BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The Philippine Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases implemented health protocol guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Individuals with comorbidities were advised to take precautionary measures due to their increased vulnerability. This study aimed to assess the relationship between knowledge, acceptance, and adherence to health protocols among fully vaccinated individuals with comorbidities in the National Capital Region, Philippines.

The study employed an explanatory-sequential mixed-method design. The quantitative phase involved an online survey with 384 respondents. The survey included questions on socio-demographic profile, COVID-19 knowledge, acceptability of health protocols, and adherence to preventive practices. Chi-square Test of Independence and Pearson’s Correlation Test were used to analyze the data. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 participants, providing rich insights into their personal experiences. The interview transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi’s descriptive method with the aid of qualitative analysis software (MAXQDA), ensuring a rigorous approach to thematic analysis. The integration of the two phases was achieved by connecting quantitative results with qualitative insights, creating a comprehensive understanding of the phenomena under study.

Findings showed that the relationship of sociodemographic characteristics and level of knowledge (Gender pCONCLUSION

The study suggests that multiple factors contribute to non-adherence to health protocols. Recognizing these holes and weaknesses in the COVID-19 pandemic response stresses the need for national leaders to place urgency on properly implementing preventive measures and providing health education to the masses during public health situations. Collaboration from all sectors is crucial in addressing public health crises. This study can be a valuable resource for future researchers, local government units, and policymakers in prioritizing public health care and pandemic preparedness.

China/epidemiology* ; Epidemics/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Public Health Practice

This study provides a closer look to the possibility of having advanced practice in public health nursing by analyzing the power relations between nursing practice and social structures. Representatives from the public health sector, national authorities, and the private sector were invited in a round table discussion. Transcriptions were coded and later on categorized and analyzed drawing upon the concepts of Foucault. Foucauldian analysis hands an important insight on how social structures and institutions can steer the creation of an advanced practice in public health nursing in the Philippines. Various social institutions view the relevance of a master's prepared nurse according to their societal roles and functions. Requisite competencies of a master's prepared nurse in public health nursing include fulfilling the role of a clinician, leader and manager, supervisor, and a researcher. PRBON, CHED, DOH, and nursing schools need to work together to define the knowledge of an advanced practice in public health nursing, to implement appropriate surveillance mechanisms, and to establish a compliant practice.

Based on the progression of clinical and basic research in hepatitis B virus (HBV), we updated the previous HBV guidelines from 2015. The guidelines included the prevention, diagnosis, and antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis B, which accelerates ro achieve the goal of "the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030" proposed by the World Health Organization.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/virology* ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Public Health ; World Health Organization

In order to standardize and update the prevention, diagnosis and antiviral therapy of hepatitis C and to achieve the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, Chinese Medical Association, the Chinese Society of Hepatology, and the Society of Infectious Diseases organized relevant native experts in 2019 to revise the guideline for the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C (2019 version) based on the basic, clinical and prophylactic research progress of hepatitis C infection at home and abroad, combined with the present actual situation of our country, so as to provide an important basis for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Hepacivirus/isolation & purification* ; Hepatitis C/virology* ; Humans ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Public Health ; World Health Organization

BACKGROUND: Workers may be exposed to various types of occupational hazards at the same time, potentially increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes. The aim of this review was to analyze the effects of multiple occupational exposures and coexposures to chemical, biomechanical, and physical hazards on adverse health outcomes among agricultural workers. METHODS: Articles published in English between 1990 and 2015 were identified using five popular databases and two complementary sources. The quality of the included publications was assessed using the methodology developed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project assessment tool for quantitative studies. RESULTS: Fifteen articles were included in the review. Multiple chemical exposures were significantly associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases, cancer, and DNA and cytogenetic damage. Multiple physical exposures seemed to increase the risk of hearing loss, whereas coexposures to physical and biomechanical hazards were associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders among agricultural workers. CONCLUSION: Few studies have explored the impact of multiple occupational exposures on the health of agricultural workers. A very limited number of studies have investigated the effect of coexposures among biomechanical, physical, and chemical hazards on occupational health, which indicates a need for further research in this area.
Cytogenetics ; DNA ; Farmers* ; Hearing Loss ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Public Health Practice

