Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 30 in total

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  1. Aljunid S, Maimaiti N, Ahmed Z, Muhammad Nur A, Md Isa Z, Azmi S, et al.
    Value Health Reg Issues, 2014 May;3:146-155.
    PMID: 29702920 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2014.04.008
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of introducing pneumococcal polysaccharide and nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in the National Immunization Programme of Malaysia. This study compared introducing PHiD-CV (10 valent vaccine) with current no vaccination, as well as against the alternative 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13).

    METHODS: A lifetime Markov cohort model was adapted using national estimates of disease burden, outcomes of pneumococcal disease, and treatment costs of disease manifestations including pneumonia, acute otitis media, septicemia, and meningitis for a hypothetical birth cohort of 550,000 infants. Clinical information was obtained by review of medical records from four public hospitals in Malaysia from the year 2008 to 2009. Inpatient cost from the four study hospitals was obtained from a diagnostic-related group-based costing system. Outpatient cost was estimated using clinical pathways developed by an expert panel. The perspective assessed was that of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

    RESULTS: The estimated disease incidence was 1.2, 3.7, 70, and 6.9 per 100,000 population for meningitis, bacteremia, pneumonia, and acute otitis media, respectively. The Markov model predicted medical costs of Malaysian ringgit (RM) 4.86 billion (US $1.51 billion) in the absence of vaccination. Vaccination with PHiD-CV would be highly cost-effective against no vaccination at RM30,290 (US $7,407) per quality-adjusted life-year gained. On comparing PHiD-CV with PCV13, it was found that PHiD-CV dominates PCV13, with 179 quality-adjusted life-years gained while saving RM35 million (US $10.87 million).

    CONCLUSIONS: It is cost-effective to incorporate pneumococcal vaccination in the National Immunization Programme of Malaysia. Our model suggests that PHiD-CV would be more cost saving than PCV13 from the perspective of the Ministry of Health of Malaysia.

