King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Higher-Education Students from the Armed Conflict Region of Thailand

This cross-sectional survey assessed the association between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and perceived self-sufficiency, reflecting the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP), conceived by H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX). It was conducted among university students on one campus located within the area affected by the Southern Thailand insurgency and another campus located in a nearby province outside of the restive area. All self-administered questionnaires consisted of questions related to personal information, the Thai version of the PTSD checklist, and a questionnaire aimed at measuring the perceived self-sufficiency according to H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s SEP. The study found that most university students in the restive area affected by the Southern Thailand insurgency perceived to live sufficiently according to H.M. King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s SEP. The rate of perceived self-sufficiency was also higher than reported by the students from the other campus in a nearby province. Moreover, self-sufficiency exhibited a significant inverse association with PTSD symptoms

Higher education studies in the restive areas of Thailand’s Southern insurgency: a comparison of resilience among students at the Pattani campus and a nearby province

The Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus is located within the restive areas of Southern Thailand’s insurgency. The violent situations have been continuingly deteriorating since 2004, whilst local civilians; including young people, have undergone different forms of mental distress. Hence, this cross-sectional survey aimed to compare levels, characteristics and associated factors of resilience among university students at the Pattani campus, located in the restive area of Southern Thailand’s insurgency, and a nearby province (Hatyai campus). The study was conducted between 8th August, 2018 and 8th October, 2018, at both Prince of Sonkla University, Pattani and Hatyai campuses. All of the participants completed the personal information, and Thai resilience questionnaires (Thai-RQ) by themselves. The data were analysed using the R program, for both descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Most of the 443 students, who studied at Prince of Songkla University, Pattani campus were females (80.3%) and Muslims (76.3%). Most of them were at a normal level (55.7%), within the domain of resilience, with the highest prevalence, being coping strategy (75.9%). No significantly statistical difference of levels, or characteristics of resilience were found between the two campuses. Satisfaction towards: university teaching, age, religion and birth order were also significantly associated to resilience among university students in the restive area. However, only gender and satisfaction towards university teaching were found in the non-restive campus

Resilience in Medical Doctors within the Areas of the Southern Thailand Insurgency

Objective: This study aimed to examine resilience and its’ associated factors among medical doctors who worked at hospitals, either in the restive areas of the southern Thailand insurgency, or non-restive areas of nearby provinces. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for all medical doctors who worked at the hospitals located in the lower southern part of Thailand from January to April 2018. All of the participants completed the personal information and Thai resilience questionnaires (Thai-RQ) by themselves. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, whilst the factors associated with resilience were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: From 245 medical doctors, most were female (58.0%), single (50.2%) and worked more than 40 hours per week (30.2%). The average resilience scores were at a normal level (62.3 ± 7.8) as well as most of them being (67.3%). The highest section of resilience was coping skills, with the lowest being emotional stability. There were no differences in resilience between those who worked in restive areas, or those who worked in non-restive areas of the southern Thailand insurgency. Perceived sleep/rest quality and family relationships were significantly associated with their resilience. Conclusion: Most of the medical doctors, who worked at hospitals either in the restive or non-restive areas of the southern Thailand insurgency, were at normal levels of resilience. No difference of resilience was found between these two areas. The factors associated with resilience were perception of sleep/rest quality and family relationships

Resilience in Medical Doctors within the Areas of the Southern Thailand Insurgency

Objective: This study aimed to examine resilience and its’ associated factors among medical doctors who worked at hospitals, either in the restive areas of the southern Thailand insurgency, or non-restive areas of nearby provinces. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for all medical doctors who worked at the hospitals located in the lower southern part of Thailand from January to April 2018. All of the participants completed the personal information and Thai resilience questionnaires (Thai-RQ) by themselves. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics, whilst the factors associated with resilience were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. Results: From 245 medical doctors, most were female (58.0%), single (50.2%) and worked more than 40 hours per week (30.2%). The average resilience scores were at a normal level (62.3 ± 7.8) as well as most of them being (67.3%). The highest section of resilience was coping skills, with the lowest being emotional stability. There were no differences in resilience between those who worked in restive areas, or those who worked in non-restive areas of the southern Thailand insurgency. Perceived sleep/rest quality and family relationships were significantly associated with their resilience. Conclusion: Most of the medical doctors, who worked at hospitals either in the restive or non-restive areas of the southern Thailand insurgency, were at normal levels of resilience. No difference of resilience was found between these two areas. The factors associated with resilience were perception of sleep/rest quality and family relationships

Pharmacogenetic testing in psychiatry: Perspective on clinical utility

Pharmacogenetic studies the influence of inherited characteristics on medication. While different from pharmacogenomics, which is a study of the entire genome in relation to medication effect, their distinction remains inconsistent, and the two terms are used interchangeably. Although the potential of pharmacogenomics in psychiatry is apparent and its clinical utility is suboptimal, the uptake of recommendations and guidelines is minimal and research into PGx is not diverse. This article offers an overview of pharmacogenetics (PGx) in psychiatry, explores the difficulties, and provides recommendations on improving its applicability and clinical utility

