1.Globe positioning in the orbit among Filipinos scanned at the Philippine General Hospital from November 2009 to February 2010.
Cupino Nonette A ; Carpio Erwin John T ; Pagkatipunan Paulo Maria N
Acta Medica Philippina 2014;48(1):58-63
OBJECTIVE: To determine normal Filipino values of globe positioning in the orbit using Computed Tomography.
METHODS: 58 individuals were divided into age groups below 20 and 20 and above. CT images with constant settings were obtained. The distance between the lateral orbital rims (A), the shortest distance between line A and the corneal center (B), medial and lateral orbital rims (C),and the distance between line C and the corneal apex crossing the center of the lens (D) were measured, and the BIA and D/C ratios calculated. The mean, median, and range in millimeters were grouped in terms of age, sex,and laterality.
RESULTS: Between the age groups, there was a significant difference in the average values of A, B,and C, but not the B/A and D/C ratios. Gender comparison for group 2 showed statistical difference in the average values of Band C,but not the A, D, BIA and D/C ratios. All the parameters in both groups showed no significant difference when the right and left eyes were compared.
CONCLUSION: Age group comparison showed statistically significant difference in the average values of A, B,and C which may be attributable to growth changes. Gender comparison in group 2 showed significant difference in Band C. Males had a greater degree of protrusion than females. The right and left eye showed no significant difference in any of the measured parameters. Throughout the study, both BIA and D/C ratios showed no significant difference among gender and age suggesting that such ratios may be used as an index for setting normal globe positioning in the orbit.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Adolescent ; Humans ; Male ; Female ; Orbit ; Cornea ; Lens, Crystalline ; Rbbp8 Protein, Human ; Nuclear Proteins ; Tomography, X-ray Computed ; Tomography.
2.Public policy on alcohol consumption and accessibility: Implications to its implementation in Metro Manila universities and colleges.
Acta Medica Philippina 2018;52(61):557-561
OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to identify alcohol-related advertisements and access to alcohol outside selected Metro Manila schools as well as to identify alcohol-related ordinances and determine their enforcement.
METHODS: An area within 100 meters of ten randomly selected colleges in Metro Manila were included in the study using the Global Positioning System (GPS). These areas were grid-searched for alcohol related advertisements and alcohol outlets. Ordinances related to alcohol were also identified.
RESULTS: An average of six advertisements and 12 establishments which sell alcoholic drinks were seen near the selected colleges in Metro Manila. Three of the five cities where the ten colleges were situated had ordinances which prohibit selling to minors while two cities prohibit issuing of liquor licenses to establishments within 200 meters from a school.
CONCLUSION: Alcohol-related advertisements and alcohol outlets were plentiful near Metro Manila colleges even when there were ordinances which prohibit giving licenses to establishments to sell alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol Drinking In College ; Minors ; Cities ; Advertising ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Universities
3.Research ethics committees in Manila Schools: Exploring the reasons for its non-existence
Paulo Maria N. Pagkatipunan ; Elisa Bernadette E. Limson ; Anna Marie C. Abrera
Acta Medica Philippina 2022;56(13):12-19
Objectives:
This study aimed to explore the reasons behind the “resistance” of higher education institutions (HEIs) located in the south Manila area in creating research ethics committees (RECs). It also examined the proportion of researches in these HEIs with human participation.
Methods:
Research directors underwent key informant interviews while faculty researchers participated in focus group discussions. Universal sampling was employed on all researches in the schools to determine the proportion with human participants and to know if they are ethically “high risk“ or “low risk” in terms of the participants’ involvement.
Results:
We included ten higher education institutions in this study. Research directors and faculty researchers agreed that their school should have a REC and that studies should undergo ethical evaluation before commencement of data collection. Half of all researches were found to have human participant involvement and, after developing a tool to determine the risk level to participants, this study found that ethically high risk researches are found to represent 10% as a proportion of the total researches done in the schools.
Conclusion
Almost all respondents in this study agreed that RECs should be created; however, there are financial challenges that schools face in establishing RECs.
Ethics Committees
4.The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the family and community medicine residency training program: The Philippine experience.
Leilanie Apostol-Nicodemus ; Peter Julian A. Francisco ; Maria Elinore A. Concha ; Paulo Maria N. Pagkatipunan ; Zorayda E. Leopando ; Daisy M. Medina ; Florentino M. Berdin Jr.
Acta Medica Philippina 2024;58(13):15-21
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on medical education, particularly in Family and Community Medicine training programs. This study aimed to assess the impact in the Philippines by comparing the number of cases and procedures before and during the pandemic, as well as the adaptations made by these programs.
