Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 506 in total

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  1. Henson S, Kambhampati U, Mogues T, Olsen W, Prowse M, Ramos R, et al.
    Eur J Dev Res, 2020 Nov 19.
    PMID: 33230373 DOI: 10.1057/s41287-020-00334-4
    What is COVID-19's impact on development? What lessons can be drawn from development studies regarding the effects of and recovery from COVID-19? The unprecedented scale and scope of government interventions carry implications at all levels: global, national, and local. In this introduction, our team of Editors underline the importance of systematic substantive study to further knowledge acquisition, and rigorous global-, national-, or context-specific evaluation to inform evidence-based policymaking. The 12 articles summarised here capture these values and sense of "high quality". In particular, despite early considerations in the first year of the pandemic, they illuminate the need for diverse responses beyond business-as-usual, attention to the multiplicity of impact of policies formulated, and progressive strategies to counteract the impacts of this disaster around the world. The path of future research is clear: studies need to consider and give voice to marginalised groups to counteract the short- and long-term impacts of the pandemic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  2. Ta GC, Mokhtar MB, Peterson PJ, Yahaya NB
    Ind Health, 2011;49(6):765-73.
    PMID: 22020020
    The European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have applied different approaches to facilitate the implementation of the UN Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The EU applied the mandatory approach by gazetting the EU Regulation 1272/2008 incorporating GHS elements on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures in 2008; whereas the WHO utilized a voluntary approach by incorporating GHS elements in the WHO guidelines entitled 'WHO Recommended Classification of Pesticides by Hazard' in 2009. We report on an analysis of both the mandatory and voluntary approaches practised by the EU and the WHO respectively, with close reference to the GHS 'purple book'. Our findings indicate that the mandatory approach practiced by the EU covers all the GHS elements referred to in the second revised edition of the GHS 'purple book'. Hence we can conclude that the EU has implemented the GHS particularly for industrial chemicals. On the other hand, the WHO guidelines published in 2009 should be revised to address concerns raised in this paper. In addition, both mandatory and voluntary approaches should be carefully examined because the classification results may be different.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government Regulation
  3. Bor G, Mat Azmi ID, Yaghmur A
    Ther Deliv, 2019 02;10(2):113-132.
    PMID: 30678550 DOI: 10.4155/tde-2018-0062
    The emergence of nanomedicine as an innovative and promising alternative technology shows many advantages over conventional cancer therapies and provides new opportunities for early detection, improved treatment, and diagnosis of cancer. Despite the cancer nanomedicines' capability of delivering chemotherapeutic agents while providing lower systemic toxicity, it is paramount to consider the cancer complexity and dynamics for bridging the translational bench-to-bedside gap. It is important to conduct appropriate investigations for exploiting the tumor microenvironment, and achieving a more comprehensive understanding of the fundamental biological processes in cancer and their roles in modulating nanoparticle-protein interactions, blood circulation, and tumor penetration. This review provides an overview of the current cancer nanomedicines, the major challenges, and the future opportunities in this research area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government Regulation
  4. Aljunid SM, Srithamrongsawat S, Chen W, Bae SJ, Pwu RF, Ikeda S, et al.
    Value Health, 2012 2 1;15(1 Suppl):S132-8.
