MATERIALS AND METHODS: The validated exam developed by the BEST collaborative group was used to assess TM knowledge of doctors, from junior residents up to senior specialists. Scores of 42%, 62%, and 82%, corresponding to basic, intermediate, and expert levels of knowledge, respectively. Convenience sampling was done from eight blood-using departments at University Malaya Medical Centre. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the candidates' exam scores between different variables.
RESULTS: A total of 184 doctors were assessed. The overall mean score was 40.1% (SD 12.7%). The most senior doctors had a significantly lower mean score compared with resident trainees and specialists. Doctors from haematology, anesthesiology, and internal medicine had significantly higher scores (51%, 47.4%, and 46.4% respectively, p<0.05). No correlations were found between the exam scores and the self-reported amount, or quality of prior TM teaching, nor with the year of postgraduate training. Participants did poorly on questions related to transfusion reactions, especially the question on transfusion-related acute lung injury.
CONCLUSION: Inadequate transfusion medicine knowledge was found across all the departments and levels of appointment. It is concerning that the most senior decision-making doctors had especially poor knowledge. TM training is needed by all residents, and regular updates should be given to established specialists.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) from a period of 15 months. A total of 133 T1DM patients who fulfilled our study's criteria were subjected to otoscopy examination, tuning fork test and free field voice test. The mini-Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ) was used to assess the severity of tinnitus. We were careful to categorize the perceived duration of tinnitus.
RESULTS: The prevalence of tinnitus among T1DM patients was 24.1% (32/133 patients). Out of 32 patients, approximately 78.1% (25 patients) had a compensated level of tinnitus distress and the remaining 21.9% (7/32) had moderate tinnitus. The duration of tinnitus ranged from 2 seconds to 2 minutes, whıch was ringing and intermittent in nature. The HbA1c and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) were higher in tinnitus compared to the non-tinnitus group. There was no significant correlation between the severity of tinnitus and HbA1c level or eGFR.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study concluded that tinnitus amongst T1DM patients was likely to be non-pathological in view of its short duration with minimal to no distress to the sufferers. An elevated HbA1c may increase the risk of developıng tinnitus.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Written medical records of burn patients admitted to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital paediatric surgical ward, from January 2016 to December 2018, were retrospectively reviewed. Details on the patients' socio-demographic background, burn injuries, management and outcomes were recorded and analysed with logistic regression.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Of the 255 children included in the study, the majority were males (62.7%), children aged between 1 to 3 years (43.1%), and of the Malay ethnic group (83.1%). The commonest injury mechanism was scalds burns (81.2%). Staphylococcus aureus remained the commonest organism cultured from paediatric burn wounds. Most patients (66.4%) were hospitalised for less than 1 week. A significant number of patients experienced complications from their injuries. Multivariate analysis showed burns affecting total body surface area > 10% (adjusted OR, 13.45 [95% CI 6.25 - 28.96]; p = < 0.001) and non-scald burns (adjusted OR, 2.70 [95% CI 1.12 - 6.50]; p = 0.027) were the two main factors associated with prolonged hospitalisation of more than 1 week. These findings describing the epidemiology and outcomes of paediatric burn cases in a tertiary centre in Malaysia may inform future practice. More importantly, the information may contribute to the identification of at-risk populations and advise the development of effective prevention strategies to reduce the incidence and morbidity associated with paediatric burns in this region.
METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted at a tertiary care centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia among parents of children with AE aged ≤ 12 years using validated questionnaires including Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire (BMQ-General) and Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) scale.
RESULTS: In total, 173 parents were recruited. The prevalence of CAM use over the last 12-month period was 46.8 %. The most commonly used CAM was Ruqyah (Islamic prayer), followed by Malay herbs, virgin coconut oil, nutritional therapy and homeopathy. AE severity from parental perspective was the major predictor of CAM use based on multiple logistic regression analysis. Parents of children with 'clear or almost clear' (adjusted OR 0.06; 95 % CI 0.01-0.54; p = 0.012) and 'mild' (adjusted OR 0.15; 95 % CI 0.03-0.85; p = 0.032) eczema were less likely to use CAM than those with 'very severe eczema'.
CONCLUSION: CAM use was prevalent among children with AE. Its use was significantly associated with AE severity from a parental perspective. Healthcare providers may need to enquire parents about CAM use for their child during routine clinic appointment.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study took place at the Sarawak Heart Centre's geriatric department from July 1, 2021, to April 30, 2022. Convenient sampling included all TELEG-enrolled patients during this period, to achieve minimum sample size of 148. TELEG's utilization was assessed in terms of medication therapy and treatment plan optimization, as well as enhanced healthcare accessibility. Participants' acceptance of TELEG was measured using the Service User Technology Acceptability Questionnaire (SUTAQ) administered through Google Forms. Descriptive statistics percentages illustrated the proportion of participants who found TELEG moderately to highly acceptable. Associations between baseline characteristics and overall acceptance were explored through bivariate analyses, including Pearson's correlation test, independent t-test, and ANOVA. The influence of six SUTAQ dimensions on overall acceptance, multivariable linear regression using enter method was employed. Statistical significance was determined by p-values less than 0.5.
RESULTS: Among 180 geriatric patients enrolled in TELEG during the study period, 149 agreed to participate. TELEG led to medication therapy optimization for 88.6% of participants, primarily involving dose adjustment (44.7%), de-prescribing (31.8%), and prescribing (15.9%). Additionally, 53.8% received treatment plan optimization, predominantly in the form of self-care education (56.3%), referrals for further treatment (33.8%), additional laboratory investigations (29.6%), and increased monitoring (26.8%). Among those educated in self-care (n = 40), dietary intake (27.5%), lower limb exercise (25.0%), and COVID-19 vaccination (12.5%) were the most common topics. All participants expressed moderate to high acceptance of TELEG (mean = 4.9, SD = 0.65, on a scale of 1 to 6). Notably, care personnel concern (B = 0.256; p
METHODS: In this cross-sectional, hospital-based study, anthropometric measurements [weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness were performed in 285 children aged from 3 months to 15 years who were admitted to University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur in November 2013. Acute (wasting) and chronic (stunting) undernutrition were defined as weight-for-height (WFH) and height-for-age (HFA) < -2 standard deviation (S.D.), respectively. Underweight was defined as weight-for-age < -2 S.D. For children aged between 1 and 5 years of age, World Health Organization definition for acute undernutrition (HFA
METHOD: This qualitative study involved four trained researchers conducting in-depth interviews (IDI) based on a semi-structured interview guide. The participants were ICU patients and family members. All IDIs were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Four researchers independently analyzed the data via thematic analysis with the aid of QDA Miner Lite®. The themes and subthemes were generated and confirmed by literature and expert opinion.
RESULTS: Six IDIs were conducted with three patients and three family members, whose ages ranged from 31 to 64 years old. One pair of participants consisted of a patient and his respective family member, while the other four participants did not have a familial relationship with each other. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: (I) critical care services; (II) physical spaces; and (III) monitoring technology. Medical, psychological, physical, and social needs for critical care services were expressed by both patients and family members. Patients' needs in clinical spaces were highlighted as a conducive ICU environment with ambient temperature and controlled noise levels. In non-clinical spaces, family members expressed a need for more chairs in the waiting area. Participants expressed the need for call bells as well as patients' negative perceptions of medical equipment alarms in the ICU when it pertained to monitoring technology.
CONCLUSION: This study provides an in-depth view at the needs and experiences of ICU patients and family members who have a variety of unmet needs. This understanding is critical for guiding ICU personnel and stakeholders in their efforts to humanize ICU care.