Human ; Time ; Aging ; Healthy Aging

Objective: One key factor found to be related to creativity is creative self-efficacy. Creative self efficacy (CSE) refers to one’s own conviction in their own ability to produce creative work effectively. The study aims to explore on the predictive values of time management and reading habit on CSE, as well as on the significant difference between gender and CSE. Method: This study (n = 313) is a cross-sectional survey design. The inclusion criteria for the participants are full-time university students studying in Malaysia and aged between 18-25 years old. Data collected was analysed by linear regression, multiple linear regression and independent sample t-Test. Results: Reading habit is a significant positive predictor of CSE. Both daily planning and confidence in long-range planning in time management are significant positive predictors of CSE. However, there is no significant difference between gender in terms of male and female and CSE. Conclusion This study provided evidence on the role of reading habits and time management on creative self-efficacy amongst undergraduate student in Malaysia.
Gender Identity ; Time Management

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has revolutionized the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large-vessel occlusion, significantly improving outcomes worldwide. This single-center case series evaluated the early outcomes of EVT in AIS patients treated at this institution, focusing on its implications within a low- or middleincome country setting. The study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of EVT, analyzing premorbid comorbidities, time to treatment, revascularization rates, procedural complications, and clinical outcomes. Five consecutive cases of AIS due to large-vessel occlusion treated with EVT were analyzed. The patients in this series were aged 21 to 75 years, all with a baseline modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0. The average NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission was 17. Four patients received Alteplase before EVT within four hours of symptom onset. Successful recanalization (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in all cases. Post-thrombectomy, two patients developed re-occlusion, with one resulting in mortality. Among the patients, 40% achieved a favorable outcome, defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 2 at three months. This initial experience demonstrates promising results in achieving successful recanalization and improving clinical outcomes in AIS patients with large-vessel occlusion. However, the study also highlights challenges such as procedural complications and post-thrombectomy re-occlusion, underscoring the need for ongoing evaluation and optimization of patient selection and procedural protocols in lowresource settings. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to further validate these findings and refine EVT protocols tailored to local healthcare contexts.

Background: There are various attitudes regarding their child's screen usage. However, there are no existing Filipino-translated and culturally appropriate questionnaires or assessment tools that can measure a child's media exposure, screen use, and parental attitude. The Media Exposure Survey is an assessment tool that measures a child’s media exposure, screen use, and parental attitudes regarding their child’s screen usage. Objectives: The study aims to contextualize and translate the questionnaire into Filipino, determine its content validity and internal consistency, and check the translated questionnaire's compatibility and applicability. Methods: The study involves four steps: 1) content validity testing, 2) forward and backward translation and equivalence, 3) pilot testing of the pre-final version, and 4) reliability resting. Data analysis was done to evaluate the content validity and internal consistency of the questionnaire. Thirty-six parents of children aged 0-5 in Metro Manila pilot tested the tool. Results: A cross-culturally adapted version of the Media Exposure Survey has been produced with good content validity. The S-CVI of the questionnaire is 95%, which is excellent. The parental attitude towards childhood media use subscale has an acceptable internal consistency with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.77. Conclusion The translated and adapted Media Exposure Survey has good content validity and acceptable internal consistency and can be used to assess Filipino children’s media exposure, screen use, and parental attitudes toward media use.
Surveys and Questionnaires ; Screen Time ; Psychometrics

Objective: This study aimed to determine the demographic profiles of admitted COVID-19 patients, the association of coagulation and platelet tests on COVID-19 severity and compare the coagulation and platelet profile across the spectrum of the disease in terms of severity among adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the Philippine General Hospital from March 2020 to December 2022. : Methodology. Medical records of a sample of adult COVID-19 patients admitted to the emergency room of the Philippine General Hospital from March 2020 to December 2022 were reviewed. The demographics, initial COVID-19 diagnosis and initial coagulation and platelet test results were gathered and tabulated. Comparison of the initial coagulation and initial platelet results were made per disease category. Results: Three hundred eighty-five (385) patients were included; 194 were males, and 191 were females. The mean age of all patients was 56.18 years old. There was a total of 30 patients classified as mild and 105 patients are under moderate category. 141 patients were classified as severe, whereas 109 patients were classified as critical. Platelet count test and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT) were mostly normal in all disease categories. Prothrombin time was normal in a majority of patients from the mild and severe categories. INR and D-dimer were all elevated mostly in all disease categories. Conclusion Platelet counts and APTT were mostly normal in all disease categories. Prothrombin time and D-dimer had a significant association with disease severity. Platelet count, APTT and INR did not show significant association with disease severity. Prothrombin time, APTT, INR and D-dimer means had significant differences versus disease categories.
Partial Thromboplastin Time ; OVID-19 ; Patient Acuity

