Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 365 in total

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  1. Mode choice model for vulnerable motorcyclists in Malaysia
    Ibrahim Sheikh AK, Radin Umar RS, Habshah M, Kassim H, Stevenson M, Ahmed H
    Traffic Inj Prev, 2006 Jun;7(2):150-4.
    PMID: 16854709
    In developing countries, motorcycle use has grown in popularity in the past decades. Commensurate with this growth is the increase in death and casualties among motorcyclists in these countries. One of the strategic programs to minimize this problem is to reduce motorcyclists exposure by shifting them into safer modes of transport. This study aims to explore the differences in the characteristics of bus and motorcycle users. It identifies the factors contributing to their choice of transport mode and estimates the probability that motorcyclists might change their travel mode to a safer alternative; namely, bus travel.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  2. Cigarette price level and variation in five Southeast Asian countries
    Liber AC, Ross H, Ratanachena S, Dorotheo EU, Foong K
    Tob Control, 2015 Jun;24(e2):e137-41.
    PMID: 24500266 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051184
    OBJECTIVES: To monitor and analyse impacts of the interaction between tobacco excise tax policy and industry price strategy, on the price level and variation of cigarettes sold in five Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Vietnam).
    METHODS: Prices of cigarette sold by sticks and packs were collected through an in-person survey of retailers during 2011. Mean cigarette prices and price variation were calculated in each study country for single cigarettes, whole packs and brand groups.
    RESULTS: Price variation of whole packs was greater in countries with ad-valorem excise tax structures (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) than in countries with multitiered specific excise taxes (Indonesia and the Philippines). The price variation for single sticks appeared to be driven by local currency denomination. Cigarettes sold individually cost more per stick than cigarettes sold in whole packs in every brand group except for Indonesia's domestic brands.
    CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco industry strategy and excise tax structure drove the price level and variation of cigarettes sold in packs, while currency denominations influence the selling price of single sticks. To maximise the effectiveness of tobacco tax policies, countries should adopt specific excise tax structures to decrease cigarette price variation, which would minimise opportunities for smokers to 'trade down' to a cheaper brand to avoid a tax-driven price increase.
    KEYWORDS: Low/Middle Income Country; Packaging and Labelling; Price; Surveillance and Monitoring; Taxation
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  3. Fulltext Malaysian and Thai smokers' beliefs about the harmfulness of 'light' and menthol cigarettes
    King B, Yong HH, Borland R, Omar M, Ahmad AA, Sirirassamee B, et al.
    Tob Control, 2010 Dec;19(6):444-50.
    PMID: 20852322 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2009.034256
    This study explored the extent to which Malaysian and Thai smokers believe "light" and menthol cigarettes are less harmful than "regular" cigarettes and the correlates of these beliefs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  4. Fulltext Levels and correlates of awareness of tobacco promotional activities among adult smokers in Malaysia and Thailand: findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia (ITC-SEA) Survey
    Yong HH, Borland R, Hammond D, Sirirassamee B, Ritthiphakdee B, Awang R, et al.
    Tob Control, 2008 Feb;17(1):46-52.
    PMID: 18218808 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2007.021964
    To examine the impact of tobacco advertising policy on adult smokers' awareness of tobacco promotion in two developing countries--Malaysia and Thailand.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection/methods
  5. Fulltext Dental fear among medical and dental undergraduates
    Hakim H, Razak IA
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:747508.
    PMID: 25386615 DOI: 10.1155/2014/747508
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and level of dental fear among health related undergraduates and to identify factors causing such fear using Kleinknecht's Dental Fear Survey (DFS) questionnaire.
    METHODS: Kleinknecht's DFS questionnaire was used to assess dental fear and anxiety among the entire enrollment of the medical and dental undergraduates' of the University of Malaya.
