Journal of Sciences, Technology, and Arts Research : A Scholarly Journal.

Includes bibliographical references.

Perceived preparedness of pharmacy students to public health practice: Basis for curriculum improvement -- Correlation analysis of selected academic parameters and the Nurse Licensure Examination performance of the National University-Manila BSN graduates -- Nurses’ knowledge and compliance to infection control bundle of care in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia cases in a tertiary hospital -- Perception on propagation and usage of medicinal plants among partner Barangays in Manila -- Phytochemical screening and anti-quorum sensing activity of Eichhornia crassipes methanolic extract against the virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa -- Effects of pet fish-assisted therapy on the depression of elderly patients at home care facilities.

[Article Title: Perceived preparedness of pharmacy students to public health practice: Basis for curriculum improvement/ Angelica Balais and Nimfa Gambalan, p. 3-14]<br/><br/>Abstract: With the growing demand for pharmacists in public health, it is important to prepare pharmacy students for them to assume roles and develop competency in the practice. The main objective of the study is to determine the perceived preparedness of pharmacy students to public health practice based on the competencies stated in Philippine Practice Standards set by the Philippine Pharmacist Association in selected higher education institutions from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that will serve as a basis for curricular improvement. The study utilized the descriptive research design, using a survey questionnaire as the method of data collection. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences© Statistics version 23 software. Results show that majority of respondents think that public health is an important field and appreciates the roles of pharmacists in a collaborative health setting in addressing public health issues. Students have a high level of perception about the core competencies across all pharmacy practice areas and competencies in public health practice stated in Philippine Practice Standards.<br/><br/>Overall, the students perceive themselves as prepared in some competencies needed in public health practice. However, students need to be exposed more to activities that will help to develop certain important competencies in public health practice.

[Article Title: Correlation analysis of selected academic parameters and the Nurse Licensure Examination performance of the National University-Manila BSN graduates/ Marilen Pacis, Donna Mae Fontanilla, Alfred Raymund Panopio, and Leonora Concepcion, p. 15-28]<br/><br/>Abstract: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), through its CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 46, series of 2012 mandates Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to enhance Quality Assurance (QA) and develop a culture of quality as it performs its trifocal mandate of instruction, research, and community extension. This study is conducted not just to determine success factors related to the schools' performance in the licensure examination but to also determine the weaknesses of graduates in a board exam subject so that remedial measures towards quality instruction are adopted to address the weaknesses identified. Academic records of the BSN Program graduates of CMO14 from 2012 to 2017 were reviewed and analyzed. Utilizing descriptive-correlational design, correlations were determined between performance in the nurse licensure examination of the graduates of National University to these three variables: Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), performance in the Course Audits 1 and 2, and professional courses Nursing Care Management (NCM) 101 to 107.<br/><br/>Although a positive correlation was determined on the three variables to the performance in the nurse licensure examination, the highest correlation was determined on the graduate's performance as reflected in their CGPA. This suggests that proper curriculum implementation of the CMO is essential to attain good performance in the nurse licensure examination. It is further recommended that essential measures are in place to implement curricular standards, faculty expertise on a professional course, and appropriate outcome-based evaluation is utilized to determine the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitude necessary to pass the Nurse Licensure Examination and practice as a beginning nurse practitioner.

[Article Title: Nurses’ knowledge and compliance to infection control bundle of care in Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia cases in a tertiary hospital/ Kyrra Shanen Cunanan, Marc Joseph Gabuya, Earl Nino Parcellano, Marielle Angela Pontejos, and Fritz Gerald V. Jabonete, p. 29-41]<br/><br/>Abstract: Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) is an infectious disease that can be prevented and managed using a care bundle intervention. However, it is very crucial to understand first the knowledge on VAP and compliance of the healthcare providers with the standard care protocol on preventing the occurrence of VAP. This study determined the relationship between nurses' knowledge and compliance towards the bundle of care in a selected tertiary hospital in Quezon City. This study utilizes a descriptive-correlation research design. It determined the level of awareness of the nurses on the VAP and the bundle of care. A total enumeration sampling was used in the study. There are only 36 who participated in the survey achieving a 90% response rate. Mean and standard deviation and Pearson-moment correlation were utilized to analyze the data. The results showed that most nurses have a moderate level of awareness (M=3.49, SD=0.88) about ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) bundle of care interventions. As to the compliance to the VAP bundle of care, the staff nurses' are not compliant to the elevation of the head and reported that they are sometimes compliant to daily sedation vacation (Mean=2.10; SD=0.47), peptic ulcer prophylaxis (Mean=2.03; SD=0.48), and deep vein thrombosis (Mean=1.83; SD=0.45). There is a significant negative relationship between nurses' knowledge and compliance to the bundle of care) it obtained (p= 0.004; r=-0.984) which is verbally interpreted as a very high negative correlation.<br/><br/>This means that as the knowledge on the bundle of care interventions increases the compliance on a bundle of care interventions decreases.

