A case study of role conflict experienced by change champions during organisational change
- Nakani-Mapoma, Xoliswa Faith
- Authors: Nakani-Mapoma, Xoliswa Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organization change , Organization change -- Management , Role conflict , Organizational behavior -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96848 , vital:31337
- Description: A change champion has been defined as a person from any level of the organisation who is skilled at initiating, facilitating and implementing change, and who can effectively champion organisational changes. From a review of the literature, it was anticipated that change champions may experience role conflict, due to the multiple roles that they needed to fulfil simultaneously. Informed by organisational role theory, this research investigated the change management programme of a specific public entity as a case study, and analysed the nature of the role conflict that change champions experienced during a specific organisational change. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four change champions, the change coordinator and the Executive Director Corporate Services. The organisational documents that relate to change management were also consulted with a view to providing background information and an overview of the change management programme. A deductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. A coding framework was developed prior to the collection of data, and was used for the identification of theoretical codes and themes in the data. The following codes were developed and explored as types of role conflict: role ambiguity, person role conflict, role strain, role overload and role incompatibility. In terms of the findings, this study confirmed that change champions did experience role conflict during organisational change, mainly due to various expectations that come from different role senders. In the light of these findings, it was recommended that senior managers could reduce the incidents of role conflict by training change champions, introducing an orientation programme for new change champions, consider their personal values when appointing them, and allocating sufficient time for change champions to fulfil this additional role. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge by drawing on role theory and applying it to change management, in order to provide insight on the role of change champions during the organisational change, and in particular the role conflict that they experienced.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nakani-Mapoma, Xoliswa Faith
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Organization change , Organization change -- Management , Role conflict , Organizational behavior -- Case studies , Corporate culture -- Case studies
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/96848 , vital:31337
- Description: A change champion has been defined as a person from any level of the organisation who is skilled at initiating, facilitating and implementing change, and who can effectively champion organisational changes. From a review of the literature, it was anticipated that change champions may experience role conflict, due to the multiple roles that they needed to fulfil simultaneously. Informed by organisational role theory, this research investigated the change management programme of a specific public entity as a case study, and analysed the nature of the role conflict that change champions experienced during a specific organisational change. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four change champions, the change coordinator and the Executive Director Corporate Services. The organisational documents that relate to change management were also consulted with a view to providing background information and an overview of the change management programme. A deductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. A coding framework was developed prior to the collection of data, and was used for the identification of theoretical codes and themes in the data. The following codes were developed and explored as types of role conflict: role ambiguity, person role conflict, role strain, role overload and role incompatibility. In terms of the findings, this study confirmed that change champions did experience role conflict during organisational change, mainly due to various expectations that come from different role senders. In the light of these findings, it was recommended that senior managers could reduce the incidents of role conflict by training change champions, introducing an orientation programme for new change champions, consider their personal values when appointing them, and allocating sufficient time for change champions to fulfil this additional role. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge by drawing on role theory and applying it to change management, in order to provide insight on the role of change champions during the organisational change, and in particular the role conflict that they experienced.
- Full Text:
A corporate social responsibility (CSR) analysis of the transformation of the mobile telephone industry of South Africa
- Authors: Nyamande, Godfrey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa , Cell phone systems -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Mobile communication systems -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93887 , vital:30967
- Description: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requires companies to fulfil certain responsibilities in society that are outside of the core operational activities of the company. The socio-economic dynamics of the region or country that the company operates from, as well as the pressures those stakeholders tend to apply, have a bearing on the direction that the CSR development takes. Mirvis and Googins (2006) described the CSR developmental path followed by international companies. Before that Carroll (1991) had suggested a developmental pyramid that suggested that philanthropy represented the highest level of CSR development. This pyramid was later revised by Visser (2005) in order to suit the African environment. In South Africa CSR development is mainly driven by legislation through the BEE Act of 2003. This has resulted in the birth of industry charters that guide the development of CSR in different industries. To fulfil the requirements of the charter and score vital B-BBEE points, companies have to engage with both internal and external stakeholders, holistically. One such industry is the telecommunications industry, which formed the basis for this research, with special emphasis on the mobile telecommunications industry. The research set out to explore how the industry charter and company