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the health industry are quite common, however, there have only been a few studies regarding physiotherapists, while in Greece, there is an apparent lack of research and data. The aim of this study is to investigate MSDs experienced by physiotherapists in Greece, their causes and specific measures, and good practices followed. Additional emerging risk factors will be examined. METHODS: A questionnaire of MSDs followed by individual and workplace characteristics was completed by 252 physiotherapists. It covered the major workplace categories such as public hospitals, private rehabilitation centers, and private practices. RESULTS: Analysis indicated that 89% of the respondents had experienced a work-related MSD; 32.2% of those injuries occurred within the first 5 years of working. The most lumbered physiotherapists were those working as private practitioners and almost half of the injured respondents chose to work while injured. The most common measure taken to tackle work related MSDs was found to be physical therapy sessions. Job satisfaction and psychosocial issues were also identified as side-effects of the economic slowdown. CONCLUSION: Physiotherapists in Greece were found to suffer from MSDs; workplace musculoskeletal injuries were quite common but under-reported. The body parts most affected were the lower back, the upper back, the shoulders, and the neck. There was a strong correlation between the workplace setting and the number of MSDs. A well-defined occupational safety and health management system and strict administration steering were found to reduce MSDs. The economic slowdown experienced in Greece during the execution of this study placed additional pressure on physiotherapists.
Greece ; Hospitals, Public ; Human Body ; Humans ; Job Satisfaction ; Neck ; Occupational Health ; Physical Therapists* ; Private Practice ; Rehabilitation Centers ; Risk Factors* ; Shoulder ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Observation of the current Korean medical education and training system shows that certain negative traits of unchangeable solidification engraft themselves so deeply into the overarching system that they are now hampering the state of the national health welfare. Focusing only on undergraduate medical education, we can point out some glaring side-effects that should be of concern to any stakeholder. For instance, a graduate can legally begin his career as an independent practitioner immediately after passing the licensing exam and return to the old stuck school-year system of 2-year-premedical and 4-year-medical programs where outcome-based and integrated curricula are incomplete and unsatisfactory. In terms of learning opportunities, the balance between patient care and public health, as well as that between in-hospital highly specialized practice and community-based general practice, has worsened. Every stakeholder should be aware of these considerations in order to obtain the insight to forge a new direction. Moreover, our medical schools must prepare our students to take on the global roles of patient care within the Fourth Industrial Revolution, health advocacy for the imminent super-aged society, and education and research in the bio-health industry, by building and applying the concept of academic medicine. We will need to invest more resources, including educational specialists, into the current undergraduate medical education system in order to produce proper outcomes, smart curriculum, innovative methods of teaching and learning, and valid and reliable monitoring and evaluation. The improved quality of undergraduate medical education is the starting point for the success of the national system for public health and medical care as a whole, and therefore its urgency and significance should be emphasized to the public. The medical society should go beyond fixing what is broken and usher in a new era of cooperation and collaboration that invites other health professionals, governmental partners, law-makers, opinion leaders, and the general public in its steps toward the future.
Cooperative Behavior ; Curriculum ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Education, Medical, Undergraduate ; General Practice ; Glare ; Health Occupations ; Humans ; Learning ; Licensure ; Patient Care ; Public Health ; Schools, Medical ; Societies, Medical ; Specialization

Appropriate prescription writing is one of the critical medical processes affecting the quality of public health care. However, this is a complex task for newly qualified intern doctors because of its complex characteristics requiring sufficient knowledge of medications and principles of clinical pharmacology, skills of diagnosis and communication, and critical judgment. This study aims to gather data on the current status of undergraduate prescribing education in South Korea. Two surveys were administered in this study: survey A to 26 medical schools in South Korea to gather information on the status of undergraduate education in clinical pharmacology; and survey B to 244 intern doctors in large hospitals to gather their opinions regarding prescribing education and ability. In survey A, half of the responding institutions provided prescribing education via various formats of classes over two curriculums including lecture, applied practice, group discussions, computer-utilized training, and workshops. In survey B, we found that intern doctors have the least confidence when prescribing drugs for special patient populations, especially pregnant women. These intern doctors believed that a case-based practical training or group discussion class would be an effective approach to supplement their prescribing education concurrently or after the clerkship in medical schools or right before starting intern training with a core drug list. The results of the present study may help instructors in charge of prescribing education when communicating and cooperating with each other to improve undergraduate prescribing education and the quality of national medical care.
Curriculum ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Education, Medical ; Female ; Group Practice ; Humans ; Judgment ; Korea ; Pharmacology, Clinical ; Pregnant Women ; Prescriptions ; Public Health ; Schools, Medical ; Writing

As the most important phase in standardization activity, implementation saves as the essence. CDC in China are the major institutions undertaking disease control and prevention. Implementing the standards of public health provides technical basis for CDC to complete the task of disease control and prevention. In the study, spot conversation and questionnaire were used to investigate the implementation of standards on public health in CDC. Results showed that the staff of CDC got to know the standards through the Internet. The departments of CDC which conducted training and sent staff to attend training courses accounted for 50.00%(25/50) and 34.00%(17/50), respectively. State mandatory rule is still the main reason for relevant departments to implement the standards of the public health. Government promotion activities facilitate the implementation of Standards, and the degree of familiarity with Standards affects the implementation as well. The paper summarizes the existing problems, such as the lack of coordination between departments of public health at provincial level or below, lack of access to standards, and the need to strengthen the training of the standard implementation etc. It puts forward some suggestions to strengthen the implementation of public health Standards.
China/epidemiology* ; Communicable Disease Control/organization & administration* ; Communicable Diseases/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Preventive Health Services/organization & administration* ; Public Health/standards* ; Public Health Practice ; United States