METHODS: Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) was used as a guide in developing the PEB framework. Specifically, three factors were identified-Self-awareness (Personal), Attitude (Personal and Environment) and Safe Practice (Behavior) as the potential predictors for online fraud victimization. A self-reporting questionnaire was developed based on the PEB framework and used to collect data targeting Malaysian adults. The study reports result from two separate datasets collected across two separate timelines. Study I involved data collection in January 2023 (n = 820) whereas Study II was conducted with a modified questionnaire from November 2023 -January 2024 (n = 629). Study I identified the online fraud victimization predictors through an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and a hierarchical binary logistic regression. The dataset from Study II was used to validate the online fraud victimization model derived from Study I by executing another round of hierarchical binary logistic regression.
RESULTS: Results from both the samples show that most of the respondents are aware of digital privacy. EFA from Study I yielded a five-factor solution with a total variance of 60.6%, namely, Self-awareness, Safe Practice, Bank Trust, Overconfidence and Social Influence. Hierarchical binary logistic regression results from both the studies were found to be consistent. Specifically, Overconfidence (β = 0.374; OR = 1.453; 95% CI [1.119, 1.887]; p = 0.005) and Social Influence (β = 0.332; OR = 1.225; 95% CI [1.077, 1.512]; p = 0.006) were found to significantly predict online fraud victimization as well as gender (β = 0.364; OR = 1.440; 95% CI [1.008, 2.016]; p = 0.045) with females exhibiting higher risks to victimization.
IMPLICATIONS: The emergence of Overconfidence and Social Influence as significant predictors can guide the development of targeted online fraud awareness campaigns and/or tools emphasizing critical thinking and skepticism. Policymakers can leverage this knowledge to implement regulations that reduce deceptive practices online, promote digital literacy programs, and mandate clearer consumer protections to mitigate the impact of social manipulation and overconfidence on fraud victimization.
CONCLUSION: This study identifies online fraud victimization predictors, hence improving our understanding of the factors behind this phenomenon-allowing for the development of effective preventive measures and policies to safeguard individuals and improve digital security. For instance, gender- specific educational campaigns can be developed to enhance awareness and equip women with strategies to detect and avoid scams. Additionally, addressing systemic factors like social norms and digital literacy gaps is crucial for creating equitable and effective solutions to reduce online fraud victimization.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop, test the reliability of, and validate the Tele-Primary Care Oral Health Clinical Information System (TPC-OHCIS) questionnaire for evaluating the implementation of maternal and child digital health information systems.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 phases. The first phase focused on content item development and was validated by a group of 10 experts using the content validity index. The second phase was to assess its psychometric testing for reliability and validity.
RESULTS: A structured questionnaire of 65 items was constructed to assess the TPC-OHCIS delivery for primary health care use based on literature and has been validated by 10 experts, and 319 respondents answered the 65-item TPC-OHCIS questionnaire, with mean item scores ranging from 1.99 (SD 0.67) to 2.85 (SD 1.019). The content validity, reliability, and face validity showed a scale-level content validity index of 0.90, scale-level content validation ratio of 0.90, and item-level face validity index of 0.76, respectively. The internal reliability was calculated as a Cronbach α value of 0.90, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.91. Scales were determined by the scree plot with eigenvalues >1, and 13 subscales were identified based on principal component analysis. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin value was 0.90 (P0.7. The Bartlett test of sphericity, determining construct validity, was found to be significant (P
METHODS: From August 2023 to September 2024, semi-structured interviews were conducted with sixteen Palliative Care, 12 Geriatrics and 13 Emergency physicians from various hospitals in Malaysia. Interview transcripts were analyzed using both inductive and deductive qualitative analyses.
RESULTS: Data analysis revealed three key domains: (1) living and dying well, (2) definition of suffering, and (3) impact of patient suffering on physicians.
CONCLUSION: Physicians' concepts of a good life and death frame their notions of suffering beyond the antithesis of a good life. Suffering is found to be distress at a loss of control, independence and dignity, alongside the presence of physical, emotional and existential distress. Witnessing patient suffering predisposes to physician suffering as they question their goals and roles in patient care. Our findings underscore the need for host organizations, hospitals and clinical departments to invest more in the care of their physicians. We believe these findings ought to be applicable to many resource-limited nations and other health care professionals beyond Malaysian shores.
SETTING: All glyphosate-related data of the Malaysia National Poison Centre from 2006 to 2023.
PARTICIPANTS: Telephone inquiries of incidents involving glyphosate made by healthcare professionals across Malaysia. Information received was recorded according to WHO guidelines.
OUTCOMES: The outcome is to provide an overview of national glyphosate poisoning epidemiology, including identifying risk factors and high-risk groups to strategise appropriate measures.
RESULTS: A total of 4548 glyphosate poisoning cases were reported, with males comprising 67.3% of cases. The most affected age groups were 21-30 years (25.5%) and 31-40 years (23.5%). Ingestion was the primary exposure route (93.0%). Intentional poisonings, mainly suicides, accounted for 68.4% (n=3078) of cases. Among the 1420 unintentional cases, 78.2% resulted from ingestion exposures. The incidence rate declined from 1.17 per 100 000 in 2011 to 0.61 in 2023. Significant associations were found between intentional ingestion and sociodemographic factors. From 2013 to 2023, 73.7% of cases were minor, 11.5% moderate, 0.8% severe and 0.1% fatal.
CONCLUSIONS: In Malaysia, the reported intentional glyphosate poisoning most commonly affects young adults, resulting in generally minor to moderate symptoms. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations on glyphosate use and improved mental health support, to mitigate poisoning risks. Continued surveillance and public education are essential to address this public health issue.