BACKGROUND: There are few multi-city studies on the association between temperature and mortality in basin climates. This study was based on the Sichuan Basin in southwest China to assess the association of basin temperature with non-accidental mortality in the population and with the temperature-related mortality burden. METHODS: Daily mortality data, meteorological and air pollution data were collected for four cities in the Sichuan Basin of southwest China. We used a two-stage time-series analysis to quantify the association between temperature and non-accidental mortality in each city, and a multivariate meta-analysis was performed to obtain the overall cumulative risk. The attributable fractions (AFs) were calculated to access the mortality burden attributable to non-optimal temperature. Additionally, we performed a stratified analyses by gender, age group, education level, and marital status. RESULTS: A total of 751,930 non-accidental deaths were collected in our study. Overall, 10.16% of non-accidental deaths could be attributed to non-optimal temperatures. A majority of temperature-related non-accidental deaths were caused by low temperature, accounting for 9.10% (95% eCI: 5.50%, 12.19%), and heat effects accounted for only 1.06% (95% eCI: 0.76%, 1.33%). The mortality burden attributable to non-optimal temperatures was higher among those under 65 years old, females, those with a low education level, and those with an alternative marriage status. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggested that a significant association between non-optimal temperature and non-accidental mortality. Those under 65 years old, females, and those with a low educational level or alternative marriage status had the highest attributable burden.
Female ; Humans ; China/epidemiology* ; Cities ; Cold Temperature ; Hot Temperature ; Mortality ; Temperature ; Time Factors ; Middle Aged ; Male

BACKGROUND: It is crucial to understand the seasonal variation of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) for the detection and management of MetS. Previous studies have demonstrated the seasonal variations in MetS prevalence and its markers, but their methods are not robust. To clarify the concrete seasonal variations in the MetS prevalence and its markers, we utilized a powerful method called Seasonal Trend Decomposition Procedure based on LOESS (STL) and a big dataset of health checkups. METHODS: A total of 1,819,214 records of health checkups (759,839 records for men and 1,059,375 records for women) between April 2012 and December 2017 were included in this study. We examined the seasonal variations in the MetS prevalence and its markers using 5 years and 9 months health checkup data and STL analysis. MetS markers consisted of waist circumference (WC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG). RESULTS: We found that the MetS prevalence was high in winter and somewhat high in August. Among men, MetS prevalence was 2.64 ± 0.42 (mean ± SD) % higher in the highest month (January) than in the lowest month (June). Among women, MetS prevalence was 0.53 ± 0.24% higher in the highest month (January) than in the lowest month (June). Additionally, SBP, DBP, and HDL-C exhibited simple variations, being higher in winter and lower in summer, while WC, TG, and FPG displayed more complex variations. CONCLUSIONS This finding, complex seasonal variations of MetS prevalence, WC, TG, and FPG, could not be derived from previous studies using just the mean values in spring, summer, autumn and winter or the cosinor analysis. More attention should be paid to factors affecting seasonal variations of central obesity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Metabolic Syndrome/epidemiology* ; Seasons ; Prevalence ; Climate ; Insulin Resistance ; Triglycerides

Objective: To identify in what phases in the treatment of head and neck cancer do delays happen at a tertiary hospital and to determine the association between the length of treatment delays and the oncologic outcomes (disease-free survival and overall survival) for patients with head and neck cancer. : Methods Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Setting: Tertiary National University Hospital Participants: Sixty-eight (68) patients who had surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy for invasive head and neck cancer at the Philippine General Hospital during the 5-year period of January 2014 to December 2019 were included in the initial consideration. Only 15 had survival data and were thus eligible for inclusion in this study. Results: The median treatment package time for head and neck cancers in our institution was 27.6 weeks or 193 days. The treatment package time statistically correlated with both overall survival, F(1,13)=12.952, p <0.005, R2=0.499, and disease-free survival, F(1-13)=12.823, p <0.005, R2= 0.497. However, the independent effects of other predictors such as time interval between first consult to histopathologic diagnosis, diagnosis to surgery, and surgery to post-operative radiotherapy, showed no statistically significant association with overall survival and disease free survival. Conclusion All study patients experienced treatment delays from diagnosis to surgery, and surgery to adjuvant radiation therapy, and in their total treatment package time. The positive correlation among treatment package time, and disease-free and overall survival in this study must be further investigated in order to elucidate the true effect of delays across time intervals in the treatment of head and neck cancer in the Philippine General Hospital. Every effort should be made towards timely management of these patients.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Time-to-Treatment ; Surgery ; Disease-Free Survival ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Postoperative Care

