BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to describe long-term visions for health research in the Philippines. Ambisyon Natin 2040, an overarching vision for a dynamic country by the year 2040, is its main inspiration as this enables innovation and sustainable development.

METHODS: The health research profile conceptual framework developed by Tugwell et al., (2006) was utilized to structure the articulation of these visions. Review of related literature, reports, and documents and in-depth interviews with key players in health research were conducted.

RESULTS: In view of economic and technological developments in the country, it is expected that in 2040, health research priorities shall be more trans-disciplinary and more advanced. Research on health regulation and ethics will continue to be of importance. A more enabling environment for health research is also envisioned, since majority of research funding is expected to come from government, in addition to more research-friendly laws. More innovative platforms will be utilized to disseminate research results. The increasing international exposure and impact of academic work in the Philippines is also envisaged.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Health research in the Philippines has been benefitted by a lot of gains and advances in the past years. Thus, to create an enabling health research system in the Philippines by 2040, focusing on innovations in health research, increased number of funding sources, and crafting of better policies on health research should be pursued. Sustaining these gains and advancing health research in our country entail collective effort from different stakeholders, both public and private.

The Philippine Government has implemented community quarantine throughout the country to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic that has since profoundly affected the lives, health, and well-being of individuals, families, and communities. This has also created an impact on the practice of occupational therapy in the country as the pandemic presents occupational disruptions in the new normal. This paper summarizes the current conditions of the practice of occupational therapy in times of the unprecedented disaster highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis and the situation of practitioners and recipients of service across the regions of the country. Findings conclude that there are: (1) emerging delivery service patterns, (2) consequences of COVID-19 to therapists, and (3) insights moving forward.
Philippines

An alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) device replaces or supplements a person’s natural speech. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) collaborate with a team of healthcare professionals in the process of identification and use of the right AAC device for a person with complex communication needs (CCN). In the Philippines, occupational therapists (OTs) and SLPs are more likely to collaborate in the treatment of their clients due to their interprofessional education (IPE) experience. However, most Filipino SLPs do not engage in interprofessional collaboration (IPC) when rendering AAC services. Thus, there is a need to identify existing literature that tackles collaborative practices to raise the quality of service and care. Hence, this study aimed to identify and discuss existing literature that documented IPE and IPC strategies between OTs and SLPs in the field of AAC. The structure of this literature review was guided and adapted from the topics outlined in the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). Literature archived in two databases (Pubmed and Scopus) were reviewed. Two articles out of five studies were included in this review. Strategies found were “case based learning approach” for post-graduate students and the “Beyond Access model” in supporting practitioners. In conclusion, there is a dearth of literature on IPC practices among OTs and SLPs in the field of AAC. There is a need to report IPE and IPC efforts in the Philippines to provide applicable strategies to the local healthcare landscape.
Philippines

OBJECTIVE

Successful intraocular lens (IOL) placement in cataract surgery is synonymous with the IOL being placed in the capsular bag. When the capsular bag is violated, the ciliary sulcus becomes an option to approximate an inthe- bag position. Studies report that single-piece foldable acrylic (SPA) IOLs are a poor choice for the sulcus. This study aimed to report the visual outcomes and complications of sulcus placement of single-piece intraocular lenses and three-piece intraocular lenses, and compare the design and characteristics to the occurrences of complications.

The medical records of patients were retrospectively reviewed in a single center from 2016-2019.

A total of 245 eyes from 237 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 61 years and male predominance. Majority of sulcus implantation occurred during phacoemulsification (87%). Around 82% (n=202) were implanted with single-piece IOLs and 18% (n=43) were three-piece IOLs. Best corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) was 20/20 after six months for both groups. Comparison between two groups showed no superiority with each other. Complications notable were elevated intraocular pressure, corneal edema, loss of IOL centration, and pigment dispersion. Smaller optic diameter and overall length predispose to higher probabilities of loss of centration. Pliability, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, and material do not correlate with postoperative complications. There were significantly higher numbers of pigment dispersions in IOLs with square-edged design.

In conclusion, visual outcomes remain equally excellent for both single-piece and threepiece groups. In contrast, there were more notable complications in single-piece group. Loss of centration tends to occur more with mean optic diameters lower than or equal to 5.50 mm and an overall length of less than 12.50 mm or lower. While appropriate for the capsular bag, square-edged designs were found to be inappropriate for the sulcus. The retrospective design does not allow strong inferences hence caution should be taken in correlating results.

