The Philippine Journal of Chest Diseases (PJCD) [Print ISSN: 2094-1463, Electronic ISSN: 3028-1199] is an open-access, English language, online, medical science journal published by the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP). Its editorial policies are based on the standards for scholarly publication set forth by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) “Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals,” as well as best practices and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). DISCLAIMER: All statements and opinions expressed in the articles and communications herein are those of the author/s and not necessarily those of the editor/s of the PJCD or its publisher, PCCP.
Impact of a structured workshop on the inhaler technique knowledge and skills of healthcare workers in a tertiary government hospital
Background: Poor inhaler technique is associated with poor disease control. With the advent of newer inhaler devices, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured workshop on the knowledge and skills in inhaler technique of healthcare workers in the Department of Medicine of the Philippine General Hospital. Methodology: This was a quasi-experimental study which compared the knowledge and skills of HCWs on inhaler technique before and immediately after a structured inhaler workshop. A follow-up evaluation was conducted to measure the effect after a one-month period. Results: A total of 101 participants comprised of interns, nurses, and residents were included in the final analysis. Participants had low baseline knowledge scores; only 41 participants passed the pre-workshop knowledge assessment. The knowledge scores significantly increased immediately post-workshop which persisted until one month after for the residents but not for the nurses and interns. For all groups, the skill scores in using dry powder inhaler significantly improved immediately after the workshop. After one month, there was a decline in skill scores for all, but scores remained significantly higher than pre-workshop values. The metered-dose inhaler skill scores of participants immediately post-workshop showed an improvement from baseline that was sustained on follow-up. For all HCW groups, the single-dose DPI skill scores also improved immediately after the workshop and persisted after one month. At baseline, none of the interns possessed any skill in using soft mist inhaler while both nurses and residents had low skill scores. Immediately post-workshop and on one-month follow-up, SMI skill scores improved across all HCW groups. Conclusion: A structured inhaler workshop improves the knowledge and skills of HCWs on inhaler technique on a short-term basis and at one-month follow-up. Further studies are needed to determine the longevity of the effect. ----- This article has supplementary materials which can be accessed here.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ma. Cecilia C. Lozada, MD, Henry Y. Medina, Jr., MD, Cary Amiel G. Villanueva, MD, Ma. Sergia Fatima P. Sucaldito, MD, Carla Emille D. Barbon, RN, MD-MBA, Ma. Kriselda Karlene G. Tan, MD https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Health-related quality of life and sociodemographic factors as predictors of treatment outcomes in pulmonary tuberculosis patients in a tertiary hospital in Cebu City
Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) remains a global health concern affecting millions of lives despite intensified screening and treatment efforts. PTB affects physical health and emotional, environmental, and psychological well-being—collectively influencing a patient’s quality of life. This study examined the relationship between pre-treatment health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and sociodemographic data, and their impact on treatment outcomes, whether completed or not, in PTB patients. Methodology: This prospective cohort study was conducted at the TB DOTS Center of Chong Hua Hospital. It included patients aged 18 years or older without multidrug-resistant or extrapulmonary PTB and without significant comorbidities affecting HRQOL. Sociodemographic data were collected, and HRQOL was assessed using the World Health Organization QOL—Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire before the start of treatment. Results: The mean age of our population was 37.18 ± 15.99; 56% were female, 62.5% were single, and 80% completed tertiary education. Fifty-five percent of the participants had comorbidities, the most common of which were hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Before treatment, participants reported a generally acceptable quality of life across all domains (physical, psychological, social, and environmental). Seventy-six patients completed treatment (i.e., treatment success), while four were lost to follow-up. There were no treatment failures. Those who completed treatment showed higher physical and psychological health scores at baseline, albeit the correlation was weak. Sociodemographic factors had minimal association with HRQOL, except for the absence of formal education which was associated with lower psychological scores. None of the analyzed sociodemographic factors were associated with lost to follow-up status. Conclusion: While PTB treatment is highly effective in achieving clinical success, this study highlights that other factors like QOL are crucial for optimal outcomes. Pre-treatment physical and psychological health are strongly associated with an increased likelihood of treatment completion. The sociodemographic profile had no significant association with HRQOL and treatment outcome.