    PMID: 22265060 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2011.11.004
    This article sought to describe the health-care data situation in six selected economies in the Asia-Pacific region. Authors from Thailand, China mainland, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and Malaysia present their analyses in three parts. The first part of the article describes the data-collection process and the sources of data. The second part of the article presents issues around policies of data sharing with the stakeholders. The third and final part of the article focuses on the extent of health-care data use for policy reform in these different economies. Even though these economies differ in their economic structure and population size, they share some similarities on issues related to health-care data. There are two main institutions that collect and manage the health-care data in these economies. In Thailand, China mainland, Taiwan, and Malaysia, the Ministry of Health is responsible through its various agencies for collecting and managing the health-care data. On the other hand, health insurance is the main institution that collects and stores health-care data in South Korea and Japan. In all economies, sharing of and access to data is an issue. The reasons for limited access to some data are privacy protection, fragmented health-care system, poor quality of routinely collected data, unclear policies and procedures to access the data, and control on the freedom on publication. The primary objective of collecting health-care data in these economies is to aid the policymakers and researchers in policy decision making as well as create an awareness on health-care issues for the general public. The usage of data in monitoring the performance of the heath system is still in the process of development. In conclusion, for the region under discussion, health-care data collection is under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and health insurance agencies. Data are collected from health-care providers mainly from the public sector. Routinely collected data are supplemented by national surveys. Accessibility to the data is a major issue in most of the economies under discussion. Accurate health-care data are required mainly to support policy making and evidence-based decisions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government Agencies/organization & administration*
  5. Ambu, Stephen, Chu, Wan-Loy, Mak, Joon-Wah, Wong, Shew-Fung, Chan, Li-Li, Wong, Siew-Tung
    MyJurnal
    Malaysia has good environmental laws to protect the outdoor environment and public health. However there are no laws governing indoor air quality (IAQ) and the knowledge among the public about its importance is also lacking. Environmental professionals think it is not a priority and this influences the policy decisions in the country. Therefore there is a need to create awareness by way of research, education and other promotional activities. What is much needed at this time is the establishment of standards for the conduct of risk assessment studies. To establish standards we need reliable data which can be used to develop appropriate guidelines for the purpose of mitigation and adaptation programmes. IAQ can have significant influence on health resulting in drop in productivity and economy of a country. It has been estimated that in the US, building related illnesses (BRI) symptoms have a relationship with decrease (3 to 5%) in work performance in an affected population resulting in an annual loss of US$60 billion in revenue. However, based on efficient management programmes they have also projected that the potential annual savings can be in the region of US$10 to 30 billion. This establishes that fact that good management programmes based on efficient guidelines is of economic value to a country and wellbeing of the population. The IMU has embarked on a research programme to collect the much-needed data for the framing of a good IAQ guideline for Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  6. Loh LC, Wong PS
    Med J Malaysia, 2007 Aug;62(3):210-3.
    PMID: 18246909
    A self-answered, anonymously completed, nationwide questionnaire survey was conducted between June 2002 and May 2003 among Malaysian doctors through post and at medical meetings. Findings based on 116 government and 110 private doctors who satisfactorily completed the forms (effective respondent rate: 30.1%) showed that more than 70% of government and private doctors claimed familiarity with asthma CPGs but proportionately more private doctors considered them "unworkable" and were reluctant to adopt them in their practice setting, quoting cost as the primary reason. Between those who frequently adopted the CPGs and those who did not, there was an equally high proportion of inappropriate prescribing. Despite the shortcomings of such a survey, our findings suggest that medicinal cost and practitioner's prescribing practices are important in the acceptance and execution of asthma CPGs recommendations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government Regulation*
  7. Loh LC, Wong PS
    Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol, 2005 Mar;23(1):7-17.
    PMID: 15997869
    A self-answered, anonymously completed questionnaire survey was performed between June 2002 and May 2003 where doctors from government and private sectors in Malaysia were invited to participate by post or during medical meetings. One hundred and sixteen government doctors and 110 private doctors provided satisfactorily completed questionnaires (effective respondent rate: 30.1%). The most preferred medications for 'first-line', 'second-line' and 'third-line' treatment were for government doctors: inhaled short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) (98%), inhaled corticosteroids (CS) (75%), and leukotriene antagonist (52%); and for private doctors: oral SABA (81%), inhaled CS (68%), and oral CS (58%). The first choice inhaler device for most government and private doctors were metered dose inhalers, with cost and personal preferences (for private doctors), and technical ability (for government doctors) as the key considerations when deciding on the choice of device. This benchmark data on the asthma prescribing practices of a healthcare delivery system fully dichotomized into government and private sector, provides evidence for practice differences affected by the nature of the healthcare system, and might have implications on healthcare systems of other countries that share similarities with that of Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  8. Tay W, Yap S, Wong C
    Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:583-594.
