Most patients want to play an active role in their own health care. There is now a movement from medical paternalism to patient-centered care in the consultation process that is based on the therapeutic alliance and negotiation between the doctor and patient, aptly named “shared decision-making” (SDM). It is a process where doctors work together with patients, including their families and caregivers, to select tests, treatments, management, or support packages, based on clinical evidence and personal informed preferences, health beliefs, and values. Successful implementation of SDM is associated with improved quality of consultations, favorable patient-reported health outcomes, and increased patient and doctor satisfaction. Patients are empowered to make proactive health decisions resulting in decreased anxiety, faster recovery, increased treatment compliance, and reduced unnecessary health care expenditure. There are multiple existing models in facilitating SDM. Two simple and easyto-follow models are the “three-talk model” and “S.H.A.R.E. approach.” The three-talk model endorsed by the NICE divides the SDM consultation into three steps, namely: team talk (explaining the need to consider treatment options as a team), option talk (describing the alternatives in more detail, and making use of patient decision aids [PDA] whenever appropriate), and decision talk (helping patients explore and form their personal preferences). On the other hand, the S.H.A.R.E. approach promoted by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is a five-step SDM consultation process that includes exploring and comparing the benefits, harms, and risks of each treatment option through meaningful dialogue about what matters most to patients.
Decision Making, Shared

Introduction: Due to COVID-19, face-to-face human interaction has become a health risk. There is a need to adopt technology to provide alternative means in delivering health care for those who are unable or unwilling to see a doctor in person. Objective: The objective was to determine the baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients in using telemedicine for primary care consultations at a community-based clinic chain in Pasig City, Metro Manila Methods: The study utilized a multi-center, cross-sectional descriptive design. A 34-item self-administered questionnaire was devised, pilot-tested, and distributed to 242 respondents in 4 clinics in Pasig City from October to November 2020. Results: A total of 242 questionnaires were distributed with 100% response rate. Telemedicine awareness was at 44.6%. There is a favorable attitude towards telemedicine. Only 20.25% had experience in using telemedicine. Among those who had experience with telemedicine, the most used device was the mobile phone (93.4%). The respondents had various resources, with cellphone signal (47.9%) and mobile data (45.9%) being the most common. The respondents prefer phone calls (48-57%) as their primary telemedicine platform followed by video conferencing (36-40%). Conclusion Telemedicine awareness and utility in the surveyed community remain low despite the information and communication technology (ICT) resources available and information drives being conducted. Preliminary data suggest that the majority of the surveyed community is open to the idea of telemedicine. Phone calls and video conferences using mobile phones are the modalities of choice for consultations. A follow up study with a larger sample size and more inclusive sample is recommended
Telemedicine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide, causing a pandemic. The Philippines ranks 3rd in Southeast Asia with more than 15,000 confirmed cases, and a case fatality rate of 6.01%, close to the global average of 6.33%. Objective: This clinical pathway was developed to guide family and community physicians on the diagnosis and initial management of COVID-19 in terms of 1) clinical history and physical examination; 2) laboratory and ancillary procedures to be requested; 3) pharmacologic interventions; 4) non-pharmacologic interventions, and 5) patient outcomes to expect. Method: The PAFP Clinical Pathways Group reviewed the published medical literature to identify, summarize, and operationalize the evidence in clinical publication on the management of patients with COVID-19 in family and community practice. Recommendations: The recommendations are time-bound tasks on patient care processes, in terms of history and physical examination, laboratory tests, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. The recommendations are presented as a table and algorithm. Implementation At the clinic level, self-audit using the recommendations of this clinical pathway as the standard may be done. At the organizational level, the PAFP should establish a new model of quality improvement initiative where self-practice audits are included as part of the program.
