The country’s cardiology centers have been producing subspecialists in the field of Invasive and Interventional Cardiology. To date, 11 hospitals and/or medical centers are involved in training these subspecialists in a 1 to 2-year program. And to this date, there have been no uniform standards and guidelines as to what comprises the basic and/or acceptable training outcomes for the interventionalist in training. This paper describes the development of the core curriculum for an interventional cardiovascular training program to prepare its trainees to be competent in performing invasive diagnostic and interventional cardiovascular procedures as part of comprehensive patient care. The task force for the core curriculum of the interventional training program gathered several officers and leaders of the PSCCI, the training heads of the various interventional programs in the country, as well as experts in the field of cardiology education. Through a series of meetings, consultations, and workshops, the task force laid out the template on which all the training programs would be based. Such a framework considered the international standards regarding minimum caseloads for interventional training and the peculiar situation of each training institution. International standards like the Core Cardiovascular Training Statement (COCATS 4) Task Force 10: Training in Cardiac Catheterizations and the 2020 EAPCI Core Curriculum for Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions served as the reference framework for key recommendations. A consensus was achieved that upheld the highest standards of competence without disenfranchising certain institutions due to intricacies and uniqueness of hospital set-up and training situation.

OBJECTIVES

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated burnout among medical students, impacting their academic performance and well-being. Resilience, a protective factor against burnout, remains understudied in the context of blended learning for medical students. This study aimed to examine the correlation between resilience and burnout dimensions (emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and academic efficacy) among first- to third-year medical students at a private medical institution during the 20222023 academic year.

A correlational design was employed, utilizing the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10 (CDRISC-10) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey for Students (MBI-GS (S)). Sixty participants were randomly selected from the first-year to third year medical students .

High levels of emotional exhaustion (63.33%) and cynicism (56.67%) were observed, while 55% of students exhibited low resilience. Significant correlations included a negative low correlation between cynicism and resilience in first-year students (r = -0.480; p = 0.018), a negative moderate correlation between emotional exhaustion and resilience in second-year students (r = -0.571; p = 0.026), and a positive moderate correlation between academic efficacy and resilience in second-year students (r = 0.566; p = 0.028). Overall, a positive low correlation was found between academic efficacy and resilience (r = 0.375; p = 0.003).

Resilience mitigates burnout, particularly emotional exhaustion and cynicism. Targeted interventions to enhance resilience may improve academic efficacy and well-being in medical students under blended learning.

Objective: To describe the prevalence, onset, associated symptoms, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in-patients with olfactory and gustatory dysfunction at the Philippine General Hospital from March 2021 to January 2022 and determine the number of patients with olfactory dysfunction/dysgeusia who recovered or expired. : Methods Design: Prospective Cohort Study Setting: COVID-19 Referral Hospital (Tertiary National University Hospital) Participants: COVID-19 RT-PCR positive in-patients, ages 19 and older Results: A total of 207 patients were included. Sixty-four (64) patients reported olfactory dysfunction and 79 reported dysgeusia. Olfactory and gustatory dysfunction were observed early in the course of infection, before day 6 of illness. The average length of hospital stay was 20.36 days; those with olfactory dysfunction stayed for 17.53 days, dysgeusia for 19.92 days, and 21.09 days for those who noted neither. For those subsequently intubated, 0 had olfactory dysfunction, three reported dysgeusia, three had both and six had neither. Thirteen (13) patients in the study expired. Among them, none reported olfactory dysfunction and two had dysgeusia. Conclusions Our results corroborate existing literature that olfactory and gustatory dysfunction as key indicators of COVID-19 with 42.5% of participants reporting these symptoms early, often before day 6 of illness. Ninety-two percent (92%) of those affected recovered and had shorter hospital stays, emphasizing the importance of recognizing these dysfunctions for improved disease detection and outcomes.
Anosmia ; Dysgeusia ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus

