Volume 9 Series 2022

One of the major threats to public health today is the Antibiotic Resistance (AR) which is rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world. The formation of resistant bacteria is an inevitable process, which is speeded up due to human behavior. This study focused on the effect of healthcare provider-related factors of antibiotic use. A mixed-method descriptive study was conducted to find out and describe the effect of healthcare providers’ practices that affect the antibiotic use of the general public. The quantitative data from survey questionnaires gathered from the users and qualitative data from structured interview questions gathered from the physicians were collected via google forms while qualitative data from the pharmacists were gathered via the face-to-face and online platform. Data triangulation was used to validate the effect of healthcare provider antibiotic practices on antibiotic use among the residents of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Using a purposive sampling method, the researchers identified a total of 167 respondents with an age range of 18-60 years, 148 users, 10 physicians working in public/private clinics/ hospitals, and 9 community pharmacists working in a pharmacy/drugstore in Tuguegarao City participated in the study. The results of the study highlight that healthcare providers’ antibiotic practices-mainly the physicians' prescribing practices, and pharmacists’ dispensing practices- have different effects on the antibiotic use of the users. Physicians have a relative factor on antibiotic use. It emphasizes the physician’s factors are mainly their behaviors when prescribing antibiotics and their practices in educating and counseling the users. Although the study concludes that pharmacists do not affect the way of consumption of the users on antibiotics, this highlights the impact of pharmacists enforcing the dispensing practices and their interventions. The strategies and interventions on rational antibiotic use should be encouraged by healthcare providers as it significantly contributes in reducing the antibiotic resistance in the country.

Medicinal plants are endowed with an innate ability to synthesize therapeutic chemicals. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) is a perennial grass that is extensively distributed throughout the tropics and is widely utilized for its pleasant flavor and medicinal benefits. The discovery of new medications with significant therapeutic potential has resulted from the extraction and characterization of secondary plant metabolites from medicinal plants. Thus, the purpose of the study was to formulate and evaluate the antifungal activity of C. citratus against Malassezia furfur. This study utilized true experimental research using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The results gathered were tabulated and subjected to One-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The extract of C. citratus was tested for phytochemical analysis which showed that it is positive of the following constituents: phenols, tannins and terpenoids. The lemongrass extract also has undergone the Disk Diffusion Method to evaluate its antifungal activity using three different concentrations 1%, 5%, and 10% against positive control, Clotrimazole. The phytochemical analysis of lemongrass leaves revealed the presence of terpenoids, tannins, and phenols, of which terpenoids are the active component responsible for inhibiting M. furfur. Based on the findings, it showed that 10% concentration of lemongrass ointment is more effective when compared to the formulated 5% and 1% concentrations in inhibiting the growth of Malassezia furfur. Also, the positive control, Clotrimazole, exhibited the highest inhibition against M. furfur. In conclusion, the 10% concentration has exhibited antifungal activity but not as effective as the positive control, Clotrimazole.

Hypertension continues to be the prevailing cause of non-communicable illness fatalities globally and it is an uncontrolled worldwide epidemic. In Cagayan, the prevalence of hypertension is undoubtedly so high that hypertension even ranked 3rd among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, Tuao, Cagayan has ranked 1st among the municipalities in Cagayan in terms of the prevalence of hypertension. Therefore, this research assessed the level of medication adherence of hypertensive patients as well as identified the various predictors that affect the medication adherence of hypertensive patients in Tuao, Cagayan. This study employed the descriptive and correlational research design and adapted a questionnaire that was floated among the hypertensive patients in Tuao, Cagayan who voluntarily participated. The respondents of the study were those patients with hypertension age 18 and above from the 32 barangays in Tuao, Cagayan. The profile of the respondents was summarized through frequency and percentage. The level of medication adherence was assessed through the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). In addition, for part two of the questionnaire, the predictors were summarized through mean score. To analyze the predictors of medication adherence of hypertensive patients, simple linear regression was used. According to the findings of the study, the majority of the respondents had poor adherence to their medication. Sociodemographic factors (age, educational attainment, employment status), Healthcare System Related Factor (patient- provider relationship), and Health Condition Factor (blood pressure control) have shown positive relationship towards the medication adherence of hypertensive patients. Studying about these significant predictors of antihypertensive medication adherence will help the health sectors especially the pharmacists to generate an appropriate intervention programs that are effective in increasing the medication adherence of hypertensive patients and, in turn, to address the incidence of hypertension within or outside the sampled locality.