    The electrical characteristics of a filamentary dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) are studied experimentally and numerically. The DBD system which has parallel plate electrodes geometry is powered by a 50 Hz power supply and operated at atmospheric air. A dynamic electric circuit model considering the discharge region and the non-discharge region being connected by a surface resistance is proposed. Simulation using this model is shown to fit the experimentally measured QV diagram satisfactorily. The effects of the air gap distance and the dielectric surface on the discharge behavior are then investigated. It is found that the surface resistivity of the dielectric is one of the important parameters governing the discharge behavior.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  9. Wohlschlagl H
    Demogr Inf, 1991;?:17-34, 153.
    PMID: 12343122
    PIP: The population explosion has been abating since the 2nd half of the 1960s. The birth rate of the 3rd World dropped from 45/1000 during 1950-55 to 31/1000 during 1985-90. From the 1st half of the 1960s to the 1st half of the 1980s the total fertility of such countries dropped from 6.1 to 4.2 children/woman. In Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Malaysia living standards improved as a result of industrialization, and fertility decreased significantly. In Sri Lanka, China, North Vietnam, and Thailand the drop of fertility is explained by cultural and religious factors. In 1982 about 78% of the population of developing countries lived in 39 states that followed an official policy aimed at reducing the population. Another 16% lived in countries supporting the concept of a desired family size. However, World Bank data showed that in the mid-1980s in 27 developing countries no state family planning (FP) programs existed. India adopted an official FP program in 1952, Pakistan followed suit in 1960, South Korea in 1961, and China in 1962. In Latin America a split policy manifested itself: in Brazil birth control was rejected, only Colombia had a FP policy. In 1986 the governments of 68 of 131 developing countries representing 3.1 billion people considered the number of children per woman too high. 31 of these countries followed concrete population control policies. On the other hand, in 1986 24 countries of Africa with 40% of the continent's population took no measures to influence population growth. In Latin America and the Caribbean 18 of 33 countries were idle, except for Mexico that had a massive state FP program. These programs also improve maternal and child health with birth spacing of at least 2 years, and the prevention of pregnancies of too young women or those over 40. The evaluation of rapidly spreading FP programs in the 1970s was carried out by the World Fertility Survey in 41 countries. The impact of FP programs was more substantial than socioeconomic factors. Contraceptive use increased in Mexico from 13% in 1973 to 41% in 1978 among women of fertile age. According to 1984 and 1988 UN data modern methods of contraception were used by 70% of women in China, 60-65% in Southeast Asia, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. In contrast, less than 5% used them in most countries of Africa, 15-20% in West Asia, 25-30% in South Asia, and 40% in Latin America. The pill was the most popular method. From the early 1980s in South and East Asia 1/5 of women got sterilized after attaining the desired family size. Less than 10% of women used IUDs in developing countries. FP programs have benefited from higher education levels and economic incentives and sanctions and exemplified in Singapore, China, South Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government*
  10. Lee JAC, Lee S, Yusoff NFM, Ong PH, Nordin ZS, Winskel H
    Front Psychol, 2020;11:1700.
