Immunization Simulation Using Actual-Size Infant Manikins for Medical Students in Indonesia: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

INTRODUCTION: Manikins are tools used in simulation training for medical students to develop important skills, one of which is immunization. However, conventional manikins often do not resemble the actual size of an infant's arm or leg. This study aimed to determine the impact of using actual-size manikins on students' knowledge and practical skills, evaluate their confidence in immunization practice, and assess students' responses and feedback regarding the practice using actual-size manikins. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study involving medical students at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, from October 2020 to April 2021. Students in the intervention group used newly developed actual-size infant arm and leg manikins, while the control group used conventional manikins. All students underwent the objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) and the scores were compared between the 2 groups. Within the intervention group, data on pretest and posttest scores, feedback questionnaires, and self-confidence assessments were also obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 205 students were included. Statistically significant difference was found in the OSCE scores between the intervention and control groups (P < 0.01). Students in the intervention group (n = 108) showed significant improvement in knowledge scores after the workshop (P < 0.01). Most students (81.7%) expressed confidence in administering vaccines to live patients after practicing with manikins. In addition, 98.2% of students (n = 107) acknowledged the benefits of practicing with actual-size manikins in accurately determining the injection sites. CONCLUSIONS: Simulation with the actual-size manikins significantly improved students' knowledge and practical immunization skills, leading to increased confidence and competence in their immunization skills.

Transition practice for primary immunodeficiency diseases in Southeast Asia: a regional survey.

Introduction: With increased diagnostic capabilities and treatment modalities in the field of primary immunodeficiencies (PID), many pediatric patients survive beyond childhood and experience a change of care to the adult-oriented healthcare system. Unfortunately, the transition pathways for PID are less clearly defined, resulting in deterioration of quality of care in adulthood. Hence, this is the first regional study to address PID clinicians' opinions on practices and challenges of transition care in 7 Southeast Asia (SEA) countries. Methods: We adopted a cross-sectional study design through an online survey platform to enquire opinions of transition practices from expert representatives in 7 SEA countries. Results: Regionally, 3 out 7 countries reported having no practice of transition care. Among cited challenges were reluctant adaptation by patients and caregivers to unfamiliarized adult healthcare systems, inadequate ratio of adult immunologists to patients and lack of facilities for transfer. Discussion and conclusion: Our study provides evidence to advocate policy makers on the importance of standardized integration of transition practice towards betterment of transiting PID patients into adulthood.

Comparison Between Self-Deliberate Practice and Directed Learning Training Methods for Basic Life Support Knowledge and High-Quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Skill Retention in Second-Year Medical Students 3 and 6 Months After Training.

Background: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) requires well-trained medical personnel. Multiple learning methods can be done for CPR skills training. This study aimed to compare self-deliberate practice (SDP) method and directed learning (DL) method to improve basic life support (BLS) knowledge and CPR skill performance in medical students. Methods: This is an experimental, single-blind, randomized controlled trial study of 40 medical students from February to July 2019. Forty subjects were randomly assigned into SDP and DL groups through a voluntary sampling method. Both groups attended a 1-day course and then practiced once a month for 3 months. The DL group had practice sessions with assigned tutors, while the SDP group had to practice by themselves. Examination of BLS knowledge and CPR performance quality (compression depth, rate, and performance score) was collected before and after course lecture, after a skills training, 3 and 6 months after training. Results: Subject characteristics of both groups were comparable. Significant knowledge and skill improvement were found in the DL group and the SDP group when compared to their knowledge and skill before training. There were no significant differences between both groups in BLS knowledge and CPR performance quality in all examination periods. Conclusion: Both SDP and DL teaching methods show significant improvement and excellent retention in BLS knowledge and high-quality CPR performance. These two learning methods are both feasible and bring positive results for students. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-023-01746-7.

Cultivating patient-centered care competence through a telemedicine-based course: An explorative study of undergraduate medical students' self-reflective writing.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged adaptations of learning methods in clinical clerkship. There have been limited reports on the merits of involving medical students in telemedicine. This study, therefore, aims to investigate students' reflection on what they learned and identify the challenges and benefits of doctor-patient interaction through their experience in a telemedicine-based course. Methods: A 4 week telemedicine-based course for medical students to participate in telemonitoring of COVID-19 patients undergoing self-isolation was conducted. This is a qualitative study using an interpretive phenomenology design to investigate students' self-reflection on their experiences in monitoring COVID-19 patients. Students were asked to reflect on their experience upon completion of the course through 750-1,000 words essays. A thematic analysis which considers units of meaning based on students' experiences was completed. Results: Our study identified four main themes gathered from students' experiences related to the telemedicine-based course: communication and education, professionalism and professional identity formation, system-based practice, and patient-centered care. Conclusion: The course was part of an integrative effort involving multiple parties to tackle the burden on the nation's healthcare system during the pandemic. Telemedicine is part of future medical practice which supports the medical curriculum adaptability along with attempts to develop future-proof medical doctors through various clinical learning experiences.

