Knowledge and attitude towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender healthcare concerns: A cross-sectional survey among undergraduate nursing students in a Philippine state university.

Background: Recently, there has been an increasing concern regarding matters concerning the LGBT community that should not be overlooked. Even though the Philippines is among the Asian nations with strong public tolerance towards homosexuals, numerous individuals still encounter discrimination. And while studies have been conducted elsewhere, the literature is limited among Filipino nursing students. Objective: This research assessed the knowledge and attitude towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) healthcare concerns among nursing students in the Philippines. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted among nursing students (N = 354) in a public university in the Philippines. The Nursing Students' Knowledge and Attitudes of LGBT Health Concerns was used to gather survey data online in April 2022, and data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26 software. Results: While a large majority of nursing students had positive attitudes, many had only low to moderate knowledge about LGBT healthcare concerns, although no significant correlation (p = 0.081) was found between knowledge and attitude. There were significant differences in knowledge based on gender (p = 0.049), religious affiliation (p = 0.023), and academic year level (p <0.001). A significant difference was also identified in attitude based on sexual orientation (p <0.001). Conclusion: Certain measures should be taken to address the gaps in the curricular content of undergraduate nursing programs directed at the LGBT topic to deliver culturally competent care grounded in evidence-based practices for LGBT individuals.

Factors influencing intention to plagiarize among nursing students in the Philippines.

Background: Plagiarism is an ethical concern among students but is insufficiently discussed and acknowledged in some educational institutions. Determining what factors influence plagiarism can help the academic community manage its incidence. Objective: This study determined the factors affecting the intention to plagiarize among Filipino nursing students. Methods: Utilizing a cross-sectional research design, data were gathered from 304 nursing students last June 2021 using valid instruments administered online. Regression analysis identified influencing factors of intention to plagiarize. Results: Findings indicated a generally low intention (M = 1.47, SD = 0.74) to plagiarize among nursing students. Internet literacy (B = -0.314, p <0.001), attitude (B = 0.257, p <0.001), moral obligation (B = -0.236, p <0.001), past behavior (B = 0.139, p <0.001), and subjective norm (B = -0.095, p = -0.001) influenced nursing students' plagiarism intention. Conclusion: Several interrelated factors play major roles in nursing students' tendency to plagiarize. Creating an educational environment that does not favor the unethical practice of plagiarism is recommended for nursing schools.

More than a year into the pandemic: Do higher education students still practice protective behaviors against COVID-19?

BACKGROUND: The exponential increase of cases and the emergence of the new COVID-19 variants continue to be a challenge. It remains crucial to assess whether or not minimum health standards against COVID-19 are consistently followed. This study determined the higher education students' practice of protective measures against COVID-19 of more than a year into the pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire web survey, cross-sectional study was conducted among higher education students (n = 2309) of a public university in the Philippines. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software. RESULTS: Results indicated that students generally had a high practice of COVID-19 preventive measures. However, only 45.9% always practice physical distancing measures, and only 35.9% always seek information related to COVID-19 after more than a year into the pandemic. Female, married, graduate level, with a monthly family income of PHP 10,000 and above, and personal knowledge of someone who tested for COVID-19 had a significantly higher practice of COVID-19 protective measures. Older age, higher general self-reported health status, and higher intention to comply with recommended protective health behaviors were significantly correlated with higher practice of preventive measures against COVID-19. CONCLUSION: After more than a year of being into the pandemic, students still practice preventive health behaviors, however, this is not done consistently. As the pandemic is still not over in the country and many parts of the world, continuous monitoring and a reminder to practice minimum protective health protocols are needed to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Predicting nursing students' intention to attend face-to-face classes on school reopening: A theory of planned behavior application.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in school closures and the reopening of schools is considered to be a possible approach to start reversing learning deficits. However, the literature is scarce on the determinants of intention to attend face-to-face classes among nursing students. METHOD: This cross-sectional study examined students' intention to attend limited face-to-face classes on school reopening, and its association among the core constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior. Undergraduate nursing students of one university in the Philippines (n = 322) answered an online questionnaire. Predictor variables were determined by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that nursing students had a high intention (4.47 of 5) to attend limited face-to-face classes. First- and second-year students had significantly higher intention to attend limited face-to-face classes than third- and fourth-year nursing students. Multiple regression analysis suggested that attitude (ß = .127, p = .001), subjective norm (ß = .400, p = .000), and perceived behavioral control (ß = .326, p = .000) positively predicted students' intention to attend face-to-face classes. CONCLUSION: As many schools prepare for the gradual reopening of campuses, the different beliefs of students may be considered by nursing schools to better understand students' intention for face-to-face instruction.

