Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 107 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Utilization of information technology in medical education: a questionnaire survey of students in a Malaysian institution
    Nurjahan MI, Lim TA, Yeong SW, Foong AL, Ware J
    Med J Malaysia, 2002 Dec;57 Suppl E:58-66.
    PMID: 12733195
    OBJECTIVE: The objective of this survey was to obtain a self-reported assessment of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by medical students at the International Medical University, Malaysia.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Students' perceived skills and extent of usage of ICT were evaluated using a questionnaire. Chi-square analysis were performed to ascertain the association between variables. Further statistical testing using Chi-square test for trend was done when one of the variables was ordered, and Spearman rank correlation when both variables were ordered.
    RESULTS: Overall, (98%) of students responded to the questionnaire. Twenty seven students (5.7%) did not use a computer either in the university or at home. Most students surveyed reported adequate skills at word processing (55%), e-mailing (78%) and surfing the internet (67%).
    CONCLUSION: The results suggests that in order to increase the level of computer literacy among medical students, positive steps would need to be taken, for example the formal inclusion of ICT instruction in the teaching of undergraduate medicine. This will enhance medical students' ability to acquire, appraise, and use information in order to solve clinical and other problems quickly and efficiently in the course of their studies, and more importantly when they graduate.
  2. Fulltext Use of prescription medicines in Malaysia 2005
    Sarojini S, Faridah A, Lim CM, Sameerah SA, Lim TO, Lai LS, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Aug;63(3):203-6.
    PMID: 19248690 MyJurnal
    The National Medicines Use Survey (NMUS) which started in 2004 and is still ongoing was conducted with the intent to continuously and systematically collect data on the use of medicines, to provide an overview on the use of medicines in Malaysia. The objective of the NMUS is therefore to quantify the present state and time trends of medicines utilization at various levels of our health care system whether national, regional, local or institutional. From the data available, for the Year 2005, the most commonly used medicine in Malaysia were anti-diabetic medications, of which glibenclamide is the most common followed by metformin, were the top 2 of the list of drugs utilized in DDD/1000 population/day. Collectively, however, taking into account the various antihypertensives by therapeutic groups, anti-hypertensive medicines were more commonly used than anti-diabetics. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the two most prevalent chronic disorders in the country and thus, such high medicines utilization rates for these conditions are to be expected. From the general practice prescription data, it was estimated that a patient with hypertension was prescribed a median of only one (1) anti-hypertensive medication. This means, the vast majority of patients (81%) were on monotherapy, which is hardly sufficient to achieve treatment target. Clearly then, given the prevalence of hypertension, many patients were not on drug treatment at all, and of those treated, their drug treatment are likely to be inadequate.
  3. Fulltext Ureteral injuries in an obstetric and gynaecology teaching hospital
    Yeong CT, Lim TLW, Tan KH
    Med J Malaysia, 1998 Mar;53(1):51-8.
    PMID: 10968138
    Between November 1994 to May 1996, there was a total of eight ureteric injuries out of 2495 major gynaecologic operations and one ureteric injury out of 4146 caesarean sections at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital, giving the incidence to be 0.3% and 0.02% respectively. Antecedent operations were four abdominal hysterectomies, two Werthiem's hysterectomies, one laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy and one caesarean section. All operations were performed by qualified specialists. Three patients had previous abdominal operations and five patients had procedures complicated by dense adhesions. Only one injury was detected intraoperatively and the rest presented with uretero-vaginal fistula. One presented with immediate postoperative anuria. The average time interval for diagnosis ranged between one day and twenty-three days (average 10.7 days). The commonest damage was transection of the ureter. Double J stents were used in all repairs with two cases requiring reimplantation with psoas hitch, and two cases of ureteroneocystostomies and one case of primary reanastomosis. There were no mortality in our series.
  4. Fulltext The role of DRE in the diagnosis of prostate carcinoma
    Chong WL, Sahabudin RM, Teh GC, Woo SYY, Lim TC, Khairullah A
    Med J Malaysia, 2001 Jun;56(2):167-73.
