OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of self-reported insomnia symptoms amongst adult primary care attendees and the association with socio-demographic factors; to ascertain the impact of insomnia on daily functioning and to describe the psychological profile of patients with insomnia.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional survey, 2049 adult patients (≥18 year old) attending seven primary care clinics in Peninsular Malaysia, completed the questionnaire asking about symptoms of insomnia (defined according to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and DSM IV criteria) daytime impairment and psychological symptoms (assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).
RESULTS: The response rate was 86.2%. A total of 60% reported insomnia symptoms, 38.9% had frequent insomnia symptoms (>3 times per week), 30.7% had chronic insomnia without daytime consequences and 28.6% had chronic insomnia with daytime dysfunction. Indian ethnicity (OR 1.79; 95%CI, 1.28-2.49), age ≥ 50 or older (OR 1.82; 95%CI, 1.10-3.01), anxiety symptoms (OR 1.65; 95%CI, 1.21-2.22) and depression symptoms (OR 1.65; 95%CI, 1.21-2.26) were risk factors for chronic insomnia with daytime dysfunction. Amongst those with chronic insomnia with daytime dysfunction, 47.8% had anxiety symptoms (OR, 2.01; 95%CI, 1.57-2.59) and 36.5% had depression symptoms (OR, 2.74; 95%CI, 2.04-3.68) based on HADs score. They also had tendency to doze off while driving and to be involved in road traffic accidents.
CONCLUSIONS: A third of primary care attendees have insomnia symptoms and chronic insomnia, associated with significant daytime dysfunction and psychological morbidity. By identifying those at risk of having chronic insomnia, appropriate interventions can be commenced.
METHODOLOGY: We conducted a bibliographic search of PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using the following keywords: "medication adherence," "drug compliance," "DMTAC" and "Malaysia." The search covered all publications up to 31 December 2021. Eligible articles were original studies conducted in Malaysia that measured or quantified medication adherence among persons with T2DM.
RESULTS: We identified 64 eligible studies published between 2008 to 2021. Most studies included patients with T2DM in ambulatory facilities. Five studies were qualitative research. The quantitative research publications included clinical trials, and cross-sectional, validation, retrospective and prospective cohort studies. Thirty-eight studies used medication adherence scales. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8, used in 20 studies) and Malaysian Medication Adherence Scale (MALMAS, used in 6 studies) were the most commonly used tools. There were 6 validation studies with 4 medication adherence scales. A meta-analysis of 10 studies using MMAS-8 or MALMAS revealed that the pooled prevalence of low medication adherence is 34.2% (95% CI: 27.4 to 41.2, random effects model). Eighteen publications evaluated various aspects of the Diabetes Medication Therapy Adherence Clinics (DMTAC).
CONCLUSION: This scoping review documented extensive research on medication adherence among persons with diabetes in Malaysia. The quantitative meta-analysis showed a pooled low medication adherence rate.
METHODS: A comprehensive bibliographic search for Malaysian studies on diabetes knowledge was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Relevant literature was systematically selected and described; pertinent data were extracted; and data on diabetes knowledge levels and their associated factors were synthesised. The quality of the identified studies was assessed using a Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool.
RESULTS: Thirty Malaysian cross-sectional studies that measured diabetes knowledge levels were retrieved. Nineteen of them used a named diabetes knowledge measurement tool, with 14 using the 14-item Michigan Diabetes Knowledge Test. A low knowledge level was prevalent among patients with diabetes mellitus (pooled mean knowledge score=6.92, proportion of patients with a low knowledge level=47.97%). The knowledge score was associated with some sociodemographic variables, health literacy, self-care and glycaemic control.
CONCLUSION: The association of diabetes knowledge with diabetes outcomes (e.g. self-care and glycaemic control) reflects the potential of the former as a target of intervention. Periodic measurement of diabetes knowledge in healthcare settings and among populations can help in assessing the effectiveness of diabetes educational interventions. Concerted efforts to improve diabetes knowledge among Malaysians have the potential to fill knowledge-practice gaps.