Factors predicting videoconferencing fatigue among higher education faculty.

The online remote learning revolution in the era of the pandemic has resulted in the massive explosion of videoconferencing technologies. The emergence of a new phenomenon of exhaustion and fatigue experienced during virtual meetings is evident. This study examined the predictors of videoconferencing fatigue among higher education faculty in the Philippines. A total of 322 faculty participated in this cross-sectional study. The online survey was administered using the Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue scale as the primary data collection tool. Significant predictors of videoconferencing fatigue were identified using the multiple linear regression analysis. The results indicated that the videoconference fatigue composite score of the faculty was 3.35 out of 5 suggesting a moderate level of fatigue. Significant predictors of videoconferencing fatigue among higher education faculty include attitude, sense of being physically trapped, mirror anxiety, emotional stability domain of personality, interval between videoconferences, and duration of videoconferences. For better videoconferencing experience among faculty, mechanisms to ease fatigue during virtual meetings may be proposed based on the study result.

Demographic, Health and Pandemic-Related Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination Intention Among Filipino Emerging Adults.

Emerging adults have become more susceptible to COVID-19 because of the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants. Vaccination can help protect them from contracting the virus. However, in the Philippines, vaccine acceptance rates are low. This cross-sectional study sought to determine the demographic, health, and pandemic-related determinants of COVID-19 vaccination intention among Filipino emerging adults. A total of 1692 Filipinos aged 18-24 years old participated in this study by answering an online survey. Findings reveal that 57.03% of the respondents do not intend to complete their COVID-19 vaccinations. Logistic regression analysis results suggest that less than "very good" self-reported health, lower life satisfaction, previous exposure to a COVID-19 patient, and lower pandemic fatigue were associated with greater odds of intending to vaccinate among Filipino emerging adults (p < 0.05).

Scoping review of factors affecting Philippine Nurse Licensure Examination outcomes

Aim@#This scoping review synthesized the existing literature on factors affecting Philippine nurse licensure examination (PNLE) outcomes.@*Background@#Studies about the nurse licensure examination in the Philippines had gained popularity in recent years. Various studies reported different factors affecting PNLE outcomes, since licensure examination is an interplay between individual, academic, institutional, and environmental factors. This review is the first study that synthesized the literature on factors affecting PNLE outcomes.@*Methods@#A scoping review of research articles published from 2000 to 2020 described the existing literature explaining the various factors affecting PNLE outcomes. The Preferred Reporting for Integrative Studies and Meta-Analysis for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used to guide the study. Using the set inclusion criteria, 4,208 articles and gray literature were eligible for initial screening. A total of 29 studies were included in this review.@*Findings@#Majority of the PNLE studies were quantitative research, used correlation research designs, and were published between 2011 to 2020. The average PNLE first-time pass rate from 2014 to 2018 was 75 percent and overall passing rate improved from 39.2% in 2010 to 45% in 2016. First-time examinees and those who take the PNLE in November have increased odds of passing the examination. Wide variability in PNLE results were observed in the May/June PNLE. Intellectual ability, learning styles, and psychosocial behaviors impact individual PNLE outcomes. Academic performance in high school and nursing school, college admission test, nursing aptitude test, achievement exams, pre-board examinations, clinical nursing courses, English courses, and Microbiology and Parasitology are significant academic predictors of PNLE success. Institutional variables such as school size, type of school ownership, year of establishment, accreditation status, and faculty-student ratio are associated with PNLE outcomes. @*Conclusion@#Various individual, academic, and institutional factors influence PNLE outcomes. Identifying these factors is crucial in understanding the multidimensionality of variables that may impact PNLE performance. An insight into these factors may assist individual nursing students and graduates, as well as nursing schools, in developing strategies to increase their likelihood of passing and increasing the first-time pass rates in the PNLE.

