BACKGROUND: The present situation in the clinical practices in most hospitals in the Philippines presents great challenges and expectations for nurses to accomplish. Working in very busy large hospitals is considered tedious task. Even the most experienced nurses are confronted with complicated assignments that may threaten their wellness. It is in this context that the researcher conducted this study to determine (a) the nurses' rating of the availability of an existing hospital's basic health promotion program for nurses, (b) the nurses' perceptions of administrative support for the health promotion program, and (c) the nurses' appraisal of the scope of workplace wellness promotion in hospital units.

METHODOLOGY: A descriptive-correlational method was used. The sample consisted of 131 of 194 staff nurses from a large city government hospital. Data were collected using the Workplace Wellness Questionnaire and interviews. Ranking, weighted mean, and Pearson coefficient were used to analyze data.

RESULTS: The respondents rated the availability of basic health promotion with its overall mean score of 2.61 implying that the respondents perceived that the health promotion program is supported to some extent. Withregard to the administrative support, the respondents perceived that administration was generally supportive of existing hospital health promotion program. However, they responded that they rarely experienced an optimum level of wellness. Statistical evidence supported that there is an existing relationship between the extent of workplace wellness and the availability of it and support of the administration

CONCLUSION: Weak areas in the workplace were prioritized in the wellness program for nurses. These areas were: physical activity facilities and access to facilities outside of work hours, nutrition education/weight management, written policies and fitness programs, allocated budget, employee participation and health screening. Since the respondents experienced a low level of wellness, a nurses' workplace wellness program was formulated and proposed.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Logic ; Workplace ; Nursing ; Health

COVID-19 has brought disruptions in university operations that required the institution of health and safety protocols. The purpose of this study is to examine the experience of a college of nursing in developing and implementing these protocols. A multi- method design was employed using an online survey of 114 respondents and 6 key informant interviews from faculty, staff, and students. Results of the study suggest that the personnel and students rated their satisfaction on the college health and safety protocols towards higher scores in the areas of symptom monitoring, testing, contact tracing, isolation, referral, ventilation, disinfection, handwashing, limiting in-person activities, vaccination and health insurance requirement. Challenges reported were on their compliance to symptom monitoring and funds needed to the courses of action should they require testing elsewhere or test positive. Participants suggested more reminders on the compliance to health and safety protocols. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided important lessons learned to better respond to a future pandemic. Key areas of action have been identified which requires adequate planning of the university and all major stakeholders.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Committed to enhancing healthy living, learning, and working conditions, a health-promoting school is a potent influencer of behaviors and habits, reaching families and communities effectively. In the Western Pacific region, the Urbani School Health Kit (USHK) is one of the tools developed to integrate health promotion in schools; however, it needs to be updated to adapt to the evolving health challenges of lifestyle-related diseases. Hence, this study aimed to conduct a pilot training and evaluation of the updated USHK among school teachers in Manila.

METHODS

The USHK was updated with new materials on (1) health-enhancing physical activity; (2) healthy nutrition; and (3) family and community engagement. A two-day training-workshop with 30 school teachers was then conducted to facilitate the integration of the updated USHK in their class activities. We used a multi method evaluation design to assess the implementation of the USHK. Particularly, quantitative data were obtained from the participants’ feedback on the toolkit and their knowledge of health-related practices. One month later, field visits were conducted to assess the participants’ abilities in utilizing the toolkit into their classes or school activities. Qualitative interviews and classroom observations were also collected post-implementation to determine potential facilitators and barriers to program delivery, and suggestions for improvement. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant feedback, while Wilcoxon signed rank test was utilized to determine changes in participant knowledge pre- and post-training. Qualitative data were synthesized through content analysis.

RESULTS

Participants provided high satisfaction ratings for the training they received, as well as high scores for the updated USHK, in terms of its appropriateness and acceptability. Significant improvements in participants’ overall health promotion knowledge were also noted (Z=-4.456, p<0.001), articularly involving the domains of nutrition (Z=-2.972, p=0.003), physical activity (Z=-3.564, p<0.001), and family/community engagement (Z=-2.531, p=0.011). Meanwhile, participants also suggested further improvements in the toolkit to enhance its utilization in the local context. Administrative support was a crucial facilitator for implementing the USHK, while resource limitations were identified as significant barriers.

CONCLUSION

The updated USHK, which provides a more comprehensive health promotion approach for schools, is potentially feasible for implementation in educational institutions in Manila. The toolkit can be utilized by teachers and school nurses to integrate health promotion activities into the school environment and classroom activities. To facilitate its wider uptake and implementation in other schools, government support and resource availability are crucial.

Health Promotion ; Philippines

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Midwives play a vital role in the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals related to the health and well-being of mothers and newborns. Strengthening the leadership and management capacities of midwives is pivotal to the fulfillment of their mandate beyond assisting in birth and delivery. The study explores the perspectives of midwives about professional education and practice, which are aimed to serve as bases for developing a leadership course for midwives to enhance their roles in public health.

METHODS

The study employed a descriptive-qualitative design. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, online focus group discussions (FGDs) with midwives from the academe, professional organization, and clinical practice were conducted. Through directed content analysis, the gathered information was analyzed to include the participants’ insights on midwifery competencies, teaching methods and assessment strategies, supplementary courses and training, and factors affecting midwifery practice.

RESULTS

A total of eleven (11) participants contributed to the FGDs, which included midwives from the academe (dean, faculty), professional organization (board member of the Professional Regulation Commission), and clinical practice (public and private institutions). Notably, participants shared their perspectives regarding the similarities/differences in the terminal competencies of midwifery programs. The demands of outcomes-based education, coupled by the shift to online learning due to the pandemic, pushed the need for modifications in program delivery for the students. Results highlighted the need for supplementary courses and capacity building on leadership and management, research, and interprofessional collaboration. Midwives shared factors that affect their professional practice, which include insufficient training, inadequate manpower, and differences in expectations/standards in task performance.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate the need to develop capacity-building courses for midwives to enhance their contribution towards universal health care. The results of this study also highlight the importance of understanding and improving the competencies of midwives across the building blocks of the health system, which include health service delivery, human resources for health, health information systems, health financing, health governance, and health regulation. Notably, key concepts recommended for the Leadership Development Course for Midwives include: leadership and management, research, and interprofessional collaboration.

Leadership ; Universal Health Care ; Midwives ; Midwifery ; Sustainable Development ; Sustainable Development Goals