A COVID-19 self-isolation monitoring module for FMUI undergraduate medical students: Linking learning and service needs during the pandemic surge in Indonesia.

To ensure that students continued receiving adequate yet safe clinical exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Indonesia (FMUI) created the Module of COVID-19 Self-Isolation Monitoring which aims to equip students with the knowledge and skill to monitor confirmed and close contact cases of COVID-19. Module development, divided into four phases: preparation, orientation, implementation, and evaluation phase, started as soon as the delta wave of COVID-19 cases forced medical students to halt their offline clinical rotations. A quantitative secondary data were obtained from student and patient satisfaction questionnaires and on students' performance and reflection. We analyzed the distribution of module evaluation, the student's discussion score during the module, the students' interest in participating as Covid-19 volunteers before and after the module's deployment, and the correlation between learning outcomes and satisfaction. A total of 372 patients were monitored by 208 students during the 4-week module. The response rates were above 80%, with the majority agreeing that students found this module well-organized and fulfilled their expectations. There was a significant increase in discussion scores from weeks 1 to 4, a significant difference in the proportion of students interested in COVID-19 volunteering before and after the module completion as well as a significant low correlation between the patient's monitoring score sheet and the reflection essay towards the patient's satisfaction. We should still improve tutors' time management, tutors' provision of triggering questions for critical thinking skills, and tutors' feedback for students. The module met patient expectations and is expected to assist tutors in providing feedback and examples of doctor-patient communication, thus accelerating students' competence in patient interaction. Further evaluation is needed regarding knowledge transfer, the impact on community health, and the faculty development program, especially regarding how tutors fulfill their roles as medical educators.

Targeted Gene Sanger Sequencing Should Remain the First-Tier Genetic Test for Children Suspected to Have the Five Common X-Linked Inborn Errors of Immunity.

To address inborn errors of immunity (IEI) which were underdiagnosed in resource-limited regions, our centre developed and offered free genetic testing for the most common IEI by Sanger sequencing (SS) since 2001. With the establishment of The Asian Primary Immunodeficiency (APID) Network in 2009, the awareness and definitive diagnosis of IEI were further improved with collaboration among centres caring for IEI patients from East and Southeast Asia. We also started to use whole exome sequencing (WES) for undiagnosed cases and further extended our collaboration with centres from South Asia and Africa. With the increased use of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), we have shifted our diagnostic practice from SS to WES. However, SS was still one of the key diagnostic tools for IEI for the past two decades. Our centre has performed 2,024 IEI SS genetic tests, with in-house protocol designed specifically for 84 genes, in 1,376 patients with 744 identified to have disease-causing mutations (54.1%). The high diagnostic rate after just one round of targeted gene SS for each of the 5 common IEI (X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) 77.4%, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) 69.2%, X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (XCGD) 59.5%, X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) 51.1%, and X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (HIGM1) 58.1%) demonstrated targeted gene SS should remain the first-tier genetic test for the 5 common X-linked IEI.

Clinical Features of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated with COVID-19 in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: While the number of cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is increasing, reported cases in Asian countries are still low, particularly in Indonesia. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of patients with MIS-C in a tertiary referral hospital in Indonesia. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with collected data of patients with MIS-C admitted to Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo from March 2020 to April 2021. RESULTS: The first case of MIS-C was detected 5 months after the first reported coronavirus disease 2019 case in Indonesia. Thirteen patients out of 158 positive admitted patients for COVID-19 were diagnosed with MIS-C during the study period. Of these 13 patients, 2 patients (15%) had a fatal outcome. Subjects were predominantly male, and the median age was 7.58 years (IQR 12.3) years. Most patients required mechanical ventilation (7 out of 13 patients) and intubation (8 out of 13 patients). Patients who needed intubation usually needed mechanical ventilation. All inflammatory markers, white blood cells, neutrophil counts, and all coagulation factor parameters (except for normal prothrombin time and activated partial prothrombin time) were elevated. The median time to MIS-C diagnosis was 2 days in the survivor group (n = 11) compared to 8.5 days in the non-survivor group (n = 2). Compared to the non-survivor group, those who survived spent more days in the hospital, received vasopressors earlier, and did not require mechanical ventilation as early as the non-survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Our work highlights the differences in MIS-C clinical course, treatment, and clinical outcomes between the two groups.

Serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility profile of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from nasopharynges of children infected with HIV in Jakarta, Indonesia, pre- and post-pneumococcal vaccination.

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the serotypes and antibiotic susceptibility of S. pneumoniae carried by children infected with HIV before and after vaccination with the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2013. We collected nasopharyngeal swab specimens from 52 children pre-vaccination and 6 months post-vaccination. Serotyping was performed by conventional multiplex polymerase chain reaction and Quellung reaction. The antibiotic susceptibility profile was obtained by disc diffusion. We determined that 27 (52%) and 24 (46%) of the 52 children carried S. pneumoniae during pre- and post-vaccination periods, respectively with the majority of the isolates being non-vaccine type strains (85% pre-vaccination and 75% post-vaccination). Serotypes 34, 6C, and 16F (two strains each) were the most commonly identified serotypes at pre-vaccination. Serotypes 23A (three strains) and 19F (two strains) were the most commonly identified serotypes post-vaccination. In general, isolates were most commonly susceptible to chloramphenicol (88%) and clindamycin (88%), followed by erythromycin (84%), trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (69%), tetracycline (61%), and penicillin (59%). In conclusion, serotypes of S. pneumoniae isolated from the nasopharynges of children infected with HIV varied and were more likely to be non-vaccine type strains both before and after vaccination.

Mortality in children with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test: Lessons learned from a tertiary referral hospital in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still increasing rapidly, but little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of fatal cases in children in Indonesia. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of children with COVID-19 with fatal outcomes in a tertiary referral hospital in Indonesia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data collected from the medical records of patients with COVID-19 admitted to Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia from March to October 2020. RESULTS: During the study period, 490 patients were admitted and diagnosed with suspected and probable COVID-19. Of these patients, 50 (10.2%) were confirmed to have COVID-19, and 20 (40%) had a fatal outcome. The fatality rate was higher in patients aged ≥10 years, categorized with severe disease upon admission, PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤300 mmHg and chronic underlying diseases. The most common clinical manifestations were generalized symptoms, while acute respiratory distress syndrome (8/20) and septic shock (7/20) were the two most common causes of death. Increased procalcitonin, D-dimer, lactate dehydrogenase and presepsin levels were found in all fatal cases. One patient met the criteria of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. CONCLUSION: Our work highlights the high mortality rate in paediatric patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test. These findings might be related to or co-incided with COVID-19 infection. Further studies are needed to improve understanding of the role of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in elaborating the mechanisms leading to death in children with comorbidities.

Current Perspectives and Unmet Needs of Primary Immunodeficiency Care in Asia Pacific.

Background: The Asia Pacific Society for Immunodeficiencies (APSID) conducted nine primary immunodeficiency (PID) Schools in 5 years since inauguration to provide PID care training for early career physicians in Asia Pacific, a region with divergent needs in PID resources and training. Objective: To identify differences in PID patient care resource and training needs across Asia Pacific and propose a corresponding action plan. Methods: The Human Development Index (HDI) indicates the degree of socio-economic development in each country/region. Information related to investigations and learning issues were extracted from the abstracts and personal statements from all Schools and mapped onto resource and training needs. Correlations between HDI and country/region-specific parameters were tested by two-tailed Pearson correlation. Results: A total of 427 abstracts were received in nine Schools between 2015 and 2020, predominantly on immunodeficiencies affecting cellular and humoral immunity. Genetic confirmation was described in 61.8% of abstracts, and its absence negatively correlated with HDI (r = -0.696, p = 0.004). Essential immunologic and genetic tests were not available in 25.4 and 29.5% of abstracts, respectively, and their absence negatively correlated with HDI (r = -0.788, p < 0.001; r = -0.739, p = 0.002). HDI positively correlated with average testing level (r = 0.742, p = 0.002). Cases from medium-HDI countries/regions focused on learning how to investigate a patient for PIDs in cases of severe or atypical infections, whereas those from very-high-HDI countries/regions, from which most faculty members originated, listed hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and gene therapy, newborn screening, and research as learning issues more frequently. Conclusion: There are unique HDI-related PID resource and training needs in each country/region. APSID proposes HDI group-specific strategies to improve PID care and education in her member countries/regions. Further quantitative analysis of needs in PID care in Asia Pacific is needed for lobbying governments to increase their support for PID care and research.

Dual Analysis of Loss to Follow-up for Perinatally HIV-Infected Adolescents Receiving Combination Antiretroviral Therapy in Asia.

