Experiences, challenges and looking to the future in a clinical tuberculosis cohort in the time of COVID-19 in the Philippines.
Julius Patrick FerrerShuichi SuzukiCristelyn AlvarezClarinda BeridoMichelle CaballeroBliss CaraigPaul Ian FloresRomil Jeffrey JusonAnn LustresanoTrivon OpinionMichelle SaavedraAres VerdeBenjamin N FaguerSharon E CoxJuan A SolonPublished in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2021)
A cohort study of Filipino tuberculosis patients is currently undergoing data collection amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. In this article we present the current experiences, challenges and obstacles of our team during this period as we attempt to fulfil our roles and responsibilities in Metro Manila, Cebu and Negros Occidental in the Philippines. Each site had different lockdown restrictions and experienced problems to different degrees. The underlying themes were similar, covering the supply chain, mobility, communication, physical and mental health and disruption of health services due to reallocation of staff. While we maximized the use of mobile devices, logistical challenges remained. Institutional support for the field teams, creative problem solving and resilience are required to adapt in a rapidly changing environment.
Keyphrases
- mental health
- coronavirus disease
- sars cov
- end stage renal disease
- mycobacterium tuberculosis
- mental illness
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- chronic kidney disease
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- hiv aids
- pulmonary tuberculosis
- electronic health record
- emergency department
- palliative care
- peritoneal dialysis
- physical activity
- big data
- current status
- human immunodeficiency virus
- antiretroviral therapy
- artificial intelligence