practices compared with the existing literature on CSR. The aim of this research was therefore to analyse the existing CSR practices in the mobile telecommunication industry in South Africa, where the B-BBEE Act plays a pivotal role in influencing practice. Using publically available documents, this research conducted an analysis of the B-BBEE components in the telecommunications charter as the catalyst to development of CSR in the South African mobile telecommunications industry, with the three dominant companies, - MTN, Vodacom and Cell C – being utilised as case studies. Key research findings were that transformation is still low in terms of equitable gender and racial representation at the top management level. The industry charter attempts to address these and other social challenges and economic problems. However, it does not address ecological issues that may emanate from the industry operations. Therefore, a CSR assessment framework that addresses all stakeholders for sustainable economic development is proposed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Nyamande, Godfrey
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Social responsibility of business -- South Africa , Cell phone systems -- Moral and ethical aspects -- South Africa , Mobile communication systems -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa , Telecommunication -- Moral and ethicsl aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/93887 , vital:30967
- Description: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) requires companies to fulfil certain responsibilities in society that are outside of the core operational activities of the company. The socio-economic dynamics of the region or country that the company operates from, as well as the pressures those stakeholders tend to apply, have a bearing on the direction that the CSR development takes. Mirvis and Googins (2006) described the CSR developmental path followed by international companies. Before that Carroll (1991) had suggested a developmental pyramid that suggested that philanthropy represented the highest level of CSR development. This pyramid was later revised by Visser (2005) in order to suit the African environment. In South Africa CSR development is mainly driven by legislation through the BEE Act of 2003. This has resulted in the birth of industry charters that guide the development of CSR in different industries. To fulfil the requirements of the charter and score vital B-BBEE points, companies have to engage with both internal and external stakeholders, holistically. One such industry is the telecommunications industry, which formed the basis for this research, with special emphasis on the mobile telecommunications industry. The research set out to explore how the industry charter and company practices compared with the existing literature on CSR. The aim of this research was therefore to analyse the existing CSR practices in the mobile telecommunication industry in South Africa, where the B-BBEE Act plays a pivotal role in influencing practice. Using publically available documents, this research conducted an analysis of the B-BBEE components in the telecommunications charter as the catalyst to development of CSR in the South African mobile telecommunications industry, with the three dominant companies, - MTN, Vodacom and Cell C – being utilised as case studies. Key research findings were that transformation is still low in terms of equitable gender and racial representation at the top management level. The industry charter attempts to address these and other social challenges and economic problems. However, it does not address ecological issues that may emanate from the industry operations. Therefore, a CSR assessment framework that addresses all stakeholders for sustainable economic development is proposed.
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Collaborative health literacy development: a World Health Organization workplace health promotion approach to address tobacco use
- Authors: Duxbury, Theodore Orlando
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Tobacco use -- Health aspects , Smoking -- Health aspects , Employee health promotion , Employee health promotion -- Computer programs , Rhodes University -- Employees -- Tobacco use
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/104116 , vital:29930
- Description: Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a major global public health threat and tobacco use in particular is the leading cause of preventable illness and mortality globally. Furthermore, vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people get sicker and die sooner, especially because they are at higher risk of being exposed to harmful products such as tobacco and have limited access to health services. Tobacco use also has a major impact on the workplace, adversely affecting work productivity and increasing absenteeism. Both the living and work environments, therefore, play an important role in contributing towards the NCD epidemic. Demographics, culture, behaviour change reluctance and health literacy are all factors which exacerbate tobacco prevalence in South Africa. Workplace health promotion, however, is not well established in many workplaces. This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a culturallysensitive and contextually-appropriate collaborative workplace health promotion literacy programme on tobacco use, utilizing tailored health information leaflets and the Rhodes University peer educators support staff, guided by the World Health Organization Workplace Health Promotion Framework. Method: The research was conducted using a participatory action research approach, which involved four phases: Firstly, the Exploratory phase assessed tobacco-related health promotion policies and practices at Rhodes University; and established facilitating and constraining factors related to tobacco use. Secondly, the Educational health promotion phase involved designing and testing a health promotion educational intervention to address tobacco use related challenges, which took the form of culturally sensitive and appropriate health information leaflets to be used as an educational intervention Thirdly, in the Implementation phase health promotion training workshops were conducted with volunteering Rhodes University Peer Educators. Finally, an Evaluation phase involved evaluating the tobacco health promotion programme presented to the Rhodes University Peer Educators through a focus group discussion; and evaluating Peer Educator recall on the tobacco related health information discussed during the training workshops through a post-post intervention questionnaire. Eight semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with support staff, peer educators and key