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Fulltext A Moderated Mediation Model of HIV-Related Stigma, Depression, and Social Support on Health-Related Quality of Life among Incarcerated Malaysian Men with HIV and Opioid Dependence

Shrestha R, Copenhaver M, Bazazi AR, Huedo-Medina TB, Krishnan A, Altice FL

AIDS Behav, 2017 Apr;21(4):1059-1069.
PMID: 28108877 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-017-1693-x

Although it is well established that HIV-related stigma, depression, and lack of social support are negatively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among people living with HIV (PLH), no studies to date have examined how these psychosocial factors interact with each other and affect HRQoL among incarcerated PLH. We, therefore, incorporated a moderated mediation model (MMM) to explore whether depression mediates the effect of HIV-related stigma on HRQoL as a function of the underlying level of social support. Incarcerated HIV-infected men with opioid dependence (N = 301) were recruited from the HIV units in Kajang prison in Malaysia. Participants completed surveys assessing demographic characteristics, HIV-related stigma, depression, social support, and HRQoL. Results showed that the effect of HIV-related stigma on HRQoL was mediated via depression (a1:β = 0.1463, p social support and HRQoL was positive (β = 0.4352, p = 0.0433), whereas the interaction between HIV-related stigma and depression was negatively associated with HRQOL (β = -0.0317, p = 0.0133). This indicated that the predicted influence of HIV-related stigma on HRQoL via depression had negative effect on HRQoL for individuals with low social support. The results suggest that social support can buffer the negative impact of depression on HRQoL and highlights the need for future interventions to target these psychosocial factors in order to improve HRQoL among incarcerated PLH.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support*
Fulltext A brief review on multimedia-based health education applications: current trend and future potential

Lua Pei Lin, Nor Khaira Wahida Khairuzzaman

Education in Medicine Journal, 2014;6(4):0-0.
MyJurnal

Objective: This paper intended to review and analyse relevant published articles which have studied or applied multimedia as the educational medium for patients or their caregivers. The benefits were also recorded.

Method: The search was performed across the databases EBSCO Host, Springer Link, Science Direct and PubMed for relevant studies. Only full-text articles using English as a language of publication were included. Eligible articles included any usage of multimedia intervention as health information delivery for patients or caregivers. No restriction for publication date was set to permit a wider capture.

Result: Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria involving a total of 1,797 respondents. The studies have been conducted in various countries mostly in North American region followed by Europe. The focused disease for each study varied from asthma to cognitive impairment but most were on cancer. Problems in caregiving and depression were also reported. The overall data suggested that the multimedia-based education had generated modest improvement in self-efficacy, patient satisfaction, coping skills, and perceptions of social support. Cost benefits were also recorded. Additionally, patients’ behavioural changes were well maintained in parallel with the intervention programme.

Conclusion: The evolution of multimedia as an educational medium is growing and its incorporation has benefited health education management especially in improving patients’ and their family’s psychosocial outcomes. However, due to still limited scientific evidence to support its value, further multimedia-based interventions should be developed out of the need to share information and knowledge among patients as well as caregivers.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext A case control study on factors that influence depression among the elderly in Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital

Salimah O, Rahmah MA, Rosdinom R, Azhar SS

Med J Malaysia, 2008 Dec;63(5):395-400.
PMID: 19803299 MyJurnal

Depressive illness is common among the aged population. A case control study was conducted, focusing on risk factors influencing depression among the elderly. This study involved 130 elderly patients diagnosed to have depressive illness from the psychiatric clinics of Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital (HUKM). Another group of 130 elderly patients with no history of depressive illness were recruited from the medical specialist clinics. The majority of cases were female (75.4%), aged 60-74 years (92.3%) and from Chinese ethnic group (59.2%). Non-Malay elderly has three times risk (AOR 2.537, 95% CI 1.439-4.471) of suffering the depressive illness compared to the Malay elderly, the elderly with chronic health problems are more likely to be depressed compared to those who do not suffer from any chronic illness (p trend <0.001). Other risk factors identified were family history of depression with four times risk (AOR 4.225, 95% CI 2.017-8.848) and lower social support with eight times risk (AOR 7.949, 95% CI 2.588-24.417). Social support is not only important in encouraging the elderly to practice healthy life style but proven to influence the risk of getting depression among them. Hence, it is very crucial that the elderly is given total attention, respect and love from all parties to ensure prosperity and meaningfulness in life.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
A case of sexual abuse by a traditional faith healer: are there potential preventions?

