Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 167 in total

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  1. Ng CJ, Teo CH, Ang KM, Kok YL, Ashraf K, Leong HL, et al.
    Malays Fam Physician, 2020;15(1):6-14.
    PMID: 32284799
    Introduction: This study aimed to determine the views and practices of healthcare providers and barriers they encountered when implementing the national health screening program for men in a public primary care setting in Malaysia.

    Methods: An online survey was conducted among healthcare providers across public health clinics in Malaysia. All family medicine specialists, medical officers, nurses and assistant medical officers involved in the screening program for adult men were invited to answer a 51-item questionnaire via email or WhatsApp. The questionnaire comprised five sections: participants' socio-demographic information, current screening practices, barriers and facilitators to using the screening tool, and views on the content and format of the screening tool.

    Results: A total of 231 healthcare providers from 129 health clinics participated in this survey. Among them, 37.44% perceived the implementation of the screening program as a "top-down decision." Although 37.44% found the screening tool for adult men "useful," some felt that it was "time consuming" to fill out (38.2%) and "lengthy" (28.3%). In addition, 'adult men refuse to answer' (24.1%) was cited as the most common patient-related barrier.

    Conclusions: This study provided useful insights into the challenges encountered by the public healthcare providers when implementing a national screening program for men. The screening tool for adult men should be revised to make it more user-friendly. Further studies should explore the reasons why men were reluctant to participate in health screenings, thus enhancing the implementation of screening programs in primary care.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  2. Fletcher E, Burns A, Wiering B, Lavu D, Shephard E, Hamilton W, et al.
    BMC Prim Care, 2023 Jan 20;24(1):23.
    PMID: 36670354 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-01973-2
    BACKGROUND: Electronic clinical decision support tools (eCDS) are increasingly available to assist General Practitioners (GP) with the diagnosis and management of a range of health conditions. It is unclear whether the use of eCDS tools has an impact on GP workload. This scoping review aimed to identify the available evidence on the use of eCDS tools by health professionals in general practice in relation to their impact on workload and workflow.

    METHODS: A scoping review was carried out using the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework. The search strategy was developed iteratively, with three main aspects: general practice/primary care contexts, risk assessment/decision support tools, and workload-related factors. Three databases were searched in 2019, and updated in 2021, covering articles published since 2009: Medline (Ovid), HMIC (Ovid) and Web of Science (TR). Double screening was completed by two reviewers, and data extracted from included articles were analysed.

    RESULTS: The search resulted in 5,594 references, leading to 95 full articles, referring to 87 studies, after screening. Of these, 36 studies were based in the USA, 21 in the UK and 11 in Australia. A further 18 originated from Canada or Europe, with the remaining studies conducted in New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia. Studies examined the use of eCDS tools and reported some findings related to their impact on workload, including on consultation duration. Most studies were qualitative and exploratory in nature, reporting health professionals' subjective perceptions of consultation duration as opposed to objectively-measured time spent using tools or consultation durations. Other workload-related findings included impacts on cognitive workload, "workflow" and dialogue with patients, and clinicians' experience of "alert fatigue".

    CONCLUSIONS: The published literature on the impact of eCDS tools in general practice showed that limited efforts have focused on investigating the impact of such tools on workload and workflow. To gain an understanding of this area, further research, including quantitative measurement of consultation durations, would be useful to inform the future design and implementation of eCDS tools.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  3. Xinyi, Deborah Yong, Affizal Ahmad
    MyJurnal
    Awareness, involvement and training in dysphagia management are essential to ensure that patients are appropriately
    assessed for dysphagia and provided with intervention. The study aimed to identify levels of awareness, involvement and
    training of medical officers in dysphagia management. A total of 51 medical officers from the family medicine, medical,
    otorhinolaryngology, surgery, and neurosurgery departments in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in the
    study. Levels of awareness, involvement and training of medical officers in dysphagia management were reported using
    descriptive analysis. Results indicate that medical officers lacked awareness and training in dysphagia management.
    Referral rates to speech-language pathologists for dysphagia management were low with 58.4% of medical officers having
    had seldom or never referred patients. The results provide valuable information for addressing dysphagia management
    in the hospital.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  4. Chew BH, Cheong AT, Ismail M, Hamzah Z, A-Rashid MR, Md-Yasin M, et al.
    BMJ Open, 2014 Jun 11;4(6):e004645.
    PMID: 24919639 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004645
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the expectation of public healthcare providers/professionals (PHCPs) who are working closely with family medicine specialists (FMSs) at public health clinics.

    DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

    SETTING: This study is part of a larger national study on the perception of the Malaysian public healthcare professionals on FMSs.