    PMID: 32754104 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01700
    The aim of the study was to develop a new comprehensive reading assessment battery for multi-ethnic and multilingual learners in Malaysia. Using this assessment battery, we examined the reliability, validity, and dimensionality of the factors associated with reading difficulties/disabilities in the Malay language, a highly transparent alphabetic orthography. In order to further evaluate the reading assessment battery, we compared results from the assessment battery with those obtained from the Malaysian national screening instrument. In the study, 866 Grade 1 children from multi-ethnic and multilingual backgrounds from 11 government primary schools participated. The reading assessment battery comprised 13 assessments, namely, reading comprehension, spelling, listening comprehension, letter name knowledge, letter name fluency, rapid automatized naming, word reading accuracy, word reading efficiency, oral reading fluency, expressive vocabulary, receptive vocabulary, elision, and phonological memory. High reliability and validity were found for the assessments. An exploratory factor analysis yielded three main constructs: phonological-decoding, sublexical-fluency, and vocabulary-memory. Phonological-decoding was found to be the most reliable construct that distinguished between at-risk and non-at-risk children. Identifying these underlying factors will be useful for detecting children at-risk for developing reading difficulties in the Malay language. In addition, these results highlight the importance of including a range of reading and reading-related measures for the early diagnosis of reading difficulties in this highly transparent orthography.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  11. Williamson F
    Water Hist, 2020 Oct 29.
    PMID: 33144897 DOI: 10.1007/s12685-020-00260-6
    In 1877, the major towns of the Straits Settlements-Singapore, George Town, Penang Island and Malacca-suffered a drought of exceptional magnitude. The drought's natural instigator was the El Niño phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, a climatic phenomenon then not understood by contemporary observers. The 1877 event has been explored in some depth for countries including India, China and Australia. Its impact on Southeast Asia however is less well-known and the story of how the event unfolded in Singapore and Malaysia has not been told. This paper explores how the contemporary British government responded to the drought, arguing that its impact on hydraulic management was at best minimal yet, it did have impact on other areas, such as forest reservation with the hope of preserving future rainfall. It also highlights how, in contrast to studies on urban water plans in other British Asian colonies, the colonial authorities in the Straits Settlements had a far less coherent and meaningful relationship with water in their town planning schemes. As this paper is part of a special issue, Water History in the time of COVID-19, it has undergone modified peer review.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  12. Tilley A, Dos Reis Lopes J, Wilkinson SP
    PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0234760.
    PMID: 33186386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234760
    Small-scale fisheries are responsible for landing half of the world's fish catch, yet there are very sparse data on these fishing activities and associated fisheries production in time and space. Fisheries-dependent data underpin scientific guidance of management and conservation of fisheries systems, but it is inherently difficult to generate robust and comprehensive data for small-scale fisheries, particularly given their dispersed and diverse nature. In tackling this challenge, we use open source software components including the Shiny R package to build PeskAAS; an adaptable and scalable digital application that enables the collation, classification, analysis and visualisation of small-scale fisheries catch and effort data. We piloted and refined this system in Timor-Leste; a small island developing nation. The features that make PeskAAS fit for purpose are that it is: (i) fully open-source and free to use (ii) component-based, flexible and able to integrate vessel tracking data with catch records; (iii) able to perform spatial and temporal filtering of fishing productivity by fishing method and habitat; (iv) integrated with species-specific length-weight parameters from FishBase; (v) controlled through a click-button dashboard, that was co-designed with fisheries scientists and government managers, that enables easy to read data summaries and interpretation of context-specific fisheries data. With limited training and code adaptation, the PeskAAS workflow has been used as a framework on which to build and adapt systematic, standardised data collection for small-scale fisheries in other contexts. Automated analytics of these data can provide fishers, managers and researchers with insights into a fisher's experience of fishing efforts, fisheries status, catch rates, economic efficiency and geographic preferences and limits that can potentially guide management and livelihood investments.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  13. Wei SC
    Intest Res, 2016 Jul;14(3):218-23.
