Thev Gurayah | University of KwaZulu-Natal (original) (raw)
Papers by Thev Gurayah
African Health Sciences, Apr 12, 2023
Background: Occupational Therapy is among the top interventions for autistic children, hence the ... more Background: Occupational Therapy is among the top interventions for autistic children, hence the need for equitable and effective services in the public and private health and education sectors. Ongoing research into the therapies for autism spectrum disorders in different contexts is also required. Objectives: To explore and describe occupational therapists' assessment and intervention for autistic children in South Africa. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews to gather data from purposively recruited OTs (n=20). Data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically, and compared across three sectors public health, special needs schools and private practice. Results: South African practice across all three sectors was similar to international patterns of informal play-based assessment, sensory processing and Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®) treatment. Developmental frameworks guided specific approaches. Strong team collaboration was present across sectors, with some transdisciplinary teamwork and co-treatment. Undergraduate and postgraduate training opportunities were, however limited. Conclusions: Occupational therapy assessments had diagnostic value. Informal tools such as developmental checklists were found to have clinical utility, whilst standardised tools were most commonly used to assess sensory processing and visual perception. Recommendations included incorporating ASI® into undergraduate curricula and postgraduate training opportunities with multidisciplinary input to develop ASD professionals in South Africa. It is imperative to advocate for services in under-resourced rural areas and marginalised communities that lack financial and social resources. Occupational therapists need to find new ways of working collaboratively across sectors to ensure effective and comprehensive services in public health and special schools.
International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care, 2021
Rural and Remote Health, 2021
Introduction: Adolescents require opportunities to engage in occupations and need to have the req... more Introduction: Adolescents require opportunities to engage in occupations and need to have the requisite aptitude and agency to choose the occupations they want or need to engage in. Occupations are defined as the everyday activities that people choose to engage in individually or as groups that bring meaning and purpose to their lives. These occupations can be chosen or enforced. There is a paucity of literature around the occupations that adolescents in rural contexts choose and the meaning underlying their choices. This study explored the occupations of school-going adolescents of Pitseng, Lesotho, to gain insight into adolescent behaviour, and the strategies needed to develop sustainable health promotion programs for adolescents in this area. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 47 adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years from three high schools in Pitseng, Leribe district, Lesotho. Data was collected using focus group interviews after consent was obtained from the parents or caregivers and assent from the adolescents. Data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke's method. Results: Three main themes emerged from the study: realities of customary rural life, facilitators of occupational engagement, and wellbeing versus risky behaviour. Participation in daily routine occupations, cultural norming, resource scarcity, school milieu and Rural and Remote Health rrh.org.au
African Health Sciences, 2021
Background: In piloting a shift from traditional practice-based placements to decentralised clini... more Background: In piloting a shift from traditional practice-based placements to decentralised clinical training (DCT), there was a need to explore the factors that influenced the placement as part of monitoring and evaluation. DCT involves placementto clinical sites away from the higher education institution necessitating changes to supervision strategies utilised.Objective: This study explored the experiences of clinical educators supervising occupational therapy students within this new model during a pilot phase of the DCT programme at one institution in South Africa.Method: The study was located in KwaZulu-Natal province and followed an explorative qualitative design with semi-structured interviews and focus groups with purposively sampled clinical educators (n=11). Data were audio-recorded and thematically analysed.Findings: Two central themes emerged and included the clinical educators’ expectations (organisation factors, role and scope of partners in decentralised training and ...
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2021
Introduction: Literature regarding the psychosocial sequelae of substance abuse is largely androc... more Introduction: Literature regarding the psychosocial sequelae of substance abuse is largely androcentric and limited regarding the negative effects on women's functioning. This study aims to explore the effects of substance abuse on the roles and occupations of women. Methods: This phenomenological qualitative study utilized a purposive snowball sampling strategy to recruit women with a history of substance abuse. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants. Findings: Six main themes emerged. The themes alluded to the participants' neglect of self-care, sleep, and IADL (instrumental activities of daily living) responsibilities. They were socially isolated, and their work lives suffered because of their substance abuse. Conclusion: The study concluded that substance abuse negatively affects a woman's ability to engage in her daily occupations and unique roles. Inadequate self-care, debt, neglect of child-rearing roles and work underperformance were some consequences of their abuse. However, it was found that the adoption of new roles associated with advocacy and altruism facilitated the recovery process. The findings can be used to create gender specific interventions for women with substance use disorders.
