METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a validated KAS questionnaire, performed among 338 TB contacts from 5 health clinics in Kedah, Malaysia. The respondents were selected via convenience sampling. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS: The mean KAS scores of participants are 73.5% [standard deviation (SD)=17.06], 83.0% (SD=10.33), and 67.0% (SD=16.72), respectively. Higher income (p=0.001), better knowledge score (p<0.001), and higher stigma score (p=0.003) are the significant associated factors for the attitude score.
CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that most of the TB contacts have good knowledge and constructive attitude toward TB prevention and screening, but their level of stigma on TB is high. The implementation of TB education and intervention programs among TB contacts are required especially among low-income groups.
METHODS: A total of 22 consented participants with facial palsy was assessed with photos and videography recordings where they performed 10 standard facial expressions. The severity of facial paralysis was evaluated with the House-Brackmann, Sydney, and Sunnybrook grading scales subjectively and with the facial nerve conduction study objectively. The assessments were repeated after 3 months.
RESULTS: A Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed that there were statistically significant change in all three gradings after 3-month of assessment. The responsiveness of the nerve conduction study was significant for the nasalis and orbicularis oris muscles. It was not significant for the orbicularis oculi muscle. The nasalis and orbicularis oculi showed statistically significant correlation with the three classification systems except for the orbicularis oculi muscle.
CONCLUSIONS: All three grading systems, House-Brackmann, Sydney, and Sunnybrook, showed statistically significant responsiveness after 3 months of evaluation. The nasalis and orbicularis oculi muscle can be used to predict facial palsy recovery because they showed strong positive and negative correlations with the extent of facial nerve degeneration from the nerve conduction study.
METHODS: This study has two phases: Phase I involves the translation of the NCIQ from English to Malay, followed by internal consistency and test-retest reliability assessment of the final version of NCIQ-M. Phase II involves QOL assessment of post-lingual deafness using NCIQ-M.
RESULTS: Twenty CI users and 20 non-CI users answered the NCIQ-M. Test-retest reliability analysis of the NCIQ-M was performed using an intraclass correlation coefficient, achieving scores of more than 0.85. Internal consistency was analysed with Cronbach α of more than 0.70 in all subdomains. Scores between the two groups of subjects were analyzed using an independent sample t-test. Good internal consistency, intraclass correlation, and test-retest reliability were obtained. Scores in all six subdomains of the NCIQ-M are significantly higher in the CI user group than in the non-CI user group.
CONCLUSIONS: The NCIQ-M is a consistent and reliable subjective questionnaire to determine the QOL of CI users concerning physical, psychological, and social functioning.