The information-seeking behavior and levels of knowledge, precaution, and fear of college students in Iloilo, Philippines amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic is devastating the health, social, and economic well-being of citizens worldwide. The high rates of morbidity and mortality and the absence of vaccines cause fear among the people regardless of age, gender, or social status. People's fear is heightened by misinformation spread across all media types, especially on social media. Filipino college students are one of the top Internet users worldwide and are very active in social media. Hence they are very prone to misinformation. This paper aims to ascertain the levels of knowledge, precaution, and fear of COVID-19 of the college students in Iloilo, Philippines, and determine the effects of their information-seeking behavior on the variables above. This paper is a cross-sectional survey that used a qualitative-quantitative method and snowball sampling technique. Data were gathered among 228 college students using an online survey instrument a few months after the pandemic began. College students were knowledgeable of the basic facts about the highly infectious COVID-19. However, the majority were inclined to believe the myths and misinformation regarding the pandemic. Television was the primary, most believable, and preferred source when seeking information. The Internet as a preferred source of information was significantly associated with a high level of knowledge. In contrast, the information sourced from interpersonal channels were found to make college students very cautious. The local presence of COVID-19 cases had caused college students to fear, likely exacerbated by the plethora of information about the pandemic, mostly from Facebook. This is the first study conducted on the effects of the information-seeking behavior on the levels of knowledge, precaution, and fear of COVID-19 of the college students in Iloilo, Philippines.

Incivility among nursing faculty: A multi-country study.

BACKGROUND: In nursing programs, incivility can be a main issue affecting future registered nurses, and this may threaten patient safety. Nursing faculty play an important role in this scenario to reduce incivility. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to assess incivility among nursing faculty in different countries. METHOD: This descriptive (cross-sectional) study was conducted to assess the extent of incivility among nursing faculty by using Incivility in Nursing Education-Revised tool and a non-probability (convenience) sampling method was used. Three hundred ninety-five nursing faculty in 10 countries distributed in four continents participated in this study. RESULTS: The results indicated that levels of incivility among participants in different countries were significantly different. Also, there was a significant difference (F = 9.313, P value = 0.000) among the nursing faculty concerning the behaviours that have been rated as disruptive. Furthermore, there was a significant difference (F = 6.392, P value = 0.000) among participants regarding uncivil behaviours that have occurred during the past 12 months. CONCLUSION: Regular assessments are needed to highlight uncivil behaviours and reduce them by making policies and rules in order to enhance academic achievement in nursing education.

Influence of self-esteem, psychological empowerment, and empowering leader behaviors on assertive behaviors of staff nurses.

Background: Being assertive is essential skill nurses need to learn and develop. While many studies exist on nurses' assertiveness, there is limited research on the factors associated with Filipino nurses' assertive behaviors. Objective: This study examined the correlation of self-esteem, psychological empowerment, and leader empowering behaviors on staff nurses' assertiveness in the workplace. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in 2019 involved 223 staff nurses working in two tertiary hospitals in the Philippines. Data were gathered using four validated self-reported scales: self-esteem scale, psychological empowerment scale, leader empowering behavior questionnaire, and workplace assertive behavior questionnaire. Correlational analysis using Pearson's r was performed to test the relationship between the key variables. Results: The composite scores for the self-esteem, psychological empowerment, empowering leader behaviors, and workplace assertiveness were 32.06 (SD = 3.65), 4.22 (SD = 0.43), 3.86 (SD = 0.51) and 3.61 (SD = 0.55), respectively. Self-esteem (r = 0.216; p = 0.001), psychological empowerment (r = 0.455, p = 0.000), and empowering leader behaviors (r = 0.269; p = 0.000) were significantly correlated with staff nurses' assertiveness in the workplace. Conclusion: Self-esteem, nurse leadership behaviors, and empowerment play vital roles in staff nurses' assertiveness. Understanding the factors influencing nurses' assertiveness is important, and looking into these variables can be beneficial for nursing management when developing strategies to build nurses' assertiveness. Thus, it is vital to focus on helping nurses nurture healthy self-esteem and initiate empowering conditions at work to aid nurses in setting healthy boundaries and supporting assertive behaviors at work.

