Methods: A cross-sectional and prospective design was used. Our sample consisted of 287 students aged 18-24 years from the University of Sharjah-UAE. Participants were tested for serum 25(hydroxyvitamin)D levels, Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and the survey was completed. The association between VDD, VDI with the participant's characteristics, and the incidents of RTIs were examined.
Results: VDD and VDI were highly prevalent among 85% of the students. The median serum 25(OH) D level was 15.8 ng/dl (19.5±11.6). The mean BMI was (24.32±6.3) kg/m. The results showed a significant positive correlation between VDI and VDD with gender and students who were previously diagnosed with VDD (P
Methods: A 3-month cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with T2DM at Al-Daraja Health Center, located in Wad Medani, Sudan. A convenient sample of patients was selected, and the study sample size was calculated using the item response ratio. Factorial, known group, and construct validities were determined. Internal consistency and reliability were also determined.
Results: Responses were provided by 500 patients. The average medication adherence score was 30 (median 31). The normed fit index (NFI) was 0.950, the comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.963, the incremental fit index (IFI) was 0.963, and the root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.071. The results from these fit indices indicated a good model. Factorial, known group and construct validities were all established. A significant association was found between adherence score and age (P = 0.03) since a larger proportion of older patients were found to have high adherence compared to patients in other age groups. The reliability (α) of the questionnaire was 0.834.
Conclusion: The Arabic version of GMAS was validated in Sudanese patients with T2DM making it a suitable scale to be used in this population.
Materials and methods: A systematic literature survey was adopted in this paper, involving the review of 25 relevant researched articles found in the databases Science Direct, EBSCO, MEDLINE, CINAHL and PubMed.
Result: The systematic literature survey reveals five variables to be core predictors of TQM, signifying how important these variables are in the successful implementation of TQM in the health-care context. Also, it is revealed that the identified core predictors have positive effects on an improved health-care system. However, the systematic survey of the literature reveals a dearth of studies on TQM in the health-care context.
Conclusion: As TQM has become an important management approach for advancing effectiveness in the health-care sector, this kind of research is of value to researchers and managers. Stakeholders in the health sectors should introduce and implement TQM in hospitals and clinics. Nevertheless, this study has limitations, including that the databases and search engines adopted for the literature search are not exhaustive.
Methods: An online survey was sent to all registered undergraduate nursing students at Fujian Medical University, China. The partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used to investigate key factors influencing turnover intention.
Results: A total of 1020 complete responses were received (response rate: 86.2%). Nearly half (49.1%) reported that they would choose not to be on a nursing course if given a choice, 45.4% often think of not going into the nursing profession in the future, and 23.7% would consider entering a healthcare industry that has zero contact with patients. The total turnover intention score range was 3 to 15, and the mean ± standard deviation (SD) was 9.2 (SD ± 2.5). PLS-SEM path analysis revealed that fear of COVID-19 (β = 0.226, p < 0.001) had a positive effect on turnover intention. Satisfaction with life (β = -0.212, p < 0.001) had a negative effect on turnover intention. Analysis of open-ended survey data on students' perspectives on how to encourage nursing students to enter the nursing workforce revealed five central themes: 1) professional role, respect, and recognition; 2) higher wages; 3) reduce workload; 4) enhance occupational health and safety; and 5) career advancement opportunities.
Conclusion: Factors influencing turnover intention and suggestions to reduce students' apprehension towards joining the nursing profession found in this study should be seriously taken into consideration in initiatives to address the nurse shortages.
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over five months among King Khalid University students, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Results: Among all the study participants, nearly 98.7% were practicing self-medication. Headache (75.9%), cough and cold (52.5%), and fever (35.6%) and body pain (24.6%) were the most reported symptoms. Use of painkillers (91.6%) was significantly predominant among the medical students, whereas non-medical students used antibiotics (35.4%).Time saving (64.2%), mild symptom (51.7%) and quick relief (36.9%) were the reasons behind seeking self-medication in this study.
Conclusion: Self-medications was common in King Khalid University. Educational programs are highly recommended.
METHODS: A total of 266 healthcare workers working in a medical college in Nepal were studied using a questionnaire consisting of three sections: demographics, experiences and perception of COVID-19, and COVID-19 vaccine safety. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26. The total perception score was calculated by noting respondent's agreement with a set of eleven statements using a Likert-type scale. Non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis) were used for analysis (p<0.05).
RESULTS: Altogether, 13.9% of respondents had been diagnosed COVID-19 positive prior to the survey. Many considered themselves to be at increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Only over one third (38.3%) were willing to be vaccinated. The most common reason for refusal/hesitancy was concern about vaccine safety. The median (interquartile range) total perception score was 36 (4) (maximum possible score=55). The score was significantly higher among those who had been diagnosed COVID positive, those who perceived the pandemic as being moderate or severe and among those willing to be vaccinated.