    Study site: UKM Medical Centre, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Hospital
    Alor Setar, and Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  2. MOHAMAD HANIF AKMAL HUSSIN, WAN RAFIZAH WAN ABDULLAH, MOHAMAD AWANG
    MyJurnal
    Semiconductor oxides such as titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) are used as the photocatalyst for removing contaminants. In addition, TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles in the suspension form makes it difficult to be recovered and recycled. This study was conducted to investigate the efficiency of immobilizing TiO2 and ZnO nanoparticles in epoxy beads. The immobilization process using different ratios of photocatalysts TiO2/ZnO (1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3 and 0:1) fixed on epoxy material. These epoxy beads were used for dye removal in photocatalysis using methylene blue (MB) solution at a concentration of 10mg/L. Besides, epoxy beads also characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM), attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that the highly recommended epoxy bead is 3:1 ratio of TiO2/ZnO because it has good performance in dye degradation that proved from reducing concentration of MB to 2.4mg/L (76%). However, TiO2/ZnO characterization of 3:1 by SEM show on the surface the particle are found to be spherical in shape which is relatively high efficiency for the degradation, ATR-FTIR pattern in broad band 4000 cm-1 - 400cm-1 which correspond to hydroxyl stretching to be adsorbed at peak (474.49 cm-1 - 3722.61cm-1) respectively to the optimum for the degradation and TGA rate of change are 5mg to 2.5mg that residue (49.78%) due to decomposition or oxidation from mass loss. These findings are very effective and economical technique to be cost saving and highly efficient photocatalyst.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  3. Roslizar A, Alghoul MA, Bakhtyar B, Asim N, Sopian K
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:310539.
    PMID: 25485294 DOI: 10.1155/2014/310539
    Buildings are among the largest consumers of energy. Part of the energy is wasted due to the habits of users and equipment conditions. A solution to this problem is efficient energy usage. To this end, an energy audit can be conducted to assess the energy efficiency. This study aims to analyze the energy usage of a primary school and identify the potential energy reductions and cost savings. A preliminary audit was conducted, and several energy conservation measures were proposed. The energy conservation measures, with reference to the MS1525:2007 standard, were modelled to identify the potential energy reduction and cost savings. It was found that the school's usage of electricity exceeded its need, incurring an excess expenditure of RM 2947.42. From the lighting system alone, it was found that there is a potential energy reduction of 5489.06 kWh, which gives a cost saving of RM 2282.52 via the improvement of lighting system design and its operating hours. Overall, it was found that there is a potential energy reduction and cost saving of 20.7% when the energy conservation measures are earnestly implemented. The previous energy intensity of the school was found to be 50.6 kWh/m(2)/year, but can theoretically be reduced to 40.19 kWh/mm(2)/year.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings*
  4. Ang WL, Mohammad AW, Johnson D, Hilal N
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Mar 01;706:136047.
    PMID: 31864996 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136047
    Study of forward osmosis (FO) has been increasing steadily over recent years with applications mainly focusing on desalination and wastewater treatment processes. The working mechanism of FO lies in the natural movement of water between two streams with different osmotic pressure, which makes it useful in concentrating or diluting solutions. FO has rarely been operated as a stand-alone process. Instead, FO processes often appear in a hybrid or integrated form where FO is combined with other treatment technologies to achieve better overall process performance and cost savings. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review on the need for hybridization/integration for FO membrane processes, with emphasis given to process enhancement, draw solution regeneration, and pretreatment for FO fouling mitigation. In general, integrated/hybrid FO processes can reduce the membrane fouling propensity; prepare the solution suitable for subsequent value-added uses and production of renewable energy; lower the costs associated with energy consumption; enhance the quality of treated water; and enable the continuous operation of FO through the regeneration of draw solution. The future potential of FO lies in the success of how it can be hybridized or integrated with other technologies to minimize its own shortcomings, while enhancing the overall performance.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  5. Siow JY, Lai PS, Chua SS, Chan SP
    Int J Pharm Pract, 2009 Oct;17(5):305-11.
    PMID: 20214273
    In recent years, the usage of activated vitamin D (alpha-calcidol and calcitriol) in the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) has escalated and this has put unnecessary burden on the hospital's limited health care budget. The main aim of this study was to determine the effects of a clinical pharmacist's intervention in reducing the inappropriate use of activated vitamin D.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  6. Hassan Y, Al-Ramahi RJ, Aziz NA, Ghazali R
    Ann Pharmacother, 2009 Oct;43(10):1598-605.
    PMID: 19776297 DOI: 10.1345/aph.1M187
    Appropriate drug selection and dosing for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is important to avoid unwanted drug effects and ensure optimal patient outcomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  7. Hauswald M, Yeoh E
    Am J Emerg Med, 1997 Oct;15(6):600-3.
    PMID: 9337371
    Many of the costs associated with prehospital care in developed countries are covered in budgets for fire suppression, police services, and the like. Determining these costs is therefore difficult. The costs and benefits of developing a prehospital care system for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which now has essentially no emergency medical services (EMS) system, were estimated. Prehospital therapies that have been suggested to decrease mortality were identified. A minimal prehospital system was designed to deliver these treatments in Kuala Lumpur. The potential benefit of these therapies was calculated by using statistics from the United States corrected for demographic differences between the United States and Malaysia. Costs were extrapolated from the current operating budget of the Malaysian Red Crescent Society. Primary dysrhythmias are responsible for almost all potentially survivable cardiac arrests. A system designed to deliver a defibrillator to 85% of arrests within 6 minutes would require an estimated 48 ambulances. Kuala Lumpur has approximately 120 prehospital arrhythmic deaths per year. A 6% resuscitation rate was chosen for the denominator, resulting in seven survivors. Half of these would be expected to have significant neurological damage. Ambulances cost $53,000 (US dollars) to operate per year in Kuala Lumpur; 48 ambulances would cost a total of $2.5 million. Demographic factors and traffic problems would significantly increase the cost per patient. Other therapies, including medications, airway management, and trauma care, were discounted because both their additional cost and their benefit are small. Transport of patients (including trauma) is now performed by police or private vehicle and would probably take longer by ambulance. A prehospital system for Kuala Lumpur would cost approximately $2.5 million per year. It might save seven lives, three of which would be marred by significant neurological injury. Developing countries would do well to consider alternatives to a North American EMS model.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  8. Kalong NA, Yusof MM
    Stud Health Technol Inform, 2013;192:749-53.
    PMID: 23920657
    Despite the rapid application of the Lean method in healthcare, its study in IT environments, particularly in Health Information Systems (HIS), is still limited primarily by a lack of waste identification. This paper aims to review the literature to provide an insight into the nature of waste in HIS from the perspective of Lean management. Eight waste frameworks within the context of healthcare and information technology were reviewed. Based on the review, it was found that all the seven waste categories from the manufacturing sector also exist in both the healthcare and IT domains. However, the nature of the waste varied depending on the processes of the domains. A number of additional waste categories were also identified. The findings reveal that the traditional waste model can be adapted to identify waste in both the healthcare and IT sectors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings/economics*; Cost Savings/methods*
  9. Razidah Ismail
    Scientific Research Journal, 2006;3(1):37-52.
    MyJurnal
    The state space modeling approach was developed to cope with the demand
    and performance due to the increase in system complexity, which may have
    multiple inputs and multiple outputs (MIMO). This approach is based on timedomain
    analysis and synthesis using state variables. This paper describes the
    development of a state space representation of a furnace system of a combined
    cycle power plant. Power plants will need to operate optimally so as to stay
    competitive, as even a small improvement in energy efficiency would involve
    substantial cost savings. Both the quantitative and qualitative analyses of the
    state space representation of the furnace system are discussed. These include
    the responses of systems excited by certain inputs and the structural properties
    of the system. The analysis on the furnace system showed that the system is
    bounded input and bounded output stable, controllable and observable. In
    practice, the state space formulation is very important for numerical computation
    and controller design, and can be extended for time-varying systems.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  10. Jutarut Iewkittayakorn, Juntima Chungsiriporn, Prukraya Pongyeela
    Sains Malaysiana, 2017;46:1763-1769.
    Ammonium-enriched skim latex serum - used for absorption of contaminating ammonia gas - when composted with other rubber tree wastes, is promising as a good compost. The objective of this research was to utilize ammonium-enriched skim latex serum (S) as a raw composting ingredient after being combined with para sawdust (W1) and para rubber leaves (W2). Several ratios of S, W1 and W2 were experimented in a 15L composting vessel to determine the most effective compost. The best ratio was found to be 3:1:3 by weight at 12-day retention. The modified 30 L composting reactor employed with the derived optimum mixing conditions yielded N, P and K of 2.40, 1.51 and 14.84 %w/w. The growth of Brassica alboglabra after application of this compost combined with a chemical fertilizer generated the highest fresh weight (4.48 g/plant). Thus, compost from these wastes could be used as a fertilizer and logically should contribute to cost saving of waste disposal.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  11. Tan BY, Shafie AA, Hassali MAA, Saleem F
    SAGE Open Med, 2017;5:2050312117709189.
    PMID: 28839933 DOI: 10.1177/2050312117709189
    OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and costs of a calendar blister packaging intervention used to improve medication adherence.

