OBJECTIVE: Dengue fever remains a public health problem in the Philippines. Eliminating key container artificial breeding sites of mosquito vectors is a vital part of dengue control. The objective of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to conduct an entomological survey of artificial container breeding sites of Aedes mosquitoes in households of two puroks in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

METHODS: All potential artificial container breeding sites of dengue in each household were inspected for mosquito larvae. Water was sampled from all containers that had mosquito larvae. Water was sampled from all containers that had mosquito larvae and the larval species determined through microscopic examination. Using the World Health Organization list of recognized containers, each container was classified as recognized or an unrecognized container.

RESULTS: The larval indices computed were: container index = 6.4%, household index = 23.9% and Breteau index = 29%. The proportion of containers positive for A. aegypti larvae was significantly higher for the unrecognized containers (9.9%) than that of the recognized containers (3.9%) (p=0.002).

CONCLUSION: The high household index and Breteau index indicate that the potential for dengue transmission is high in the study area. Unrecognized artificial containers contributed significantly to the number of Aedes breeding sites. "Search-and-destroy" campaigns in the community should be expanded to include these containers. Crafting specific vector control messages that address the problem of particular unrecognized containers as well as those of recognized containers with the highest proportion positive for Aedes larvae will also aid dengue control and prevention. Repeat surveys to monitor larval indices may be used to help ascertain the effectiveness of these messages in decreasing mosquito breeding sites.

Animal ; Aedes ; Larva ; Water ; Public Health ; Mosquito Vectors ; Dengue ; Cities ; Breeding

BACKGROUND: There is a perceived need among policymakers and other actors in the local health system to better address the challenges in financing healthcare, in general, and chronic or debilitating conditions, in particular, in order to develop appropriate policy and program responses.
OBJECTIVE: This paper aimed to present perceived issues and challenges in financing schizophrenia and colorectal cancer in the Philippine context, as identified by stakeholders.
METHODS: Verbatim transcription of the proceedings of a moderated discussion of stakeholders in schizophrenia and colorectal cancer care was analyzed for themes on challenges and recommendations in the financing of the two conditions in the local setting.
RESULTS: A total of 28 stakeholders representing healthcare providers, professional organizations, health maintenance organizations, patient support groups, and government participated in the meeting. Three main issues on financing debilitating conditions were identified by participants: a) government support for the two conditions is currently limited; b) coverage by third-party payors for schizophrenia or colorectal cancer is either absent or restricted; and c) the process of accessing medicines or alternative modes of financing for healthcare was perceived to be disparate and inconvenient for patients and their caregivers. Participants also provided recommendations in improving the mechanism of healthcare financing.
CONCLUSION: The general picture that emerged from this moderated discussion pointed to limitations in the prevailing mechanisms for financing schizophrenia and colorectal cancer in the Philippines. Improvements in the current financing mechanisms, and identification of alternative modes, is necessary to ensure universal health coverage.

Human ; Healthcare Financing ; Health Maintenance Organizations ; Caregivers ; Universal Coverage ; Delivery Of Health Care ; Insurance, Health, Reimbursement ; Government ; Self-help Groups ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Schizophrenia

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the clinical outcomes related to theintroduction of Paliperidone Palmitate in a specialty hospital in the Philippines. Methodology: Cross-sectional study among patients with Schizophrenia seen at thepsychiatry service of a specialty hospital catering to war veterans who were initiated onPaliperidone Palmitate. We reviewed and abstracted baseline patient data from themedical record of eligible patients. Outcome of treatment was collected through a one-time objective assessment of the patient by a third-party psychiatrist using theStructured Clinical Interview for Symptoms of Remission (SCI-SR) tool. Results: A total of 30 patients were recruited for the study from August 2020 and June2021, the majority of whom were males (80%), residents of the National Capital Region(50%) and single (20%). The median duration from schizophrenia diagnosis to initiation of Paliperidone treatment was 19.50 years (IQR: 16.60 – 33.50). In eight patients (22.67%),other antipsychotic drugs were discontinued following initiation of Paliperidonetreatment; in the remaining 22 participants (73.33%), Paliperidone was taken concurrentlywith other antipsychotic drugs. The median duration from the initiation of Paliperidonetreatment to follow-up assessment was 27.20 months (IQR: 24.73 – 30.50), with allparticipants having at least 6 months of treatment. At follow-up assessment, allparticipants were classified to be in remission. Conclusion In this study among patients with schizophrenia seen in a specialtyhospital in the Philippines, we found evidence that clinical outcomes with PaliperidonePalmitate were comparable to those given a combination of oral and long- actingantipsychotics.
Paliperidone Palmitate ; Schizophrenia

