Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources are the essential material foundation for the development of TCM. The national survey of TCM resources serves as a periodic summary of these resources, ensuring the continuity, prosperity, and development of TCM in China. Since 1949, four national surveys of TCM resources have been conducted. The fourth survey incorporated an investigation into traditional knowledge related to TCM resources, including the traditional medicinal knowledge of Chinese ethnic minorities, with the goal of systematically exploring, preserving, and inheriting this knowledge. This manuscript provides an overview of the basic findings from the first three national surveys of TCM resources, while also clarifying the concepts, categories, forms, carriers, and acquisition pathways of traditional knowledge related to TCM resources. A preliminary summary of the findings from traditional knowledge investigations reported in current literature is also presented. Based on the fourth survey, this manuscript emphasizes the urgency of developing public medical knowledge through empirically-based investigations, the excavation, and compilation of traditional knowledge. It also outlines the potential for conducting "precise" investigations based on first-hand data obtained from the survey, as well as facilitating the discovery and evaluation of new medicines using traditional knowledge related to ethnic minority medicinal practices. This manuscript is expected to provide valuable insights for promoting the health and industrial development of ethnic minority populations in the post-"survey" phase.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; China/ethnology* ; Minority Groups ; Ethnicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/ethnology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

INTRODUCTION

Mental health plays a crucial role in overall well-being, yet stigma and misconceptions persist, even among future healthcare professionals. This study assessed medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) regarding mental health and explored their association with sociodemographic characteristics.

We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study among 270 medical students at a private Philippine university from September to October 2023. Participants completed a validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, and odds ratios were calculated.

Most respondents exhibited high knowledge (80.7%), positive attitudes (90.4%), and favorable perceptions (95.6%) toward mental health. Students who had not interacted with individuals with mental illness were 2.87 times more likely to display negative attitudes (OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.19–6.90, p = 0.015). Attitude and perception showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.409, p < 0.001), while knowledge and perception demonstrated a weak negative correlation (r = -0.129, p = 0.034).

These medical students generally possessed good knowledge, positive attitudes, and perceptions regarding mental health. Academic progression and real-life exposure positively influence attitudes, highlighting the need for experiential learning to reduce stigma and promote empathy in medical training.

INTRODUCTION

Needlestick injury is a major healthcare hazard. The burden of the problem is difficult to estimate due to underreporting by healthcare workers.

To gain insight into the level of knowledge and perception, attitude and practices of obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) residents and subspecialty fellows-in-training in a tertiary hospital on blood-borne diseases from needle stick injuries and postexposure prophylaxis.

A cross-sectional study among all residents and fellows in training of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a tertiary hospital was conducted in December 2017. The explanatory sequential mixed method approach of data collection was utilized using a self-administered original pilot-tested questionnaire and focused group discussion.

Eighty-four OB-GYN s in training took part in the study. The prevalence of needle stick injury was 80.95%, but only about half of the incidents were reported. There was no statistically significant difference in the knowledge and attitudes toward management and policies on needlestick injuries between fellows and residents. The fellows appeared to be more frequently compliant with practices to prevent and manage needle stick injuries compared to the residents. There is weak but statistically significant positive relationship between the respondents’ knowledge and practice scores.

Although the respondents have very good knowledge, adherence to the practices to prevent and manage needlestick injuries is low.

BACKGROUND

Psoriasis is an increasingly prevalent chronic disease commonly treated with topical corticosteroids (TCS), although these agents are often misused. There is a need to explore the factors influencing nonadherence to TCS among patients with psoriasis in the Philippines. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding TCS among Filipino patients with psoriasis.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 76 Filipino patients with psoriasis at a tertiary hospital using a constructed validated questionnaire.

Patient scores clustered at the upper end of the distribution, indicating a generally good level of KAP regarding TCS. Increasing age was associated with a lower level of knowledge, while female respondents had a higher level of knowledge. Higher knowledge levels were associated with better patient attitude, and better patient attitude was associated with better practice.

