An analytical cross-sectional study on the relationship of perceived social connectedness and burnout symptoms in medical students from a private tertiary institution in Metro Manila enrolled in an online curriculum for the academic year 2020-2021 / The Health Sciences Journal

INTRODUCTION@#Online learning was put at the forefront for the safe continuation of education amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study determined the association of the level of social connectedness and symptoms of burnout in a purely online academic curriculum.@*METHODS@#This analytical cross-sectional study design included medical students enrolled in a private tertiary institution in the National Capital Region as respondents in an online survey. The perceived social connectedness and symptoms of burnout were objectively measured, using previously validated questionnaires, the Social Connectedness Scale - Revised (SCS-R), and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). The prevalence risk ratio (PRR) was computed.@*RESULTS@#Of the 119 respondents, majority reported reduced levels of social connectedness (72.3%) and experienced symptoms of burnout (85.7%). Among those with reduced levels of social connectedness (PRR: 1.25; 1.00, 1.55), there was a higher risk of having symptoms of burnout.@*CONCLUSION@#Amid the implementation of a purely online curriculum, medical students with reduced social connectedness had an increased risk of experiencing symptoms of burnout.

Association of online screen media exposure and burnout among adolescent senior high school students enrolled in different online curricula in Metro Manila: An analytic cross-sectional study / The Health Sciences Journal

Introduction@#Due to COVID-19 pandemic, it became imperative for the education sector to shift to online curriculum and eventually hybrid education. However, this policy posed challenges to educators and students, such as increased workload, prolonged screen time, and burnout. This study determined the association of online screen media exposure and burnout among adolescent senior high school students enrolled in different online curricula in Metro Manila.@*Methods@#This analytic cross-sectional study identified adolescent senior high school students in Metro Manila who were recruited via non-probability convenience sampling. Online screen media exposure was assessed based on the cut off value of four (4) or more hours of device usage related to online schooling, and participants answered the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) to ascertain presence or absence of said condition. Data analysis included cross-tabulation for prevalence rate ratio (PRR), and Chi-square test for statistical significance.@*Results@#Of the 117 respondents, most had significant online screen media exposure (75.21%). For the CBI, 51 study subjects garnered a score of 50 and above, suggesting that 43.59% of the adolescents might be suffering from burnout. In addition, PRR was calculated to be 3.9 (p-value of .002).@*Conclusion@#Among adolescent senior high school students with significant online screen media exposure of four hours or more, there was 3.9 higher risk of exhibiting burnout symptoms, and this was statistically significant.

Primary health care in the age of advanced technology and modern medicine: Perspectives of future Filipino doctors / The Health Sciences Journal

INTRODUCTION@#In a healthcare system that has been specialty-centric for decades, the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act would try to refocus on primary health care (PHC) to better navigate the entire healthcare delivery system of the country. This paper determined the perception of clinical clerks on the relevance of UHC and PHC on the practice of medicine in the Philippines.@*METHODS@#Clinical clerks rotating in Community Medicine were surveyed and focus group discussions were conducted to elicit the viewpoints of the students. Thematic analysis of the responses was subsequently performed. @*RESULTS@#Majority of the 247 student-respondents viewed UHC and primary health care (PHC) as relevant, however, some did not see the need to shift the focus of care from a specialty-centric orientation to that of a PHC approach. Medical students still dream of becoming specialists, and the idea of general medicine practice was not very popular among them. There were negative perceptions on essential healthcare at the community setting, given the inadequacy of medical facilities and technology, medications, and healthcare services in the locality. @*CONCLUSION@#Sociopolitical factors remained important determinants of health, which often resulted in service delivery inequities, making access to health difficult for the marginalized and indigent. Given the efforts of the government to champion UHC amid the advances in modern medicine often localized in urban areas in the country, PHC was viewed to be relevant albeit not a priority for future Filipino doctors.

