Effectiveness of a multicentre nasopharyngeal carcinoma awareness programme in Indonesia

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) awareness programme on the short-term and long-term improvement of knowledge and referral of patients with NPC by primary healthcare centres (PHCCs) staff in Indonesia. Design: The NPC awareness programme consisted of 12 symposia including a Train-The-Trainer component, containing lectures about early symptoms and risk factors of NPC, practical examination and the referral system for NPC suspects. Before and after training participants completed a questionnaire. The Indonesian Doctors Association accredited all activities. Participants: 1 representative general practitioner (GP) from each PHCC attended an NPC awareness symposium. On the basis of the Train-The-Trainer principle, GPs received training material and were obligated to train their colleagues in the PHCC. Results: 703 GPs attended the symposia and trained 1349 staff members: 314 other GPs, 685 nurses and 350 midwives. After the training, respondents’ average score regarding the knowledge of NPC symptoms increased from 47 points (of the 100) to 74 points (p<0.001); this increase was similar between symposium and Train-The-Trainer component (p=0.88). At 1½ years after the training, this knowledge remained significantly increased at 59 points (p<0.001). Conclusions: The initial results of this NPC awareness programme indicate that the programme effectively increases NPC knowledge in the short and long term and therefore should be continued. Effects of the improved knowledge on the stage at diagnoses of the patients with NPC will still need to be scrutinised. This awareness programme can serve as a blueprint for other cancer types in Indonesia and for other developing countries

Short-Term Effect of Different Teaching Methods on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma for General Practitioners in Jakarta, Indonesia

In Indonesia, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) is the most frequent cancer of the head and neck region. At first presentation in the hospital most patients already have advanced NPC. Our previous study showed that general practitioners (GPs) working in Yogyakarta, Indonesia lack the knowledge necessary for early detection of NPC. By providing training on early symptoms of NPC we hope that the diagnosis and referral will occur at an earlier stage. Here we assess the current NPC knowledge levels of GPs in Jakarta, evaluate improvement after training, compare the effectiveness of two training formats, and estimate the loss of recall over a two week period

Delayed diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a patient with early signs of unilateral ear disorder

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most frequent head and neck malignancy in Indonesia. Misdiagnosis of NPC is common because of unspecific symptoms as unilateral ear complaint. This case reminds doctors of the early symptoms of NPC and of other factors which lead to misdiagnosis and addresses also patients and their families. Reported is a 44 years old man with unilateral ear disorder that had been treated by otorhinolaryngologists, an ophthalmologist, a neurologist, and dentist first, but diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma stage IVA (T4N1M0) one year later. NPC has unspecific early symptoms such as unilateral ear disorder. Primarily doctors, but also patients and their families should be aware of unilateral ear complaint.Keywords: misdiagnosis, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, unilateral ear disorders</p

The level of community behaviour towards hearing loss in Indonesia

Background: Hearing loss is the most common disability in the world, with a prevalence of 5% of the world's population of 466 million people. Knowledge about noise exposure and hearing protection equipment is related to hearing loss. Health is associated with a person's healthy lifestyle behaviour. This study aimed to determine the level of community behaviour towards hearing loss. Methods: This study used a descriptive analytical approach with a cross-sectional study design. The population in this study was Indonesian people who were not healthcare workers aged 17 years and over. The sample inclusion criteria included individuals who were not healthcare workers (such as doctors, nurses and midwives etc.), aged 17 years and over, and willing to participate in the study. The sampling method in this study was consecutive sampling. Results: Based on the distribution of patients, there were more female participants (1484, 61.6%) than male participants. Diploma-3 (D3) was the most common education type, with as many as 1095 people (45.4%), while the least common education type was not in school (eight, 0.3%). Most participants were in the ‘employee’ profession, namely 509 people (21.1%), while the lowest number of participants was in the Police profession (20, 0.8%). There were significant relationships between the respondent's knowledge and action about hearing loss, and the respondent’s knowledge and attitudes regarding hearing loss (p=0.000). Conclusions: There were significant relationships between the respondent's knowledge and actions about hearing loss and the respondent's knowledge and attitude, while there was no significant relationship between the respondent's attitude and actions regarding hearing loss

COVID-19 among Indonesian ENT specialist and resident after second dose of Sinovac vaccination

Background: The purpose of this study was to obtain data on the prevalence of specialist doctors and Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ORL-HNS) residents in Indonesia who suffered from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) after receiving the second dose of COVID-19 vaccination using the Sinovac vaccine (CoronaVac) and the length of time infected with COVID-19 after the second Sinovac vaccination. Methods: We performed a descriptive observational study, using a cross-sectional design. Data collection took place between August 2021 and October 2021. The respondents in this study included specialist doctors and ORL-HNS residents who worked in various hospitals in Indonesia who had received the second dose of the Sinovac vaccination. Data collection was performed by means of Self-reporting Online Survey Platform (Google Form). Results: This study included 1,530 respondents, and 54.2% of respondents were women. Respondents consisted of 68.6% ORL-HNS doctors and the rest were residents with an average age of 41.46 years old. The distance between the first and second doses of Sinovac was mostly under one month, which was 71.3% of the respondents. A total of 76.3% of respondents did not have co-morbid diseases. Based on this study, 16.9% of respondents suffered from COVID-19 after the second dose of Sinovac vaccination. The length of time suffering from COVID-19 after the second Sinovac vaccination was 3-6 months (9.7%). Conclusions: Based on this study, 16.9% of respondents suffered from COVID-19 after receiving the second Sinovac vaccination and 9.7% suffered from COVID-19 after 3-6 months of Sinovac vaccinatio

The mean number of incorrect risk factors listed in the pre- and post-training assessments by GPs attending the PHCC and the symposium sessions.

<p>The mean number of incorrect risk factors listed in the pre- and post-training assessments by GPs attending the PHCC and the symposium sessions.</p

The mean number of accurately listed symptoms both pre and post training, by GPs attending the PHCC and the symposium sessions.

<p>The mean number of accurately listed symptoms both pre and post training, by GPs attending the PHCC and the symposium sessions.</p

The mean number of correctly identified risk factors listed in the pre- and post-training by GPs attending the PHCC and symposium sessions.

<p>The mean number of correctly identified risk factors listed in the pre- and post-training by GPs attending the PHCC and symposium sessions.</p