MyMedR

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 37 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Impacts of PM2.5 on respiratory system among traffic policemen

Putri Anis Syahira MJ, Karmegam K, Nur Athirah Diyana MY, Irniza R, Shamsul Bahri MT, Vivien H, et al.

Work, 2020;66(1):25-29.
PMID: 32417810 DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203147

BACKGROUND: Malaysian traffic policemen are constantly exposed to unhealthy air in the outdoor environment, which results in various health problems. This study investigates the relationship of the personal exposure level to PM2.5 and lung functions in traffic policemen in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.
METHODS: A pulmonary function test using a spirometer was carried out to measure the lung function of the traffic policemen. The personal exposure level to PM2.5 was measured using a pump with a PVC filter and 5.0μm pore size. A questionnaire requesting the background data, such as age, height, and weight, was also used for testing lung function abnormalities.
RESULTS: The PM2.5 personal exposure level was found to be significantly related to lung function (predicted FEV1 and predicted FVC) at p-value

Matched MeSH terms: Police*
Fulltext Range Measurement and a Habitat Suitability Map for the Norway Rat in a Highly Developed Urban Environment

Oyedele DT, Sah SA, Kairuddinand L, Wan Ibrahim WM

Trop Life Sci Res, 2015 Dec;26(2):27-44.
PMID: 26868708 MyJurnal

Studies of habitat suitability (HS) are essential when animals' habitats have been altered or when animals migrate to a habitat different from their natural habitat. This study assessed HS and used an integrated geographic information system in the assessment of Rattus norvegicus in a highly developed urban environment. Using data from the Campbell market and the police quarters of George Town, Malaysia, home range (through the use of 100% Minimum Convex Polygon [MCP], 95% MCP and 95% Harmonic Mean [HM]) was estimated. Home range for male rats at Campbell market reached an asymptote, with a slight increase, at 96 radio fixes (home range = 133.52 m(2); core area = 29.39 m(2)). Female rats reached an asymptote at 62 radio fixes (home range = 13.38 m(2); core area = 9.17 m(2)). At Campbell market, male rats emerged at 1900 hours every day, whereas females emerged at 2000 hours; at police quarters, the most common time of emergence for males was 2000 hours and for females was 2200. Raster charts of R. norvegicus showed that rat hot spots can be grouped into 4 zones (market, shop houses, settlement and general places). The standardised raster chart isolated the market as the major rallying points of the rats (hot spots) by producing the highest rats frequencies of 255. All of the habitat suitability thresholds, including the built-up points, skip bins, water source and nature of the site explored in this study, produced a structural pattern (monotonic increase or decrease) of habitat suitability.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext Review of forensically important entomological specimens in the period of 1972 - 2002

Lee HL, Krishnasamy M, Abdullah AG, Jeffery J

Trop Biomed, 2004 Dec;21(2):69-75.
PMID: 16493401

Forensic entomological specimens received by the Unit of Medical Entomology, IMR., from hospitals and the police in Malaysia in the last 3 decades (1972 - 2002) are reviewed. A total of 448 specimens were received. From these, 538 identifications were made with the following results: Eighteen species of cyclorrphaga flies were identified consisting of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) 215 cases (47.99%), Ch. rufifacies (Masquart) 132 (29.46%), Ch. villeneuvi Patton 10 (2.23%), Ch. nigripes Aubertin 7 (1.56%), Ch. bezziana Villeneuve 4 (0.89%), Ch. pinguis (Walker) 1 (0.22%), Chrysomya sp. 47 (10.49%), Sarcophaga sp. 28 (6.25%), Lucilia sp. 21 (4.69%), Hermetia sp. 15 (3.35%), He. illucens (Linnaeus) 1 (0.22%), Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann) 3 (0.67%), Hemipyrellia sp. 2 (0.45%), Ophyra spinigera 1 (0.22%), Ophyra sp. 6 (1.34%), Calliphora sp. 24 (5.36%), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp) 1 (0.22%) and Eristalis sp. 1 (0.22%). Other non - fly insect specimens are Pthirus pubis (Linnaeus) (Pubic louse) 2 (0.45%) and Coleoptera (Beetles) 1 (0.22%). Ch. megacephala and Ch. rufifacies were the commonest species found in cadavers from different ecological habitats. Sy. nudiseta is an uncommon species, thus far found only on cadavers from indoors. Sy. nudiseta is reported for the second time in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 329 cases (73.44%) had a single fly infestation, 109 cases (24.33%) had double fly infestation and 10 cases (2.23%) had triple fly infestation. Five cases (1.12%) had eggs and 3 cases (0.67%) had larval stages that were not identifiable. No arthropods were retrieved from cadavers in 8 cases (1.79%). In conclusion, although large number of fly species were found on human cadavers, the predominant species are still those of Chrysomya.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext A Comparative Study of Respiratory Quality of Life among Firefighters, Traffic Police and Other Occupations in Malaysia

