Background The increased popularity of complementary medicine has created the need for patients to receive accurate information from nurses who are front-line healthcare providers. Studies have demonstrated that patients are more likely to discuss other medication and therapy use with nurses, rather than with general practitioners or other health professionals. It is, therefore, important to determine nurses’ knowledge and attitudes towards complementary medicine. Aim The aim of this study was to determine nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward the use of complementary medicine. Setting The study was conducted with Baccalaureus Curationis (nursing) students registered at a large public university in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods This research utilised a quantitative approach with a prospective, descriptive survey design. A convenience sample comprising registered Baccalaureus Curationis nursing students ( n = 202) was utilized. Participants completed a 34-item, paper-and-pencil questionnaire to determine their knowledge, personal use and attitude toward complementary medicine modalities. Results Questionnaires were completed by 126 nursing students with 119 questionnaires included for analysis. Despite a reported lack of knowledge regarding complementary medicine and limited personal use, participants had an overall positive attitude towards complementary medicine. Almost half of the participants reported enquiring about its use in history taking and were willing to refer patients to a complementary medicine practitioner. Conclusion A positive attitude towards complementary medicine modalities might suggest a willingness from students to improve their knowledge of the various modalities and to refer to a complementary medicine practitioner when indicated.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an increasingly prevalent behavioural disorder characterised by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Valeriana officinalis is a botanical medicine that has been found to be beneficial in the treatment of disorders characterised by restlessness. To date, no research has been conducted on homeopathic preparations of Valeriana officinalis for this condition. The aim of this three-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study was to determine the efficacy of homeopathic Valeriana officinalis mother tincture (MT) and 3X potency on ADHD. Thirty children between the ages of five and 11 years, pre-diagnosed with ADHD, were recruited. Valeriana officinalis MT (n = 10), 3X (n = 10) or placebo (n = 10) were administered orally three times a day for two weeks. Efficacy was assessed by the Barkley and DuPaul teacher rating scale, the children’s checking task and the parent symptom questionnaire scores on day 1 (prior to treatment), at the end of weeks two and three (with treatment), and then after the third week following no treatment. A statistically significant improvement was found in the participants’ behaviour in the MT and 3X groups, with particular reference to sustained attention, anxiety and impulsivity and/or hyperactivity. Preliminary findings suggested that Valeriana officinalis MT and 3X may have applications in the management of ADHD.Aandagsgebrek-hiperaktiwiteitsindroom (AGHS) is toenemend ’n algemene gedragsongesteldheid, wat gekenmerk word deur onoplettendheid, impulsiwiteit en hiperaktiwiteit. Daar is vasgestel dat Valeriana officinalis ’n plantaardige medisyne is wat voordelig kan wees in die behandeling van ongesteldhede wat gekenmerk word deur rusteloosheid. Tot op hede is geen navorsing uitgevoer op die gebruik van homeopatiese preparate van Valeriana officinalis vir hierdie ongesteldheid nie. Die doel van hierdie drieweeklange, dubbelblinde, troosmedisyne-gekontroleerde loodsstudie was om die effektiwiteit van homeopatiese Valeriana officinalis Moertinktuur (MT) en 3X sterkte vir die behandeling van AGHS te bepaal. Dertig kinders tussen die ouderdomme van 5 en 11 jaar, wat vantevore gediagnoseer is met OGHO, is gewerf. Valeriana officinalis MT (n = 10), 3X (n = 10) of troosmedisyne (n = 10) is mondeliks drie keer per dag vir twee weke toegedien. Effektiwiteit is gemeet op dag 1 (voor behandeling), aan die einde van weke twee en drie (tydens behandeling), en na die derde week sonder behandeling deur middel van tellings wat behaal is op die Barkley and DuPaul teacher rating scale, die children’s checking task en die parent symptom questionnaire. ’n Statisties beduidende verbetering is gevind in die gedrag van die deelnemers in die MT en 3X groepe, in die besonder met betrekking tot volgehoue oplettendheid, angstigheid en impulsiwiteit en/of hiperaktiwiteit. Voorlopige bevindinge dui daarop dat Valeriana officinalis MT en 3X moontlik gebruik kan word in die behandeling van AGHS.
