Background and Objectives. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem in the Philippines despite trends indicating a decline in the burden of disease. Persons who use drugs who are confined in government-retained drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers (DATRCs) face an increased risk for TB because of the congestion in the facility coupled with the absence of guidelines on TB management specific to DATRCs. Thus, this study was conducted to document the current case finding and case holding practices as well as TB treatment pathway in six (6) Luzon-based, government-retained DATRCs. Methods. Key informant interviews were conducted with DATRC personnel involved in TB diagnosis and management in six selected DATRCs in Luzon, Philippines. Interviews were transcribed and coded for thematic analysis. We compared the DATRC practices with the provisions of the 2014 National TB Control Program (NTP) Manual of Procedures. Results were validated through a workshop with (a) a group of physicians and rehabilitation practitioners assigned in other DATRCs; and (b) a group of experts who have experience in managing or overseeing DATRCs in the country. Results. Two physicians and four nurses participated in the interviews. Variations in case finding and case holding practices in six DATRCs have been found. National guidelines exist for congregate settings but are more specific to jails/prisons, which are administratively and operationally different from DATRCs. Conclusion. Development of special guidelines for TB case finding and case holding in DATRCs as well as staff training on the latest NTP Manual of Procedures are recommended. However, gaps and inequities posed by the current setup underscore the need to address health system-wide factors affecting the practice and performance of these facilities.
Objective. To assess the competency levels of the technical staff of the Center for Health Development Calabarzon (CHD 4A) to inform the development of a human resource management plan.Methods. A cross-sectional assessment design to determine the CHD 4A technical staff's competency level was utilized. The team from the College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila invited all the CHD 4A technical staff to complete a self-assessment using the Learning and Development Needs Assessment Tool (LDNA) (version 3-45), rating their perceived competency and the level of importance to their functions on core and functional competencies stipulated in the Department of Health Compendium of Competency Standards. Gaps were identified by comparing perceived competency levels with a predetermined standard for each agency's salary grade or position.Results. All 67 technical staff took part in the assessment. Entry- and senior-level professionals had minimal deviations from predetermined standards, with gaps in quality service focus and teamwork for the former and planning and political savvy for the latter. In contrast, mid-career professionals had larger gaps in magnitude and number than entry and senior-level staff – the largest being on results orientation – reflective of newly-promoted staff's adjustment period. Of note, these gaps were based on the prevailing competency standards in force at the time of assessment in 2015. Findings may need to be revisited when the agency updates the core and functional competency standards.Conclusion. The participants perceived core and functional competencies as important, with the level of perceived importance increasing as the salary bracket increases. Core competency gaps were widest in integrity and quality service focus. Simultaneously, results orientation, and planning and organizing were the functional competencies that registered the widest gap and prioritized. Training needs assessments should be conducted in times of change to ensure an organization's training programs' relevance and to develop peak-level employee performance.
Smoking among adolescents is associated with additional health and social problems. This research was qualitative research and was used for exploring and describing the needs of smoking education program and strategies. The sampling technique of "snowball sampling" for male and female students, who are active smokers and non-smokers from different schools: Public, Private, and Islamic School; while the number of participants were 25 participants for interview and 30 participants for FGD. The qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis. The qualitative results showed there were some factors contribute to smoking habits and the tailor-made of specific health education strategies should be implemented. It can be concluded that policy factors determine the success of health promotion and education. On one hand, schools are under the Department of Education and Culture, while community activities are referred to the Department of Home Affair, Department of Religious Affair. Therefore, improved cooperation between these two relevant departments is needed to regulate smoking and enhance the implementation of smoking prevention policies in schools.
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