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Background: This study aimed to survey knowledge and perceptions of social prescribing (SP) amongst health and community care workers, and is a cross-sectional online survey conducted in November 2023. Methods: The survey on basic demographics, awareness, knowledge, and practices of SP was completed by 123 health and community care workers. Results: The mean age of respondents was 39.0 years. Nearly two-thirds had heard of SP. A lower proportion of acute hospital doctors (55.6%) and nurses (56.8%) had heard of SP compared with primary and subacute care doctors (75.0%). The majority agreed that SP benefits patients' mental health and reduces healthcare utilization. Primary care physicians, community nurses, and active ageing centres were the top three professionals selected as most responsible for SP by survey respondents. The most commonly cited barriers to SP were seniors' reluctance (63.4%), lacking knowledge on how to refer (59.3%), lack of time (44.7%), and cost to seniors (44.7%). Conclusion: Overall, health and community care workers demonstrated positive attitudes toward SP and were keen to refer patients for SP. However, additional efforts are needed to improve knowledge about how to refer to and provide training on SP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the case of an 83-year-old male with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease who was presented with left ear pain for two weeks to discuss cephalosporin (Cefepime)-related neurotoxicity. Based on magnetic resonance imaging, he has malignant otitis externa and was prescribed cefepime. He developed hyperactive delirium and his treatment was changed to meropenem. Also mentioned are the manifestations of Cefepime-related neurotoxicity like myoclonus aphasia.

Introduction: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had an unprecedented impact in Asia and has placed significant burden on already stretched healthcare systems. We examined the impact of COVID-19 on the safety attitudes among healthcare workers (HCWs), as well as their associated demographic and occupational factors, and measures of burnout, depression and anxiety., Methods: A cross-sectional survey study utilising snowball sampling was performed involving doctors, nurses and allied health professions from 23 hospitals in Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia between 29 May 2020 and 13 July 2020. This survey collated demographic data and workplace conditions and included three validated questionnaires: the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ), Oldenburg Burnout Inventory and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We performed multivariate mixed-model regression to assess independent associations with the SAQ total percentage agree rate (PAR)., Results: We obtained 3,163 responses. The SAQ total PARs were found to be 35.7%, 15.0%, 51.0% and 3.3% among the respondents from Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia, respectively. Burnout scores were highest among respondents from Indonesia and lowest among respondents from India (70.9%-85.4% vs. 56.3%-63.6%, respectively). Multivariate analyses revealed that meeting burnout and depression thresholds and shifts lasting ≥12 h were significantly associated with lower SAQ total PAR., Conclusion: Addressing the factors contributing to high burnout and depression and placing strict limits on work hours per shift may contribute significantly towards improving safety culture among HCWs and should remain priorities during the pandemic., Competing Interests: None

Competing Interests: None

Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.