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Background: Professional nurses are trained to provide quality care. Despite the professional nurses' acquired skill and professionalism attributes, the neonate, infant, and under-5-child mortality rates are high in sub-Saharan Africa. This health care report indicates that sub-Saharan Africa countries face a challenge in reaching the Sustainable Development Goal number 3 by the year 2030 (that is, ensuring healthy lives and reducing the mortality rates of children under 5). It has been reported that professionalism in nursing can improve the quality of care and positively change the health outcomes. Methods: This study employed a qualitative exploratory, descriptive design to explore and describe professional nurses' own professionalism attributes to provide quality care to neonates, infants, and under-5 children in the North West province in South Africa. Eight naïve sketches of an all-inclusive sample of invited professional nurses (N = 25; n = 8) were received. The naïve sketch questions were based on the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario's professionalism attributes. Tesch's eight steps of data-analysis were used, with an independent coder's assistance. Results: The categories included (1) knowledge, (2) spirit of inquiry, (3) accountability, (4) autonomy, (5) advocacy, (6) collegiality and collaboration, (7) ethics and values, and (8) professional reputation, and each category generated sub-themes. Conclusion: Professional nurses are aware of their own professionalism attributes in quality of care of neonates, infants and under-5 children; the 'innovation and visionary' attribute did not emerge, which should receive more attention to strengthen quality care. However, a new attribute, 'professional reputation', reflecting a South African culture-orientated attribute, emerged from the data collected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Limited research on cultural competence in nursing, midwifery, and education exists within low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa (SA). This study aimed to describe midwives' self-reported levels of cultural competence toward women receiving maternal care. Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design and an all-inclusive sample of (N = 104; n = 82) midwives yielded a 79% response rate. Data were collected using the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool (TSET) questionnaire. Participants included midwives recruited from maternity units of five hospitals in South Africa: different hospitals that included one large district, two regional, and two tertiary hospitals in the North-West Province of SA. An all-inclusive sample of (N = 104; n = 82) midwives participated, representing a 79% response rate. Results: Midwives reported an overall moderate level of competence regarding their knowledge and understanding of cultural factors; it was concerning that their confidence in interviewing patients from different cultural backgrounds on factors such as acculturation and worldview were the lowest. Discussion: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this was the first study to assess the cultural competence of midwives in SA using TSET. The study highlighted the need for midwives' training to improve their cultural competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical associates were introduced in South Africa to address physician shortages in healthcare. Professional relationships between physicians and professional nurses (PNs) have been widely researched, but none specifically between the new cadre of clinical associates and PNs. Aim: This study aimed to understand the professional working relationship between PNs and clinical associates. Setting: Selected district hospitals within Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Method: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Professional nurses were purposely sampled, and an all-inclusive sampling method was used for clinical associates in selected district hospitals within Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Twelve (N = 12) semi-structured, individual interviews (PNs n = 6; clinical associates n = 6) guided by an interview guide were conducted in English. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim by an independent transcriptionist. Tesch's eight steps of data analysis were employed to analyse the data. An independent co-coder assisted with data analysis. Results: This study yielded four themes: (1) professional relationship defined, (2) professional relationship characteristics, (3) professional challenges applicable to both PNs and clinical associates and (4) personal professional challenges applicable to clinical associates only. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the professional relationships between PNs and clinical associates are affected by various challenges, which could be resolved within the department through in-service training and good communication. Contribution: This is one of the first studies that highlight the professional relationship challenges between PNs and clinical associates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Teenage pregnancy is a complex issue globally, which is also a challenge in South Africa. Pregnant learners are allowed by the law to attend school for the whole duration of pregnancy. Although not medically trained or equipped to handle any emergencies, the school management teams are tasked to manage these learners by the Measures of the Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy Policy. Aim: This study aimed to determine the school management teams' perceptions