    PARTICIPANTS: PHCPs from three categories of health facilities, namely hospitals, health clinics and health offices.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative analysis of written comments of respondents' expectation of FMSs.

    RESULTS: The participants' response rate was 58% (780/1345) with an almost equal proportion from each public healthcare facility. We identified 21 subthemes for the 623 expectation comments. The six emerging themes are (1) need for more FMSs, (2) clinical roles and functions of FMSs, (3) administrative roles of FMSs, (4) contribution to community and public health, (5) attributes improvement and (6) research and audits. FMSs were expected to give attention to clinical duty. Delivering this responsibility with competence included having the latest medical knowledge in their own and others' medical disciplines, practising evidence-based medicine in prehospital and posthospital care, better supervision of staff and doctors under their care, fostering effective teamwork, communicating more often with hospital specialists and making appropriate referral. Expectations ranged from definite and strong for more FMSs at the health clinics to low expectation for FMSs' involvement in research; to mal-expectation on FMSs' involvement in community and public health programmes.

    CONCLUSIONS: There were some remarkable differences in expectations on FMSs from the three different PHCPs. These ranged from being clinically competent and administratively available for patients and staff at the health clinics, to mal-expectations on FMSs to engage in public health affairs. Relevant parties, including FMSs themselves, could take appropriate self-improvement initiatives to enhance public practice of family medicine and patient care.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NMRR ID: 08-12-1167.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice*
  5. Abdul Aziz AF, Mohd Nordin NA, Abd Aziz N, Abdullah S, Sulong S, Aljunid SM
    BMC Fam Pract, 2014;15:40.
    PMID: 24580779 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-15-40
    BACKGROUND: Provision of post stroke care in developing countries is hampered by discoordination of services and limited access to specialised care. Albeit shortcomings, primary care continues to provide post-stroke services in less than favourable circumstances. This paper aimed to review provision of post-stroke care and related problems among Family Medicine Specialists managing public primary health care services.
    METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was distributed to 121 Family Physicians servicing public funded health centres in a pilot survey focused on improving post stroke care provision at community level. The questionnaire assessed respondents background and practice details i.e. estimated stroke care burden, current service provision and opinion on service improvement. Means and frequencies described quantitative data. For qualitative data, constant comparison method was used until saturation of themes was reached.
    RESULTS: Response rate of 48.8% was obtained. For every 100 patients seen at public healthcentres each month, 2 patients have stroke. Median number of stroke patients seen per month is 5 (IQR 2-10). 57.6% of respondents estimated total stroke patients treated per year at each centre was less than 40 patients. 72.4% lacked a standard care plan although 96.6% agreed one was needed. Patients seen were: discharged from tertiary care (88.1%), shared care plan with specialists (67.8%) and patients who developed stroke during follow up at primary care (64.4%). Follow-ups were done at 8-12 weekly intervals (60.3%) with 3.4% on 'as needed' basis. Referrals ranked in order of frequency were to physiotherapy services, dietitian and speech and language pathologists in public facilities. The FMS' perceived 4 important 'needs' in managing stroke patients at primary care level; access to rehabilitation services, coordinated care between tertiary centres and primary care using multidisciplinary care approach, a standardized guideline and family and caregiver support.
    CONCLUSIONS: Post discharge stroke care guidelines and access to rehabilitation services at primary care is needed for post stroke patients residing at home in the community.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice/standards*
  6. Abdul Aziz AF, Tan CE, Ali MF, Aljunid SM
    Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2020 Jun 20;18(1):193.
    PMID: 32563246 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-020-01450-9
    BACKGROUND: Satisfaction with post stroke services would assist stakeholders in addressing gaps in service delivery. Tools used to evaluate satisfaction with stroke care services need to be validated to match healthcare services provided in each country. Studies on satisfaction with post discharge stroke care delivery in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are scarce, despite knowledge that post stroke care delivery is fragmented and poorly coordinated. This study aims to modify and validate the HomeSat subscale of the Dutch Satisfaction with Stroke Care-19 (SASC-19) questionnaire for use in Malaysia and in countries with similar public healthcare services in the region.

    METHODS: The HomeSat subscale of the Dutch SASC-19 questionnaire (11 items) underwent back-to-back translation to produce a Malay language version. Content validation was done by Family Medicine Specialists involved in community post-stroke care. Community social support services in the original questionnaire were substituted with equivalent local services to ensure contextual relevance. Internal consistency reliability was determined using Cronbach alpha. Exploratory factor analysis was done to validate the factor structure of the Malay version of the questionnaire (SASC10-My™). The SASC10-My™ was then tested on 175 post-stroke patients who were recruited at ten public primary care healthcentres across Peninsular Malaysia, in a trial-within a trial study.