Purpose: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains a devastating complication of pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). Minimally invasive PD (MIPD), including laparoscopic (LPD) and robotic (RPD) approaches, have comparable POPF rates to open PD (OPD). However, we hypothesize that the likelihood of having a more severe POPF, as defined as clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF), would be higher in an MIPD relative to OPD. Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) targeted pancreatectomy dataset (2014–2020) was reviewed for any POPF after OPD. Propensity score matching (PSM) compared MIPD to OPD, and then RPD to LPD. Results: Among 3,083 patients who developed a POPF, 2,843 (92.2%) underwent OPD and 240 (7.8%) MIPD; of these, 25.0% were LPD (n = 60) and 75.0% RPD (n = 180). Grade B POPF was observed in 45.4% (n = 1,400), and grade C in 6.0% (n = 185). After PSM, MIPD patients had higher rates of CR-POPF (47.3% OPD vs. 54.4% MIPD, p = 0.037), as well as higher reoperation (9.1% vs. 15.3%, p = 0.006), delayed gastric emptying (29.2% vs. 35.8%, p = 0.041), and readmission rates (28.2% vs. 35.1%, p = 0.032). However, CR-POPF rates were comparable between LPD and RPD (56.8% vs. 49.3%, p = 0.408). Conclusion The impact of POPF is more clinically pronounced after MIPD than OPD with a more complex postoperative course. The difference appears to be attributed to the minimally invasive environment itself as no difference was noted between LPD and RPD. A clear biological explanation of this clinical observation remains missing. Further studies are warranted.

RATIONALE: In 2008, the Philippine College of Surgeons in collaboration with the Philippine Society of General Surgeons and the Philippine Academy of Head and Neck Surgeons, Inc. had published Evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) on the Diagnosis and Management of Thyroid Nodules. This was followed by an update in 2013 with a focus on important diagnostic and therapeutic management issues concerning thyroid malignancy. The objective of this study was to assess knowledge gaps and behavioral patterns among users with respect to these CPGs. METHODS: A validated 30 item survey assessing knowledge of, attitudes towards, and adherence to the recommendations of different Evidence based Clinical Practice Guidelines was administered to general surgery residents, PSGS fellows, and otorhinolaryngology residents and consultants performing thyroidectomies. RESULTS: There were 343 assessable forms. Of the respondents, 276 (80.47%) were general surgeons, 33 (9.62%) were otorhinolaryngologists. There were 66 (19.24%) consultants, and 277 (80.76%) residents. Otorhinolaryngologists were less aware of the local CPGs than their GS counterparts. GS Residents, compared to their consultants, were more aware of the American Thyroid Association guidelines than the local guidelines. Among all respondents, the local guidelines had about equal preference for usage as the American Thyroid Association guidelines. There were no statistically significant differences on the level of knowledge and attitudes among the respondents. CONCLUSION The level of awareness about the PCS Thyroid Guidelines needs to be improved. The dissemination process needs to be reviewed and ensure that all stakeholders will be reached.
thyroids ; clinical practice guidelines

INTRODUCTION: Lockdowns and quarantine measures during the pandemic have led to increased media consumption among students worldwide. This study aimed to determine the association between the status of the psychological well-being of medical students in a private tertiary institution and social media use during the pandemic. METHODS: This is cross-sectional analytical study which included medical students in a private tertiary institution. SONTUS was used to measure social media usage, while Ryff’s Scales of Psychological Well- Being was used to assess the psychological well-being. PRR and Chi-square test were used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were 317 respondents in the study. Based on the results of SONTUS, there are 114 respondents who have high usage. For the Ryff’s scale, there were 76 respondents who have low well- being scores. The computed Pearson Chi-square has an associated probability (p-value) of 0.855 which is more than the set significance level of 0.05. For the PRR, the computed value was 1.04. CONCLUSION There was no association found between the psychological well-being status of medical students in a private tertiary institution and social media use during the pandemic.
social media use ; well-being ; pandemic

Objective: This pilot human trial demonstrates the ability of the investigational newborn hearing screening device to provide acoustic stimulation to produce evoked potentials, as well as its ability to capture and acquire auditory evoked potentials, especially the auditory brainstem response (ABR) wave V. This pilot study also demonstrates the ease of recognizing and identifying ABR waves in the graphical presentation of the evoked potentials over time. Methods: Fourteen normal-hearing adults or a total of twenty-eight (28) normal-hearing adult ears underwent auditory brainstem response testing using the investigational hearing screening device. A commercially available auditory brainstem response detection device was used to confirm that the acquired ABR waves of the investigational device are normal. The ABR waves displayed by the investigation device were also reviewed by the clinical audiologists to determine their recognizability and identifiability. Results: The pilot trial demonstrates the ability of the investigational newborn hearing screening device in providing acoustic stimulation to produce evoked potentials, and in acquiring and capturing ABR waves, specifically the wave V, among normal-hearing adult ears. The clinical audiologists recognized and identified the ABR wave V among the evoked potentials at 40dB, 60dB, and 80dB acoustic stimulation. About eighty-nine percent (89.2%) of all ears tested had identifiable and recognizable wave V upon acoustic stimulation at 40dB. Conclusion The investigational hearing screening device: (1) can provide acoustic stimulation to produce evoked potentials, (2) can accurately capture and acquire these evoked potentials, (3) can present these evoked potentials in a voltage per time graphical display which an audiologist and trained HCP can easily read and interpret (diagnostic ABR), and (4) can present wave V auditory brainstem potentials that can be easily identified by an audiologist and trained HCP (screening ABR).
Infant, Newborn ; Acoustics ; Pilot Projects

