Bicol University Research Articles

Catalyzing development of Best Practice Guidelines for Community-managed health Programs: Case study of a Community-Academic Partnership

Background. There is a need to standardize community health practices, while still adhering to principles of community involvement, to ensure social acceptability and equitable access to health services. A set of Best practice guidelines (BPGs) were thus developed through a community-academic partnership (CAP) between the Integrative Medicine for Alternative Healthcare Systems Philippines, Inc. and its affiliated community-managed health programs (CMHPs), the University of the Philippines, and Bicol University.
 Objective. This study aimed to report the process and insights gained from the crafting of the BPGs.
 Methods. The BPGs were developed using a community-based participatory research approach and focused on top ten (10) diseases based on local prevalence and experiences of its CMHPs.
 Results. BPGs were developed for eight (8) communicable diseases (common cold/cough, influenza, measles, pulmonary tuberculosis, acute gastroenteritis, amebiasis, scabies, and intestinal parasitism); and two (2) noncommunicable diseases (diabetes and hypertension), which also provided information on signs and symptoms, initial referral criteria, management, and, where appropriate, specific use of medicinal plants, acupressure, and traditional massage. Emerging issues from this project include how community involvement led to the development of BPGs, the need to update its content, its potential application as a model for costing public health interventions, its anticipated benefits to health workers, the state of local health service delivery, and how the project epitomizes the ideal concept of community-academic partnerships.
 Conclusion. As a CAP project, this process holds promise as a catalyst for stakeholder engagement and health service delivery improvement. Further studies are necessary to map out other potential challenges and success factors, especially the socio-cultural, political, and health impact of CAPs.

Biorisk assessment of natural science laboratories of Bicol University College of Science, Philippines

ABSTRACTA biorisk assessment of natural science laboratories in Bicol University was conducted as an initial step towards improvement of laboratories and contributing to a culture of safety in the university. Survey among laboratory workers and ocular inspection of natural science labs was done. Results showed that gaps exist in the safety knowledge and practices of laboratory workers. Microbial assets pose the lowest risk, while equipment and the use of chemicals in biological assays pose the highest risk. The likelihood that such events will occur ranges from low to moderate while consequences range from moderate to high. The research recommends that a policy on biological safety be formulated and be integrated in the overall safety guidelines of the university, that existing guidelines and SOPs be improved and that their implementation be monitored, to introduce a course for undergraduates that will tackle the basics of safety and security in the laboratory, and that the equipment and physical design be improved to reduce the risks to acceptable levels.

A Unique One-Time Password Table Sequence Pattern Authentication: Application to Bicol University Union of Federated Faculty Association, Inc. (BUUFFAI) eVoting System

Electronic Voting System (EVS) is a type of voting program that deals primarily with the selection, the casting of votes with embedded security mechanism that detects errors, and the tamper-proof election of results done through the use of an electronic system. It can include optical scan, specialized voting kiosks and Internet voting approach. Most organizations have difficulties when it comes to voting and the Bicol University Union of Federated Faculty Association Incorporated (BUUFFAI) is not an exception. Some of the problems involved include convenience, cost, geographical location of the polling precinct, and voting turnouts. This study extends the scope of the current BUUFFAI eVoting system to address such issues and to eliminate inconvenience both to the faculty voters and the facilitators. This voting scheme used an algorithmic OTP scheme based on table sequence pattern schedule that randomly generates an XY coordinate unique to voters that will be sent to voter registered email address. This study addressed the security requirements and maintained election procedures with confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Relationship between gender and employment contexts of Bicol University graduates

Background: The Bicol University identifies if gender equity is an issue among its graduates. Purpose and Research Objectives: The study sought to identify if there is a relationship between the Bicol University graduates’ gender and their scholastic circumstances and employment/ employment-relevant setting. Sample and Research Design: The study used the 622 questionnaires retrieved in the original research and employed secondary analysis as its research strategy Results: This study found out that gender among the graduates of Bicol University seems to have a bearing on the course they took in college, their present employment and their present occupation. On the other hand, sex appears not to have an influence on the honors they received in college, the reason for taking the college course, their present professional skills, their place of work, the relation of the college course to their first job, the length of time in finding job and the job level. Scholastic performance in college seems not be influenced by sex. The latter also does not have any bearing on the reasons why these graduates took the courses they had in college. Recommendation: Managers in colleges and universities, and the industries may find in these findings some basis for making decisions vis-a-vis male and female Bicol University graduates.

FROM ACADEME TO INDUSTRY: WHICH ACADEMIC SKILLS MATTER?

The paper explores the baffling question on which academic skills really matter on the job. And which don’t matter? The answer is derived from a survey of 86 students who underwent Language Practicum (LP) and 30 supervisors. LP is the On-the-Job Training (OJT) component of the Bachelor of Arts in English of the College of Arts and Letters, Bicol University. Because more demanding requirements and higher standards are required for the meaning of evaluation theory as a framework, the term model/approaches is preferred. This refers to “an evaluation theorist’s idealized conceptualizations for conducting program evaluation” (Stufflebeam and Shinkfield, 2013). As revealed in the findings, the academic skills found by the Language Practicum trainees to be most applicable to job performance are interpersonal skills and business letter writing. At the tail end are academic skills developed mostly from literature courses, Physical Education, Foreign language and Technological Environment. Organizational communication and interpersonal skills were rated by the sponsoring agencies to be the most useful academic skills needed during the training, and therefore in the trainees’ future jobs. Literature-related skills and physical education skills are least useful. To conclude: there are academic skills that are most and least useful to actual job performance. It is recommended that these be considered in the crafting of future curriculum to ensure that graduates are job-read. Keywords: Academe, Industry, Academic Skills, On-the-Job Training (OJT)