stakeholders to establish the need for a comprehensive workplace health promotion initiative, and to identify the facilitating and constraining factors to conducting such an initiative on tobacco use at the University. Three health information leaflets (HILs) were developed collaboratively with the Peer Educators following a series of scientific, end-user testing approaches. The HILs were tested for readability, comprehension, actionability and suitability. A four-day health promotion training programme was conducted to improve user friendliness, memory retention and recall of the HILs by the peer educators and to improve tobacco related health literacy aspects. The participants’ memory recall was evaluated using a pre- and post-, and post-post-intervention questionnaire to evaluate knowledge transfer. The study participants were also equipped with the completed HILs to distribute to their peers and to use as reference sources of information when needed in future. Results: The peer educators and institutional management supported the need for a tobacco workplace health promotion intervention. The intervention and evaluation phase of this study proved that health information material developed was readable, actionable, suitable, userfriendly, culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate. The workshops resulted in a significant increase in the participants’ tobacco related health knowledge. Through the adoption of a collaborative approach to the research, the participants felt empowered and ready to be agents of change amongst their peers in the workplace. Recommendations: The collective use of external expert reviewers, end-user testing techniques and validated computer programmes are recommended to improve the validity of health promotion research outcomes. A longitudinal study that focus on behaviour change, specifically, with health evaluation and monitoring aspects could be conducted as the next step to this study.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Duxbury, Theodore Orlando
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Tobacco use -- Health aspects , Smoking -- Health aspects , Employee health promotion , Employee health promotion -- Computer programs , Rhodes University -- Employees -- Tobacco use
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/104116 , vital:29930
- Description: Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are a major global public health threat and tobacco use in particular is the leading cause of preventable illness and mortality globally. Furthermore, vulnerable and socially disadvantaged people get sicker and die sooner, especially because they are at higher risk of being exposed to harmful products such as tobacco and have limited access to health services. Tobacco use also has a major impact on the workplace, adversely affecting work productivity and increasing absenteeism. Both the living and work environments, therefore, play an important role in contributing towards the NCD epidemic. Demographics, culture, behaviour change reluctance and health literacy are all factors which exacerbate tobacco prevalence in South Africa. Workplace health promotion, however, is not well established in many workplaces. This study aimed to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a culturallysensitive and contextually-appropriate collaborative workplace health promotion literacy programme on tobacco use, utilizing tailored health information leaflets and the Rhodes University peer educators support staff, guided by the World Health Organization Workplace Health Promotion Framework. Method: The research was conducted using a participatory action research approach, which involved four phases: Firstly, the Exploratory phase assessed tobacco-related health promotion policies and practices at Rhodes University; and established facilitating and constraining factors related to tobacco use. Secondly, the Educational health promotion phase involved designing and testing a health promotion educational intervention to address tobacco use related challenges, which took the form of culturally sensitive and appropriate health information leaflets to be used as an educational intervention Thirdly, in the Implementation phase health promotion training workshops were conducted with volunteering Rhodes University Peer Educators. Finally, an Evaluation phase involved evaluating the tobacco health promotion programme presented to the Rhodes University Peer Educators through a focus group discussion; and evaluating Peer Educator recall on the tobacco related health information discussed during the training workshops through a post-post intervention questionnaire. Eight semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and seven focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with support staff, peer educators and key stakeholders to establish the need for a comprehensive workplace health promotion initiative, and to identify the facilitating and constraining factors to conducting such an initiative on tobacco use at the University. Three health information leaflets (HILs) were developed collaboratively with the Peer Educators following a series of scientific, end-user testing approaches. The HILs were tested for readability, comprehension, actionability and suitability. A four-day health promotion training programme was conducted to improve user friendliness, memory retention and recall of the HILs by the peer educators and to improve tobacco related health literacy aspects. The participants’ memory recall was evaluated using a pre- and post-, and post-post-intervention questionnaire to evaluate knowledge transfer. The study participants were also equipped with the completed HILs to distribute to their peers and to use as reference sources of information when needed in future. Results: The peer educators and institutional management supported the need for a tobacco workplace health promotion intervention. The intervention and evaluation phase of this study proved that health information material developed was readable, actionable, suitable, userfriendly, culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate. The workshops resulted in a significant increase in the participants’ tobacco related health knowledge. Through the adoption of a collaborative approach to the research, the participants felt empowered and ready to be agents of change amongst their peers in the workplace. Recommendations: The collective use of external expert reviewers, end-user testing techniques and validated computer programmes are recommended to improve the validity of health promotion research outcomes. A longitudinal study that focus on behaviour change, specifically, with health evaluation and monitoring aspects could be conducted as the next step to this study.
