Displaying publications 21 - 24 of 24 in total

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  1. Maharajan MK, Rajiah K, Khoo SP, Chellappan DK, De Alwis R, Chui HC, et al.
    PLoS One, 2017;12(1):e0168863.
    PMID: 28060838 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168863
    OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the attitudes and readiness of students of healthcare professions towards interprofessional learning.

    METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study design was used. Two different scales were used to measure the readiness for and perception of interprofessional learning; these were the 'Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale' and the 'Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale'. A convenience sampling method was employed. The sample was drawn from undergraduate students enrolled in years 1 to 5 of medical, dental, pharmacy and health sciences programme. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data.

    RESULTS: The overall response rate was 83%. The students mentioned that shared learning with other healthcare professional students will increase their ability to understand clinical problems. The students also mentioned that such shared learning will help them to communicate better with patients and other professionals. The students preferred to work with individuals from their own profession. Participants from medical, dental, pharmacy, and health sciences had a difference in opinion about 'negative professional identity', a domain of the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale. Based on the different year of study of the students, 'team work and collaboration', 'negative professional identity' and 'roles and responsibility' were the Interdisciplinary Education Perception Scale domains where students had a difference in opinion.

    CONCLUSIONS: Attitudes and readiness towards interprofessional learning showed significant differences among students of various healthcare professions; these differences also depended on the students' year of study. Interprofessional learning should be incorporated in the curriculum of all healthcare professional programs, which may foster students to become competent healthcare providers and understand each profession's role.

  2. Rajiah K, Maharajan MK, Fang Num KS, How Koh RC
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2017 06 25;18(6):1573-1579.
    PMID: 28669170
    Background: The objective of this study is to determine the influence of dental students’ knowledge and attitude
    regarding human papillomavirus infection of cervical cancer on willingness to pay for vaccination. Basic research
    design: A convenience sampling method was used. The minimal sample size of 136 was calculated using the Raosoft
    calculator with a 5 % margin of error and 95% confidence level. Participants: The study population were all final
    year dental students from the School of Dentistry. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure
    knowledge levels and attitudes regarding human papillomavirus vaccination. Contingent valuation was conducted
    for willingness to pay for vaccination. Main outcome measures: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has
    stated that human papillomavirus are associated with oropharynx cancer and the American Dental Association insist on
    expanding public awareness of the oncogenic potential of some HPV infections. Thus, as future dental practitioners,
    dental students should be aware of human papillomavirus and their links with cancer and the benefits of vaccination.
    Results: Knowledge on HPV and cervical cancer did not impact on attitudes towards vaccines. However, significant
    correlation existed between knowledge and willingness to pay for vaccination. Conclusions: Dental students’ knowledge
    on HPV and cervical cancer has no influence on their attitude towards HPV vaccines. However, their willingness to
    pay for HPV vaccination is influenced by their knowledge of cervical cancer and HPV vaccination.
  3. Koe KH, Veettil SK, Maharajan MK, Syeed MS, Nair AB, Gopinath D
    J Evid Based Dent Pract, 2023 Mar;23(1):101778.
    PMID: 36914303 DOI: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2022.101778
    OBJECTIVE: To compare the relative efficacy and safety of antiviral agents used in the prevention and management of herpes labialis through a network meta-analysis of clinical trials.

    METHODS: A systematic search was performed in Ovid Medline PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Scopus and Clinicaltrials.gov for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting a comparison of antiviral agents in the management and prevention of herpes labialis in healthy/immunocompetent adults. The data extracted from the selected RCTs were assessed and a network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed. The interventions were ranked according to the surface under the cumulative ranking (SUCRA).

    RESULTS: A total of 52 articles were included for qualitative synthesis and for the quantitative part, 26 articles were analyzed for the primary treatment outcome and 7 studies were analyzed for the primary prevention outcome. The combination therapy of oral valacyclovir and topical clobetasol was the best ranked with a mean reduction in healing time of -3.50 (95% CI -5.22 to -1.78) followed by vidarabine monophosphate of -3.22 (95% CI -4.59 to -1.85). No significant inconsistencies, heterogeneity, and publication bias were reported for TTH outcome analysis. For primary prevention outcomes, only 7 RCTs fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and none of the interventions was shown to be superior to each other. The absence of adverse events was reported by 16 studies, whereas other studies reported mild side effects only.

    CONCLUSION: NMA highlighted that several agents were effective in the management of herpes labialis among which the combination of oral valacyclovir with topical clobetasol therapy was the most effective in reducing the time to heal. However, further studies are required to determine which intervention is the most effective in preventing the recurrence of herpes labialis.

  4. Maharajan MK, Rajiah K, Belotindos JS, Basa MS
    Front Public Health, 2020;8:170.
    PMID: 32582602 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.00170
    Objective: To investigate the factors predicting knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) toward Zika virus infection among women population in Cebu City, Philippines. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from March 2018 to May 2018. Ethical practices were followed. A total of 702 women was approached and finally 516 completed the survey. Methods: Descriptive analysis was undertaken for the participants' characteristics. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was applied to declare the nature of data distribution. To determine the role of socio-demographic characteristics on KAP, differences in socio-demographic status were compared with the KAP scores using the one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test with p < 0.05 as significant. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of each KAP domain (good and poor). Results: There was a significant positive correlation between level of education and KAP scores. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between employment and KAP scores. Knowledge score was a significant predictor of practice score (b = 1.261, p = 0.024), and attitude score was also a significant predictor of practice score (b = 0.183, p = 0.039). However, knowledge score was not a significant predictor of attitude score (b = 0.316, p = 0.247). Conclusions: The present findings provided an overall view of KAP on Zika virus infection among females in Philippines and the socio-demographic factors that affected their KAP. Women with postgraduate education and being in higher profession were the predictors influencing the KAP scores of this female population. Women with postgraduate education was the strongest predictor.
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