INDUSTRY NEED FOR AB ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRACTICUM TRAINEES

This paper looks into the industry need for AB English Language Practicum trainees, which in a way is seen to be an indicator of the need for future AB English graduates. Language Practicum (LP) refers to the On-the-Job Training (OJT) for Bachelor of Arts in English of the College of Arts and Letters, Bicol University. More practically, the study enumerates job descriptions in the market fit for trainees and lists down competency requirements from them. It used as checklist job descriptions/titles identified in Hermosa, et al.’s (2014) as top job descriptions available in the market for Language Practicum trainees. The study is anchored on the questions-oriented model of evaluation, or more appropriately quasi-evaluation. It began with questions to give evidence on the worth and merit of the Language Practicum and its continued place in the AB English curriculum. For its findings, the five top jobs handled by the trainees include those of: administrative officer, information officer, customer service representative, clerk and technical/speech writer. By their ranks, the competency requirements are: collaboration and teamwork; critical thinking, problem solving; life and career; ICT literacy; communication; information literacy; personal and social responsibility; citizenship/civic literacy; creativity and innovation; and environmental awareness. It is therefore concluded that AB English students are better suited for work related to specific communication purpose, that of sharing information within a business or organization. The recommendations are, that: (a) AB English curriculum be geared more to core competencies related to the business world, particularly on corporate/organizational communication; (b) Language Practicum insists that sponsoring organizations train students to hone these competencies more, and not solely to provide extra manpower to do menial tasks which are part of the job description. Keywords: Language Practicum, On-the-Job Training (OJT), Industry-academe, AB English

KSA DEVELOPMENT IN THE AB ENGLISH LANGUAGE PRACTICUM

In response to the prevailing mismatch between education and industry needs, the AB English program of Bicol University was revised to include a student internship program, the Language Practicum, which attempts to augment classroom learning with actual knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) necessary in the workplace. This study assessed the level of attainment of these learning domains for the holistic development of the students, as reported by the trainees themselves and by their sponsoring agencies, towards determining the success of the entire program. A focus-group discussion provided a validation of results of both assessments. Applying the evaluation theory by Stufflebeam and Shinkfield, and using the descriptive-evaluative method involving a total enumeration of the trainees and their supervisors, the study revealed an outstanding assessment of KSA development, both in the point of view of the trainees who came up with a mean rating of 4.58, and that of the supervisors who arrived at a mean rating of 4.56. Slight inadequacy was registered by the trainees in terms of skills, which they rated as 4.50 or superior, but was refuted by their supervisors who rated them an average of 4.53 or outstanding. Findings point to the conclusions that the Language Practicum was highly successful, and that industry partnership is important in the maximum development of students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The program is recommended for continuance. Keywords: Language Practicum, KSA Evaluation, AB English

Level of Knowledge and Confidence on Emergency Response of Nursing Graduate Students

This study is an assessment of the level of knowledge and confidence on emergency response of nursing graduate students. Specifically, on answered the following problems: (1) What is the profile of the nursing graduate students in terms of age, sex, employment, number of years as a professional nurse, and in-service training? (2) What is the level of knowledge on emergency response in first-aid, basic life support, intravenous therapy, and triage? (3) What is their level of confidence in providing emergency response in first-aid, basic life support, intravenous therapy, and triage? (4) Is there a significant difference between the level of knowledge and the level of confidence in rendering emergency response? (5) What interventions may be proposed to enhance the level of knowledge on emergency response of the nurses? A total of forty Bicol University Graduate School Gubat Campus Master in Nursing students serve as respondents. It considered survey design using descriptive method and resorted to questionnaire-checklist and assessment test. The level of knowledge (39 items/situations scenario) and level of confidence (24 items/situations scenario) were described using the 3-point Likert scale of 1 for low (≤1.50); 2 for moderate (1.51-2.50); and 3 for high (≥2.51). Other data and information were generated and/or verified through document analysis and unstructured interview. Frequency count, weighted mean, percent-age, rank and t-test statistics were computed using MS Excel and SPSS. Some of the significant findings and conclusions of the study on level of knowledge and confidence on emergency response of nursing graduate students are: 1. There is predominant of female, young, volunteer, less than five years of professional experience with good participation in first aid and basic life support emergency among the nurses enrolled in the Bicol University Graduate School Gubat Campus. 2. The level of knowledge of the graduate nursing students remained average in first aid, basic life support, intravenous therapy, and triage. 3. Graduate nursing students of the Bicol University in Gubat displayed moderate confidence in first aid and basic life support. A similar level (moderate) of confidence is noted except for “others” employment (low) in intravenous therapy and triage emergency. 4. Knowledge and confidence level of the graduate nursing students differed significantly. 5. The proposed intervention to enhance the knowledge and confidence in emergency response of the graduate nursing students is a direct manifestation of their professional preparation and competence.

コモンズとしての海洋保護区とその持続可能性

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been established with the aim of conserving coral reefs and other marine habitats through the prohibition of fishing. Their establishment has brought about the following benefits: (1) the induction of the spill-over effect, increasing the fish stocks of adjacent coastal waters, (2) the creation of recreational resources, and (3) the maintenance of the ecosystem’s biodiversity.An MPA is similar to commons as a common-pool resource (CPR) management institution, i. e., both schemes intend to control natural resources for their sustainable use.The governance of commons requires three categories of cost for (A) enforcing the rule of utilizing natural resource and excluding violators in a certain area, (B) maintaining natural resources, and (C) organizing CPR institution. Managing MPAs requires similar costs.We adopted the above framework for analyzing the SMI MPA. We focused on the activities of the Sea Guard and Cost (A), analyzed the activities of Bicol University, associated with Cost (C), and evaluated the benefits of MPA in monetary terms. In conclusion, we found that the benefits exceed the costs.