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2019
BACKGROUND: This qualitative study set in an acute inpatient psychiatric clinic investigates the ... more BACKGROUND: This qualitative study set in an acute inpatient psychiatric clinic investigates the efficacy of occupational therapy groups targeting interpersonal relationships, from the clients' perspective. PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore the effect of occupational therapy groups on clients' interpersonal relationships. METHOD: Four, sixty-minute focus groups were used to ascertain the participants' experiences of groups, and the effect of these on relationships. These sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data FINDINGS: This article tells the story of the development of the participants' relationships through the journey of attending group therapy, from the initial struggles in their personal relationships, through the development of insight into these difficulties, the learning of skills and problem-solving solutions, to the application of some of the skills and hope for future relationship development. ...
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2016
BACKGROUND: The study was conducted in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Six boarder mothers, who live... more BACKGROUND: The study was conducted in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Six boarder mothers, who lived with their children in the CHOC house while their children received treatment for cancer, were interviewed for the study. Objective of study: The objective was to explore the lived experiences of mothers from rural and peri-urban areas when their children had cancer. Specifically information on occupational balance and disruption, as well as shifting responsibilities, was explored. METHODS: A single focus group followed by individual interviews were conducted. FINDINGS: The findings revealed that some African communities believe that children do not get cancer. There was a lack of factual information around the condition, which perpetuated the stigmatisation of these families. They felt isolated and could not access any community support as a result. Mothers experienced occupational disruption, as well as guilt and self-blame when their children had cancer. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTI...
Africa Education Review, 2019
the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participat... more the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participation for wheelchair users at higher education institutions (HEIs). this article reports on a single case study that explored the facilitating factors which contributed to a young male student with a spinal cord injury's participation at a South African university. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the student and two peers whom he identified as key informants. the interviews focused on exploring his lived experience to identify factors which the participants perceived as facilitators to participation at university. the four most prominent facilitating factors that emerged during the data analysis were his drive, attitude, disposition and relationships. As the young man fully engaged in a variety of occupations at university, his sense of independence and self-worth were enhanced, which in turn led to him having a meaningful and productive university life, being able to manage any of the barriers he encountered on campus.
Africa Education Review, 2019
the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participat... more the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participation for wheelchair users at higher education institutions (HEIs). this article reports on a single case study that explored the facilitating factors which contributed to a young male student with a spinal cord injury's participation at a South African university. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the student and two peers whom he identified as key informants. the interviews focused on exploring his lived experience to identify factors which the participants perceived as facilitators to participation at university. the four most prominent facilitating factors that emerged during the data analysis were his drive, attitude, disposition and relationships. As the young man fully engaged in a variety of occupations at university, his sense of independence and self-worth were enhanced, which in turn led to him having a meaningful and productive university life, being able to manage any of the barriers he encountered on campus.
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2021
Background and aim: Tertiary education provides many personal and social benefits. However, stude... more Background and aim: Tertiary education provides many personal and social benefits. However, students, particularly those from professional and health science disciplines are known to face significantly greater stress throughout their undergraduate degrees. In this integrative review sources of stress for students and the strategies they use to cope with the stress are explored. Method: Various databases were searched using common key phrases such as "stressors among undergraduate health science students" and "coping mechanisms utilised by undergraduate health science students". Thirty-three articles were selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The content in the articles were analysed to identify themes. Results: Academic stress was the primary source of stress for health science students. Other sources of stress included interpersonal interactions and clinical training. Students primarily used problem-focused strategies to cope with stress. Other strategies included avoidance and the use of social support networks. Conclusion: Health science students experience stress from academic tasks, interpersonal stress and stresses emanating from clinical training. They utilize problem-focused coping strategies, as well as avoidance and seeking social support when faced with stressful situations. Students would benefit from regular screening for stress-related conditions, and interventions to teach them more adaptive ways to deal with stress.