Chan LF, Tan SM, Ang JK, Kamal Nor N, Sharip S

J Child Sex Abus, 2012;21(6):613-20.
PMID: 23194137 DOI: 10.1080/10538712.2012.719597

Adolescent sexual abuse is not an uncommon phenomenon in Malaysia. It is a traumatic experience that complicates the psychosocial development of young people on the threshold of adulthood. This case report highlights the psychosocial sequelae of adolescent sexual abuse by a traditional healer and discusses management issues in the context of unique cultural and belief systems.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext A comparative study on family, social supports and mental health of rural and urban Malay women

Mubarak AR

Med J Malaysia, 1997 Sep;52(3):274-84.
PMID: 10968098

The present study aims to compare the family's social environment, social supports and mental health of Malay women from rural and urban areas. Equal number (n-184) of Malay women from similar socio-economic back grounds were chosen from the rural areas of Kedah and urban areas of Pulau Pinang using the stratified random sampling method. The results indicated significantly higher level of mental health problems among the rural respondents when compared with the urban subjects. Among the family related variables included in the present study, cohesiveness, moral religious emphasis and organization and intellectual and cultural orientation were found to be significantly associated with the mental health problems of rural respondents. Whereas, only one variable, namely, active recreational orientation was found to be having an impact on the mental health of urban respondents. Similarly, deficiencies in the social support perceived from family and other members of the community were found to be significantly associated with the mental health problems of rural samples when compared to the social support perceived from the others for the urban subjects. The implications of these observations are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support*
A framework for cohesive healthcare coalition formation

Cheah YN, Chong YH, Neoh SL

Stud Health Technol Inform, 2006;124:575-80.
PMID: 17108579

The mobilisation of cohesive and effective groups of healthcare human resource is important in ensuring the success of healthcare organisations. However, forming the right team or coalition in healthcare organisations is not always straightforward due to various human factors. Traditional coalition formation approaches have been perceived as 'materialistic' or focusing too much on competency or pay-off. Therefore, to put prominence on the human aspects of working together, we present a cohesiveness-focused healthcare coalition formation methodology and framework that explores the possibilities of social networks, i.e. the relationship between various healthcare human resources, and adaptive resonance theory.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
A phone-counseling smoking-cessation intervention for male Chinese restaurant workers

Burton D, Zeng XX, Chiu CH, Sun J, Sze NL, Chen Y, et al.

J Community Health, 2010 Dec;35(6):579-85.
PMID: 20186474 DOI: 10.1007/s10900-010-9244-7

We sought to develop a smoking-cessation intervention for male Chinese restaurant workers in New York City that required no seeking out by participants; provided support over a relatively long period of time; and was responsive to participants' cultural backgrounds and daily lives. The resulting intervention consisted of a minimum of 9 proactive phone counseling sessions within a 6-month period for each participant recruited at his worksite. All activities were conducted in Chinese languages. The efficacy of this proactive phone-counseling intervention was assessed in a pretest/posttest design comparing baseline smoking with smoking 6 months after the intervention ended. Of 137 male employees recruited at their restaurants, 101 (median age 40.5) participated in the phone-counseling intervention in 2007-2008, with 75 completing the program with at least 9 counseling calls. We found a linear increase in smoking cessation from 0% at Call 1 to 50.7% at Call 9 for 75 men who completed the program, and we found for all 101 participants a 32.7% intent-to-treat cessation rate for 6 months post-end of program, adjusted to 30.8% by saliva cotinine assessments. The results indicate that combining field outreach with phone counseling over an extended period of time can facilitate smoking cessation for population groups whose environments do not support efforts to quit smoking.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Adaptive invention: independence and mobility through modifications

Mairami FF, Allotey P, Warren N, Mak JS, Reidpath DD

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol, 2018 10;13(7):658-664.
PMID: 28836873 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2017.1369586

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a leading cause of disability that limits everyday activities and reduces social participation. Provision of assistive devices helps to achieve independence and social inclusion. However, due to limited resources or a lack of suited objects for their needs, individuals with disabilities in low and middle income countries (LMIC) often do not have access to assistive devices. This has resulted in the creation of purpose built innovative solutions. Methodology and case content: This paper uses a single case derived from a larger ethnographic study of stroke survivors in rural Malaysia to demonstrate the role of assistive devices in shaping stroke recovery and how existing structures can be modified. Second, the concept of affordances in relation to structures within the environment, issues of affordability and accessibility of assistive devices for individuals in LMIC are discussed.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: Stroke recovery involves adapting to new limitations and discovering the support necessary to live life. These changes are influenced by a range of environmental factors. Healthcare professionals need to support stroke patients in identifying challenges and work to find innovative ways to address them. Stroke survivors may benefit from the use of an assistive device beyond its clinical function to participate purposefully in activities of daily living. Implications for Rehabilitation Stroke is a cause of disability that limits everyday activities and reduces social participation. Assistive devices help achieve independence, social inclusion and shape stroke recovery. Individuals with disabilities in low and middle income countries often do not have access to assistive devices and resort to innovative solutions that are purpose built. Stroke recovery involves adapting to new limitations and discovering the support necessary to live life as best as possible.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Alternative systems in Malaysian drug rehabilitation: organization and control in comparative perspective