Objectives: The study aims to determine whether there is an association of perceived weight status with unhealthy diet practices. Method: An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted among 625 adult undergraduate students from U.P. Manila. The survey included questions regarding sociodemographic status, habits related to diet and weight management, and perceived body mass index (BMI). Actual BMI were obtained and calculated from actual anthropomorphic measurements. Results: In the population surveyed, it was seen that 53.28% of the students accurately perceived their BMI status, 26.08% overestimated their BMI status, while 17.28% underestimated their BMI status. It was also seen that over-estimating of BMI status is more associated with unhealthy diet practices. Those who over estimated their BMI were 1.95 times more likely to skip meals (p=0.001) and 1.56 times more likely to engage in cutting of food (p=0.034). Physical activity was also seen to be associated with these practices. Conclusion Over-estimation of BMI may be linked to unrealistic goals in weight loss resulting in unhealthier diet-related habits.
Body Mass Index ; Weight Perception ; Feeding Behavior ; Diet ; Exercise

Over the years, strategies in the prevention and management of surgical site infections (SSI) of patients in the Philippines have never been standardized. Several guidelines released by international foreign bodies have been found to be either conflicting or inappropriate for adaptation in the local context.To address these issues, the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS),in collaboration with the Philippine Hospital Infection Control Society (PHICS), Philippine Hospital Infection Control Nurses Association (PHICNA) and Operating Room Nurses Association of the Philippines, Inc. (ORNAP), initiated the development and adaptation of country-specific SSI guidelines in 2017. The new recommendations are based on the latest clinical practice guidelines released for the past five years and consensus by a panel of experts in the Philippines, through the assistance of a guideline development team engaged by PCS. Thirty-six (36) recommendations on different aspects of care were outlined. Implementation of an SSI surveillance program was also advised for health facilities.The new guidelines are intended to serve as the local benchmark for the prevention and management of SSI for surgeons and practitioners,taking into account their situation and experience in the Philippines. It is expected to improve the standard of care provided by health facilities and contribute to the reduction of the prevalence and incidence of SSI in the country

Human ; Surgical Wound Infection ; Consensus ; Operating Rooms ; Cross Infection ; Standard Of Care ; Operating Room Nursing ; Perioperative Nursing ; Hospitals ; Surgeons ; Foreign Bodies

Sample size computations, which should be done at the planning stage of the study, are necessary for research to estimate a population parameter or test a hypothesis. For causal analysis of observational databases, sample size computations are generally not needed. Post-hoc power analyses, which are typically done with non-significant findings, should not be performed since reporting post-hoc power is nothing more than reporting p values differently. While sample size calculations are typically based on the tradition of significance testing, sample size calculations based on precision are feasible – if not preferred – alternatives. Sample size calculations depend on several factors such as the study objective, scale of measurement of the outcome variable, study design, and sampling design. Computing for sample size is not as straightforward as presented in textbooks but specific strategies may be resorted to in the face of challenges and constraints.
Sample Size ; Power, Psychological

Objectives: The Pharmacy DOTS Initiative (PDI) was relaunched on a larger scale in 2014 through the Innovations and Multi-Sectoral Partnerships to Achieve Control of Tuberculosis (IMPACT) project. This paper aimed to assess the PDI program through IMPACT by identifying the facilitating and hindering factors in its implementation. The identified factors are classified as to the affected stakeholders or processes.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the PDI Program Manager and four NTP coordinators from selected project sites. Thematic analysis was done to determine the recurring facilitating and hindering factors as identified by the key informants.

Results: Facilitating factors identified include cooperation of the stakeholders, capability-building and a good referral system. The barriers to the implementation were grouped into patient-related, pharmacy-related, health center-related, program-related as well as external factors.

Conclusion: The referral system created through PDI facilitated the flow of referrals starting from the pharmacy. This enabled presumptive patients to have access to health facilities for TB. Hindering factors contributed to the inability of the engaged pharmacies to sustain their consistency and commitment in conducting the PDI interventions.