[Article Title: Perception on propagation and usage of medicinal plants among partner Barangays in Manila/ Edmark Kamantigue, Angelica Balais-Rin, Marilen Pacis, and Fritz Gerald V. Jabonete, p. 42-51]<br/><br/>Abstract:Medicinal plants are widely used in the Philippines particularly in rural areas as an alternative to synthetic drugs. However, there have been limited studies about the usage of medicinal plants in urban areas.<br/>The aim was to determine the perception of, propagation, and usage of medicinal plants in two partner barangays in Sampaloc, Manila.<br/>A convenience sampling was utilized in the study. The researchers utilized a questionnaire to survey (available in English and Filipino language) on the awareness and knowledge about the utilization, preparation, cultivation, and propagation of medicinal plants of the respondents. A group semi-structured interview was utilized to validate the answers of the respondents. This was done in two partner barangays in Sampaloc, Manila.<br/>The data were analyzed using the Informant consensus factor (ICF), Use value (UV), and Relative frequency citation (RFC). The data collection was conducted from October to November 2019.<br/><br/>Both partner barangays perceived that the synthetic agent is still their primary option in treating their ailments due to established safety and efficacy. Furthermore, the partner barangays were not equipped with the basic knowledge in the proper usage of herbal plants in the community herbal garden, and herbal plants were used as adjuvant or supportive treatment.<br/><br/>This study showed that both adopted barangays utilized medicinal plants as an adjuvant in their synthetic medication due to its claimed safety and medicinal plants. The most propagated and cultivated medicinal plant is oregano used as a treatment for asthma and cough was the well-known plant while banaba, sabila, gugo, and tanglad were the least. It is recommended that information dissemination campaigns especially on the DOH-approved medicinal plants be strengthened and heightened to increase participation from the barangay counterparts.

[Article Title: Phytochemical screening and anti-quorum sensing activity of Eichhornia crassipes methanolic extract against the virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa/ Maria Luisa Bautista, Razel Calderon, King Joshua Erjas,Kathy Irene Naido , and Jenine Marie Oca, p. 52-64]<br/><br/>Abstract:Pseudomonas aeruginosa is classified under critical priority in the World Health Organization (WHO) priority pathogens list for research and development of new antibiotics due to its reported resistance to multiple antibiotics. Pyocyanin production, proteolytic activity, biofilm formation, and swarming motility, all under Quorum sensing (QS) activity greatly contribute to the virulence of P. aeruginosa. Several studies suggest that flavonoid-rich plants can attenuate virulence factors under QS activity. In this study, the secondary metabolites, functional groups, and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart) Solms methanolic extract were identified using Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), and Aluminum chloride colorimetric assay, respectively. Secondary metabolites were detected including flavonoids and polyphenols. Functional groups present showed similar bonds to that of quercetin. Assay for TFC showed 468.9120 2.39mg E per gram sample. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the methanolic extract was determined at 0.6g/mL using the Liquid Dilution Method. The extract at MIC, 50% sub-MIC, and 25% sub-MIC were tested against negative and positive controls for each virulence factor. Inhibition of pyocyanin production, proteolytic activity, and biofilm formation was tested using a UV/Vis Spectrophotometer while swarming motility was tested via motility determination on a butt-slant culture. The methanolic extract exhibited a significant reduction in the QS activity of P. aeruginosa at a concentration of 0.6ug/mL. The extract showed percent inhibition of 80.66% in pyocyanin production, 79.11% in swarming motility, 30.34% in proteolytic activity, and 79.78% in biofilm formation. Based on the given results, the methanolic extract of E. crassipes has the potential to inhibit QS-controlled virulence factors of P. aeruginosa. This may be used as a basis for antibiotic development not just for P. aeruginosa but also for other resistant pathogens in the WHO priority list.

[Article Title: Effects of pet fish-assisted therapy on the depression of elderly patients at home care facilities/ Alvin Sabihon, Patricia Juliet Ayqui,Princess Cuaresma, Keith B. Ugale, and Dennis B. Brosola, p. 65-82]<br/><br/>Abstract:Pet fish-assisted therapy aims to provide therapeutic intervention for elderly clients involving the fish as part of the treatment.The therapy has psychological benefits that could enhance the individual behavioral, social, emotional, cognitive, and physical functioning. The study aimed at determining the effects of pet fish-assisted therapy on the depression of elderly patients. A total of 60 elderly patients were selected from three different nursing home facilities. The researchers grouped the respondents accordingly, where thirty (30) of them were from a control group and another thirty (30) from the experimental. The cluster random sampling technique was utilized by the researchers to determine the respondents who were included in the study. The patients who were screened through the BDI and have passed the inclusion/exclusion criteria were assigned to the experimental and controlled groups. The findings revealed that there is a significant difference between the pretest and post-test. In terms of the level of depression between the pretest among the experimental group and control group, the findings revealed that there is no significant difference between the scores of the experimental group and the control group. However, during the post-test, the result indicates that there is a significant difference between the scores of the experimental and the control group. Since the study was conducted in a small group of participants, it is recommended for the future related study to have a large group in conducting the study.