The pandemic resulted in an unexpectedly high volume of medical waste from hospitals, testing laboratories, and quarantine facilities, requiring healthcare personnel to thoroughly observe proper medical waste management. The study investigated the level of knowledge, attitude, and practices of healthcare personnel towards medical waste management in community quarantine facilities. The quantitative descriptive survey research design was employed. A total of one hundred and sixty-nine (169) healthcare personnel from community quarantine facilities of thirty-five (35) barangays under City Health Office 1 (CHO-1) of Isabela Province, thirty-five (35) licensed professionals, and one hundred thirty-four (134) unlicensed professionals were involved in the study, which were selected through stratified random sampling. The questionnaire was the main data gathering instrument and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Post Hoc test analysis. The mean of the data showed that the knowledge of licensed healthcare personnel was good (4.20), the attitude was good (4.01), and the practices were good (4.18). The results were estimated to be good. On the other hand, the mean knowledge of the licensed healthcare personnel was good (3.70), the attitude was good (3.71), and the practice was good (4.15). The findings were described as good. Results further revealed a significant difference in the knowledge of the licensed healthcare personnel when grouped according to age, explaining that the aged 40-49 had significantly greater knowledge than those aged 20-29 and 30-39. The research concluded that proper medical waste disposal is bound to every healthcare personnel regardless of their gender, highest educational attainment, age, years of service, and especially professional status. Older licensed healthcare personnel must properly mentor their colleagues in the health profession to foster collaboration and unity. The national government should revisit offering suitable refresher training, policies, and standards for community quarantine facilities to operate and seal of good governance, particularly focusing on medical waste management.

Due to the rapidly increasing cases of COVID-19, hospitals became compacted, healthcare workers weakened, and waste piled up. This study was conducted as a healthcare management strategy to analyze the bio-medical waste management of hospitals in Cagayan. Enhancing their awareness, knowledge, and understanding of waste management to reduce the risk of harm and infection caused by biological waste. It aimed to describe the effect of COVID-19 on Bio-Medical Waste Management and Generation of Private Hospitals in Cagayan. The study utilized a descriptive qualitative design. The purposive sampling method was used in selecting the respondents. Health and non-health personnel were interviewed using open-ended questions to describe and elaborate the effect of COVID-19 on bio-medical waste management and generation. Throughout the face-to-face interview, the researchers adhered to the COVID-19 precautions. Major themes included in this study were 1) COVID-19 caused in Bio-Medical Waste Generation, 2) Hospital Safety, and 3) Bio-Medical Waste Management Practices during COVID-19. Results showed that the generation rate of bio-medical waste increased during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the extensive use of disposable PPEs. The patient flow was seen to be directly proportional to the use of PPEs. The introduction of the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical importance of developing new viewpoints and methodologies in implementation, such as the inclusion of innovative and rigorous ways to collect bio-medical waste. There are protocols implemented to prevent the spread of the virus. The massive volume of COVID-19 trash includes medical and non-medical equipment such as PPEs. This increase puts further strain on bio-medical waste (BMW) disposal facilitators. As a result, there is now a greater focus on the necessity to separate bio-medical waste from regular garbage, primarily houses with COVID-19 patients. The data showed that most of Cagayan's private hospitals do well in COVID-19 waste management.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) became a global pandemic in March 2020, alarming hospitals and the healthcare system. COVID-19 has affected numerous aspects of the health system, especially clinical laboratories. Efficiency means achieving a goal with little waste, effort, or energy. With these, researchers sought to determine the efficiency of non-COVID-19 referral clinical laboratories in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan amidst pandemic. Study participants were limited to hospitals that cater OPD patients and non-COVID-19 referral private secondary and tertiary clinical laboratories. The study utilized a clerical tool, a Likert scale questionnaire which were distributed to (28) qualified respondents which are (3) chief medical technologists, (6) section heads, and (19) medical technologists of the selected tertiary and secondary private clinical laboratories in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Analysis of the responses demonstrates in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic; each clinical laboratory is equipped to provide necessary services. In conclusion, clinical laboratories faced various difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rising local incidence of COVID-19 had a significant impact on laboratory operations especially in human resources. Secondary and tertiary clinical laboratory services and hospital laboratory use are necessary for efficient deployment. Thus, hospitals and future researchers can use the study's findings to prepare for unanticipated catastrophes. The researchers recommend expanding the study to include non-COVID-19 referral clinical laboratories, public or government-run and private primary, secondary, and tertiary clinical laboratories, and free-standing laboratories to better determine clinical laboratory efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers also suggest using a qualitative method to conduct the same study; laboratory workers should be interviewed about their experiences and coping mechanisms throughout the epidemic.

