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Universities are in a highly competitive environment, needing strong academic leadership. Some heads of departments have been appointed into leadership positions in a healthcare faculty after having been mere academics for a few years. They are more likely to experience challenges. This study aimed to explore the views and understanding of heads of departments in a healthcare faculty on being appointed as academic leaders in a higher education context in South Africa. A qualitative design using 12 individual unstructured interviews was conducted with all the heads of departments in a health sciences faculty. Open coding was conducted and two themes emerged, focusing on the varied skills needed for academic leadership positions and developing leadership skills amongst senior academics. The findings indicated that development of senior academics in leadership should be undertaken by a knowledgeable professional in formal or informal settings, to encourage mentorship and more regular group meetings, while addressing the core role of a leader. Implications of these findings for a faculty of health sciences and suggestions for leadership succession in future are discussed.

Midwives are expected to meet the demands of their ever-expanding roles without having a voice to contribute to the decision-making process in developing the protocols to be followed in implementing HIV/AIDS testing and counselling. The aim of the current study was to describe nurse managers' support to midwives in implementing HIV/AIDS testing and counselling within protocol at an antenatal clinic located in the Central Region of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. The study followed a qualitative design to gain insight into midwives' experiences in implementing HIV/AIDS testing and counselling at an antenatal clinic and how nurse managers support midwives in this regard. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with eight (n = 8) purposively sampled professional midwives to understand the implementation of HIV/AIDS testing and counselling within protocol from the midwives' perspectives and field notes were taken. All the interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded using the thematic approach. The study findings indicated that ongoing education, coaching and mentoring, and constructive feedback are all necessary support mechanisms for midwives to implement HIV/AIDS counselling for better client care outcomes. It was recommended that nurse managers should intensify their efforts in an antenatal clinic, supporting midwives with practice relevant information on HIV, to address the needs of pregnant women and the larger community. Well-informed competent midwives are needed to apply the latest protocols and trends in midwifery practices that will uplift the health status of pregnant women in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Young people's decisions to engage or disengage in community activities can be attributed to their perceptions of community resources and opportunities. This study examined South African rural young adults' perceptions of their future communities and influences on engaging in health promoting activities and community leadership. Survey data were collected from 58 youth and 52 young adults affiliated with key community organizations. Correlational analysis examined perceptions of community resources and participation in community leadership. Perceptions about the future of their communities differed by age, educational attainment, employment status, and number of years spent in the community and were strongly correlated with how youth and young adults perceive they are valued. Local organizations such as schools and churches can motivate at-risk youth and young adults to participate in community life. This research extends our knowledge of factors important for engaging this population in resource-limited rural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the emerging global youth disengagement epidemic, anticipated population growth, and the threat of continued rural-urban migration among young adults, recent research has focused on community leadership practice and the factors that influence youth engagement at the local level. Studying these practices and factors can elicit interventions that can improve youth engagement and youth health. This study engaged South African rural community leaders in interviews to collect perceptions and experiences on community leadership and factors that influence youth engagement and their health behaviors. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Emergent themes are categorized into four domains: conceptualizations of leadership, current youth behaviors, barriers to youth engagement, and youth leadership opportunities and potential solutions. Findings demonstrate a clear grasp of the concept of community leadership among community leaders, and an awareness of the complex interplay of social, economic and environmental factors on youth disengagement and the potential interventions to promote more youth participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Mindfulness as a clinical strategy for helping manage physical and psychological symptoms is gathering an impressive evidence base. It is also being embraced widely for personal and professional development. As a therapeutic intervention for nurses working across a spectrum of settings, it helps expand practice, and integrating mindfulness in nursing undergraduate and graduate curricula is imminent. In the present study, we outline the development and measurement of mindfulness as a personality trait and therapeutic intervention, and advocate the use of a questionnaire alternative to expensive and impractical laboratory measures. The aims of the present study were to examine and compare the use and reliability of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) in samples of nursing students from South Africa, China, and the Philippines, and compare the findings in the nursing student samples to other student and non‐student samples. Three samples of students of nursing from China (n = 193), the Philippines (n = 243), and South Africa (n = 131) completed the 31‐item FFMQ. The internal consistency was acceptable, and the correlations were significant among all facets and the total score. Although the total mean scores between the three samples were not significantly different, there were significant and interesting differences in the facet scores, and these are discussed in the light of likely cultural influences, and comparative data from other samples of students and clinical populations. The instrument shows promise for future use in educational research as a tool for curriculum change, for personal and professional development of nurses, and as a clinical tool for determining mindfulness changes over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]