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  1. Fulltext Spinocerebellar ataxias in Asia: Prevalence, phenotypes and management
    van Prooije T, Ibrahim NM, Azmin S, van de Warrenburg B
    Parkinsonism Relat Disord, 2021 11;92:112-118.
    PMID: 34711523 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2021.10.023
    This paper reviews and summarizes three main aspects of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) in the Asian population. First, epidemiological studies were comprehensively reviewed. Overall, the most common subtypes include SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, and SCA6, but there are large differences in the relative prevalence of these and other SCA subtypes between Asian countries. Some subtypes such as SCA12 and SCA31 are rather specific to certain Asian populations. Second, we summarized distinctive phenotypic manifestations of SCA patients of Asian origin, for example a frequent co-occurrence of parkinsonism in some SCA subtypes. Lastly, we have conducted an exploratory survey study to map SCA-specific expertise, resources, and management in various Asian countries. This showed large differences in accessibility, genetic testing facilities, and treatment options between lower and higher income Asian countries. Currently, many Asian SCA patients remain without a final genetic diagnosis. Lack of prevalence data on SCA, lack of patient registries, and insufficient access to genetic testing facilities hamper a wider understanding of these diseases in several (particularly lower income) Asian countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Accessibility/trends
  2. Fulltext Mobile health-care information for all: a global challenge
    Royston G, Hagar C, Long LA, McMahon D, Pakenham-Walsh N, Wadhwani N, et al.
    Lancet Glob Health, 2015 Jul;3(7):e356-7.
    PMID: 26087979 DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(15)00054-6
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Needs and Demand*
  3. Fulltext Differences in public and private health services in a rural district of Malaysia.
    Aljunid SM, Zwi AB
    Med J Malaysia, 1996 Dec;51(4):426-36.
    PMID: 10968029
    A cross-sectional study, comparing the nature of services in 15 private clinics and 6 public health facilities, was undertaken in a rural district of Malaysia. Semi-structured interviews and observations using check-lists were employed. Public health facilities were run by younger doctors (mean age = 31.1 years), supported mostly by trained staff. The private clinics were run by older doctors (mean age = 41.2 years) who had served the district for much longer (8.9 years vs 1.5 years) but were supported by less well trained staff. The curative services were the main strength of the private clinics but their provision of preventive care was less comprehensive and of inferior quality. Private clinics were inclined to provide more expensive diagnostic services than the public facilities. 'Short hours' private clinics had very restricted opening hours and offered limited range of services.
    Comment in: Hee HW. Differences in public and private health services in a rural district of Malaysia. Med J Malaysia. 1997 Sep;52(3):296-8
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services*
  4. Fulltext Agents of change: The role of healthcare workers in the prevention of nosocomial and occupational tuberculosis
    Nathavitharana RR, Bond P, Dramowski A, Kotze K, Lederer P, Oxley I, et al.
    Presse Med, 2017 Mar;46(2 Pt 2):e53-e62.
    PMID: 28256382 DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2017.01.014
    Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a central role in global tuberculosis (TB) elimination efforts but their contributions are undermined by occupational TB. HCWs have higher rates of latent and active TB than the general population due to persistent occupational TB exposure, particularly in settings where there is a high prevalence of undiagnosed TB in healthcare facilities and TB infection control (TB-IC) programmes are absent or poorly implemented. Occupational health programmes in high TB burden settings are often weak or non-existent and thus data that record the extent of the increased risk of occupational TB globally are scarce. HCWs represent a limited resource in high TB burden settings and occupational TB can lead to workforce attrition. Stigma plays a role in delayed diagnosis, poor treatment outcomes and impaired well-being in HCWs who develop TB. Ensuring the prioritization and implementation of TB-IC interventions and occupational health programmes, which include robust monitoring and evaluation, is critical to reduce nosocomial TB transmission to patients and HCWs. The provision of preventive therapy for HCWs with latent TB infection (LTBI) can also prevent progression to active TB. Unlike other patient groups, HCWs are in a unique position to serve as agents of change to raise awareness, advocate for necessary resource allocation and implement TB-IC interventions, with appropriate support from dedicated TB-IC officers at the facility and national TB programme level. Students and community health workers (CHWs) must be engaged and involved in these efforts. Nosocomial TB transmission is an urgent public health problem and adopting rights-based approaches can be helpful. However, these efforts cannot succeed without increased political will, supportive legal frameworks and financial investments to support HCWs in efforts to decrease TB transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health Services/organization & administration
  5. Fulltext Isu dan cabaran dalam memberi perkhidmatan kesihatan semasa banjir di kawasan pedalaman – pengalaman daerah Kluang
    Maimon, A.K., Hamidah, A.L., Zuhaida, A.J.
