OBJECTIVE To describe the process used to implement a comprehensive, standardized, and reliable national system for data collection for HIV care and treatment in Guyana; to provide examples of the program-level data resulting from implementation; and to highlight the monitoring benefits for national programs. METHODS In 2007, Guyana's Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders adapted the ...

Interactive computer generated characters can be applied to the medical field as virtual patients for clinical training. The user interface for the virtual characters takes on the same appearance and behavior as a human. To assess if these virtual patients can be used to train skills such as interviewing and diagnosis they need to respond as a patient would. The primary goal of this study was t...

Drought analysis via the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Evapotranspiration (SPEI) is necessary for effective water resource management in Sarawak, Malaysia. Rainfall best indicator of a drought, but temperature also significant because it controls evaporation condensation. This study examined drought periods state Sarawak using SPI SPEI based on monthly precipitation data from thirt...

We evaluate the performance of medical centers based on a continuous or binary patient outcome (e.g., 30-day mortality). Common practice adjusts for differences in patient mix through outcome regression models, which include patient-specific baseline covariates (e.g., age and disease stage) besides center effects. Because a large number of centers may need to be evaluated, the typical model pos...

BACKGROUND The concept of "patient pathways" in cancer care is most commonly understood as clinical pathways, operationalized as standardized packages of health care based on guidelines for the condition in question. In this understanding, patient pathways do not address multimorbidity or patient experiences and preferences. This study explored patient pathways understood as the individual and ...

Introduction: Use of patient-based voice assessment scales is an appropriate method that is frequently used to demonstrate effectiveness of voice therapy. This study was aimed at determining the effectiveness ofvoice therapy among patients with secondary muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) and vocal mass lesions.   Materials and Methods: The study design was prospective, with within-participant repe...