Dr. Gladys Dzansi is at the Department of Adult Health, School of Nursing, University of Ghana. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of the Western Cape, Cape Town South Africa awarded in 2017. She obtained a Master of Philosophy in Nursing (2007) and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Nursing with Psychology (2002) all from the University of Ghana. She qualified as a State Registered Nurse (SRN) in 1997. The Polyvalent nature of her training makes her versatile and able to work within any unit within the health care setting
Her vision is to impact generations through teaching, research, publication and practical social engagement. Her mission is to train and mentor a cadre of nurses with passion for excellence in nursing practice, research and education who will lead the transformational agenda of quality healthcare for all people particularly vulnerable groups and the dying. She believes that there is the need to integrate positive aspects of technology to improve nursing education, research and practice.
Academic and Professional Activities
Dr. Dzansi was first appointed to the University of Ghana as a Senior Nurse Technician in 2002 after completing her first degree. Her responsibilities included teaching clinical skills, supervising students in clinical settings and organising clinical conferences.
She was appointed assistant Lecturer in 2009 with responsibilities for teaching, supervision and research. Some of the courses she taught included:
• Family health crises intervention which has now been reviewed and named Medical nursing and Surgical nursing.
• Tools and methods of teaching
• Historical perspectives of Nursing
• Nursing theories
• Community health nursing
• Paediatric nursing
• Family Planning
• Nursing Research
• Nursing Seminar
• Nursing practical
Dr. Dzansi also facilitates workshops on test construction and teaching methods under the auspices of the Savanna Health Institute Ghana Limited.
She has supervised research projects at the undergraduate level and graduate levels. Some of the topics include:
• Perceived Use of Internet among Nursing Students, University of Ghana, Legon
• Use of Mobile Phones Among Students in University of Ghana
• Usage and Attitudes of Nursing Students Towards Social Media: A Study at The University of Ghana.
• Knowledge and Attitudes of E-Learning Among Students at The University of Ghana
• Quality of Life of Adolescents Living With HIV/AIDS in The Accra Metropolis
• Factors Influencing Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Persons Living with HIV In Accra
• Quality of Life of Women with Cervical Cancer: A Study at The Radiotherapy Centre, Korle-Bu
• Experiences of Undergraduate University of Ghana Nursing Students in Studying Principles and Practice of Physical Assessment Course
She also coordinated the Professional Nursing Licensing program from 2009 to 2013 with the responsibility for indexing, registration and preparation of the students. She worked with Mrs Cecelia Eliason in introducing reforms that improved student performance outcomes.
She has experience in curriculum development and review. She was a committee member for the School of Nursing on the University of Ghana-Brown University Collaboration on HIV/AIDS curriculum development. She was part of the team that reviewed the Bachelor of Science (Bsc) Nursing curriculum of School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon in 2011 to 2012. In 2015-2016 she was part of the team that developed the Bsc Midwifery and Master of Science in Paediatric Nursing curriculum for the School. She actively contributed to developing a PhD in nursing curriculum for the same institution which is under review for accreditation.
She was upgraded to the status of Lecturer from January 2018 and appointed the acting head, Department of Adult Health in August 2018. She is currently co-teaching the following undergraduate courses in the regular and Distance education programmes:
• Principles and Practice of Health Assessment
• Surgery
• Research method
• Nursing seminar
• Palliative care
She promotes interactive engagement and use of virtual learning platforms especially SAKAI learning management system an eLearning resource which facilitates student centred approach to teaching and learning. She also integrates social media as a tool for teaching and learning.
In professional practice she continues to contributes to the promotion of quality care. As a newly qualified nurse, she volunteered to serve at the Nkwanta District Hospital, Volta Region one of the ‘hard to reach’ areas at the time with the then District Director of health Services Dr. Koku Awoonor-Williams. She contributed to restructuring nursing care and improving the quality of care even as a staff nurse. She has experience in nursing practice within rural and urban health care settings and this reflects in her education and research orientation as well. She has facilitated some continuous education programs for nurses and nurse educators as part of the effort in promoting professional development.
Research Activities/Awards and Grants
Gladys is an early career researcher with research interest that is focused on the following thematic areas:
• HIV/AIDS
• Mobile health interventions
• Palliative care
• eLearning interventions
• Quality of life
• Adherence to treatment
She has competency in mixed methods research with a pragmatic theoretical orientation.
She was awarded a 5000 Ghana seed grant by ORID to undertake a study on Validation of Multimethod adherence tool in Client on Antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Korle Bu from 2013 to 2014.
Fogarty AITRP awarded a scholarship grant from 2013-2017 for her doctoral study and also supported her research project on Integrated mobile phone intervention for improving ART adherence in HIV clients in Ghana.
Dr Dzansi was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholars (QES-AS) from April 2018- April 2019 to undertake postdoctoral study at the University of Alberta Canada. The research project for the project is “Access and Retention of Children in HIV/AIDS Care: A study of two districts in Ghana”
Publications
Atinga, R.A., Domfeh, K.A., Kayi, E., Abuosi, A., Dzansi, G. (2014). Effects of perceived workplace politics in hospitals on nurses’ behavioural intentions in Ghana. Journal of Nursing Management 22, 159–169
Community/Extension Services
• Health Screening and health education in Faith based organizations
• Adolescent and youth education programs
• Volunteer Easter soup Kitchen and Disaster response Team, Multimedia group.
• Rural/vulnerable group outreach services
Contact Details
Department of Adult Health
School of Nursing and Midwifery
College of Health Science
University of Ghana
P.O. Box LG.43, Legon, Accra, Ghana
Office Telephone +233 (0) 302 -513250 / 0289 531 213
Mobile phone/WhatsApp +233243059316
Email: gdzansi@ug.edu.gh / gladysdzansi@gmail.com