Copyright (c) 2026 John Hemingway H. Chang, Laureen Claire Y. Ong https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Comparison of baseline pulmonary function, dyspnea severity, and exercise capacity among active TB and TB-negative cases seen in a TB referral clinic
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health concern in high-burden countries like the Philippines. While post-TB lung disease is well documented, baseline pulmonary function and exercise capacity at the time of TB diagnosis are less studied. Objective: To compare baseline pulmonary function, dyspnea severity, and exercise capacity between active TB and TB-negative individuals, and to identify factors associated with impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional study among 290 adults with presumptive pulmonary TB was conducted. After initiating treatment and confirming sputum negativity, participants underwent spirometry, mMRC dyspnea grading, and six-minute walk test. Patients were categorized as active TB or TB-negative. Group comparisons and multivariable regression analyses were performed. Results: Of 290 participants, 139 had active TB and 151 were TB-negative. Active TB patients were younger and had fewer comorbidities. Nearly one-third of active TB patients had abnormal spirometry at baseline. Compared to TB-negative controls, active TB patients had higher FEV₁ (2.26 ± 0.74 L vs 1.80 ± 0.75 L), FVC (2.97 ± 1.11 L vs. 2.31 ± 0.86 L), and 6MWT distance (539.3 ± 120.5 m vs 488.6 ± 157.3 m) (all p <0.01). Chronic lung diseases were more prevalent among TB-negative individuals. After adjustment, previous TB treatment was the clinical factor most strongly associated with impaired spirometry (aOR 5.02, 95% CI 2.42 to 10.40), moderate-to-severe dyspnea at presentation (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.26 to 3.35), and reduced 6MWT distance (β -48.5 m, 95% CI -71.2 to -25.8). Conclusion: Many patients with active TB exhibit lung impairment even at diagnosis. Nevertheless, active TB patients had surprisingly better lung function in this study which may be attributed to the higher prevalence of asthma and COPD in the TB-negative group. Prior TB treatment is independently associated with spirometric and functional decline. Early pulmonary assessment should be integrated into TB care to inform rehabilitation strategies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kento Takahashi, MD, Andre Angelo Tanque, MD, Samuel Duran, MD https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Validation study of the modified Drug Resistance in Pneumonia (mDRIP) score in identifying infections with drug-resistant pathogens among hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia at the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center
Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) continues to be the leading cause of infection-related deaths globally and is the fourth leading cause of both morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. Despite the development of novel vaccines, antibiotics, and rapid diagnostic tests, managing CAP remains challenging, especially with the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens (DRP). The modified Drug Resistance in Pneumonia (mDRIP) score is a scoring system which was derived from locally-relevant clinical risk factors that can predict infections with DRP. The performance of mDRIP score in identifying infections with DRP among patients with CAP was evaluated in this cross-sectional study. Methodology: A total of 127 participants with CAP were included. The mDRIP score was calculated upon admission. Antimicrobial culture results were later obtained and clinical outcomes were ascertained. The mDRIP score performance was assessed by determining the relevant performance metrics using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC). Clinical outcomes were compared between patients with DRP and those without. Results: The prevalence of drug-resistant pathogens in the study was 40.16%. The most common organism isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae. Among the major and minor risk factors for drug resistance included in the mDRIP score, the most common were recent antibiotic use (46.46%) and poor functional status (47.24%), respectively. The discrimination performance of the mDRIP score was good, with an AUC-ROC value of 0.868 (95% CI 0.801 to 0.935). There was no statistically significant difference in the length of hospital stay and hospital outcome between those with and without DRP. Conclusions: The mDRIP score demonstrates good performance in identifying infections due to DRP in CAP. It is an accessible and effective risk stratification tool that can be utilized by clinicians for appropriate selection of antibiotics in CAP, especially in resource-limited settings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Cynthia N. Charmino, MD, Cristalle Geraldine C. Dy-Sebastian, MD https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Copyright (c) 2026 Virginia D. Delos Reyes, MD, FPCCP https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0