Balik Scientist Dr. Christian Gloria initiates mental health and public health research talks in the Philippines

The coronavirus, not even a living thing, has transformed how the world works. Technically, all homes now are quarantine facilities. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March, isolation became the new norm, with strict social distancing and “stay at home” policies, being critical to protect our physical health from a public health emergency.

But this might be taking a toll on our mental health, warns Balik Scientist Dr. Christian Gloria: “The COVID-19 pandemic is the initial crisis, followed by the economic crisis, and—now—we are beginning to see the coming wave of the mental health crisis as a consequence of the first two. At this point, the primary source of stress and anxiety—aside from the pandemic—is the question of “how will we survive through the quarantines, lockdowns, and joblessness for however long this will last?”

Being a public health expert himself, Dr. Gloria sees that it is critical to include mental health as part of public health response. This means that a holistic approach in responding to a health crisis is not a choice but a necessity, as cases of mental health disorders continue to spike along with the surge of COVID-19 infections worldwide.

“Many people and families are without enough income, food, shelter, financial assistance, and healthcare for over three months. Everyday, we have been worrying about yesterday, today, tomorrow, and the uncertainties of when these struggles will end. These incredibly challenging times are chronically stressful, and it is well known in research that chronic stress significantly contributes to the development of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression disorders,” he added.

“The good news is that this coming wave of mental health crisis is preventable, and one sure way of achieving that is for the government and other abled organizations to help the people meet their said needs. Enable people to survive these trying months by simply providing enough food, water, and funds, and we will effectively prevent many health problems from arising—mentally, physically, and socially.”

“People are struggling [with mental health] and we need to help them. But before we can help them, we need data in order to understand where we are now and what programs and services are needed to ensure a healthy and bright future for all,” Dr. Gloria emphasized. This is his impetus for conducting mental health research in the Philippines, as part of his Balik Scientist engagement with the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD).

Curious about how mental health research is like through the lens of a public health expert, our team had the opportunity to discuss with Dr. Gloria on how we can communicate mental health with our audiences. Dr. Gloria let us in on his own insights, experiences, and personal thoughts, through another feature story which will be prepared by our expert himself. For now, let us get to know Dr. Christian Gloria.

Specializing in health behavior

Dr. Gloria is currently the Department Chair and Associate Professor of Public Health at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU). He earned his PhD, specializing in Health Behavior and Health Education, from The University of Texas at Austin in 2013. Four years prior, he obtained his Master’s degree in Health Education from the same University.

He relocated to Hawaii to “pursue his life’s calling of teaching, conducting research, and providing public health services in Asia and the Pacific.” Some of the courses he is currently teaching are related to public health research and communication, risk and resilience, health behavior theories, and public health program planning and leadership.

Dr. Gloria has also led various public health organizations in Hawaii. In 2017, he became the first Filipino-citizen to be elected as the President of the Hawaii Public Health Association (HPHA) since its founding in 1945. HPHA is one of the largest chapters of the American Public Health Association. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the Faculty Assembly at HPU’s College of Health & Society, which houses undergraduate and graduate programs in Nursing, Public Health, Social Work, and Physical Therapy. Many students from these programs are Filipino-Americans. He received the Progress Award for Education from the United Filipino Council of Hawaii in 2017 and was also recognized as the 2018 Friend of Social Work by the Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.

The research journey

In 2018, Dr. Gloria collaborated with Angeles University Foundation (AUF) in Angeles City, Pampanga, where he also became an Adjunct professor and worked as consultant for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-funded project Mental Health Across Ages: Identifying Issues and Trends in Pampanga. His research with AUF generated baseline data on mental health concerns, which will become the basis for the development and establishment of a mental health care program in Pampanga.

A year after, he became a DOST-PCHRD Balik Scientist which allowed him to share more of his expertise to the country. Currently, he is involved in three mental health research projects in the Philippines, one of which is a study about the mental health of healthcare workers amid the COVID-19 health crisis.

Dr. Gloria also published several research publications on various topics under public health, risk and resilience, and mental health in collaboration with other experts on health-related fields. One of the research projects he is currently working on is about identifying the mental health issues and trends across ages in Pampanga.

Among Dr. Gloria’s hobbies are practicing yoga, learning to play the ukulele, reading in coffee shops, and watching shows on Netflix.

In an article published online, experts warned that the pandemic may lead to behavioral problems and mental illnesses, as COVID-19 is described to be a “traumatic event” that everyone is experiencing.

With plans to delve deeper into mental health research discussions, we are preparing another feature story about mental health research experiences authored by Dr. Gloria himself. We are also inviting everyone to participate in our online poll in DOST-PCHRD’s Facebook and Twitter pages, to determine which mental health-related topics are mostly preferred by our stakeholders for our future mental health communication campaigns.