of managing pregnant learners in urban secondary schools. Setting: This study was conducted in four secondary schools in Gauteng province, Soweto- Pimville District 10. Methods: This study employed a qualitative, descriptive design. Purposive sampling was carried out (n = 13), semi-structured WhatsApp video call interviews were conducted and Tesch's data analysis steps were utilised to analyse the data. Results: Five themes emerged: Theme 1: the role of school management teams in managing pregnant learners; Theme 2: challenges of unplanned deliveries at school; Theme 3: personal thoughts of educators on managing pregnant learners; Theme 4: skills training requirements for educators to manage pregnant learners; and Theme 5: coping mechanisms for school management teams. Conclusion: Collaboration between the department of health, department of education and the department of social development is essential in the management of pregnant learners at school. Contribution: Similar studies have been conducted in various rural areas of South Africa. Limited literature was found for urban areas; therefore, the researcher is of the opinion that the findings of this study could contribute to the body of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Nursing Professionalism was measured by Hall's Professionalism Scale, consisting of 50 items. The scale was developed to measure the attitudes and ideologies held by professionals in various professional occupations by measuring five attitudinal constructs of professionalism, namely 'sense of calling to the field', 'autonomy', 'using a professional organisation as a major referent', 'belief in self-regulation', and 'belief in public service'. This study focussed on determining the practically significant differences that exist between the means of the five constructs of Hall's Professionalism Scale and certain demographic variables among nurses in South Africa. The 11-item demographic profile included the following variables: gender (1), age (2), age when becoming a professional nurse (3), undergraduate qualifications (4), marital status (5), number of children (6), employment sector (7), years' of nursing experience (8), international experience (9), employment status (10) and satisfaction with nursing as a career (11). Results: Only (7/11) demographic profile variables had an association with one or more of the five Hall's Professionalism Scale constructs The variables included the following items: age (2), age when becoming a professional nurse (3), number of children (6), years of nursing experience (8), international experience (9), employment status (10), and satisfaction with nursing as a career (11). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate stereotypes of occupational gender roles about male nurses, as viewed from both emic and etic perspectives. Background: Male nurses are a minority group in health institutions. Stereotypes have been questioned regarding these males' occupational role and presence in the nursing profession. Design A qualitative description design was used. Methods: During 2016, semi‐structured interviews (N = 30) were conducted with male nurses (n = 10) (emic group), female nurses (n = 10) and discharged patients (n = 10) (etic groups) from four public hospitals. Results: Seven categories with respective themes and subthemes emerged. Three categories were captured for emic groups, namely, existing stereotypes, experiences of stereotyping and the influences of stereotypes on work performance. Four categories emerged for etic groups, namely, treatment preferences, types of stereotyping towards male nurses, origin of stereotypes and effects of stereotypes. Conclusion: Positive and negative stereotypes were reported by both emic and etic groups, with etic groups revealing more stereotypes. Effort should be made by both management in the practice environment and the media to counter the stereotyping of male nurses. SUMMARY STATEMENT: What is already known about this topic? Stereotyping of male occupational roles in the nursing profession has been questioned.Limited information is available on male occupational stereotypes in the nursing profession within low‐ and medium‐income countries such as South Africa. What this paper adds (research findings/key new information)? This paper describes perspectives with both an emic (male nurses) and etic (female nurses and discharged patients) focus on occupational stereotyping of males in the nursing profession.The findings indicated more stereotyping towards male nurses from etic groups compared with emic groups. The implications of this paper (how findings influence or can be used to change policy/practice/research/education): The media and the Departments of Education and Health should assist by creating public awareness on the importance of male nurses in the profession.Practice environments should support male nurses through in‐service training and open discussions between various categories of staff, to prevent stereotyping and sensitize staff on the impact of stereotyping on male nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Newly graduated registered nurses experience various challenges when entering the clinical practice environment. Typical challenges include lack of specific knowledge, skills and attitude competencies which is aggravated further by factors such as transition problems, workloads, lack of confidence and independence which potentially causes poor quality care. The aim of the study was to develop a competency profile for newly graudated registered nures, based on the perceptions of both nurse educators and final-year nursing students regarding the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to deliver quality patient care in South Africa. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 42 participants consisting of 23 nurse educators and 19 final-year nursing students at three nursing education institutions. The interviews were guided by an interview guide that examined three predetermined themes: knowledge, skills and attitudes as competencies to deliver quality patient care. Data were processed using thematic analysis. Results: The predetermined theme knowledge, was broken down into themes: theoretical knowledge, holistic care, cultural diversity and code of conduct, with its relating sub-themes. The predetermined theme skills delivered the following themes: interpersonal, management, administrative, practical and personal skills with its sub-themes. Attitudes unpacked into the following themes: being positive, caring, humble, friendly, empathetic, life-long learning, going the extra mile, compassionate, having passion, approachable, sensitive, helpful, and non-judgemental. Conclusions: Rich, in-depth knowledge, skills and attitudes were identified to develop a competency profile that may assist newly graduated registered nurses when entering the clinical practice environment to deliver quality patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research indicated the prevalence of perinatal deaths of infants immediately or up to a week after birth and includes fresh and macerated stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Worldwide, there is a decline in perinatal deaths. However, in South Africa, it is not the case. Often the quality of maternity care is considered as the most important contributing factor for these deaths. However, maternal and neonatal factors can also contribute. Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the maternal and neonatal factors associated with perinatal deaths in a single selected district hospital within the Free State Province of South Africa. Setting: The maternity unit of the largest district hospital in the specific district in the Free State Province of South Africa. Method: A clinical audit design was used. Units of analysis comprised the Perinatal Problem Identification Programme (PPIP) database of neonates born during 2015, and their mothers. A random sample of 384 alive neonates and an all-inclusive sample of 43 deceased neonates were taken from a total of 2319. Descriptive statistics were reported and Cohen's effect sizes, d, were calculated to identify practically significant differences between the neonates in the alive and the deceased group, respectively. Results: Cohen's effect sizes and logistical regression analyses indicate that the Apgar score recorded 10 min after birth, gestational age, birth weight of neonate and the parity of the mother were the most practically significant factors influencing a neonate's chances of survival. Conclusion: Quality maternity care is not the only cause of perinatal mortality rates; maternal and neonatal factors are also contributors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of learner teenage pregnancies can be reduced, provided that the major stakeholders, which include the Department of Education and the Department of Health, combine to address this issue. Despite the implementation of Life Orientation as a school subject, which focuses on sexual behaviour, health, decision-making, pregnancy risk, sexually transmitted infections and HIV and AIDS, the prevalence of learner teenage pregnancies at secondary schools remains alarmingly high. Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe teachers' experiences of learner teenage pregnancies in secondary schools in a province in South Africa. Setting: Secondary schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Method: A qualitative approach with exploratory, descriptive and contextual strategies was used in this research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers who had been selected through purposive sampling. Tesch's steps of systematic open coding were used to analyse all of the interviews. Results: The results that emerged during the data analysis indicate that firstly, teachers' experiences of having pregnant learners in their classrooms are negative as these learners are frequently absent from school, perform badly and drop out of school. Secondly, teachers' experiences related to unexpected deliveries are coloured by their lack of the necessary skills and competencies to deal and their resultant insecurity. Thirdly, the teachers feel that they do not receive the assistance they need to deal with teenage pregnancies as well as unexpected deliveries. Conclusions: Collaboration between and continuous support from the Department of Health and the Department of Education are crucial if teenage pregnancies at secondary schools are to be handled with greater success. Support from health care personnel should include guidance on contraception and health campaigns should target both the teachers and secondary school learners. Furthermore, coping strategies for the teachers should form part of the preservice curriculum of teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for interprofessional education (IPE) in health science disciplines is a current global trend. However, despite international support and demand, IPE is still new to many health professions curricula in South Africa. Furthermore, while ample existing academic literature addresses commonly encountered barriers to IPE, there is still a need to investigate the dynamics and challenges associated with the process of implementing IPE at universities. IPE is not yet part of the formal curriculum at a