BACKGROUND: Asthma still remains a major cause of chronic morbidity and mortality in the world. Hence it is important that quality care is given to these patients at any given time. Several methods are explored to further improve physician performance particularly residents-in-training, thus this study was conceptualized.

OBJECTIVE: This study was done to determine whether a workshop allowing residents to set criteria based on a clinical practice guideline improved the appropriateness of care given to adult asthmatic patients in exacerbation as measured by chart audit.

METHODS: The setting was the Ambulatory Care Unit of the Philippine General Hospital with the first year residents of the Department of Family and Community Medicine for the year 2007 as subjects. This is a "before-and-after" study. The comparison of the difference before and after workshop percentage appropriateness of care in terms of five criteria was the main outcome.

RESULTS: The mean age of the first year residents was 31.57 + 4.502 years. Four were males and ten females. Mean year graduated from medical school was 5.5 + 4.47. From the five criteria, two of them: history taking (93.9%) and assessment (100%) were already above the set standard of 80% prior to the workshop. After the workshop, the percentage appropriateness of care in terms of history taking and assessment was maintained above the set standard. At baseline, three of the five criteria: physical examination (78.8%), treatment (51.5%) and follow-up/health education (66.7%) were noted below the set standard. The three improved after the workshop: only physical examination was significant (from 78.8% to 100%, p value = 0.006), treatment improved but still below the set standard (from 51.5% to 60.6%) while follow up/health education (from 66.7% to 81.8%) was slightly above set standard.

CONCLUSION: Workshop allowing the residents to have their own set of criteria based on a clinical practice guideline as an intervention for quality improvement is an effective tool in improving appropriateness of care in terms of physical examination. However, there seemed to have a need for repeated measures to further attain acceptable levels of appropriateness of care.

Human ; Male ; Female ; ASTHMA ; PATIENT CARE ; Quality Assurance, Health Care ; QUALITY OF HEALTH CARE ; Work Performance ; Physicians ; Delivery of Health Care

Gender Equality ; Gender Equity

The Global Assembly on Everyday Life, Gender, and Sexuality (GAELGS) gathered people from different walks of life around the globe who worked to advance gender and sexuality in several ways – film, research, educational programs, and services. The content organization was purposeful in creating a safe space for exchanging ideas and practices. The submission of materials for the conference, such as documentaries and short films, is more than research papers that reflect the desire of people to normalize sexuality as part of daily life more than a unique topic of intellectual discourse. However, the need to test practices and models to promote social change must be fostered by continuously offering safe venues for sharing and discussions, like GAELGS.
Sexuality ; Sexual Behavior

Five key policy recommendations were generated from the presentations and discussions in the Global Assembly on Everyday Life, Gender, and Sexuality. The rich source of information supporting the recommendations was the exploration of effective methods of promoting social change through education and research from networks and partnerships. The movement created by collective and participatory approaches in policy development counters the limitations of some societies where gender and sexuality are taboo. Enabling laws is essential, but the implementing guidelines should consider the real-world experience and realize that adequate infrastructure, processes, and resources are necessary. Education of the people on gender and sexuality must start early in life to plant a seed to develop values that uphold respect for human rights and civic responsibility.
Gender Identity ; Sexuality

BACKGROUND

LGBTQ+ populations worldwide bear a disproportionate burden of health disparities aggravated by stigma and discrimination in healthcare. This struggle is worsened in the Philippines due to systemic barriers, outdated medical curricula, and the pervasive stigma in society, making it harder for LGBTQ+ individuals to access healthcare.

METHODOLOGY

A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach using the photovoice method was used to describe and co-construct perspectives from LGBTQ+ individuals related to healthcare access in the Philippine healthcare system. The LGBTQ+ participants who resided in Metro Manila were asked to capture photographs representing their healthcare experiences. Focused group discussions (FGD) were then utilized as a platform for collective discussions and interpretations of these photos, enabling the participants to voice their stories and views about healthcare access.

RESULTS

The results are represented in seven photographs, symbolizing seven key themes that are illustrative of the importance of narrating LGBTQ+ stories in healthcare, solidarity among the community for better access, the urgent need for a call to make healthcare spaces inclusive, navigation through intersecting identities, interaction between healthcare professionals and LGBTQ+ individuals, the call for systemic change to be fitted to the needs of LGBTQ+ people, and diverse healthcare challenges among transgender people.

CONCLUSION

The findings point to the strong call for systemic reforms in the Philippine healthcare system to better support the needs of LGBTQ+ people. This study highly recommends that lived experiences should be included in health practices and policies as a basis for inclusivity and equity.

Human ; Residence Characteristics