Self-evaluation of Sexual History Taking Skills Among Medical Students in Southern Thailand

Objective: Sexual health is an important issue in a holistic approach in general clinical practice. Inappropriate sexual history taking could lead to improper clinical management. This study aimed to examine perceptions of practice, attitudes toward sexual history taking and their associated factors among final year medical students in southern Thailand. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted between September and October 2022, using a self-reported questionnaire via Google forms. The self-reported questionnaire consisted of questions related to the practice and attitude toward sexual history taking (α = 0.90 and 0.71, respectively), as well as perceptions of the undergraduate medical training on taking a sexual history (α = 0.91). Descriptive data analysis and multiple logistic regression was conducted by using Program R. Results: Of 91 participants, most were male and Buddhist (54.9% and 87.9%). In general, most medical students rated their proficiency in sexual history taking skills as fair-to-good across all aspects. The majority showed a positive attitude toward sexual history taking (68.1%) and reported that contraception was the main reason that they usually have such discussions with female patients (36.3%), while the prevention of sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) was the most common issue during annual examinations, and when with patients with suspected STDs (27.5% and 49.5%). Male medical students and those who perceived good-to-very good knowledge and well-to very well-trained skills of sexual history taking were significantly associated with more regular sexual history taking. [adjusted OR (95%CI) = 4.51(1.19-17.11) and 5.3 (1.51-18.65), respectively] Moreover, students with a good attitude toward sexual history taking were significantly associated with a perceived good-to-very-good training in both history taking and communication skills. Conclusion: Most medical students exhibited a positive attitude toward sexual history taking, and they stated that birth control and STDs symptoms were typically the primary subjects they discussed with patients in general. There was a significant association between being male, a perception of good knowledge and well-trained skills, and a more consistent practice of sexual history taking. Additionally, medical students who displayed a good attitude towards taking sexual history significantly showed a perception that they had received sufficient training in both the areas of history taking and communication skills

Atypical Eating Attitudes and Behaviors in Thai Medical Students

Objective: To determine the prevalence, and associated factors of atypical eating attitudes and behaviors in Thai medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional survey examined the eating abnormalities in Thai medical students, conducted in 2014. Research assistants collected data by using; self-reported questionnaires using The Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26 Thai Version). The statistical analysis used R-program for qualitative variables and logistic regression was applied to determine the correlation and P-value. Results: 141 Thai, medical students (15.9%) were reported to have atypical attitudes towards eating, and displayed abnormal eating behaviors. There was no statistically significant correlation of attitude towards eating, and their current eating behaviors according to the medical students’ gender, year of studying and Grade Point Average. However, their eating attitudes and behaviors were, associated with Body Mass index. Normal weight (BMI 18.5- 23.49) and overweight (BMI 23.5-39.9) groups could increase by 2.2 (95% CI =1.2, 4.3) and 2.3 (95% CI=1.1, 4.8) times risk depending on atypical eating attitudes and abnormal eating behaviors respectively, when compared with the underweight group (BMI<18.5). Conclusion: There was no correlated difference in concerns to the Thai medical student’s abnormal eating habits, with gender, years of their study and Grade Point Average. Only normal to over-weight BMI were associated. Overweight male, medical students significantly represented more atypical attitudes towards eating and behaviors than other groups in this population. These results may reveal the changing trends of eating attitudes and behaviors due to the current ideal body image of being more muscular. However, prospective studies are still needed

Training and education in digital psychiatry: A perspective from Asia-Pacific region

Background Digital mental health interventions and digital psychiatry have been rapidly implemented over the past decade, particularly with the intent to offer a cost-effective solution in those circumstances in which the current mental health services and infrastructure are not able to properly accommodate the patients' needs. However, mental health workforce is often poorly theoretical/practical trained in digital psychiatry and in delivering remote consultations safely and effectively, not being common to own curricula-specific training requirements in digital psychiatry and skills. Methods A web-based international cross-sectional survey was carried out by a working group constituted by one or two national representative(s) of each WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions (APAC), with the aim to evaluate the level of training, knowledge, experience, and perception regarding the topic of digital psychiatry in a sample constituted by medical students, psychiatry trainees, and early career psychiatrists from APAC. Results An overall lack of theoretical and/or practical training on new digital tools and digital health interventions in psychiatry was observed. The level of training influences knowledge background, which, in turns, influences young professionals' perceptions and opinions regarding digital psychiatry and interventions in mental health. Conclusion Implementing psychiatry training programs may significantly improve the level of knowledge and use of digital tools in mental healthcare. Moreover, mental health services and infrastructures should be properly adapted to the digital era, considering the overall weak and heterogeneous technical support and equipment, issues of internet connectivity, and other administrative-related challenges observed in APAC