    RESULTS: Overall response rate was 82.2%. Dental students reported higher prevalence of dental fear (96.0% versus 90.4%). However, most of the fear encountered among dental students was in the low fear category as compared to their medical counterpart (69.2 versus 51.2%). Significantly more medical students cancelled dental appointment due to fear compared to dental students (P = 0.004). "Heart beats faster" and "muscle being tensed" were the top two physiological responses experienced by the respondents. "Drill" and "anesthetic needle" were the most fear provoking objects among respondents of both faculties.
    CONCLUSION: Dental fear and anxiety are a common problem encountered among medical and dental undergraduates who represent future health care professionals. Also, high level of dental fear and anxiety leads to the avoidance of the dental services.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  6. Fulltext Review of development survey of phase change material models in building applications
    Akeiber HJ, Wahid MA, Hussen HM, Mohammad AT
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:391690.
    PMID: 25313367 DOI: 10.1155/2014/391690
    The application of phase change materials (PCMs) in green buildings has been increasing rapidly. PCM applications in green buildings include several development models. This paper briefly surveys the recent research and development activities of PCM technology in building applications. Firstly, a basic description of phase change and their principles is provided; the classification and applications of PCMs are also included. Secondly, PCM models in buildings are reviewed and discussed according to the wall, roof, floor, and cooling systems. Finally, conclusions are presented based on the collected data.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  7. Fulltext Stakeholders' attitude to genetically modified foods and medicine
    Amin L, Jahi JM, Nor AR
    ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:516742.
    PMID: 24381520 DOI: 10.1155/2013/516742
    Public acceptance of genetically modified (GM) foods has to be adequately addressed in order for their potential economic and social benefits to be realized. The objective of this paper is to assess the attitude of the Malaysian public toward GM foods (GM soybean and GM palm oil) and GM medicine (GM insulin). A survey was carried out using self-constructed multidimensional instrument measuring attitudes towards GM products. The respondents (n = 1017) were stratified according to stakeholders' groups in the Klang Valley region. Results of the survey show that the overall attitude of the Malaysian stakeholders towards GM products was cautious. Although they acknowledged the presence of moderate perceived benefits associated with GM products surveyed and were moderately encouraging of them, they were also moderately concerned about the risks and moral aspects of the three GM products as well as moderately accepting the risks. Attitudes towards GM products among the stakeholders were found to vary not according to the type of all GM applications but rather depend on the intricate relationships between the attitudinal factors and the type of gene transfers involved. Analyses of variance showed significant differences in the six dimensions of attitude towards GM products across stakeholders' groups.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  8. Incidence of postnatal depression in Malaysian women
    Kit LK, Janet G, Jegasothy R
    J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 1997 Feb;23(1):85-9.
    PMID: 9094824
    OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of postnatal depression of Malaysias women at 6 week postpartum and a survey of their sociocultural practices.

    METHODS: A hundred and fifty-four women who were 6 weeks postpartum attending the postnatal clinic between May and July 1995 at Maternal and Child Health Clinic, Seremban, Malaysia. Maternal socio-demography, depression by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), postnatal care and practices e.g. pantang larang (prohibited behaviour and practices), diet and partnering were evaluated.

    RESULTS: Postnatal depression was 3.9%. Indians had the highest rate at 8.5% as compared to Malays (3.0%) and none in Chinese (p < 0.05). There were no demographic differences in the study groups. Average score of EPDS was 4.05 which ranged from 0 to 20. During the confinement 85.7% of women took special diet; 64.3% followed pantang larang and 78.8% had someone to look after them. The incidence of postnatal depression is low in Malaysia at 3.9%. Majority of Malaysian women still observed the traditional postnatal beliefs and practices.

    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  9. Model construction by students within an integrated medical curriculum
    Barling PM, Ramasamy P
    Clin Teach, 2011 Mar;8(1):37-42.
    PMID: 21324071 DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-498X.2010.00419.x
    This paper presents our experience of running a special study module (SSM) in the second semester of the first year of our 5-year medical programme, worth 10 per cent of that semester's assessment, in which each student constructs an individually selected model illustrating a specific aspect of the teaching course.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  10. Fulltext HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and perceptions: a cross-sectional household survey
    Naing CM, Hakim M, Yee DA, Mun KR, Yung TC, Jian KK, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2010 Jul;41(4):952-60.
