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
A study was undertaken to evaluate the efficiency of health services at two maternal and child health (MCH) clinics in Kuala Lumpur. The time spent for individual patient care by the clinic staff was used as an indicator for the evaluation. The main objective was to derive a model of ideal operation time for specific patient care activities at a MCH clinic. Primary data was collected through systematic random sampling of patients between 25/7/1985 and 31/7/1985. Secondary data was obtained from available clinic records for July, 1985. The time a patient spent at the clinic and the time she spent at each examination station and waiting between stations was recorded with digital watches. Results show tha patients spent 80% of their time at the clinics waiting. The actual time spent on each patient was found to be considerably less than the ideal time measured under ideal conditions. Various recommendation are presented in the paper to reduce waiting time and extend examination time. The ideal patient capacity for the two clinics was also calculated.
The result of the opiate (notably heroin) epidemic in Malaysia has been one of an excessive overload on existing medical and social services. The immediate problem of detoxification and rehabilitation is likely to continue for a while before planned and purpose-built and staffed centres take over to bring the problem, hopefully, to manageable proportions.