Howard Gomwe

Simulation-Based Learning (SBL) is an interactive teaching method that replicates real-world clinical settings to train healthcare professionals. Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) brings together students from various health disciplines to learn collaboratively, promoting teamwork and effective communication. Although international guidelines support SBL in IPECP and its benefits are well-documented, there is a lack of research on how undergraduate students across different disciplines perceive this approach. This study aimed to assess undergraduate health professions students’ perceptions of SBL as a tool for promoting IPECP across multiple disciplines. A quantitative, retrospective pre-post design was used involving N = 540 undergraduate students from various health disciplines. The Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey (ICCAS) was administered after the SBL intervention. Paired and independent samples t-tests were used to analyze pre- and post-test differences and gender comparisons. Significant improvements (all p < 0.001) were found across all the six interprofessional competency domains. Female students showed significantly higher post-test scores in several domains compared to males, although no pre-test gender differences were observed. SBL significantly enhances students’ perceptions about their interprofessional competencies among first-year undergraduate health students and fosters the development of collaborative practice early in their training. The observed gender differences in post-intervention outcomes highlight the need for further investigation into engagement dynamics within SBL. This study contributes to the limited body of research on undergraduate students' perceptions of SBL in IPECP across multiple disciplines. It offers empirical support for integrating simulation into interprofessional curricula.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to assess obesity but does not differentiate between fat and lean mass, limiting its effectiveness to assess cardiometabolic risk. Measurements of central adiposity, such as waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), are better predictors of metabolic dysfunction, especially with respect to visceral fat. Aim: To examine BMI trends and assess the association between BMI and waist-related anthropometric indicators WC, WHR, and WHtR, among university students in South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 842 university students was conducted. Anthropometric measurements were taken according to ISAK standards. Quantile regression models supplemented by ROC curves were used to assess the predictive effects of WC, WHR, and WHtR on BMI across its distribution. Results: A total of 842 participants (63.8% female) were included, with a mean age of 21.8 ± 4.0 years. Significant differences were observed across BMI categories for all demographic and anthropometric characteristics (p < 0.001). Quantile regression analyses showed that WHtR and WC were strong and consistent predictors of BMI in all quantiles, with effect sizes increasing at higher levels of BMI. The WHR showed weaker associations overall, but these became significant in the upper BMI quantiles. Collectively, waist-related indicators, particularly WHtR and WC, exhibited robust predictive values for elevated BMI. Conclusions: Waist-related indicators, especially WHtR and WC are robust predictors of elevated BMI among university students, particularly in higher BMI ranges. These findings highlighted the value of incorporating central adiposity measures alongside BMI for more accurate health risk assessments in young adult populations.

High blood pressure (BP) is becoming increasingly common among young adults, with university students representing a particularly vulnerable group, posing

Background: Waist-related measures are commonly used to classify central adiposity and related comorbidities. This classification may be essential among children, as it may identify the risk of future non-communicable diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, among 459 primary school learners aged 9–14 years. Height, weight and waist circumference (WC) were measured using standardised techniques recommended by World Health Organization (WHO). The anthropometric measurements, including body mass index (BMI), WC, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were computed and evaluated. Results: Most participants were girls (57.70%) with an average age of 11.20 ± 1.60 years. The average weight was 38.81 kg ± 10.49 kg with an average height of 144.16 (standard deviation [s.d.] = 10.37) cm. The sample had a BMI of 18.41 kg/m2 (s.d. = 3.19). The results showed, on average, WC of 62.10 cm ± 8.12 cm, WHR of 0.82 ± 0.15 and WHtR of 0.44 ± 0.05. Girls reported significantly higher BMI, WC and WHtR. Based on WHtR, the results showed the acceptable ability to classify children according to abdominal obesity, thus identifying their risk for comorbidities. Conclusion: Overall body fat indicated by BMI and central obesity shown by waist-related anthropometric measures can play a significant role in classifying children in terms of their risk of comorbidities. Contribution: To prevent the risks of metabolic diseases in childhood, it is necessary to detect abdominal obesity early using WC-based anthropometric measurements, especially WHtR, to identify those at risk.

Health SA Gesondheid promotes communication, collaboration and teamwork between professions and disciplines within the health sciences to address problems that cross and affect disciplinary boundaries.

