Week 8 - Introduction to Health Information Systems​

Session 5 - Paraphrasing & Referencing Term Paper: Part 2

  1. Spark Question
  2. Session summary and reflection
  3.  Activity 1: Paraphrasing
  4. Learning Outcome

Spark Question

What is the difference between bibliography and reference list?

A reference list includes only sources directly cited in the text, while a bibliography lists all sources consulted, whether cited or not.

Session Summary and reflection

  • Plagiarism is using someone else’s work or ideas without permission or proper acknowledgment, viewed as stealing intellectual property. To avoid plagiarism, use paraphrasing and referencing correctly, including a reference list at the end of your paper. Paraphrasing involves restating someone else’s ideas in your own words while maintaining the original meaning, helping prevent direct copying. Proper referencing acknowledges sources, avoids plagiarism, and is essential for academic integrity. In university settings, failing to paraphrase and reference properly can lead to penalties, including disciplinary action.

Activity 1: Paraphrasing

Paragraph 1

 

Most South Africans rely on public healthcare for their medical needs. According to the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey, only 14.2% of adults reported having medical aid coverage. In a national survey, Shisana et al. found that 70% of respondents typically used public health services, 23.3% visited private healthcare facilities, and only 0.1% consulted traditional healers. In many South African communities, Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities are the primary or only accessible healthcare option, placing a significant burden on PHC providers and facilities to meet healthcare needs. PHC functions as the essential system for delivering healthcare across the country.

 

Paragraph 2

 

Primary Health Care was formally adopted in South Africa in April 1994 as a central principle of healthcare delivery, marked by the introduction of policies offering free healthcare for pregnant women and young children, along with universal PHC access for all citizens. The Department of Health’s 2002-2004 strategic framework highlights quality of care as one of the four main challenges in the sector. Quality of care emphasizes the interactions between healthcare providers, patients, and the broader community. Shifting focus to quality represents a new phase in South Africa’s healthcare reform, moving from establishing healthcare structures to ensuring effective service delivery within them.

 

Paragraph 3

 

Perceptions of healthcare quality vary widely due to diverse definitions of quality. Research has shown that socioeconomic factors and environmental conditions, including social and organizational contexts, influence quality perceptions. Van Vuuren and Botes observed in a culturally varied urban area (greater Bloemfontein) that factors like ethnicity, age, and employment status shape attitudes towards professional healthcare. They stress that these factors should be considered by policymakers. In a rural South African survey, Peltzer found that 78% of participants rated primary healthcare services poorly. Another study by Bediako, Nel, and Hiemstra in North-West Province reported that 56.8% of hospital and outpatient respondents were dissatisfied with the availability of medications and supplies

Learning Outcome

Understand the conventions of academic referencing and how to avoid plagiarism in essay writing.

 
Session 4 and 5
Session 5