Depression, anxiety and coping mechanisms among mental healthcare practitioners during COVID-19.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has placed the psychological functioning of mental healthcare practitioners under severe strain. Coping methods may affect mental health outcomes.

Aim: The study examined the relationship between depression, anxiety, stress, and coping styles utilised by mental healthcare practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable: The tale of adaptability.

Background: With the ever-changing healthcare environment and impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on tertiary education, healthcare students need to constantly adapt their approach to learning, clinical practice and well-being. Adaptive performance is therefore vital.

Objectives: To investigate the adaptive performance of final year physiotherapy students at the University of the Free State.

Chronic Ankle Instability and Associated Self-Reported Function in South African Professional Ballet Dancers.

Introduction: Ankle sprains are the most common acute injury among dancers and may result in the development of chronic ankle instability (CAI). Chronic ankle instability is characterized by recurrent ankle sprains, incidents of the ankle "giving way," and sensations of instability and has been reported to negatively impact functioning and psychosocial status. The large number of ankle sprains in addition to contextual factors relating to professional dancing, suggests that CAI may be a significant problem in professional ballet dancers.

Impact of a nutrition education intervention on nutrition-related self-efficacy and locus of control among women in Lesotho.

Introduction: Lesotho is one of the poorest countries in the world with high levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. The aim was to evaluate the impact of a nutrition education intervention informed by self-efficacy and locus of control theories among women in Lesotho.

Methods: A randomized pre-test-post-test design was adopted to implement a systematically designed nutrition education intervention in women from Maseru and Berea districts in Lesotho.

Health literacy of Sesotho-speaking patients diagnosed with chronic conditions in South Africa.

Background: Health literacy influences patients' health outcomes, as their ability to read, interpret and apply health information associated with health-related decision-making. These decision-making skills need to be made up by patients diagnosed with chronic conditions - also Sesotho-speaking patients receiving treatment in public primary health care environments.

Aim: The study aimed to assess the health literacy of Sesotho-speaking patients diagnosed with chronic conditions and to establish the associations between the sociodemographic data of patients and items of a health literacy test.

Nutrigenomics: Perceptions of South African Dietitians and General Practitioners.

Introduction: Although investigations into the emerging field of nutrigenomics are relatively limited and more research in this field is required, experts agree that there is potential for it to be incorporated into health care practice. If health care professionals can promote healthy dietary behavior based on nutrigenomic testing, it can assist in addressing the health consequences of poor diet and lightning the strain on the South African health care system.

Methods: Registered dietitians (RDs) and general practitioners (GPs) registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) who obtained their qualification in South Africa (SA) were eligible to participate in this cross-sectional study.

Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet of Pregnant Women in Central South Africa: The NuEMI Study.

Introduction: The Mediterranean diet (MeD) has been shown to have significant health benefits for adults and children. A mother's diet during pregnancy directly impacts the health of her offspring. This study aimed to investigate the adherence to the MeD of pregnant women attending antenatal care at a Regional Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa (SA).

Iodine status of pregnant women residing in the urban Free State Province of South Africa is borderline adequate: The NuEMI study.

Adequate iodine nutrition during pregnancy is essential for optimal fetal development and neonatal outcomes. In South Africa, the iodine status of pregnant women, who have increased iodine requirements, is under-researched. We hypothesized that the iodine status of pregnant women in the Free State Province would be inadequate and may differ between urban and rural areas.

Predictive value of different body segments to estimate height in a South African adult hospital population.

Background And Aims: Height measurement is a vital component for assessing nutritional risk, and calculating dietary requirements in a clinical setting where indirect calorimetry is not available. In many patients, height cannot be measured accurately, and equations based on body segments are relied on to predict height. This study aimed to evaluate if specific body segments are better associated with height than others in a South African public hospital setting.

Interactive workshops as a learning and teaching method for primary healthcare nurses.

Background: Traditionally, learning by and teaching for primary healthcare (PHC) nurses use didactic, teacher-centred approaches. Hence, the feasibility of interactive workshops in non-threatening PHC environments to refresh nurses' knowledge on patient care needs exploring.

Aim: To describe interactive workshops as a learning and teaching method for PHC nurses.

A nutritional profile of patients with tuberculosis at Standerton Tuberculosis Specialised Hospital, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is strongly influenced by nutritional status, with nutrition interventions being likely to have an impact on the prevalence of disease, response to drugs and quality of life.

Aim: The aim of this research study was to determine the nutritional profile of patients with TB and TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection.

