MyMedR

Community knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards depression in the state of Penang, Malaysia

Khan TM, Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Anwar M, Wasif G, Khan AH

Community Ment Health J, 2010 Feb;46(1):87-92.

PMID: 20146000 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-009-9262-z

This study was intended to evaluate the mental health literacy vis-à-vis depression among inhabitants of Penang state in North Malaysia. Using a clustered random sampling method, 1,855 respondents were approached to participate in the survey. A total of 1,149 respondents actually participated, for a 61.9% response rate. Face to face interviews were then conducted using a pre-validated 21-item questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 30 years (SD +/-11.5). The majority (n = 884; 76.9%) could recognize three or more symptoms of depression. Chinese and/or female respondents performed the best in this domain. Respondents with a personal experience of depression displayed a significantly better knowledge of symptoms of and therapies for depression than those who did not (t = -35.745, P = <0.001). Overall, a moderate knowledge level of the symptoms of depression and a cursory knowledge towards therapy were observed among the general population in Penang. Notably, respondents were generally inclined towards the use of alternative medicine. The study suggests that strong beliefs in alternative and traditional medicines could undermine the respondents' willingness and ability to seek evidence-based mental health care.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Malaysian Moslem mothers' experience of depression and service use

Abdul Kadir NB, Bifulco A

Cult Med Psychiatry, 2010 Sep;34(3):443-67.

PMID: 20549550 DOI: 10.1007/s11013-010-9183-x

Standard psychiatric criteria for depression developed in the United States and United Kingdom are increasingly used worldwide to establish the prevalence of clinical disorders and to help develop services. However, these approaches are rarely sensitive to local and cultural expressions of symptoms or beliefs about treatment. Mismatch between diagnostic criteria and local understanding may result in underreporting of depression and underutilization of services. Little such research has been conducted in Malaysia, despite the acknowledged high rate of depression and low access to services. This study examines depression in Moslem Malay women living in Johor Bahru, Southern Peninsular Malaysia, to explore depression symptoms using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. The 61 women interviewed were selected on the basis of high General Health Questionnaire scores from a large questionnaire survey of 1,002 mothers. The illustrative analysis looks at descriptions of depressed mood, self-depreciation and suicidal ideation, as well as attitudes toward service use. The women gave full and open descriptions of their emotional symptoms, easily recognizable by standard symptom categories, although somatic symptoms were commonly included, and the spiritual context to understanding depression was also prevalent. However, few women had knowledge about treatment or sought medical services, although some sought help from local spiritual healers. Attending to such views of depression can help develop services in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Eye donation - awareness and willingness among attendants of patients at various clinics in Melaka, Malaysia

Bhandary S, Khanna R, Rao KA, Rao LG, Lingam KD, Binu V

Indian J Ophthalmol, 2010 12 16;59(1):41-5.

PMID: 21157071

AIM: Corneal blindness accounts for 3.42% of blindness in Malaysia; the rate of eye donation is low. The aim of the study was to assess the awareness about eye donation and willingness to donate eyes among attendants of patients at various clinics in Melaka, Malaysia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This observational study was conducted on attendants who accompanied patients (n = 400) visiting various outpatient departments of the General Hospital and two peripheral clinics in Melaka between August and October 2007. The participants answered a questionnaire (Malay and English versions) which included demographic profile, awareness of eye donation, knowledge regarding facts of eye donation, and willingness to donate eyes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed at 5% level of significance.

RESULTS: Awareness of eye donation was observed in 276 (69%) participants. Multivariate analysis showed that awareness was more among females when compared to males (P = 0.009). Of the 276 participants who were aware of eye donation, only 34.42% were willing to donate eyes. Willingness was more among the Indian race (P = 0.02) and males (P = 0.02). Educational status did not influence the willingness to donate eyes.

CONCLUSIONS: Although majority of participants were aware of eye donation, willingness to donate eyes was poor.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Fulltext An Asian viewpoint on the use of vitamin D and calcium in osteoporosis treatment: physician and patient attitudes and beliefs

Chan SP, Scott BB, Sen SS

BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2010;11:248.