Chean KY, Abdulrahman S, Chan MW, Tan KC

Int J Occup Environ Med, 2019 10;10(4):203-215.
PMID: 31586385 DOI: 10.15171/ijoem.2019.1657

BACKGROUND: Despite its excellent psychometric properties, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) has not been previously used in measuring respiratory quality of life (RQoL) among traffic police and firefighters who are at risk of poor respiratory health by virtue of their occupations.
OBJECTIVE: To assess and compare the RQoL of the occupationally exposed (firefighters and traffic police) and the occupationally unexposed populations in Penang, Malaysia.
METHODS: We recruited male traffic police and firefighters from 5 districts of Penang by convenient sampling during June to September 2018. Participants completed the SGRQ. Scores (symptoms, activity, impacts, total) were derived using a scoring calculator. Higher scores indicate poorer RQoL. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were fitted to explore the relationship of the independent predictive factors with participants' RQoL.
RESULTS: We recruited 706 participants---211 firefighters, 198 traffic police, and 297 from general population. Smokers had significantly higher scores than non-smokers in all SGRQ domains. Regardless of smoking status, the "occupationally exposed group" had higher symptoms score than the "occupationally unexposed group," who had higher activity and impact scores. Smoking status, comorbidity status and monthly income were significant independent predictors of SGRQ total score.
CONCLUSION: In comparison with the general population, firefighters and traffic police reported poorer RQoL; smoking further deteriorated their respiratory health. There is a need to strengthen preventive health measures against occupational disease and smoking cessation among firefighters and traffic police.

Matched MeSH terms: Police/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext Noise exposure and noise induced hearing loss among Kuala Lumpur traffic point duty personnel

Thomas N, Mariah AN, Fuad A, Kuljit S, Philip R

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Jun;62(2):152-5.
PMID: 18705450 MyJurnal

Thirty-two points in Kuala Lumpur were selected where traffic personnel were on duty. Sound level readings were taken three times a day. Generally, the traffic noise levels were between 75 dBA to 85 dBA. The maximum sound level recorded was 108.2 dBA. Noise emitted by traffic equipment and vehicles were up to 133 dBA. Results of audiometric tests revealed that out of 30 who were tested, 24 or 80% were positive for noise-induced hearing loss. A questionnaire survey revealed a lack of knowledge on occupational safety and personal protective equipment.

Matched MeSH terms: Police*
Fulltext Serological evidence of schistosomiasis in the Malaysian police field force

Hanjeet K, Lai PF, Anuar HM

Med J Malaysia, 1996 Mar;51(1):129-30.
PMID: 10967991

A total of 1131 Police Field Force personnel were screened serologically for schistosomiasis in Malaysia. A total of 150 (13.3%) were tested positive or borderline. Stool samples from 75 of these cases were however all negative for schistosome eggs. This survey suggests that Police Field Force personnel may be agents for propagating the schistosome life cycle in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Police*
A 15-year study of death in custody in Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital Seremban

Mahamad Arif ANF, Syed Alwee Al'aidrus SS, Shafee MS, Mohd Nor F

Malays J Pathol, 2021 Aug;43(2):303-310.
PMID: 34448794

Death-in-custody refers to the occurrence of death, while a person is under the custody of any enforcement agency. Their incidence often creates overwhelming public and media attention. Currently, there is no standardised definition of 'death-in-custody' in Malaysia and internationally. A crosssectional descriptive study was performed in the Department of Forensic Medicine Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar Seremban (HTJS) for a period of 24 months. Information on all custodial deaths registered at HTJS from January 2001 till December 2015 was selected from the in-house hospital death registration system. The definition of 'death-in-custody' used was guided by the recommendation by the 'Australian Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody' 1991 with few adjustments. Four custodial settings of interest (the police, prison, immigration depot for the illegal immigrant, and army custody) were studied. A total of 172 deaths-in-custody were collected, in which the majority of cases were natural deaths (84.88%), predominantly infective in nature (65.07%). Less than 1/6th of cases were unnatural deaths with more than 80% died from legal intervention. All custodial deaths were dominated by males (96.51%) with a mean and median age of 37 years. In terms of nationality, 52.91% of the deaths involved Malaysian citizens in which the 'Malay/Bumi' race outnumbered the other two main races. The most documented custodial deaths occurred in prison (44.19%) followed by immigration depots (38.37%) and police lock-ups (17.44%). This study provides a general overview of the pattern including the causes and the demographic profile involving death in custody in the Seremban district registered at HTJS.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
A Psychometric Properties of the Malay-version Police Stress Questionnaire

