Background: An insight on the association of psychosocial factors with postmastectomy pain syndrome (PMPS) can help in the holistic management of patients with PMPS. Objective: To determine the proportion of patients with PMPS among those who underwent mastectomy for breast cancer and identify factors associated with the syndrome. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Outpatient Unit in Southern Philippines Medical Center. Participants: 45 women who had mastectomy for breast cancer. Main outcome measures: Proportion of patients with PMPS; prevalence odds ratios (POR) of having PMPS for selected factors. Main results: The patients had a mean age of 53.18 ± 8.09 years, mean BMI of 23.57 ± 2.65, and--on average--were 27.09 ± 35.76 months postmastectomy upon entry into the study. Of the 45 patients, 22 (48.89%) had PMPS. Univariate POR of having PMPS were significantly high for patients who: had distant metastasis (POR=5.56; 95% CI 1.27 to 24.29; p=0.0227), experienced premastectomy breast pain (POR=35.70; 95% CI 6.14 to 207.52; p<0.0001), were in late-stage family life cycle (POR=9.18; 95% CI 1.02 to 82.22; p=0.0476), and were in late-stage family illness trajectory (POR=4.96; 95% CI 1.39 to 17.70; p=0.0137). Conclusion In this study, 48.89% of patients had PMPS. Factors associated with PMPS include: having distant metastases, having premastectomy breast pain, being in late-stage family life cycle, and being in late-stage family illness trajectory.
Family

Background: The family life cycle describes the stages of family development starting from the formation of the emerging adults to marriage, birth of children, growth into adolescents, adulthood and families in later life. The cycle includes individual developmental changes of family members, evolution of marital relationship and cyclic development of the evolving family unit. Presently, there is no study that describes the developmental tasks, structures and functions of Filipino families with young children. Objective: The objective of the study was to describe the developmental tasks, family structure and functions among selected Filipino families with young children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2016 on a total of 353 Filipino parents of families with young children ages 0-12 years old. Results: The extended type of family (65%) is more predominant than the nuclear type (35%) among the participants. A high Family APGAR score of 9.2 (SD ± 1.1) translated to highly functioning families with young children. Overall, the first order changes on financing, marital adjustments and extended family relationships were highly met except that on the unexpected costs of family life. For second order changes, there was a significant association of decline in intimacy over time among couples progress thru the life stages (X2 12.75, p-value 0.013). Partners were able to adjust the marital relationship mainly through communication and acceptance. The parenting roles were done most of the time except for the roles on inspiring children for nationalism and providing wholesome educational materials. Finally, almost all families with young children (99%) were able to align relationship with extended family members. Conclusion The selected Filipino families with young children mostly have an extended family structure and are highly functional. Overall, the first and second developmental tasks were accomplished in varying degrees.
Family ; Family Relations ; Parenting

Background: The practice of Family Medicine is important in the provision of primary health care. Family physicians (FPs) provide health services both in the public and private settings Objective: To describe the practice profiles and geographic aggregation of Filipino family physicians Methods: This study was a web-based cross-sectional design involving family physicians who are registered in the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians membership database. The questionnaire was semi-structured with 3 consecutive sections: consent form, basic demographics, practice profile of family physicians. Results: Overall, 95% (N=1357) of family physicians reported seeing patients in a health facility at least once a week. Thirty percent of physicians are from Luzon (N=426), 28% from the National Capital Region (N=395), 20% from the Visayas region (N=288) and 18% from Mindanao (N=261). There were more FPs who reported mixed-type clinical practice (51%) than those who were exclusively engaged in practice (49%). Involvement in the private sector was common among physicians who are in the clinics (59%), while employment in the public sector was commonly reported among those in mixed-type of practice (42%). Family physicians provide a wide range of clinical services including counselling, vaccinations, simple surgical excision, and palliative services. The average reported outpatient consultation fees of FPs was Php 321 (SD+120) per patient. Conclusion The practice profile of family physicians includes active clinical practice, employment in either the public or private sector, with a small fraction in solo clinic practice. The range of primary care services offered include management of chronic conditions, counselling, home visits, preventive care such as prenatal care, vaccinations and screening tests like pap smear
Physicians, Family ; Family Practice

This manual details how to write a case report that uses the biopsychosocial approach in understanding and analyzing a patient’s disease in the context of the family in crisis. It begins by describing the illness characteristics of the index patient - the onset, course, prognosis, and family illness trajectory. The family structure and dynamics are then identified using various family assessment tools such as genogram, APGAR, SCREEM-RES, lifeline, family map, etc. Lastly, the physician formulates a family diagnosis: the presence of alliances and coalitions, the family’s strengths and coping mechanisms, how they adapt to the changes brought by the illness, etc. These data help the physician effectively engage the family as a source of support for the management of illness.

Humans ; Family Practice ; Counseling ; Family

INTRODUCTION

No-scalpel vasectomy is an emerging family planning method that enables the male partner to get more involved. The procedure was first introduced in our institution in 2008 with an average of 7 clients per year (i.e., 86 patients from 2008 to 2019). There were no data when the pandemic started, but starting in March 2022, acceptance for the procedure started to increase. This coincides with the timeline of the study. At present, there are limited studies regarding no-scalpel vasectomy, especially local studies. A better understanding of the characteristics and outcomes of those who underwent no-scalpel vasectomy would aid our institution in formulating and implementing policies and family planning programs.