Setting: The study was conducted at Standerton TB Specialised Hospital, Mpumalanga.

Body satisfaction of female staff members working in primary schools in Mangaung, Bloemfontein.

Background: The role of psychosocial determinants of overweight and obesity is receiving attention in South African literature. South Africans tend to exhibit an inaccurate perception of their body weight.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine levels of body satisfaction in female staff members working in primary schools in Mangaung, Bloemfontein.

The Impact of a Household Food Garden Intervention on Food Security in Lesotho.

Food insecurity is a challenge in the developing world, where many are finding healthy food inaccessible due to poverty. A pre-test, post-test design was applied to determine the impact of a vegetable gardening intervention in 25 experimental and 25 control households in Lesotho. Information about sociodemographic conditions and indicators of food security was collected by trained fieldworkers.

Determinants of Stunting at 6 Weeks in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

The first 1,000 days from conception to 24 months is a critical period for healthy growth and development. In South Africa, stunting (weight-for-length below -2SD from the WHO reference mean) is a major public health issue with significant health consequences. We determined associations between demographic, health, and anthropometric indicators of mothers and their infants.

Smoking habits and alcohol use of patients with tuberculosis at Standerton Tuberculosis Specialised Hospital, Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Background: A high prevalence of smoking and alcohol use has been reported in patients with tuberculosis (TB) by several researchers, even though these lifestyle habits have a negative impact on prognosis and treatment.

Aim: To determine the smoking habits and alcohol use of patients with TB and TB/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, and how it is associated with gender, level of education and body mass index (BMI).

Setting: The study was conducted at Standerton TB Specialised Hospital, Mpumalanga.

Development of a Sesotho health literacy test in a South African context.

Background: Research shows that poor health literacy (HL) can be a threat to health and health care. Health literacy is under-researched and poorly understood in developing countries, including South Africa, because of the absence of language and context-specific HL tests.

Aim: The researchers aimed to develop an appropriate HL test for use among South African public health service users with Sesotho as their first language.

Stressors and coping strategies among physiotherapy students: Towards an integrated support structure.

Background: Stress is a major problem among university and, specifically, health care students, as it may influence academic performance and psychological well-being negatively.

Aims: To develop and implement a student support system based on the perceived stress, stressors and coping strategies of physiotherapy students.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was undertaken, using a literature-based, self-compiled questionnaire and the 28-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28).

Childhood disability population-based surveillance: Assessment of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Third Edition and Washington Group on Disability Statistics/UNICEF module on child functioning in a rural setting in South Africa.

Background: Epidemiological information on childhood disability provides the basis for a country to plan, implement and manage the provision of health, educational and social services for these vulnerable children. There is, however, currently no population-based surveillance instrument that is compatible with the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), internationally comparable, methodologically sound and comprehensively researched, to identify children under 5 years of age who are living with disability in South Africa and internationally. We conducted a descriptive pilot study to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of translated versions of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Third Edition (ASQ-III) and the Washington Group on Disability Statistics/UNICEF module on child functioning (WG/UNICEF module) as parent-reported measures.

School environment, socioeconomic status and weight of children in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Background: The continued existence of undernutrition, associated with a steady increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, necessitates identification of factors contributing to this double burden of disease, in order for effective treatment and prevention programmes to be planned.

Aim: To determine the nutritional status of 13-15-year-old children in Bloemfontein and its association with socioeconomic factors.

Setting: Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa (2006).

Transformation: are nurse leaders in critical care ready?

Aim: The aim was to determine whether nursing leaders met the criteria for transformational and/or transactional leadership.

Background: Many changes have occurred in South Africa and are reflected in the health-care systems. As a result, it has become crucial to source leaders who are able to manage the change process effectively so as to ensure the success and survival of our health-care organizations.

Rotational conjunctival flap surgery reduces recurrence of pterygium.

We aimed to compare the recurrence rate following primary pterygium surgery using two different techniques, i.e. simple conjunctival closure (SCC) and rotational conjunctival flap (RCF).

An evidence-based review on the validity of the Kaltenborn rule as applied to the glenohumeral joint.

Kaltenborn's convex-concave rule is a familiar concept in joint treatment techniques and arthrokinematics. Recent investigations on the glenohumeral joint appear to question this rule and thus accepted practice guidelines. An evidence-based systematic review was conducted to summarize and interpret the evidence on the direction of the accessory gliding movement of the head of the humerus (HOH) on the glenoid during physiological shoulder movement.