Cervical cancer (CC) is the fourth most diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Conventional treatments include surgery, chemo- and radiotherapy, however these are invasive and may cause severe side effects. Furthermore, approximately 70% of late-stage CC patients experience metastasis, due to treatment resistance and limitations. Thus, there is a dire need to investigate alternative therapeutic combination therapies. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an alternative CC treatment modality that has been clinically proven to treat primary CC, as well as to limit secondary metastasis. Since PDT is a non-invasive localized treatment, with fewer side effects and lessened resistance to dose repeats, it is considered far more advantageous. However, more clinical trials are required to refine its delivery and dosing, as well as improve its ability to activate specific immune responses to eradicate secondary CC spread. Cannabidiol (CBD) isolates have been shown to exert in vitro CC anticancer effects, causing apoptosis post treatment, as well as inducing specific immune responses, which obstruct tumor invasion and angiogenesis, and so hinder CC metastatic spread. This review paper discusses the current conventional and alternative PDT treatment modalities for CC, as well as their limitations over the last 10 years. It has a particular focus on the combinative administration of CBD with these treatments in order to prevent CC secondary migration and so possibly encourage future research studies to focus on this synergistic effect to eradicate CC.
Interprofessional education (IPE) is a practical pedagogical approach to strengthening teaching and learning in higher education to improve students' competencies. These competencies include an enhanced understanding of content knowledge and skills from different professions. To ensure quality teaching and learning, it is envisaged that IPE will strengthen and advance the knowledge and skills of students. The COVID-19 pandemic offered the opportunity to adopt multiple approaches to support students in acquiring the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes towards the programme through the support of interprofessional educators and resources. However, there is a lack of research to explore students' experiences and views on IPE in an acupuncture programme within the South African context, particularly with technologies. This study was anchored in the Technological, Pedagogical, Content Knowledge model as a theoretical lens to explore students' experiences of the IPE using technologies. The authors employed an interpretivist paradigm within a qualitative case study design. They used purposive sampling as a technique since the participants in this study were acupuncture students at a South African university. The researchers interviewed six (6)undergraduate students for this study. The findings revealed that students showed positive attitudes towards IPE. They believed the IPE would improve their competencies in clinical practice. Results also suggested that specific programmes should allocate sufficient time for IPE. Institutions should provide professional training to academics since IPE require more comprehensive content knowledge and pedagogical approaches. To promote effective teaching and learning, IPE should be the norm at universities. Universities should provide relevant support for the appropriate implementation of IPE from policy and resource perspectives.
Background Cervical cancer (CC) is the second leading female cancer in South Africa and is the most common in those aged 15 to 44 years. Medicinal plant extracts have been used as homeopathic preparations for health benefits. Rubus idaeus (RI) is used to treat disorders of the female genital tract and produces cytotoxic effects. However, the use of homeopathically prepared RI in combination with low level laser therapy has not previously been explored. Aim The study aims to investigate the in-vitro effects of homeopathically prepared RI alone and in combination as a potential photosensitizer with Low-level laser irradiation (LLLI) at fluencies of 5, 10, and 15 J/cm2. Methods HeLa CC cells were treated with RI (D3, D6, and 30cH homeopathic preparations). Cells were then treated with RI IC50 and 680 nm laser diode at 5, 10, and 15 J/cm2 fluencies, and the results compared with untreated control cells. Trypan blue viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) proliferation assays were used to analyze the cellular dose-responses along with inverted microscopy, Hoechst staining and Annexin-V/PI staining. Results RI D3 alone demonstrated an ability to reduce cellular viability to 59% and also to reduce ATP levels. The subsequent combined treatment protocol of RI D3 with all fluencies of laser demonstrated an increase in cellular ATP and increased LDH levels compared with the control. Conclusion The increased ATP and LDH levels observed in the combined treatment protocol of 680 nm laser and RI D3 at fluencies of 5, 10 and 15 J/cm2, show that the Warburg effect might have been induced in the CC cells – an increase in glucose uptake and the preferential production of lactate, even in the presence of oxygen. More research, including work on other cell lines, needs to be conducted to identify if RI and perhaps a different wavelength of laser irradiation could have the potential in inducing cell death in cancer cells.
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