Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the well-being of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. The core deficits of the condition and increased parental stress during this time made them more vulnerable. Objectives: This study aims to explore how the pandemic has affected these families by identifying their needs and capabilities in order to provide support. Methods: A total of 227 parents of children with ASD completed an online survey consisting of items on sociodemographic, family needs, and coping strategies. Descriptive statistics were used and t-test and ANOVA/Kruskal Wallis were used to determine the relationship between parent and child factors with needs and coping. Results: Needs for Information, Community Services, and Finances are the top categories while the greatest identified need during this pandemic was for financial assistance. Religiosity, Problem-Solving, and Cognitive Reappraisal were the widely used coping strategies by the parents. Fathers, younger children, daughters with ASD, and having more than one child with ASD showed significant association with needs. Parents with primary and tertiary education were associated with use of the cognitive reappraisal strategy and those with jobs were associated with substance use. Conclusion Families of children with ASD have multiple needs during this pandemic, from autism-specific information and services, to more generic concerns such as financial assistance. Despite these challenges, these families have positive strategies in place to facilitate coping mechanisms.
Autistic Disorder ; COVID-19 ; Needs Assessment ; Coping Skills

Objective: The Philippines has more than a hundred ten million population with a very limited number of general pathologists and subspecialist pathologists. Consultation of pathologists with other pathologists is important to ensure accurate results for difficult cases. However, pathologists are not always accessible to review slides. Telepathology can provide access to other pathologists by sending microscopic images through the internet. This study explores the needs of pathologists for consultation in their practice that may be aided by telepathology. The status of current pathology practice and subspecialty consultations across the different regions in the Philippines were determined and the readiness of pathologists for telepathology was identified. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study using an 18-item online survey questionnaire based on the World Health Organization guidelines on needs assessment for medical devices. The survey was distributed among anatomic pathologists practicing in the Philippines. Results: One hundred forty (140) pathologists responded and were included in this study. 5-10% of cases of respondents required subspecialty referral. Diagnostically challenging cases and confirmation of malignancy are the most common reasons for consultation. Respondents practicing outside the National Capital Region (NCR) have fewer subspecialist pathologists available for referrals within their region. Turnaround times for signing out challenging cases are longer outside NCR (>7 days) compared to NCR (4-7 days). Most respondents have access to the basic equipment to perform telepathology, which includes, an internet link, a smartphone with high-resolution camera and a computer. Almost all respondents will use telepathology if it is available. Conclusion A hub-and-spoke telepathology network can provide access to subspecialty consultation to reduce the diagnostic turnaround time and to increase the accuracy of results for challenging cases. The availability of the minimum telepathology infrastructure and the positive attitude of the pathologists towards telepathology may be indicators of readiness for a local telepathology system in the Philippines.
Telepathology ; Philippines ; Pathology ; Needs Assessment ; Telemedicine

Objective: To assess the competency levels of the technical staff of the Center for Health Development Calabarzon (CHD 4A) to inform the development of a human resource management plan. Methods: A cross-sectional assessment design to determine the CHD 4A technical staff's competency level was utilized. The team from the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila invited all the CHD 4A technical staff to complete a self-assessment using the Learning and Development Needs Assessment Tool (LDNA) (version 3-45), rating their perceived competency and the level of importance to their functions on core and functional competencies stipulated in the Department of Health Compendium of Competency Standards. Gaps were identified by comparing perceived competency levels with a predetermined standard for each agency's salary grade or position. Results: All 67 technical staff took part in the assessment. Entry- and senior-level professionals had minimal deviations from predetermined standards, with gaps in quality service focus and teamwork for the former and planning and political savvy for the latter. In contrast, mid-career professionals had larger gaps in magnitude and number than entry and senior-level staff – the largest being on results orientation – reflective of newly-promoted staff's adjustment period. Of note, these gaps were based on the prevailing competency standards in force at the time of assessment in 2015. Findings may need to be revisited when the agency updates the core and functional competency standards. Conclusion The participants perceived core and functional competencies as important, with the level of perceived importance increasing as the salary bracket increases. Core competency gaps were widest in integrity and quality service focus. Simultaneously, results orientation, and planning and organizing were the functional competencies that registered the widest gap and prioritized. Training needs assessments should be conducted in times of change to ensure an organization's training programs' relevance and to develop peak-level employee performance.
Staff Development ; Needs Assessment