faculty of health sciences at a South African Higher Education Institute, so a pilot project was conducted to investigate the experiences of an IPE process by students from different health professions toward informing the planning and implementation of IPE in the formal curriculum. To this effect, a multi-layered IPE project was piloted across pharmacy, nursing, social work, psychology, dietetics, and human movement sciences within this Faculty of Health Sciences. The aim of this research was to determine the dynamics between the different health professions by exploring and describing the students' experiences of the IPE process. Theoretical case studies were presented to third-year students, who were grouped into interprofessional teams from the six different health professions at the Higher Education Institute's health sciences faculty. Data were gathered from reflective journals over a five-week period and a questionnaire was administered at the end of the project. Data were analysed and evaluated based on the interprofessional learning domains listed in the IPE framework of the World Health Organization. All participating health professions students felt positive about the project and agreed that it provided them with valuable IPE experiences. However, their long-term participation and commitment presented difficulty in an already demanding curriculum. The interprofessional dynamics were influenced by the relevance of the scenarios presented in the case studies to the different professions, the students' personalities and their previous experiences. Although the nursing students took initial leadership, contributions from the other professions became more prominent as the case studies unfolded. The findings indicated that the inclusion of different health professions in an interprofessional team should be guided by the specific scenarios incorporated to simulate interprofessional cooperation. The availability of the students and their scope of practice at third-year level should also be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) strategy provides guidelines for supporting and improving the health system to reduce under-5 children's mortality rates. This strategy specifically assists professional nurses with the case management of children aged birth--5 years. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate how professional nurses provided counselling to caregivers of under-5 children based on the IMCI strategy in Primary Health Care facilities of one district in the North West Province of South Africa. Setting: Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities of one district in the North West Province. Method: A quantitative, descriptive and observational design was used. Counselling provided by the professional nurses was observed and a checklist was completed. This IMCI counselling checklist was based on aspects in the counselling section of the Health Facility Survey, formulated according to the IMCI strategy's requirements. Results: Counselling that focused on feeding, administration of medication and counselling skills used during the consultation were good. However, counselling of caregivers of children aged 13 months to 5 years could be improved and the caregivers' health status should also be addressed. Conclusion: Counselling provided to caregivers of under-5 children regarding feeding, administering of medication and caregivers' health status used effective communication skills. However, technicalities of feeding such as lactation and nutritional guidance posed challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Worldwide, patients visiting health care facilities in the public health care sector have to wait for attention from health care professionals. In South Africa, the Cape Triage Score system was implemented successfully in hospitals' emergency departments in the Cape Metropole. The effective utilisation of triage could improve the flow of primary health care (PHC) patients and direct the patients to the right health care professional immediately. Aim: No literature could be traced on the implementation of triage in PHC facilities in South Africa. Consequently, a study addressing this issue could address this lack of information, reduce waiting times in PHC facilities and improve the quality of care. Setting: PHC facilities in a sub-district of the North West province of South Africa. Method: A quantitative, exploratory, typical descriptive pre-test--post-test design was used. The study consisted of two phases. During phase 1, the waiting time survey checklist was used to determine the baseline waiting times. In phase 2, the Cape Triage Score system that triaged the patients and the waiting time survey checklist were used. Results: Data were analysed using Cohen's effect sizes by comparing the total waiting times obtained in both phases with the waiting time survey checklist. Results indicated no reduction in the overall waiting time; however, there was a practical significance where triage was applied. Referral was much quicker to the correct health professional and to the hospitals. Conclusion: Although the results indicated no reduction in the overall waiting time of patients, structured support systems and triage at PHC facilities should be used to make referral quicker to the correct health professional and to the hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Professional nurses employed in trauma units encounter numerous stressors in their practice environment. They use different strategies to cope with this stress, including venting traumatic information to their partners and other family members. Aims: To describe how partners of professional nurses