PMID: 20977729 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-248

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis treatment guidelines recommend calcium and vitamin D supplementation for both prevention as well as treatment, however, compliance with these guidelines is often unsatisfactory. This study investigated the opinion of Asian physicians and Asian patients regarding vitamin D and calcium and patients' use of both.
METHODS: Physicians selected from Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Korea and Singapore were asked to grade the significance of vitamin D and calcium in the treatment of osteoporosis and their patients' use of these supplements. In addition, physicians recruited seven eligible osteoporotic women to answer a questionnaire to determine their use of vitamin D and calcium, and their attitudes and beliefs regarding these supplements.
RESULTS: In total, 237 physicians and 1463 osteoporosis patients completed the questionnaire. The results revealed that 22% of physicians in Malaysia, 12% in Taiwan, 72% in the Philippines, 50% in Korea and 24% in Singapore rated the importance of vitamin D supplementation as being extremely important. For calcium, 27% of physicians in Malaysia, 30% in Taiwan, 80% in the Philippines, 50% in Korea and 38% in Singapore rated the importance as being extremely important. Forty-three percent of patients in Malaysia, 38% in Taiwan, 73% in the Philippines, 35% in Korea and 39% in Singapore rated the importance of vitamin D as being extremely important. For calcium, 69% of patients in Malaysia, 58% in Taiwan, 90% in the Philippines, 70% in Korea and 55% in Singapore rated the importance as being extremely important. In addition, results of the patient questionnaire revealed that only a very small number regularly took both supplements. In addition, the results indicated that, with the exception of patients from the Philippines, the majority of patients had no or infrequent discussion with their physician about vitamin D and calcium.
CONCLUSIONS: There is generally suboptimal appreciation by both physicians and patients of the importance of vitamin D and calcium for maintenance of bone health as reflected in the low number of patients who reported regularly taking these supplements. Recognition of this problem should translate to appropriate action to improve education for both physicians and patients, with a goal to increase use of these supplements among Asian patients with osteoporosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

The role of complementary indigenous Malay therapies: perspectives from palliative care patients

Lua PL

J Complement Integr Med, 2011 Jan;8.

PMID: 22754943 DOI: 10.2202/1553-3840.1369

Although the popularity of complementary indigenous Malay therapies (CIMT) in general healthcare is undeniable in the Malaysian context today, their usage within the palliative care scenarios remains unexplored. Our study was specifically embarked to determine CIMT’s usage pattern, reasons, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differences (users vs. non-users) in a sample of hospice-based palliative patients in Selangor, Malaysia. From the 39 consenting patients (mean age = 56 years; female = 56.4 percent; Malay = 53.8 percent), 38.5 percent were users of CIMT. Dried medicinal roots, herbs and sea cucumber products were the most preferred types of CIMT (53.3 percent). The most common reason cited for usage was because these were "easier and simpler to be administered" (46.7 percent). Although users' attitudes, beliefs and perceptions were more favourable than the non-users, between 30.0-73.3 percent of users remained unsure or had no knowledge regarding CIMT. They also exhibited significantly poorer Physical Symptoms than the non-users (p=0.006), a probable motive for seeking CIMT in the first place. Despite the small sample size, the findings provided some insight into the role of CIMT especially with regard to usage trends and overall well-being among the terminally-ill, of which healthcare professionals should constantly be vigilant of amidst their routine care responsibilities.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

Wong LP, Khoo EM

Int J Behav Med, 2011 Sep;18(3):246-53.

PMID: 20440593 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-010-9091-z

Menstruation has important implications on the physical and emotional well-being of adolescents' reproductive health.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Fulltext Public perceptions and attitudes toward thalassaemia: Influencing factors in a multi-racial population

Wong LP, George E, Tan JA

BMC Public Health, 2011;11:193.

PMID: 21447191 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-193

Thalassaemia is a common public health problem in Malaysia and about 4.5 to 6% of the Malays and Chinese are carriers of this genetic disorder. The major forms of thalassaemia result in death in utero of affected foetuses (α-thalassaemia) or life-long blood transfusions for survival in β-thalassaemia. This study, the first nationwide population based survey of thalassaemia in Malaysia, aimed to determine differences in public awareness, perceptions and attitudes toward thalassaemia in the multi-racial population in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Mammographic screening practices among Chinese-Australian women

Kwok C, Fethney J, White K

J Nurs Scholarsh, 2012 Mar;44(1):11-8.