OBJECTIVEThe objective of this study was to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Family and Community Medicine training in the Philippines by comparing the average number of cases and procedures done before and during the pandemic and the changes implemented by the different accredited training programs.
METHODSA cross-sectional study utilizing an explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was undertaken. The quantitative portion collected data on cases and procedures from the participating institutions’ residents using the standardized checklist of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians. The qualitative portion was done through a focused group discussion (FGD) following a prepared set of FGD questions. Analysis of variation (ANOVA) was used to compare the average cases seen and procedures across the four years and content analysis for the qualitative data.
RESULTSThere was a significant decrease in the average number of adult and pediatric cases during the pandemic years (2020-2021) compared to before (2018-2019). Various organ systems cases such as neurology, ophthalmology, dermatology, and gastrointestinal, showed significant differences (p-value<0.05) were found for several organ system cases when comparing the years before (2018-2019) and during the pandemic (2020-2021), including neurology, ophthalmology, ENT, dermatology, cardiology, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, reproductive health, musculoskeletal, and endocrinology cases. The trainers adjusted training activities to support the hospital's COVID-19 response and that prompted an abrupt shift to online strategies for patient consultations, teaching sessions, and examinations.
CONCLUSIONThe COVID-19 pandemic led to a reduction in the variety of cases and procedures in Family and Community Medicine training, impacting the fulfillment of specialty training requirements. However, it also drove innovation through the integration of technology, including online teaching methods. These experiences underscore the importance of resilience and adaptability in medical education and offer valuable lessons for future training programs, potentially leading to improvements in training and patient care through innovative methodologies.
Covid-19 ; Education, Medical
5.Capacitation of essential school workers in compliance with Philippine COVID-19 guidelines:A qualitative study
Jovy F. Cuadra ; Paulo Maria N. Pagkatipunan ; Jerome V. Cleofas ; Arthur S. Abulencia ; Raul Guillermo B. Chebat ; Ernestus C. Padilla ; Joanna Juvyjoy A. Rojo ; 7Rudolf Aldrin C. Guirit ; Gliceria C. Lunag ; Sr. M. Christine Pinto
Acta Medica Philippina 2020;54(Online):1-8
Introduction:
Organizations, including higher education institutions (HEIs), have been mandated to protect employees from the threats of the COVID-19.
Objective:
This study sought to describe the perceptions of essential school workers (ESWs) of selected HEIs in the southern Manila area in terms of how they were capacitated in compliance with national guidelines,
Methods:
A total of seven HEIs participated in this qualitative study. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among four sectors of ESWs: security, maintenance, health services, and office staff. Thematic analysis was used to draw insights from the narratives of the FGDs.
Results:
Three themes emerged from the FGDs: material capacitation, programmatic capacitation, and issues and challenges.
Conclusion
This study highlights that from the perspective of ESWs, HEIs in the southern Manila area exert efforts to comply with IATF guidelines through various expressions of material and programmatic capacitation to protect them from the threat of COVID-19. However, results also demonstrate challenges that deter full compliance and consistent implementation of the guidelines across institutions.
Qualitative Research
6.Capacitation of essential school workers in compliance with Philippine COVID-19 guidelines:A qualitative study
Jovy F. Cuadra ; Paulo Maria N. Pagkatipunan ; Jerome V. Cleofas ; Arthur S. Abulencia ; Raul Guillermo B. Chebat ; Ernestus C. Padilla ; Joanna Juvyjoy A. Rojo ; Rudolf Aldrin C. Guirit ; Gliceria C. Lunag ; Sr. M. Christine Pinto
Acta Medica Philippina 2023;57(12):39-46
Introduction:
Organizations, including higher education institutions (HEIs), have been mandated to protect employees from the threats of the COVID-19.
Objective:
This study sought to describe the perceptions of essential school workers (ESWs) of selected HEIs in the southern Manila area in terms of how they were capacitated in compliance with national guidelines.
Methods:
A total of seven HEIs participated in this qualitative study. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among four sectors of ESWs: security, maintenance, health services, and office staff. Thematic analysis was used to draw insights from the narratives of the FGDs.
Results:
Three themes emerged from the FGDs: material capacitation, programmatic capacitation, and issues and challenges.
Conclusion
This study highlights that from the perspective of ESWs, HEIs in the southern Manila area exert efforts to comply with IATF guidelines through various expressions of material and programmatic capacitation to protect them from the threat of COVID-19. However, results also demonstrate challenges that deter full compliance and consistent implementation of the guidelines across institutions.
Qualitative Research