Predictors of correct KAP regarding TCS are less likely influenced by sociodemographic and clinical factors; rather, these three domains significantly correlate with each other. Physicians can utilize these interrelationships by educating patients regarding their topical treatment to yield more positive attitudes regarding its efficacy and minimize their fear of side effects, which can motivate them to adhere to prescribed therapy.

BACKGROUND

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in fair-skinned populations. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure is the most common and important modifiable risk factor. It is the target of most prevention strategies for cutaneous malignancies. Currently, data on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) of bikers on UV index in relation to sun protection are unavailable.

The objectives of this study were to develop a validated questionnaire, determine the demographic characteristics of bikers, and describe their KAPs on UV index in relation to sun protection.

The study was conducted among bikers at the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital, through a self-administered questionnaire. Patients included were occupational and/or recreational bikers, aged 18 years old and above, belonging to both sexes, biking at least 15 min per day, who were able to understand written English or Filipino. Exclusion criteria included bikers who have skin cancer.

One hundred and twenty-eight bikers were able to answer the validated questionnaire, with mostly male respondents, college graduates, with internet or social media as the source of information for knowledge on sun exposure and sun protection. One hundred and two of them know that forecasts of UV index from weather app on the phone are free and readily available. However, only 59 of them check the UV index regularly as a guide for sun protection.

Forecasts of UV index raise the awareness and alert the public to the need for sun protection to reduce skin cancer risk and modify health promotion and primary prevention strategies.

BACKGROUND

The increase in demand for a more comprehensive care for the elderly in the Philippines raises the importance of sufficient number of adequately trained medical professionals in geriatric care. This study aimed to determine and compare the knowledge, attitude, and willingness to consider a career in geriatric medicine of fourth year medical students and postgraduate interns in a tertiary hospital in Manila.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 105 fourth year medical students and 81 postgraduate interns using a self-administered questionnaire incorporating the Facts on Aging Quiz 2015, UCLA Geriatric Attitude Scale, and a section exploring the willingness of students to consider a career in geriatric medicine and their reasons. Knowledge scores, attitude scores and prevalence of those willing to consider geriatric medicine as a career were analyzed using Student T-test, Mann Whitney U test, and Chi-square test, respectively.

The mean knowledge scores of fourth year medical students and postgraduate interns were 31.15 (60.30%) and 30.98 (61.95%), respectively. Median attitude score of both groups was 3.79. Among students, 58.10% are willing to consider geriatric medicine as a career, while 50.62% among interns. Both groups had adequate level of knowledge and positive attitude. However, no statistical significance was found between their knowledge scores (p=0.72), attitude scores (p=0.61) and prevalence of willingness (p=0.31). The main reason of participants in having interest in geriatric medicine was their social and personal responsibilities towards the elderly, while difficulty in handling patients was the top reason for not considering the field.

Continuously developing the Philippine geriatric medicine education and curriculum will assist in enhancing the knowledge and improving the positive attitudes of trainees. This will later translate in better care for the elderly.