Background: Low levels of physical activity in high- to low-income countries, including South Africa, pose a great risk of cardiovascular-related diseases. Aim: This study aimed to assess and compare the physical fitness profile among children. Setting: The study setting comprised rural and urban primary school learners in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa. Methods: A cross-sectional study was adopted utilising a randomly selected sample of boys and girls aged 9–14 years. Physical fitness measures were assessed using the Euro-fit test battery. Some parametric tests were used for mean comparisons of the various anthropometric measurements and physical fitness characteristics across demographics. Results: The sample consisted of 870 primary school learners. The average weight and height of the sample were 39.29 ± 10.34 kg and 144.06 ± 10.81 cm, respectively, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 18.80 ± 4.11 kg/m2. The results showed that boys reported significantly high levels of physical fitness. Sit-ups (p ≤ 0.001) and VO2 max (p ≤ 0.001) significantly increase with age, while all the physical fitness measures were significantly higher among rural-based learners. Conclusion: Rural-based learners and boys generally had better physical fitness performance than their peers. The effect of gender and place of residence should be considered when designing physical fitness interventions. Contribution: This study adds to the existing body of knowledge about the effect of demographic factors on the physical fitness profile of children, where boys and rural-based learners are reported to be more physically fit than their counterparts.

Background: The level, direction or presence of the relationship between perceived physical activity (PA) participation and physical fitness (PF) in children may differ by gender and this will assist in designing gender-specific interventions to promote PA participation, which in turn improves PF levels. Aim: This study aimed to establish the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between perceived PA participation and PF. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a cohort of 870 primary school children aged 9–14 years old. Perceived PA participation was measured using the PAQ-C questionnaire while PF levels were measured using cardiorespiratory endurance (i.e. VO2 max). Results: The results showed significant gender differences for perceived PA participation levels (t = −3.40, p ≤ 0.001) and PF (t = −11.59, p ≤ 0.001), with boys reporting higher levels than the girls. Perceived PA participation had a positive, weak and statistically significant correlation with PF (r = 0.251; p ≤ 0.001). Gender significantly moderates the relationship between perceived PA participation and PF (β3 = 3.518; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.642 to 6.395; p = 0.017). Conclusion: The moderating effect of gender on the relationship between perceived PA participation and PF highlights the differences in physiology as well as the societal PA associated roles played by boys and girls. Contribution: The study has established that the relationship between perceived PA participation and PF is more pronounced among boys than girls.

The South African Journal of Physiotherapy is the official scholarly refereed journal of the South African Society of Physiotherapy. It aims to publish original research and facilitate continuing professional development for physiotherapists and other health professions both nationally and internationally.

Background: There is a lack of literature regarding the relationship that exists between body composition and physical fitness amongst primary school learners in South Africa. For the sake of public health purposes, it is important to investigate how body composition relates to physical fitness amongst primary school learners in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between body composition and physical fitness amongst South African primary school children.Setting: The study was conducted on a cohort of primary school learners in the Eastern Cape province, which is a predominantly rural province in South Africa.Methods: A school-based cross-sectional survey was conducted amongst 870 primary schoolchildren aged 9–14 years. Body composition and physical fitness measurements were measured and recorded using standardised measurement scales.Results: Of the 870 participants, 40.34% (n = 351) were boys and 59.66% (n = 519) were girls. The mean age of the participants was 11.04 ± 1.50 years. Boys had a significantly (p = 0.002) higher mean age (11.24 ±1.51 years) as compared to girls (10.91 ± 1.48 years). The results of the non-parametric Spearman’s rho correlation coefficients revealed several significant and negative relationships between physical fitness and body composition measurements, which were stronger in girls than in boys.Conclusion: The findings call for public health authorities and other relevant policymakers to initiate the development and implementation of policies and interventions targeted at encouraging physical activity participation and healthy lifestyle amongst primary school learners in South Africa, especially amongst girls.Contribution: The study findings supports a relatively rich literature which suggests that girls are more flexible than boys and that negative relationships between body composition measurements and physical fitness characteristics exists, which are stronger in girls than in boys.

Background: The problem of cardiovascular diseases and lack of adequate information about the blood pressure profiles among children in South Africa has enormous consequences for public health and the general well-being of communities. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the blood pressure profiles and associated risk factors of primary school children in South Africa. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 876 children aged 9 to 14 years from 18 randomly selected schools in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. Standardised blood pressure measuring instruments were used and an average of three readings was considered. Blood pressure status was classified according to the percentiles of systolic blood pressure (SBP). Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 5.2% and pre-hypertension was 18.5% while normal blood pressure was 76.3%. The multilevel binary logistic regression’s crude and adjusted analysis revealed that increase in age was significantly associated with elevated BP in children ([crude OR = 1.17 [1.05 – 1.29] and [adjusted OR = 1.12 [1.01 – 1.25]). In addition, increase in BMI was significantly associated with elevated BP in children ([crude OR = 1.08 [1.04 – 1.12] and [adjusted OR = 1.06 [1.02 – 1.11]). There was no statistically significant association between elevated BP and gender for both the univariate and multivariate models. There was also no statistical significant risk for elevated BP associated with place of residence. Conclusions: In this sampled population the established proportion of primary school children with elevated BP is of great concern. In addition, older children and those with high BMI (that is, overweight/obesity) were associated with elevated BP. Interventions towards promoting healthy lifestyles among school learners is a necessity if we are to prevent cardiovascular diseases.