A mixed-method study on rural community’s response to public health emergency in the Philippines: Lessons from the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

Background@#People from rural communities are not spared from COVID-19. But implementing preventive measures and strategies can be made to control the spread.@*Objective@#This study was conducted to describe the epidemiologic situation and the healthcare capacity of the locality, determine the responses and strategies implemented in the control of COVID-19, and explain the activities performed in relation to the epidemiologic situation in Tarangnan, Samar – a low-income class municipality in the Philippines. @*Methods@#A mixed qualitative–quantitative design was employed in this study. Descriptive documentary research design through review of records from March to October 2020 was utilized. For the qualitative context, a case study design was employed whereby focus group discussions and key informant interviews using open-ended questions were performed. @*Results@#A total of 66 individuals were recorded as having COVID-19 in the municipality from March to October 2020. The first recorded confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Eastern Visayas were two adults in Tarangnan, Samar, in March 2020. Since then, additional confirmed cases have been recorded every month, but confirmed COVID-19 dramatically reduced from August to October 2020. Qualitative analysis revealed stringent COVID-19 preventive measures reflected in the confirmed case numbers. The tailwinds of the COVID-19 response include: the SARS pandemic precedent, coordination and communication, outpouring of support from other government and nongovernment partners, and innovative community-based approaches. The headwinds of COVID-19 response were challenges in imposing minimum health and safety precautions, stigmatization, and discrimination.@*Conclusion@#Even if challenges have arisen in implementing measures against the spread of the disease, good outcomes have been achieved through persistent good practice, positive modifications, and community-based innovations.

Stocks and distribution of doctors, nurses, and midwives in the Philippines 2020: A descriptive ecologic study

Background@#Healthcare workers remain the key players in the delivery of healthcare services. Their supply and distribution must be carefully monitored and taken care of.@*Objectives@#To describe the stock of doctors, nurses, and midwives in the Philippines in 2020.@*Methods@#This study employed a descriptive ecologic design and involves a secondary-data analysis where the relevant statistical data were retrieved from the public database in the country’s Department of Health. The data source also provides the statistics of other health professions such as medical technologists, nutritionists/dieticians, pharmacists, and dentists. However, this study limited the numerical data of the doctors, nurses, and midwives because there are readily available data for comparison. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and population density were used to analyze the data.@*Results@#The available density of health workers (14.76 per 10,000 population) composed of doctors, nurses, and midwives in the country remains at par with the recommendation of the World Health Organization (44.5 per 10,000 population). Likewise, data showed maldistribution of the health workforce still exists where a greater number of them are found in urban areas such as the National Capital Region (NCR) and CALABARZON. Majority of them are also working in the hospitals (doctors = 86.64%, nurses = 76.75%, and midwives = 48.46%) than in the primary healthcare facilities (doctors = 13.36%, nurses = 23.25%, and midwives = 51.54%).@*Conclusions@#The study revealed that maldistribution and shortage of doctors, nurses, and midwives prevail in the country. Likewise, the available workers in the country remain at par with the recommendations to meet the targets of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The health agency and policymakers must focus on strategies to accelerate the number of health workers required in the country and redistribute them according to the areas in dire need.

Relationship of work engagement with nurse work and patient outcomes among nurses in Central Philippines

Objective@#This study determined the association between work engagement among hospital nurses and their work outcomes (i.e., job satisfaction, stress, burnout, and turnover intention) and patient outcomes (i.e., missed nursing care, adverse events, and quality of care).@*Methods@#A cross-sectional study was employed using secondary data derived from 549 registered nurses working in different hospitals in Central Philippines. Eight self-report questionnaires were adopted to gather data in this study. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to test the hypotheses.@*Results@#Nurses with lower levels of work engagement reported increased levels of job burnout and turnover intention. Those nurses with higher scores on the dedication subscale reported increased job satisfaction and perceived quality of patient care.@*Conclusion@#Work engagement influences nurse work and patient outcomes in the Philippines. Higher levels of work engagement prevent nursing staff from leaving their workplaces and may help them find their work fulfilling personally and professionally. Nursing management should highly consider promoting work engagement through enhancing job resources to meet the needs of nurses and, eventually, improve professional work outcomes and quality patient care.

Immediate psychological responses and coping styles of tertiary school employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

@#BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 outbreak broadly affected not only the physical but also the psychological wellbeing of the people. However, few studies have been conducted concerning its psychological impact specifically on employees from the academe. OBJECTIVES: To determine the psychological responses and coping styles of employees of the School of Health Sciences at the University of the Philippines - Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study sought to determine the association between participants’ socio-demographic characteristics and their psychological responses, and between participants’ psychological responses and their coping styles used. METHODS: We employed a cross-sectional design and self-selection or volunteer sampling to recruit 46 academics and support staff employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected in April 2020. Psychological responses were determined with the 10-item Kessler’s Psychological Distress Scale. Coping styles were assessed with the short-form Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Likelihood ratio chi-square tests and Spearman rho tests were conducted to test the hypotheses. Statistical significance was determined at p < .05. RESULTS: The majority of participants reported low levels of psychological distress in the early stage of the pandemic (n=44; 95.65%). We found a statistically significant relationship between psychological responses and coping styles characterized by rumination (rs = 0.454; P = 0.002) and catastrophizing (rs = 0.408; P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirmed the significance of psychological responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated a specific association with coping styles characterized by rumination and catastrophizing but are unsuitably less adaptive. Hence, the application of less adaptive techniques when psychologically distressed from the pandemic need to be corrected or modified.

Immediate psychological responses and coping styles of tertiary school employees during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background@#The COVID-19 outbreak broadly affected not only the physical but also the psychological wellbeing of the people. However, few studies have been conducted concerning its psychological impact specifically on employees from the academe.@*Objectives@#To determine the psychological responses and coping styles of employees of the School of Health Sciences at the University of the Philippines - Manila during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this study sought to determine the association between participants' socio-demographic characteristics and their psychological responses, and between participants' psychological responses and their coping styles used. @*Methodology@#We employed a cross-sectional design and self-selection or volunteer sampling to recruit 46 academics and support staff employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data were collected in April 2020. Psychological responses were determined with the 10-item Kessler's Psychological Distress Scale. Coping styles were assessed with the short-form Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Likelihood ratio chisquare tests and Spearman rho tests were conducted to test the hypotheses. Statistical significance was determined at p < .05.@*Results@#The majority of participants reported low levels of psychological distress in the early stage of the pandemic (n=44; 95.65%). We found a statistically significant relationship between psychological responses and coping styles characterized by rumination (rs = 0.454; P = 0.002) and catastrophizing (rs = 0.408; P = 0.005).@*Conclusions@#Our study confirmed the significance of psychological responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrated a specific association with coping styles characterized by rumination and catastrophizing but are unsuitably less adaptive. Hence, the application of less adaptive techniques when psychologically distressed from the pandemic need to be corrected or modified.