University of Namibia

Concept Paper
for the Undergraduate Studies Committee

Proposed Title Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding

management of cervical cancer amongst the 4th year
degree nursing students at UNAM Main Campus
(Windhoek, Khomas Region)

Student's Full Name Selma Nelumbu

Student's Number 219017093
Qualification Registered
For
Type of Thesis (Full or
Mini)
School
Department
Supervisor/Affiliation Mrs H Nashandi
First N/A
Co-Supervisor/Affiliatio
n
Second Co- N/A
Supervisor/Affiliation
Signature Student Supervisor PGPC
Coordinator

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Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction and Background of the Study.........................................................................4
1.1. Introduction....................................................................................................................................4
1.2. Background of the Study..............................................................................................................4
1.3. Problem Statement.......................................................................................................................4
1.4. Objectives of the Study................................................................................................................4
1.5. Research Questions.....................................................................................................................5
1.6. Research Strategy/Design...........................................................................................................5
1.7. Significance of the Study.............................................................................................................5
1.8. Assumptions of the Study............................................................................................................5
1.9. Limitations of the Study................................................................................................................6
1.10. Delimitations of the Study........................................................................................................7
1.11. The Study Outline.....................................................................................................................7
1.12. Definition of Terms....................................................................................................................7
1.13. Conclusion.................................................................................................................................8
Chapter 2: Literature Review..................................................................................................................9
2.1. Introduction to the Literature Review..........................................................................................9
2.2. Body of the Literature Review.....................................................................................................9
2.3. Conceptual Framework................................................................................................................9
2.4. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................9
Chapter 3: Research Methodology.......................................................................................................10
3.1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................10
3.2. Research Design.........................................................................................................................10
3.3. Research Approaches................................................................................................................11
3.4. Location........................................................................................................................................11
3.5. Population....................................................................................................................................11
3.6. Sampling Strategies....................................................................................................................11
3.7. Data Collection Methods............................................................................................................12
3.8. Data Quality Control...................................................................................................................12
3.9. Measurements.............................................................................................................................13
3.10. Data Analysis...........................................................................................................................13
3.11. Validity and Reliability.............................................................................................................13

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3.12. Conclusion...............................................................................................................................14
5. APPENDICES (QUESTIONNAIRES)..........................................................................................16

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Chapter 1: Introduction and Background of the Study

1.1. Introduction

This study focused on knowledge, attitude and practices regarding management of

cervical cancer amongst the 4th year degree nursing students at UNAM Main Campus
(Windhoek, Khomas Region). The introductory chapter will provides a brief background
of the study, problem statement, and objectives of the study, research questions,
research strategy/design, and significance of the study, assumptions, limitations and
delimitations, the study outline, definition of terms and conclusion.

1.2. Background of the Study

1.3. Problem Statement

1.4. Objectives of the Study

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1.5. Research Questions

1.6. Research Strategy/Design

1.7. Significance of the Study

1.8. Assumptions of the Study

It is assumed that all participants had a clear understanding of the knowledge, attitude
and practices regarding management of cervical cancer and they have provided honest
answers.

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1.9. Limitations of the Study

The study was limited by:

a) Time constraint

This is a major constraint and hindrance to the researcher. The time allocated to
carrying out the research may be too small thus there will be a need to reduce the
geographical scope of the study and also come up with a time plan which will indicate
the time that will be spent when executing each task since failure to do that the
researcher will not be able to complete the research on time.

b) Population

The verdicts of this study will be limited to Windhoek, Khomas Region, focusing on 4th
year degree nursing students at UNAM Main Campus (Khomas Region). Hence, the
population of this study will be too large; thus, it will not covere in the prescribed time.
Therefore, the researcher will use the sample to overcome this constraint. In this study,
the population of the study will be thirty (30) 4th year degree nursing students at UNAM
Main Campus (Khomas Region).

c) Financial constraint

There will be a key challenge that will require a budgetary skill so as to carry out
research within the available budget. There will also be a need for the researcher to
reduce the scope of the study which will help the researcher to reduce or cut down on
the costs.

d) Hostility of the respondents

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This can lead to withholding of information or providing data which will mislead the
researcher. To overcome this constraint, the researcher will clearly outline the purpose
of the research and the benefits that can be derived if the research is carried out to
completion. The researcher will also need to reassure the respondents of confidentiality.