cope with traumatic information being vented to them. Methods: A qualitative research method with an interpretive descriptive inquiry design was used to explore, interpret and describe the coping experiences of the nurses' partners. Purposive sampling was used to select a total of 14 partners, but only ten participated in semistructured interviews. Tesch's eight steps of open coding were used for data analysis. Results: Four main themes were identified indicating adaptive and maladaptive coping skills, namely partners' experiences of traumatic information vented to them; partners' coping activities; reciprocal communication and relationship support between partners and nurses; and resilience of partners to deal with the nursing profession. Conclusion: Partners employed different ways to cope with traumatic information. It was essential for partners and nurses to be supported by nurses' practice environments and to develop resilience to fulfil reciprocal supportive roles in their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The aim of this study was to explore and describe the perceptions of nurse managers, nurses, and a physician in the community health centre with the most positive practice environment in a province of South Africa. Methods Ten (N = 10) semistructured individual interviews were conducted with personnel of the community health centre with the most positive practice environment. Results Personnel cited the following as the most important characteristics of a positive practice environment in a primary health care setting: support, leadership and governance, collegial nurse-physician relationships, and quality of care. Conclusion In a primary health care setting, it is important to train, appoint, and support managers who in turn will be able to train and support their personnel. Furthermore, reciprocal community involvement must be encouraged between personnel of the community health centre and stakeholders in the community to improve the health status of the community. Finally, group cohesions between all health care workers and managers at different organisational levels should be encouraged, as this enhances teamwork and a culture of teaching-learning and improves the competence of all staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice environment plays an important role in nursing. Currently, limited information seems to exist on the nature of practice environments within the primary health care (PHC) context of the public health care sector of South Africa. This study describes the demographic profile of community health care centres (CHCs) and professional nurses (PNs) as well as the current status of the practice environment of nurses in the PHC context. A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used. Firstly, demographic data of the CHCs (N=41; n=26) was obtained. Secondly, PNs (N=291; n=195) were surveyed using the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) and questions focussing on their demographic profile. The demographic profile of CHCs and PNs was described and the confirmatory analysis of the PES-NWI showed that the survey was valid in the PHC context of South Africa. The Cronbach alpha ranged between 0.68 and 0.86. Nurses disagreed that the sub-scales named staffing and resource adequacy and nurse participation in PHC/CHC affairs were present in their practice environments. Development and implementation of a positive practice environment programme for the South African PHC context could improve the wellbeing of nurses and assist in the delivery of quality care to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many older persons in South Africa (SA) are affected by a poor socio-economic status, leading to an increase in the use of the public healthcare sector. However, the public healthcare sector is burdened by high volumes of patients and long waiting periods. As a result, professional nurses in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities are not able to spend enough time on proper physical examinations and assessment of needs, including health education and support to older persons to help them apply independent self-care. Aim: To determine if the socio-economic status of older persons affects their ability to apply self-care independently without support from professional nurses in the PHC facility. Design: Quantitative, descriptive research design. Methods: Older persons (N = 198; n = 192 respondents) were asked to complete the Appraisal of Self-care Agency (ASA-A) and Exercise of Self-care Agency (ESCA) questionnaires. Seven self-care deficits were identified through deductive logic after analysis of the two questionnaires. These seven self-care deficits were compared to the socio economic status of the same sample. Results: Seven self-care deficits were identified after analysis of the ASA-A and ESCA questionnaires. One self-care deficit was found to have a relationship with the socioeconomic status of the older persons. Conclusions: Low literacy levels of older persons with a low socio-economic status affect their ability to apply self-care independently without the support from a professional nurse in the PHC facility. Data analysis of the ASA-A and ESCA revealed that these older persons suffer from a "lack of knowledge and ability to acquire knowledge with regard to self-care" which had a relationship with the socio-economic status of older persons with specific reference to low literacy levels and poverty. Implications for practice: More attention should be given to older persons with a low socioeconomic status as their ability to apply self-care independently without the support from a professional nurse is