Irniza R, Emilia ZA, Muhammad Saliluddin S, Nizam Isha AS

Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Jul;21(4):42-50.
PMID: 25977621 MyJurnal

BACKGROUND: Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) was developed to measure police-specific stressors. The present study was the first to have translated the PSQ to Malay. This study aims to test the reliability, construct validity, and component structure of the Malay-version PSQ.
METHODS: A set of survey consisted of the Malay-version PSQ, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), Global Stress Questionnaire (GSQ) and General Self-rated Health (GSRH) were distributed to 300 traffic police officers in Kuala Lumpur and all traffic police officers in a few districts of Pahang and Negeri Sembilan.
RESULTS: The response rate was 65.5% (N = 262). The reported Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.93 for Operational PSQ (PSQ-Op) and 0.94 for Organisational PSQ (PSQ-Org). Findings indicated that the PSQ had positive construct validity with the GSRH, GSQ, and GHQ. After excluding four factors related to lifestyles, all police-specific stressors were highly loaded (0.50) in one component.
CONCLUSION: It is confirmed that the Malay-version PSQ, excluding the four factors related to lifestyle, was uni-dimensional, reliable, and a valid questionnaire. This study proffers a potentially better instrument for assessing the stressors among Malaysian police.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext Pattern of Sexual Offences Attended at Accident and Emergency Department of HUSM from Year 2000 to 2003: A Retrospective Study

Islam MN, See KL, Ting LC, Khan J

Malays J Med Sci, 2006 Jan;13(1):30-6.
PMID: 22589588

This paper investigates the pattern of sexual offence cases attended at the One Stop Crisis Center (OSCC) of the Accident and Emergency Department, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM), Kelantan. A total of 439 reported sexual offence cases were examined over a period of 4 years from 2000 to 2003. Sexual offence constituted by male partner or boyfriend in 18.9%, by relatives in 27.3% and by "others" in 53.8% of cases. Only 0.7% of victims did not attempt to lodge a police report. There is a significant relationship between occupation and the risk of experiencing sexual violence. Students were mostly targeted by the perpetrator throughout the study period. Among the offences, rape cases were the highest in number, among those who attended at the OSCC, HUSM with a total of 72.7%; followed by 27.3% of incest; 26.4% of child sexual abuse; 4.8% of sodomy and lastly 1.6% of gerontophilia cases. Only 70% of the specimens obtained from sexual offences victims were sent for laboratory analysis. The result remained negative in 82.4% specimens and thus the laboratory analysis result is merely functioning as a supportive evidence for sexual offence cases attended at OSCC. The studies showed that most of the sexual assault perpetrators were known to the victims. The place of crime was also known to the perpetrators. Health sectors of various levels should be working in conjunction to promote a societal changes to improve more of the women's right and thus to reduce the violence crime.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext High prevalence of non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia: Correlates of overdose and implications for overdose prevention from a cross-sectional study

Bazazi AR, Zelenev A, Fu JJ, Yee I, Kamarulzaman A, Altice FL

Int J Drug Policy, 2015 Jul;26(7):675-81.
PMID: 25532449 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.11.010

Overdose is the leading cause of death among opioid users, but no data are available on overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia. We present the first estimates of the prevalence and correlates of recent non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Occupational hazard in Malaysian traffic police: special focus on air pollutants

Mohamad Jamil PAS, Karuppiah K, Rasdi I, How V, Mohd Tamrin SB, Mani KKC, et al.

