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  1. Zulkifli A, Ng WH, Chelvam P
    Family Practitioner, 1979;3(5):32-34.
    148 patients, 79 males and 60 females were seen in 1978 at Medical Unit Universiti Kebangsaan Kuala Lumpur. For majority of the patients the attacks of asthma begin at an early age. History of allergies were found in majority of the patients. Family history of asthma was noted in about 50%. Of the allergens that triggers of an attack of asthma, household dusts, rhinitis and pollen tops the list. Of the food the common allergens were shrimps, eggs and crabs. Most of the above allergens can be avoided or counteracted.
    Study site: Medical Unit, Hospital Kuala Lumpur (UKM unit), Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  2. Zin CS, Rahman NA, Ismail CR, Choy LW
    Pain Pract, 2017 07;17(6):774-781.
    PMID: 27676695 DOI: 10.1111/papr.12525
    BACKGROUND: There are currently limited data available on the patterns of opioid prescribing in Malaysia. This study investigated the patterns of opioid prescribing and characterized the dosing and duration of opioid use in patients with noncancer and cancer pain.
    METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at an outpatient hospital setting in Malaysia. All prescriptions for opioids (dihydrocodeine, fentanyl, morphine, and oxycodone) issued between January 2013 and December 2014 were examined. The number of prescriptions and patients, the distribution of mean daily dose, annual total days covered with opioids, and annual total opioid dose at the individual level were calculated and stratified by noncancer and cancer groups.
    RESULTS: A total of 1015 opioid prescriptions were prescribed for 347 patients from 2013 to 2014. Approximately 41.5% of patients (N = 144/347) and 58.5% (N = 203/347) were associated with noncancer and cancer diagnosis, respectively. Oxycodone (38.0%) was the highest prescribed primarily for the noncancer group. The majority of patients in both noncancer (74.3%) and cancer (60.4%) groups were receiving mean daily doses of < 50 mg morphine equivalents. The chronic use of opioids (> 90 days per year) was associated with 21.8% of patients in the noncancer group and 17.5% in the cancer group.
    CONCLUSIONS: The finding from this study showed that 41.5% of opioid users at an outpatient hospital setting in Malaysia received opioids for noncancer pain and 21.8% of these users were using opioids for longer than 90 days. The average daily dose in the majority of patients in both groups of noncancer and cancer was modest.
    Study site: outpatient clinic, hospital, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  3. Zheng YL, Norafizah MN, Rosli MS, Marlina MN, Maslina M, Nora Nurlinda Z, et al.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Critically-ill patients are commonly fed with EN via open system (OS) or closed system (CS). Several studies showed that patients on CS had received greater volume of EN compared to OS.
    Objective: As there was no study conducted in Malaysia, hence this study is conducted to compare the energy and protein adequacy of both systems.
    Methodology: This cohort prospective study was conducted in GICU (OS) and NICU/NHDW (CS) in Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Patients aged ≥18 years and fed by feeding pump in OS were included. Patients who were moribund or not given EN were excluded. Patients’ demographic data and disease severity score were collected on day 1 in ICU and followed for 5 days until decease or discharge. Adequacy was determined by percentage of energy/protein received from requirements.
    Results: Fifty-five patients were included (25 OS and 30 CS) with mean aged 45.41±17.46 years old, 78.2% male and 65.5% Malay. The mean SAPS II, SOFA score and ICU LOS were 46.47±10.65, 8.60±3.64 and 9.24±7.91 days respectively. The ICU mortality was 20%. EN was started about 2.56±2.89 days after ICU admission and the mean adequacy of energy was 74.56±32.23%, while protein adequacy was and 69.15±35.78%. Compared with the CS, OS were significantly older than CS (51 years old vs 42.5 years old; p=0.035) and had a higher SOFA score (10 vs 7.5; p= 0.014). No difference in ICU LOS and mortality between group were found. Energy (45.64% vs 96.71%; p<0.001) and protein adequacy (38.78% vs 94.12%; p<0.001) were significantly higher in the CS than the OS.
    Conclusion: CS as compared with OS may improve nutritional adequacy as CS delivered more 108% energy and 141% protein than OS. The difference in adequacy might be attributed to these factors; feeding method used in the system, patients’ characteristics and condition rather than the feeding system itself.