PMID: 22151348 DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2011.01429.x

To report mammographic screening practice among Chinese-Australian women, and to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, acculturation factors (English proficiency and length of stay in Australia), cultural beliefs, and having a mammogram as recommended.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Positive body image: inter-ethnic and rural-urban differences among an indigenous sample from Malaysian Borneo

Swami V, Kannan K, Furnham A

Int J Soc Psychiatry, 2012 Nov;58(6):568-76.

PMID: 21821633 DOI: 10.1177/0020764011415208

Previous studies examining body image from a cross-cultural perspective have tended to neglect samples from different ethnic groups or along a rural-urban continuum. To overcome this limitation, the present study examined positive body image among rural and urban women from three major indigenous ethnic groups in Sabah, Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Fulltext Rome III survey of irritable bowel syndrome among ethnic Malays

Lee YY, Waid A, Tan HJ, Chua AS, Whitehead WE

World J Gastroenterol, 2012 Nov 28;18(44):6475-80; discussion p. 6479.

PMID: 23197894 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i44.6475

To survey irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using Rome III criteria among Malays from the north-eastern region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

Midlife crisis perceptions, experiences, help-seeking, and needs among multi-ethnic malaysian women

Wong LP, Awang H, Jani R

Women Health, 2012;52(8):804-19.

PMID: 23127220 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2012.729557

In the present study, researchers explored attitudes toward midlife crises, experience with midlife crises, help-seeking, and needs among multi-ethnic Malaysian women. A total of 14 focus group discussions were conducted with 89 Malaysian women of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Women expressed concern over physical aging and decline in their physical functional health. Having a midlife crisis was frequently reported. Issues that were frequently reported to trigger a midlife crisis, such as empty nest syndrome, impact of aging on sexual and reproductive function, extended parenthood, caring for aging or ill parents, and career challenges were noted by the study participants (listed here in order of most to least frequently reporting of these themes across the group discussions). Overall, these issues were associated with attitudes about aging. A comparatively less open attitude toward sexual attitudes and help-seeking for sexual problems were found among the Malay and Indian women. This may imply that intervention to increase positive attitudes concerning both sexuality and help-seeking intentions should be culturally specific. The use of religious coping for comfort and consolation was frequently reported; therefore, those providing midlife crisis prevention and intervention programs should consider involving faith-based interventions in the Malaysian setting.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

Fulltext Factors that hinder organ donation: religio-cultural or lack of information and trust

Tumin M, Noh A, Jajri I, Chong CS, Manikam R, Abdullah N

Exp Clin Transplant, 2013 Jun;11(3):207-10.

PMID: 23432623 DOI: 10.6002/ect.2012.0194

This paper examines factors that influence Malaysian persons with a tertiary level of education on their willingness to donate organs.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Clinical features of depression in Asia: results of a large prospective, cross-sectional study

Srisurapanont M, Hong JP, Tian-Mei S, Hatim A, Liu CY, Udomratn P, et al.

Asia Pac Psychiatry, 2013 Dec;5(4):259-67.

PMID: 24038919 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12104

The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical features of depression in Asian patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

Colour detection thresholds in faces and colour patches

Tan KW, Stephen ID

Perception, 2013;42(7):733-41.

PMID: 24344549

Human facial skin colour reflects individuals' underlying health (Stephen et al 2011 Evolution & Human Behavior 32 216-227); and enhanced facial skin CIELab b* (yellowness), a* (redness), and L* (lightness) are perceived as healthy (also Stephen et al 2009a International Journal of Primatology 30 845-857). Here, we examine Malaysian Chinese participants' detection thresholds for CIELab L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) colour changes in Asian, African, and Caucasian faces and skin coloured patches. Twelve face photos and three skin coloured patches were transformed to produce four pairs of images of each individual face and colour patch with different amounts of red, yellow, or lightness, from very subtle (deltaE = 1.2) to quite large differences (deltaE = 9.6). Participants were asked to decide which of sequentially displayed, paired same-face images or colour patches were lighter, redder, or yellower. Changes in facial redness, followed by changes in yellowness, were more easily discriminated than changes in luminance. However, visual sensitivity was not greater for redness and yellowness in nonface stimuli, suggesting red facial skin colour special salience. Participants were also significantly better at recognizing colour differences in own-race (Asian) and Caucasian faces than in African faces, suggesting the existence of cross-race effect in discriminating facial colours. Humans' colour vision may have been selected for skin colour signalling (Changizi et al 2006 Biology Letters 2 217-221), enabling individuals to perceive subtle changes in skin colour, reflecting health and emotional status.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

A comparison of smoking behaviour characteristics between Caucasian smokers in the United Kingdom and Malay smokers in Malaysia

Robson N, Bond A, Wolff K

Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S8-10.