Hospitals were among the most affected establishments in society during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of COVID-19 cases and the fast spread of the disease create a healthcare burden and tremendous demand for hospitals worldwide. Maintenance workers fall into high-risk groups because of their extensive exposure to COVID-19 patients at the hospital. This workload and risk among maintenance workers generate emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a low sense of personal accomplishment, potentially leading to burnout. This study focused on maintenance workers' stress level and coping mechanisms. This study then utilized a descriptive quantitative research design to determine the respondents' stress levels, stress-related factors, and coping mechanisms. Maintenance workers who work per shift at Government Hospitals in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, were included and were randomly chosen through stratified random sampling. The researchers used two adopted questionnaires, the Brief Cope and the Perceived Stress Questionnaire. Results showed that these workers are experiencing moderate stress and utilize emotion-focused coping. There is a significant difference in the stress levels of respondents in terms of when grouped according to sex, age, and religion. It also suggests a significant association between their stress levels and coping mechanisms.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected college students' mental health, leading them to use different coping mechanisms to minimize distress. The college students of the University of Saint Louis showed low scores on the Mental Health Index (MHI) based on the University's Guidance Office's survey. Thus, the study was developed to assess the coping mechanism in more specific means in terms of problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping of the college students with low MHI scores as their response to the pandemic. This study utilized a descriptive design to determine the significant association between coping mechanisms and profile variables of college students with low mental health index. A self-made questionnaire with a basis of Brief- Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (COPE) developed by Carver (1997) was used wherein the questions were made to fit the study's respondents. It was then distributed online by University's college psychometrician using Google Forms to 132 college students with low MHI. Frequency and percentage and Chi square were used to analyze the data collected. The study found that emotion-focused coping was the most used coping mechanism and was linked with factors like gender, department, and hours spent using social media daily. Moreover, avoidant coping was the second most used by college students and is mostly observed in female students with low MHI. Problem-focused mechanism ranked last and was linked with the hours spent on social media. The findings will be used to create a more comprehensive understanding of the respondent's coping styles and can serve as a basis for future activities and research

Nowadays, antimicrobial agents such as Amoxicillin, which have been found to be the type of antibiotics most commonly used worldwide, are widely used to treat common childhood diseases. However, its misuse leads to adverse drug reactions, interactions, and resistance. Antimicrobial resistance has developed into a significant public health problem on a global scale. Its dangers are continuously escalating. This study is conducted to assess the level of knowledge and the attitudes and practices of mothers regarding antibiotic use which can increase the risk and prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. The researchers utilized convenience and snowball sampling depending on the current situation of the study’s respondents. The study utilized a descriptive quantitative method of research to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of mothers when grouped according to their profile variables. A modified questionnaire is used to fit the respondents of the study and was distributed using Google Forms with a total of 394 mothers. The result of this study revealed that the mothers of children aged 2-6 years old in Tuguegarao City has good knowledge, attitude, and practices towards antibiotic use and its resistance, but varied in terms of the sociodemographic profile, consisting age, civil status, family monthly income, highest educational attainment, and +source of information about antibiotic use. Overall, the findings of this study helps establish a public-health promotion intervention to increase antibiotic knowledge, attitudes, and practices among the general public.

The purpose of this study is to assess social isolation and loneliness of older people. A descriptive quantitative design was utilized throughout this study to assess the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation in older people during this pandemic. Snowball sampling was utilized to select respondents in Tuguegarao City. There was a total of 378 respondents who participated in this study. Adopted questionnaires were used to collect data from respondents’ namely; The Lubben Social Network Scale and the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness scale. This questionnaire was then distributed by the researchers via Google forms to respondents who fit the criteria. The results showed that majority of the respondents felt only moderately lonely (mean= 1.85), and majority had high social engagement (mean = 1.82). Moreover, loneliness was found to be negatively correlated with social engagement. Frequency count and the percentage were also used to determine the frequency of each of the levels of loneliness and social isolation. Pearson R was used to test for the relationship between the level of loneliness and social isolation. Moderate loneliness and high social engagement was most likely possible because of the respondents having the means to contact their families and friends through social media as most of the respondents of the study were contacted through the use of devices such as phones and computers. With the results of this study, it is seen that despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults were just feeling moderately lonely despite the claims of multiple studies that stated that they were feeling severe loneliness year after year and it is also demonstrated that despite the restrictions on gatherings, they still had high social engagement.