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Women's rights: eternal principles, changing forms

Asiaweek, 1993 Nov 17.
PMID: 12287494
Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
Validity and reliability of the Turkish version of Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy scale

Aktürk T, Tanık N, Saçmacı H, Chia ZJ, Lim KS

Epilepsy Behav, 2020 10;111:107245.
PMID: 32693372 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107245

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy (PATE) scale, which aims to understand public perceptions of seizures and epilepsy.
METHODS: The scale was translated following the standard procedures. For psychometric validation, the Turkish version of the PATE scale was administered to 201 native Turkish speakers above the age of 18 who had no history of seizures or epilepsy. It was found that the respondents were able to fill out the scale quickly and without difficulty in understanding the translated items on the scale.
RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was found to be 0.843 for the overall scale and above 0.7 for each individual item. Cronbach's alpha was 0.78 for the general domain and 0.792 for the personal domain. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out and showed that the scale had a structure similar to that of the original scale, with the 14 items grouped under two dimensions, similar to the original scale.
CONCLUSION: The Turkish version of the PATE scale was a valid and reliable tool to measure the attitudes toward epilepsy in Turkish society.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Validation of the Chinese version of public attitudes toward epilepsy scale in Mainland China

Yue Z, Ma C, Lim KS, Xiao B, Wu Q, Shu Y, et al.

Epilepsy Behav, 2017 07;72:150-155.
PMID: 28582727 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2017.04.028

PURPOSE: Epilepsy is a significant yet seriously underappreciated public health issue in Mainland China. The stigma and discrimination toward people with epilepsy (PWE) and their families are especially severe in China based on cultural misconceptions which cause tremendous psychological, economic and social burdens. It is imperative to formulate a targeted public intervention to eliminate knowledge gaps and correct these misconceptions of epilepsy. However, to date, the essential tools that may drive such an intervention by measuring the public perspective on PWEs is lacking in China. The goal of this study is to test the reliability and validity of a Simplified Chinese version of the "Public Attitude Toward Epilepsy" scale (PATE) in Mainland China which can be used to understand the content and identify the possible sources of stigma to better inform the design and focus of future stigma reduction interventions.

METHODS: The standard procedure of cross-cultural adaptation was used in the translation process. Subjects from different economic and social backgrounds were enrolled by convenience sampling in central China. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to check the underlying factor structure of the items. Furthermore, Cronbach's alpha was utilized to assess internal consistency.

RESULTS: 199 respondents were included in the final analysis. Content validity of this Chinese PATE was assessed to be adequate for assessing public attitudes toward epilepsy among the mainland Chinese. Two factors were extracted from the data by exploratory factor analysis; confirmatory factor analysis further confirmed good consistency of theoretical constructs between the original Public Attitudes Toward Epilepsy scale and our Chinese PATE. Our Chinese PATE presented excellent internal consistency (α=0.853-0.909).

CONCLUSION: This version of the Chinese PATE showed acceptable psychometric properties, indicating that it can be implemented in surveying public attitudes toward epilepsy in Mainland China.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Unsung heroes in the South

Panos Institute

WorldAIDS, 1991 Nov.
PMID: 12285096
Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Fulltext Turkish health system reform from the people's perspective: a cross sectional study

Ali Jadoo SA, Aljunid SM, Sulku SN, Nur AM

BMC Health Serv Res, 2014;14:30.
PMID: 24447374 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-14-30

Since 2003, Turkey has implemented major health care reforms to develop easily accessible, high-quality, efficient, and effective healthcare services for the population. The purpose of this study was to bring out opinions of the Turkish people on health system reform process, focusing on several aspects of health system and assessing whether the public prefer the current health system or that provided a decade ago.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
The unwelcome guests: Indonesian immigrants and Malaysian public responses

Kassim A

Tonan Ajia Kenkyu, 1987 Sep;25(2):265-78.
PMID: 12157842
Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
The transition to harm reduction: understanding the role of non-governmental organisations in Malaysia

Narayanan S, Vicknasingam B, Robson NM

Int J Drug Policy, 2011 Jul;22(4):311-7.
PMID: 21300533 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2011.01.002

The transition of drug policy from prohibition to harm reduction has never been easy. The deeply entrenched belief in prohibition shared by policy makers and religious leaders provided little room for alternatives, and change came only slowly. The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Malaysia played a pivotal role in effecting such a change. Understanding how they did so may be instructive for other similarly placed countries.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
Fulltext The political economy of health financing reform in Malaysia

Croke K, Mohd Yusoff MB, Abdullah Z, Mohd Hanafiah AN, Mokhtaruddin K, Ramli ES, et al.