Background/Objectives: The current manual processes of manuscript submission, screening, review, and editorial management in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) Journal rely heavily on email exchanges between the authors and journal manager, who acts as the liaison for the editors-in-chief (EIC) and peer reviewers. This method proves inefcient. To address this, the PIDSP Journal Editorial Team created E-REVIEWS, aimed at streamlining journal procedures to boost manuscript submissions, and ensure timely publication. Methodology: E-REVIEWS was developed using Python as the primary computer programming language and Django as the web framework. Gitlab served as the repository and facilitated the turnover of the software requirements from developers to PIDSP website administrators. Extensive internal testing preceded the system’s deployment to the PIDSP Journal website for real-world use. Results: E-REVIEWS yielded 11 modules, each with unique functionalities including Registration/Login, Accounts Management, Dashboard, Author Submission, EIC Initial Screening, Similarity Check, Review, Revisions, Manuscript Layout, Editorial, and Help. Deployment to the PIDSP website occurred on May 13, 2024. Two manuscripts underwent screening, review, and editorial processes seamlessly through the system. Identified bugs were promptly addressed. Conclusion The development of E-REVIEWS hopes to revolutionize research dissemination, ensuring data privacy via its user-friendly automated online manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial process.
Philippines

This is a case of a 66-year-old, Filipina, who presented with persistent proteinuria diagnosed with renal amyloidosis. In the presented case, the equivocal cardiac and incidental extracardiac findings in the Tc-99m pyrophosphate (Tc-99m PYP) scan aided in the diagnosis of primary systemic light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis). Tc-99m PYP scan with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is currently used as a non-invasive imaging modality to diagnose Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR amyloidosis) however its role in diagnosing AL amyloidosis is not well documented. The case highlights its role in detecting extracardiac amyloid burden and suggests possible biopsy sites. The researchers recommend an additional whole-body planar scan with possible SPECT/CT on the 3rd hour delay to survey other areas with possible amyloid protein deposit.
Philippines

Background: The enactment of the Philippine Universal Health Care (UHC) Act mandates the formation of Integrated Health Care Provider Networks (IHCPN), linking hospitals and health facilities, which includes government and privately-owned primary care providers. While hospitals and some health facilities are already under government regulation, primary care providers have not been subjected to formal licensing requirements. In this changing service delivery model, the possible impact of three regulatory policy options being considered need to be assessed according to the goal of ensuring that health services remain affordable and are of high quality. Methodology: A multi-method approach to regulatory impact analysis (RIA) systematically assessed three regulatory options: 1) one Department of Health (DOH) license per hospital and health facility (status quo); 2) one DOH license for all public hospitals and health facilities within an IHCPN and another for individual private hospitals and health facilities; and 3) one DOH license per individual hospital and health facility, and one DOH certification issued to individual hospitals and health facilities as part of an IHCPN. Information from literature, documents, focus group discussions, and cost analyses were triangulated. Results: Regulators are faced with two main risks: there is no standard for networked health care delivery that could provide a foundation for regulation, and provider participation is voluntary, which could lower the interest of private providers to integrate. The three regulatory options considered these risks. Option 1 requires the least change in regulatory policy, but is expected to increase costs to regulators due to the expansion of licensing and enforcement work covering primary care providers. Option 2 requires the most change in regulatory policy, but may be the least expensive to enforce, especially if all facilities join a network. This can also be preferred in a setting with existing interlocal health zones, and participation in the network by private providers poses the most challenge. Option 3 is a tiered regulatory set up that projects the highest cost to regulators as a result of both establishing new certification standards and guidelines on top of a wider scope for enforcement. Conclusion This is the first RIA conducted for the Philippine health system, with challenges similar to those experienced in developing countries. Across the three pre-determined regulatory models, the least costly option may not be the easiest to mount and enforce. Implementability appears to be a stronger consideration which seems to be hinged to the option requiring incremental rather than large form of changes.
Philippines ;