Rev Environ Health, 2021 Jun 25;36(2):167-176.
PMID: 33594842 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0107

This paper provides a specific deliberation on occupational hazards confronted daily by Malaysian Traffic Police. Traffic police is a high-risk occupation that involves a wide range of tasks and, indirectly, faced with an equally wide variety of hazards at work namely, physical, biological, psychosocial, chemical, and ergonomic hazards. Thereupon, occupational injuries, diseases, and even death are common in the field. The objective of this paper is to collate and explain the major hazards of working as Malaysian traffic police especially in Point Duty Unit, their health effects, and control measures. There are many ways in which these hazards can be minimised by ensuring that sufficient safety measures are taken such as a wireless outdoor individual exposure indicator system for the traffic police. By having this system, air monitoring among traffic police may potentially be easier and accurate. Other methods of mitigating these unfortunate events are incorporated and addressed in this paper according to the duty and needs of traffic police.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Prevalence and associated factors of stress in the Malaysian Police Force

Masilamani R, Bulgiba A, Chinna K, Darus A, Isahak M, Kandiben S, et al.

Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S57-9.
PMID: 23352959 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.01.008

This study aims to determine the prevalence of stress and the associated socio-demographic and work factors among police personnel in Metropolitan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Police/statistics & numerical data*
Fulltext Effectiveness of lumbar support with built-in massager system on spinal angle profiles among high-powered traffic police motorcycle riders: A randomised controlled trial

Mohammad Yusof NAD, Karupiah K, Mohd Tamrin SB, Rasdi I, How V, Sambasivam S, et al.

PLoS One, 2021;16(10):e0258796.
PMID: 34665845 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258796

Traffic police riders are exposed to prolonged static postures causing significant angular deviation of the musculoskeletal, including the lumbar angle (L1-L5). This postural alteration contributes to awkward posture, musculoskeletal disorders and spinal injury, especially in the lower back area, as it is one of the most severe modern diseases nowadays. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the effect of lumbar support with a built-in massager system on spinal angle profiles among traffic police riders. A randomised controlled trial (pre-testpost-test control design) was used to assess spinal angle pattern while riding the high-powered motorcycle for 20 minutes. Twenty-four traffic police riders were randomly selected to participate and 12 riders were assigned to the control group and 12 riders to the experimental group. The pre-test and post-test were conducted at a one-week interval. Each participant was required to wear a TruPosture Smart Shirt (to monitor spinal posture). The TruPosture Apps recorded the spinal angle pattern. The data indicated that the police riders using motorcycle seat with lumbar support and built-in massager system showed a huge improvement in maintaining posture which only involves slight spinal angle deviation changes from the spinal reference angle throughout the 20 minutes ride. The data collected then were analysed using the Mann-Whitney test and Wilcoxon signed-ranked test to verify a statistically significant difference between and within the control and experimental groups. There were significant differences in all sensors between the control group and experimental groups (p<0.05) and within the experimental group. According to the findings, it can be said that the ergonomic intervention prototype (lumbar support with built-in massager system) successfully helps to maintain and improve the natural curve of the spinal posture. This indirectly would reduce the risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders and spinal injury among traffic police riders.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext Performance evaluation of a mobile road traffic infraction registration system through benchmark

Arasteh-Rad, H., Khairulmizam Samsudin, Abdul Rahman Ramli, Mohammad Ali Tavallaie

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2012;20(1):63-80.
MyJurnal

The rapid development of roads and the increasing number of vehicles have complicated road traffic enforcement in many countries due to limited resources of the traffic police, specifically when traffic infraction registration is done manually. The efficiency of the traffic police can be improved by a computer-based method. This study focused on mobile traffic infraction registration system benchmarking which is used to evaluate the server performance under load. The study attempts to provide a clear guideline for the performance evaluation of mobile road traffic infraction registration system, whereby the traffic police can make decision based on them to migrate from the manual-method toward computer-based method. A closed form of benchmark tool was used for the evaluation of the system performance. The tool was configured to imitate ramp scenarios, and statistics were gathered. The server was monitored at different times and works. Contributing factors include bottleneck, traffic, and response time, which are related with criteria and measurements. The system resource was also monitored for the tests.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext The effect of integrative therapy treatment on depression and aggresion among inmates

Azahar Che Latiff, Mohd Dahlan A. Malek, Wan Anor Wan Sulaiman, Puteri Hayati Megat Ahmed