    Keywords: enteral nutrition, critically-ill patients, open system, closed system, adequacy
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  4. Zalina Abu Zaid, Kathryn Jackson, Lynne Cobiac, Mirnalini Kandiah
    Malays J Nutr, 2017;23(3):375-384.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Malnutrition is associated with poorer outcomes following treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC). This study evaluates the relationship between nutritional status using scored Patient Generated-Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) with the validated European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ C30) which consists of five functional scales, three symptoms scales and one item of global health/quality of life (QOL).
    Methods: A total of 42 CRC patients at oncology outpatient clinics from two hospitals in Malaysia participated in the study from March 2011 to March 2012. The participants were classified as either well-nourished (PG-SGA A) or malnourished (PG-SGA B and C).
    Results: The majority of patients were Chinese, male, with a mean age of 57.1 ± 9.8 years and had been diagnosed with stage 2 CRC. Well-nourished patients had statistically significantly better QOL scores on symptom scales: fatigue (p<0.001), nausea and vomiting (p<0.05), and pain (p<0.001) compared to malnourished patients. PG-SGA was strongly correlated with the main domains of the QOL: global health status (r = -0.395, p<0.05), fatigue (r = 0.816, p<0.001), nausea and vomiting (r = 0.730, p<0.001) and pain (r= 0.629, p<0.001). The better the nutritional status (lower total mean score of PG-SGA), the higher the QOL (high mean score of global health status).
    Conclusion: The scored PG-SGA is suitable for use as a nutrition assessment tool to identify malnutrition and it is associated
    with QOL among this population.
    Key words: Chemotherapy, colorectal cancer patient, malnutrition, nutritional status, PGSGA score, quality of life
    Study site: Oncology clinics, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Hospital Selayang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  5. Zainudin BM, Ismail O, Yusoff K
    Thorax, 1994 Mar;49(3):267-9.
    PMID: 8202885
    BACKGROUND: The benefit of adding theophylline to beta 2 agonists in acute asthmatic attacks has been debated frequently.
    METHODS: In an open randomised study 25 patients with severe acute asthma who presented to the emergency department were treated with either a combined nebulised salbutamol (5 mg/dose) and aminophylline infusion (0.6-0.9 mg/kg/hour), or nebulised salbutamol alone.
    RESULTS: The responses to treatment as measured by peak expiratory flow (PEF) and the time taken to achieve maximum PEF were similar in both groups. Side effects were observed more commonly in patients receiving the combined treatment.
    CONCLUSIONS: Nebulised salbutamol is equally efficacious in acute asthma when given alone or in combination with aminophylline.
    Study site: Emergency department, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  6. Zainudin BM, Sufarlan AW
    Med J Malaysia, 1990 Sep;45(3):235-8.
    PMID: 2152085
    The use of pressurised metered dose inhalers was assessed among 93 asthmatic patients attending the respiratory out patient clinic between January to October 1989. They were regular users of the inhalers prior to the assessment. 62.4% of the patients were found to use the inhalers incorrectly. Forty three percent made more than one error. The commonest error observed was the failure to actuate and inhale the aerosol together in 41.9%. There was no difference in the occurrence of incorrect performance between different sexes, age groups, duration of inhaler used and previous supervision or no supervision by the doctors.
    Study site: Respiratory clinic, Hospital Kuala Lumpur (UKM), Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  7. Zaini I, Ghani SN, Moy FM
    JUMMEC, 2008;11(2):59-65.
    MyJurnal
    This is a retrospective case control study conducted between 1 January 2005 and 30 June 2006 at the Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban, Malaysia. The objective was to study the maternal sociodemographics and foetal characteristics associated with premature delivery. There were 387 cases selected universally and 387 controls selected by using systematic random sampling involving every 13 cases. The patients were women who had delivered their babies before 37 completed weeks, while the control were women who had term deliveries during the same period. Data were collected using structured questionnaire through secondary data. Results showed that having multiple pregnancies (OR=8.33, 95% CI: 2.91, 23.84), congenital abnormality (OR=4.6, 95% CI: 0.98, 21.84) and intrauterine growth retardation (OR=15.59, 95% CI: 3.69, 65.82) were the risk factors of premature delivery. Being an ethnic Indian also raised the odds (OR=1.67, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.43) but this was not significant in the multivariate analysis. Other sociodemographic characteristics did not contribute significantly to the risk factors for premature delivery in this sample. In conclusion, foetal characteristics were found to be significantly associated with premature delivery after adjustment for other confounding factors.
    Study site: Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  8. Zainal, N.Z.
