BACKGROUND

A substantial number of COVID-19 recoverees are working-aged individuals, which makes return-towork (RTW) an essential part of rehabilitation. Many COVID-19 recoverees must deal with physical and mental symptoms of post-COVID conditions such as fatigue, dyspnea, difficulty concentrating, memory lapses, and anxiety. These symptoms coupled with often insufficient support from employers and the government can make the RTW process complicated. Although research related to RTW after COVID-19 has begun to emerge over the years, few primary studies have come out from developing countries.

This exploratory study aims to describe perceived work ability and health-related quality of life, lived experiences of the RTW process, and role of rehabilitation in a limited sample of Filipino COVID-19 recoverees. 

Using purposive sampling and a convergent parallel mixed-method design, the study draws on an online survey and group interviews to understand expectations, experiences, and self-rated work ability of working-age adults with post-COVID condition. We report the findings of the questionnaire data using descriptive statistics. From the questionnaire respondents, eight participants were interviewed to explore the RTW experiences from multiple perspectives. The group interview was conducted online, and narrative analysis was used to explore the data. This analytic process involved an iterative and inductive process between data gathering and data analysis.

Findings from our narrative analysis are reported under four themes: 1) The period of liminality; 2) A ‘positive’ problem; 3) Health as a psychosocial and justice issue; and 4) The reimagination of paid work. The narratives gathered document an overview of how selected Filipinos overcame the COVID-19 infection and their recovery and RTW process.

Results call for a re-examination of the concept of health and paid work for individuals undergoing rehabilitation and recovery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBI), a novel treatment, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the standard treatment, are both effective in treating anxiety in adolescents. This study determined the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions versus cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing symptoms of anxiety among adolescents experiencing social anxiety through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic approach was used to identify eligible studies. Electronic databases, reference lists of relevant articles, and gray literature were searched. Data was analyzed using RevMan to calculate standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals and subgroups. Heterogeneity was measured using visual assessment, the I2 statistic, and chi-square test.

Randomized controlled trials comparing MBI to CBT for adolescents diagnosed with social anxiety or social phobia disorder were analyzed, with non-randomized studies being excluded. Structured searches in electronic databases, reference lists, and gray literature were conducted by four independent reviewers who initially identified potential articles through title and abstract screening. After a comprehensive review of full-text articles and a consensus-building process, the selection of included articles was finalized. Data was analyzed using RevMan to calculate standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals and to examine subgroups, with heterogeneity being assessed through visual evaluation, the I² statistic, and chi-square tests. Total number of participants was 255; 101 were male and 158 were women. Mean age was 27.5 years old, and diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, or DSM-IV-Defined-Anxiety-Disorder. They were divided into two groups: 125 participated in 8- to 12-week MBI sessions lasting 2 hours each, while 130 underwent 2-hour CBT sessions spanning 8, 12, or 14 weeks. There is moderate quality of evidence reporting non-significant difference on MBI vs CBT's effectiveness in alleviating symptoms of social anxiety [mean (95% CI) = -0.04 (-0.58, 0.51)].

Study found that there were no significant differences between Mindfulness-Based Interventions and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in reducing social anxiety in adolescents. Mindfulness interventions have advantages in terms of cost-effectiveness for reducing symptoms of anxiety. Future research should include larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods to further assess long-term effects of these interventions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Nurses comprise the majority of the health workforce in the Philippines. Previous studies revealed that nurses manifest negative mental health outcomes exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to determine the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) of nurses in the Philippines and their workplace psychosocial support interventions during the pandemic. The ProQOL measures compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS).

A self-administered online questionnaire was disseminated by the Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. to affiliated nurses via email and Facebook posts. Out of 713 responses, 239 were eligible with their data analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and post hoc pairwise multiple comparisons.

Respondents were found to have high CS (41.95 [SD 5.97]), moderate BO (23.56 [SD 6.07]), and moderate STS (26.62 [SD 8.18]). The most reported intervention was policies on confidentiality of workers’ mental health (84.94%) while the least reported was community engagements under the hospital’s mental health program (61.51%). ProQOL scores significantly differed in CS by age (p=0.011), position (p=0.044) and monthly income (p=0.016), BO by age (p=0.001) and years with current employer (p=0.009), and STS by region (p=0.017) and area of assignment (p=0.015). The existence of interventions yielded significant increase in CS and decrease in BO scores.

Nurses in the Philippines exhibit high and favorable ProQOL during the pandemic. The majority of respondents reported the presence of workplace interventions which yield significant differences in CS and BO. The findings highlight the importance of workplace psychosocial support interventions and the need to strengthen implementation.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic brought insurmountable changes, leading to work demands and resource limitations that placed additional physical and occupational stress.

This study aimed to determine the change in the occurrence and intensity of musculoskeletal discomfort among selected university faculty members. It also determined the association of sociodemographic and anthropometric factors, workplace conditions, and involvement in physical activity with musculoskeletal pain.

This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted from June 2022 to May 2023 that surveyed university faculty members from Metro Manila and Metro Cebu. Outcome measures include sociodemographic data, anthropometric measures of weight, height, body mass index, workplace conditions, exercise participation, and musculoskeletal discomfort using the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire.

Data from 120 participants, mostly female, with an average BMI of 27.78 ± 12.09 kg/m2 and 11.82 ± 10.39 years of teaching experience revealed increased computer usage and reduced teaching hours during the Pandemic lockdown. There was also prevalent musculoskeletal discomfort (MSD), particularly in the neck, shoulder, and upper back. Factors associated with increased MSD were female gender, longer computer use, and pre pandemic MSD history.