Stay updated for future stories in our online channels here.

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The Balik Scientist Program

The Balik Scientist Program (BSP) is the brain gain initiative of the government which aims to tap into the ingenuity and expertise of Filipinos abroad to strengthen the S&T capabilities of local researchers in the academe, public and private sectors, and industry. The program was initiated to reverse the effects of brain drain, to provide researchers and scientists whose expertise are not available locally, and to accelerate the flow of new strategic technologies that are vital to national development.

BSP was established in 1975 and was later reinstated in DOST in 1993. Through the efforts of Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV and Congressman Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, their co-author, Congresswoman Divina Grace Yu, and all the legislators in the Senate and Congress, the Republic Act 11035 also known as an “Act Institutionalizing the Balik Scientist Program” was signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on June 15, 2018. The enacted law strengthened the implementation of BSP by giving better incentives and benefits to returning Filipino experts, scientists, inventors, and engineers who would return and share their expertise.

With the passing of the law, a science, technology, or innovation (STI) expert or professional who is a Filipino citizen or a foreigner of Filipino descent can apply and undertake STI activities on his/her field of expertise through a host institution under short term, medium term, or long term engagement.

Source:http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6573-balik-scientist-dr-christian-gloria-initiates-mental-health-and-public-health-research-talks-in-the-philippines

Food as a Critical social Determinants of Health Among Older Adults During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

At the end of 2019, before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic upended daily life, 1 in 7 adults (14%) aged 50 to 80 years experienced food insecurity (ie. difficulty acquiring healthy food due to insufficient financial resources). In December 2019 nationally representative poll of 2048 adults aged 50-80 years old in the United States, we found that among those who experienced food insecurity, 42% had severe food insecurity, meaning they sacrificed the quality or amount of food they consumed because they lacked sufficient resources. Food insecurity is associated with many adverse health outcomes among older adults, including poorer physical and mental health. The health consequences of food insecurity have almost certainly become more pervasive as the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted daily life routine behaviors as well as caused financial hardships for many older adults.

Immediately prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, older adults also cooked frequently at home. In fact, in December 2019, nearly half of adults between the ages of 50 and 80 years cooked dinner at home 6 to 7 days a week and another 40% cooked dinner at home 3 to 5 days a week. Older adults also frequently went shopping for food. A total of 1 in 5 (20%) shopped for food more than once a week, and another 45% shopped for food once a week. Only 5% of older adults reported getting groceries through curbside pickup or home delivery.

Stay-at-home orders since March 2020 have necessitated that US residents cook at home more than eat out. On average, cooking at home has been shown to be associated with better diet quality, and stronger cooking skills have also been associated with better food security status, so a shift to more cooking at home could have positive health outcomes. However, whether cooking at home during the pandemic results in better or worse diet quality for older Americans will depend in large part on whether they have the sufficient financial resources (ie, whether they are food secure) and whether their community has continued availability of healthy foods.

The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated the precarious position many US residents are in regarding food security. As the economy shut down and stay at home orders went into place, individuals lost their jobs and incomes, and rates of food insecurity rapidly climbed. Older adults were particularly susceptible, given that they had to navigate new ways of procuring food while they sheltered in place to avoid exposure to COVID-19. Therefore, as the pandemic evolves and the deleterious economic effects continue, it is critical that policymakers ensure that a robust suite of policies and programs are in place to provide food assistance to older Americans who need it. Immediate priorities should include the following.

Strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is our nation’s first line of defense against food insecurity, providing monetary benefits to purchasing food. As part of the pandemic response, recent efforts, such as the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program and expansion of the Online Purchasing Pilot, have allowed more US residents, particularly families with children, to access SNAP benefits and use them for grocery delivery. However, SNAP benefits, which have long been believed to be inadequate, should be increased for all SNAP participants to allow for stocking up on food or to account for rising food prices during supply chain disruptions. Current federal legislation would provide a temporary boost to SNAP benefits and expand SNAP access to all low-income US residents through September 2021.

Expand the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program

The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides congregate and home-delivered meals to adults aged 60 years and older through programs like Meals on Wheels. However, the demand for home-delivered meals has doubled since March 2020, and additional costs related to food preparation, storage, and safety supplies have limited the program’s ability to meet current needs. The Heroes Act would provide an additional $19 million to OAA to support the provision of nutritious meals to older adults.

Provide Additional Funding to Support Food Banks, Food Pantries, and Other Emergency Food Assistance Programs

It is estimated that 3 million adults aged 65 years and older receive food from food banks and other emergency sources annually, but this number has dramatically increased due to COVID-19. Feeding America has set up a $2.65 million COVID-19 Response Fund to help meet its growing needs. The Heroes Act would provide an additional $150 million to local food banks to distribute additional food within their communities.