    PMID: 21073071
    This study aimed to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS among a community in a semi-urban setting in Malaysia, to determine factors affecting perceptions toward people living with HIV in the community, and to provide baseline information for planning preventive measures against HIV/AIDS. This cross-sectional study was conducted in August 2009. Two hundred sixty-two household members were interviewed with a semi-structured questionnaire. Most respondents (232; 88.5%) had heard of HIV/AIDS. Only a few respondents (6; 2.6%) could correctly answer all the questionnaire items. Misconceptions about disease transmission were seen among surveyed participants, such as the belief HIV/AIDS can be contracted from saliva (104; 44.8%), mosquito bites (95; 40.9%) or casual touch (86; 37.1%). A multivariate linear regression model showed better perceptions towards people living with HIV depend on an improved knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission. Current data emphasize the need to scale up HIV/AIDS education incorporating the mode of disease transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  11. A survey of ectoparasites in Gunung Stong Forest Reserve, Kelantan, Malaysia
    Mariana A, Zuraidawati Z, Ho TM, Mohd Kulaimi B, Saleh I, Shukor MN, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2005 Sep;36(5):1125-31.
    PMID: 16438136
    A survey of ticks and other ectoparasites was carried out during a national biodiversity scientific expedition at Gunung Stong Forest Reserve, Kelantan, Malaysia from 23-29 May 2003. A total of 272 animals comprised of 12 species of birds, 21 species of bats, 7 species of rodents and 2 species of insects were examined for ticks and other ectoparasites. From these animals, 5 species in 4 genera of ticks; 7 species in 2 families of Mesostigmatid mites and 5 species of chiggers were collected. Among the ectoparasites found were Ixodes granulatus and Leptotrombidium deliense, which are of known medical importance. A tick island consisting of 10 nymphal stages of Dermacentor spp was observed feeding on Rattus tiomanicus.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  12. Fulltext Factors related to smoking habits of male secondary school teachers
    Naing NN, Ahmad Z
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2001 Jun;32(2):434-9.
    PMID: 11556602
    A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the factors related to smoking habits of secondary school teachers in Kelantan, Malaysia. A total of 180 male teachers and trainee teachers from four secondary schools in Kelantan and a Teachers' Training College were interviewed by using a structured questionnaire. Cluster sampling was applied. The significant findings found were current smokers were found as high as 40.56%. Mean duration of smoking was 6.8 years and mean initiation age was 16.5 years. Trainee teachers had a significantly higher proportion of current smokers. There was a significant association between smoking status of teachers and their fathers' and perception of the hazards of smoking on health. Peer influence was found to be the major reason for smoking among smokers. Religious belief and care for health attitude prevented non-smokers from smoking. About 3/5 of smokers thought of quitting smoking and of these 1/4 had tried at least once. There was a significant difference of proportion of attempted quitting between regular and occasional smokers. Mass media was the best source of information on knowledge about smoking hazards. Anti-smoking campaigns should start as early as possible in schools. Lectures and talks on smoking should be included in the curriculum of teachers' training courses.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  13. Disinfection: gaps between recommended and actual practice
    Keah KC, Jegathesan M, Tan SC, Chan SH, Chee OM, Cheong YM, et al.
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1995 Dec;26(4):795-8.
    PMID: 9139397
    Basic practices on disinfection was surveyed in 6 hospitals using an observation and interview checklist. Two surveys were done, one pre-(first survey) and one post-intervention (second survey). The disinfection and sterilization policy of the Ministry of Health was not available in 66 (70.2%) and 12 (13%) of the units in the first and second survey respectively. In the second survey, staff in all the units washed disinfectant containers before refilling compared with 41.5% of the units in the first survey. Dilution of disinfectants not recommended was found to be used in the first survey. Storing cleaned and sterile items in disinfectants, using disinfectant as a substitute for sterilization of autoclavable items and not decontaminating spillages were some of the wrong practices observed. Considerable improvements were made in the second survey. Improper usage of disinfectants was also indicated by failure of the in-use test. Rate of failure of disinfectants in-use decreased from 11.6% in the first survey to 5.0% in the second survey. To ensure proper disinfection practices, a comprehensive training program on disinfection is required for nurses and attendants.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  14. Fulltext Breeding of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in urban housing of Sibu town, Sarawak
    Chang MS, Jute N
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1994 Sep;25(3):543-8.
