OBJECTIVE

This study analyzed the factors influencing the implementation of the disability benefit package for children with developmental disabilities (CDDs) in the Philippines.

Data collection was done through document review of policy documents and focused group discussions (FGDs). Guided by Walt and Gilson’s policy triangle framework, data were analyzed through content analysis.

Twenty-two (22) policy documents were reviewed and a total of 16 participants joined the FGDs. Facilitators and barriers were identified and categorized through the policy elements: 1) context is anchored by presence of laws and policies but is hindered by issues on politics, governance, and labor force; 2) policy actors are hopeful in the continuous implementation of the policy but there is a lack of participation from all potential policy actors and limitations with human resources; 3) content is sound and comprehensive but there are costing issues and compliance concerns with requirements; and 4) processes emphasize quality assurance and promising initial dissemination efforts but the lack of stakeholder engagement activities and the tediousness of requirements discourage potential service providers.

While the launch of the disability benefit package for CDDs in the Philippines seemed promising, the policy remains underutilized as the identified barriers outweigh the facilitators. Specific recommendations for the improvement and implementation of the benefit package were outlined and framed based on the policy triangle framework.

OBJECTIVE

This study analyzed the factors influencing the implementation of the disability benefit package for children with developmental disabilities (CDDs) in the Philippines.

Data collection was done through document review of policy documents and focused group discussions (FGDs). Guided by Walt and Gilson’s policy triangle framework, data were analyzed through content analysis.

Twenty-two (22) policy documents were reviewed and a total of 16 participants joined the FGDs. Facilitators and barriers were identified and categorized through the policy elements: 1) context is anchored by presence of laws and policies but is hindered by issues on politics, governance, and labor force; 2) policy actors are hopeful in the continuous implementation of the policy but there is a lack of participation from all potential policy actors and limitations with human resources; 3) content is sound and comprehensive but there are costing issues and compliance concerns with requirements; and 4) processes emphasize quality assurance and promising initial dissemination efforts but the lack of stakeholder engagement activities and the tediousness of requirements discourage potential service providers.

While the launch of the disability benefit package for CDDs in the Philippines seemed promising, the policy remains underutilized as the identified barriers outweigh the facilitators. Specific recommendations for the improvement and implementation of the benefit package were outlined and framed based on the policy triangle framework.

BACKGROUND

Family and Community Medicine is a medical specialty that plays a crucial role in the healthcare system and will be in the best capacity to provide primary care services, coordinate referrals to specialists when needed, and promote continuity of care across different healthcare settings in the implementation of the Universal Health Care Law. These are policy recommendations on how family and community medicine can play a significant role in the successful implementation of the UHC.

Recommendation #1. The undergraduate curriculum in Family and Community Medicine must be competency based.

Recommendation #2. The competency outcome of Family and Community Medicine undergraduate curriculum must be aligned with the need of the Philippine health system in the context of Universal Health Care reform.

Recommendation #3. The process of delivery of Family and Community Medicine undergraduate curriculum must adopt to new technology and teaching innovation.

Recommendation #4. Family and Community Medicine must develop strategies to make it as career choice.

Recommendation #5. Family and Community Medicine must develop and implement an effective and sustainable faculty development program.

Recommendation #6. Family and Community Medicine must be socially accountable to the community it serves.

Recommendation #7. Family and Community Medicine must be one of the major core competencies of a licensed physician ready to practice as primary care provider in the UHC.

Recommendation #8. Early placement for Family and Community Medicine practice must be available for newly licensed physicians.

Recommendation #9. Family and Community Medicine practitioners must be provided with continuing professional education and training to provide quality patient care.

Recommendation #10. Family and Community Medicine postgraduate education and training must adopt to new technology and training innovation.

Recommendation #11. Family and Community Medicine postgraduate training should cover urban and rural community health service.

Recommendation #12. Family and Community Medicine continuing professional education and training programs must meet the prescribed standards.

Recommendation #13. Regulation of Family and Community Medicine practice must be a public-private partnership.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Public health nurses (PHNs) perform more than the provision of direct care to clients. They are also expected to perform roles as leaders, managers, and collaborators in different settings, especially in areas where there are no physicians. Their continuous professional development must be facilitated to empower them to lead the delivery of health programs and services in pursuit of universal healthcare. This study aims to determine the perceived competencies of public health nurses and describe their training needs.

A descriptive, cross-sectional study was utilized, where an online survey was administered to PHNs across the Philippines to determine their self-perceived competencies and training needs based on the eight domains of core competencies of public health professionals. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize the data.