Expand Screening for Food Insecurity in Health Systems

In addition to robust public policies, the health care system also has an important role to play in identifying older adults most at risk of food insecurity and inadequate nutrition. Health care professionals, particularly in primary care and community settings, should screen for food insecurity and have information about SNAP application assistance, local food distributions, and other community food resources available to connect patients to resources to access healthy food. Given the unique challenges to procuring and affording healthy food presented by the COVID-19 pandemic for older adults, it is especially important that health care professionals be prepared to frankly engage with patients regarding food shopping, food choices, food behavior, and food security.

PHREB releases 2020 SOP workbook for ethics review

The Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB) launched the 2020 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Workbook online last June 23, 2020, updating the first edition released in 2015. The document serves as a guide for institutions in establishing research ethics committees (RECs), applying for PHREB accreditation, and revising their current SOPs.

Emphasizing the importance of ensuring the rights, safety, and welfare of human participants in conducting health research, the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) Executive Director Jaime Montoya referred to the workbook as a “testament to PHREB’s commitment to the universal principles for the protection of human participants in research.”

Authored by former PHREB chair, Dr. Marita V.T. Reyes, the second edition of the workbook is a product of the critique and inputs of various institutions using the 2015 PHREB SOP Workbook. Dr. Reyes presented the amendments applied to the document which provides guidelines on streamlining ethical review processes and how they can be applied from the perspective of RECs. In this edition, the guidelines are reorganized and simplified to facilitate convenient referencing for its users.

With the updated SOPs, the current workbook addresses concerns the previous edition did not tackle. These include the policies on management of resubmissions, review of reportable negative events, management of applications for continuing review, management of appeals, and policies on exemption from review. New sections such as the glossary of terms and sample forms were also added which can be used as bases for the creation of SOPs specific to a certain REC.

“Ang workbook ay isang napakahalagang hakbang para sa professionalization ng ating ethics review (The workbook is a crucial contribution for the professionalization of ethics review),” said current PHREB Chair Dr. Leonardo de Castro.

As of June 2020, there are currently 104 PHREB accredited RECs throughout the country.

The 2020 PHREB Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Workbook can now be downloaded through http://www.ethics.healthresearch.ph/.

Source: http://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/6570-phreb-releases-2020-sop-workbook-for-ethics-review

UV devices not yet proven effective vs. Covid-19

MANILA – There is no scientific evidence yet which proves the effectiveness of ultraviolet (UV) devices sold in the market can kill the virus causing coronavirus disease (Covid-2019), a health official said Thursday.

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in a Covid-19 virtual presser, said the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of such devices for disinfection purposes in healthcare settings.

"Ibig sabihin ginagamit lamang po ang mga ito sa loob ng ospital, sa mga clinics at iba pang formal healthcare settings. Sa ngayon, wala pa pong sapat na ebidensiya kung epektibo ito sa labas ng mga ganitong (This means, they're only used in hospitals, clinics and other formal healthcare settings. To date, there's no proof that they're effective other than this kind of) setting," she said.

Emphasizing WHO's recommendation, Vergeire said use of UV devices "cannot replace manual cleaning, wiping or removal of contaminants on environmental surfaces".

She added the amount of UV coming from the device can cause harm to the eyes, skin irritation, skin burns and increased skin cancer risk.

"Hindi po namin ito nirerekomenda sa ngayon, at sa halip mas mainam ang disinfection na gamit ang alcohol or bleach solution ayon sa ating mga guidelines (We don't recommend the use of these devices at the moment, rather disinfection with alcohol or bleach solution following our guidelines is better)," Vergeire said. (PNA--by Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107090

DOH warns public vs 'tuob'

MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday warned the public against possible harms of "tuob" or steam inhalation, which purportedly kills Sars Cov 2, the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a Covid-19 virtual presser, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said there is no scientific evidence proving that inhalation of steam with salt, lemon, and other ingredients could prevent Covid-19 infection.

"Ang US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [USCDCP] at World Health Organization [WHO] ay itinanggi na ang steam inhalation ay nakagagaling sa (The USCDCP and the WHO denied that steam inhalation can treat) Covid-19," Vergeire said.

She also noted that local medical societies do not recommend steam inhalation as a curative or preventive measure.

"May posibilidad pa na maaring sumama sa singaw ang virus na maaari pang pagmulan ng sakit. Ito ay nagpaparami ng secretions sa ilong na posibleng makahawa sa iba sapamamagitan ng pagbahing o pag-ubo (The virus may get into the steam which may cause diseases. It also increases nasal secretions that can be spread through coughing or sneezing)," Vergeire said.

Steam inhalation can also cause skin burns, she added.

According to the DOH, wearing face masks, frequent and proper handwashing, observing physical distancing, and practice of proper cough etiquette remain the best measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. (PNA- by Ma. Teresa Montemayor)

Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1107078