Gains and Challenges of the Barangay Health Worker (BHW) Program During COVID-19 in Selected Cities in the Philippines

Background: The Philippine Barangay Health Worker (BHW) program extends the accessibility of health care services at the community level. BHWs are trained volunteers who perform various health-promoting and health-educating tasks and provide primary health care (PHC) services within their communities. However, the weak implementation of policies meant to protect their welfare, like the BHW Benefits and Incentives Act (Republic Act No. 7883), translates to challenges that impact the sustainability of the BHW program. This qualitative study aimed to explore the BHWs\u27 experiences with RA 7883 and how its implementation shaped their overall role as frontline health workers during the pandemic. Method: The researchers conducted key informant interviews in selected barangays in Biñan, Laguna, and Project 7, Quezon City. The participants included BHWs, community health workers (CHWs), co-workers, supervisors, clients, city program coordinators, and BHW district presidents. The researchers thematically coded the interview transcripts to analyze the data. Results: The experiences of the BHWs showed how the gaps in RA 7883 implementation influenced the different aspects of their position. The BHWs expressed the need for sufficient support through remuneration and training opportunities to strengthen their competence and confidence in accomplishing their extensive tasks. The politicization of BHW through patronage politics also created inefficiencies that were detrimental to achieving the program\u27s goals. Conclusion: The poor implementation of RA 7883 undeniably affected the BHWs\u27 motivation and the full realization of their roles. These inadequacies hindered the program\u27s goal of equitable and accessible health services

Role of Human Resources in Memorable Customer Experience

The realm of customer experience in marketing is constantly evolving due in no small part to technological advancements. This article tackles the significance of human resources and how it is threatened by artificial intelligence. It presents a significant contribution by introducing a critical realist theory emphasizing the pivotal role of human resources in fostering customer experience. Drawing inspiration from Jaccard and Jaccoby, a positivist explanatory theory was initially formulated based on existing literature, which was then refined into a critical realist causal theory using Sayer\u27s established principles. Transitioning to a critical realist approach leads to more robust and nuanced theoretical development. By delving into the underlying causal mechanisms and considering the influence of social structures and context, the critical realist theory in this paper provides a deeper understanding of customer experience. Future researchers are encouraged to put these theoretical frameworks to the test to advance the design of customer experience management while preserving its humanistic aspect and avoiding an undue emphasis on economic gains

End-Of-Life Care for Patients With End-Stage Heart Failure, Comparisons of International Guidelines

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic, debilitating condition associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic burden. Patients with end-stage HF (ESHF) who are not a candidate for advanced therapies will continue to progress despite standard medical therapy. Thus, the focus of care shifts from prolonging life to controlling symptoms and improving quality of life through palliative care (PC). Because the condition and prognosis of HF patients evolve and can rapidly deteriorate, it is imperative to begin the discussion on end-of-life (EOL) issues early during HF management. These include the completion of an advance directive, do-not-resuscitate orders, and policies on device therapy and discontinuation as part of advance care planning (ACP). ESHF patients who do not have indications for advanced therapies or those who wish not to have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplant (HT) often experience high symptom burden despite adequate medical management. The proper identification and assessment of symptoms such as pain, dyspnea, nausea, depression, and anxiety are essential to the management of ESHF and may be underdiagnosed and undertreated. Psychological support and spiritual care are also crucial to improving the quality of life during EOL. Caregivers of ESHF patients must also be provided supportive care to prevent compassion fatigue and improve resilience in patient care. In this narrative review, we compare the international guidelines and provide an overview of end-of-life and palliative care for patients with ESHF

Access to Surgical Treatment for Hepatopancreaticobiliary Cancer in the Philippines

Hepatopancreaticobiliary cancers are among the most diagnosed cancers in the world. However, although high-income countries have the highest incidence rates, low- and middle-income countries have the highest mortality rates. In this article, we describe the geographic distribution of board-certified hepatopancreaticobiliary surgeons who provide surgical management for patients with these diseases in the Philippines. We draw attention to the geographic disparities in the distribution of these surgeons and the other factors that contribute to the lack of access. Lastly, we suggest ways forward

Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Protein Modulators in Children and Adolescents with Different CF Genotypes-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective: To determine the efficacy of the first triple CFTR protein modulators in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted, following PRISMA guidelines. The following databases were searched extensively: PubMed/Medline, Clinical trials.gov, Google Scholar, Scopus, Embase, and Europe PMC using the keywords: “Ivacaftor”, “Elexacaftor”, “Tezacaftor”, VX_661”, VX_770”, “VX_445”, “cystic fibrosis”. A total of ten randomized clinical trials were included in our analysis. Primary outcomes included: Absolute change in predicted FEV1 from baseline, Absolute change in sweat chloride test from baseline, Absolute change in BMI from baseline, Absolute change in CF-QR from baseline, and Adverse Events. Results: Among primary findings, significant absolute change in predictive FEV1 from baseline through 4 weeks favoured the triple CFTR protein modulators. (MD = 11.80, 95% CI = 8.47_15.12, p value = \u3c0.00001); as well as CF_QR score (MD = 0.00, 95% CI =-2.50_2.50, p value= 1.00), and BMI kg/m² change (MD = 16.90, 95% CI = 12.73_21.06, p value= \u3c0.00001). No significant change was noted for CFTR channels activity in the treatment group when compared to placebo or VX_770/VX_661 (MD =-12.57, 95% CI =-94.46_69.32, p value= 0.76). Conclusion: In children aged ≥ 6 y old and adolescents with F508del_CFTR mutation, Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor-Ivacaftor tend to be more effective than first-generation therapy, demonstrating promising results by exhibiting significant improvement in lung function, body weight, and respiratory-related quality of life

Mathematical Mobile Apps Via Rural Casting

This paper discusses the distribution, through a digital datacasting framework, of mathematical resources for Grades 1 to 7 to two schools in a community in the Philippines. Among the mathematical resources made available, are mathematical applications (apps), which run on mobile technologies, that have been created to help in the mathematical learning of students in a remote setting. The distribution is facilitated by the RuralCasting set-top box, a developed custom set-top box capable of receiving digital TV broadcasts and providing local content access through its Wi-Fi network. This paper presents the performance of the set-top box in distributing the mobile mathematical apps, and a short discussion on the mathematical applications deployed

Drug Testing in Philippine Schools: Historical Overview and Implications for Drug Policy

With the stated aims of promoting “drug-free” campuses and “instilling in the minds of students” that drugs are harmful; drug testing in schools has been a feature of the Philippines’ punitive drug regime for two decades; gaining prominence during the Duterte administration\u27s war on drugs (2016-2022). Drawing on key informant interviews and a desk review of news articles and official documents; this paper presents a historical overview of this policy as well as its impacts on students; educational institutions; and Philippine society. The paper finds that the group most affected by drug testing in schools are the students themselves; who are placed at risk of discrimination and alienation. Schools are also affected by the policy; as it requires expending their human and financial resources. More broadly; the policy perpetuates longstanding popular notions on drugs; children; and the overall idea that individuals carry the “burden of proof” to demonstrate their worthiness for societal inclusion. Drug testing in Philippine schools is ineffective and misguided in its objectives; but it has received widespread support because of its social and political efficacies

Sustainability of the Global Water Supply: An Exploratory Study of International Managers\u27 Perspectives

Water risk, both in terms of the risk to human life related to such threats as water scarcity and the risk to business related to such challenges as mismanagement of a critical resource, is a topic of increasing interest and importance to policymakers worldwide. The problems associated with water risk are being tackled by international development organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; by international business organizations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute; and by international aid organizations such as Water.org and countless corporate foundations. There is no shortage of brainpower, passionate commitment, or money spent on finding solutions to a growing problem. However, the problems continue. This research effort’s premise is that solutions to problems around the sustainability of the water supply remain elusive because such considerations have not yet become part of the day-to-day problem-solving routine of managers across the hierarchy of business organizations. In this study, managers in Brazil and South Korea were surveyed on their perspectives on the factors in their external environments that held promise for improving the sustainability of the world’s water supply. Our analysis identifies stakeholders in the external environment with whom managers might build effective coalitions for addressing this critical issue

Addressing Plastic Pollution Through Green Consumption: Predicting Intentions To Use Menstrual Cups In The Philippines

Plastic pollution is a global environmental crisis that poses a huge threat to the health of people and marine ecosystems worldwide. A significant source of plastic pollution is menstrual hygiene management, and an approach that can help address this crisis is the usage of washable and reusable menstrual cups. Using an extended theory of planned behavior model that includes self-identity and perceived quality, the study predicted intentions to use menstrual cups in the Philippines. Structural equation modeling results showed that perceived quality predicted attitudes towards menstrual cup usage. Moreover, attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and self-identity predicted intentions to use menstrual cups. There were also some differences in the factors and predictors of intentions between non-users and regular users of menstrual cups. Among regular users, perceived behavioral control did not predict intentions. These findings provide empirical support for the extended model, and provides insights for governments, non-government organizations, and corporations in promoting the usage of menstrual cups to address the global plastic pollution crisis