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2009;15(3):68-74.
    MyJurnal
    Infrastructure damage due to land slide, fallen bridge and broken and submerged roads become the main constraint in providing good medical services to the flood victims and isolated places in the remote area. The health care provider has to face a huge challenge at delivering the medical services to the flood victims in Kluang district especially to the remote and isolated areas. This gives us a meaningful and valuable experience in managing such problem. From the true experience of the medical and health team and also the flood victims, few problems and major issues were detected. Other than the environmental factor, human error is another major area of concern of which the failure to interact with the District Flood Operation Centre leading to miscommunication resulting in delay of management of the patient. In smaller proportion, poor inter-agency collaboration and lacking of good equipment was also noted to be affecting the health care services. The issues raised here will hopefully be making better in managing disaster in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services
  6. Sexual issues of the disabled: implications for public health education
    Low WY, Zubir TN
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2000;12 Suppl:S78-83.
    PMID: 11338746
    Sexuality of persons with spinal cord injury has received increased attention especially in the Western countries. However, in the local context, studies pertaining to the sexuality of the disabled are almost nil. This paper utilized a qualitative approach in assessing sexual knowledge, attitudes and practices of persons with spinal cord injury. Eight focus group discussions consisting of 28 adult spinal cord injured persons were carried out. The results showed that the frequency of sexual activity decreased following injury. The disabled themselves have a negative self-concept and a low self-esteem and this affects their attitudes towards sexuality and their sexual behaviour. Health care professionals tend to neglect this issue perhaps due to their insensitivity to the sexual needs for the disabled or a lack of understanding and expertise in this area. A need for sexual information related to their disability is warranted in the areas of reproduction, contraception and their ability/disability in achieving an erection or ejaculation. This study indicated a need for more comprehensive research in this neglected area of sexual issues of persons with disabilities. Public health education and counseling is deemed necessary for the disabled themselves so as to accommodate their sexual lives to their physical capabilities and desires. Attitudes and misconceptions of the public need to be corrected. Above all, there is a need for education and training for health care professionals in the area of sexual rehabilitation, which is currently non-existent in the country. Perhaps, it is timely to incorporate sexual rehabilitation as part of a holistic medical rehabilitation of the disabled.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Needs and Demand
  7. Fulltext Dermatitis caused by Paederus fuscipes Curtis, 1840 (Coleoptera: Staphilinidae) in student hostels in Selangor, Malaysia
    Heo CC, Latif B, Hafiz WM, Zhou HZ
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2013 Mar;44(2):197-205.
    PMID: 23691629
    We report a series of dermatitis cases caused by the staphilinid beetles, Paederusfuscipes Curtis, among university students staying in the residential college in Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia from 1 January to 31 December 2010. A total of 360 cases (6.0%) were recorded in the Student Health Center throughout the year; the majority of patients stayed at a hostel near an oil palm plantation. Skin symptoms included erythema, edema, vesicular papules, painful blisters, burning sensation, pruritus, hyper pigmentation and peeling of skin. The commonly involved sites were the face, neck, shoulders and arms. Most students noticed the symptoms upon awakening in the morning. The patients were treated with fusidic acid cream and the symptoms resolved within 5 days. These beetles are nocturnally active and enter the room whenever a light source is available. The unintentional crushing of these beetles during sleep causes the release of its hemolymph (paederin) which is the cause of the dermatitis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Student Health Services
  8. The association between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction: a meta-analysis
    Zhang Y, Shang S, Tian L, Zhu L, Zhang W
    BMC Psychol, 2023 Oct 17;11(1):338.
    PMID: 37848985 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-023-01376-z
    BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have explored the association between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction, but there are different viewpoints and the results are inconsistent. This study intends to estimate the strength of the correlation between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction in general through a meta-analysis, and to analyze the influencing factors of the inconsistent results of previous studies.

    METHODS: We Searched China National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wan fang Database, CQVIP Journal Database、Web of Science Core Collection, Elsevier SD, Springer Online Journals, Medline, EBSCO-ERIC, SAGE Online Journals, PsycINFO, PsycArticles and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses。85 studies (90 independent effect size) were included from 2016 to 2023。The pooled correlation coefficient of the association between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction was calculated by a random effects model using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis(Version 3.3).

