The biopsychosocial approach to healthcare is fundamental to Family and Community Medicine specialists. Using the patient-centered, family-focused, community-oriented (PFC) matrix, the interplay of a myriad of biomedical and psychosocial factors is assessed in order to provide a thorough medical management that is custom-made to meet the needs and inherent values of a patient and his/her family. Family assessment tools are also utilized to better understand the family dynamics of a patient that may impact on the prescribed management plan. In addition, social determinants of health are evaluated to ascertain which ones may facilitate or hamper proper utilization of community resources. This family case analysis documented the medical ordeal of a young professional who had been diagnosed with two rare medical conditions: necrotizing fasciitis and Chiari malformation Type II. Employing the PFC matrix, the Family and Community Medicine specialist was able to provide inter-disciplinary care for the patient and his family in a holistic manner by recognizing patient needs, creating an enabling family support environment, and helping the family unit navigate various community resources.
Humans ; Social Determinants of Health ; Family Health ; Social Factors ; Patient-Centered Care

Introduction: Dissecting cadavers to study Human Anatomy is an integral part of first year medical education. The aim of this study was to describe the experiences of the first year medical students during their first day of cadaver dissection. Methods: This study analyzed interviews of three first year medical students, chosen via purposive sampling, who were present during the first day of cadaver dissection in gross anatomy. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed through a Husserlian descriptive phenomenological approach. Results : Five common themes were identified: 1) fear of the unknown, 2) group dynamics, 3) sense of awe and amazement of the cadaver's body, 4) respect for the body, and 5) taming of death as a rite of passage to being a doctor. Conclusion Of the five emergent themes, taming death as a rite of passage to being a doctor is the essence of the experiences of the first year medical students during the first day of cadaver dissection.
Cadaver ; Anatomy

INTRODUCTION: Excessive screen time has been found to be detrimental to a child’s development. Despite its prevalence, there is a dearth of studies relating family dynamics and screen time. This study aimed to determine the association between family dynamics and the length of screen time among preschool children. METHODS: Participants were selected through convenience sampling and interviewed using the Family APGAR questionnaire. Families were classified as functional or dysfunctional. The adult respondents estimated the total screen time and this was classified as low-level or excessive. The association between screen time and APGAR classification was determined using prevalence rate ratio. RESULTS: Majority of 115 families had an APGAR classification of highly functional, with the children having an average screen time of five hours. Children from dysfunctional families were 1.23 times more likely to have an excessive amount of screen time than those with highly functional families and the difference was significant (p = 0.041). CONCLUSION Majority of the families in this study were highly functional and the average screen time of the children included in the study was five hours. Children from dysfunctional families were 1.23 times more likely to have an excessive amount of screen time than those with highly functional families.
child, preschool ; child ; Child development ; screen time ; family relations ;

