Background: Studies suggest that less than 10% of the total population in the Philippines have been tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and only 2% of women ages 18-45. Improving access to testing is imperative to building the HIV Care Continuum, given the aims of the United Nations' 95-95-95 targets and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). International Public Health partnerships between several entities introduced a training program to certify a diverse spectrum of community providers to increase access to HIV counseling and testing in Davao City. Methods: A community assessment was conducted and stakeholders were identified based on accessibility to services for women and natural integration within operations. Invitations to the training were extended to the groups identified. Participants included representatives from three universities, two nonprofit organizations, local clinics, two social work programs, a midwifery practice, three religious organizations, and local tribal leaders. The comprehensive HIV education, counseling, and testing training conference covered the span of one week with all-day sessions. Participants were required to take a pre-test, attend all sessions, and complete a post-test. Results: Thirty-one participants in Davao City were trained and certified in HIV counseling and testing. Twenty-four participants met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Exams were composed of three parts designed by the Philippines Department of Health to measure competency for HIV certification. Pre-test scores indicated low levels of HIV knowledge with a mean score of 27.97% and a range of 9.59-54.79%. Post-tests were given one week later and the mean increased markedly to 87.61% with a range of 52.05-97.26%. A Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test showed a high level of statistical significance (p < 0.001) between the pre- and post-test scores. Conclusions: HIV education, counseling, and testing can now be made available from several community-based organizations for unreached populations including women at risk in the Philippines. The COVID-19 pandemic restricted plans for HIV program distribution and systems to provide HIV test kits and referrals. As COVID-19 has slowed, plans have resumed and data will be collected for tracking, linkage to care, and adherence. This vital phase is foundational in the HIV Care Continuum, core SDGs, and 95-95-95 targets for the Philippines.
There is substantial evidence linking the consumption of psychotropic medications with leading to mania, hostility, violence, and even homicidal ideation yet little is still known regarding the link between psychiatric drugs and acts of senseless violence.These drugs, whether administered to treat depression, mania, or anxiety, have neurological side effects that frequently enhance the probability of additional comorbid mental health outcomes.A special class of psychotropic medications, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are consistently involved in producing a varied range of maladaptive mental and behavioral conditions.The purpose of this paper is to examine in detail the neurological processes that may be involved in these negative outcomes and present a prospective for future research in neurosciences to develop a 'risk-benefit' profile for treating children and adolescents.
Background Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy with agents that minimise resistance is crucial. Despite international concern, adherence to guidelines is still suboptimal. This study aims to determine the effect of the absence of national guidelines and the rate of conformity to international guidelines among physicians in antibiotic (ATB) prescriptions for the treatment of UTIs in adults and detect the factors that are associated with a higher rate of non-compliance.Methods Patient-related characteristics and the prescribed ATBs were gathered from patients' medical files, and a questionnaire was directed to physicians to elicit the factors involved in decision-making. Four criteria were evaluated: molecule conformity, daily dose conformity, duration conformity and global conformity.Results 37 Lebanese physicians and 185 prescriptions were included. The most prevalent class of ATBs was fluoroquinolones (30.3%). Global conformity to guidelines was 31.4%, while conformity on drug choice, daily dose and duration of treatment was 83.2%, 74.7% and 41.6%, respectively. There were no differences in conformity rates according to the physician’s specialty (p=0.135). Physicians who studied in an American-system university had an increased risk of non-conformity (adjusted OR (aOR=2.107, p=0.018). Patients with higher education levels, or presenting with fever or chills, were more likely to get a non-compliant prescription (aOR=2.140, p=0.032 and aOR=4.947, p=0.033, respectively).Conclusion In a country with no local guidelines, non-conformity to international guidelines is high. Larger national studies are needed with immediate interventions to enhance physicians’ prescribing practices. After local guidelines were established, it would be interesting to compare the rate of adherence to these guidelines.
Fear of childbirth during pregnancy is considered normal up to a certain level. It is important when it is experienced in a discomfortingly and affects daily life. Psychological problems such as fear of childbirth and related anxiety cause deterioration of prenatal attachment. Therefore, psychological interventions in the antenatal period are gaining more and more importance in order to protect the mental health of women.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a prevalent condition among elderly men, impacting their quality of life. Traditional treatments primarily targeted bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) through alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. Recent additions, such as muscarinic receptor antagonists and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5I) tadalafil, provide more options.
Many people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) every year. Due to the unique properties of this virus, no effective vaccine has been approved to prevent this virus. HIV is transmitted to a healthy person in various ways, such as sex, using an infected syringe, etc. So far, various ways have been proposed to prevent the spread of this virus, however, the number of people infected with this virus continues to increase every year. Various factors play a role in this process of disease transmission.