1.10. Delimitations of the Study

The sample will be drawn only from few selected 4th year degree nursing students at
UNAM Main Campus.

1.11. The Study Outline

The structure of the thesis had followed the following outline:

Chapter 1: History and general introduction: will provide an overview of the subject and
highlights the research problem, research goals, context and purpose of the report. The
purpose of this chapter will be to provide the thesis and an overview of the key elements
of the study with a comprehensive background.

Chapter 2: Analysis of the literature: An introduction will provide the general information
on the subject and critically examined the available literature. The collected literature
will offer a theoretical framework from research papers and newspapers. The aim of this
chapter will be to draw on and examine the findings from any previous research on the
same subject.

Chapter 3: Research Design: The research methodology will be outlined in this section.
This will include the target group description and the collection of data.

1.12. Definition of Terms

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1.13. Conclusion

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Chapter 2: Literature Review

2.1. Introduction to the Literature Review

2.2. Body of the Literature Review

2.3. Conceptual Framework

2.4. Conclusion

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Chapter 3: Research Methodology

3.1. Introduction

The previous chapter discussed the results on studies previously done by different
researchers, about the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding management of
cervical cancer. This chapter will outline the approaches that the researcher will use to
address the intents of the study. The chapter will discuss the research design, research
approaches, location, population, sampling strategies, data collection methods, data
quality control, measurements, data analysis, validity and reliability and conclusion.

3.2. Research Design

The study will be conducted using the qualitative research design which is expresses in
words. The main characteristic of qualitative research is that it is mostly suitable for
small samples, while its outcomes are not measurable and quantifiable. Its basic
advantage, which also constitutes its basic difference with quantitative research, is that
it offers a complete description and analysis of a research subject, without limiting the
scope of the research and the nature of participant’s responses (Creswell & Poth, 2017).

However, the effectiveness of qualitative research is heavily based on the skills and
abilities of researchers, while the outcomes may not be perceived as reliable, because
they mostly come from researcher’s personal judgments and interpretations. Because it
is more appropriate for small samples, it is also risky for the results of qualitative
research to be perceived as reflecting the opinions of a wider population (Bell, 2016).

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3.3. Research Approaches

The research approach that will be followed for the purposes of this research will be the
inductive one. According to this approach, researchers begin with specific observation,
which are used to produce generalized theories and conclusions drawn from the
research. The reasons for occupying the inductive approach was that it takes into
account the context where research effort is active, while it is also most appropriate for
small samples that produce qualitative data. However, the main weakness of the
inductive approach is that it produces generalized theories and conclusions based only
on a small number of observations, thereby the reliability of research results being
under question (Denzin & Lincoln, 2016).

3.4. Location

The study will be conducted in the area of Windhoek, Khomas Region and targeting the
4th year degree nursing students at UNAM Main Campus.

3.5. Population

According to Eriksson & Kovalainen (2015) refer to the population as an aggregate or

totality of the objects, subjects or members that conform to a set of specification.
(Cramer, 2015) define population that is the study object and consists of individuals,
groups, organizations, human products and events, or the conditions to which they are
exposed. In this study, the population of the study will be the 4th year degree nursing
students at UNAM Main Campus from Windhoek (Khomas Region).

3.6. Sampling Strategies

The method of purposive sampling will be used to develop the sample of the research
under discussion. According to this method, which belongs to the category of non-
probability sampling techniques, sample members are selected on the basis of their

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knowledge, relationships and expertise regarding a research subject (Houghton, Casey,
Shaw & Murphy, 2016). In the study, the sample members who will be selected had
special relationship with the phenomenon under investigation, sufficient and proven
research background and understanding of raw data concerning the knowledge, attitude
and practices regarding management of cervical cancer. Within this context, the
participants of this study will be thirty (30) 4th year degree nursing students at UNAM
Main Campus from Windhoek (Khomas Region).

3.7. Data Collection Methods

For the purposes of this research, in depth interviews will be used. In depth interviews
are personal and unstructured interviews, whose aim is to identify participant’s
emotions, feelings, and opinions regarding a particular research subject. The main
advantage of personal interviews is that they involve personal and direct contact
between interviewers and interviewees, as well as eliminate non-response rates, but
interviewers need to have developed the necessary skills to successfully carry an
interview (Fisher, 2005, Wilson, 2003). What is more, unstructured interviews offer
flexibility in terms of the flow of the interview, thereby leaving room for the generation of
conclusions that were not initially meant to be derived regarding a research subject.
However, there is the risk that the interview may deviate from the pre-specified research
aims and objectives (Gill, Johnson and Clark, 2017).