OBJECTIVES: A Womans University College of Medicine faces curriculum reform in 2020. To determine what reforms are needed in the premedical curriculum, a needs assessment was conducted.METHODS: This study utilizes qualitative study method. A focus group interview was conducted with four students who completed premedical courses from November to December 2018. Interviews were conducted in two groups by grade level, and each interview was recorded. After transcribing the recorded contents, four researchers analyzed the data using conventional content analysis.RESULTS: Students chose A Womans University College of Medicine considering their future careers as female medical professionals and other considerations such as scholarships. The students expected diverse experiences, exchanges with students in different departments, and fusion of medicine with other fields during their premedical years. Overall, these expectations were met during the course, but individual needs for customized education, such as liberal arts, were unmet. In general, students' attitudes toward premedical courses were very motivated and they actively used resources provided by the university.CONCLUSION: Qualitative research can provide a better understanding of quantitative data, such as a student survey performed to prepare for curriculum reform. Based on this understanding, the curriculum will be reformed to reflect the educational needs of students, to motivate students and to provide satisfactory education.
Curriculum ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Fellowships and Scholarships ; Female ; Focus Groups ; Humans ; Methods ; Needs Assessment ; Program Evaluation ; Qualitative Research ; Students, Premedical

PURPOSE: The partners of cancer patients commonly provide the needs of cancer patients along cancer trajectory except for patients with gynecological cancer. In developing countries including Indonesia, who have strong family bonding, the family of cancer patients are involved more intensely in providing cancer care. This situation may bring the cancer patients' families experience the burden and decrease their quality of life. Therefore, assessing the family's supportive needs are as important as patient supportive needs. There are more gynecological cancer survivors in Indonesia; however, little is recognized about partners' supportive needs due to lack of validated assessment tools to measure it. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapted and test the validity and reliability of the CaSPUN questionnaire among partner of Indonesia gynecological cancer patients. DESIGN: First, the procedures of forward-backward translation and modification of the CaSPUN were conducted to ensure cultural adaptation. Second, using convenience sampling with 295 partners of gynecological cancer patients, we tested the construct validity and internal consistency of the CaSPUN-Indonesia Version (CaSPUN-I). We conducted Exploratory Factor Analysis to explore the factor structure of CaSPUN-I and Cronbach Alpha to confirm internal consistency reliability. RESULTS: The CaSPUN were modified to make more understandable and culturally appropriate in the Indonesian context. Five factors were extracted from EFA in the CaSPUN-I with factor loadings of items between 0.41 and 0.85. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the CaSPUN-I ranged from 0.96-0.97. CONCLUSION: The CaSPUN Indonesia version presents acceptable validity and reliability for assessing supportive care needs among families of Indonesian gynecological cancer patients. The CaSPUN-I can be used by healthcare providers to assess and design the supportive care program for family of Indonesia gynecological cancer patients.
Cancer Survivors ; Needs Assessment ; Cross-Cultural Comparison ; Indonesia

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to estimate the mediating effect of subjective unmet healthcare needs on poor health. The mediating effect of unmet needs on health outcomes was estimated. METHODS: Cross-sectional research method was used to analyze Korea Health Panel data from 2011 to 2015, investigating the mediating effect for each annual dataset and lagged dependent variables. RESULTS: The magnitude of the effect of low income on poor health and the mediating effect of unmet needs were estimated using age, sex, education level, employment status, healthcare insurance status, disability, and chronic disease as control variables and self-rated health as the dependent variable. The mediating effect of unmet needs due to financial reasons was between 14.7% to 32.9% of the total marginal effect, and 7.2% to 18.7% in lagged model. CONCLUSIONS: The fixed-effect logit model demonstrated that the existence of unmet needs raised the likelihood of poor self-rated health. However, only a small proportion of the effects of low income on health was mediated by unmet needs, and the results varied annually. Further studies are necessary to search for ways to explain the varying results in the Korea Health Panel data, as well as to consider a time series analysis of the mediating effect. The results of this study present the clear implication that even though it is crucial to address the unmet needs, but it is not enough to tackle the income related health inequalities.
Chronic Disease ; Dataset ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Employment ; Healthcare Disparities ; Insurance Coverage ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Needs Assessment ; Negotiating ; Socioeconomic Factors

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify pain, disability, anxiety, depression and educational needs between acute and chronic low back pain groups. METHODS: A total of 153 patients aged 18 to 64, recruited from S-neurosurgical clinic for low back pain in Gyeonggi-do. Out of 153 subjects, 70 were Acute Low Back Pain (ALBP) group and 83 were Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) group. The collected data was analyzed using the SAS System V 9.4 program by chi-square test/Fisher's exact test and t-test. RESULTS: The pain and disability scores were higher in ALBP group while the depression score was higher in CLBP group. The educational needs score in the area for the time for lumbar operation was higher in CLBP group. In the Low Back Pain (LBP) treatment management, ALBP group visited clinic (60.0%) most frequently and CLBP group visited both clinic & traditional medicine (66.3%) regularly. CONCLUSION: In order to minimize the progression from acute to chronic LBP, it is necessary for patients who visited the clinic to be accompanied with an education program that reflects educational needs of patients and with proven alternative therapy.
Anxiety ; Depression ; Disability Evaluation ; Education ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; Medicine, Traditional ; Needs Assessment