This study underscores the significance of addressing ergonomic factors and work conditions to mitigate MSD risks among educators during challenging situations.

This paper presents the development of a Time-limited Occupational Therapy (OT) Model designed to address the significant challenge of organizing the OT process within the constraints of a time-limited protocol while maintaining a client-centered approach and promoting systematic interdisciplinary care. Rooted in the authors’ clinical experiences and supported by existing literature, this challenge is compounded by multifactorial and contextual barriers within the Philippine healthcare system, including financial and resource limitations, institutional policies, and the uneven distribution of occupational therapists. Integrating the Dose-Effect (DE) and Good-Enough Level (GEL) models, this framework balances efficient treatment delivery with flexibility to meet client-specific goals. The DE Model emphasizes early improvement, while the GEL Model allows therapy to adapt dynamically to client progress. Key safeguards, such as Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) and PostIntervention Review and Feedback based on the 5 A’s Model (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange), enable precise tracking of incremental progress and foster self-management through actionable feedback and goal-setting. The model comprises three main phases: evaluation, intervention, and re-evaluation, each structured by standardized measures, collaborative goal setting, and personalized intervention strategies. Interdisciplinary collaboration, informed by frameworks like the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF-4), further enhances its adaptability across diverse clinical contexts. Demonstrating its practical application, a sample case of an 80-year-old inpatient highlights effective outcome measures and transition planning. While preliminary, this model provides a structured yet adaptable framework for delivering high-quality, outcome-driven care despite systemic constraints. Future research should prioritize empirical validation to refine the model and evaluate its long-term effectiveness in addressing the complexities of therapy delivery under resource-constrained conditions.

The Remote Home Environment Assessment (RHEA) Framework is a guide designed to help therapists conduct structured home environment assessments remotely using tools and technology. It offers an efficient and practical approach to overcoming the limitations of facility-based home assessments. The framework offers step-by-step procedures for remote home environment assessment for adult clients with physical dysfunction. It involves four major steps that focus on assessing the client’s physical environment: a) screening for selecting the most appropriate remote home environment assessment modality/ies; b) a preparatory phase that includes signing consent forms, explaining the assessment process, and previewing preliminary information; c) administration of the remote assessment; and d) consolidation of the home information. Furthermore, supplementary materials such as screening form, client and health facility consent forms, home evaluation questionnaire and checklist, and client instructions were developed to facilitate and guide the implementing therapist through the aforementioned steps. Pilot testing is recommended to gain accurate and practical insights into the RHEA Framework’s usability and effectiveness.

Occupational Therapy ; Knowledge

INTRODUCTION

This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between work stress and dysglycemia among healthcare workers engaged in shift work at a level 1 government hospital in Antipolo City, Philippines.

Work stress was assessed using the Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Questionnaire, and dysglycemia was measured through a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

A total of 126 healthcare workers aged 20–55 years participated Results showed that 65.1% of participants experienced work stress, with nurses reporting the highest prevalence (43.9%). Dysglycemia was present in 33.3% of participants, predominantly in the form of impaired glucose tolerance. Despite the high prevalence of both work stress and obesity (61.9%), no statistically significant associations were found between work stress and dysglycemia (p = .51), gender and work stress (p = .59), occupation and work stress (p = .059), or obesity and dysglycemia (p = .70).

The findings suggest that while work stress is common among healthcare workers, especially nurses, it may not directly predict dysglycemia in relatively young and active populations. However, the long-term metabolic risks associated with chronic occupational stress should not be overlooked. Future longitudinal studies with larger samples are recommended to better assess causality and guide workplace wellness programs.

OBJECTIVES

Workers are continuously exposed to occupational hazards and risks. By analyzing recent data on the status of occupational safety and health (OSH) in the Philippines, this study aimed to determine the common occupational injuries and diseases among Filipino workers, and preventive and control measures/activities and occupational safety and health policies and programs implemented across the country.

A review of data on Philippine OSH from the Integrated Survey of Labor and Employment (ISLE) by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) covering data from 2015/2016, 2017/2018, and 2019/2020 was done. The number of occupational injury cases, types of injuries, and types of diseases were assessed as well as the implementation of OSH policies and programs. Descriptive statistics, simple T-test, and Pareto analysis were used to analyze the collated data sets.

The number of occupational injury and diseases in the Philippines across industries are decreasing. Superficial injuries and open wounds (56.47%), and Work-related Musculoskeletal Diseases (WMSDs) (61.82%) top the list as the most common injury and disease across industries, respectively. In 2018, OSH programs and preventive and control measures underwent reforms due to the implementation of the Republic Act (RA) 11058. For OSH programs, there is an increase in implementation between 2015 and 2019.

Occupational injury and occupational diseases in the Philippines across industries are declining. In terms of OSH measures and programs, there has been a significant change over the years, especially after the introduction of RA 11058 in 2018. A rise in the implementation of measures and policies was noted. However, there are still gaps that need to be addressed.

Climate change is increasingly affecting public health and safety, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and aggravating existing health inequities. Recognizing the urgency of this challenge, the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH), College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila, convened the Seventh EOH Forum on November 21–22, 2024, with the theme Resilient Futures: Enhancing Health and Safety in Communities and Workplaces Amid Climate Challenges. This commentary highlights key points raised during the forum, with a focus on community-and workplace-level initiatives that address climate-related health risks. These efforts include the improvement of heat-health early warning systems, integration of climate resilience in occupational health and safety programs, and hospital-based interventions for environmental footprint reduction. The presentations also emphasized the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, localized mitigation and adaptation strategies, and climate-informed health promotion activities. The forum highlighted that building resilient communities and workplaces requires not only policy alignment and institutional support but also interventions on the ground that are inclusive and equitable.