METHODS: Electronic health records were linked to echocardiography data between 2015 and 2021 from patients in Tayside, Scotland (population~450 000). Incident HF diagnosis was classified into inpatient or outpatient and stratified by ejection fraction (EF). A non-HF comparator group with normal left ventricular function was also defined. The primary outcome was time to cardiovascular death or hHF within 12 months of diagnosis.
RESULTS: In total, 5223 individuals were identified, 4231 with HF (1115 heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 666 heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction, 1402 heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and 1048 HF with unknown EF) and 992 with non-HF comparators. Of the 4231 HF patients, 2169 (51.3%) were diagnosed as inpatients. The primary outcome was observed in 1193 individuals with HF (28.1%) and 32 (3.2%) non-HF comparators and was significantly more likely to occur in individuals diagnosed as inpatients than outpatients (809 vs 384 events; adjusted HR: 1.62 (1.39-1.89), p<0.001), and this was consistent regardless of EF. For HFrEF patients first diagnosed as inpatients, those discharged on ≥2 GDMT had a reduced incidence of the primary outcome compared with those discharged on <2 GDMT (303 vs 175 events; adjusted HR: 0.72 (0.55-0.94), p=0.016).
CONCLUSIONS: Individuals whose first presentation was a HF hospitalisation had a significantly worse outcome than those who were diagnosed in the community. Among hospitalised individuals, higher use of GDMT was associated with improved outcomes. Our results highlight the importance of improving diagnostic pathways to allow for earlier identification and treatment of HF.
METHODS: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, covering studies published up to September 30, 2024. We included peer-reviewed observational studies evaluating the link between cannabis consumption and the risk of asthma diagnosis. Data synthesis employed a random-effects meta-analysis to account for heterogeneity. R statistical software (version 4.4) was used for statistical analyses.
RESULTS: The search yielded 8 relevant studies after screening 1,887 records. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for the association between cannabis consumption and the risk of asthma diagnosis was 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-1.44, indicating greater odds of having asthma compared to non-users. Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I² = 46%), and sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the findings.
CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis identifies a significant association between cannabis use and greater odds of having asthma. These findings emphasize the importance of raising awareness about the potential respiratory risks associated with cannabis use. Future research should prioritize identifying moderating factors, such as the frequency and mode of cannabis consumption, to enhance understanding of this association and provide a stronger evidence base for potential public health interventions.
CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.
METHODS: This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and included studies up to March 2024 from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Eligible studies were longitudinal, including prospective cohorts, nested case-controls, and post-hoc analyses of RCTs that reported stroke outcomes in relation to PPI use. Data were synthesized using random-effects meta-analysis models in R software version 4.3.
RESULTS: Our search yielded 41 studies encompassing over 800,000 participants globally. Meta-analysis of 14 observational studies revealed a slight but non-significant increased stroke risk among patients with prior CVD (pooled HR = 1.222, 95% CI: 0.963 to 1.481, I² = 78%). In contrast, analysis of 15 studies without prior CVD showed a modestly increased risk (pooled HR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.023 to 1.288, I² = 98%). Five RCTs involving patients with CVD reported a pooled RR of 1.158 (95% CI: 0.914 to 1.466), indicating no significant risk increase.
CONCLUSION: The association between PPI use and stroke risk appears modest and is influenced by the presence of cardiovascular conditions. Clinical decision-making should consider individual patient risk profiles, and further high-quality studies are needed to guide safer PPI prescribing practices.
METHODOLOGY: The COTRACO study is a quasi-experimental, parallel-group, non-randomized, before-and-after study. A community-based model will be implemented in 600 patients in Colombia and the Dominican Republic, involving NPHWs to: 1) apply standardized treatment algorithms, 2) promote adherence to healthy lifestyles, and 3) provide standardized pharmacological treatment. Propensity Score Matching will be used to select 300 patients in Chile and 1200 in Spain for comparison with standard care in these populations.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES: The primary outcome at 12 months of follow-up is the percentage of patients achieving controlled hypertension (defined as systolic BP
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Article searches were conducted using Tthe keywords "Guide Access Cavity Preparation" AND "Static Guide OR 3D Printing Template" AND "Dynamic Guide through digital databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Research articles published in English within the past five years (2019-2024) and in accordance with the PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) framework were also included in the study. Articles from the meta-analysis or systematic review study type, those that were not accessible in full text or in a paid format, and those that did not assess the use of guided endodontics in endodontic surgery were excluded. This scoping review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews without Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) criteria.
RESULTS: A total of 12 articles were reviewed, encompassing various locations, designs, type, and samples, which demonstrated the use of guided access cavity preparation has significant clinical applications and can provide accurate results in endodontic therapy.
CONCLUSION: Article searches were conducted using the keywords "Guide Access Cavity Preparation" AND 'Static Guide OR 3D Printing Template' AND" Dynamic Guide through digital databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. Research articles published in English within the past five years (2019-2024) and in accordance with the PCC (Population, Concept, and Context) framework were also included in the study. Articles from the meta-analysis or systematic review study type, those that were not accessible in full text or in a paid format, and those that did not assess the use of guided endodontics in endodontic surgery were excluded. This scoping review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews without Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) criteria. Studies show that advanced technologies in guided access cavity preparation endodontic treatment can improve dentin preservation, improve accuracy and predictability, particularly for root canal anomalies and difficult teeth, but clinicians must consider limitations and clinical applications. Clinicians must evaluate the limitations and clinical applications of guided endodontic access prior to its implementation.