Quality, cost, and access are the three primary metrics of the healthcare system. In recent years, the healthcare system has begun to feel a greater push to provide a higher quality of care as payors have adopted Quality-Based metrics and incentive measures. With an expected shortage of up to 48,000 physicians by 2034 [1], a multidisciplinary approach will be crucial in continuing the push to provide high quality care. As the role of a pharmacist continues to evolve towards direct patient care, pharmacists with expertise in medication management are well equipped to serve as an integral part of the healthcare team.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the diseases affecting people worldwide, regardless of region, race, blood type, and many more. So, the management of DM has been a challenging issue all over. Hyperlipidemia or Dyslipidemia is one of the main root causes of DM, leading to severe cardiovascular diseases. Behavioral therapies like diet and exercise can improve diabetic Dyslipidemia; however, most patients require drug therapy to meet treatment objectives. Statins, fibrates, niacin, and thiazolidinediones are a few drug families that can treat the abnormal lipid and lipoprotein levels linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Since, Type I DM is an autoimmune disorder with no significant relationship with the levels of lipoproteins. This current paper focuses on patients with elevated levels of lipoproteins in DM-2.
In 2018, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) published an abridged summary of the 2016 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on Skin Cancer Prevention: Behavioral Counseling. We believe that a contemporary review paper that helps to expand on those recommendations and explain nuanced options for patients and providers is timely and will prove valuable.
Sedentary behavior increases the risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and of particular concern in the elderly, a loss of muscle mass and decline in cognitive performance. Numerous risk factors are predictive of mortality rates in the elderly, including lack of moderate or vigorous exercise. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of physical activity and exercise, participation and perceptions of traditional gyms, as well as motivators to be physically active in older males (65+ years) in Southern Ontario.
Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is a potentially fatal autoimmune syndrome in which IgG antibodies target the NR1 subunit of the NMDA receptor resulting in profound dysregulation and neurotransmission.
The purpose of this study was to examine the main motivators and barriers to Physical Activity (PA) and Exercise (EX) of an elderly population in South Carolina compared to their younger and middle-aged counterparts. Males and females ages 18 years and older representing 13 diverse groups from Cherokee County, South Carolina participated in this study.
Background; Medical students in clinical years are supposed to be independent, self-directed learner to motivate in depth learning. In response to COVID-19, medical education faculty have quickly transitioned to online formats that include COVID-19 crisis. The main purpose of this study was to assess the experience of clinical years’ students with online-based learning during the COVID19 pandemic. Method; A cross sectional survey based study was carried out in two medical colleges. Data was collected on self-administered questionnaire satisfaction regarding clinical knowledge and skills gained via online-based learning. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0). Data were expressed in frequencies, mean and percentages. Results; Total 210 participants 50% from NUST and SQU, 71% female. Half of study participants (NUST-52.4% and SQU-60.0%) found online teaching ineffective. More than half of students (60.5%) experienced poor internet access. A total of 22.9% of students agreed and 50.5% of students were some extent agreed that they were able to achieve their objectives. More than two third (83.8%) or NUST and 61% of SQU students did not manage to achieve practical skills. In the questionnaire response, 88.6% of NUST and 69.5% of SQU students believed that online teaching is not sufficient to prepare clinical years students to become skilled future doctors. A significant difference (p-0.001) was observed between NUST and SQU student’s responses. Conclusion; Medical students in clinical years need in depth learning with maximum hands on practice. The webinar teaching has impact on medical student education, affecting the practice and training. Students believed that online teaching in its current form is not sufficient to prepare clinical years students to become skilled future doctors.
Descriptive cross-sectional research design was utilized in three selected hospitals in Ondo State. Multi-stage random sampling was used to recruits 121 patients from three hospitals. Structured Questionnaire whose validity and reliability was established was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used.
As our population continues to extend life expectancy, a central concern is the quality of life into old age. The purpose of this study was to examine the beliefs, outlooks, opinions, and perceptions on Physical Activity (PA) and exercise (EX) of an elderly population in South Carolina compared to their younger age counterparts.
HIV/AIDS is one of the major public health concerns worldwide. The African region is the most affected worldwide, with Kenya being the joint sixth largest epidemic in the region. Kenya’s health system is characterized by donor reliance and donor concentration. As a result, key national strategic programs including HIV program are significantly funded by foreign aid.
The article by González-Ballesteros, et al. [1] demonstrated improved diabetes control utilizing a multidisciplinary team. Although the results were positive, it would have been ideal to include a clinical pharmacist in the therapy program as well. Several publications illustrate that clinical pharmacists significantly benefit patient care, particularly in diabetes management.
Neurological localisation is dependent on history and physical examination and demands that the clinician is aware of those features, encompassed within the clinical setting, that define the neuroanatomy and neurophysiology that defines the focus of any neurological lesion. The paper to follow provides an approach to the neurological evaluation of patients that employs the traditional methods of history, stylised physical examination, incorporating: Higher centres; cranial nerves.