    PMID: 11771076
    DRE has been used as a diagnostic and screening tool for prostate cancer for decades. However these are based on Western data and its local applicability has yet to be verified. We held a Prostate Health Awareness Week in August 1998 and a total of 2086 men were screened. All men aged 50 years old and above were included for the study. The subjects were evaluated on DRE findings, PSA levels and if indicated a TRUS-guided biopsy results. We concluded that DRE per se might have limited role in the screening of prostate cancer in Malaysia. Screening using DRE and PSA combined are still recognized as the most cost-effective means. Neither DRE nor PSA alone has high enough specificity for diagnosis of prostate cancer cases. Combining DRE and PSA will definitely increase the specificity significantly.

    Study site: e Urology
    Clinic of Kuala Lumpur Hospital
  5. The effect of diethylcarbamazine citrate on incidence and recovery rates of Brugia malayi microfilaremia in Sabah, Malaysia
    Hiil JL, Kan SK, Parmar SS, Chan MK, Mak JW, Lim PK, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 1988 May;38(3):582-8.
    PMID: 3275137
    Mass drug administration via 3 modes of delivery reduced the incidence and prevalence rates and intensity of Brugia malayi infection in 3 rural villages in the Bengkoka Peninsula, Sabah, in 1982-1983. A dosage of 6 mg diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC-C)/kg body weight was administered either daily or weekly (total of 6 doses, 36 mg/kg body weight), and impact on B. malayi cases were comparable in the 3 villages. A total of 384 people participated in the DEC-C regimens, and all pregnant women and children under 2 years were excluded from the study. Bekessy's method of estimation of incidence and recovery rates was applied to data on B. malayi microfilaremia before drug administration. Treatment with DEC-C by any of the 3 modes of delivery drastically reduced the number of episodes of patent microfilaremia, incidence and prevalence, and median microfilarial density. Reduction was sustained for at least 18 to 24 months after treatment.
  6. The association between physical activity and burnout among anaesthesia postgraduate trainees in Malaysia
    Jaishree S, Chong KW, Lim TA
    Med J Malaysia, 2022 Nov;77(6):655-660.
    PMID: 36448381
    INTRODUCTION: Burnout is a psychological problem which is becoming more prevalent among medical professionals resulting in various negative outcomes. Physical activity has been found to be an effective method in alleviating burnout. The aim of this study was to determine the association between physical activity and burnout among postgraduate anaesthesia trainees in Malaysia. The study also intended to determine the level of physical activity among trainees, the factors affecting this practice, and the prevalence of burnout among anaesthesia trainees.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online self-administered questionnaire was sent out to all postgraduate anaesthesia trainees between August 2020 and January 2021 via email and respondents were recruited on a voluntary basis.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of burnout among postgraduate anaesthesia trainees was high (54%). This prevalence was higher among trainees with low a level of physical activity. Half of the trainees (50.8%) engaged in moderate physical activity while only 12% reported a high level of physical activity. The postgraduate study year was found to be a significant factor affecting the practice of physical activity.

    CONCLUSION: There is a significant association between physical activity and burnout among postgraduate anaesthesia trainees in Malaysia. Physical activity has the potential to be an essential method of reducing burnout. Hence, measures should be implemented to improve the practice of physical activity among healthcare professionals in order to reduce workplace burnout.

  7. Fulltext The National Medical Research Register--a vital link between current and future research
    Lim TO, Asmaliza SI, Goh PP, Michael AJ, Hon YK, Thandapani R, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2010 Jun;65 Suppl A:124-7.
    PMID: 21488472
    Registration of research proposal to a publicly accessible website with searchable function allows information sharing and ensures research transparency. The National Institutes of Health Malaysia, realising the importance of research registration, established the National Medical Research Register (NMRR) in 2007. The NMRR functions more than just a local register: it also links to ethics approval and MOH medical research grant application. It thus facilitates researchers in their application to the Ministry of Health Research and Ethics Committee (MREC) and for Ministry of Health research grant. In addition, MREC committee members can review research protocol on NMRR website, thus saving much time and resources. From May 2007 till December 2009, more than 3000 people have registered as NMRR public users and more than 1000 research proposals have been uploaded in NMRR. The number of registration of research proposals, clinical trials and industrial sponsored trials steadily increased from year 2007 to year 2009. The web-based NMRR is the first research register in the world that links research proposal registration to ethical review and research grant application. Its future plan is to be linked with publication. Therefore, it is indeed an innovation that Malaysians should be proud of.
