1.A narrative analysis on stories of underage smoking initiation among public school children
Christa R. Baniqued ; Stephanie I. Barbers ; Daniel K. Bañ ; as ; Marianne G. Bangloy ; Noel B. Bautista ; Katrina M. Barretto ; Kevin R. Base ; Jeremae D. Bassig ; Krisha F. Batalla ; Alyssa F. Bautista ; Trizia E. Bautista ; Joseph C. Beloso ; Sean C. Belo ; Kristian M. Bercero ; Franciosa Gavino-Collins
Health Sciences Journal 2020;9(2):38-45
INTRODUCTION:
Smoking is one of the most common preventable risk factors for disease and continues
to be a burden on public health, especially in developing countries like the Philippines. This study aims
to provide an understanding of underage Filipino smokers that is sensitive to the context within which
they are found.
METHODS:
The narrative approach was used to understand events across time and in a way that gave
meaning to the storied experience of the participants. Core story creation and emplotment were used to
flesh out the narratives of smoking initiation. The stories of six residents of Barangay Doña Imelda were
analyzed to understand the significance of smoking initiation in their context.
RESULTS:
The overarching narrative found was “putting meaning into time” and from this, three themes
emerged: 1) time is meaningful when shared, 2) finding solace from the struggles of daily living, and
3) resisting oppressive structures. Using these insights, the discussion was grounded on anti-smoking campaigns such as the DOH Annual No Smoking Month, the Sin Tax Law, and the Nationwide Smoking Ban.
CONCLUSION
This paper concludes that a more proactive approach to smoking initiation is warranted by
making meaningful alternative activities available to public school children.
Narration
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Smoking
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2.Family-focused home care plan during a COVID 19 epidemic: A consensus statement by the PAFP task force on COVID 19
Maria Victoria Concepcion P. Cruz ; Karin Estepa-Garcia ; Lynne Marcia H. Bautista ; Jane Eflyn Lardizabal-Bunyi ; Policarpio B. Joves ; Limuel Anthony B. Abrogena ; Ferdinand S. De Guzman ; Noel L. Espallardo ; Aileen T. Riel-Espina ; Anna Guia O. Limpoco ; Leilanie Apostol-Nicodemus
The Filipino Family Physician 2020;58(1):9-14
Initial Planning:
Statement 1: Develop a Family-focused Care Plan that contains tasks and activities related to the family structure, home environment and processes in order to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic
Adjustment in the Family Structure and Home Environment:
Statement 2: Identify a Family Caregiver who will remind the family to follow and implement the plan. Make sure this person is supported by all the members of the family. Statement 3: Identify a room or area that can be used for isolation in the event that a family member will be exposed to a diagnosed COVID-19 patient. Statement 4: Identify those who are at risk i.e. more than 60 years old, with existing chronic illness or other life-threatening condition and advice to take extra precaution. Statement 5: During the declared community quarantine period, all family members should stay at home, limit family celebrations, avoid home parties with outside guests, cancel travels as much as possible and be ready to have more members staying at home
Performance of Routine Tasks and Activities :
Statement 6: Practice personal hygiene that includes regular and appropriate hand washing, daily bath, cough and sneezing etiquette, minimize hand contact with eyes, nose and mouth and strict personal use of eating utensils, bath towels, etc. Statement 7: Daily cleaning of frequently touched surface like doorknobs, light and appliance control switch, gadgets, armchairs and tabletops. Cleaning agents can be ordinary detergents and water or 70% alcohol
What to Do When a Member is Exposed
Statement 8: Advice an exposed family member to stay home and in the room or area allocated for isolation, wear mask and maintain at least 2 meters physical distance from the other family members. Make sure their clothing, personal belongings and other things that they usually hold is cleaned regularly and not touch by other members. Statement 9: Watch out and monitor for the appearance of symptoms like fever, colds and cough. If the person exposed is low risk and there is difficulty of breathing or worsening of symptoms, consult your family doctor. If the person is high risk i.e. elderly or with exiting chronic disease and symptoms appear, consult your family doctor right away. Call first before going to the clinic or hospital. Statement 10: If the symptoms are mild, continue home quarantine, take over-the-counter medications like paracetamol for fever, increase water intake and ensure adequate nutrition, sleep and rest. Other family members are encouraged to provide psychological and social support to an exposed and isolated member. Statement 11: Symptoms usually resolved within 14 days, after which home quarantine can be discontinued between 14-21 days. If symptoms persist beyond 14 days consult your family doctor for advice
COVID-19
;
Family
3.Community-oriented health care during a COVID-19 epidemic: A consensus statement by the PAFP task force on COVID-19
Maria Victoria Concepcion P. Cruz ; Karin Estepa-Garcia ; Lynne Marcia H. Bautista ; Jane Eflyn Lardizabal-Bunyi ; Policarpio B. Joves, Jr. ; Limuel Anthony B. Abrogena ; Ferdinand S. De Guzman ; Noel L. Espallardo ; Aileen T. Riel-Espina ; Anna Guia O. Limpoco ; Leilanie Apostol-Nicodemus ; Ma. Rosario Bernardo-Lazaro ; Ma. Louricha Opina-Tan
The Filipino Family Physician 2020;58(1):15-21
Initial Planning:
Statement 1: A Community-oriented Health Care Plan that contains tasks and activities related to the community organization, environment, health care and social processes in order to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 epidemic on the community should be developed.
