METHODS: A scoping literature review method was employed. Articles were extracted from online databases published within 2010-2021. Overall, 3,152 articles related to the topic were obtained and 2979 articles were archived via different search procedures. Moreover, 173 articles that met the inclusion criteria underwent qualitative synthesize for conclusive inferences.
RESULTS: Most studies focused on people aged 60 and up, leaving the middle-aged population under-studied and unprepared to age. Older adults have high technology anxiety and resistance to change. Limited studies are available to support technology-based healthy lifestyle promotion for middle-aged people. The emerging technologies that are useful in promoting healthy lifestyle behavior among middle-aged people include: robotics, virtual reality, wearables, artificial intelligence, smart textiles, as well as centralized health information systems.
CONCLUSION: This review sets as a pace-setter for future research on how emerging technologies can aid in the development of healthy lifestyles for the middle-aged and elderly population, allowing them to live a quality life as they age.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted among 113 HIV-negative Malaysian FSW in 2017. Participants were recruited using advertisements on social media, flyers, and direct referrals from community-based organizations. Data were collected using self-administered surveys. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of willingness to use HIVST.
RESULTS: Nearly a third of participants (30.1%) reported they would be willing to use HIVST. Multivariable analyses adjusting for Malay ethnicity, stable housing, living in Kuala Lumpur (KL), years in sex work, age of first sex work, childhood sexual assault, history of HIV testing, and previously in prison indicated that living in KL [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.214, p = 0.0137] was associated with a greater willingness to use HIVST. In contrast, having stable housing (aOR = 0.100, p = 0.0064) was negatively associated with willingness to use HIVST.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that HIVST may potentially enhance the uptake of HIV testing among FSWs living in an urban environment and experiencing unstable housing, but an overall willingness to use HIVST is low. These findings highlight the need for efforts to increase awareness of HIVST among FSWs and additional research on the effective implementation of HIVST for FSW.
METHOD: Using a cross-sectional design, a systematic random sampling method was used to select respondents aged 18-64 years on antiretroviral therapy for at least six months at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, outpatients of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Clinic. Socio-demographics, belief in medicine and adherence to ART were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression were used for data analysis.
RESULTS: Among the 385 people who took part in the study, about 67.5% were females and 32.5% were males. About 54% of adults adhered to ART. More than half (55.8%) of the respondents had negative perceptions (beliefs) of personal need for ART medication and about 42.3% of the respondents had more concerns about the potential negative effects of the ART medication. Government employment (odds ratio (OR) = 2.842, p = <0.01), self-employment (OR = 2.6, p = <0.001), and being divorced or widowed (OR = 2.0, p = <0.01), negative perceptions (beliefs) of personal need for the ART medication (adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.525, p=<0.01) and more concerns about the potential negative effects of the ART medication (AOR= 1.362, p = <0.05) were all significantly associated with ART adherence.
CONCLUSION: Employment, marital status and belief in medicine were associated with adherence to ART. Therefore, during adherence counseling, healthcare personnel should address respondents' false views and fears regarding ART medication in order to strengthen proper information and the benefits of ART. This article was previously presented as a meeting poster at the 36th Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (7th and 8th September 2021).
OBJECTIVE: To validate and develop an instrument in Bahasa Melayu to assess the psychological distress and self-medication during pandemic Covid-19 in WP Labuan.
METHODS: A pilot study was conducted among 160 participants in WP Labuan. Reliability testing on internal consistency and content validity was performed on the adapted Covid-19 Peritraumatic Distress Index (CPDI) as well as domain on knowledge, practice and attitude of self-medication.
RESULT: A panel of seven experts evaluated the research instrument for content validity and it was found to have good content item validity. The CPDI domain showed good internal consistency of Cronbach's Alpha of 0.919. The mean (SD) CPDI score of the respondents in WP Labuan was 32.55 (15.98). 64.2% of the respondents experienced psychological distress. The variable for Area (town/countryside) was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) to be associated with self-medication during the pandemic.
CONCLUSION: The instrument established sound reliability and validity and therefore, can be an effective tool for assessing psychological distress and self-medication in the Malaysian population.
OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to investigate the available literature on the shared molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation in AD and epilepsy.
METHODS: The search included in this systematic review was obtained from 5 established databases. A total of 2,760 articles were screened according to inclusion criteria. Articles related to the modulation of the inflammatory biomarkers commonly associated with the progression of AD and epilepsy in all populations were included in this review.
RESULTS: Only 7 articles met these criteria and were chosen for further analysis. Selected studies include both in vitro and in vivo research conducted on rodents. Several neuroinflammatory biomarkers were reported to be involved in the cross-talk between AD and epilepsy.
CONCLUSION: Neuroinflammation was directly associated with the advancement of AD and epilepsy in populations compared to those with either AD or epilepsy. However, more studies focusing on common inflammatory biomarkers are required to develop standardized monitoring guidelines to prevent the manifestation of epilepsy and delay the progression of AD in patients.