  8. Fulltext The Mentakab hypertension study project. Part V--Drug compliance in hypertensive patients
    Lim TO, Ngah BA, Rahman RA, Suppiah A, Ismail F, Chako P, et al.
    Singapore Med J, 1992 Feb;33(1):63-6.
    PMID: 1598610
    Poor compliance with drug treatment is a barrier to effective management of hypertension. Drug compliance behaviour of 168 patients were studied, their drug compliance was measured by the pill-counting method. The prevalence of non-compliance with medication was 26%. Thirteen variables were examined for their association with compliance; these were age, sex, duration of hypertension since diagnosis, adequacy of blood pressure control, complexity of drug regimen and side-effect of drug, history of previous admission for hypertension related reason, patient's knowledge of hypertensive complications, patient's belief that drug was 'panas' or 'san', previous use of traditional treatment for hypertension, patient's fatalistic attitude, their social support and satisfaction with the health services. None of these variables were significantly related to compliance (p greater than 0.05) except adequacy of blood pressure control. The performance of patient self-report was compared with pill-count as a measure of drug compliance; it was poorly predictive of non-compliance (sensitivity = 71%, specificity = 50%). An inverse relationship was found between non-compliance with medication and patient subsequent drop-out rate. Patients who were compliant were more likely to remain on treatment and vice versa. As a measure of drug compliance, detection of drop-out compared well with pill-count (sensitivity 97%, specificity 66%, positive predictive value 89%, negative predictive value 88%).
    Study site: outpatient clinic, Hospital Mentakab, Pahang, Malaysia
  9. Fulltext The Mentakab Hypertension Study project. Part II--Why do hypertensives drop out of treatment?
    Lim TO, Ngah BA
    Singapore Med J, 1991 Aug;32(4):249-51.
    PMID: 1776004
    Sixty hypertensives admitted into medical wards were interviewed in depth to determine reasons for their previous drop out of treatment. Eighty five percent of the patients were lacking in motivation. This was related to patients' lack of understanding concerning hypertension and its treatment, erroneous beliefs concerning hypertension held by patients and patients' perceived barrier to treatment. The evidence for these reasons were as follows: 95% of the patients were unaware that hypertension is a long term condition requiring life-long treatment, 60% were unable to state the likely consequences of uncontrolled hypertension, 78% equated relief of symptoms like headache, dizziness with control of hypertension, 52% believed long term consumption of 'western' medication was harmful, 12% believed they had been cured by traditional (bomoh or sinseh) treatment, 72% complained of long waiting time required to obtain care. Economic reasons however were unimportant. Patient education and more convenient clinic locations are necessary but insufficient to ensure compliance. They are particular elements, among others, of a 'good' doctor-patient relationship, which fundamentally is the critical determinant of compliance.
  10. Fulltext The Mentakab Hypertension Study project. Part I--Complicated hypertensives in hospital: who are they?
    Lim TO, Ngah BA, Suppiah A, Ismail F, Abdul Rahman R
    Singapore Med J, 1991 Aug;32(4):245-8.