    RESULTS: One item from the original Dutch SASC19 (HomeSat) was dropped. Internal consistency for remaining 10 items was high (Cronbach alpha 0.830). Exploratory factor analysis showed the SASC10-My™ had 2 factors: discharge transition and social support services after discharge. The mean total score for SASC10-My™ was 10.74 (SD 7.33). Overall, only 18.2% were satisfied with outpatient stroke care services (SASC10-My™ score ≥ 20). Detailed analysis revealed only 10.9% of respondents were satisfied with discharge transition services, while only 40.9% were satisfied with support services after discharge.

    CONCLUSIONS: The SASC10-My™ questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool to measure caregiver or patient satisfaction with outpatient stroke care services in the Malaysian healthcare setting. Studies linking discharge protocol patterns and satisfaction with outpatient stroke care services should be conducted to improve care delivery and longer-term outcomes.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: No.: ACTRN12616001322426 (Registration Date: 21st September 2016.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  7. Awin N
    Family Physician, 2003;12(1):2-7.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  8. Azhar MZ
    Med J Malaysia, 2000 Dec;55(4):402-8.
    PMID: 11221150
    This paper reports the result of a brief therapy attempt at treating panic in a busy outpatient psychiatric clinic. The patients were cases of panic referred from the various outpatient clinics within the hospital complex. The patients were divided into three groups at random using one of three modalities of treatment, i.e. cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), CBT and Fluvoxamine (FVX), and FVX alone. The therapy was aimed for a maximum of nine sessions after which the patients were to be discharged. There were 14 patients in each group. The results show that all the groups were similar in the severity and scores pre treatment but after the different types of treatment there was a significant difference among them. The FVX alone group, showed significant improvement from the pretreatment levels but did not show as much improvement as the other groups and the mean score was only 9.07 after nine sessions. The best group was the CBT in combination with FVX. This indicates that the best way to treat panic is to combine drug treatment and psychological treatment. It is also shown from the study that the combination group requires less FVX than the FVX alone group. This finding has implications for the treatment of panic at the family physician clinic.

    Study site: Psychiatric clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  9. Balasundaram R
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 1970;64(4):607-14.
    PMID: 5485621 DOI: 10.1016/0035-9203(70)90085-4
    The pattern and incidence of cardiovascular disease was studied in a general practice in an urban-rural area in the west coast of West Malaysia. Hypertension, rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart disease accounted for 85% of the 476 patients with evidence of cardiovascular disease. Ischaemic heart disease, arteriosclerotic heart disease and other conditions accounted for the rest. Emphasis is laid on the salient features of incidence in general practice. Comparison is made with previous clinical and pathological studies from this region.
    Study site: General practjce clinic, Telok Anson [Teluk Intan], District of Lower Perak, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice*
  10. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1982;5(2):37-45.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  11. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1973;1(1):8.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  12. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1977;2(8):52-55.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  13. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1981;4(3):5-8.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  14. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1983;6(1):91-97.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  15. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1976;2(4):5-12.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  16. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1977;2(8):73-77.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  17. Balasundaram R
    Family Physician, 1993;5(3):35-45.
    A survey of laws and regulations governing the practice of radiology by general practitioners in Malaysis and ten other selected countries wascarried out. It showedvaryingdegrees oflegal restrictions on the use of x-ray machines in the countries studied. Most regulations reflected the concern of radiation protection forpatients andstaff. Only some countries provide training for non-medical persons in the use of x-ray machines. Radiology has an important role in primary care. Undergraduate and post-graduate education should ensure competence in basic radiological practice. KEYWORDS: X-ray, general practice, regulations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  18. Balasundaram R
    Family Practitioner, 1982;5(2):15-18.
    312 diabetics were seen in a multiracial urban general practice in Peninsular Malaysia during a five-year period. Of these, 210 (67%) were Indians, confirming the higher prevalence of diabetes among Indians reported in other studies. 67 were newly found diabetics. The sex, age, family history, of the diabetics, duration and complications of diabetes, are reviewed and compared with similar studies. The larger number of diabetics may partly be attributed to the presence in the community of a large number of Indians born in India. Stress also may contribute to the high prevalence of the disease in Indians, who are prone to diabetes by virtue of heredity.
    Study site: General practice clinic, Kelang, Selangor, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  19. Han GS, Ballis H
    PMID: 17201916 DOI: 10.1186/1746-4269-3-1
    Viewed through the micro focus of an interpretive lens, medical anthropology remains mystified because interpretivist explanations seriously downplay the given context in which individual health seeking-behaviours occur. This paper draws upon both the interpretivist and political economy perspectives to reflect on the ethno medical practices within the Korean-Australian community in Sydney.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  20. Bannister K
    Family Practitioner, 1981;4(2):54-55.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
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