    MyJurnal
    Most general hospitals in the country have a psychiatric department. According to the Malaysia Mental Health Regulations 2010, "a psychiatric facility shall ensure that each patient has a care plan for the management of the patient during the treatment and upon discharge of the patient". However not every psychiatric department has a trained consultation-liaison psychiatrist. In Malaysia there are only a few numbers of psychiatrists that have undergone a formal sub-specialty training in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  9. Zahari Z, Lee CS, Ibrahim MA, Musa N, Mohd Yasin MA, Lee YY, et al.
    Iran J Pharm Res, 2018;17(Suppl):8-16.
    PMID: 29796025
    Hyperalgesia is a common clinical phenomenon among opioid dependent patients on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) and it may be associated with undertreated pain and/or therapeutic failure. This study aimed to investigate association between serum methadone concentration (SMC) and cold pressor pain responses. Cold pressor pain responses in 147 opioid dependent patients on MMT were assessed using cold pressor test (CPT) at 0 h and at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after the dose intake. Blood samples were collected at 24 h after the dose. Serum methadone concentrations were measured using the Methadone ELISA kit and classified into two categories: < 400 ng/mL and ≥ 400 ng/mL. Eighty-eight patients (59.9%) had trough concentrations of < 400 ng/mL and 40.1% had trough concentrations of ≥ 400 ng/mL. There were significant effects of SMC on the cold pressor pain threshold (p = 0.019). Patients with concentrations < 400 ng/mL had significantly higher (almost 60% higher) cold pressor pain threshold (adjusted mean (95% CI) = 30.15 (24.29, 36.01) s) compared to those with concentrations of ≥ 400 ng/mL (18.93 (11.77, 26.08) seconds). There was also a 20% difference in pain tolerance, and 6% difference in cold pressor pain intensity score, neither of which were significant statistically (p > 0.05). Our results suggest an association of trough methadone concentration with the cold pressor pain threshold among opioid dependent patients on MMT. It would be useful to study the mechanisms underlying this association to help managing pain in such a population.
    Study site: Psychiatric Clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM); Psychiatric Clinic, Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II; and eight other government MMT clinics in Kelantan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  10. Yusoff N, Low WY, Yip CH
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2011;12(4):915-7.
    PMID: 21790225
    The main objective of this paper is to examine the psychometric properties of the Malay Version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), tested on 67 husbands of the women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. The eligible husbands were retrieved from the Clinical Oncology Clinic at three hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Data was collected at three weeks and ten weeks following surgery for breast cancer of their wives. The psychometric properties of the HADS were reported based on Cronbach' alpha, Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC), Effect Size Index (ESI), sensitivity and discriminity of the scale. Internal consistency of the scale is excellent, with Cronbach's alpha of 0.88 for Anxiety subscale and 0.79 for Depression subscale. Test-retest Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) is 0.35 and 0.42 for Anxiety and Depression Subscale, respectively. Small mean differences were observed at test-retest measurement with ESI of 0.21 for Anxiety and 0.19 for Depression. Non-significant result was revealed for the discriminant validity (mastectomy vs lumpectomy). The Malay Version of the HADS is appropriate to measure the anxiety and depression among the husbands of the women with breast cancer in Malaysia.
    Study site: Oncology clinic, University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (PPUKM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  11. Yusof J, Mahdy ZA, Noor RM
    Complement Ther Clin Pract, 2016 Nov;25:155-163.
    PMID: 27863606 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.09.005
    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in a Malaysian antenatal population and its impact on obstetric outcome.

    DESIGN: Cross sectional study.

    SETTING: Obstetric Unit, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Kedah.

    MATERIAL AND METHOD: Women attending antenatal clinic and Patient Admission Centre (PAC) above 30 weeks gestation were given structured questionnaires to fill. Pregnancy outcome measures were documented and analyzed in relation to the information gathered through the questionnaire. SPSS Version 21 was used to analyze all data obtained.