Health Policy Plan, 2019 Dec 01;34(10):732-739.
PMID: 31563946 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czz089

There is growing evidence that political economy factors are central to whether or not proposed health financing reforms are adopted, but there is little consensus about which political and institutional factors determine the fate of reform proposals. One set of scholars see the relative strength of interest groups in favour of and opposed to reform as the determining factor. An alternative literature identifies aspects of a country's political institutions-specifically the number and strength of formal 'veto gates' in the political decision-making process-as a key predictor of reform's prospects. A third group of scholars highlight path dependence and 'policy feedback' effects, stressing that the sequence in which health policies are implemented determines the set of feasible reform paths, since successive policy regimes bring into existence patterns of public opinion and interest group mobilization which can lock in the status quo. We examine these theories in the context of Malaysia, a successful health system which has experienced several instances of proposed, but ultimately blocked, health financing reforms. We argue that policy feedback effects on public opinion were the most important factor inhibiting changes to Malaysia's health financing system. Interest group opposition was a closely related factor; this opposition was particularly powerful because political leaders perceived that it had strong public support. Institutional veto gates, by contrast, played a minimal role in preventing health financing reform in Malaysia. Malaysia's dramatic early success at achieving near-universal access to public sector healthcare at low cost created public opinion resistant to any change which could threaten the status quo. We conclude by analysing the implications of these dynamics for future attempts at health financing reform in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
The knowledge, awareness, attitude and motivational analysis of plastic waste and household perspective in Malaysia

Afroz R, Rahman A, Masud MM, Akhtar R

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2017 Jan;24(3):2304-2315.
PMID: 27812970 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-7942-0

The focus of this study is to analyze the level of knowledge, awareness, and attitude toward plastic waste and to distinguish the key drivers that encourage the households in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to participate in "No plastic campaign," This study used the logistic regression model to explain the factors that may affect the willingness to participate (WTP) of households in the campaign. In this study, it is found that 35 % of households are willing to participate in the campaign. The results of the study also indicate that people who are more informed and more convinced of their knowledge have a more positive attitude toward recycling than their counterparts do. Furthermore, this study provides additional evidence of the level and classification of importance of motivating factors for plastic recycling, using the modified average and coefficient of variation of the models. From the analysis, the factor "helps reduce landfill use" is found as the most important factor and the factor of "raising money for charity" is found as the least important factor that motivates households to participate in recycling. The determinations of the study suggest some strategies that could hold implications for government and households to boost them to participate in the campaign "No Plastic Bag."

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
The end of the line: who is most at risk from the crisis in global fisheries?

Hall SJ, Dugan P, Allison EH, Andrew NL

Ambio, 2010 Feb;39(1):78-80.
PMID: 20496655
Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
Fulltext The Impact of Emotional Solidarity on Residents' Attitude and Tourism Development

Hasani A, Moghavvemi S, Hamzah A

PLoS One, 2016;11(6):e0157624.
PMID: 27341569 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157624

In many countries, especially one such as Malaysia, tourism has become a key factor in economic development, and the industry heavily relies on feedback from local residents. It is essential to observe and examine the perceptions of residents towards tourists and tourism development for better planning in realizing successful and sustainable tourism development. Therefore, this research measured the relationship between residents' welcoming nature, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding (emotional solidarity) towards tourists and their respective attitudes towards supporting tourism development. To test the proposed research model, we collected data using a questionnaire survey from 333 residents in rural areas in Malaysia. We used the structural equation modelling technique (Amos) to evaluate the research model, and the results revealed that the residents' willingness (welcoming nature) to accept tourists is the strongest factor that effects the residents' attitudes towards supporting tourism development. However, there was no significant relationship between residents' emotional closeness and their sympathetic understanding towards tourists with their attitude and support towards tourism development. Welcoming nature, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding are able to predict 48% of residents' attitudes towards tourism development and 62% of their support towards tourism development.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Fulltext Support for smoke-free policy among Malaysian adults: findings from a population-based study

Kuang Hock L, Hui Li L, Chien Huey T, Yuvaneswary V, Sayan P, Muhd Yusoff MF, et al.