Statement 2: The plan should also include adjustments needed to continue the delivery of other health services i.e. maternal and child health, immunization, treatment of other communicable and non-communicable disease but with strict COVID-19 transmission precautions.
Adjustment in the Community Organization and Environment:
Statement 3: A local task force should be organized to develop and implement the community health plan. The task force should be recognized and supported by the whole community.
Statement 4: A facility in the barangay that can be used for isolation in case that a member will be diagnosed to have mild COVID-19. A hospital facility for referral of high-risk cases should also be identified and an emergency referral and transport plan should be established.
Statement 5: All community health workers should wear appropriate personal protective equipment in the process of performing their community health work.
Statement 6: Households in the community who have members at high-risk i.e. more than 60 years old, with existing chronic illness or other life-threatening condition should be identified and advised to take extra precautions i.e. personal hygiene, wearing mask and physical distancing.
Statement 7: During the declared community quarantine period by the community or higher-level authority, all community members and household should be advised to stay at home, limit celebrations and community gatherings
Performance of Routine Tasks and Activities:
Statement 8: A community-directed information, education and communication (IEC) plan should be developed and implemented for the following: a) Informing every household in the community on the basic and accurate information about COVID-19 and the community plan. b) Encouraging everyone to practice personal hygiene that includes regular and appropriate hand washing, daily bath, coughing and sneezing etiquette, wearing of mask, minimizing hand contact with eyes, nose and mouth and strict personal use of eating utensils, bath towels, etc. c) Encouraging everyone to clean everyday frequently touched surface like doorknobs, light and appliance control switch, gadgets, armchairs and tabletops. Cleaning agents can be ordinary detergents and water or 70% alcohol. d) Encouraging everyone to report and seek help to the community health worker if a household member is exposed and developed mild symptoms of COVID-19
What to Do When a Member or Household is Exposed or Diagnosed COVID-19:
Statement 9: If there is a household whose member is exposed to a COVID-19, the person should be encouraged to stay home preferably in a room or area adequate for isolation, wear mask and maintain at least 2 meters physical distance from other family members. Statement 10: Other household members should be advised to watch out and monitor for the appearance of symptoms like fever, colds and cough. If the person is low risk but there is difficulty of breathing or worsening of symptoms or if the person is high risk i.e. elderly or with existing chronic disease and symptoms appear, they encouraged to inform the community health worker and facilitate the necessary referral and transport arrangement to the hospital. Call first before going. Statement 11: If the symptoms are mild, continue home isolation or in the isolation facility identified by the community, take over-thecounter medications like paracetamol for fever, increase water intake and ensure adequate nutrition, sleep and rest. Family members and community health workers are encouraged to provide psychological and social support to isolated patients. Discontinuation of isolation can be done if symptoms resolve within 14-21 days
Epidemiology and Surveillance
Statement 12: The municipal or city health office should be provided daily with a situation report of the implementation of communityoriented health care for COVID-19. Situation report should include: a) The number of exposed, number of diagnosed cases, number of mild cases, number of cases referred to the hospital and number of cases recovered or died in the community. b) Brief description of best practices
COVID-19
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Noncommunicable Diseases
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Quarantine
4.Psychosocial experiences of selected pediatric occupational therapists in the Philippines on the shift to Telehealth Practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ysabella Faith F. Anico ; Drieza Joize Q. Bacay ; Allyssa Marie N. Bautista ; Charlaine B. Concepcion ; Noel Enrique A. Cruz ; Irene Y. De Guzman ; Ira Denisse D. Ludovice ; Samantha Marrei P. Macaya ; Corinth Shekainah M. Miranda ; Arminelle Marie M. Roxas ; Alexandra Mae D. Sale ; John Paul B. Sevilla
Philippine Journal of Health Research and Development 2023;27(1):36-44
BACKGROUND:
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals including pediatric
occupational therapists (OTs) mandatorily had to shift to the practice of telehealth in the absence of a safe in-
person setup caused by the outbreak.
OBJECTIVE:
This study aims to determine the psychosocial experiences encountered by selected pediatric OTs in
the Philippines brought by the shift to telehealth practice during the COVID-19 pandemic
METHODOLOGY:
Purposive sampling was used in the study to gather six (6) licensed pediatric OTs who provide
occupational therapy (OT) services via telehealth in the Philippines, and the respondents were not personally
connected to any of the researchers. A semi-structured one-on-one interview with the participants through a
Zoom call was conducted to obtain their psychosocial experiences. A thematic analysis was used and four (4)
themes emerged by the end of the study: consequences of the shift to telehealth practice, changes during
telehealth provision, increased resilience, and increased psychological strain.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the transition to provision of telehealth services to pediatric clients has challenged
the practices of the selected pediatric OTs in terms of preparing for the session, where one of the main prevalent
concerns was toward collaboration and communication with the caregivers; conducting of telehealth sessions,
where communication interruption was one of the main concerns; and in ethical considerations, where OTs
made it a point that they rectified ethical dilemmas amidst telehealth provision. These experienced challenges
also included increased workload and psychological distress, while improved occupational balance and
adaptability were most commonly experienced by OTs
COVID-19 Pandemic
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Occupational Therapy
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Telehealth