OBJECIVE: To determine the physicians' knowledge, attitudes and practices on diagnlosis, and management of pulmonary tuberculosis
DESIGN: Observational study specifically the Survey Type using questionaire
PARTICIPANTS: 32 questionaires were distributted to various clinics in Cebu City
DATA ANALYSIS: Numerical data were summarized by computing for the percentage, mean and standard deviation.
RESULTS: All respondents considered tuberculosis as a serious problem in the country. The rating of the physician-respondents to the National Tuberculosis Program of the country is between fair to good. Most of the physicians (64%) reated the Directly-Observed Therapy Program of TB as "good" while 32% rated it as fair. 91% or 20 out of 22 doctors would request for sputum exam. 27.3% would use chest X-ray alone which was not consistent with the guidelines. For initial treatment, a standard 4-drug regimen was used among respondents (n=19: 84%). At the start of giving treatment to the patients, 100% of the respondents answered they advise the patient regarding the importance of treatment compliance and adverse effects of anti-TB medications. Only 62'% advise follow-up. 36% of the physicians advise their patients to monitor treatment by Chest X-ray alone 100% also uses sputum exam for treatment monitoring. In case of drug resistance, only 9% would add one drug. 23% of the physicians would add 2 drugs to current regimen; 18.2 % wold refer the patients to a pulmonologist for consult. 54.6% of the doctors do not notify authorities if they have TB patients; 27% of the reasons is due to too much paperwork.
CONCLUSION: Most respondents who are fellow- members of th ePCP in Cebu City who specialized in pulmonology, Infectious Disease and General Medicine favorably rate the NTP and DOTS. This coud be due to the effective communiation between those implementing national tuberculosis program and physicians especially thosi in private practice. It has been found out that majority of our respondents' KAP in the initial laboratory diagnosis, initial drug regimen and treatment monitoring for tuberculosis did not deviate from the clinical practice guidelines. A negative finding in this study is the over dependence on chest X-ray for initial diagnosis by 27%. The difficulty lies in the management in MDR-TB cases with only 9% of the respondents being knowledgeable of current recommendation.

INCIDENCE OF DIASTOLIC VS DIASTOLIC WITH SYSTOLIC DYSFUNCTION IN CONGESTIVE  HEART FAILURE ON 2D ECHOCARDIOGRAM IN PATIENTS AT VISAYAS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER ( 2006-2007)
Dr. Genevieve Elegino

OBJECTIVE: To document the incidence of diastolic vs diastolic with systolic dysfunction in congestive heart failure on 2D Echocardiogram in patients at Visayas Community Medical Center (2005-2006)

DESIGN: Retrospective Research Design encompassing 2 years

PARTICIPANTS: Included all patients admitted at Visayas Community Medical Center diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure from January 2006-December 2007

DATA ANALYSIS: Numerical data were summarized and compared using Statistical Package for Social Sciences

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age & sex-specific frequency; co-morbid conditions

RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects of the study is approximately 64 years with a standard deviation of 12 years. Of the 93 patients diagnosed with CHF, 36.8 % are classified as Class IV while only 0.8 %  are having  Class I.  Female CHF patients  at a later age (>50 years old) are more prone to diastolic dysfunction. .Majority (86%) of the respondents are diagnosed with Hypertension while the remainder (14%) are suffering from Coronary Artery Disease. However, frequency maybe underestimated because of the dependence on the documentation of the Modified Framingham Criteria in hospital records.

CONCLUSION: Congestive Heart Failure is a heterogeneous condition  that is frequently seen at Visayas Community Medical  Center and diastolic dysfunction is quite common  in above 50 years of age , mostly females associated with hypertension as compared to diastolic with systolic dysfunction. Further study of the natural history and underlying mechanism of  heart failure should be performed because each require a different treatment.

Most Common Organism Causing UTI Among Diabetic Patients Admitted at VCMC (Jan 1, 06- Sept 1, 08)
Dr. Jesus Bryan Cepedoza

OBJECTIVE: To determine the most common organism causing UTI among diabetic patients admitted to VCMC Jan 1, 2006 to Sept 1, 2008

DESIGN: retrospective-descriptive study

PARTICIPANTS: All patient admitted at Visayas Community Medical Center (VCMC) from January 1, 2006- Sept 1, 2008 with final diagnosis of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes who were 14 to 75 years of age with culture and sensitivity tests result (with-out prior antibiotic treatment) were included.