A total of 330 PHNs answered the survey. The results showed that at baseline, PHNs perceived themselves to be competent (from most to least) in the following: communication, analytical/assessment, community dimensions of practice, policy development/ program planning, leadership and systems thinking, cultural competency skills, public health science, and financial planning and management. In terms of training needs, the enablers mentioned include a supportive work environment that can provide a work schedule that is inclusive of time for professional development and work-life balance; a learning environment where colleagues and supervisors support the need for training and innovation; strong internet connection; and enough equipment to participate and submit deliverables for courses taken.

Filipino public health nurses perceived themselves to be competent in the areas of communication and community practice, but less competent in public health science, and financial planning and management. Future capacity-building programs must be designed to meet this demand. Furthermore, to make training programs truly responsive to the needs of nurses, steps must be taken to promote capacity-building enablers.

Introduction: Accidents are unpredictable and sometimes unavoidable. Businesses such as shopping complexes need to follow safety protocols to ensure that nobody is hurt. The shopping complex should have preventive measures and an accident management team to offer efficient and timely treatment for these accident victims. Objective: This paper aims to identify problems experienced by the accident management team in dealing with accidents in a shopping complex. The report will also propose and implement solutions to all issues identified. Methods: Two action research cycles were conducted for this paper, with the results of the first action research flowing into the second action research cycle. Reeves et al.’s interprofessional teamwork framework addressed concerns related to teamwork. The data used in this action research came from journal entries, informal and formal one-on-one discussions, and discussions with each department. Results: The workflow for the current post-accident management activities was evaluated. The problems identified were grouped into 5: roles and responsibilities, procedures, knowledge transfer, logistics, and skills. The issues concerning the roles and responsibilities of each team member were addressed by realigning these with their current skills, training, and job description. The remaining and new problems were addressed by developing an accident management policy. Inclusions in the policy are protocols on transporting patients, communication and transportation procedures, letter of authorization (LOA) approval procedures, post-accident evaluation procedures, pre-accident recommendations, policy revision procedures to address organizational changes, changes in the job description or government regulatory mandates, and the evaluation of current skills in case training is needed. Conclusion Accident management requires a coordinated effort amongst all the team members, with members from different social and health specialties. Using Reeves et al.’s interprofessional teamwork framework, the team identified the problems and implemented solutions by realigning the roles and responsibilities of each team member and implementing an accident management policy that can improve preventive measures and improve post-accident responses.
policy development ; accountability ; action research ; risk management

Background: The Universal Health Care (UHC) Act is a landmark legislation that seeks to improve provision of comprehensive health services through the integration of local health systems. The Department of Health (DOH) conducted a series of roundtable discussions to gather stakeholders' inputs and concerns to refine the initial draft of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of UHC. Methods: On April 4, 2019, the Department of Health led a roundtable discussion on the Local Health Systems sections of the UHC IRR in collaboration with University of the Philippines Manila. A total of 65 stakeholders from different sectors participated in a semi-structured roundtable event. The proceedings were audio recorded and transcribed. A thematic analysis was done using NVivo 12 software to document gaps and gray areas identified by the participants. Results: Concerns of the participants revolved around the following: role of the private sector in local health systems; the integration of different municipal and other component health systems into a province-wide health system; organizational design of the health systems; pooling and utilization of the Special Health Fund (SHF). Gaps andgray areas were concentrated on the transfer of personnel and other health resources to the province-wide system, the composition of the Provincial Health Board, and the utilization and management of the SHF. Conclusion The roundtable event acquired various perspectives from stakeholders that could help the DOH identify priority action points that could be resolved at the agency level. The identified themes from the study analysis could be of value to decision makers to clarify issues, address policy gaps, and to prioritize future research directions.
Universal Health Care ; Policy Making ; Medical Assistance ; Government Programs ; Health Policy ;

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the process from occurrence of a hospital nurse's suicide to workers' compensation approval, responses of the parties involved, issues debated during approval deliberations, and significant policy changes resulting from the incident.METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with involved parties and collected various documents, including newspaper articles, forum proceedings, and the agency report on determination of workers' compensation. Content analysis was performed on the collected data.RESULTS: A Joint Task Force continuously reported its progress and findings through mass media such as newspaper, radio, and TV. These activities exerted pressure on a government agency to conduct an occupational disease review and significantly impacted the workers' compensation approval. The agency recognized associations between the hospital's inadequate nurse training and the suicide but did not confirm the excessive overtime and workplace harassment experienced by the nurse as causes of the suicide. This case's media coverage and impact resulted in a law prohibiting workplace harassment and a hospital system dedicating at least one nurse to training activities.CONCLUSION: This incident had a significant social impact as the first case of workers' compensation approval for a hospital nurse's suicide. However, the case produced no structural changes in nurses' working conditions such as heavy workloads.
Advisory Committees ; Government Agencies ; Joints ; Jurisprudence ; Mass Media ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Social Change ; Suicide ; Teaching ; Workers' Compensation