The study determined the characteristics and outcomes of no-scalpel vasectomy acceptors at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital from March 2022 to February 2023. Characteristics included the sociodemographic, medical, reproductive, and duration from inquiry until semen analysis. The outcomes included the absence or presence of complications after the procedure and result of semen analysis.

The study utilized a retrospective, descriptive, single, cohort design. Total enumeration was done to get the 36 charts of clients who underwent no-scalpel vasectomy at the Comprehensive Family Planning Center of Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital from March 2022 to February 2023. Patient charts were retrieved, and data abstraction was done. Tables and figures were used to display the frequency distribution of data collected.

The study had a cohort of 36 individuals who underwent no-scalpel vasectomy, which accounted for 116% of the intended sample size. The characteristics of our clients were mostly urban residents, 30–39 years old, with partner, educated, middle class, employed, Roman Catholic, and having 1–2 children with the age of youngest below 3 years old. Different forms of family planning were used prior to the procedure. Teleconsultation effectively increases our clients for vasectomy. Clients were able to follow up after the procedure, but there was only a decrease in the number of clients who had their semen analysis done and were lost to follow-up.

There is an increasing awareness in no-scalpel vasectomy procedure as seen in the increase in acceptors. It is an effective, safe, cost effective, and permanent male contraceptive procedure, with very minimal manageable complications. However, there is a need for better protocol regarding follow-up with semen analysis result.

By determining the characteristics and outcomes of no-scalpel vasectomy acceptors at Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital from March 2022 to February 2023, the findings of the study hope to aid the health-care providers gain a better insight about the characteristics and outcomes of our male clients who decided to undergo no-scalpel vasectomy as their family planning method of choice. There is a need study in further improving of the formulation and implementation of policies and family planning programs to further reach the male population.

Background: The Filipino family has always been described to have solid household, innate close family ties and high regard to interpersonal relationships. However, there has been paucity of local studies regarding Filipino families and how specifically do Filipinos see, define and perceive a family unit in general. Objective: To explore Filipino family’s concepts and ideas of what qualities represent and define a well family. Method: The study was qualitative in design with mixed data collection methods: 18 interviews, 10 Focus Group Discussions, and a literature review. Results: Caring parents, unconditional love, able to maintain a good relationship between family members, constant presence for loved ones and capacity to forgive were reflected as important characteristics of a well Filipino family. Love and respect are considered to be the foundations and faith in God as an important component of a family. However, the wellness of the family begins with husband-wife relationship and that a strong and happy marital relationship will provide mutual support, encouragement and understanding. Likewise, financial capability combined with a commitment to provide for the family’s future was a quality believed to bind the family together. Physical well-being and the absence of diseases were also part of family wellness. Conclusion The nine qualities of a well Filipino family include loving, affectionate, responsible family members; spiritually healthy; has the capacity to provide; having strong husband-wife relationship; effective parents; has a system of open communication within the family; united with flexible family structure; spends time together; and physically healthy with good community life.
Family ; Parents ; Marriage ; Love ; Respect ; Family Structure

The practice of family medicine extends from womb to tomb and provides opportunities to care for not just one but all members of the family. Regardless of the complaint that brings a patient to the clinic, a family physician's role is to provide comprehensive care for the patient, the family, to go beyond the biomedical approach, not just to treat the disease but also to address the impact of the illness, and to have a continuing plan for promoting the family's wellness. Families are greatly affected by the pres- ence of chronic illnesses in any of its members. How then does a family physician address the potential problems of a chronic disease in the family especially if the sick member is one of the parents, with an unborn child? This paper aims to discuss the circumstances and situational relationships of a family with pregnant mother with a newly diagnosed kidney disease that would require hemodialysis
Family Practice, Physicians, Family, Chronic Disease

A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in February 2005. There were 1.359 households with 91 persons who get sick during last two weeks and 149 mothers who have children less than 5 year of age or have pregnant and 336 householder enrolled in survey. The results indicated that prevalence of diseases was 25.3% (equivalent to 6.7% of the population). Average illness frequency was 1.7times/person/year. Children group under 1 year of age had the highest health care needs (6.2 times/person/year), followed by the elderly group (2.7 times/person/year); children 1-5 years of age (2.5 times/person/year). The use rate of health services was 62.6%. Some factors found to be related to the use of health services were income, age and health care expenditure. Health care services in terms of the availability, convenience, human relations between users and providers should be strengthened in public health facilities. In addition, promote care activities, a proper referral system and strengthening of village health workers should be focused
Health Services ; Family

The investigation using combination of quantitative and qualitative methods at 60 communes, towns of three districts including Quan Ba, Yen Minh (Ha Giang) and Chiem Hoa (Tuyen Quang) showed that ratio of households with hygienic privy were very low (6.5%) among 6012 investigated households in both provinces. The construction and preservation and use of the privy were not in good conditions, only 5.2% households are using hygienic privy. The situation in Ha Giang was not as good as Tuyen Quang
Family Characteristics ; Epidemiology