DATA ANALYSIS: Numerical data were summarized and compared using Statistical Package for Social Sciences

CONCLUSION: The most common organisms causing UTI among diabetic patients admitted at VCMC is E. coli. These are followed by: Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Klebsiella oxytoca, and Proteus vulgaris. Of the 22 antibiotics included in the sensitivity test, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin and Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole has the lowest activity against the common organism causing UTI, while Meropenem and Imipenem has the highest activity

RECOMMENDATIONS: Diabetic patient with UTI should not be prescribed with the following antibiotics: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole because organisms are likely resistant to these antibiotics. Reactions to organisms of the following antibiotics: Cefuroxime, Augmentin, Gentamycin, Cefoperazone and Ampi/sulbactam are vague (50-60% sensitive), thus, these antibiotics should not also be given as prescriptions to UTI-diabetic patients. For out-patient management of UTI in diabetic patient, a choice of Chloramphenicol, Cefixime, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, and Moxifloxacin would be wise. (60-70% sensitive). For emperic in-patient management of UTI in diabetic patient, the choice of antibiotic would largely depend on the meticulous assessment of the hemodynamic status of the patient. Organisms causing UTI in DM patient are 70-80% sensitive to Cefepime, 80-90% sensitive to Amikacin, Netilmicin, Piperacillin+tazobactam, and 93% sensitive to Carbapenem (Meropenem and Imipenem)

 Objective: To determine the prevalence of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS)using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the sleeping patterns of residents using self-administered questionnaires in Internal Medicine among the different training institutions in Cebu City.

 Study Design: Multi-institutional, cross-sectional

 Study Population:  Ninety-six (96) IM residents (77.9% response rate) in Cebu City-based Philippine College of Physicians accredited training hospitals (Cebu City Medical Center, Cebu Doctors University Hospital, Cebu Velez General Hospital, Chong Hua Hospital, Perpetual Succour Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, Visayas Community Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center).

 Data Analysis: Numerical data were summarized and compared using Statistical Package for Social Sciences.

 Results: EDS, defined by ESS score >10, has a high prevalence rate of 80.2% in all respondents.  However, the difference was not statistically significant.  Majority were 1^st year residents, with EDS prevalent in all year levels, but was not also statistically significant.  Residents who went on every three day duty had a statistically significant higher mean ESS compared to those on every four duty.  No significant difference noted on the number of awakenings and sleep duration. Most common reason for waking up was ER/Ward/ICU calls. Majority of the subjects needed no aid to fall asleep, including medications.  Subjects claimed they feel refreshed after a nap or a night’s sleep but still feel sleepy during the day.

 Conclusion:  There is a high prevalence of EDS among residents in Internal Medicine in Cebu City.  This is consistent with previous studies in Manila, as well as in western countries. Statistically significant EDS was noted in those with more frequent duty days (every three versus every four days).

 

 Objective: To identify the practices and management of family medicine physicians and internists on Helicobacter pylori infection

 Design: Descriptive research design using the survey method

 Participants: Purposive sampling technique was employed with a total of 28 physician respondents affiliated at Visayas Community Medical Center

 Data Analysis: Numerical data were analyzed by computing the mean, rank, percentage and standard deviation

 Results: The physician-respondents considered inability of the patients to buy prescribed medicines (16 out of 28 frequency count) as the number 1 obstacle in the management of H pylori-associated diseases. The majority of physician-respondents would eradicate H pylori infection more so in patients with peptic ulcer disease (22 frequency count). About seventy one percent of the respondents have eradicated H pylori in the practice of their profession. Seventy nine percent of the respondents said that they confirm or double check H pylori infection before they give drug prescriptions. With regards to the initial test used to confirm H pylori infection, majority (64.4%) of the physician-respondents used rapid urease testing. Finally, majority (82.1%) of the physicians used proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-based triple drug regimen as a drug combination to eradicate H pylori-related diseases.

 Conclusion:  Majority of the respondents would like to be certain of the disease before giving prescriptions to their patients. But, it is also alarming that some doctors do not confirm the existence of the bacteria before giving drug prescriptions. Most of the physician respondents have somehow conform to the international guideline, in terms of standard eradication protocol for H pylori infection. But the major obstacle in the management, still lies on the patient’s inability to buy these drugs.