Necrotizing fasciitis in a patient with Chiari malformation Type II - A family case analysis / The Health Sciences Journal

@#The biopsychosocial approach to healthcare is fundamental to Family and Community Medicine specialists. Using the patient-centered, family-focused, community-oriented (PFC) matrix, the interplay of a myriad of biomedical and psychosocial factors is assessed in order to provide a thorough medical management that is custom-made to meet the needs and inherent values of a patient and his/her family. Family assessment tools are also utilized to better understand the family dynamics of a patient that may impact on the prescribed management plan. In addition, social determinants of health are evaluated to ascertain which ones may facilitate or hamper proper utilization of community resources. This family case analysis documented the medical ordeal of a young professional who had been diagnosed with two rare medical conditions: necrotizing fasciitis and Chiari malformation Type II. Employing the PFC matrix, the Family and Community Medicine specialist was able to provide inter-disciplinary care for the patient and his family in a holistic manner by recognizing patient needs, creating an enabling family support environment, and helping the family unit navigate various community resources.

"NUTRI-CHIKA: Usapan Tungkol at para sa Nutrisyon" an inter-professional community nutrition program - a health outcome evaluation / The Health Sciences Journal

INTRODUCTION: This study measured the impact and outcome of an inter-professional community nutritionprogram labeled as "NUTRI-CHIKA: Usapan Tungkol at para sa Nutrisyon." The program was a multidisciplinaryapproach towards the attainment of proper nutrition for identified malnourished preschoolage children in Barangay San Isidro, Rodriguez, Rizal.METHODS: This was a mixed quantitative-qualitative program evaluation. The quantitative part consistedof a longitudinal observational study design, which reviewed the data of the children who received thenutritional intervention. The qualitative study was done with a phenomenological approach, using athematic analysis for the process and impact evaluation by means of a focus group discussion and keyinformant interview processes.RESULTS There was a statistically significant increase in weight (2.32 kg) and height (3.04 cm) in terms ofZ-scores. A total of 29 out of 30 malnourished children graduated with 1 to 3 degrees of improvement intheir Z-scores. The program impact showed 1) overall improvement of the state of health of the children;2) inculcation of family values, which emphasized the giving of more quality time of parents to theirchildren, and teaching them to socialize and be courteous; and 3) better orientation of the childrentowards more nutritious food choices. The process evaluation focused on the positive disposition of theinter-professional collaboration and brought out transference of this attitude to the children and parents.CONCLUSION "NUTRI-CHIKA: Usapan Tungkol at Para sa Nutrisyon" achieved its program objectives andimpacted on the family and community, improving the overall state of health of the children and providingpositive disposition and family values to the participants.

A cross-sectional study on the biopsychosocial factors influencing quality of life and adherence to treatment of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the National Capital Region / The Health Sciences Journal

Introduction@#This study investigated the association of selected biopsychosocial factors (i.e., CD4 cell count, self-stigma, and social stigma) with the quality of life and adherence to treatment of people living with HIV in the National Capital Region.@*Methods@#A cross-sectional study design was conducted to document the health status and behavior of respondents affiliated with a clinic in Quezon City. Participants answered an online questionnaire containing the Berger HIV Stigma Scale, WHO-QOL for HIV, and HIV Treatment Adherence SelfEfficacy Scale. Bivariate analyses and prevalence risk ratios were used to determine the association of selected biopsychosocial factors with quality of life and adherence to treatment.@*Results@#One hundred respondents were analyzed, of which 42% had CD4 cell counts < 350 cells/mm3, 43% had high self-stigma and 36% had high social stigma while 11% had poor QOL and 7% had poor ATT. There was no significant association of CD4 cell count, self-stigma and social stigma with quality of life and with adherence to treatment.@*Conclusion@#A weak association was noted between poor QOL and low CD4 cell counts and among those who felt higher social stigma, but the relationships were not significant. The association between poor ATT and the selected biopsychosocial factors was not significant.