    PMID: 27433143 DOI: 10.5217/ir.2016.14.3.218
    The cost of caring for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is high. Without government support, the cost burden will unavoidably rest on the patients and their family. However, the government providing full support will place a large financial burden on the health-care systems of a country. The aim of this study is to understand the current status of public medical insurance systems in caring for IBD patients among Asian countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  14. Ayu Nor Azilah Mohamad, Mohamed Ali Haniffa, Wayu Nor Asikin Mohamad
    MyJurnal
    This article discusses the impact of plurality on Malaysia-Singapore relations after the formation of
    Malaysia on September 16, 1963. The establishment of the Federation of Malaysia agreement was
    signed in London on July 8, 1963 by the representatives of the British government, the Federation of
    Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak. All parties agreed to the change in name from Federation of
    Malaya to Malaysia. The declaration of Malaysia was made on September 16, 1963 simultaneously
    throughout the country. This study uses secondary sources and library research methods. The findings
    show that Singapore's existence in Malaysia was seen to have raised racial issues leading to the
    separation of Singapore from Malaysia on August 9, 1965. Ethnic-related problems need to be
    addressed wisely in order to not be a threat to racial relations among the plural society in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  15. Gostin LO, Klock KA, Clark H, Diop FZ, Jayasuriya D, Mahmood J, et al.
    Lancet, 2022 Apr 16;399(10334):1445-1447.
    PMID: 35338858 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00533-5
    Matched MeSH terms: Financing, Government
  16. Ibrahim U, Wan-Puteh SE
    Pan Afr Med J, 2018;30:150.
    PMID: 30374396 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2018.30.150.15851
    Introduction: This study sets out to assess the roles of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in post donor health project sustainability in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), the case of the Bauchi State, Nigeria. This study equally investigated the CSOs strategies and roles in health project sustainability.

    Methods: For quantitative data collection, the random, purposive, and convenient sampling techniques were used and 156 respondents selected from relevant organizations operating in Bauchi state, Nigeria, and 15 respondents for Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). A Semi-structured questionnaire was the study instrument, and consent from the participants as well as ethical clearances were duly obtained.

    Results: The study revealed that 87.8% of the respondents indicate un-friendly operational policies, while 88.9% of them identified lack of resources (human, money and machineries) as impediments to project sustainability. Also, 74.3% of the respondents said partnership among key stakeholders and 86.6% of them affirmed that community participation and use of available (local) resources ensure health project sustainability. The study further revealed that CSOs fund health projects, support government efforts and encourage development of project sustainability road map in the state.

    Conclusion: Hence, health project sustainability plan should form part of a project right from inception through the donor period and thereafter. In addition to the above, internal income framework, community involvement, enabling policies and partnership among stakeholders, especially with the host government, should always guide project implementation, because without these in place, project sustainability will remain a mirage.

    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  17. Fatimah Sham, Siti Munirah Abdul Wahab, Nor Afizah Ramli, Norlia Anuar, Wan Nor Izzatul Huda Wan Hassan
    MyJurnal
    Clinical posting is the most important part in nursing education, requiring knowledge, skills, and the right
    attitude to facilitate the development to be a professional nurse. However, clinical posting was found to be the
    most stressful phase for nursing students throughout their education process in most countries. As nursing
    students enter the real hospital environment with the lack of knowledge and nursing skills, their health can be
    affected. The aim of this study is to assess the level of stress and physio-psycho-social symptoms among
    nursing students in a public university during clinical posting. This cross-sectional study design involved 181
    undergraduate nursing students who had completed their clinical posting in a government hospital. The
    results showed that the nursing students experienced stress most of time especially during their clinical
    posting. The most common cause of stress was from the workload and assignment and the most common
    response to stress was behavioral symptoms. This study revealed that the residence where these students lived
    had significance with the level of stress during their clinical posting (p=0.01). Detecting early stress events,
    creating more effective environment and understanding the effectiveness of coping behaviors may help
    nursing educators reduce the negative effects of stress which will altogether help students handle stress more
    effectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  18. Ismail TAT, Jalil RA, Wan Ishak WR, Hamid NF, Wan Nik WS, Jan Mohamed HJ, et al.
    Korean J Fam Med, 2018 Jan;39(1):15-22.