Lee RL

Soc Sci Med, 1985;21(11):1289-96.
PMID: 4095582

This paper examines four drug rehabilitation systems in Malaysia from an organizational perspective. It focuses on authority structures in rehabilitation centres and their impact on rehabilitees' identities. The findings show that there are important differences between government-run and private centres in terms of administration and approach to therapy. Some policy implications are derived from a comparison of these systems.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
An evolution of image source camera attribution approaches

Jahanirad M, Wahab AW, Anuar NB

Forensic Sci Int, 2016 May;262:242-75.
PMID: 27060542 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.03.035

Camera attribution plays an important role in digital image forensics by providing the evidence and distinguishing characteristics of the origin of the digital image. It allows the forensic analyser to find the possible source camera which captured the image under investigation. However, in real-world applications, these approaches have faced many challenges due to the large set of multimedia data publicly available through photo sharing and social network sites, captured with uncontrolled conditions and undergone variety of hardware and software post-processing operations. Moreover, the legal system only accepts the forensic analysis of the digital image evidence if the applied camera attribution techniques are unbiased, reliable, nondestructive and widely accepted by the experts in the field. The aim of this paper is to investigate the evolutionary trend of image source camera attribution approaches from fundamental to practice, in particular, with the application of image processing and data mining techniques. Extracting implicit knowledge from images using intrinsic image artifacts for source camera attribution requires a structured image mining process. In this paper, we attempt to provide an introductory tutorial on the image processing pipeline, to determine the general classification of the features corresponding to different components for source camera attribution. The article also reviews techniques of the source camera attribution more comprehensively in the domain of the image forensics in conjunction with the presentation of classifying ongoing developments within the specified area. The classification of the existing source camera attribution approaches is presented based on the specific parameters, such as colour image processing pipeline, hardware- and software-related artifacts and the methods to extract such artifacts. The more recent source camera attribution approaches, which have not yet gained sufficient attention among image forensics researchers, are also critically analysed and further categorised into four different classes, namely, optical aberrations based, sensor camera fingerprints based, processing statistics based and processing regularities based, to present a classification. Furthermore, this paper aims to investigate the challenging problems, and the proposed strategies of such schemes based on the suggested taxonomy to plot an evolution of the source camera attribution approaches with respect to the subjective optimisation criteria over the last decade. The optimisation criteria were determined based on the strategies proposed to increase the detection accuracy, robustness and computational efficiency of source camera brand, model or device attribution.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext An exploratory qualitative assessment of self-reported treatment outcomes and satisfaction among patients accessing an innovative voluntary drug treatment centre in Malaysia

Ghani MA, Brown SE, Khan F, Wickersham JA, Lim SH, Dhaliwal SK, et al.

Int J Drug Policy, 2015 Feb;26(2):175-82.
PMID: 25577322 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.10.002

BACKGROUND: In Malaysia, compulsory drug detention centres (CDDCs) hold suspected drug users for two years without adjudication. Acute detoxification without healthcare access has been documented. CDDCs are criticized globally due to ineffectiveness in treating addiction and human rights violations. In response, the Malaysian government began transitioning these facilities into voluntary drug treatment centres known as "Cure and Care" (C&C) centres that embrace a holistic treatment-based approach to drug addiction rehabilitation.
METHODS: An explorative qualitative study was undertaken to explore patient perspectives and satisfaction regarding treatment and services at the new Cure and Care centre in Kota Bharu, Malaysia. A convenience sample of 20 patients was recruited to participate in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Content analysis was used to identify the salient themes.
RESULTS: Patients identified methadone treatment, psychosocial programs, religious instruction, and recreational activities as important factors contributing to treatment success for addressing both health and addiction needs. Though many had previously been in a CDDC, adherence to treatment in the C&C centre was perceived to be facilitated by the degree of social support, the voluntary nature and the array of new programs available for selection.
CONCLUSION: C&Cs represents a dramatic shift in the Malaysian government's approach to drug addiction. Our findings demonstrate positive patient experiences associated with the holistic treatment-based approach of these centres. This exploratory study provides additional evidence to document this ongoing policy transition and may guide continued expansion of new holistic drug treatment programs across the country.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
An exploratory study of traditional birthing practices of Chinese, Malay and Indian women in Singapore

