Week 1 Learning Task

1. In no less than 300 words, describe at least three (3) applications of biostatistics to
DOH research or policy approach on the COVID-19 outbreak in the Philippines.
Expound each application. Please cite your references using the latest APA standard.
Rubrics: 10 points - content; 5 point - organization of ideas; 3 points - use of references;
2 points – grammar

For health care professionals, the effort to improve the quality of health services they provide
to patients never ends. The goal becomes more vital as health care budgets shrink and the
demands placed on health care systems push them to the breaking point. Biostatistics is an
important tool in the challenge to enhance health outcomes in the face of stretched health
care resources. In relation to this, Coronavirus disease aka COVID-19 is an infectious disease
caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. The outbreak began in Wuhan, China. This is a
completely unprecedented circumstance. It is but a sad truth that on the 30th day of January
2020, Department of Health reported first case of covid-19 in our country, and on the 7th day
of March the first local transmission of COVID-19 was confirmed. The DOH as the principal
health agency is responsible for ensuring access to basic public health services to all Filipinos
through the provision of quality health care and regulation of providers of health goods and
services use biostatistics for research and policy approach services on the COVID-19
outbreak in the Philippines. As I did my research I found these tree biostatistics applications
used by the DOH. First application is the new CoVID-19 tracker in line with its commitment
to promote transparency and accountability responds to information needs of every Filipino
citizen. This helps add additional information on the epidemiology of COVID-19 in the
country, COVID-19 testing, health facilities, and availability of personal protective
equipment (PPEs). Second, is the Data Collect app wherein it gathers the daily data from
hospitals and stakeholders such as essential resource and supplies, isolation rooms, ICU beds
and mechanical ventilators, and human resource needs. This app helps calculate accurately
the needed PPEs for delivery supplies. This app is an easy way to facilitate and track reports
between DOH offices and also help protect our health care workers in beating COVID-19.
Lastly, is the deployment of COVID KAYA, a digital surveillance application where
frontliners can input cases information directly into the DOH’s system. Because there are
issues on the process and encoding or filling out forms incorrectly by the health worker, this
app help input and record accurate data. In addition to this, this application also helps trace
contacts of covid-19 positives whether asymptomatic or symptomatic.

Sources: https://www.doh.gov.ph/doh-press-release/DOH-LAUNCHES-NEW-COVID-19-TRACKER-
AND-DOH-DATACOLLECT-APP

https://www.cnn.ph/news/2020/5/13/doh-digital-app-cases-.html
2. Put the following data in the SPSS software. Use the steps provided in this module.
Please do a screenshot of your output and paste it in the worksheet provided. (10
points) Grades of five SHAS students in Biostatistics

Grade in With
Student Sex
Biostatistics Textbook?

1 F 87 NO

2 M 88 NO

3 F 89 YES

4 F 90 YES

5 M 91 YES
 ANSWER: Given the screenshot Output in Data View and Variable View