    PMID: 29383207 DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.2018.39.1.15
    Background: A qualitative study providing an in-depth exploration of people's view and the increasing burden of overweight and obesity is required. This study aimed to explore the understanding of dieting and previous experiences on weight loss attempts among overweight and obese government employees in Kelantan, Malaysia, prior to recruitment into the intervention program.

    Methods: Thirteen focus group discussions involving 129 participants from a weight-loss intervention program were conducted within the first 1 month of recruitment. These discussions were moderated by two trained researchers in the Malay language and assisted by an interview guide. They were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was performed, and codes and themes from each discussion were constructed.

    Results: The participants understood dieting with various meanings, including skipping meals and removing rice from daily diets. They applied numerous methods to lose weight and achieved various outcomes. Health and appearance, social support, and compliance with current trends were the factors motivating these participants to lose weight. Their determination to lose weight was limited by lack of self-control and motivation, experiences of unpleasant effects, influence on weight, and environmental and health factors.

    Conclusion: Real-life weight loss experiences and perceptions provided relevant insights into current weight loss management strategies. Some of these issues and misunderstandings should be emphasized in weight loss strategies during health promotion.

    Matched MeSH terms: Government Employees
  19. Makmor, T, Raja Noriza, RA, NurulHuda, MS, Sook-Lu, Y, Soo-Kun, L, Kok-Peng, N, et al.
    JUMMEC, 2016;19(1):1-6.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction:
    Living donation is an important source for organs transplantation in Malaysia. This study aims to investigate
    the Malaysian living donors’ follow-up attendance, their preferences on medical-institutional facilities, and
    the financial circumstances pertaining to the follow-up costs
    Materials and Methods:
    Primary data were collected through a survey of 80 living donors who made their donation at the University
    of Malaya Medical Center (UMMC) between 1991 and 2012.
    Results:
    Out total of 178 donors, only 111 were reachable and 80 of them participated in the survey (72%). The findings
    revealed that most of the donors (71.2%) attend the follow-up regularly. Nevertheless, donors seem to neglect
    the importance of follow-up as they consider themselves healthy (28.9%) or consider the follow-up as being
    troublesome (28.9%). Most donors (67.5%) are not in favour of being treated as patients, but prefer to be
    monitored under donor registry (88.8%) and getting their health service in special clinics for donors (80%).
    The majority of the donors fund the follow-up costs themselves (32.4%), while 25% of the donors’ follow-up
    costs were funded by family members. Among those donors without income and those of low-income (84.8%
    of respondents), 60.3% believe that the follow-up costs should be borne by the government.
    Conclusions:
    Based on the findings, it is therefore suggested that the government provides all living donors with proper
    free health service through donor registry and donor clinics. Adequate care has to be given to the donors to
    pre-empt any unforeseen health complications due to the organ donation surgical procedures.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
  20. Alam MM, Wei H, Wahid ANM
    Aust Econ Pap, 2020 Nov 27.
    PMID: 33349733 DOI: 10.1111/1467-8454.12215
    The outbreak of COVID-19 has weakened the economy of Australia and its capital market since early 2020. The overall stock market has declined. However, some sectors become highly vulnerable while others continue to perform well even in the crisis period. Given this new reality, we seek to investigate the initial volatility and the sectoral return. In this study, we analyse data for eight sectors such as, transportation, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy, food, real estate, telecommunications and technology of the Australian stock market. In doing so, we obtain data from Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and analysed them based on 'Event Study' method. Here, we use the 10-days window for the event of official announcement of the COVID-19 outbreak in Australia on 27 February 2020. The findings of the study show that on the day of announcement, the indices for food, pharmaceuticals and healthcare exhibit impressive positive returns. Following the announcement, the telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors exhibit good performance, while poor performance is demonstrated by the transportation industry. The findings are vital for investors, market participants, companies, private and public policymakers and governments to develop recovery action plans for vulnerable sectors and enable investors to regain their confidence to make better investment decisions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Government
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