Naser E, Mackey S, Arthur D, Klainin-Yobas P, Chen H, Creedy DK

Midwifery, 2012 Dec;28(6):e865-71.
PMID: 22079015 DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2011.10.003

to explore the traditional birthing practices of Singaporean women.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
An initial look at the quality of life of Malaysian families that include children with disabilities

Clark M, Brown R, Karrapaya R

J Intellect Disabil Res, 2012 Jan;56(1):45-60.
PMID: 21435066 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01408.x

While there is a growing body of literature in the quality of life of families that include children with disabilities, the majority of research has been conducted in western countries. The present study provides an initial exploration of the quality of life of Malaysian families that include children with developmental/intellectual disabilities. Dynamics characterising Malaysian society are described as developments in social policy and service delivery that support persons with disabilities and their families.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext Anxiety, depression, perceived social support and quality of life in Malaysian breast cancer patients: a 1-year prospective study

Ng CG, Mohamed S, See MH, Harun F, Dahlui M, Sulaiman AH, et al.

Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2015;13:205.
PMID: 26715073 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-015-0401-7

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric morbidity among breast cancer patient. There is a lack of study examining the correlation between depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) with perceived social support (PSS) among breast cancer patients. This study aims to study the level of depression, anxiety, QoL and PSS among Malaysian breast cancer women over a period of 12 months and their associations at baseline, 6 and 12 months.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support*
Fulltext Assessing social support impact on depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in Shaanxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic of China

Guo K, Zhang X, Bai S, Minhat HS, Nazan AINM, Feng J, et al.

PLoS One, 2021;16(7):e0253891.
PMID: 34297731 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253891

Following the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in China, undergraduate students may experience psychological changes. During emergency circumstances, social support is an important factor influencing the mental health condition among undergraduate students in Shaanxi province. This study aims to find the factors associated with mental health symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate students in Shaanxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. A cross-sectional study was conducted from Feb 23 to Mar 7, 2020. A total of 1278 undergraduate students from the universities located in Shaanxi province participated in this study. The mental health symptoms were measured by 12-item Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) instruments. This survey showed that females receive more social support compared to males (t = -5.046, P<0.001); males have higher-level depression symptoms (t = 5.624, P<0.001); males have higher-level anxiety symptoms (t = 6.332, P<0.001), males have higher-level stress symptoms (t = 5.58, P<0.001). This study also found participants who have low social support was negatively correlated with mental health symptoms. In Conclusion, Males and low social support were associated with having the higher level of depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms among undergraduate students in Shaanxi province during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Therefore, it is suggested that people should supply more social support for undergraduate students in Shaanxi province during COVID-19 pandemic.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support*
Fulltext Assessing the unmet needs among caregivers of children with disabilities at the community-based rehabilitation centres in Selangor

Suriati, S., Sharifah Zainiyah, S.Y., Lye, M.S., Norlijah, O.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2011;11(2):32-40.
MyJurnal

Caregivers may experience the need for information, social support, a range of services and financial support in caring for children with disabilities. However, some of these needs are unmet. This study aims to determine the perceived unmet needs among caregivers of children with disabilities at the Community-based Rehabilitation centre (CBR). A cross-sectional study was carried out among a total of 337 caregivers, who were recruited from 12 CBR centres in Selangor. The unmet needs were assessed using Family Needs Survey (FNS) questionnaire, which included six subscales of needs such as need for information, social support, community services, explaining to others, financial support and family functioning. Caregivers identified the need for information that the child might receive in the future as their greatest need (94.4%) and the least was the need for getting more counseling or help in getting a job (16.3%). The mean score for the overall unmet needs was 18.67 (SD=7.623). Out of six subscales of FNS, the need for information had the highest rating which was 98.3%, followed by need for social support (93.4%), need for community services (84.0%), need for financial support (79.9%), need for family functioning (61.8%) and need for explaining to others (46.2%). The unmet needs varied within the subscales. Therefore, more effective intervention programs are needed in community-based rehabilitation centres to match or reduce those varied unmet needs in order to allow caregivers to provide better care for their children with disabilities.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext Assessment of factors influencing morale in the elderly

Loke SC, Abdullah SS, Chai ST, Hamid TA, Yahaya N

PLoS One, 2011;6(1):e16490.
PMID: 21283551 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016490