    RESULTS: The main effect analysis revealed a high positive correlation between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction (r = 0.47, 95%CI [0.44, 0.50]). Furthermore, the measurements of mobile phone addiction moderated the strength of the association between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction, with the highest correlation measured using MPATS and the lowest correlation measured using MPDQ. The age, gender, year of publication, cultural background, and the measurements of fear of missing out had no significant effect on the correlation between fear of missing out and mobile phone addiction.

    CONCLUSION: The results indicated that fear of missing out was closely related to mobile phone addiction, which complied with the I-PACE model. Psychological services and mental health services should be developed to reduce the emergence of fear of missing out in the digital age and thus alleviate dependence on devices.

    Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health Services*
  9. Fulltext Patterns and predictors of smoking cessation among smokers attending Smoking Cessation Clinics in Peninsular Malaysia
    Wan Puteh SE, Selahuddeen AA, Aljunid SM, Zarihah Z
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2008;14(1):17-23.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: This study seeks to identify the socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of smokers (aged 18 and above), thus develop a predicting model for tobacco abstinence receiving cessation services for tobacco dependence at the Smoking Cessation Clinics (SCC) in government Primary Health Centers in Malaysia. These predictors would improve the effectiveness and efficiency of these clinics.
    Methods : Smokers who sought smoking cessation therapy at the SCCs from 1st January 2004 to 31st
    December 2004 were chosen randomly from clinic’s registries, and 254 smokers were recruited from 8 clinics chosen through stratified random sampling. Data analyses were performed with SPSS 12.0. 17.3% of smokers attending SCCs were able to quit smoking for at least six months.
    Results : Factors significantly contributing to quitting success were elderly smokers (above 40 years old), smoked for more than 15 years, smoked less than ten sticks per day, had a previous history of quitting attempt, self referral to the clinic, high confidence level, attended SCC at least four times, each counseling session lasted for at least 30 minutes and were satisfied with the clinic service. In logistic regression model, smokers aged 40 years and above were 6.7 times more successful to quit, high level of confidence were nine times more successful, smoked more than ten sticks per day were ten times less successful, self referred smokers were ten times more successful and attending for at least 30 minutes counseling session were 12 times more successful.
    Conclusion : This study concludes that more concerted effort is needed to approach various groups of target population and SCCs clinic services need to be improved.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Needs and Demand
  10. Asia's heart for diversity
    Ahmad WA, Fong AY, Quek DK, Sim KH, Zambahari R
    Eur Heart J, 2012 Jan;33(2):155-6.
    PMID: 22351968
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services/supply & distribution; Health Services Accessibility
  11. Environment and air pollution: health services bequeath to grotesque menace
    Qureshi MI, Rasli AM, Awan U, Ma J, Ali G, Faridullah, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Mar;22(5):3467-76.
    PMID: 25242593 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-014-3584-2
    The objective of the study is to establish the link between air pollution, fossil fuel energy consumption, industrialization, alternative and nuclear energy, combustible renewable and wastes, urbanization, and resulting impact on health services in Malaysia. The study employed two-stage least square regression technique on the time series data from 1975 to 2012 to possibly minimize the problem of endogeniety in the health services model. The results in general show that air pollution and environmental indicators act as a strong contributor to influence Malaysian health services. Urbanization and nuclear energy consumption both significantly increases the life expectancy in Malaysia, while fertility rate decreases along with the increasing urbanization in a country. Fossil fuel energy consumption and industrialization both have an indirect relationship with the infant mortality rate, whereas, carbon dioxide emissions have a direct relationship with the sanitation facility in a country. The results conclude that balancing the air pollution, environment, and health services needs strong policy vistas on the end of the government officials.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services/standards; Health Services/statistics & numerical data*
  12. Fulltext Dialysis provision in Malaysia
    Lim TO, Lee DG, Zaki M
    Med J Malaysia, 2000 Jun;55(2):188-95.