BMJ Open, 2019 02 12;9(2):e020304.
PMID: 30760510 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020304

OBJECTIVE: Public opinion and support can be powerful mandates for smoke-free policy. However, the scarcity of evidence on public opinion among Malaysians necessitates further investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of support for smoke-free policy at various public domains and its associated factors among Malaysian adults.
DESIGN: Data were derived from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, Malaysia (GATS-M). GATS-M is a nationwide study that employed a multistage, proportionate-to-size sampling strategy to select a representative sample of 5112 Malaysian adults aged 15 years and above. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with support for smoke-free policy in selected public domains that is, workplaces, restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos, karaoke centres, public transport terminals and shopping centres.
RESULTS: The level of support for enactment of a smoke-free policy at selected public domains varied from 37.8% to 94.4%, with the highest support was for gazetted smoke-free domains, namely, shopping centres (94.4%, 95% CI: 93.2% to 95.3%) and public transport terminals (85.2%, 95% CI: 83.3% to 86.9%). Multiple logistic regression revealed that non-smokers were more likely to support smoke-free policy at all domains. In addition, respondents who worked in workplaces with total or partial smoking restrictions were more likely to support a smoke-free policy ((total restriction adjusted OR (AOR): 14.94 (6.44 to 34.64); partial restriction AOR: 2.96 (1.138 to 6.35); non-restriction was applied as a reference).
CONCLUSION: A majority of the Malaysian adult population supported the smoke-free policy, especially at gazetted smoke-free domains. Therefore, expansion of a total smoking ban to workplaces, restaurants, bars, hotels, casinos and karaoke centres is strongly recommended to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and to denormalise smoking behaviour.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Strategies targeted at motivating unrelated living kidney donation

Tumin M, Noh A, Chong CS, Mohd Satar N, Lim SK, Abdullah N, et al.

Ann. Transplant., 2013;18:314-9.
PMID: 23792535 DOI: 10.12659/AOT.883957

This paper aimed to assess the willingness of Malaysians with post-secondary education to be living kidney donors.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
Fulltext Stakeholders' attitudes to outdoor residual spraying technique for dengue control in Malaysia: A PLS-SEM approach

Arham AF, Amin L, Mustapa MAC, Mahadi Z, Yaacob M, Ibrahim M

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2021 Jun;15(6):e0009493.
PMID: 34185785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009493

Outdoor Residual Spraying (ORS) technique is a complementary preventive measure for dengue. The alarming number of dengue cases in Malaysia requires an alternative method to control dengue besides the traditional method such as fogging. However, the introduction of new technologies depends on social acceptance. Therefore, this study was important to determine the factors that influence stakeholders' attitudes towards the ORS and the moderating factor. A validated instrument was used to randomly interview 399 respondents representing two stakeholder groups which consist of scientists, and the public in Klang Valley, Malaysia. The findings revealed that the stakeholders claimed to have a high degree of religiosity, a high level of trust in the key players, perceived ORS as having high benefits, and displayed highly positive attitudes towards the ORS. The attitudes model towards the ORS model was developed using the SmartPLS software version. The perceived benefit was endorsed as the most important direct predictor of attitudes towards the ORS (ß = 0.618, P<0.001), followed by trust in the key players (ß = 0.151, P<0.001). It is also interesting to note that religiosity served as a moderator for the association between perceived benefit (ß = 0.075, P = 0.024) and perceived risk (ß = 0.114, P = 0.006) with attitudes towards the ORS. The identified predictor factors of stakeholders' attitudes toward the ORS and the moderating factor can serve as indicators for social acceptance of ORS in developing countries. These indicators can help the policymakers in decision making to implement this technique.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
Fulltext Stakeholders' attitude to genetically modified foods and medicine

Amin L, Jahi JM, Nor AR

ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:516742.
PMID: 24381520 DOI: 10.1155/2013/516742