limited. This would lead to less frequent visits to PHC facilities by older persons for minor ailments, decrease healthcare costs, relieve overcrowding in PHC facilities and prevent possible unintentional self-neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to determine whether job demands and job resources predicted conflict handling styles among nurses within South African public hospitals. A convenience sample of 205 nurses were included (males = 10.7%; age range 46 to 60 years = 38.5%, experience of 5 years and more = 70.8%, African = 92.2%). They completed Rahim's Organisational Conflict Inventory – II (ROCI–II: Rahim, 1986) and a job characteristics measure developed for this study. Data were analysed to assess which job demands and resources predicted which conflict handling styles. From the results, time demands, crisis management and colleague support predicted the use of an avoiding style, whereas workload, time demands, job security, feedback and colleague support predict the use of the integrating style. Time demands and payment predicted the use of the obliging style, while workload, crisis management and payment predicted the use of the dominating style. The compromising style was predicted by colleague support. It seems from the findings that conflict is frequently predicted by time demands. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The number of older persons is growing at an alarming rate, yet the South African healthcare sector is not giving this issue the required attention. Moreover, the healthcare sector serves four-fifths of the country's population and primary healthcare (PHC) facilities are overcrowded, and thus professional nurses are prevented from providing sufficient self-care health education to older persons. Aim: To develop guidelines for the three role players e the public health sector, professional nurse and older person e to facilitate self-care among older persons in South Africa. Design: Quantitative, descriptive, explorative and contextual research design. Methods: A literature review followed by a self-care assessment of a sample of older persons using the Appraisal of Self-care Agency (ASA-A) and Exercise of Self-care Agency (ESCA) questionnaires which led to the identification of conclusions and self-care deficits. Results: Based on Menon's psychological health empowerment model, and from the conclusions and self-care deficits, nine self-care guidelines were developed for the public health sector, professional nurses and older persons. Conclusion: This is the first systematic development of guidelines to facilitate self-care among older persons in South Africa. Implications for practice: The implementation of the self-care guidelines by the public health sector, professional nurses and older persons will improve the healthcare of older persons at home which will in turn improve their quality of life, reduce unintentional self-neglect, as well as assist in alleviating overcrowding in clinics because unnecessary visits to the clinic will drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study's sought to establish the relationship of emotional intelligence, job characteristics and wellness within the nursing environment. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A random probability sample (N=511; females =96.70%; white =77.10%) was taken from hospitals in three South African provinces. Nurses (enrolled auxiliary (20.50%), enrolled staff (12.30%), registered (49.30%)), unit managers (7.60%), process managers (0.60%) and paramedics (0.20%) were included in the study. They completed the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS), Maslach Burnout Inventory -- Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and Work Evaluation Scale (WES). The statistical analysis on the variables was conducted by the use of the SPSS and AMOS programs. Descriptive statistics and the Cronbach alpha coefficients for each variables were computed. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) for the variables of emotional intelligence, job characteristics and wellness were conducted. The proposed structural model shows that there are clear paths between job demands and job resources; job demands, emotional intelligence and work wellness; job resources, emotional intelligence and work wellness. The study showed a clear indication that there is a relationship between emotional intelligence, job characteristics and work wellness within a nursing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In South Africa, appropriate criteria to measure the professional standing of professional nurses are essential. Internationally, there are professionalism scales by which to measure professionalism, but none could be identified that were particular to the South African context. Hall's Professionalism Scale consists of 50 items and was specifically developed to measure the attitudes and ideologies held by professionals in various professional occupations by measuring five attitudinal components of professionalism, namely: Sense of calling to the field; Autonomy; Using professional organisation as major referent; Belief in self-regulation; and Belief in public service. In this study, the construct validity and internal consistency of the constructs of Hall's Professionalism Scale were assessed among professional nurses in the South African context. Results: Originally Hall's Professionalism Scale comprises 50 items. This scale was reassessed by Snizek, who retained only 25 items of the original scale to measure professional standing. During preliminary analysis of the South African data, 23 items were included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]