African Health Sciences, Apr 12, 2023
Background: Occupational Therapy is among the top interventions for autistic children, hence the ... more Background: Occupational Therapy is among the top interventions for autistic children, hence the need for equitable and effective services in the public and private health and education sectors. Ongoing research into the therapies for autism spectrum disorders in different contexts is also required. Objectives: To explore and describe occupational therapists' assessment and intervention for autistic children in South Africa. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews to gather data from purposively recruited OTs (n=20). Data were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically, and compared across three sectors public health, special needs schools and private practice. Results: South African practice across all three sectors was similar to international patterns of informal play-based assessment, sensory processing and Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI®) treatment. Developmental frameworks guided specific approaches. Strong team collaboration was present across sectors, with some transdisciplinary teamwork and co-treatment. Undergraduate and postgraduate training opportunities were, however limited. Conclusions: Occupational therapy assessments had diagnostic value. Informal tools such as developmental checklists were found to have clinical utility, whilst standardised tools were most commonly used to assess sensory processing and visual perception. Recommendations included incorporating ASI® into undergraduate curricula and postgraduate training opportunities with multidisciplinary input to develop ASD professionals in South Africa. It is imperative to advocate for services in under-resourced rural areas and marginalised communities that lack financial and social resources. Occupational therapists need to find new ways of working collaboratively across sectors to ensure effective and comprehensive services in public health and special schools.
International Journal of Practice-based Learning in Health and Social Care, 2021
Rural and Remote Health, 2021
Introduction: Adolescents require opportunities to engage in occupations and need to have the req... more Introduction: Adolescents require opportunities to engage in occupations and need to have the requisite aptitude and agency to choose the occupations they want or need to engage in. Occupations are defined as the everyday activities that people choose to engage in individually or as groups that bring meaning and purpose to their lives. These occupations can be chosen or enforced. There is a paucity of literature around the occupations that adolescents in rural contexts choose and the meaning underlying their choices. This study explored the occupations of school-going adolescents of Pitseng, Lesotho, to gain insight into adolescent behaviour, and the strategies needed to develop sustainable health promotion programs for adolescents in this area. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research design was used. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 47 adolescents aged between 13 and 15 years from three high schools in Pitseng, Leribe district, Lesotho. Data was collected using focus group interviews after consent was obtained from the parents or caregivers and assent from the adolescents. Data were analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke's method. Results: Three main themes emerged from the study: realities of customary rural life, facilitators of occupational engagement, and wellbeing versus risky behaviour. Participation in daily routine occupations, cultural norming, resource scarcity, school milieu and Rural and Remote Health rrh.org.au
African Health Sciences, 2021
Background: In piloting a shift from traditional practice-based placements to decentralised clini... more Background: In piloting a shift from traditional practice-based placements to decentralised clinical training (DCT), there was a need to explore the factors that influenced the placement as part of monitoring and evaluation. DCT involves placementto clinical sites away from the higher education institution necessitating changes to supervision strategies utilised.Objective: This study explored the experiences of clinical educators supervising occupational therapy students within this new model during a pilot phase of the DCT programme at one institution in South Africa.Method: The study was located in KwaZulu-Natal province and followed an explorative qualitative design with semi-structured interviews and focus groups with purposively sampled clinical educators (n=11). Data were audio-recorded and thematically analysed.Findings: Two central themes emerged and included the clinical educators’ expectations (organisation factors, role and scope of partners in decentralised training and ...
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2021
Introduction: Literature regarding the psychosocial sequelae of substance abuse is largely androc... more Introduction: Literature regarding the psychosocial sequelae of substance abuse is largely androcentric and limited regarding the negative effects on women's functioning. This study aims to explore the effects of substance abuse on the roles and occupations of women. Methods: This phenomenological qualitative study utilized a purposive snowball sampling strategy to recruit women with a history of substance abuse. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants. Findings: Six main themes emerged. The themes alluded to the participants' neglect of self-care, sleep, and IADL (instrumental activities of daily living) responsibilities. They were socially isolated, and their work lives suffered because of their substance abuse. Conclusion: The study concluded that substance abuse negatively affects a woman's ability to engage in her daily occupations and unique roles. Inadequate self-care, debt, neglect of child-rearing roles and work underperformance were some consequences of their abuse. However, it was found that the adoption of new roles associated with advocacy and altruism facilitated the recovery process. The findings can be used to create gender specific interventions for women with substance use disorders.
