; p=0.04; and waiting time reduced from 11.93 to 10 minutes; p=0.03). The waiting time for Consulting Rooms improved significantly (80.95 to 74.43 minutes; p<0.0001). Significant decreasing trends in waiting times over the study period were found in Patient Administration (p=0.04), Patient Screening (p<0.0001) and Consulting Rooms (p<0.0001). The trend in average operational efficiency improved over time from 16.35% to 20.13%. The implementation of Lean had a positive impact on the proportion of OPD staff satisfied with their jobs (increased from 21.1% to 77.8%; p<0.0001) and proportion of staff that felt motivated (increased from 15.8% to 77.8%; p<0.0001). Discussion Rural public sector hospitals require a novel and evidence-based approach to improving operational efficiency and staff morale in OPDs and other departments. Lean implementation had a positive impact on cycle and waiting times in all service nodes. Attitude towards teamwork and communication strength are positively impacted by the process of Lean implementation. However, factors such as differing priorities and logic among staff in the OPD and management negatively affect the outcomes of Lean implementation. Conclusion and recommendations The application of Lean principles, tools and techniques is possible in a rural district hospital OPD, without any demands on staff in terms of learning and adopting a new quality-improvement management approach by which to improve operational efficiency. The lessons learnt from the implementation of Lean thinking at a rural hospital used in this study may be emulated for quality improvement across similar hospitals and its sustainability can be assessed further.Item A review of the communicable diseases and infection control policy for emergency medical services in the pre-hospital environment in the public health sector in South Africa - 2005.(2006) Mahomed, Ozayr Haroon.No abstract available.Item Uptake and acceptability of genetic counselling amongst breast cancer patients and their families in the uMgungundlovu Municipality in 2004.(2015) Sayed, Bilqees Banoo.; Mahomed, Ozayr Haroon.Awareness of genetic counselling and risk assessment is imperative for women to seek out genetic services. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of genetic counselling and acceptability of genetic counselling by breast cancer survivors, at the time of diagnosis, and the female members of their families, after the diagnosis of the patient within their family, with a view to developing recommendations based on the findings of the study. Two questionnaires were administered to a conveniently selected sample of 48 women; 28 were breast cancer survivors from the Cancer Association of South Africa’s breast cancer support group and 20 women from the general public. Interviews were then conducted with four randomly selected patients and their family members. A total of 12 participants were interviewed: four breast cancer survivors and eight family members, including two spouses and six children. During the interviews one breast cancer patient who was counselled by a psychologist indicated that she was not satisfied with the information she had been given and that further information on the genetics, recurrence, prognosis and family risk should have been provided as she considered this to be essential. The three patients who were not counselled were of the opinion that counselling on the genetics and risks of breast cancer would have been very useful. Four (50%) of the eight family members interviewed, indicated that they were not offered genetic counselling and would not be interested in knowing about the risks associated with breast cancer. Of the remaining four, two (25%) indicated that although they were not offered genetic counselling they would be interested in genetic counselling and learning about the risks associated with breast cancer as such information would be of great value. In terms of a breast cancer risk assessment, four of the eight family members (50%) indicated they were not interested with one further explaining that she might be interested at a later stage. The remaining four family members (50%) indicated their interest in attending a breast cancer risk assessment. In conclusion, educational interventions are required to increase awareness of genetic counselling and risk assessment.