OBJECTIVES: Obtaining informed consent from research participants is an ethical and legal obligation for medical researchers in clinical studies. Electronic informed consent (eIC) is increasingly being adopted in clinical research worldwide. However, there is limited data on Chinese medical researchers' knowledge and attitudes toward eIC. This study aims to investigate their knowledge, attitudes, and influencing factors regarding eIC use in clinical research. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using stratified random sampling. From June to August 2022, medical researchers from 8 tertiary hospitals were surveyed via an online platform (Wenjuanxing). A self-developed eIC knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale were used to assess participants' understanding and perceptions of eIC. Univariate analysis was employed to explore factors influencing attitude scores and the correlation between knowledge and attitudes. A generalized linear model was used to analyze associations between demographic characteristics and attitude scores, including the frequency of difficulties in using smartphones or computers, preferred device for using eIC, and their interaction effects. Stratified analysis was further performed for significant interactions. RESULTS: A total of 399 valid questionnaires were collected. The mean accuracy rate on the eIC knowledge questionnaire was (94.88±15.50)%. Of the respondents, 74.9% had heard of eIC, and 84.5% preferred using mobile devices over computers to access eIC. The median attitude score was 3.41 (3.18, 3.76), indicating generally positive attitudes. Specifically, 81.7% found eIC more convenient than paper-based consent, 79.7% considered it more efficient, and 51.1% believed it could fully replace paper forms. However, 60.7% expressed concerns about data security and privacy, and 89.7% believed that relevant laws and regulations need improvement. Spearman correlation analysis showed a weak positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores (r=0.171, P=0.001). Univariate analysis indicated that the frequency of difficulty using devices and preferred device for eIC were significantly associated with attitude scores (P<0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, the generalized linear model demonstrated that participants who occasionally experienced had difficulty using devices had significantly lower attitude scores compared to those who never had difficulty (β=-0.040, 95% CI -0.071 to -0.009, P=0.012). Those who preferred using PCs had significantly lower attitude scores than those who preferred mobile devices (β=-0.066, 95% CI -0.108 to -0.023, P=0.002). Interaction analysis showed a significant interaction analysis showed a significant interaction between age and preferred device (P=0.011), particularly among participants aged ≥45-year (P<0.001). No other interactions were found to be significant (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Medical researchers in China generally have a high level of knowledge and positive attitudes toward eIC, though concerns remain regarding data security and privacy. Future promotion of eIC in Chinese clinical research should be grounded in ethical considerations and address the specific needs of older users and mobile device users, while also enhancing researchers' competencies in using digital tools and eIC systems.
Humans ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Informed Consent ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Male ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Adult ; Biomedical Research ; Research Personnel/psychology* ; Middle Aged ; China

OBJECTIVES: With the accelerating aging of the population and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, the number of patients with pressure injuries (PIs) has increased markedly, prolonging the period of disease-related care. Informal caregivers play a critical role in the daily care of patients with pressure injuries, and their care burden has become increasingly prominent. This study aims to investigate the current status and influencing factors of care burden among informal caregivers of patients with PIs, providing evidence for targeted intervention strategies. METHODS: A total of 170 informal caregivers of patients with PIs were selected by convenience sampling from the Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University. General demographic and clinical data of both patients and caregivers were collected. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Inventory (ZBI), Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Family Caregiver Task Inventory (FCTI) were used to assess caregiving burden, knowledge-attitude-practice level, self-efficacy, and caregiving ability, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to evaluate relationships among ZBI, Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs, GSES, and FCTI scores. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify factors influencing caregiving. RESULTS: Among the 170 patients with pressure injuries, the age was (65.52±15.88) years; 118 (69.41%) were male and 52 (30.59%) were female. The duration of PIs was less than 1 month in 108 (63.53%) cases and 1 to 6 months in 40 cases (23.53%). Stage II injuries were predominant (135 cases, 79.41%). A total of 193 pressure injury sites were recorded, most commonly located at the sacrococcygeal region (127 sites, 65.80%), followed by the head (3 sites, 1.55%), shoulder and back (9 sites, 4.66%), feet (24 sites, 12.44%), and other regions (30 sites, 15.55%). Informal caregivers were 48.82% aged 46 to 59 years, 54.71% female, 41.77% primarily spouses and 47.06% children of the patients, and 77.06% lived with the patients. Caregivers who received assistance from others or had higher family per-capita monthly income reported significantly lower caregiver burden scores than those without assistance or with lower income (all P<0.001). The total ZBI score was 50.89±14.95, indicating a moderate burden. The total scores of the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers, GSES, and FCTI were 50.61±7.22, 26.03±7.11, and 14.76±8.70, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that ZBI scores were correlated with scores on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs (r=-0.543, P<0.001), GSES scores (r=-0.545, P<0.001), and FCTI scores (r=0.800, P<0.001). The scores on Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of patients with PIs were correlated with GSES scores (r=0.500, P<0.001) and FCTI scores (r=-0.461, P<0.001); GSES scores was negatively correlated with FCTI scores (r=-0.415, P<0.001). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that assistance availability, family per-capita monthly income, total scores on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of Patients with PIs, total GSES score, and total FCTI score were the main influencing factors of caregiver burden, jointly explaining 79.38% of its variance. CONCLUSIONS The main factors influencing the caregiving burden of informal caregivers of patients with PIs include the availability of assistance, family per-capita monthly income, total score on the Knowledge-Attitude-Practice Scale for Informal Caregivers of PI patients, total score on the GSES, and total score on the FCTI. Developing targeted intervention strategies addressing these factors may help alleviate the caregiving burden among informal caregivers of patients with PIs.
Humans ; Caregivers/psychology* ; Pressure Ulcer/nursing* ; Female ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Cost of Illness ; Adult ; Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Self Efficacy ; Caregiver Burden ; China