Objectives: We present in this article the design and evaluation of a blended learning approach for training community healthcare providers in performing newborn hearing screening (NHS). Methods: We developed a blended learning course for training community healthcare providers on eHealth-enabled NHS, following Bloom’s revised taxonomy of educational objectives. The training involved three components: computer-based training (CBT), face-to-face (FTF) training, and on-site coaching. We used surveys and post-training interviews following Level 1 Kirkpatrick’s training evaluation model to get initial feedback on the training program. Results: Thirty-one community healthcare providers from five rural health units and a private hearing screening center, with a mean age of 42.2 ± 12.0 years, participated in the pilot. 93.5% of the participants agreed that the program content met stated objectives and was relevant to their practice. The length of the course was perceived to be adequate. Overall satisfaction with the program was rated at 8.5 ± 0.9 (with ten as the highest). The majority expressed that the CBT and FTF course were satisfactory at 93.5% and 100%, respectively. All participants agreed that the course enhanced their knowledge of newborn hearing screening and telehealth. Positive reviews were received from participants on the use of CBT to improve theoretical knowledge before FTF training. Participants declared that FTF training and on-site coaching helped improved NHS skills and implementation. Conclusion Competent community healthcare providers are critical to strengthening the performance of the health system, and advances in the education and technology sectors offer promising potential in upskilling local healthcare providers. The increasing access of Filipino healthcare providers to improved information and communications technology (ICT) is a significant catalyst for pedagogical innovation, like the use of blended learning in the continuous professional development of health practitioners. As ICTs gradually penetrate the health sector, the challenge we now face is not whether but how we can use innovations in education strategies to benefit healthcare providers.
Infant, Newborn ; Telemedicine

As authorities braced for the arrival of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), infrastructure investments and government directives prompted action in central Viet Nam to establish capacity for genomic surveillance sequencing. From 17 November 2021 to 7 January 2022, the Pasteur Institute in Nha Trang sequenced 162 specimens from 98 150 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases in the region collected from 8 November to 31 December 2021. Of these, all 127 domestic cases were identified as the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, whereas 92% (32/35) of imported cases were identified as the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant, all among international flight passengers. Patients were successfully isolated, enabling health-care workers to prepare for additional cases. Most (78%) of the 32 Omicron cases were fully vaccinated, suggesting continued importance of public health and social measures to control the spread of new variants.

Background: Pruritus can impair quality of life in patients with atopic dermatitis. There is evidence that acupuncture reduces pruritus and disease severity, and improves quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of acupuncture in reducing pruritus intensity, disease severity, and medication use, and improving quality of life. Methods: This was a patient- and assessor-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Patients diagnosed with atopic dermatitis underwent twice-weekly acupuncture for 12 weeks, with an 8-week follow-up period. Baseline and weekly assessment were done using standard data collection forms and validated assessment tools. Results: Thirty patients were randomized and 28 patients were eligible for the efficacy analysis. There were no significant differences in the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between the True Acupuncture group (TA) (n=16) and Sham Acupuncture group (SA) (n=12). Both groups showed reduction in mean itch intensity (visual analogue scale, VAS) (p=0.024) but TA showed greater reduction (p=0.009) that was sustained after end of treatment. There was also a reduction in medication use in both groups. The comparable efficacy of SA to TA is attributed to similar peripheral receptive fields and stimulation of cutaneous C-fibers which depletes the neurotransmitters mediating pruritus and results in tachyphylaxis. Mild adverse events, such as petechiae and erythema, were noted in both groups and resolved spontaneously. Conclusion: Acupuncture is a promising adjunct treatment in atopic dermatitis with significant reduction in pruritus, disease severity and medication use and a trend towards improved quality of life. Studies with larger sample size and comparison to acupuncture points farther from the true acupuncture points are recommended. Trial Registration Food and Drug Administration Philippine Health Research Registry ID PHRR171012-001696
Acupuncture ; Pruritus ; Dermatitis, Atopic