PMID: 23624111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.04.010

OBJECTIVES: There is evidence that smoking behaviour differs by ethnicity. This study aims to compare smoking behaviour characteristics between Caucasian and Malay smokers.
METHODS: A cross sectional survey, involving 175 smokers attending smoking cessation clinics at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom and University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between May 2005 and February 2007. Data on demographics, smoking history, nicotine dependence and smoking behaviour were collected.
RESULTS: All participants were males, mean age 30.7 ± 10.3 years. Caucasians initiated smoking significantly earlier (mean age 14.8 ± 2.8 years) (p = 0.001) and smoked regularly significantly earlier (mean age 17.3 ± 3.5) (p = 0.003) than Malays (mean starting age 16.9 ± 4.4 years and mean age regular use 19.5 ± 4.5 years), respectively. Caucasians smoked less for social integration than Malays (p = 0.03) but smoked more for regulation of negative affect than Malays (p = 0.008) and smoked more for hedonism than Malays (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Malays smoke as a means of socially integrating. This has important public health implications. Social reasons and the social environment play a role in smoking uptake, smoking maintenance and smoking cessation and this should be borne in mind for strategies planning to promote smoking cessation.
KEYWORDS: Behaviour; Caucasian; Character; Cigarette; Malay; Nicotine; Smoking

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Do depression and educational attainment mediate the association between ethnicity and dementia?

Momtaz YA, Hamid TA, Yusoff S, Ibrahim R

Gerontology, 2013;59(3):206-12.

PMID: 23147388 DOI: 10.1159/000342254

Research shows marked differences in the prevalence of dementia among different ethnic groups. However, there is a relative dearth of studies focusing on how ethnicity may influence dementia. The main aim of the current study is to test potential mediating effects of depression and level of education on the association between ethnicity and dementia.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

Psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS-M) among type 2 diabetic patients

Abdulameer SA, Syed Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Sahib MN, Subramaniam K

Int J Rheum Dis, 2014 Jan;17(1):93-105.

PMID: 24472272 DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.12104

The aims of this study were to translate and examine the psychometric properties of the Malaysian version of the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale (OHBS-M) among type 2 diabetes patients (T2DM) and to assess the correlation between osteoporosis knowledge, health belief and self-efficacy scales, as well as assess the osteoporosis risk in the sample population using quantitative ultrasound measurement (QUS).

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Worry about performance: a unique dimension of caregiver burden

Lim WS, Cheah WK, Ali N, Han HC, Anthony PV, Chan M, et al.

Int Psychogeriatr, 2014 Apr;26(4):677-86.

PMID: 24382159 DOI: 10.1017/S1041610213002445

Recent studies that describe the multidimensionality of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) challenge the traditional dual-factor paradigm of personal and role strains (Whitlatch et al., 1991). These studies consistently reported a distinct dimension of worry about caregiver performance (WaP) comprising items 20 and 21.The present study aims to compare WaP against conventional ZBI domains in a predominantly Chinese multi-ethnic Asian population.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

Differences in psychiatric symptoms among Asian patients with depression: a multi-country cross-sectional study

Sulaiman AH, Bautista D, Liu CY, Udomratn P, Bae JN, Fang Y, et al.

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 2014 Apr;68(4):245-54.

PMID: 24829935

The aim of this study was to compare the symptomatic and clinical features of depression among five groups of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) living in China, Korea, Malaysia/Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*

Fulltext Mapping the functional assessment of cancer therapy-breast (FACT-B) to the 5-level EuroQoL Group's 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) utility index in a multi-ethnic Asian population

Cheung YB, Luo N, Ng R, Lee CF

Health Qual Life Outcomes, 2014;12:180.

PMID: 25495840 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-014-0180-6

To develop an algorithm for mapping the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) to the 5-level EuroQoL Group's 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) utility index.

Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology

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