    PMID: 1776003
    Consecutive hypertensives admitted with cardiovascular complications were studied. One hundred and eight complicated hypertensives (10%) out of 1,066 medical admissions were seen in the three month study. Thirty three per cent had cerebrovascular disease, 30% ischaemic heart disease, 2% had malignant hypertension and 85% had hypertensive heart disease. All patients had uncontrolled hypertension at admission (mean blood pressure 184/115 mmHg). Twenty-four patients (22%) were newly diagnosed; of the rest of previously diagnosed hypertensives (78%), 3% had never been on treatment and 56% had dropped out of treatment, which explained their ineffective blood pressure control. However, 18% of patients had apparently been on regular follow up and treatment, and yet their blood pressure control was poor. Many patients had evidence of renal disease. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was also high; 56% had hypercholesterolaemia; 46% had hypertriglyceridaemia; 44% smoked, 38% were overweight or obese, and 18% were diabetic. This indicates that hypertension is best regarded as an ingredient of a cardiovascular risk profile and its management requires multifactorial correction of all risk factors identified.
  11. Fulltext The Mentakab Hypertension Study Project. Part III--Detection of hypertension in the outpatient department
    Lim TO, Ngah BA
    Singapore Med J, 1991 Oct;32(5):338-41.
    PMID: 1788580
    Undetected hypertension is an obstacle to effective blood pressure control in the community. A study was done to assess the justification of screening in the outpatient department. Only 13% of all visits to the outpatient department resulted in an attempt to detect hypertension. The common reasons leading to blood pressure measurement were headache and dizziness. Current practice of hypertension detection appeared inadequate and irrational. Nine per cent of all visits to the outpatient department were already accounted for by hypertensives. A screening survey found that 30% of all non-hypertensive patients attending outpatient department aged 30 years or more had blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mmHg. The drop out rate among these newly diagnosed hypertensives was 100%. Existing resources are already inadequate and existing hypertension care has also been shown to be inadequate. Screening can only be expected to considerably increase hypertensive patient load without however any assurance that effective long term care can be delivered. Labelling people as hypertensives in this manner may be harmful. The question of screening cannot be considered individually, separate from the entire problem of hypertension control. Detection must be linked to treatment in a programme designed to promote compliance and capable of delivering adequate care before it can be justified.

    Study site: Outpatient clinic, hospital mentakab
  12. Fulltext The Mentakab Hypertension Study Project Part VI--Blood pressure measurement and hypertension: a questionnaire survey of medical staff
    Lim TO
    Singapore Med J, 1992 Apr;33(2):160-3.
    PMID: 1621120
    A questionaire concerning various aspects of blood pressure measurement and hypertension was answered by 84 out of 98 (86%) doctors and 73 out of 100 (73%) nurses working in various parts of the state of Pahang. 59% and 85% of doctors and nurses respectively agreed that blood pressure should be measured routinely in all out-patients. 48% of medical staff were taught to use and 38% were actually using phase 4 as the diastolic blood pressure despite the general agreement that phase 5 should be used to denote diastolic pressure. 52% of doctors believed that hypertensive patients present with symptoms, the common symptoms cited were headache and dizziness, although it is well documented that hypertension is essentially asymptomatic. 93%, 80%, 69% and 82% of doctors believed that treatment of hypertension can prevent cerebrovascular disease, heart failure, renal failure and coronary artery disease respectively, although prevention of the last complication is yet unproven. Most doctors would begin treating a patient at rather low level of blood pressure, for example, for a man in the age group 40-49, 40% of doctors would begin drug treatment at diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg and 55% at diastolic pressure 95 mmHg. 79% of nurses and 55% of doctors were dissatisfied with the sphygmomanometer they have, the most common complaint was that the cuff-bladder 'blow up' on being inflated.
    Study site: doctors and nurses at private general practice, klinik kesihatan, district hospitals, Pahang, Malaysia
  13. Fulltext The Mentakab Hypertension Project. Part IV--Hypertension care: is it adequate? A criterion-based audit of hypertension care in a hospital
    Lim TO
    Singapore Med J, 1991 Dec;32(6):431-3.