    METHOD: A parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted with 73 hypertensive patients (intervention group = 35, control group = 38) at Hospital Kulim, Malaysia, for 7 months.

    RESULTS: The intervention group demonstrated a significant improvement in medication possession ratio (p cost per patient in the intervention group was MYR 2178.66 (~USD 526.95) (95% confidence interval = 1786.39-2570.94) compared to MYR 2693.09 (~USD 651.37) (95% confidence interval = 1903.23-3482.95) in the control group.

    CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that calendar blister packaging has a positive impact on medication adherence, blood pressure and also has the potential for considerable cost savings.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  12. Wong ZY, Alrasheedy AA, Hassali MA, Saleem F
    Res Social Adm Pharm, 2016 04 20;12(5):807-10.
    PMID: 27157864 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2016.04.002
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  13. Azlina Yahya, Osama Abdul Nasir
    Q Bulletin, 2019;1(28):36-44.
    MyJurnal
    Wastage due to unnecessary laboratory test requests is a major problem in government hospitals because they have cost implications. Although screening of infectious marker tests such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B antibody (AHBS) and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)) before testing have been put in place, inappropriate tests were still being carried out in the Serology laboratory, which resulted in wasted human resources and reagents, increased workload and increased maintenance costs. Based on the verification studies using the Laboratory Information System (LIS), we observed only 70% of the tests followed the ordering guidelines or test specifications. Thus, we aim to increase the standard to more than 95% of the infectious marker test requests which were appropriate according to a few guidelines.
    A cross-sectional study was conducted for all infectious marker tests received at Serology Laboratory from January 2015 to June 2016 to verify the problem. A workplace audit and questionnaire survey on the staff were carried out to gain more information. Low level of knowledge, unavailability of standardised guidelines for quick and easy reference, lack of staff and inefficient work processes were among the main contributing factors. Empowering new staff to screen specimens, developing simple and informative screening guidelines, providing adequate trays and refrigerators for screening purposes and strengthening and developing a more effective process of care were the strategies taken during this study.
    The appropriate tests carried out from July to September 2015, October to December 2015, January to March 2016 and April to June 2016 were 99%, 98.80%, 99.50%, 98.90% respectively. During the same period, 711, 411, 710 and 768 tests were rejected. We monitored the performance and managed to achieve 100% appropriate testing for the period of July 2016 to June 2018 and an estimation of MYR 73,437.50 cost saving was achieve
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  14. Mohd-Tahir NA, Li SC
    PLoS One, 2019;14(2):e0212832.
    PMID: 30817790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212832
    INTRODUCTION: Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RAS) drugs have a proteinuria-reducing effect that could prevent the progression of kidney disease in diabetic patients. Our study aimed to assess the budget impact based on healthcare payer perspective of increasing uptake of RAS drugs into the current treatment mix of standard anti-hypertensive treatments to prevent progression of kidney disease in patient's comorbid with hypertension and diabetes.