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, the WHO showed that stroke is the second leading cause of death for people above 60, and 5th among the aged 15 to 59 population. In the Philippines, statistics revealed that 500,000 Filipinos suffer from stroke annually. Although preventive efforts have brought about a steady decline in incidence over the last several years, stroke is still the third leading cause of death. Baguio-Benguet Chapter notes a rise in the number of stroke patients affecting both adult and younger age groups. The increasing cases of lifestyle diseases predispose people to stroke. Stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation are essential in bringing back the normal functioning of stroke patients. Care for stroke clients is a challenging task because of the varied knowledge, practices, and attitudes (KAP) fostering the needs of a stroke client. In the Philippines, family members of the stroke client are more likely to be the preferred caregivers.

The study determined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community members and the community resources on stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation as a basis for program development.

This study utilized a mixed research design. Data were gathered from 275 residents of Camp 4, Tuba, Benguet using a structured questionnaire, and 10 FGD Groups. Frequency, percentage, and mean computations were done to analyze quantitative data, whereas descriptive analysis was done for qualitative data.

The majority of the respondents (76%) knew that stroke happens due to insufficient blood supply to the brain. Generally, the community agreed about their attitude on the prevention (2.89), management (2.68), and rehabilitation (2.75) of stroke. The community sometimes practices stroke prevention (3.17), management (2.83), and rehabilitation (2.92). Qualitative data revealed that experiences on stroke resulted in scientific knowledge, evidence-based practices, and utilization of existing resources that include personnel, infrastructure, and programs for stroke prevention, management, and rehabilitation.

The experience, social support, and maximized utilization of existing community resources have assisted the knowledge acquisition, favorable attitudes, and safe practices of the community on stroke.

BACKGROUND

The Philippines has been significantly affected by the HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region, with a notable increase in new cases over the past decade. Despite efforts to promote HIV testing, access to treatment, and awareness campaigns, progress has been slow, particularly among youths. Tangere, a market research application, conducted surveys during and after the COVID-19 pandemic to assess HIV knowledge among Filipinos.

This study aimed to evaluate changes in HIV awareness among young Filipinos during and after the COVID-19 pandemic using data collected via Tangere’s surveys. Specifically, it sought to analyze demographic characteristics, sources of HIV information, and knowledge regarding HIV transmission, prevention, and stigma.

Tangere collaborated with the investigators to develop a questionnaire assessing HIV knowledge among young Filipinos. Surveys were conducted during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, targeting subscribers aged 18-35 years, primarily from the National Capital Region and Luzon area. Data analysis involved calculating frequencies and percentages to summarize demographic characteristics and HIV knowledge. An Independent-Samples Proportions procedure was used to compare HIV knowledge during and after the pandemic.

The survey revealed that while respondents generally possessed reasonable knowledge about HIV, there were notable changes in the awareness during and after the pandemic. Social media and television were identified as primary sources of HIV information. Knowledge regarding HIV transmission and prevention increased postpandemic, particularly concerning preventive measures such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) and motherto-child transmission (MTCT). However, persistent misconceptions and stigma surrounding HIV remained, indicating the need for continued education and advocacy efforts.

The study underscores the importance of utilizing social media platforms for HIV awareness campaigns, especially among youths who are disproportionately affected by the epidemic. Despite improvements in knowledge, the Philippines has yet to achieve global HIV prevention goals. Continued efforts to enhance awareness, particularly regarding recent advancements in HIV prevention and treatment, are essential for curbing the epidemic and improving public health outcomes nationwide.