    RESULTS: Out of 447 women, the overall prevalence of CAM usage in pregnancy was 85.2%. It was popular among pregnant mothers aged between 26 and 35 years old and most commonly used in the third trimester (p = 0.0.010) to facilitate labour. Other sociodemographic factors such as race, parity, education, occupation and residence were not significantly important. Traditional herbs was the commonest type of CAM used in pregnancy (58.3%) followed by selusuh (24.3%). About 78.5% of the CAM users delivered vaginally (p = 0.020) but a significant proportion (14.3%) had fetal distress (p = 0.035) compared to non CAM users. The most common type of herbs used was akar kayu bunga Fatimah (37.7%) and gamat (13.4%). In our study, usage of selusuh product and akar kayu bunga Fatimah had a significant impact in achieving vaginal delivery and shortened the duration of labour particularly in multiparae. The usage of Kacip Fatimah and Salindah was associated with preterm labour (p = 0.04)Tongkat Ali herbal coffee had a significant association with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (p = 0.011) and fetal distress (p = 0.04) Meanwhile, the usage of Jamu Mustika Ratu was significantly associated with low birth weight in grandmultiparae (p = 0.026)and spirulina was significantly associated with oligohydramnios (p = 0.04).

    CONCLUSION: Usage of CAM in pregnancy in the Malaysian population is of high prevalence CAM in pregnancy has beneficial and adverse obstetric outcomes. More research is needed to establish the safety of usage of various forms of CAM in pregnancy.

    Study site: Obstetric Unit, Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Kedah.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  12. Yusof A, Razak M, Lim A
    Med J Malaysia, 1998 Sep;53 Suppl A:52-8.
    PMID: 10968183
    The displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus in children (Gartland type 3) is a most challenging injury to treat. There is controversy regarding the initial treatment either closed manipulation and splint immobilization or open reduction and internal fixation. This is a retrospective study comparing two groups of patients with displaced supracondylar fracture of the humerus (Gattland 3) treated in the Orthopaedic Unit, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The first group, 13 patients treated with closed reduction and splint immobilization and a second group, 15 patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation as initial definitive treatment. The results showed a high failure rate of closed reduction and splint immobilization. This was due to difficulty in reduction, loss of reduction post operatively or during follow-up. Open reduction and internal fixation was more advantages with reduced hospitalization time, fewer complications, more stable fixation and better anatomical reduction with minimal complications for type 3 supracondylar fracture of humerus. We would recommend that all Gartland 3 supracondylar fracture of the humerus be treated with open reduction and two K-wire fixation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  13. Yun LS, Hassan Y, Aziz NA, Awaisu A, Ghazali R
    Patient Educ Couns, 2007 Dec;69(1-3):47-54.
    PMID: 17720351 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2007.06.017
    Objective: The primary objective of this study was to assess and compare the knowledge of diabetes mellitus possessed by patients with diabetes and healthy adult volunteers in Penang, Malaysia.
    Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 February 2006 to 31 March 2006. We randomly selected 120 patients with diabetes mellitus from a diabetic clinic at the General Hospital Penang, Malaysia and 120 healthy adults at a shopping complex in Penang. Each participant was interviewed face-to-face by a pharmacist using a validated questionnaire, and they were required to answer a total of 30 questions concerning knowledge about diabetes mellitus using Yes, No or Unsure as the only response.
    Results: The results showed that patients with diabetes mellitus were significantly more knowledgeable than the healthy volunteers about risk factors, symptoms, chronic complications, treatment and self-management, and monitoring parameters. Educational level was the best predictive factor for diabetes mellitus and public awareness.
    Conclusion: Knowledge about diabetes mellitus should be improved among the general population.
    Practice implications: This study has major implications for the design of an educational programme for diabetics and a health promotion programme as a primary prevention measure for the healthy population in general, and especially for those at high risk. The results could be useful in the design of future studies for evaluating patients' and the general public's knowledge about diabetes mellitus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  14. Yong, N.T., Tengku, M.A., Nurul, A.H., Mukkaramah, C.A., Ilunihayati, I.
    MyJurnal
    Risks of transfusion increase with the increase in the number and volume of transfusions occurring in hospitals year after year. Knowledge and practice of the nurses on proper transfusion techniques and risk reduction procedures should always be updated to ensure that transfusions are safely carried out. The study was done to determine the levels of knowledge and practice of trained nurses regarding blood transfusion in a general hospital. The study is a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire, distributed to all staff nurses in the medical-based wards and intensive care unit (ICU) in the hospital. The total score were added for each category of knowledge and practice. Ninety one percent of the total population of staff nurses in medical based wards anti ICU were recruited into the study. A score of 80% or more in the knowledge and score of IOO% is required for practice to consider it as a pass, The outcome of the study showed that no one respondent in the study has achieved the required level, with regard to neither knowledge nor practice. The mean knowledge score was 54.8 with SD. of 9,9; while the mean practice score was 63 .8 with S.D. of 1.4. It was found that there was no rehtionship between knowledge score, nor practice score with the clinical postings (place of work) , work experience, and nursing qualification. This survey had indicated probkms faced by the nursing population in the hospital studied that there was a need to improve knowledge and practice levels with regards to blood transfusion procedure. It is crucial that updated information concerning transfusions be communicated to these nurses since they were the ones who carry out the procedures whilst continuously observing the patients during transfusion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  15. Yong YV, Shafie AA
    Value Health, 2014 Nov;17(7):A568.
