Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

18 Mar 2026

Libraries not only promote discourse but are also subjects of discourse themselves

In the past, libraries primarily served as channels for disseminating discourse through books, magazines, newspapers, and other important documents. Today,...

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17 Mar 2026

A two-stage symptom detection model was developed to more accurately identify depression signs in social media posts

Depression is a health condition characterized by changes in mood, cognition, and behavior. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),...

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16 Mar 2026

E-cigarettes may have less impact on the development of tooth decay and periodontal disease than traditional cigarettes

Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for numerous health problems, including respiratory infections and cancers. It is also associated...

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13 Mar 2026

“Halata” can now be used to refer to gay men who act straight, showing how the definition of kabaklaan in the Philippines is ever-changing

In the Philippines, representation of gays has long been dichotomous. There is the bakla, depicted as flamboyant, effeminate and low...

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10 Mar 2026

Study develops a baseline econometric model to estimate potential hydrogen demand in Tarlac and explore hydrogen as an alternative energy source

This study aims to establish a baseline econometric model to inform the possible development of green hydrogen production in Tarlac....

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09 Mar 2026

There is significant spatial clustering of traffic accident locations in Quezon City

The surge in urban vehicular traffic volume over the past decade has resulted in a rise in the occurrence of...

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06 Mar 2026

Taken together, the oral narratives of families left behind by Duterte’s drug war reveal a shared understanding of political struggle and resistance

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is infamous for his war on drugs campaign, commonly known as Oplan Tokhang, which killed...

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05 Mar 2026

Motherwork includes often difficult conversations as mothers try to regulate their adolescents’ social media use

This study rests on the premise that motherhood is composed of unaccounted invisible work. Moreover, motherhood is not a natural...

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04 Mar 2026

There are some cases where individuals can reasonably believe in claims of miraculous events

When people claim that a miracle has happened—like someone suddenly healing from an incurable illness or holy bread turning into...

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03 Mar 2026

Indigenous myths are closely connected to the lived experiences and ongoing struggle of the Lumad for self-determination

Myths that involve sacred spaces largely make up local knowledge among Indigenous Peoples across continents. Often, these myths are dismissed...

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02 Mar 2026

Study uses machine learning to predict whether a patient is intoxicated due to pesticide exposure

In response to a growing human population, greater attempts to correspondingly increase agricultural production become necessary. To boost crop production,...

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27 Feb 2026

Researchers use ChatGPT in their writing mainly out of trust in the technology than perceived usefulness

ChatGPT has attracted the attention of the scientific community. Unlike existing writing tools that are conventionally capable of checking styles,...

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Research

In regions separated by water and challenging terrain, the healthcare journey involves not only crossing physical distances but also navigating systems of care that remain largely inaccessible to geographically isolated populations. The Philippines exemplifies these challenges, having 7,641 islands that create a fragmented healthcare landscape.

This study explores how residents of Philippine island communities navigate healthcare systems when separated from mainland medical facilities by water. Using focus group discussions and interviews, researchers examined the experiences of 46 individuals from two rural villages in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte, Mindanao.

The findings reveal a complex interplay between geographical isolation, digital connectivity, and social resources that shapes healthcare access. Digital patient navigation services create virtual bridges to mainland healthcare, reducing the financial and time burdens of travel across water. However, these services simultaneously create new forms of inequality based on access to technology and digital literacy, particularly affecting the elderly and economically disadvantaged populations. The island’s inconsistent internet connectivity and varying levels of technological capability create distinctive “digital geographies” that further impact healthcare access. Community health workers emerge as crucial connectors, helping those with limited technical skills access navigation services.

Based on these findings, the study recommends place-sensitive interventions, including strengthened community-based navigation support systems, strategic investments in technological infrastructure, and targeted information campaigns.

By exploring how geographical isolation intersects with factors such as digital connectivity, age, education, and economic status, the research provides valuable insights into healthcare access inequalities that affect millions worldwide.

The results have relevance beyond the Philippine archipelago, offering insights applicable to other geographically isolated settings worldwide—from remote mountain villages to coastal communities and other island nations. Understanding these place-specific healthcare navigation challenges can help policymakers develop more effective, contextually appropriate interventions that address both physical and digital barriers to healthcare access, potentially improving health outcomes for underserved populations in similar settings globally.

Authors: Cristela Mae C. Candelario (Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila | School of Medical Laboratory Science, San Pedro College, Davao City) and Eleanor C. Castillo (Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila)

Read the full paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2025.103482