Children of parents who have higher health literacy (HL) benefit more from preventive child health care. Digital interventions have been used to improve parents' HL with high satisfaction. KhunLook ...is a Thai mobile app conceived using strategies to improve HL. It was developed to assist parents in assessing and keeping track of their child's health in complement to the standard Maternal and Child Health Handbook (MCHH).
This trial focuses on the effectiveness of using the KhunLook app with the MCHH and standard care (intervention) compared with the conventional MCHH and standard care (control) on parents' HL. Data on accuracy of parents' assessment of their child's health and growth as well as convenience of use of the tool (app or MCHH) in the well-child clinic were collected at 2 visits (immediate=visit 1, and intermediate=visit 2).
Parents of children under 3 years of age who (1) had a smartphone or tablet and the MCHH and (2) could participate in 2 visits, 2-6 months apart at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand, were enrolled in this 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial between April 2020 and May 2021. Parents were randomized 1:1 to 2 groups. At visit 1, data on demographics and baseline HL (Thailand Health Literacy Scales) were collected. Parents in the app group used the KhunLook app and the control group used their child's handbook to assess their child's growth, development, nutrition and feeding, immunization status and rated the convenience of the tool they used. At visit 2, they repeated the assessments and completed the HL questionnaire.
A total of 358 parents completed the study (358/408, 87.7%). After the intervention, the number of parents with high total HL significantly increased from 94/182 (51.6%) to 109/182 (59.9%; 15/182; Δ 8.2%; P=.04), specifically in the health management (30/182; Δ 16.4%; P<.001) and child health management (18/182; Δ 9.9%; P=.01) domains in the app group, but not in the control group. Parents in the app group could correctly assess their child's head circumference (172/182, 94.5% vs 124/176, 70.5%; P<.001) and development (173/182, 95.1% vs 139/176, 79.0%; P<.001) better than those in the control group at both visits. A higher proportion of parents in the app group rated their tool as very easy or easy to use (174-181/182, 95.6%-99.5% vs 141-166/176, 80.1%-94.3%; P<.001) on every item since the first visit.
Our results suggest the potential of a smartphone app (KhunLook) to improve parents' HL as well as to promote superior accuracy of parents' assessment of their child's head circumference and development, with a similar effect on weight, height, nutrition and feeding, and immunization as in traditional interventions. Using the KhunLook app is useful and more convenient for parents in promoting a healthy child preventive care during early childhood.
Thai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20200312003; https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20200312003.
The majority of neonatal cutaneous conditions are benign and self-limited. However, some skin infections and specific birthmarks are serious and require proper management approaches. This study was a ...prospective survey of 1000 consecutive newborns at a tertiary care center in Northeast Thailand from September 2015 to 2016, which aimed to identify various cutaneous findings in newborns during their first 5 days of life. The authors found that Mongolian spots (66.7%) and sebaceous gland hyperplasia (60.9%) were the 2 most common cutaneous conditions found in the Thai population. Salmon patches were the most frequent vascular birthmarks (36%), followed by infantile hemangiomas (1.1%) and port wine stains (0.7%). Although majority of the neonatal cutaneous conditions are benign and self-limited, there were 8 cases (0.8%) of bullous impetigo in which both systemic and topical antibiotics were promptly prescribed.
Objective: To compare durations of invasive mechanical ventilator (IMV), other types of ventilator support and neonatal outcomes between neonates who received early versus late surfactant replacement ...therapy (E-SRT vs. L-SRT). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included neonates with gestational age (GA) less than 35 weeks or birth weight (BW) less than 2,000 grams, born between January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. Neonates who received SRT before 2 hours of life were defined as E-SRT and neonates who received SRT later were defined as L-SRT. Durations of IMV, other types of ventilator support, neonatal outcomes and length of stays were documented. Results: Eighty-three neonates had received SRT with 52 (62.7%) had E-SRT and 31 (37.3%) had L-SRT. Neonates in E-SRT group had significantly lower GA and BW than neonates in L-SRT group (median GA 27 vs. 30 weeks; p = 0.002 and median BW 885 vs. 1330 grams; p = 0.003) and had longer duration of IMV but not significant (median 19.0 vs. 10.5 days; p = 0.219). There were no significant differences in durations of other types of ventilator support. After adjusted for sex, GA and BW, there were no significant differences in neonatal outcomes between neonates in each group. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and septicemia were independent factors associated with prolonged IMV, ventilator supports and length of stays. Conclusion: Timing of SRT was not associated with duration of IMV. VAP and septicemia were important factors prolonging ventilator durations and length of stays and should be prevented. Keywords: surfactant replacement therapy, respiratory distress syndrome, timing of surfactant, neonatal outcomes
Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) occurs in approximately 10% of neonates infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Guidelines for optimal management of severe COVID-19 ...in neonates do not exist. In this report, we describe a late-preterm neonate with severe COVID-19, requiring invasive mechanical ventilation who recovered following treatment with remdesivir and high dose dexamethasone.