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore educational needs of communication, focusing on how nursing students evaluate their current communication skills and what students think is most crucial in communication competency. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study collected data from 276 nursing students at multiple universities from September to November 2016. Main analyses included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA with SPSS/WIN and R 3.2.3, as well as importance-performance analysis by Martilla and James. RESULTS: There was a difference in the perceived importance of communication depending on field experience. Students who reported excellent communication skills compared to their peers had higher perceived communication importance than those who reported similar or inferior skills. The perceived need for dominant communication of goal setting skills was the highest. After confirming the list of priorities for Borich's needs assessment, the education need for goal setting skills was the highest with 1.79. CONCLUSION: Our study findings emphasize that the highest need for education of nursing students was the dominant communication of goal setting skills. This is needed to develop an education program that can strengthen goal setting communication for nursing students with a special focus on dominant communication.
Education ; Humans ; Needs Assessment ; Nursing ; Students, Nursing

OBJECTIVES: Young athletes require adequate nutrition to maintain their athletic performance, growth and health. This study examined the status and needs of nutrition management and meal services for student athletes among the athlete's parents. METHODS: The subjects were parents of elementary, middle, and high school athletes (n=323) from 18 schools participating mainly in the Sports Food Truck. The questionnaire included general characteristics, status and needs on nutrition management and meal service for student athletes, and satisfaction with the Food Truck. The survey was done during 2018. The data were analyzed according to the school groups using a χ2-test or ANOVA. RESULTS: Approximately 45% of subjects had difficulty in the nutrition management of athletes, and 87.1% had not received nutrition education. Approximately 74% wanted nutrition education held for athletes, and mainly wanted topics on nutrition management for health and eating for athletic performance. The preferred methods were lectures and cooking activity. The responses on the necessity of nutrition education for athletes, desired education topics, and desired times for education differed significantly according to the school groups (p < 0.05). Most subjects also wanted nutrition information mainly through SNS. In the athlete's meal, breakfast and snacks were highlighted as the meal to supplement. Approximately 90.3% responded that providing a meal service is necessary. The subjects preferred snacks before/after exercise and dinner if a meal service was provided. They preferred Korean food, followed by snacks, and a dish meal. As the meal type, the subjects wanted the Food Truck and packed meal. The responses on necessity of a meal service (p < 0.05), preferred food (p < 0.001), and meal type (p < 0.001) in the meal service differed significantly according to the school groups. Approximately 43% were satisfied with the Food Truck and 50.8% responded as average. They made suggestions for the Food Truck in terms of foods, operations and frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, nutrition education and meal service may support nutrition for student athletes considering the needs of the parents according to the school groups.
Athletes ; Athletic Performance ; Breakfast ; Cooking ; Eating ; Education ; Humans ; Lectures ; Meals ; Motor Vehicles ; Needs Assessment ; Parents ; Snacks ; Sports

OBJECTIVES: Young athletes require adequate nutrition to maintain their athletic performance, growth and health. This study examined the status and needs of nutrition management and meal services for student athletes among the athlete's parents. METHODS: The subjects were parents of elementary, middle, and high school athletes (n=323) from 18 schools participating mainly in the Sports Food Truck. The questionnaire included general characteristics, status and needs on nutrition management and meal service for student athletes, and satisfaction with the Food Truck. The survey was done during 2018. The data were analyzed according to the school groups using a χ2-test or ANOVA. RESULTS: Approximately 45% of subjects had difficulty in the nutrition management of athletes, and 87.1% had not received nutrition education. Approximately 74% wanted nutrition education held for athletes, and mainly wanted topics on nutrition management for health and eating for athletic performance. The preferred methods were lectures and cooking activity. The responses on the necessity of nutrition education for athletes, desired education topics, and desired times for education differed significantly according to the school groups (p < 0.05). Most subjects also wanted nutrition information mainly through SNS. In the athlete's meal, breakfast and snacks were highlighted as the meal to supplement. Approximately 90.3% responded that providing a meal service is necessary. The subjects preferred snacks before/after exercise and dinner if a meal service was provided. They preferred Korean food, followed by snacks, and a dish meal. As the meal type, the subjects wanted the Food Truck and packed meal. The responses on necessity of a meal service (p < 0.05), preferred food (p < 0.001), and meal type (p < 0.001) in the meal service differed significantly according to the school groups. Approximately 43% were satisfied with the Food Truck and 50.8% responded as average. They made suggestions for the Food Truck in terms of foods, operations and frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, nutrition education and meal service may support nutrition for student athletes considering the needs of the parents according to the school groups.
Athletes ; Athletic Performance ; Breakfast ; Cooking ; Eating ; Education ; Humans ; Lectures ; Meals ; Motor Vehicles ; Needs Assessment ; Parents ; Snacks ; Sports