As far as data collection tools is concerned, the conduction of the research will involve
the use of semi-structured questionnaire, which will be used as an interview guide for
the researcher. Some certain questions will be prepared, so as for the researcher to
guide the interview towards the satisfaction of research objectives.

3.8. Data Quality Control

The questionnaires will be pre-tested to ensure that they are manageable, relevant and
effective. Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2017) observe that a pilot test is a start phase in data

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gathering of the research process. Pilot test is conducted to detect weakness in design
and instrumentation and to provide alternative data for selection of a probability sample.

3.9. Measurements

Meetings will held during with few selected respondents so as to gain acceptance of
their participation in the research.
During the conduction of the interview, respondents will be free to express their views
even in topics which are not included in the discussed areas.

3.10. Data Analysis

Content analysis will be used to analyze the data which will be gathered from personal
interviews. According to Moore & McCabe (2015), this is the type of research whereby
data gathered is categorized in themes and sub-themes, so as to be able to be
comparable. A main advantage of content analysis is that it helps in data collected
being reduced and simplified, while at the same time producing results that may then be
measured using quantitative techniques. Moreover, content analysis gives the ability to
researchers to structure the qualitative data collected in a way that satisfies the
accomplishment of research objectives. However, human error is highly involved in
content analysis, since there is the risk for researchers to misinterpret the data
gathered, thereby generating false and unreliable conclusions (Krippendorff, Klaus, and
Mary 2019).

3.11. Validity and Reliability

Reliability is the degree to which an assessment tool produces stable and consistent
results while Validity refers to how well a test measures what it is purported to measure.
Hence, while reliability is necessary, it alone is not sufficient. For a test to be reliable, it
also needs to be valid. This study will look into considering the validity and reliability of

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the findings. Hence, before presentation, analysis and discussion of the empirical
findings, the characteristics of respondents will be presented and analyzed. The
researcher will ensure the validity and reliability of the data that will be collected.

3.12. Conclusion

In conclusion, the researcher will discuss the research methodology, which includes the
research design, research approaches, location, population, sampling strategies, data
collection methods, data quality control, measurements, data analysis, validity and
reliability. The study will be extremely both quantitative and qualitative and it will include
the methods of addressing different important characteristics in coming up with a
tangible study.

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REFERENCE

Bell, J. (2016) ‘The trouble with questionnaires’, in M. Coleman and A.R.J. Briggs (eds)
Research Methods in Educational Leadership and Management, 2nd edn. London:
Sage Publications

Bell, M. and Westph al, L., (2014) Assessing the Performance of Infant Industry, World
Bank Staff Working Paper No.666, Washington

Bryman, A. & Bell, E. (2017) “Business Research Methods”, 2nd edition. Oxford
University Press

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing
among five approaches. Sage publications

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2016). Introduction: The Discipline and Practice of
Qualitative Research. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), The Sage handbook of
qualitative research (pp. 1–32). Sage Publications Ltd

Eriksson, P., & Kovalainen, A. (2015). Qualitative methods in business research: A

practical guide to social research. Sage

Gill, J., Johnson, P. and Clark. M. (2017) Research Methods for Managers. SAGE
Publications, Washington DC

Houghton, C., Casey, D., Shaw, D., & Murphy, K. (2016). Rigour in qualitative case-study
research. Nurse researcher, 20(4), 12-17

Krippendorff, Klaus, and Mary Angela Bock. 2019. The content analysis reader.
Thousand Oaks, Calif: Sage Publications

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5. APPENDICES (QUESTIONNAIRES)

Dear respondent,

I am Selma Nelumbu, a four year student studying towards a

………………………………… at the University of Namibia (NUST).

I am obligated to do this Research Project as part of my course and objectives to

success and nothing unauthorized will be published or resulting in bad reputation,
However you are humbly requested to answer the following questions, your contribution
will highly appreciated and kept confidential.

This questionnaire seeks to collect data on the topic: Knowledge, attitude and
practices regarding management of cervical cancer amongst the 4th year degree
nursing students at UNAM Main Campus (Windhoek, Khomas Region)

Please write in the space provided.

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