Background: Worldwide, smoking cessation interventions and clinic programs were set up to help smokers in seeking assistance and motivation to abstain smoking and eventually become tobacco-free. Objectives: To determine the outcomes and factors influencing outcomes of Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) employees 6 months and 1 year after enrollment to SPMC Smoking Cessation Clinic (SCC). Methodology: SPMC employees enrolled to the program from the period of 2014 to 2017 with written informed consent to participate in the study. Demographic, clinical, and smoking profiles were gathered from the participant’s Smoking Cessation clinic medical record. A one-time interview was done to acquire additional information such as family genogram and Family Apgar Score at the SCC of SPMC. Main Results: This study had a target of 83 participants, but only 29 provided consent which gives a response rate of 34.93%. Majority of the participants are males, have mean age of 36 years old belonging to unattached young adults, nuclear family structure with highly functional Family Apgar scores and living with a mean of 3 family members per household. All participants had no co-morbidities present. The mean age started smoking is at 21 years old with a mean number of 6 cigarette sticks smoked per day and a mean number of 9 years smoking history. Almost all of the respondents were able to quit smoking within 6 months of enrollment to the program while a few have relapsed. All respondents quit after one year in the program. No significant factors identified during 6 months of enrollment and all respondents were able to quit after 1 year. Conclusion The study results showed that the Smoking Cessation Program established in SPMC was effective. Enrollment to the program for a minimum of six-month duration and with regular clinic sessions prove to be effective in increasing the participant’s readiness to quit and eventually becoming smoke-free.

Background: Health care associated infections (HCAI) lead to prolonged hospital stays, serious illnesses, and long-term disabilities, thereby become an economic burden to both patients and families. Substantial evidence demonstrated the effectiveness of hand hygiene in preventing the spread of infection. Study results would help improve campaign practices among hospital staff to reduce HCAI, hospitalization costs and enhance safety among patients and health care workers Objective: This study determined the knowledge, perception and practices on hand hygiene among the health care workers of Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City. Design: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire. Results: There were 166 respondents. Majority (94.58%) had adequate knowledge, positive perception (98.80%) and correct practices (89.16%) on hand hygiene. Mean knowledge (p<0.01) scores were significantly higher for the resident physicians compared to other health care workers. However, mean practice scores were higher (p<0.01) for other health care workers compared to resident physicians. There was no significant difference on the mean perception score (p=0.59). Conclusion This study reflects a high level of awareness on hand hygiene among the health care workers in Southern Philippines Medical Center. This over-all good performance was attributed to daily campaign on hand hygiene heard on PA system, reminders posted on every working area, availability of alcohol- based hand rub, and on- the-spot hand hygiene performance which positively affects compliance to hand hygiene among HCWs of this Institution.
Knowledge ; Attitude ; Hand Hygiene ; Nurses