    PMID: 1788603
    An audit to assess the adequacy of hypertension care was performed by examining the records and interviewing 55 selected hypertensive patients on treatment and follow-up at the outpatient department of a hospital. The patients selected had no previous record of drop out of treatment and had excellent compliance with drug therapy, so that ineffective blood pressure control cannot be attributable to these two reasons. Adequacy of care was measured by the number of patients whose management as indicated in their records complied with pre-defined criteria of adequate care. Only 18% of patients had achieved adequate blood pressure control. Assessment of patients was inadequate. None of the patients had been screened for secondary causes though 16% of patients had some basic investigations (urinalysis, blood urea and serum potassium), 5% had an assessment of target-organ damage, and 2% had been screened for other cardiovascular risk factors. Only 5% had a surveillance of side-effects from drug-therapy, 45% of the patients demonstrate adequate knowledge concerning complications of hypertension. The use of non-drug treatment was non-existent. The results of this study suggest that there were considerable deficiencies in the management of hypertension. Measures needed to overcome this are discussed.
  14. The 1982 dengue epidemic in Malaysia: epidemiological, serological and virological aspects
    Fang R, Lo E, Lim TW
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1984 Mar;15(1):51-8.
    PMID: 6740379
    In 1982, Malaysia experienced the worst dengue/dengue haemorrhagic fever outbreak in its history. All states in Peninsular and East Malaysia were similarly affected. There was a total of 3,005 cases with 35 deaths, with the majority of cases occurring between the months of July to October. There was a total of 1,001 laboratory confirmed cases. Most of the cases were in patients over the age of 15 years. The Chinese population was mainly affected, although a much higher proportion of Malays was noted in comparison to previous years. The main serotypes involved were dengue-1 and dengue-3. No dengue-4 serotype were isolated.
  15. The 1973 epidemic of dengue haemorrhagic fever in Malaysia: (a preliminary report)
    Lim TW, Wallace HG, Rudnick A, Cheong WH, Knudsen AB, Chew V
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1974 Sep;5(3):453-4.
    PMID: 4432105
  16. Target-Specific Sandwich Technique: Facial rejuvenation leveraging CPM technology
    Lim T, Frank K, Hadjab B
    J Cosmet Dermatol, 2022 Jan;21(1):207-219.
    PMID: 34255904 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.14342
    Injectable rejuvenation treatments used in Caucasians might not always suit Asians as the visible signs of aging manifest differently, underscoring a need for Asian-specific strategies that correct underlying structural deficiencies and cumulative age-related changes. The presented Target-Specific Sandwich Technique (TSST) aims to simultaneously restore, rejuvenate, and enhance faces through the distribution of minute amounts of different fillers with different rheologies, using a minimal number of entry points in strategic facial areas and different soft tissue layers in Asians. A total of 14 patients underwent the presented TSST and were subsequently assessed for satisfaction with the treatment and the outcome of the treatment. With 3 cc of fillers, patients experienced a rejuvenated appearance with brow support, brow ridge softening, less severe nasolabial folds, and corrected tear trough hollows. Fillers in the lateral canthal and mandibular angles lifted mouth corners, improved submandibular jowls, and defined the lower face. Although the prejowl sulcus received minimal filler, it appeared subtler, relaxed, and had fewer lines visible while smiling. Overall, patients appeared less tense, rejuvenated, and had improved light reflection and firmer skin. These were due to tissues being supported upward and laterally by fillers in areas of bone resorption-induced volume loss.
  17. Studies of bacterial disease in West Malaysian. Orang Asli (aborigines): previously unrecorded Salmonella Serotypes
    Anandan J, Lim TW, Haug NL
    Med J Malaya, 1969 Jun;23(4):269-71.
    PMID: 4242174
  18. Studies of bacterial disease in West Malaysian Orang Asli. Distribution of enteropathogens
    Haug NL, Davis CE, Anandan J, Lim TW
    Med J Malaya, 1969 Sep;24(1):24-31.
    PMID: 4243839
  19. Studies of bacterial disease in West Malaysian Orang Asli (Aborigines): an epidemic of whooping cough
    Haug NL, Anandan J, Ragan E, Lim TW
    Med J Malaya, 1969 Mar;23(3):192-8.
    PMID: 4240073
  20. Statistical process control tools for monitoring clinical performance
    Lim TO
    Int J Qual Health Care, 2003 Feb;15(1):3-4.
    PMID: 12630794 DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/15.1.3
Related Terms
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links