    PMID: 27201892 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2014.08.1892
    Objectives: To assess the feasibility of a computer-based Standard Gamble (SG) visual prop whilst measuring utilities of different asthma health states at the same time.
    Methods: Twenty adult asthma patients literate in either Malay or English language were conveniently sampled from a public hospital in Penang, Malaysia. They were interviewed by two trained interviewers using a bilingual script. Each patient was requested to value the given health states using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) prior to SG exercise. There were three chronic health states (C1-C3) for 10 years, three temporary states (T1-T3) for 3 months, and two anchor states (healthy and dead). During the SG exercise, the visual prop was fully operated by the interviewers. The probability of being in a worse state was changed in a ‘ping-pong’ fashion until the indifference point was reached.
    Results: All patients understood the SG exercise and rated SG easier than VAS. Around 85% (n=17) completed SG within 30 minutes. There was 90% (n=18) who ranked T3 as the worst temporary health state during VAS. Two patients provided logical inconsistency data in SG. The preferences by SG were higher than VAS. Preferences were also higher in temporary states measured by chained SG than other states by conventional SG. The mean utilities for C1=0.56 (SD 0.38), C2=0.47 (SD 0.33), C3=0.53 (SD 0.38), T1=0.65 (SD 0.31), T2=0.53 (SD 0.35), and T3=0.38 (SD 0.38).
    Conclusions: The SG methods including the props are feasible for utilities measurement in asthma, based on the agreements achieved with other studies on the pattern of utilities measured in this preliminary study.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  16. Yeow TP, Aun ES, Hor CP, Lim SL, Khaw CH, Aziz NA
    PLoS One, 2019;14(1):e0211210.
    PMID: 30682116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211210
    It remains widely perceived that early-onset Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in children and adolescents is rare and clinically distinct from Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). We studied the challenges of classifying subtypes of early-onset diabetes using clinical features and biomarkers, and management of these patients. We reviewed retrospectively the record of patients < 25 years old who attended the diabetes clinic in Penang General Hospital, Malaysia between 1st December 2012 and 30th June 2015. We examined their clinical features, C-peptide and pancreatic autoantibodies. Comparisons were made between T1D and T2D for magnitude, demographics, metabolic status and complications. We studied 176 patients with a mean age of 20 ± 3.7 years, 43.2% had T1D, 13.6% had T2D, and 13.6% had mixed features of both. When tested, pancreatic autoantibodies were positive in 59.4% of the T1D. T2D presented two years later than T1D at 14.3 years, 20% were asymptomatic at presentation, and 50% required insulin supplementation despite fasting c-peptide of > 250 pmol/L. HbA1C of ≤ 8.0% (64 mmol/mol) was achieved in 30.3% of T1D, 58.3% of T2D on OAD and 16.7% of T2D on insulin. The T2D had greater cardiovascular risk with higher body mass index, more dyslipidaemia, higher blood pressure and earlier onset of nephropathy. The overlapping clinical features, variable autoimmunity, and beta-cell loss complicate classification of young diabetes. Pancreatic autoantibodies and C-peptide did not always predict diabetes subtypes nor respond to insulin. The poor metabolic control and high cardiovascular risk burden among the T2D highlight the need for population-based study and focused intervention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  17. Yeoh OH
    Med J Malaysia, 1980 Jun;34(4):349-57.
    PMID: 7219262
    This paper describes the characteristics of Malay psychiatric inpatients, their attitudes towards hospitalisation and their practice of consulting traditional healers (bomohs). The behaviour patterns which prompted hospitalisation were: acute disorganised behaviour directed at the community, behaviour of a less acute nature distressing the family and life-threatening crises. The social interaction life styles of urban and rural Malays are discussed in relation to the differences observed between urban and rural hospitalised patients. When the traditional healers were consulted there was a delay before hospitalisation, but there was an awareness of the need for hospitalisation shown by a small number of the traditional healers. Some patients who had consulted the traditional healers had the tendency to continue the consultations after leaving the hospital, but this practice became less frequent after each discharge from hospital.