OBJECTIVE: To provide an overview on the impact of healthcare disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic to urology training programs in the Philippines. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was used in collaboration with the study done by Rosen, et al. last May 2020. Telephone survey of the study population was done determining the status of resident staffing, workload, health/wellness, and didactics. Numerical and categorical data were analyzed and descriptive statistics are provided. RESULTS: All the observations on resident time in the workplace, including assignment to teams (81%), redeployment responses (55-97%), and remote clinical work (65%) were significant. Fifty one percent of residents have decreased research load. Eighty one percent have didactics in small groups. Fifty-five percent have 1 to 2 Video-based learning/conferences per week (p=0.007) followed by those with 3-4 with 98% (p=0.120) and those with >5 with only 6% (p=0.729). For Resident health and wellness, 87% of the residents were exposed to COVID-positive patients, but only 8% of residents were COVID positive (p=0.591). Lastly, 59% of the participants do not have access to wellness programs. CONCLUSION Data from respondents revealed significant changes in the different aspects of the present study. Urology residents spent more time away from their specialties, and have been re-deployed to COVID-19 floors. Ambulatory services, conferences, educational lectures have mostly shifted to virtual platforms. Resident concerns for COVID-19 exposure have been addressed properly; however, wellness programs have not been widely available for residents. As a first national survey, the present study may give significant insights on program changes and may be used as preliminary data for future studies.
Philippines

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis affects 0.1-3% of the world's population. It is a chronic multifactorial disease with a genetic basis and various triggering factors. In the Philippines, extrapolated data from 2004 reveals a 2% prevalence. Thus it is important to develop a database with psoriasis patients' demographics, disease characteristics, treatment and quality of life. Most institutions still rely on paper-based methods of recording patient data. This is prone to error and destruction. Further consolidation and analysis of this unsystematic data is problematic, making it difficult to assess real-time setbacks and develop programs. OBJECTIVE: To develop and assess the validity of a Psoriasis Questionnaire in the local setting, which will be further utilized towards developing a Psoriasis Registry. The data from this can in turn be used to generate a Psoriasis Guideline. METHODS: This is a multicenter study. The Questionnaire was developed from Psoriasis literature and worldwide registries, as well as local patient encounters. It was answered by Dermatologists and their patients. Cronbach's alpha (CA) was used to check for validity and internal consistency of the questionnaire. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION 124 questionnaires were accomplished. Each part of the questionnaire was assessed with CA. Some sections showed CA <0.70, indicating variability in the test response. To improve this, some modifications in the Questionnaire were recommended. The overall CA score however was 0.8, indicating that in totem the questionnaire is consistent and valid.
Philippines

BACKGROUND: Melasma is an acquired hyperpigmentary disorder occurring in the sun-exposed areas of the face and neck. There is little information on its prevalence, epidemiology and clinical characteristics in the Philippines. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of melasma in Philippine dermatology patients METHODS: This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted from July to December 2013. The investigators determined the prevalence of melasma in 12,068 dermatology patients from 6 government hospitals and private centers in Metro Manila, Philippines. The melasma patients, aged 18 years and above were examined and given self-administered questionnaires to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of their melasma. RESULTS: Of the 12,068 dermatology patients who were seen at the selected hospitals and private centers, 153 (1.26%) were clinically diagnosed with melasma. Majority of the melasma patients were Filipinos (73.20%), aged 41-50 years old (37.91%), with an average age of 42.40 + 9.68 years, and Fitzpatrick skin types III and IV (29.41% and 57.52%, respectively). Melasma was more prevalent in females (81.70%), wherein majority had a prior history of pregnancy (76.8% of the females). Oral contraceptive use was also reported in 37.6% of the female patients and 63.83% of those who have used OCP, have used it for only 1 year or less. Majority had no thyroid disease (75.16%) and daily sun exposure was limited to 1 hr or less for most patients (43.14%). Their melasma was mostly malar in distribution (60.13%), epidermal (61.44%), and mild (51.63%) to moderate (27.45%) in severity. The average mMASI score was 4.63 + 3.32. CONCLUSION Prevalence of melasma was low among the Philippine dermatology patients sampled. Majority of the melasma patients were Filipinos, aged 41-50 years old, with Fitzpatrick skin type IV, limited sun exposure and no thyroid disease. They were mostly females, with a prior history of pregnancy. Their melasma was mostly malar, epidermal, and mild in severity. These descriptive data can serve as baseline information for further studies on melasma in the Philippines.
Philippines