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The role of leadership in shaping school culture in a secondary school
- Authors: Kofi, Linda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Educational leadership , Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies , Corporate culture
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92247 , vital:30698
- Description: SDG 4 calls for an “inclusive, quality and equitable education and lifelong opportunities for all”. The purpose of the study is to investigate how leadership has shaped the school culture, which culminates to higher academic performance in a secondary school. This case study is done in a previously disadvantaged secondary school within the Buffalo City Metro Education District, in the Eastern Cape. Despite the socio-economic challenges faced by the school, the NSC examination pass rate results for the school are constantly above the Provincial NSC pass rate results. Consequently, the aim of the study is to determine the unique characteristics of the school culture that have contributed to high academic performance, and how the school leadership has cultivated this culture. The study reviews school culture using Schein’s organizational culture model. Moreover, it reviews school principalship, leadership and how leadership shapes school culture. Lastly, the study reviews literature on instructional, transformational and distributed leadership theories, as they resonate well with South African school environment. The study utilizes a qualitative research method in its investigation, gathering data through document analysis and interviews. After the data was collected, the pattern matching method was utilized to analyse the findings. The key characteristics of school culture that contributed to the school performing well academically, are the values of disciplined hard work and academic excellence. Furthermore, findings proved that characteristics of instructional leadership such as the provision of professional development and the management of curriculum and instruction have the shape the school culture. Transformational leadership characteristics such as individualized consideration, inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation, have also shaped the school culture; as have characteristics of distributed leadership such as sharing authority and accountability. The study discusses the findings and then concludes by recognizing the research limitations such as the time constraints and purposeful exclusion of certain school members, for example learners. In its conclusion the study presents it contributions to the body of knowledge and provides recommendations for practitioners and future studies.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Kofi, Linda
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Educational leadership , Educational leadership -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape -- Case studies , Corporate culture
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/92247 , vital:30698
- Description: SDG 4 calls for an “inclusive, quality and equitable education and lifelong opportunities for all”. The purpose of the study is to investigate how leadership has shaped the school culture, which culminates to higher academic performance in a secondary school. This case study is done in a previously disadvantaged secondary school within the Buffalo City Metro Education District, in the Eastern Cape. Despite the socio-economic challenges faced by the school, the NSC examination pass rate results for the school are constantly above the Provincial NSC pass rate results. Consequently, the aim of the study is to determine the unique characteristics of the school culture that have contributed to high academic performance, and how the school leadership has cultivated this culture. The study reviews school culture using Schein’s organizational culture model. Moreover, it reviews school principalship, leadership and how leadership shapes school culture. Lastly, the study reviews literature on instructional, transformational and distributed leadership theories, as they resonate well with South African school environment. The study utilizes a qualitative research method in its investigation, gathering data through document analysis and interviews. After the data was collected, the pattern matching method was utilized to analyse the findings. The key characteristics of school culture that contributed to the school performing well academically, are the values of disciplined hard work and academic excellence. Furthermore, findings proved that characteristics of instructional leadership such as the provision of professional development and the management of curriculum and instruction have the shape the school culture. Transformational leadership characteristics such as individualized consideration, inspirational motivation and intellectual stimulation, have also shaped the school culture; as have characteristics of distributed leadership such as sharing authority and accountability. The study discusses the findings and then concludes by recognizing the research limitations such as the time constraints and purposeful exclusion of certain school members, for example learners. In its conclusion the study presents it contributions to the body of knowledge and provides recommendations for practitioners and future studies.