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  18. Yeoh OH
    Med J Malaysia, 1979 Dec;34(2):167-70.
    PMID: 548722
    This study show that within a general hospital outpatient setting, the prescription of psychotropic medication is mainly confined to the anti-anxiety drugs and and secondarily to the hypnotics. There is a conspicuous absence of prescription for antipsychotic drugs and negligible use of antidepressants. The use of anti-anxiety drugs and hypnotics was higher in the general outpatient clinic than in the psychiatric outpatient clinic in the same hospital. This finding is in the trend of similar findings by others that non-psychiatrists prescribe more psychotropic medication including an-anxiety and hypnotic medication. In this study the use of psychotropic medication for patient generated psychiatric symptomalogy was only in 14.5% of cases prescribed these medication. The anti-anxiety drugs were prescribed as adjuncts in non-psychiatric conditions as well. Frequent use as adjuncts were in the treatment of muscular tension and in chronic cardiovascular disorders. There is a core of patients (20%) that had been continuously prescribed medication up to a period of 5 years. Half of these were chronic cardiovascular patients and half presented with no demonstrable systemic organicity. None had been referred to psychiatrist.
    Study site: Outpatient clinic, general hospital, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
  19. Yeoh CM, Thong KS, Seed HF, Nur Iwana AT, Maruzairi H
    Med J Malaysia, 2019 08;74(4):307-311.
    PMID: 31424038
    INTRODUCTION: Psychological morbidities are common amongst healthcare professionals particularly among junior house officers (HO) who are in a transitional stage from being a medical student to a doctor. They undergo many stressors during this period and hence might suffer from higher psychological morbidities such as depression, anxiety and stress.

    OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among HO in Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Kuching, Sarawak. The socialdemographic factors were also evaluated to identify the high-risk groups.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 227 house officers in SGH over a period of three months. The social-demographic data such as age, sex, marital status, current posting, duration of posting, place of graduate and state of origin were obtained from interviews with the respondents. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress scale (DASS) questionnaire was completed to assess the psychological morbidities.

    RESULTS: HO were found to have high prevalence of psychiatric morbidities such as depression (42%), anxiety (50%) and stress (42.7%). Foreign graduates showed a significantly higher odds of depression (odds ratio, OR: 3.851; 95% confidence interval, 95%CI: 2.165, 6.851), anxiety (OR: 2.427; 95%CI: 1.394, 4.225) and stress (OR: 2.524; 95%CI: 1.439, 4.427) as compared to local graduates.. Further, non-Sarawakians were observed to have higher odds of developing anxiety (OR: 1.772; 95%CI: 1.022, 3.073) as compared to the Sarawakians.

    CONCLUSION: HO in SGH had high prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress. Therefore, psychiatric morbidities should be screened regularly amongst the HOs in Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General*
  20. Yee A, Bt Nek Mohamed NN, Binti Hashim AH, Loh HS, Harbajan Singh MK, Ng CG, et al.
    Biomed Res Int, 2015;2015:730291.
    PMID: 26060820 DOI: 10.1155/2015/730291
    INTRODUCTION: Our study aims to determine the prevalence of nicotine dependence and investigate the effect of nicotine dependence on psychopathology among schizophrenia patients.
    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in an outpatient psychiatric clinic at a general hospital in Malaysia. 180 recruited subjects were administered the Malay version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), and the Malay version of Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND-M) questionnaires.
    RESULTS: The prevalence of nicotine dependence among the subjects was 38.1% (n = 69) and they were mainly composed of male gender, Malay ethnicity, being treated with atypical antipsychotics, and taking other illicit drugs or alcohol. Subjects with severe nicotine dependence scored less in the negative subscale of PANSS compared with the nonsmokers (P = 0.011). On performing the hierarchy multiple regressions, dependence status still significantly predicted negative scores after adjusting the confounders (t = -2.87, P = 0.005).
    CONCLUSION: The rate of nicotine use disorder among schizophrenia patients in this study is higher than that of the general population in Malaysia. The significant association between nicotine dependence and negative psychopathology symptoms will help the healthcare practitioners in their management of nicotine dependence among schizophrenia patients.

    Study site: outpatient psychiatric clinic in a general hospital
    Matched MeSH terms: Hospitals, General
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