Objective: To investigate the association between the time intervals of key clinical time points and tumor progression (increase in clinical staging) in head and neck cancer patients before and during the pandemic. Methods: Design: Retrospective Cohort Study. Setting: Tertiary Government Training Hospital. Participants: A total of 81 head and neck cancer patients who consulted at the OPD and underwent elective surgery between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, under the Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery of East Avenue Medical Center were included in the study; 40 patients comprised the pre-pandemic group and 41 patients-the pandemic group. Results: Majority of patients were men (61.73%), and the mean age was 54 years. The most prevalent tumor site was the oral cavity (37.04%). Most patients were Clinical Stage IV at the time of diagnosis (32.10%) and at the time of surgery (58.02%). In the pre-pandemic period, median time-to-consult was 180 days, time-to-diagnosis was 14 days, and time-to-treatment was 57 days. During the pandemic, median time-to-consult significantly increased to 365 days (Mann-Whitney test, U = 589, p = .028), but time-to-diagnosis decreased to 10 days, and time to-treatment decreased to 43 days, although these were not significant (U = 775, p = .667; U = 809, p = .917). Among the 81 patients in the study, 14 (17.28%) showed tumor progression (pre-pandemic: 6; 15%; pandemic: 8; 19.51%), but there was no significant association between time-to-consult and increase in clinical staging for both pre-pandemic (χ2(38) = 34.2, p = .646) and pandemic groups (χ2(16) = 23.1, p = .110) or between time-to-diagnosis and increase in clinical staging for pre-pandemic (χ2(56) = 36.8, p = .978) and pandemic groups (χ2(23) = 28.3, p = .267). Overall, there was no significant association between time-to-treatment and increase in clinical staging for both pre-pandemic (χ2(62) = 80.00, p = .062) and pandemic groups (χ2(32) = 30.4, p = .548), but a subset of patients with larynx primary tumor site had a statistically significant association between time-to-treatment and tumor progression (χ2(5) = 12.00, p = .035). Conclusion This study revealed that there was an increase in time to-consult for head and neck cancer patients during the pandemic. However, there was no significant difference in time-to-diagnosis and time-to-treatment. This shows that the Department of ORL-HNS, East Avenue Medical Center has provided pandemic head and neck cancer care similar to before the pandemic. No significant associations were found between tumor progression and time intervals of the key clinical time points but patients who had an increase in clinical stage were noted with longer time-to treatment. It was also observed that more patients were in advanced clinical stages during the pandemic.
Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Time-to-Treatment ; COVID-19

BACKGROUND: There is still uncertainty regarding whether diabetes mellitus (DM) can adversely affect patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for carotid stenosis. The aim of the study was to assess the adverse impact of DM on patients with carotid stenosis treated by CEA. METHODS: Eligible studies published between 1 January 2000 and 30 March 2023 were selected from the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and ClinicalTrials databases. The short-term and long-term outcomes of major adverse events (MAEs), death, stroke, the composite outcomes of death/stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) were collected to calculate the pooled effect sizes (ESs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and prevalence of adverse outcomes. Subgroup analysis by asymptomatic/symptomatic carotid stenosis and insulin/noninsulin-dependent DM was performed. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies (n = 122,003) were included. Regarding the short-term outcomes, DM was associated with increased risks of MAEs (ES = 1.52, 95% CI: [1.15-2.01], prevalence = 5.1%), death/stroke (ES = 1.61, 95% CI: [1.13-2.28], prevalence = 2.3%), stroke (ES = 1.55, 95% CI: [1.16-1.55], prevalence = 3.5%), death (ES = 1.70, 95% CI: [1.25-2.31], prevalence =1.2%), and MI (ES = 1.52, 95% CI: [1.15-2.01], prevalence = 1.4%). DM was associated with increased risks of long-term MAEs (ES = 1.24, 95% CI: [1.04-1.49], prevalence = 12.2%). In the subgroup analysis, DM was associated with an increased risk of short-term MAEs, death/stroke, stroke, and MI in asymptomatic patients undergoing CEA and with only short-term MAEs in the symptomatic patients. Both insulin- and noninsulin-dependent DM patients had an increased risk of short-term and long-term MAEs, and insulin-dependent DM was also associated with the short-term risk of death/stroke, death, and MI. CONCLUSIONS In patients with carotid stenosis treated by CEA, DM is associated with short-term and long-term MAEs. DM may have a greater impact on adverse outcomes in asymptomatic patients after CEA. Insulin-dependent DM may have a more significant impact on post-CEA adverse outcomes than noninsulin-dependent DM. Whether DM management could reduce the risk of adverse outcomes after CEA requires further investigation.
Humans ; Endarterectomy, Carotid/adverse effects* ; Carotid Stenosis/surgery* ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Time Factors ; Stents/adverse effects* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; Stroke/complications* ; Insulin/therapeutic use* ; Myocardial Infarction/complications* ; Risk Assessment