    PMID: 7777923
    An Aedes survey using various larval survey methods was conducted in 12 urban housing areas and 29 vacant lands in Sibu town proper. Aedes albopictus larvae were found in all areas surveyed while Aedes aegypti larvae were present in 10 localities and 4 vacant lands. There were no significant difference in the house index, breteau and larval density index of these two Aedes (Stegomyia) species from the survey areas. The proportion of containers positive with Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus in area outside the house compound and near the house fencing were 3.2 times higher than outdoor compound. The indoor/outdoor breeding ratio for Ae. aegypti alone is 1.6:1. The most preferred breeding habitats outdoor were plastic cups and used tires while indoor habitats were ant traps and flower vases. In the vacant lands, the average number of larvae per containers was significantly higher than in houses and over 51% of the containers inspected were positive. Shared breeding between Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus larvae accounted for 9% in house surveys and 4.5% in vacant land survey. The use of various methods in Aedes larval survey may provide essential information in the study of vector epidemiology in dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  15. Comparison of knowledge on filariasis and epidemiologic factors between infected and uninfected respondents in a Malay community
    Riji HM
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1986 Sep;17(3):457-63.
    PMID: 3563614
    A study to identify the knowledge of infected and uninfected respondents on filariasis and epidemiologic factors in one endemic community in Malaysia to determine their role in the transmission and control of filariasis was carried out. The data were collected by non-participant observations and interviews using semi-structured schedules. The majority of respondents in both groups had knowledge of filariasis. There was no marked difference between male and female respondents, and similarly, there was fair distributions of knowledgeable respondents with and without some years of schooling. On filarial transmission, 9.2% of the infected said that filariasis was contacted through mosquito bites, while among the uninfected it was 7.4%. Within the infected, 14.8% thought that filarial worms entered the human body through the consumption of unhygenically prepared foods and drinks while, among the uninfected it was 20.4%. Both groups were aware of the presence of mosquitoes in their village. However, the majority did not associate this factor with host's susceptibility to filarial infections. Rather, they were of the opinion that personal hygiene and proper meals had something to do with filariasis. The findings showed there was general awareness of filariasis in the community which might indicate that the health campaigns had reached various levels of the population. Yet, they still lacked knowledge on disease transmission. Also, they did not make direct association between environment and exposure to mosquitoes bites though they were aware of their presence but which they regarded as not directly harmful to their health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  16. Modeling flood susceptibility using data-driven approaches of naïve Bayes tree, alternating decision tree, and random forest methods
    Chen W, Li Y, Xue W, Shahabi H, Li S, Hong H, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Jan 20;701:134979.
    PMID: 31733400 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134979
    Floods are one of the most devastating types of disasters that cause loss of lives and property worldwide each year. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the prediction capability of the naïve Bayes tree (NBTree), alternating decision tree (ADTree), and random forest (RF) methods for the spatial prediction of flood occurrence in the Quannan area, China. A flood inventory map with 363 flood locations was produced and partitioned into training and validation datasets through random selection with a ratio of 70/30. The spatial flood database was constructed using thirteen flood explanatory factors. The probability certainty factor (PCF) method was used to analyze the correlation between the factors and flood occurrences. Consequently, three flood susceptibility maps were produced using the NBTree, ADTree, and RF methods. Finally, the area under the curve (AUC) and statistical measures were used to validate the flood susceptibility models. The results indicated that the RF method is an efficient and reliable model in flood susceptibility assessment, with the highest AUC values, positive predictive rate, negative predictive rate, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the training (0.951, 0.892, 0.941, 0.945, 0.886, and 0.915, respectively) and validation (0.925, 0.851, 0.938, 0.945, 0.835, and 0.890, respectively) datasets.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  17. Optimized fuzzy inference system to enhance prediction accuracy for influent characteristics of a sewage treatment plant
    Ansari M, Othman F, El-Shafie A
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Jun 20;722:137878.