INTRODUCTION: To prevent and manage the societal and economic burden of occupational diseases (ODs), countries should develop strong prevention policies, health surveillance and registry systems. This study aims to contribute to the improvement of OD surveillance at national level as well as to identify priority actions in Turkey.METHODS: The history and current status of occupational health studies were considered from the perspective of OD surveillance. Interpretative research was done through literature review on occupational health at national, regional and international level. Analyses were focused on countries’ experiences in policy development and practice, roles and responsibilities of institutions, multidisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration. OD surveillance models of Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands were examined through exchange visits. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to explore the peculiarities of legislative and institutional structures, the best and worst practices, and approach principles.RESULTS: Some countries are more focused on exploring OD trends through effective and cost-efficient researches, with particular attention to new and emerging ODs. Other countries try to reach every single case of OD for compensation and rehabilitation. Each practice has advantages and shortcomings, but they are not mutually exclusive, and thus an effective combination is possible.CONCLUSION: Effective surveillance and registry approaches play a key role in the prevention of ODs. A well-designed system enables monitoring and assessment of OD prevalence and trends, and adoption of preventive measures while improving the effectiveness of redressing and compensation. A robust surveillance does not only provide protection of workers’ health but also advances prevention of economic losses.
Belgium ; Compensation and Redress ; Cooperative Behavior ; Health Policy ; Netherlands ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Policy Making ; Prevalence ; Rehabilitation ; Turkey

PURPOSE: A task force appointed by the Korean Society of Acute Care Surgery reviewed previously published guidelines on antibiotic use in patients with abdominal injuries and adapted guidelines for Korea. METHODS: Four guidelines were assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument. Five topics were considered: indication for antibiotics, time until first antibiotic use, antibiotic therapy duration, appropriate antibiotics, and antibiotic use in abdominal trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock. RESULTS: Patients requiring surgery need preoperative prophylactic antibiotics. Patients who do not require surgery do not need antibiotics. Antibiotics should be administered as soon as possible after injury. In the absence of hollow viscus injury, no additional antibiotic doses are needed. If hollow viscus injury is repaired within 12 hours, antibiotics should be continued for ≤ 24 hours. If hollow viscus injury is repaired after 12 hours, antibiotics should be limited to 7 days. Antibiotics can be administered for ≥7 days if hollow viscus injury is incompletely repaired or clinical signs persist. Broad-spectrum aerobic and anaerobic coverage antibiotics are preferred as the initial antibiotics. Second-generation cephalosporins are the recommended initial antibiotics. Third-generation cephalosporins are alternative choices. For hemorrhagic shock, the antibiotic dose may be increased twofold or threefold and repeated after transfusion of every 10 units of blood until there is no further blood loss. CONCLUSION: Although this guideline was drafted through adaptation of other guidelines, it may be meaningful in that it provides a consensus on the use of antibiotics in abdominal trauma patients in Korea.
Abdominal Injuries* ; Advisory Committees ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Cephalosporins ; Consensus ; Humans ; Korea ; Shock, Hemorrhagic

On September 12, 2018, President Jae-In Moon announced the Comprehensive Plan for Lifelong Care for People with Developmental Disabilities, with representatives from the associated government branches (Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Employment and Labor) in attendance. The goals of this plan are to provide health, medical, rehabilitative, special education, and social welfare services according to the life-stages of the affected individuals; to reduce parental pressure; to promote social interventions; and to enhance community-level participation in order to create a ‘welfare society in harmony.’ However, in order for the plan to succeed, additional efforts must be made in the following areas. First, an epidemiological survey is needed to understand the scale, prevalence, and incidence of developmental disabilities and to establish an evidence base to support policy development. Second, accurate definitions of developmental disabilities must be established in order to avoid policy discrimination based on impairment type and age. Third, personal evaluations to assess disabled individuals' unmet needs and customized service designs to deliver those needs are required. Fourth, the plan must fulfill the goals of accessibility and fairness that the government intends to provide. Fifth, the government should consider an integrated financial support system and to propose a detailed plan for monetary distributions. Finally, an integrated system that links health, medical, employment, educational, and welfare services must be constructed.
Comprehensive Health Care ; Developmental Disabilities ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Education ; Education, Special ; Employment ; Financial Support ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intellectual Disability ; Moon ; Parents ; Policy Making ; Prevalence ; Social Welfare