Advancing Health Equity and Interdisciplinary Collaboration through Research and Scholarship
Two faculty members from the University of the Cordilleras College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences (UC-CONAHS) represented the university at the 18th APRU Global Health Conference 2025, held from October 28 to 31, 2025, at Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hosted by the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, the conference carried the theme “Towards Planetary Health Equity: A Global Call for Shared Solutions.” The event emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration to address the interconnected challenges of health, climate change, and social equity. Key focus areas included Climate Change and Health, Environmental Sustainability, One Health, Health Equity Systems, Technology and Innovation in Global Health, and Policy and Governance for Health Equity.
Representing UC-CONAHS were Assistant Professor Gilbert D. Bernardino Jr. from the Department of Nursing and Mr. Reuben Victor M. Laguitan from the Department of Medical Laboratory Science.
YouTube as a Source of Health Information on Dengue
Mr. Laguitan presented his research, “YouTube as a Source of Health Information on Dengue,” which analyzed the reliability and quality of dengue-related content on YouTube. The study explored how different uploader types—news agencies, institutions, independent users, and physicians—contribute to public health communication.
Findings revealed that while news agencies dominated dengue-related content, institutional and medical sourcesproduced fewer but higher-quality videos. Independent users and physicians also played important roles, with one physician-produced video surpassing 1.2 million views. However, engagement metrics such as likes and views did not always reflect content accuracy.
Laguitan emphasized the importance of collaboration among medical professionals, academic institutions, and digital creators to enhance the visibility of credible online health information. He recommended that platforms like YouTube integrate verified content badges and curated playlists during health emergencies, echoing practices of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Political Competency in Nursing: A Concept Analysis
Assistant Professor Gilbert D. Bernardino Jr. presented his conceptual paper, “Political Competency in Nursing: A Concept Analysis,” originally published in the Philippine Journal of Nursing (2022). The study addressed the limited theoretical understanding of political engagement in nursing, despite increasing calls for nurses to take active roles in policy and advocacy.
Using Walker and Avant’s (2014) eight-step concept analysis framework, Bernardino identified the defining attributes of political competency as ethical and sociopolitical knowing, courage, perseverance, and persuasion. Reflection, clarity of values, and access to resources emerged as key antecedents, while social justice and change were identified as ongoing outcomes.
He proposed linking political competency to Patricia Benner’s “novice to expert” model, suggesting that nurses develop advocacy and political skills progressively throughout their careers.
A Shared Commitment to Global Health Equity
The participation of UC-CONAHS faculty in the APRU Global Health Conference underscores the university’s commitment to health equity, sustainability, and international collaboration. By contributing research on digital health communication and nursing political leadership, Bernardino and Laguitan demonstrated the vital role of Filipino scholars in shaping global health discourse and advancing planetary well-being.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Covered
| SDG | Goal | Relevant Indicator(s) | Description of Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDG 3 | Good Health and Well-Being | 3.4.1 – Strengthening health research and communication for disease prevention and control | Research on dengue information dissemination through YouTube supports public awareness and global disease prevention efforts. |
| SDG 4 | Quality Education | 4.3.3 – Faculty participation in international academic and professional exchanges | Faculty participation in global conferences promotes academic excellence, cross-cultural learning, and continuous professional growth. |
| SDG 17 | Partnerships for the Goals | 17.16.1 – Enhancing global partnerships and research collaborations for sustainable development | The university’s representation in the APRU Global Health Conference strengthens global research networks and interdisciplinary cooperation. |
