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The object of this research is the nurse shortages on existing nurse workforces in South Africa and Ukraine. The healthcare system has taken strain since the inception of the war in Ukraine. The war caused damages to hospital, clinic and warehouse infrastructure, leading to limited medical resources and impacting the shortage of healthcare personnel, especially among the nursing professionals. A skilled, motivated and supported health workforce is essential to providing consistent and quality healthcare to patients. However, nurse shortages make it difficult for the existing nurses in a war-stricken country to provide the best possible care to their patients, which can be emotionally distressing for the nurses. Whereas in South Africa, economic turmoil and the recent COVID-19 pandemic placed an even more significant strain on South Africa’s overburdened and under-resourced healthcare system, eventually leading to a decline of healthcare workers on the frontline, thereby affecting the delivery of quality healthcare to patients. This paper will explore the expected effects of nurse shortages on the existing nurse workforce in these countries. It will provide recommendations for nurses to cope and regain their motivation to deliver quality healthcare to patients without compromising their own health and well-being. The researchers, therefore, conducted a qualitative study with Registered Nurses (RNs) and Operational Nurse Managers (ONMs) working in selected critical care units at a public hospital under investigation. The findings of the study revealed that the nurse shortage significantly impacted the well-being of existing nursing staff, both personally and professionally. Simple strategies to improve their well-being via the use of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) were recommended by the researchers to address their mental health and well-being issues by providing support and advice in critical times of need, encouraging meditation & physical fitness activities and encouraging nurses to make a conscious decision to achieve a balance between work and family life. Such strategies will benefit the Ukrainian health workforce in providing quality healthcare to their patients during the unpleasant circumstances caused by the ongoing war [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intention of this study is to examine from a behavioral perspective, how technostress impacts on academics’ cybersecurity compliance in universities where the protection of information systems has become of vital importance due to increased dependency for academic business. The authors proposed a research framework informed by the Technostress Creators’ Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior that cybersecurity fatigue moderates compliance intention. Data collected through a closed ended online survey questionnaire from 210 academics in one public university in South Africa was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the proposed model was evaluated through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results from empirical investigation reveal that technostress creators of techno-complexity, techno-invasion and techno-insecurity positively influence cybersecurity fatigue. However, techno-uncertainty and techno-overload demonstrated a negative influence on cybersecurity fatigue. Furthermore, results revealed moderation of cybersecurity training and awareness on cybersecurity fatigue. This paper aims to improve cybersecurity compliance by academics in universities by understanding the effect of technostress and cyber fatigue on cybersecurity compliance behavior. The study is of significance to universities management, especially academics information communication technologies skills development and workload administration, as they are informed on how to better develop initiatives and strategies for improved cybersecurity compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer-related fatigue can lead to a reduced health-related quality of life among patients with cancer. We explored the experiences of fatigue among women undergoing breast cancer treatment at a public hospital in South Africa. We recruited 12 participants using purposive sampling. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted by registered clinical psychologists. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. A thematic analysis of the data produced three themes, namely, fatigue is tiredness, the pervasive impact of fatigue and fatigue management strategies. These strategies included rest, pacing, physical activity, energy drinks, instrumental support and cognitive strategies such as distraction and self-talk. Our recommendation is that healthcare providers need to prioritise communication about fatigue and provide appropriate management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mine workers in South Africa face various health and safety risks, and socioeconomic challenges. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the associations between socio-demographic factors and health, safety and wellness in the South African mining industry. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 64 interviews with mine management and labour representatives, 14 focus groups with mine workers, and 875 questionnaires completed by mine workers from three platinum, two gold, one coal, one diamond, and one manganese mine in South Africa. RESULTS: Health challenges included non-communicable diseases, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and respiratory diseases, while safety challenges included worker behaviour, stress and fatigue. Socio-demographic factors associated with disease, sick leave, fatigue, accidents and job satisfaction included age, length of service, race, nationality, education, mining sector, work status, income, housing, domestic crowding, sleep, exercise, alcohol use, and perceived quality of life. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic factors should be taken into consideration when developing workplace health and safety programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue among adolescents living with HIV is poorly understood. In this study, we examined the relationships between fatigue and demographic and psychosocial variables to further the understanding of the symptom experience and associated factors. We recruited consecutive attenders at ART clinics in the Western Cape, South Africa (N = 134, age 11-18 years). Participants completed a battery of questionnaires including measures of fatigue, insomnia and mood disturbance. Just under a quarter (24.6%) of adolescents reported elevated levels of fatigue that affected their functioning. The linear combination of age, depression, and insomnia explained 40.6% of the variance in fatigue. Amongst adolescents with HIV, fatigue seems a problematic symptom associated with poor sleep and mood disturbance. Timely identification and management of these potentially disabling symptoms are needed to attain better health outcomes and retention in care in this group. Interventions aimed at ameliorating these symptoms are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]