    PMID: 19839147
    We determined the provision for dialysis treatment in Malaysia. There were 181 dialysis centres as at 1st June 1999 (161 Haemodialysis (HD) and 20 Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) centres), providing treatment for 5614 patients. This is equivalent to an estimated prevalence rate of 253 patients per million population (pmp) and new dialysis acceptance rate of 49 patients pmp. Dialysis facilities were widely distributed throughout the country though rather unevenly among states. Penang, Selangor/KL, Malacca led with number of dialysis patients pmp ranging from 417 to 480. Kelantan and Sabah had the lowest provision with 51 and 64 patients pmp respectively. There were more centres and HD capacity in the private sector while the Non-Government Organisation and public sectors had about the same capacity. However the public sector had more patients on account of availability of CAPD and home HD services, as well as low HD capacity to patient ratio. The number ofcentres, HD capacity and patients have increased rapidly especially since 1991; the estimated growth rates were 16.5 centres/year, 658 capacity/year, and 392 patients/year respectively. There was also a trend toward increasing over-capacity in the private and NGO sectors. In conclusion, the level of dialysis provision is increasing, indicating increasing accessibility of dialysis treatment in Malaysia. Over-capacity is a concern in the private and NGO sectors. Thus funding agencies should be encouraged to source provision from those sectors. The public sector still has the crucial role of providing for under-served areas in the country.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Research
  13. Three Case Studies in Making Fair Choices on the Path to Universal Health Coverage
    Voorhoeve A, Edejer TTT, Kapiriri L, Norheim OF, Snowden J, Basenya O, et al.
    Health Hum Rights, 2016 Dec;18(2):11-22.
    PMID: 28559673
    The goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) can generally be realized only in stages. Moreover, resource, capacity, and political constraints mean governments often face difficult trade-offs on the path to UHC. In a 2014 report, Making fair choices on the path to UHC, the WHO Consultative Group on Equity and Universal Health Coverage articulated principles for making such trade-offs in an equitable manner. We present three case studies which illustrate how these principles can guide practical decision-making. These case studies show how progressive realization of the right to health can be effectively guided by priority-setting principles, including generating the greatest total health gain, priority for those who are worse off in a number of dimensions (including health, access to health services, and social and economic status), and financial risk protection. They also demonstrate the value of a fair and accountable process of priority setting.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services
  14. Fulltext Cross-sectional study of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in two rural public primary healthcare facilities in Malaysia
    Ooi CP, Loke SC, Zaiton A, Tengku-Aizan H, Zaitun Y
    Med J Malaysia, 2011 Jun;66(2):108-12.
    PMID: 22106688 MyJurnal
    Knowledge of the characteristics of older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is indispensible for improvement of their care. A cross-sectional study in two rural public primary healthcare centres in Malaysia identified 170 actively engaged older patients with T2DM, with suboptimal glycaemic control and frequent hypoglycaemia. The prevalence of multiple co-morbidities, complications of T2DM, high cardiovascular risk, neurological, musculoskeletal and visual deficits suggested high risk of disabilities and dependency but not yet disabled. This short window for interventions presents as an opportunity for development of a more comprehensive approach extending beyond glycaemia control to risk management, preventing functional loss and continuity of social participation.
    Study site: Klinik Kesihatan, Selangor, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services*
  15. Fulltext Male sexual dysfunction in Asia
    Ho CC, Singam P, Hong GE, Zainuddin ZM
    Asian J Androl, 2011 Jul;13(4):537-42.
    PMID: 21643001 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2010.135
    Sex has always been a taboo subject in Asian society. However, over the past few years, awareness in the field of men's sexual health has improved, and interest in sexual health research has recently increased. The epidemiology and prevalence of erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism and premature ejaculation in Asia are similar in the West. However, several issues are specific to Asian males, including culture and beliefs, awareness, compliance and the availability of traditional/complementary medicine. In Asia, sexual medicine is still in its infancy, and a concerted effort from the government, relevant societies, physicians and the media is required to propel sexual medicine to the forefront of health care.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Accessibility
  16. Fulltext Aneurysmal Bone Cyst - A Case Report And
    Abdul Rahman, Z.A., Jalaludin, M.A., Hussaini, N.Z., Zain, R.B.
    Ann Dent, 1998;5(1):-.
    MyJurnal
    Aneurysmal bone cyst is a rare non-epithelialized pseudocyst of the jaws. Jaffe and Lichtenstein in 1942 were the first to recognize aneurysmal bone cyst as a distinct clinical and pathological entity while Bernier and Bhaskar in 1958 were the first to describe the presence of this lesion in the jaws. A case of aneursymal bone cyst in the maxilla is presented and the literature reviewed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services
  17. Fulltext Diabetic eye screening in Malaysia: findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2006
    Goh PP, Omar MA, Yusoff AF
    Singapore Med J, 2010 Aug;51(8):631-4.