    METHODS: A Markov model of a Malaysian hypothetical cohort aged ≥30 years (N = 14,589,900) was used to estimate the total and per-member-per-month (PMPM) costs of RAS uptake. This involved an incidence and prevalence rate of 9.0% and 10.53% of patients with diabetes and hypertension respectively. Transition probabilities of health stages and costs were adapted from published data.

    RESULTS: An increasing uptake of RAS drugs would incur a projected total treatment cost ranged from MYR 4.89 billion (PMPM of MYR 27.95) at Year 1 to MYR 16.26 billion (PMPM of MYR 92.89) at Year 5. This would represent a range of incremental costs between PMPM of MYR 0.20 at Year 1 and PMPM of MYR 1.62 at Year 5. Over the same period, the care costs showed a downward trend but drug acquisition costs were increasing. Sensitivity analyses showed the model was minimally affected by the changes in the input parameters.

    CONCLUSION: Mild impact to the overall healthcare budget has been reported with an increased utilization of RAS. The long-term positive health consequences of RAS treatment would reduce the cost of care in preventing deterioration of kidney function, thus offsetting the rising costs of purchasing RAS drugs. Optimizing and increasing use of RAS drugs would be considered an affordable and rational strategy to reduce the overall healthcare costs in Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  15. Zaidi ST, Hassan Y, Postma MJ, Ng SH
    Pharm World Sci, 2003 Dec;25(6):299-302.
    PMID: 14689820
    To analyse clinical pharmacists interventions in the ICU of the Penang General Hospital (Penang, Malaysia) and to assess the pharmaco-economic impact of these interventions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings/economics
  16. Sze WT, Kong MC
    Pharm Pract (Granada), 2018 06 17;16(2):855.
    PMID: 30023021 DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2018.02.855
    Background: Early intravenous to oral (IV-PO) antibiotics switch, which is one of the important elements in antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is not well implemented in Malaysian district hospitals. A systematic interventional strategy is required to facilitate IV-PO antibiotic switch.

    Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of printed AMS recommendations on early IV-PO antibiotics switch practice in district hospitals.

    Methods: This study was an interventional study conducted in medical wards of eight Sarawak district hospitals from May to August 2015. In pre-intervention phase, pharmacists performed the conventional practice of reviewing medication charts and verbally informed the prescribers on eligible IV-PO switches. In post-intervention phase, pharmacists attached printed checklist which contained IV-PO switch criteria to patients' medical notes on the day patients were eligible for the switch. Stickers of IV-PO switch were applied to the antibiotic prescription to serve as reminders.

    Results: 79 and 77 courses of antibiotics were studied in the pre-intervention phase and post-intervention phase respectively. Timeliness of switch was improved by 1.63 days in the post-intervention phase (95%CI 1.26:2.00 days, p<0.001). Mean duration of IV antibiotics in the post-intervention phase was shorter than pre-intervention phase (2.81 days (SD=1.77) vs 4.05 days (SD=2.81), p<0.001). The proportion of IV-PO switches that were only performed upon discharge reduced significantly in the post-intervention phase (31.2% vs 82.3%, p<0.001). Length of hospital stay in the post-intervention phase was shortened by 1.44 days (p<0.001). Median antibiotic cost savings increased significantly in the post-intervention phase compared to the pre-intervention phase [MYR21.96 (IQR=23.23) vs MYR13.10 (IQR=53.76); p=0.025)].