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2019
BACKGROUND: This qualitative study set in an acute inpatient psychiatric clinic investigates the ... more BACKGROUND: This qualitative study set in an acute inpatient psychiatric clinic investigates the efficacy of occupational therapy groups targeting interpersonal relationships, from the clients' perspective. PURPOSE: This study was designed to explore the effect of occupational therapy groups on clients' interpersonal relationships. METHOD: Four, sixty-minute focus groups were used to ascertain the participants' experiences of groups, and the effect of these on relationships. These sessions were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data FINDINGS: This article tells the story of the development of the participants' relationships through the journey of attending group therapy, from the initial struggles in their personal relationships, through the development of insight into these difficulties, the learning of skills and problem-solving solutions, to the application of some of the skills and hope for future relationship development. ...
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2016
BACKGROUND: The study was conducted in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Six boarder mothers, who live... more BACKGROUND: The study was conducted in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Six boarder mothers, who lived with their children in the CHOC house while their children received treatment for cancer, were interviewed for the study. Objective of study: The objective was to explore the lived experiences of mothers from rural and peri-urban areas when their children had cancer. Specifically information on occupational balance and disruption, as well as shifting responsibilities, was explored. METHODS: A single focus group followed by individual interviews were conducted. FINDINGS: The findings revealed that some African communities believe that children do not get cancer. There was a lack of factual information around the condition, which perpetuated the stigmatisation of these families. They felt isolated and could not access any community support as a result. Mothers experienced occupational disruption, as well as guilt and self-blame when their children had cancer. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTI...
Africa Education Review, 2019
the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participat... more the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participation for wheelchair users at higher education institutions (HEIs). this article reports on a single case study that explored the facilitating factors which contributed to a young male student with a spinal cord injury's participation at a South African university. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the student and two peers whom he identified as key informants. the interviews focused on exploring his lived experience to identify factors which the participants perceived as facilitators to participation at university. the four most prominent facilitating factors that emerged during the data analysis were his drive, attitude, disposition and relationships. As the young man fully engaged in a variety of occupations at university, his sense of independence and self-worth were enhanced, which in turn led to him having a meaningful and productive university life, being able to manage any of the barriers he encountered on campus.
Africa Education Review, 2019
the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participat... more the focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participation for wheelchair users at higher education institutions (HEIs). this article reports on a single case study that explored the facilitating factors which contributed to a young male student with a spinal cord injury's participation at a South African university. Semistructured interviews were conducted with the student and two peers whom he identified as key informants. the interviews focused on exploring his lived experience to identify factors which the participants perceived as facilitators to participation at university. the four most prominent facilitating factors that emerged during the data analysis were his drive, attitude, disposition and relationships. As the young man fully engaged in a variety of occupations at university, his sense of independence and self-worth were enhanced, which in turn led to him having a meaningful and productive university life, being able to manage any of the barriers he encountered on campus.
South African Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2021
Background and aim: Tertiary education provides many personal and social benefits. However, stude... more Background and aim: Tertiary education provides many personal and social benefits. However, students, particularly those from professional and health science disciplines are known to face significantly greater stress throughout their undergraduate degrees. In this integrative review sources of stress for students and the strategies they use to cope with the stress are explored. Method: Various databases were searched using common key phrases such as "stressors among undergraduate health science students" and "coping mechanisms utilised by undergraduate health science students". Thirty-three articles were selected based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The content in the articles were analysed to identify themes. Results: Academic stress was the primary source of stress for health science students. Other sources of stress included interpersonal interactions and clinical training. Students primarily used problem-focused strategies to cope with stress. Other strategies included avoidance and the use of social support networks. Conclusion: Health science students experience stress from academic tasks, interpersonal stress and stresses emanating from clinical training. They utilize problem-focused coping strategies, as well as avoidance and seeking social support when faced with stressful situations. Students would benefit from regular screening for stress-related conditions, and interventions to teach them more adaptive ways to deal with stress.