We examined the relationship between morale measured by the Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale (PGC) and disability, social support, religiosity, and personality traits. Instruments predicting morale were then tested against PGC domains.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext Association between nutrient adequacy and psychosocial factors with overall rate of weight loss after bariatric surgery

Vanoh D, Shahar S, Mahmood NR

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2015;24(4):610-9.
PMID: 26693745 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2015.24.4.11

This was a cross-sectional study that investigated the relationship between nutrient intake and psychosocial factors with the overall rate of weight loss after bariatric surgery among patients who had undergone sleeve gastrectomy in University Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Forty-three subjects (15 men and 28 women) were recruited for this study. Subjects completed assessment questionnaires including the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Beck Depression Inventory (BECK), Family Support Questionnaires, and the Index of Peer Relation (IPR). Results showed that the median overall rate of weight loss was 4.3±5.5 kg/month, which was lower when compared to the rate of weight loss at three months which was 5.0±5.6 kg/month. Pre-operative weight was the predictor of overall rate of weight loss (p<0.05, R²=0.52). Binge eating disorder (BED) and depression were also closely associated with each other after bariatric surgery (p<0.001, R²=0.46). Subjects with good compliance to dietary advice had lower scores on the binge eating scale. The mean caloric and protein intake was very low, only 562±310 kcal/day and 29.6±16.1 g/day. The intake of vitamin A, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-12, C, folate, and iron met the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI). However, the RNI for calcium, zinc, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin E was not met. In conclusion, although bariatric surgery had many health benefits, several factors hindered weight loss after bariatric surgery. Health care professionals should closely monitor patients after bariatric surgery.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext Association between occupational stress and respiratory symptoms among lecturers in Universiti Putra Malaysia

Nur Aqilah MY, Juliana J

Glob J Health Sci, 2012 Nov;4(6):160-9.
PMID: 23121752 DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v4n6p160

There was considerable evidence that a subject's psychological status may influence respiratory sensations and that some subjects may experience respiratory symptoms regardless of the presence of a respiratory disease. The objective of this study was to determine the association between occupational stress and respiratory symptoms among lecturers. This cross sectional study was conducted in Universiti Putra Malaysia, involved 61 lecturers from various faculties. Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) and questionnaires based on American Thoracic Society were used to collect the data on socio-demography, stress level and respiratory symptoms. High level of occupational stress (high strain) was determined among 16 of the respondents (26.2%). Breathlessness was the common symptom experienced by the respondents. Female lecturers were significantly experienced high stress level compared to male (p=0.035). They were also significantly having more breathlessness symptom compared to male lecturer (p=0.011). Study highlighted in study population, gender plays a significant role that influenced level of occupational stress and also gender has role in resulting occupational stress level and respiratory symptoms. There was no significant association between occupational stress and respiratory symptoms. It can be concluded that this group of lecturers of Universiti Putra Malaysia did not experienced high occupational stress level. Occupational stress level was not statistically significantly associated with all respiratory symptoms being studied.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support
Fulltext Association between organizational factors, occupational stress and cortisol level among lecturers in a private university in Selangor

Noormaliza, H., Najibah, A.R., Fauzana, M., Azizah, A., Nukhdiha, O.

Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2017;14(1):25-29.
MyJurnal

Stress reduces the performance and productivity of employees.
One of the most important stressors originate from organizational factors,
which are decision latitude, psychological demand, social support and job
insecurity. This creates four kinds of jobs: passive, active, low strain and high
strain. The objective of the study is to determine the association between
organizational factors with occupational stress and cortisol level among
lecturers in University Selangor. This cross-sectional study used a purposive
sampling, which involved 45 lecturers from various faculties. The instrument
used in this study was Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) which is a
Psychosocial Job Assessment Instrument designed by Karasek et al., (1998).
The questionnaire has been translated to Malay version by Edimansyah et al.,
(2006). 10ml of blood sample was collected from each respondent by certified
phlebotomist. Results from the statistical analysis showed that majority of the
respondents were female (75.6%), aged below forty years old (82.2%), married
(77.8%) and hold a master degree (68.9%). Most of the respondents were
found having low decision latitude 35(77.5%). Majority of the respondents
were also found in passive group 13(28.9%) which were having low
psychological job demand and low decision latitude, while others are in low
strain 11(24.4%), high strain 11(24.4%) and active group 10(22.2%)
respectively. There was a significant association between two organizational
factors with occupational stress level, which are decision latitude and
psychological job demand (p0.05). As a
conclusion, two out of four organizational factors, which are decision latitude
and psychological job demand showed a significant association with
occupational stress levels. Cortisol as one of stress biomarkers may not be
significant due to small sample size.

Matched MeSH terms: Social Support

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