Background and Objectives: Leukemia, though proven to be curable, still poses a serious problem for the
country as the number of patients steadily increases every year. To address this concern, a number of studies
were conducted to analyze not just the physical but also the psychological effects of diagnosis on patients.
However, data are still lacking on the effects of this illness on parents of the patients, especially on how parents
cope with the imminent distress brought about by the situation. The study aims to explore the coping
behaviors of parents of leukemia patients towards their children's illness and to determine the factors that
affect the distress of these parents.
Methodology: The coping mechanisms of Filipino parents of leukemia patients and the factors that contribute
further to their distress were investigated. A case study was conducted involving six parents from the Leukemia
Indigent Fund Endowment in the Lung Center of the Philippines who qualified under the inclusion criteria set in
the study. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Their responses were
recorded, transcribed, and assessed through thematic analysis.
Results and Conclusions: The major coping mechanisms gathered were: Denial, Acquiring Social Support, and
Faith. The nature of their coping mechanisms greatly depends on factors that induced their distress after
diagnosis of their child. On one hand, for those whose distress was provoked by their knowledge that leukemia
is fatal, their immediate coping mechanism was total denial followed by social support from other parents of
leukemia patients. On the other hand, for those whose distress was prompted by the financial constraints that
come along with the illness, while there is denial, the major coping mechanism was acquiring social support in
terms of financial needs. Only after having these immediate actions that they become open to emotional and
moral support, together with other coping mechanisms such as having faith, repression of other activities,
being optimistic or being passive.

Background & Objective: Continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) is valuable in the diagnosis and management of refractory status epilepticus (RSE) but requires intensive skilled interpretation. Density spectral array (DSA) is a quantitative analytic tool used to screen cEEG recordings for seizures. This study aims to determine the optimal amplitude setting and to compare the use of single-averagetrendgraph display and eight-trendgraph display in seizure detection with DSA. Methods: Five excerpts from pediatric cEEG recordings with RSE were identified. In Phase 1 of the study, each of 4 readers determined the DSA amplitude setting one most preferred for each excerpt, and marked all seizures in one excerpt using one’s preferred setting. Inter-rater agreement in seizure detection was measured. In Phase 2, readers marked all seizures in all excerpts, first using single-average-trendgraph display, and then using eight-trendgraph display after a wash-out period. Intra-rater agreement in seizure detection between the two display methods was calculated. Results: In Phase 1, DSA readers’ choice of preferred amplitude settings varied widely but inter-rater agreement in seizure detection was high. In Phase 2, seizure detection using single- and eight-trendgraph displays showed high agreement with each other and, where they disagreed, single-average-trendgraph was more sensitive. Additionally, low seizure-to-background amplitude ratio in EEG recordings was associated with worse detection sensitivity/specificity. Conclusions: DSA amplitude settings do not affect seizure detection. Single-trendgraph display is comparable to eight-trendgraph display in screening cEEG for seizures. Seizure detection with DSA performs better in cEEG recordings with high seizure-to-background amplitude ratio.

Introduction: Monitoring of vaccination coverage is vital for the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable diseases. Electronic immunization registers have been increasingly adopted to assist with the monitoring of vaccine coverage; however, there is limited literature about the use of electronic registers in low- and middle-income countries such as Mongolia. We aimed to determine the accuracy and completeness of the newly introduced electronic immunization register for calculating vaccination coverage and determining vaccine effectiveness within two districts in Mongolia in comparison to written health provider records. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional record review among children 2–23 months of age vaccinated at immunization clinics within the two districts. We linked data from written records with the electronic immunization register using the national identification number to determine the completeness and accuracy of the electronic register. Results: Both completeness (90.9%; 95% CI: 88.4–93.4) and accuracy (93.3%; 95% CI: 84.1–97.4) of the electronic immunization register were high when compared to written records. The increase in completeness over time indicated a delay in data entry. Conclusion: Through this audit, we have demonstrated concordance between a newly introduced electronic register and health provider records in a middle-income country setting. Based on this experience, we recommend that electronic registers be accompanied by routine quality assurance procedures for the monitoring of vaccination programmes in such settings.