Phenomenon: Institutional learning culture influences how feedback is provided, accepted, and acted upon. The Thai societal culture, characterized by strict hierarchy and collectivism, may have a ...significant impact on the learning culture and, therefore, feedback conversations between teachers and learners. This study explored: common approaches used by faculty to provide feedback to students; and faculty and student perspectives regarding sociocultural factors that impact feedback seeking, provision, and acceptance. Approach: Using a constructivist paradigm, we explored perspectives of clinical faculty and medical students at an academic medical center in Thailand using focus groups (students) and a focus group and individual interviews (faculty). Sessions were audiotaped, transcribed, and de-identified prior to analysis. Constant comparative analysis was performed on transcripts, focusing on perceived cultural factors that impacted feedback conversations. Findings: Thirty faculty participated in the study, four participated in a focus group, and 27 participated in individual interviews. Twenty-two medical students participated in four focus groups. We identified the following key themes, which could be grouped under three categories: (1) Faculty approaches to providing feedback (1.1) Feedback should be initiated by faculty. (1.2) Feedback is initiated primarily for deficit identification and correction. (2) Factors impacting students' feedback seeking and acceptance. (2.1) Students are willing to accept harsh feedback when it provides suggestions for improvement. (2.2) Feedback is most credible when faculty have direct knowledge of the student's effort. (2.3) Feedback seeking is considered a burden on teachers. (3) Cultural factors that influence feedback (3.1) Societal hierarchy perpetuates unidirectional top-down feedback. (3.2) Kreng jai (the balance between consideration for others and self-interests) affects feedback seeking and provision. Insights: Though the value of feedback on learning was emphasized by all participants, the hierarchical culture of Thai society was perceived to have a significant influence on feedback seeking, provision, and acceptance. Identifying and addressing societal as well as institutional cultural factors would be key in designing growth-enhancing feedback initiatives relevant to the local context. One size feedback training does not fit all.
Background: Antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH) is a condition characterized by fetal renal pelvic dilatation during pregnancy. It is detected in 1%-5% of all pregnancies. Most cases of ANH are ...physiological in nature, but some are pathological and can cause morbidity.
Objective: To determine: (a) the causes of ANH; (b) the factors associated with complications; and, (c) the factors associated with surgical intervention.
Methods: We reviewed the medical records of infants diagnosed with ANH; defined by a renal pelvic anteroposterior diameter ≥5 mm (based on antenatal ultrasonography) and being followed-up at Srinagarind Hospital.
Results: Forty-six infants (32 boys and 14 girls) with ANH were identified. Over half (57%) were born in our hospital (in-hospital) with the condition. The two most common causes of ANH were ureteropelvic junction obstruction (32%) and transient hydronephrosis (22%). Of the 63 abnormal kidneys, 52% needed surgical intervention. Twenty-two patients (48%) had urinary tract infections and most had more than 1 episode. None of the 46 patients had end-stage renal disease, but one died because of lung hypoplasia during the neonatal period. The severity of ANH and time of first postnatal ultrasonography were related to medical complications, while bilateral ANH and more severe ANH were associated with the need for surgical intervention. A milder degree of ANH and postnatal ultrasound findings were significantly associated with transient hydronephrosis.
Conclusion: Most cases of ANH were pathological and half required surgical intervention. Severe ANH and delayed investigation were associated with poor outcomes.
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