BACKGROUND: Perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVA) are an expanding population vulnerable to loss to follow-up (LTFU). Understanding the epidemiology and factors for LTFU is complicated by varying LTFU definitions. SETTING: Asian regional cohort incorporating 16 pediatric HIV services across 6 countries. METHODS: Data from PHIVA (aged 10-19 years) who received combination antiretroviral therapy 2007-2016 were used to analyze LTFU through (1) an International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) method that determined LTFU as >90 days late for an estimated next scheduled appointment without returning to care and (2) the absence of patient-level data for >365 days before the last data transfer from clinic sites. Descriptive analyses and competing-risk survival and regression analyses were used to evaluate LTFU epidemiology and associated factors when analyzed using each method. RESULTS: Of 3509 included PHIVA, 275 (7.8%) met IeDEA and 149 (4.3%) met 365-day absence LTFU criteria. Cumulative incidence of LTFU was 19.9% and 11.8% using IeDEA and 365-day absence criteria, respectively. Risk factors for LTFU across both criteria included the following: age at combination antiretroviral therapy initiation <5 years compared with age ≥5 years, rural clinic settings compared with urban clinic settings, and high viral loads compared with undetectable viral loads. Age 10-14 years compared with age 15-19 years was another risk factor identified using 365-day absence criteria but not IeDEA LTFU criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Between 12% and 20% of PHIVA were determined LTFU with treatment fatigue and rural treatment settings consistent risk factors. Better tracking of adolescents is required to provide a definitive understanding of LTFU and optimize evidence-based models of care.

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 Improves Feeding Intolerance in Preterm Infants.

PURPOSE: Feeding tolerance is extremely important in preterm infants. This study aimed to evaluate whether preterm infants receiving Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 would develop fewer symptoms of feeding intolerance. Secondary outcomes were duration of parenteral nutrition, time to reach full feeding, length of hospital stay, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), diarrhea, and mortality. METHODS: This double-blind randomized controlled trial of L. reuteri DSM 17938 versus placebo included 94 neonates with a gestational age of 28-34 weeks and birth weight of 1,000-1,800 g. RESULTS: Feeding intolerance (vomiting and/or distension) was less common in the probiotic group than in the placebo group (8.5% vs. 25.5%; relative risk, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.96; p=0.03). No significant intergroup differences were found in proven sepsis, time to reach full feeding, length of hospital stay, or diarrhea. The prevalence of NEC (stages 2 and 3) was 6.4% in the placebo group vs. 0% in the probiotic group (relative risk, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.15; p=0.24). Mortality rates were 2.1% in the probiotic group and 8.5% in the placebo group, p=0.36). CONCLUSION: The administration of L. reuteri DSM 17938 to preterm infants was safe and significantly reduced feeding intolerance. No significant differences were found in any other secondary outcomes.

Early Height and Weight Changes in Children Using Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis With Antiretroviral Therapy.

BACKGROUND: The growth benefits of cotrimoxazole during early antiretroviral therapy (ART) are not well characterized. METHODS: Individuals enrolled in the Therapeutics Research, Education, and AIDS Training in Asia Pediatric HIV Observational Database were included if they started ART at ages 1 month-14 years and had both height and weight measurements available at ART initiation (baseline). Generalized estimating equations were used to identify factors associated with change in height-for-age z-score (HAZ), follow-up HAZ ≥ -2, change in weight-for-age z-score (WAZ), and follow-up WAZ ≥ -2. RESULTS: A total of 3217 children were eligible for analysis. The adjusted mean change in HAZ among cotrimoxazole and non-cotrimoxazole users did not differ significantly over the first 24 months of ART. In children who were stunted (HAZ < -2) at baseline, cotrimoxazole use was not associated with a follow-up HAZ ≥ -2. The adjusted mean change in WAZ among children with a baseline CD4 percentage (CD4%) >25% became significantly different between cotrimoxazole and non-cotrimoxazole users after 6 months of ART and remained significant after 24 months (overall P < .01). Similar changes in WAZ were observed in those with a baseline CD4% between 10% and 24% (overall P < .01). Cotrimoxazole use was not associated with a significant difference in follow-up WAZ in children with a baseline CD4% <10%. In those underweight (WAZ < -2) at baseline, cotrimoxazole use was associated with a follow-up WAZ ≥ -2 (adjusted odds ratio, 1.70 vs not using cotrimoxazole [95% confidence interval, 1.28-2.25], P < .01). This association was driven by children with a baseline CD4% ≥10%. CONCLUSIONS: Cotrimoxazole use is associated with benefits to WAZ but not HAZ during early ART in Asian children.

The management of food allergy in Indonesia.

Prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing worldwide, including food allergy. It is different between countries because food allergy can vary by culture and population. Prevalence of food allergy in Indonesia is unknown; therefore it is not known yet the burden and impact of food allergy in our population. However, we already start to formulate guidelines for diagnosis and management of food allergy, especially cow's milk allergy.