- Full Text:
Workplace health promotion at Rhodes University: harmful use of alcohol
- Authors: Marara, Praise
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Chronic diseases -- South Africa , Health education -- South Africa , Drinking of alcoholic beverages -- Health aspects -- South Africa , Employees -- Alcohol use -- South Africa , Employee health promotion -- South Africa , Rhodes University -- Employees -- Health and hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67444 , vital:29088
- Description: Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 38 million deaths annually, which translates to 68% of global deaths every year. Incidence and prevalence of NCDs are increasing rapidly and the poor bear a disproportionate burden. The increase in NCDs has been primarily due to a proliferation of modifiable risk factors, such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. Substance abuse, mainly of alcohol, is a common cause of health problems in almost all countries across the globe. Alcohol abuse is a major contributor to the global burden of diseases and accounts for 3.3 million deaths, approximately 5.9% of all global deaths, annually. Alcohol misuse is the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability and is the top risk factor among people between 15 and 49 years of age. The rise of harmful use of alcohol in South Africa contributes to the disease burden faced by the country, with alcohol-related disorders making up 44.6% of all alcohol-attributable disabilities. Strategies to reduce harmful use of alcohol include national policies and educational interventions including health promotion. Health promotion is a common practice in the prevention of NCDs, but workplace health promotion has not yet been well established in many workplaces. Identification of past workplace initiatives and exploring their facilitating and limiting factors is thus important to consider when planning future initiatives. Raising awareness on harmful use of alcohol through workplace health promotion projects can help to prevent and reduce alcohol-related problems. For these health promotion activities to succeed, they need to be developed with consideration of factors such as the environment, culture, and socio-economic standing of the intended target population. Method: This study, conducted at Rhodes University, followed a mixed methods research approach and consisted of two phases. The first phase of the current study was a needs assessment and involved working with the key stakeholders. Using the Community Based Participatory Research approach and the Centres for Disease Control and prevention workplace health model to guide the research, five semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders to identify factors affecting workplace health promotion, and their opinions on how to improve these initiatives were sought. The participants were asked to identify areas on which the intended intervention should focus, as well as to identify their preferred means of communicating health messages. During this phase, a group of peer educators who volunteered their involvement in the health promotion project focusing on harmful use of alcohol was also identified. The second phase of this project aimed to address concerns raised in the first phase through a health promotion initiative for support staff that focuses on the prevention of NCDs diseases through reducing alcohol related harm. During the educational health promotion phase of the study, three health information leaflets based on harmful use of alcohol were designed. These leaflets went through a series of evaluations by the researchers’ peers, support staff during a pilot study, peer educators and other health professionals to assess content validity, context specificity, and cultural appropriateness for the target group. The health information leaflets were then used as written materials in the educational intervention of the project and were also used to design a poster. Through participatory involvement, a facilitator’s manual on harmful use of alcohol was developed, which was used during the workshops in the implementation phase of the research. The facilitator’s manual was modified based on provided feedback on improving the content of the facilitator’s manual. The readability of the manual was also performed to make it suitable for the end users. The peer educators were also trained through workshops to enable them to promote and raise awareness on harmful use of alcohol to others in the workplace. Workshops were participatory in nature and were also equipped with the completed health information leaflets to distribute to their peers and to use as reference sources of information when needed. Results: Participants in the semi-structured interviews reported that some health promotion initiatives have previously been attempted and advertised to support staff, but there was poor participant participation. Peer educators reported that these initiatives were not communicated to them and venues and work commitments sometimes were barriers to participation in these projects. The peer educators suggested incentivising initiatives for better participation. Another key suggestion was to inform and to include their managers and supervisors in these initiatives so they are permitted to take time off work. Health education material like posters or leaflets were also proposed as modes of delivering health information. During the design of the material to be used for this project’s intended intervention, the health information leaflets were deemed readable, suitable, actionable, context-specific, and culturally appropriate. Workshops conducted during Phase 2 of the study proved to be valuable in training peer educators. Peer educators also deemed the workshops useful, and reported their readiness to be agents of change in the workplace. Conclusions: Based on the input of key stakeholders and peer educators, there is currently no health promotion policy at Rhodes University, especially with respect to NCDs health promotion policies and protocols for NCDs. Health promotion initiatives, especially for support staff, that address NCDs have previously been attempted at the university but were not successful. Factors affecting workplace health promotion were identified. Knowledge of these factors was useful when implementing the health promotion project on harmful use of alcohol. The health leaflets were deemed suitable for use by the target population. Peer educators who went through the workshops and were provided with the facilitators’ manuals concluded that the sessions were useful in their continued participation in the health promotion project. Continued involvement of the Wellness Office and peer educators can assist in ensuring the sustainability of this workplace health initiative.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Marara, Praise