CONCLUSION: Addressing doubts related to vaccine safety and providing more data on the safety of vaccine may be helpful in overcoming hesitancy.
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the PPD content in hair dyes by measuring the PPD concentration after mixing the ingredients of commercial hair dyes.
METHODS: A total of 290 permanent hair dyes were tested. RP-HPLC-DAD analysis was performed to determine and quantify the PPD content.
RESULTS: The estimated mean of the PPD limit was 0.89 (95% CI [0.81-0.96]). Of the 290 tested hair dyes, 7.2% (n = 21) exceeded the recommended PPD concentration after mixing. Significantly more hair dyes manufactured in India and China had a PPD content exceeding 2% after mixing compared to dyes from other regions (P = 0.001). Moreover, hair dyes manufactured in India and the UAE were more likely to have incomplete descriptions of the conditions of use and warnings on the label (P = 0.002).
CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of the current regulations relevant to these products should be reevaluated. Moreover, through the use of good manufacturing procedures (GMPs), research, and the reporting of adverse reactions, hair dyes should be subjected to better control and monitoring in terms of their safety and quality.
METHODS: A nationwide, cross-sectional, and population-based study was conducted online in Malaysia from 28th April 2023 to 4th June 2023. Individuals aged 18 years and above were enrolled through the snowball sampling method. Data were analyzed by using the Chi-Square test, independent t-test, and binary logistic regression.
RESULTS: One thousand four hundred fifty-three responses were included in the analysis. Of these respondents, 89.3% were willing, 4.1% were reluctant, and 6.6% remained hesitant to perform COVID-19 self-testing, The common reasons given by those willing to perform COVID-19 self-testing included being able to self-isolate (99.0%) and seek treatment (96.3%) earlier if tested positive. The common reasons against COVID-19 self-testing included the belief that COVID-19 is equivalent to the common flu (91.7%) and having received the COVID-19 vaccine (78.3%). The isolation policy for COVID-19 was the most significant consideration for those who were still hesitant (85.4%). Women [adjusted odds ratios (OR): 2.1, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI): 1.44-3.00, p < 0.001], individuals with tertiary education (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.32-3.26, p = 0.002), those vaccinated against COVID-19 (OR: 8.1, 95% CI: 2.63-24.82, p < 0.001), and individuals with prior experience of COVID-19 self-testing (OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.84-6.12, p < 0.001) showed a significantly higher willingness to engage in COVID-19 self-testing.
CONCLUSION: The public exhibited a high willingness to perform COVID-19 self-testing during the transition to the endemic phase in Malaysia. Future strategies to promote COVID-19 self-testing uptake in Malaysia should focus on vulnerable groups, address the common concerns among those hesitant and reluctant, and highlight the advantages of COVID-19 self-testing.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2019 among 178 hospital workers at the Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study utilized a self-administered questionnaire that consisted of items on sociodemographics, work characteristics, sources of bullying, and the validated Malay version of the 23-item Negative Acts Questionnaire - revised to determine the prevalence of bullying. Descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
Results: The prevalence of workplace bullying in this sample was 11.2%. Superiors or supervisors from other departments and colleagues were the main perpetrators. In the multivariate model, working for 10 years or less (aOR 4, 95% CI 1.3-12.3; P=0.014) and not being involved in patient care (aOR 5, 95% CI 2.5-10; P<0.001) were statistically significant attributes associated with workplace bullying.
Conclusion: Workplace bullying in the current study was strongly associated with occupational characteristics, particularly length of service and service orientation of the workers. Hospital directors and managers could undertake preventive measures to identify groups vulnerable to bullying and subsequently craft appropriate coping strategies and mentoring programs to curb bullying.
Methods: The drug classification systems of the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Canada were selected to study alongside Thailand's system. The regulatory review was conducted through each country's drug regulatory agency website and available published research. Complementary interviews with drug regulatory authorities were conducted when written documentation was unclear and had limited access. Fifty-two common drugs were selected to compare their actual classifications across the different countries.
Results: All selected countries classified drugs into two major groups: prescription drugs and non-prescription drugs. The studied countries further sub-classified non-prescription drugs into 1-4 categories. Principles of drug classification criteria among countries are similar; they comprised of three themes: disease characteristics, drug safety profile, and other drug characteristics. Actual drug classification of antibiotics, dyslipidemia treatments, and hypertension treatments in Thailand are notedly different from other countries. Furthermore, 77.4% of drugs studied in Thailand fall into the behind-the-counter (dangerous) drug category, which varied from antihistamines to antibiotics, dyslipidemia treatments, and vaccines.