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2018;3(4):73-82.
MyJurnal

The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of integrative therapy treatment towards
depression and aggression among prison inmates. Integrative therapy in this study refers to treatment
module which are consisted of four integrated theories in a counselling process. It involved the
combined therapy of Person Client Centred (PCC), Rational Emotions Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
and Choice Theory Reality Therapy (CTRT) as technical treatment. Meanwhile, Stimulus Organism
Response (SOR) act as educational principle or training. Integrative therapy is conducted on the
respondents for six session of group counselling. This study is a quasi-experiment involving 160 depressed prison inmates (80 treatment; 80 control) and 140 aggressive inmates (70 treatment; 70
control) from five prison institutions as the respondent for this study using purposive sampling.
Inmates are identified as respondents using high cutting point of depression using Beck Depression
Inventory (BDI) and high aggression using Aggressive Questionnaires (AQ). For the data analysis, nonparametric
test such as Mann-Whitney Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were used based on the
normality test using Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk test. Result from the Mann-Whitney Test
shows that the treatment group had higher declining rate as compared to the controlled group for
depression and aggression. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test also shows the same result as the treatment
group indicates a decline in rate from the pre and post of the treatment compared to the controlled
group. The results of this study are hope to act as the medium for using integrative model which is
rarely use in studies in this country especially in the field of treatment for prison inmates. It is also
expected that it can be applied in different setting which offer treatment service such as hospitals,
social work institution, police institute, schools, higher learning institutions and others.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext A three year study on drug abuse tests at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR), Selangor Malaysia

Lee SP

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2019;4(7):187-196.
MyJurnal

This study focused on drug epidemic in Selangor for 3 consecutive years (2016-2018). Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) analysed an estimate of 12988 samples for drug abuse (opiates and cannabinoids) from 2016 until 2018. Being the centre for receiving samples collected by Police and National Anti-Drug agencies in Southwest Selangor, these areas were combed for analytical study of habitual abusers, their age-related patterns and ethnic origins for better understanding and planning for advocates of control.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext Amphetamine type stimulant (ATS) induced psychosis: A rising problems in Malaysia

Ahmad, H.S.

Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2008;17(2):1-4.
MyJurnal

The past decade has seen a marked increase in the popularity of ATS use, particularly methamphetamine, within East Asia,and the Pacific region. In Malaysia, the National Anti Drug Agency has identified 8,870 addicts (from January till August 2008) out of which 1,126 was ATS dependence. During the same period, the police have arrested 46,388 people under the Dangerous Drug Act 1952. They also has seize 283kg of syabu, 545kg of ecstacy powder, 66194 tablets of esctacy pills and 222,376 tablets of yaba pills from Jan till August this year. The occurrence of psychosis arising from the use of ATS was first reported in the late 1930's. With growing ATS use, particularly methamphetamine, ATS-induced psychosis has become a major impact on public health.Symptoms of ATS-induced psychosis: Methamphetamine use produces a variety of effects, ranging from irritability, to physical aggression, hyperawareness, hypervigilance, and psychomotor agitation. Repeated or high-dose use of the stimulant can cause drug-induced psychosis resembling paranoid schizophrenia, characterized by hallucinations, delusions and thought disorders. When used in long term, methamphetamine may lead to development of psychiatric symptoms due to dopamine depletion in the striatum. The most common lifetime psychotic symptoms among methamphetamine psychotic patients - as reported in a cross-country study involving Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Thailand - are persecutory delusion, auditory hallucinations, strange or unusual beliefs and thought reading. Those patients were also reported to suffer from impaired speech, psychomotor retardation, depression and anxiety. An ATS psychosis can be distinguished from primary psychotic disorders by time. In ATS-induced psychosis symptoms usually resolve after the drug is discontinued. If symptoms do not resolve within 2 weeks after cessation of stimulant use, a primary psychiatric disorder should be suspected. When compared with other stimulants, such as cocaine, psychosis is induced more commonly by ATS, possibly due to the longer duration of action produced by amphetamines.For example, while smoking cocaine produces a high that lasts for 20-30 minutes, smoking methamphetamine produces a high that lasts 8-24 hours. Other symptoms of ATS-induced psychosis reported include affective blunting,(6) violent behavior, and self-mutilation and self-injurious behavior.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Children abused while in the care of child-minders: the Malaysian scene

Marret, M.J., Aili, H., Koh, M.T.

Malaysian Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2000;12(1):42-47.
MyJurnal

