Measuring satisfaction with nursing care of patients admitted in the medical wards of the Philippine General Hospital

OBJECTIVE. The main aim of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with nursing care (PSNC) in the medical wards of the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) using a valid and reliable locally developed UP-PGH PSNC questionnaire. METHODS. The survey utilized a cross-sectional study design and was conducted in the medical wards of the UP-PGH in 2006. A total of 237 patients were included in the survey. RESULTS. Over a third or 34.3% (95% CI 28%, 40%) and 35% (95% CI 26%, 44%) were highly satisfied with their experience regarding the nurses caring attitude and the nurses skill/competence respectively. Fewer respondents were highly satisfied with the nurses as information providers, with only 17.2% (95% CI 12%, 22%) saying they were highly satisfied. A little over half or 57.8% (95% CI 52%, 64%) were highly satisfied in the overall evaluation of care. CONCLUSION. The patients were satisfied with the nursing care provided in two dimensions: The nurse as a caring person and the nurse as a skilled and competent health care provider, although only about a third indicated that they were highly satisfied. Nevertheless, 57.8% were highly satisfied in the overall evaluation of care, but these patients may have considered other hospital services and cost. Other factors that might affect patient satisfaction need to be explored and the use of other evaluation tools to augment these findings is recommended.

Epidemiological risk factors for cancers of the lung, breast, colon-rectum and oral cavity: A case-control study in the Philippines

INTRODUCTION: In the Philippines, lung, breast, colon-rectum, and oral cavity cancers are among the top 10 most common cancers. This study evaluates the risk factors for these cancers among Filipinos. METHODS: This age-matched case-control study included incident primary cancers (histologically-diagnosed) of the lung, breast (also matched for sex), colon-rectum and oral cavity. Controls (clinically free and no history of cancer) were obtained from the same tertiary hospitals as the cases. Target sample size was 283 cases and 283 controls per cancer type. Conditional logistic regression was done. RESULTS: Exposure to cigarette/tobacco was a significant risk factor for lung (OR of current smoker compared to non-smoker [95% Confidence Interval]: 3.6 [1.6-7.9]) and oral cavity cancers (2.0 [1.2-3.3]); family history (1st degree) for lung (4.3 [1.314.2]) and breast cancers (3.0 [1.2-7.5]); every year increase in age at first pregnancy for breast cancer (1.06 [1.02-1.11]). Other risk factors for oral cavity were passive smoking (2.8 [1.6-5.1]), chewing tobacco (5.2[1.4-19.5]) and inverted cigarette smoking (3.2[1.3-8.1]). Fish sauce (patis) was found to be a protective factor for breast cancer (0.34 [0.22-0.51]) and oral cavity (0.44 [0.25-0.78]) and use of shrimp paste (bagoong) (0.48 [0.27-0.84]) for oral cavity. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Except for family history of cancer, the identified risk factors for lung, colon-rectum, and oral cavity cancers are preventable. Proper diet and lifestyle, avoidance of cigarettes and tobacco, and environmental safety in the workplace are key cancer prevention measures. Public awareness campaign and continuing healthcare provider education must always be part of a cancer prevention program.