    PMID: 20848059
    INTRODUCTION: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the commonest complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), and is the leading cause of blindness among working adults. Modification of the associated risk factors as well as early detection and treatment of sight-threatening DR can prevent blindness. Clinical practice guidelines recommend annual eye screening for patients with DM. The proportion of patients in Malaysia who adhere to this recommendation was initially unknown.
    METHODS: The Malaysian National Health and Morbidity Survey is a population-based survey conducted once every decade on the various aspects of health, behaviour and diseases. The DM questionnaire on eye screening was administered as face-to-face interviews with 2,373 patients with known DM who were aged 18 years and older.
    RESULTS: In all, 55 percent of patients with known DM had never undergone an eye examination. Among patients who had undergone eye examinations, 32.8 percent had the last examination within the last one year, 49.8 percent within the last one to two years, and 17.4 percent more than two years ago. A significantly lower proportion of younger patients and patients who received treatment for DM from non-government facilities had previously undergone eye examinations.
    CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DM observed among Malaysians aged 30 and above is 14.9 percent; thus, there is a significant number of people with potential blinding DR. Adherence to eye screening guidelines and the prompt referral of sight-threatening DR are essential in order to reduce the incidence of blindness among patients with DM.
    Study name: National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS-2006)
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Accessibility
  18. Utilization of maternal and child health facilities by the urban poor of Kuala Lumpur
    Gan CY, Yusof K
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1993 Jun;24(2):302-6.
    PMID: 8266233
    A survey conducted to assess the extent which the urban poor in rapidly expanding Kuala Lumpur utilize maternal and child health services available to them. The sample consisted of 1,380 households with children below 6 years and yielded 1,233 children below 6 years of age. 74% of the children had been delivered in government hospitals and 86% of the pregnancies had antenatal care in governmental establishments. 89.2% had BCG immunization before they were 1 year old but 13.3% had not received DPT by that age. Immunization was mainly done in government clinics. The overall immunization coverage for the whole of Kuala Lumpur is expected to be higher than these figures limited to the urban poor. Health planners should increase health facilities in the city to accommodate the expanding population. There is a need to continually campaign for immunization to improve coverage among the urban poor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services/utilization*; Maternal Health Services/utilization*
  19. Role of schools of public health on maternal and child health programmes in the Asia-Pacific region
    Zulkifli SN, Yun-Low W, Yusof K
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):10-6.
    PMID: 10050201
    This paper assessed the role of public health schools on maternal and child health programmes in the Asia Pacific region. Economic development and its associated effects, particularly in the ASEAN countries, for example, migrant labour, ageing, environmental health, turbulence and social climate, has a tremendous impact on maternal and child health. Based on these current issues, it is evident that public health schools can play a major role in maternal and child health in terms of policy formulation and programme development. Several areas were proposed as to what schools of public health can do, namely, through networking, communication, research and training.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services/organization & administration*; Maternal Health Services/organization & administration*
  20. Fulltext Psychiatric disorders among new child and adolescent attendees in an outpatient setting of a Sungai Petani Hospital: a registry from January 2014 to December 2014
    Nazariah Harun, Ravivarma Rao Panirselvam, Yusni Yusuff
    Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2016;25(1):0-0.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Children and adolescents requiring mental health services are increasing. This paper is a registry of new clients in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) outpatient clinic of Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim (HSAH), Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia from January 2014 to December 2014.
    Objectives: We aimed to determine the trends of different types of mental disorders in first contact clients at an outpatient CAMH clinic in HSAH. Thereafter, we sought to compare the differences in demographics with types of illness and treatments modalities. Method: We reviewed electronic case records retrospectively for the study period from January 2014 to December 2014 and universal sampling was done.
    Results: During the study period, there were 160 new cases. The highest number of patients were from the primary school age group with a mean age of 9.98 years. The highest incidence was Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (23.8%), followed by Autism Spectrum Disorder (17.5%) and others at 15.6%. Out of those sampled, 61% were treated pharmacologically and 39% were receiving non-pharmacological treatment.
    Conclusions: There is a need to enhance and expand services to enable the client and family to obtain the necessary intervention. With improved screening and empowerment of the family, better outcomes could be achieved for the client.

    Study site: outpatient clinic of Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim (HSAH)
    Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health Services
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