Conclusion: Thailand's drug classification criteria are comparable with other nations; however, there is a need to review drug classification statuses as many drugs have been classified into improper drug categories.
Methods: We have selected a total of nine Asian nations, based on the strength of their economic output and long-term real GDP growth rates. The OECD members included Japan and the Republic of Korea, while the seven non-OECD nations were China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand. Healthcare systems efficiency was analyzed over the period 1996-2017. To assess the effectiveness of healthcare expenditure of each group of countries, the two-way fixed effects model (country- and year effects) was used.
Results: Quality of governance and current health expenditure determine healthcare system performance. Population density and urbanization are positively associated with a healthy life expectancy in the non-OECD Asian countries. In this group, unsafe water drinking has a statistically negative effect on healthy life expectancy. Interestingly, only per capita consumption of carbohydrates is significantly linked with healthy life expectancy. In these non-OECD Asian countries, unsafe water drinking and per capita carbon dioxide emissions increase infant mortality. There is a strong negative association between GDP per capita and infant mortality in both sub-samples, although its impact is far larger in the OECD group. In Japan and South Korea, unemployment is negatively associated with infant mortality.
Conclusion: Japan outperforms other countries from the sample in major healthcare performance indicators, while South Korea is ranked second. The only exception is per capita carbon dioxide emissions, which have maximal values in the Republic of Korea and Japan. Non-OECD nations' outcomes were led by China, as the largest economy. This group was characterized with substantial improvement in efficiency of health spending since the middle of the 1990s. Yet, progress was noted with remarkable heterogeneity within the group.
Methods: A cross-sectional, self-administered online survey was carried out between 3 September and 15 October 2020.
Results: A total of 8393 complete responses were received from a nationwide sample. Poor sustainability in the practice of "new norm" was reported. Noteworthy disparities were observed in willingness to carry out "new normal" practices by gender, urban-rural locality, non-Han and Han Chinese and educational attainment. There was evidence of economic and social disruption associated with COVID-19 or "new normal" practices. The current mean (±standard deviation [SD]) happiness score (110.45 ± 17.55) was slightly lower than the mean happiness score before (111.12 ± 17.83) the COVID-19 pandemic (t= -9.01, p<0.001). Lower socioeconomic status and greater economic and social disruptions were associated with lower current happiness scores. Moreover, greater willingness to adapt to "new normal" practices was associated with higher levels of happiness.
Conclusion: There is a need to encourage sustainable practice of new norm post-pandemic. Segments of the public continue to experience significant economic and social effects and the post-pandemic 'new norms' remain at risk of leading to psychological consequences.
METHODS: This observational study used an online survey and included 143 OR workers. Descriptive statistics and multilinear regression were used to examine how patient safety culture and infection prevention affects level of patient safety.
RESULTS: Most responders worked in excellent-accredited general hospitals. Most responders were male, aged between 26 to 40 years old, and had bachelor's degrees. Most were hospital-experienced nurses. Less than half had worked in units for over ten years. Organizational Learning - Continuous Improvement; Teamwork and Handoffs; and Information Exchange had the most positive responses in the OR. However, Staffing, Work Pace, and Patient Safety ranked lowest. Organizational Learning - Continuous Improvement and Hospital Management Support for Infection Prevention Efforts were found to affect OR patient safety level perceptions.
CONCLUSION: According to the findings of our study, the overall patient safety culture in the operating room remains weak which highlights the importance of continuing efforts to improve patient safety in the OR. Further study could be directed to identify organizational learning in infection prevention to enhance the patient safety in the OR.
Methods: A multidisciplinary group of experts from six ASEAN member states convened for two face-to-face meetings to discuss barriers and possible recommendations for optimizing NCD management, focused on cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, in the region. Multiple approaches, ie, analysis of insights from the meetings and a review of existing literature on NCD programs in the ASEAN region were followed. The proposed recommendations were also based on selected successful interventions in ASEAN member states, thus providing actionable strategies.
Results: The gaps identified in NCD management for cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders in the ASEAN region were classified into gaps relating to policies and to clinical and public health practice. The proposed solutions addressing policy gaps include fostering multisectoral public-private partnerships, employing "whole-of-government" and "whole-of-society" approaches and promoting "health-in-all policies approach" to manage issues with financing, accessibility, efficiency and quality of health services. Whereas proposed solutions to bridge clinical and public health practice gaps entail strengthening primary care services, building the capacity of trained healthcare workers and employing collaborative care for holistic management of patients.
Conclusion: The scale of premature and preventable deaths from NCDs in the ASEAN region remains a serious public health concern and requires a "whole-of-system approach". The interventions proposed in this paper build on regional collaborations and knowledge sharing to help develop a concerted and targeted response to NCDs.