This paper looks at some of the problems encountered when cases of abuse and injuries occur in children placed in child care in an urban community in Malaysia. It is based on the study of 37 children referred to our hospital's Child Protection Services over the past four years for injuries and incidents where the child-minders came under suspicion. They constituted 12% of the 285 children referred to the Child Protection Team during that period for evaluation of suspected child abuse. Twenty six children had experienced physical trauma. Fifty eight percent of these were young infants with cranial injuries or limb fractures but no history to explain their occurrence. Four had superficial injuries from accidents secondary to inadequate supervision. The other 11 children had been sexually abused. The perpetrators in 73% of cases were either the husbands or sons of the child-minder. Ninety five percent of the incidents occured at home-based nurseries. Prospects of any punitive measures were remote in most instances due to uncertainty about the perpetrator, or insufficient corroborative evidence required in sexual abuse cases. There were three documented cases where the family refused to lodge a police report or co-operate with investigations out of a reluctance to implicate or offend the child-minders who were mainly neighbours, relatives or friends in 58% of cases. Ninety seven percent of the facilities were unregistered, making surveillance for recurrent incidents and adherence to safety standards difficult. These incidents were almost certainly an underestimate of the problem. Training of child-care providers, improved legislation and enforcement as well as education of parents to choose suitable facilities are issues which need to be tackled.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext Clinical impact of implementation of a dengue outbreak preparedness and contingency plan in a tertiary hospital

Suraya Hanim Abdullah Hashim, Liew K. Y., Sahadevan M., Shoib M. S., Zainal Abidin H., Abidin N. N., et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):67-67.
MyJurnal

Introduction:Increasing number and the complexity of dengue cases pose a great challenge. The dengue outbreak preparedness and contingency plan is a series of collective intervention or polices put into place via collective agreement between administrative, Medical, Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The aim of this paper is to evaluate the impact implementation of a dengue contingency plan on the clinical outcome of dengue cases. Methods: Implementation of the dengue outbreak preparedness and contingency plan was commenced in 2017. A pre-intervention (2017) and post-intervention (2018) retrospective review of mortality cases and referral to ICU were undertaken. The interventions included mandatory fast review by Emergency Physician, Medical Physi-cian and Anaesthesist in Emergency Department for ill patients (Dengue Care Pathway), cohorting dengue patient to one ward with mandatory monitoring and review system, clinical management adhering to the Clinical Practice Guideline of Management of Dengue Infection in Adults (2015), referring ill patients to ICU, deployment of nurses and experienced doctors to the dengue ward based on ratio of staff to patients, increasing number of doctors on-call at the dengue ward and a dengue bed manager system led by the Matron and Sisters. The plan was activated by mutual agreement between the Head of Medical Department and the Hospital Director. Results: There was a marked increment of admission of dengue cases into intensive care unit by 59% either directly from emergency department or the dengue wards in 2018 compared to 2017. The mortality rates reduced significantly from 5.4 deaths for every 1000 admission in 2017 to 3.3 in 2018. This is a reduction 2.1 death for every 1000 dengue admission. Conclusion:The implementation of the dengue outbreak preparedness and contingency plan aided the team to provide best care and practice in dengue management especially in the severely ill.

Matched MeSH terms: Police
Fulltext Respiratory effects of exposure to high levels of particulate among Malaysian traffic police

Putri Anis Syahira Mohamad Jamil, Nur Athirah Diyana Mohammad Yusof, Nurul Maizura Hashim, Karmegam Karuppiah, Irniza Rasdi, Vivien How, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(204):136-140.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Malaysian traffic police are always working on the public roads to alleviate traffic congestion and therefore exposed them to the polluted air every day. In particular, polluted air containing PM2.5 is dangerous to their respiratory health as they can penetrate deep into the lungs, leading to bronchitis, lung cancer and many more. Hence, this research examined the relationship of personal exposure level to PM2.5 with respiratory symptoms among traffic policemen in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru. Methods: 134 participants among traffic policemen were agreed to participate in this study. They were requested to complete a questionnaire regarding the sociodemographic back- ground and respiratory health information. The questionnaire was adopted from International Union Against Tuber- culosis Lung Diseases (1986). Personal exposure level of PM2.5 was measured using an air pump with 5.0µm pore size PVC filter. Results: The mean exposure level of PM2.5 among traffic policemen was 28.69 µg/m3. It was found that some of them possess respiratory symptoms (Coughing 33.6%, Phlegm 25.4%, Wheezing 14.9% and Shortness of breath 32.1%). There was significant association detected at p-value < 0.05 in coughing. Despite, there was no significant association in other symptoms such as phlegm, wheezing and shortness of breath. Conclusions: Traffic police were exposed to a relatively high level of PM2.5 (12.4 µg/m3 to 55.3 µg/m3) and showed symptoms of respi- ratory effects. Therefore, recognition of the risks connected with occupational lung disease and exposure monitoring must be a high priority. This baseline data can serve as a reference to the top management of traffic police officers in order to develop an occupational safety and health guideline for police officers as required by Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA, Act 514 1994).

Matched MeSH terms: Police

Filters

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

External Links