Public acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods has to be adequately addressed in order for their potential economic and social benefits to be realized. The objective of this paper is to assess the attitude of the Malaysian public toward GM foods (GM soybean and GM palm oil) and GM medicine (GM insulin). A survey was carried out using self-constructed multidimensional instrument measuring attitudes towards GM products. The respondents (n = 1017) were stratified according to stakeholders' groups in the Klang Valley region. Results of the survey show that the overall attitude of the Malaysian stakeholders towards GM products was cautious. Although they acknowledged the presence of moderate perceived benefits associated with GM products surveyed and were moderately encouraging of them, they were also moderately concerned about the risks and moral aspects of the three GM products as well as moderately accepting the risks. Attitudes towards GM products among the stakeholders were found to vary not according to the type of all GM applications but rather depend on the intricate relationships between the attitudinal factors and the type of gene transfers involved. Analyses of variance showed significant differences in the six dimensions of attitude towards GM products across stakeholders' groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Fulltext Some animals are more equal than others: Validation of a new scale to measure how attitudes to animals depend on species and human purpose of use

Bradley A, Mennie N, Bibby PA, Cassaday HJ

PLoS One, 2020;15(1):e0227948.
PMID: 31961885 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227948

Globally, many millions of animals are used by humans every year and much of this usage causes public concern. A new scale, devised to measure attitudes to animal use in relation to the purpose of use and species, the Animal Purpose Questionnaire (APQ), was completed by in total 483 participants, 415 British nationals and 68 participants from 39 other countries. The APQ was presented in two survey formats, alongside an established Animal Attitudes Scale (AAS). In both surveys, participants also provided demographic details to provide a context to their attitudes to animals. As might be expected, and consistent with the validity of the new scale, overall scores on the AAS and APQ were highly correlated. However, the APQ provided a more differentiated measure of attitudes to animal use across a variety of settings. The results showed that there was overall higher levels of agreement with the use of animals in medical research and basic science, less endorsement for food production and pest control, and the use of animals for other cultural practices was generally disapproved of, irrespective of species. Participants overall disagreed with the use of rabbits, monkeys, badgers, tree shrews (survey 1), chimpanzees, dogs, dolphins and parrots (survey 2), but were neutral about the use of rats, mice, pigs, octopus, chickens, zebrafish (survey 1), carp, chickens, pigs, pigeons, rabbits and rats (survey 2). Interactions between species and purpose were largely driven by the consideration of using diverse species for food production. In general, females and vegetarians expressed less agreement with the use of animals with some differences by purpose of use. Pet keeping consistently predicted reduced willingness to use animals for basic science (only). The APQ provides a new tool to unpack how public attitudes depend on the intersectionality of demographics, species and purpose of use.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Smoking behaviour and associated factors of illicit cigarette consumption in a border province of southern Thailand

Ketchoo C, Sangthong R, Chongsuvivatwong V, Geater A, McNeil E

Tob Control, 2013 Jul;22(4):255-60.
PMID: 22174006 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050008

BACKGROUND:
Illicit cigarette consumption has increased worldwide. It is important to understand this problem thoroughly.

OBJECTIVES:
To investigate behaviours and factors associated with illicit cigarette consumption in southern Thailand.

DESIGN:
A survey and qualitative study were conducted in a border province in southern Thailand next to Malaysia. A modified snowballing technique was used to recruit 300 illicit and 150 non-illicit cigarette smokers. A questionnaire was used to interview subjects. Illicit cigarette packs were obtained in order to identify their characteristics. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used for data analysis.

RESULTS:
Smoking of illicit cigarettes has become accepted in the communities. They were available in supermarkets and vendor shops. Friends and other illicit smokers known by illicit cigarette smokers were an important source of information for access to illicit cigarette products. The main factors associated with smoking illicit cigarettes, compared with smoking non-illicit cigarettes, were younger age, higher education and higher average monthly expenditure on cigarettes (most illicit smokers smoked illicit cigarettes (average price per packet = 33 THB (US$1.1), while most non-illicit smokers smoked hand-rolled cigarettes (average price per packet = 7 THB (US$0.2)) and knowledge of other illicit cigarette smokers. The low price of illicit cigarettes was the main reason for their use. Selling strategies included sale of singles, sale in shops and direct sale through social networking.