Key Words: barriers, facilitators, tuberculosis, directly observed therapy, program evaluation, pharmacy

Tuberculosis ; Directly Observed Therapy ; Program Evaluation ; Pharmacy

OBJECTIVE: This was an evaluation of the effectiveness of the technical assistance package for the Pharmacy DOTS Initiative (PDI) in the Philippines.

METHODOLOGY: Five pre-identified implementation sites were included in the evaluation. A survey was conducted to ascertain pharmacies currently implementing PDI and the number of TB presumptive cases referred by these pharmacies. Data abstraction was performed to determine the change in the number of TB cases seen by local TB programs after its implementation.

RESULTS: Findings revealed that the proportion of pharmacies actively referring presumptive TB patients is not significantly lower than 60% (p=0.1892). Furthermore, results showed that the average monthly referrals were not statistically lower than 20 clients per month (p=0.9159). Nevertheless, interrupted time series analysis found no statistically significant immediate effects (p=0.516) and long-term effects (p=0.3673) on the total number of new TB cases identified after the PDI was implemented in the year 2014.

CONCLUSION: The PDI was able to achieve outputs related to pharmacy engagement and referral of TB presumptive clients. However, the PDI was unsuccessful in increasing the actual number of TB presumptive cases seen by local TB programs in its implementation sites.

Tuberculosis ; Philippines

Background: Workplace bullying is defined as frequent, ongoing, and detrimental incidence of unreasonable acts/behaviors directed towards an individual. The consequences of bullying to individuals often lead to absenteeism, resignation, job dissatisfaction, and suicidal ideation making it a major public health concern. This organizational issue, when not addressed, will greatly affect the workflow in any organization. There is a paucity of literature on this problem in the Southeast Asian countries Objective: This study aimed to describe the extent of workplace bullying among employees of a public higher education institution. Methodology: The researchers used a descriptive, cross-sectional study design. Survey questionnaires in Google Form were emailed to all employees with a 35.96% participation rate. The survey instrument asked participants to indicate their awareness about any bullying behavior in their unit and to specify the typical profile of bullies and victims they know of. Responses to quantitative variables were summarized using the mean and standard deviation, while qualitative variables were reported as frequency and percentage distribution. The software used for analysis were Microsoft Excel and EpiInfo 7. Results: At least one-third (36.94%) of survey respondents indicated that they witnessed a form of bullying in the workplace with more awareness seen among faculty members and permanent employees. The most common type of bullying observed in the workplace was criticism in public. Notably, this type of bullying was similar across employee categories. The predominant reactions of victims of bullying include feeling of fear and loss of trust, and confiding to a friend or co-worker. Conclusion The phenomenon of bullying has been witnessed by the employees and reported to have adverse effects on victims. Informational campaigns coupled with anti-bullying policy and programs are necessary to promote employee well-being.
Occupational Stress ; Universities ; Occupational Stress ; Philippines

Objective: We aimed to provide practical guidance on the scoping review process, building on the methodologies and general steps outlined by Arksey and O’Malley, Levac et al. and The Joanna Briggs Institute. Methods: We reviewed the methodologies of three scoping studies conducted by the authors in the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila between 2016 and 2017. For each project, we outlined the steps, tools utilized, good practices performed, challenges encountered, and recommendations for improving the scoping review process in relation to existing guidelines. We compared the similarities and differences across the three reviews and guidelines to come up with a list of good practices and recommendations. Results: We propose an expanded 10-step and iterative framework based on our analysis of three scoping studies: Define your research question; 2. Specify your research statement according to population, concept, and context; Prepare the necessary tools, forms, and software packages; 4. Assemble your expert panel and/or consultants; Develop your search strategy; 6. Implement the search strategy and retrieve identified studies; 7. Screen and assess studies for inclusion in the scoping review; 8. Chart the data; 9. Synthesize your results; and 10. Prepare your final report. Conclusion Scoping reviews as a method of evidence synthesis are increasingly gaining popularity among researchers due to the scope of what can be reviewed in a relatively short amount of time. With only three scoping studies informing our proposed methodology, other issues and challenges in the conduct of a scoping review may have been missed in the expanded framework presented in this paper. We suggest future studies to apply existing scoping review methodologies, to further enhance this rapidly evolving framework in research, policy, and practice.
Review ; Methods