INTRODUCTION: The NCR had amassed 752,668 cases of COVID-19 as of September 2021, the highest among the regions in the Philippines. This study aimed to determine the correlation between population, population density, age, and sex with the number of cases among local government units (LGU) in the National Capital Region (NCR). METHODS: The data for population, population density, age, and sex distribution of the LGUs of NCR were retrieved from the 2015 Philippine census while the data for cases were from DOH’s COVID-19 Tracker. Pearson correlation coefficient was computed to determine the correlation between population, population density and cases. Phi and Cramer’s V statistic were computed to determine associations between sex, age groups, and cases. RESULTS: There was little or no correlation between population density and number of cases (r = 0.236) but was good (r = 0.905) when Quezon City was excluded for being an outlier. There was good correlation between population and number of cases (r = 964, p < 0.001). There was very weak to no association between sex and number of COVID-19 cases. There was a statistically significant moderate association between age and COVID-19 cases (f = 0.145, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The study has shown that population density and population have a good correlation with the number of COVID-19 after Quezon City was removed as a data point. There is a moderate association between age and number of COVID-19 cases. There is a very weak to no association between sex and COVID-19 cases.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic put the healthcare worker’s professional quality of life (ProQoL) and job satisfaction (JS) at risk. This study determined the correlation between ProQoL, and the nine facets of and overall JS of physicians and nurses working in COVID-19 areas in Metro Manila and CALABARZON tertiary hospitals. It also determined their demographics, and measured the ProQoL, and overall JS and its nine facets. METHODS: Physicians and nurses working in COVID-19 areas of tertiary hospitals in Metro Manila and CALABARZON were recruited and asked to answer the Professional Quality of Life Scale Version 5 and Job Satisfaction Survey. Correlation between ProQoL and JS was determined through Spearman’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: High overall JS among 90 physician and nurse respondents correlated with high compassion satisfaction (ρ = 0.310), low burnout (ρ = -0.480) and secondary traumatic stress (ρ = -0.240). Correlations were found between ProQoL, and overall JS and pay, supervision, contingent rewards, coworkers, nature of work, and communication. A strong negative correlation between pay and burnout was observed (ρ = -0.500). CONCLUSION The overall JS of physicians and nurses has a moderate positive correlation with compassion satisfaction, moderate negative correlation with burnout, and low negative correlation with secondary traumatic stress. Pay and burnout have a strong negative relationship.

INTRODUCTION: Under COVID-19 guidelines, families are spending extended hours together within limited physical space, giving rise to a living situation that can bring families closer together and/or lead to conflicts. This study aimed to determine the current state of household cohesion and conflict among families with confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using the COVID-19 Household Environment Scale (CHES) as a self-administered questionnaire among adult persons who belonged to households with at least one family member previously diagnosed or currently with COVID-19 in August and September 2021. Participants were recruited online using convenience and snowball sampling. The CHES is a 30-item tool which measures conflict and cohesion through the Conflict and Togetherness Subscales, respectively. RESULTS: The composite median values of 386 participants surveyed reveal scores that were clustered to the left for the Conflict Subscale and neutrality for the Togetherness Subscale. CONCLUSION There is a general increase in household conflict and a non-significant change in togetherness among the surveyed families. The composite median values, if taken compoundly, imply the existence of more conflict and less togetherness.

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed to determine the association of body tattooing and health risk behaviors among young adult Filipinos in a university in Metro Manila, as previous studies have linked tattooing to health risk behaviors such as alcoholism, violence, suicidality, illegal drug use and smoking. METHODS: A convenience sample of students enrolled in randomly selected colleges from a university were recruited for the study. Researchers administered the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to the participants. Prevalence rate ratios were computed, and chi-square was utilized to test for significance and strength of association of the variables mentioned. RESULTS: Among the risk behaviors studied, only smoking had a significant association with tattooing, with tattooed individuals being two times more likely to be engaged in smoking. Alcoholism, violence, suicidality and illegal drug use did not show significant associations with tattooing. CONCLUSION The presence of body tattoos was associated with increased engagement in smoking behaviors, though the association between tattooing and other risk behaviors should be further explored.

Introduction: Dizziness is a common symptom experienced by patients undergoing hemodialysis. There have been some studies that show inhalation aromatherapy to be a simple and non-invasive way in reducing several symptoms including nausea and vomiting. This study aimed to determine if the use of key lime oil inhalation aromatherapy is effective as an adjunct to nursing interventions in reducing the duration of dizziness experienced by patients during hemodialysis. Methods : This was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial which assessed the efficacy of key lime oil inhalation aromatherapy in the relief of dizziness. The participants were asked to rate their dizziness using the Modified Borg Rating Scale for Dizziness before and after intervention and were timed until the dizziness was completely relieved. Results : The key lime inhalation aromatherapy and control groups were comparable, including their bast!ine dizziness ratings. Key lime inhalation aromatherapy alleviated dizziness in a significantly shorter time (4.8 vs 22.7 minutes, p = 0.03). Conclusion Key lime inhalation aromatherapy is effective as an adjunct treatment for dizziness experienced by patients during hemodialysis.
Renal Dialysis ; Dizziness