CONCLUSIONS:
Illicit cigarette consumption has become more acceptable especially among young adult smokers. Age and extent of social networks are important factors associated with smoking illicit cigarettes.

KEYWORDS:
Smoking behaviour; border province; cessation; cigarette consumption; global health; hand-rolled/RYO tobacco; health services; illegal tobacco products; illicit cigarette

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Risk Management of Negative Online Public Opinion in a Tertiary Hospital Based on the Kaiser Model

Xiong J, Domnic Jacob GA, Xiong JG

Am J Health Behav, 2023 Feb 28;47(1):165-172.
PMID: 36945091 DOI: 10.5993/AJHB.47.1.17

Objectives: In this study, we analyzed negative online public opinion in tertiary hospitals and evaluated corresponding risk by applying the Kaiser Model. Methods: Through data and expert group discussion, combined with the hospital's actual negative online public opinion management, we determined the opinions posing higher risk. The hospital's risk questionnaire for negative opinion was designed based on the Kaiser Model. The whole hospital staff was then trained and investigated. An Excel worksheet was used for statistical analysis and risk calculation.Results: According to the ranking of risk value, the top 5 negative online public opinions were drug supply and demand, in-hospital parking, handling of public health emergencies, the service attitude of hospital guidance staff, and interpretation of medical insurance policies. Conclusion: The hospital needs to revise and improve the emergency response plan for negative online public opinion based on the analysis results and reports of opinion risks. This is helpful for strengthening hospital-level emergency training, improving the hospital's ability to manage negative opinion risks, and promoting the hospital to become passive about negative online public opinion.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*
Risk Communication Strategies for Possible Health Risks From Radio-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (RF-EMF) Emission by Telecommunication Structures

Fernandez PR, Ng KH, Kaur S

Health Phys, 2019 06;116(6):835-839.
PMID: 30844902 DOI: 10.1097/HP.0000000000001037

There is widespread anxiety and speculation about RF-EMF emissions by telecommunication base stations and structures, as it is perceived by some to be unsafe and a threat to public health. Scientists, medical experts, politicians, journalists, and mobile telecommunication company specialists are involved in an active debate on whether people are immune to RF or if we are gambling with our future. Interviews with 31 individuals from 7 stakeholder groups in Malaysia reveal that the residents' main concerns are that the telecommunication companies do not follow guidelines and as a result the telecommunication structures are constructed close to their homes, which they perceive as a threat to public health. Some residents also do not want these structures because of cultural reasons, while some are jealous over rental income received by the landlords. Meanwhile, the authorities entrusted with safe-guarding public health are involved in a blame game as there is no agency that is clearly in charge. The interviews also highlight that the current risk communication initiatives are more reactive rather than proactive, and that the authorities do not speak in one voice. Based on the outcome of the interviews, eleven recommendations are formulated to improve risk communication initiatives in Malaysia. The recommendations stress on repairing, building, and strengthening trust, because trust in agencies, along with credibility, determines risk communication initiatives' effectiveness. These strategies can also be effectively replicated across regions to deal with contestations over RF-EMF emissions and the impact on health.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion
Responding to local needs. Self-help groups

Jayaseelan J

AIDS Action, 1993 Mar-May;[nil](20):4.
PMID: 12288933

PIP: Pink Triangle, the only community-based group in Malaysia which works with men who have sex with men, took initial steps in August 1992 to establish a self-help project for people who are HIV-seropositive. Supporting people who are HIV-positive and fighting for their rights is new in Malaysia. The group has thus far been publicized through its public education events, hospitals, and other nongovernmental organizations. For the first time, information is being published specifically by and for people living with HIV/AIDS. The project also has a phone line to allow people to speak anonymously with someone who shares their experience. Many callers are men who have sex with men in the social context of intense prejudice and discrimination. Afraid to openly acknowledge their sexuality with strangers, the callers have yet to accede to meeting each other face-to-face in a group setting. The author notes in closing that Pink Triangle must be realistic about what can be achieved in Malaysia and allow the group to develop according to people's needs and not on the basis of a model imported from outside of the country.

Matched MeSH terms: Public Opinion*

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