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Chronic diseases -- South Africa , Health education -- South Africa , Drinking of alcoholic beverages -- Health aspects -- South Africa , Employees -- Alcohol use -- South Africa , Employee health promotion -- South Africa , Rhodes University -- Employees -- Health and hygiene
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MPharm
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/67444 , vital:29088
- Description: Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 38 million deaths annually, which translates to 68% of global deaths every year. Incidence and prevalence of NCDs are increasing rapidly and the poor bear a disproportionate burden. The increase in NCDs has been primarily due to a proliferation of modifiable risk factors, such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption. Substance abuse, mainly of alcohol, is a common cause of health problems in almost all countries across the globe. Alcohol abuse is a major contributor to the global burden of diseases and accounts for 3.3 million deaths, approximately 5.9% of all global deaths, annually. Alcohol misuse is the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability and is the top risk factor among people between 15 and 49 years of age. The rise of harmful use of alcohol in South Africa contributes to the disease burden faced by the country, with alcohol-related disorders making up 44.6% of all alcohol-attributable disabilities. Strategies to reduce harmful use of alcohol include national policies and educational interventions including health promotion. Health promotion is a common practice in the prevention of NCDs, but workplace health promotion has not yet been well established in many workplaces. Identification of past workplace initiatives and exploring their facilitating and limiting factors is thus important to consider when planning future initiatives. Raising awareness on harmful use of alcohol through workplace health promotion projects can help to prevent and reduce alcohol-related problems. For these health promotion activities to succeed, they need to be developed with consideration of factors such as the environment, culture, and socio-economic standing of the intended target population. Method: This study, conducted at Rhodes University, followed a mixed methods research approach and consisted of two phases. The first phase of the current study was a needs assessment and involved working with the key stakeholders. Using the Community Based Participatory Research approach and the Centres for Disease Control and prevention workplace health model to guide the research, five semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders to identify factors affecting workplace health promotion, and their opinions on how to improve these initiatives were sought. The participants were asked to identify areas on which the intended intervention should focus, as well as to identify their preferred means of communicating health messages. During this phase, a group of peer educators who volunteered their involvement in the health promotion project focusing on harmful use of alcohol was also identified. The second phase of this project aimed to address concerns raised in the first phase through a health promotion initiative for support staff that focuses on the prevention of NCDs diseases through reducing alcohol related harm. During the educational health promotion phase of the study, three health information leaflets based on harmful use of alcohol were designed. These leaflets went through a series of evaluations by the researchers’ peers, support staff during a pilot study, peer educators and other health professionals to assess content validity, context specificity, and cultural appropriateness for the target group. The health information leaflets were then used as written materials in the educational intervention of the project and were also used to design a poster. Through participatory involvement, a facilitator’s manual on harmful use of alcohol was developed, which was used during the workshops in the implementation phase of the research. The facilitator’s manual was modified based on provided feedback on improving the content of the facilitator’s manual. The readability of the manual was also performed to make it suitable for the end users. The peer educators were also trained through workshops to enable them to promote and raise awareness on harmful use of alcohol to others in the workplace. Workshops were participatory in nature and were also equipped with the completed health information leaflets to distribute to their peers and to use as reference sources of information when needed. Results: Participants in the semi-structured interviews reported that some health promotion initiatives have previously been attempted and advertised to support staff, but there was poor participant participation. Peer educators reported that these initiatives were not communicated to them and venues and work commitments sometimes were barriers to participation in these projects. The peer educators suggested incentivising initiatives for better participation. Another key suggestion was to inform and to include their managers and supervisors in these initiatives so they are permitted to take time off work. Health education material like posters or leaflets were also proposed as modes of delivering health information. During the design of the material to be used for this project’s intended intervention, the health information leaflets were deemed readable, suitable, actionable, context-specific, and culturally appropriate. Workshops conducted during Phase 2 of the study proved to be valuable in training peer educators. Peer educators also deemed the workshops useful, and reported their readiness to be agents of change in the workplace. Conclusions: Based on the input of key stakeholders and peer educators, there is currently no health promotion policy at Rhodes University, especially with respect to NCDs health promotion policies and protocols for NCDs. Health promotion initiatives, especially for support staff, that address NCDs have previously been attempted at the university but were not successful. Factors affecting workplace health promotion were identified. Knowledge of these factors was useful when implementing the health promotion project on harmful use of alcohol. The health leaflets were deemed suitable for use by the target population. Peer educators who went through the workshops and were provided with the facilitators’ manuals concluded that the sessions were useful in their continued participation in the health promotion project. Continued involvement of the Wellness Office and peer educators can assist in ensuring the sustainability of this workplace health initiative.
- Full Text:
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