Assessment of Village Health Worker Training Program in Tuguegarao, Philippine / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of 'village health worker training program' which aimed to build community participatory health promotion capacity of community leaders in villages of low developed country and to develop methods for further development of the program. METHODS: The intervention group were 134 community leaders from 25 barangays (village). Control group were 149 form 4 barangays. Intervention group participated 3-day training program. Questionnaire was developed based on 'Health Promotion Capacity Checklist' which assessed capacity in 4 feathers; 'knowledge', 'skill', 'commitment', and 'resource'. Each feather was assessed in 4 point rating scale. Capacity scores between intervention group and control group were examined to identify changes between the pre- and post-intervention periods. A qualitative evaluation of the program was conducted to assess the appropriateness of the program. The program was conducted in Tuguegarao city, Philippine in January, 2009. RESULTS: The result showed significant increases in the total health promotion capacity and each feather of health promotion capacities between pre and post assessment of intervention group. But there was no significant change in that of control group. Participants marked high level of satisfaction for preparedness, selection of main subjects and education method. Qualitative evaluation revealed that training program facilitated community participatory health promotion capacity of participants. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that the Village health worker training program is effective for building health promotion capacity of community leaders and it can be a main method for helping low developed countries with further development.

Clinical Features and Surgical Results of Brain Abscesses

OBJECTIVE: This study is undertaken to review the characteristics, risk factors and the surgical outcomes in long term follow-up of brain abscesses. METHODS: We had reviewed medical records and radiological findings in patients with brain abscess who underwent operations in our hospital from January 1992 to June 2003. RESULTS: Observed 11 cases were comprised of 8 men and 3 women with 42 years old average age ranging from 17 to 66. Lesions were located at frontal lobe in 5 cases, parietal in 4 cases, temporal in 1 case, and occipital in 1 case. The mean follow-up period was 23.8 months and ranged from 5 to 33 months. The microbial sources of infection had been found in 5 cases (45%). The organisms were identified by using the microbial culture obtained from the excisional biopsy. We had applied all cases with surgical excision. Empirical antibiotic treatment started soon after diagnosis in all cases. The mortality and morbidity of surgical excision were low. Nine patients were neurologically improved. One patient had died after the operation due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). CONCLUSION: The single and large abscess located in an accessible lesion is a good candidate for surgical excision because of it's low morbidity, mortality, and favorable outcome after surgical excision. Further study is required to compare the surgical excision with other treatment modalities of brain abscess.