    Conclusions: Pharmacist initiated printed AMS recommendations are successful in improving the timeliness of IV-PO switch, reducing the duration of IV, reducing the length of hospitalisation, and increasing antibiotic cost savings.

    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  17. Ping CC, Bahari MB, Hassali MA
    Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf, 2008 Jan;17(1):82-9.
    PMID: 17879323
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the generic substitution (GS) practices undertaken by community pharmacists in the State of Penang, Malaysia with a focus on the extent of communication between pharmacists and prescribers on issues related to GS, consumer's acceptance on the GS and estimation of cost saving achieved for patients opted for GS.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  18. Vogel K, Karltun J, Yeow PH, Eklund J
    Meat Sci, 2015 Jul;105:81-8.
    PMID: 25828161 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.03.009
    The beef industry worldwide is showing a trend towards increased cutting pace aimed at higher profits. However, prior research in the duck meat industry suggested that a higher cutting pace reduced quality and yield, leading to losses. This study aimed to test this hypothesis by investigating the effects of varying beef-cutting paces on yield, quality and economy. A field experiment was conducted on six workers cutting beef fillet, sirloin and entrecôte. Three types of paces were sequentially tested: Baseline (i.e., status quo), 'Quantity focus' (i.e., pace required to maximise quantity) and 'Quality focus' (i.e., pace required to minimise errors). The results showed a significant drop in yield, increased rate of quality deficiency and economic losses with the change to 'Quantity focus' (from Baseline and 'Quality focus') for all meat types. Workers supported these results and also added health problems to the list. The results confirmed that an increased cutting pace is unprofitable.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  19. Siti Munira Yasin, Harizah Mad Hisma, Mazlifah Omar, Nurhuda Ismail, Zahir Izuan Azhar, Zalina Omar, et al.
    Jurnal Inovasi Malaysia, 2020;4(1):61-78.
    MyJurnal
    Cigarette smoke produces more than 4,000 toxic chemicals and 53 of these chemicals can cause cancer. Smoking increases your health risks such as lung cancer, heart attack and stroke. In Malaysia, between 10% and 12% of causes of death are caused by smoking and this results in over 10,000 deaths a year. According to the National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) in 2015, the number of smokers aged 15 and above in Malaysia is estimated to be more than 5 million (22.8%). This alarming amount will lead to increased health costs. Smoking can also lead to a reduction in worker productivity and air pollution and the pollution due to cigarette smoke. Therefore, smokers need to be aware of the effects of smoking habits and the importance of maintaining a tobacco-free environment for the health and well-being of their families, friends and the community around them. To address this, Smoke Busters have created an innovation called Blue Ribbon Star Certification with an additional component of humanization into the TFI Buddies existing Blue Ribbon Certification. The main goal of this innovation is to make University of Technology MARA (UiTM) campuses 100% tobacco free. The first project at the Sungai Buloh Campus resulted in a decrease in the percentage of ‘hotspots’, whereby the number of cigarette butts was found to be greatly reduced. In addition, the percentage of staff with good knowledge and attitude on the effects of cigarettes increased. Feedback from users comprising staff and students also showed a very positive response. The direct impact on faculty and campuses include cost savings in terms of medical expenses and increase in staff productivity. The long-term effects include enhancing UiTM’s image nationally and internationally. From a social point of view, this in addition creates a more caring and responsible generation of colleagues and the environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
  20. Huck-Soo L, Richardson S
    J Hum Ergol (Tokyo), 2012 Dec;41(1-2):1-16.
    PMID: 25665194 DOI: 10.11183/jhe.41.1
    The two final decades of the 20th century saw a significant increase in ergonomics activity (and resulting publications) in industrially developing countries (IDCs). However, a few ergonomics papers from Singapore, for example, were published in 1969 and 1970. This paper reviews developments in ergonomics in industrially developing countries from 1969 relying heavily on published papers although their quality varies considerably. Some criticism of these papers is offered. Most were concerned with the use of work tools, workstation operations, material handling and working environments especially in tropical climates. The similar problems encountered in a variety of countries are discussed, and the importance of low-cost solutions stressed. This study presents an overview of er gonomics research in IDCs. It concentrates on ASEAN countries whilst recognising the valuable work done in other areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cost Savings
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