    PMID: 32199382 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137878
    Sewage treatment plants (STPs) keep sewage contamination within safe levels and minimize the risk of environmental disasters. To achieve optimum operation of an STP, it is necessary for influent parameters to be measured or estimated precisely. In this research, six well-known influent chemical and biological characteristics, i.e., biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH3-N), pH, oil and grease (OG) and suspended solids (SS), were modeled and predicted using the Sugeno fuzzy logic model. The membership function range of the fuzzy model was optimized by ANFIS, the integrated Genetic algorithms (GA), and the integrated particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms. The results were evaluated by different indices to find the accuracy of each algorithm. To ensure prediction accuracy, outliers in the predicted data were found and replaced with reasonable values. The results showed that both integrated GA-FIS and PSO-FIS algorithms performed at almost the same level and both had fewer errors than ANFIS. As the GA-FIS algorithm predicts BOD with fewer errors than PSO-FIS and the aim of this study is to provide an accurate prediction of missing data, GA-FIS was only used to predict the BOD parameter; the other parameters were predicted by PSO-FIS algorithm. As a result, the model successfully could provide outstanding performance for predicting the BOD, COD, NH3-N, OG, pH and SS with MAE equal to 3.79, 5.14, 0.4, 0.27, 0.02, and 3.16, respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  18. Fulltext Malaysian Psoriasis Registry--preliminary report of a pilot study using a newly revised registry form
    Chang CC, Gangaram HB, Hussein SH
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Sep;63 Suppl C:68-71.
    PMID: 19227676
    The Malaysian Psoriasis Registry, established in 1998, is the first skin disease clinical registry in Malaysia. It aims to provide useful data on various aspects of psoriasis. Following an extensive revision of the registry form in 2007, a total of 509 psoriasis patients from 10 government dermatologic centres were reviewed in a three month pilot study. The onset of psoriasis was during the second to fourth decade of life in the majority of patients. There was no sexual and ethnic predilection. A positive family history was present in 21.2%, and more common in patients with younger disease onset. The main aggravating factors of psoriasis were stress, sunlight and infection. Plaque psoriasis was the commonest clinical type (80.9%). Joint disease was present in 17.3% of patients, among which mono-/oligoarticular type being the commonest. Nail changes occurred in 68%. More psoriasis patients were overweight and obese compared to the normal population. The mean Dermatologic Life Quality Index (DLQI) score was 8.08 +/- 6.29, and changes during subsequent follow-up may reflect therapeutic effectiveness. This study enabled evaluation of the revised registry form and helped in identifying shortcomings in the implementation of the registry.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  19. Fulltext National Cancer Patient Registry--Haematology Malignancy (NCPR-HM)
    Chang KM, Ong TC
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Sep;63 Suppl C:66-7.
    PMID: 19227675
    Treatment option of Haematological malignancies has expanded over the last decade. The outcome of treatment is expected to be better compare to previously. However, study of treatment outcome for haematological malignancies has not been carried out in Malaysia. The goal of this study is to measure the treatment outcome in patients with haematological malignancy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
  20. Fulltext National Cancer Patient Registry--Breast Cancer (NCPR-Breast Cancer)
    Nor Aina E
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Sep;63 Suppl C:72-3.
    PMID: 19227677
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer in most part of the world and it is the most common cancer among Malaysian women. In order to estimate the overall survival and prognosis, it was decided that a National Cancer Patient Registry-Breast cancer be set up. It would be a tracking system form for breast cancer patients in Malaysia to help treatment outcomes. There would be useful for evaluating clinical management.
    Matched MeSH terms: Data Collection
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