Comorbidities, Concomitant Medications, and Diet as Factors Affecting Levothyroxine Therapy: Results of the CONTROL Surveillance Project.

BACKGROUND: The CONTROL Surveillance Project was a comprehensive patient-based survey conducted among hypothyroid patients undergoing treatment. The primary objective of the study was to specifically quantify the prevalence of factors adversely affecting levothyroxine therapy. METHODS: Participants were selected from a large proprietary database. Those eligible for the study completed a 21-question survey. RESULTS: Of the eligible hypothyroid patients, 925 (92.5%) were being treated with levothyroxine monotherapy. The mean age was 60.4 years; 755 (81.6%) were female and 168 (18.2%) were male. Almost half of those receiving levothyroxine (435, 47.0%) had at least one comorbid condition that could adversely affect its absorption: gastroesophageal reflux disease (33.8% of patients), irritable bowel syndrome (9.7%), lactose intolerance (7.8%), or a history of gastric bypass surgery or bowel resection (3.0%). Other factors reported by many patients that could adversely affect levothyroxine absorption included use of prescription medications (20.6%) and over-the-counter medications (34.3%) used to treat comorbid gastrointestinal (GI) conditions; use of dietary supplements (51.8%, primarily calcium and iron); and intake of foods/beverages high in fiber, iodine, or soy (68.0%). Of the 13.4% who reported difficulty controlling their hypothyroid symptoms, significantly more patients with comorbid GI conditions reported such difficulty (7.8 versus 5.6%, P < 0.01). Frequent changes in levothyroxine dosing (two or more dose changes in the past year) were reported by 8.0% of survey participants. Those with GI comorbidities were nearly twice as likely to have such changes (5.0 versus 3.0%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Better initial workup of patients, including identification of relevant GI comorbidities and allergies, may help in the early detection of factors that may affect the performance of levothyroxine.

A cathepsin L-like protease from Strongylus vulgaris: an orthologue of Caenorhabditis elegans CPL-1.

Cathespin L-like proteases (CPLs), characterized from a wide range of helminths, are significant in helminth biology. For example, in Caenorhabditis elegans CPL is essential for embryogenesis. Here, we report a cathepsin L-like gene from three species of strongyles that parasitize the horse, and describe the isolation of a cpl gene (Sv-cpl-1) from Strongylus vulgaris, the first such from equine strongyles. It encodes a protein of 354 amino acids with high similarity to other parasitic Strongylida (90-91%), and C.elegans CPL-1 (87%), a member of the same Clade. As S.vulgaris cpl-1 rescued the embryonic lethal phenotype of the C.elegans cpl-1 mutant, these genes may be orthologues, sharing the same function in each species. Targeting Sv-CPL-1 might enable novel control strategies by decreasing parasite development and transmission.

A preliminary analysis of proteolytic activity of excretory-secretory products from Cyathostominea.

The excretory-secretory product (ESP) derived from Cyathostominea in vitro was assessed, in terms of subunit composition, and proteolytic activity using as substrates azocasein and two synthetic fluorogenic peptides. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) resolved 13 subunits, and the presence of the protein cysteine proteinase activator dithiothreitol (DTT) revealed 21 subunits. DTT also enhanced azocaseinolysis, and hydrolysis of carbobenzoxy-phenylalanyl-arginine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (Z-Phe-Arg-NHMec) and carbobenzoxy-arginyl-arginine-7-amido-4-methylcoumarin (Z-Arg-Arg-NHMec). At the optimum pH of 5.5, hydrolysis of Z-Phe-Arg-NHMec was three-fold greater than that of Z-Arg-Arg-NHMec suggesting that the proteolytic specificities of the ESP are more like those of papain or cathepsin L, rather than cathepsin B. In SDS-PAGE gelatin gels, DTT was a requirement for proteolysis by the ESP. Optimum resolution was at pH=5.5, resolving six bands ranging from 114-20kDa. Cysteine proteinase inhibitors abolished all gelatinolytic activity at the pH values tested. Such data indicate the presence of cysteine-class proteinases in the ESP of Cyathostominea.