COVID-19 ; Family Practice

Background: Dizziness is a commonly encountered symptom in the primary care which can be caused, most of the time by benign condition and rarely due to serious conditions needing higher level of care. Objective: To develop a clinical guideline and pathway that will serve as guide in the diagnosis and management of adult patients with dizziness in primary care and outpatient setting Methods: A guideline development team was formed which is composed of family and community medicine specialists from different institutions. Searching, selection and assessment of the latest evidence on dizziness diagnosis and management was done using the search terms: “dizziness”, “diagnosis”, “management”, and “primary care”. Formulation of the recommendation was done using Grade approach and graded with modified GRADEPro and expert panel consensus. External review was also done by an expert in otorhinolaryngology. Recommendations: Clinical Assessment •Recommendation1.Askforthepatient’sdescriptionofdizzinessandclassifythepatientintooneofthefourtypes: vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, and lightheadedness and classify as acute/episodic or chronic/sustained. (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence) •Recommendation2.Obtainamedicalhistoryfocusingonthetiming,triggers,associatedsymptoms,riskfactorsfor atherosclerotic vascular disease, and functional status or quality of life. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation3.Performaphysicalexaminationfocusingonvitalsigns,HEENT(includingotoscopy),cardiovascular and neurologic examination. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation4.PerformspecialphysicalexaminationslikeDix-Hallpikemaneuverforacuteepisodictriggeredvertigo to check for BPPV (most common cause of peripheral vertigo), HINTS plus test for spontaneous episodic vertigo to check for stroke and hyperventilation provocation test for patients suspected of anxiety (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation5.Elicitredflagsthatshouldwarrantreferrallikeseveredizzinessandassociated,alteredmentalstatus, loss of consciousness and abnormal vital signs. Other symptoms like chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, neurologic deficit may warrant referral for evaluation and management. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation6.Forpatientsconsultingviatelemedicine,obtainamedicalhistoryfocusingonthetiming,triggers, associated symptoms, risk factors for atherosclerotic vascular disease, and functional status or quality of life, and observe and conduct self-physical examination (vital signs, mental status, ocular and facial nerve) (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence) Diagnostic •Recommendation7.Laboratorytestingisnotroutinelyrecommendedamongpatientswithdizziness.However,testingmay be requested if there is a need to identify a definite etiology to guide treatment and should be guided by the classification of dizziness, possible etiology, and the medical history and physical examination. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence).Recommendation8.Forpatientswithvertigoandwithauditorysymptoms(i.e.,hearingloss,tinnitusandauralfullness, etc.), pure tone audiometry speech test may be requested if available. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation9.Forpatientswithpresyncope/syncopeandachronicmedicalconditionisbeingconsidered,complete blood count may be requested for those with probable blood dyscrasia, serum blood glucose may be requested for those with diabetes, electrocardiogram and lipid profile may be requested for those with cardiovascular disease. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation10.Forpatientswithdisequilibriumandwithanabnormalneurologicphysicalexaminationfinding,CT scan may be requested. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) Pharmacologic •Recommendation11.Empirictrialofshortcourse(7days)pharmacologictreatmentforsymptomreliefshouldbeoffered. Referral should be considered if the dizziness become more severe or it did not improve in 7 days. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation12.Forpatientswithmildtomoderatevertigo,offerhistamineanalogue(betahistine)orantihistamine (meclizine, diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate or cinnarizine) for symptom relief. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation13.Forpatientswithmildtomoderatevertigoassociatedwithmigraine(vestibularmigraine),aside from symptom relief, offer any of the triptans as preventive medication. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation14.Forpatientswhosedizzinessisdescribedasdisequilibrium(gaitimbalance)orpresyncope(near faintness) or dizziness with anxiety attack, offer symptomatic treatment and intervention based on the underlying cause or consider referral to appropriate specialist. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) Non-pharmacologic •Recommendation15.Allpatientsshouldbeprovidedwithhealtheducationoncauses,triggersandfollowup.(Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence) •Recommendation16.Allpatientsshouldbeadvisedonappropriatedietandlifestylemodification.(StrongRecommendation, Low Quality Evidence) •Recommendation17.Dependingonthenatureofvertigo,educateandtrainthepatientoncanalrepositioningmaneuver and vestibular rehabilitation. Referral to rehabilitation medicine may be considered. (Strong Recommendation, High Quality Evidence) •Recommendation18.Thepatient’sfamilymustalsobeprovidedwithhealtheducationandidentifyacaregivertoassist and promote compliance to management. (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence) •Recommendation19.Encouragecommunity-basedvestibularrehabilitationactivitiessuchasgroupbalancetraining exercise. (Strong Recommendation, Low Quality Evidence) Patient Outcomes •Recommendation20.Thepatientshouldknowthenatureofdizziness,causesandpotentialcomplicationsanddevelop skills in postural exercises. (Strong Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence) •Recommendation21.Decreaseinfrequencyandseverityshouldexpectedwithin48hoursandresolutionisexpectedwithin a month. (Strong Recommendation, Moderate Quality Evidence) •Recommendation22.Improvedqualityoflifeshouldalsobeelicited.(StrongRecommendation,ModerateQualityEvidence) •Recommendation23.Referraltoappropriatespecialtyshouldbedoneifnoresolutionorprogressionofsymptomsor impaired quality of life for more than a month. (Strong Recommendation, Expert Opinion) Implementation The committee shall disseminate the guidelines through presentations and via journal publications. The QA committee shall be in charge of implementation of the guideline and pathway.
Community Health Services ; Dizziness ; Partnership Practice