Displaying publications 21 - 40 of 193 in total

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  1. Noor Dalila IZA, Rosnah I, Ismail NH
    Med J Malaysia, 2019 04;74(2):160-167.
    PMID: 31079128
    INTRODUCTION: Psychosocial stressors appear to alter the state of mind and adoption of overeating behaviour, resulting in high body mass index. This study was conducted to determine the magnitude of psychosocial stressors on male employees' well-being.

    METHOD: This study used secondary data retrieved from a cross-sectional study involving 492 male employees' completed data. Eligible participants completed validated questionnaires of the Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC-12) scale, short version Demand Induced Strain Compensation (DISQ 2.1), Oldenburg Burnout Inventory - Emotional Exhaustion domain and the Three Eating Factor Questionnaire (TEFQ) -Uncontrolled Eating domain; assessing psychosocial safety climate, job demands and job resources, emotional exhaustion, and uncontrolled eating behaviour, respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated based on weight and height. The research statistical model was tested by two-steps of assessment replicating partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

    RESULT: The results show that psychosocial stressors (psychosocial safety climate, job demands and job resources) had significant effects on emotional exhaustion (β= -0.149, p=0.004; β= 0.223, p<0.001; β= -0.127, p=0.013). Emotional exhaustion predicted by work stressors may act as a chain reaction which could result in uncontrolled eating (β=0.138, p=0.005) and high BMI (β=0.185, p<0.001). Emotional exhaustion does mediate the relationship between PSC and uncontrolled eating behaviour (β= -0.021 [95% boot CI bias corrected: -0.048, -0.002]).

    CONCLUSION: The psychosocial stressors at work are significant factors for emotional exhaustion, which further signifies the positive effect on uncontrolled eating behaviour and BMI among Malaysian male employees.

    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health
  2. Mahat N, Zubaidi SA, Soe HHK, Nah SA
    Med J Malaysia, 2021 05;76(3):284-290.
    PMID: 34031324
    INTRODUCTION: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has dramatically affected global healthcare systems. We aimed to determine the response of our paediatric surgical fraternity to a disease that overwhelmingly affects adults.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study over 6 weeks during a federally mandated lockdown. Using snowball sampling, we recruited paediatric surgeons, trainees and medical officers from paediatric surgical units in Malaysia. The anonymous online questionnaire covered sociodemographic information, changes in patient care, redeployment, concerns regarding family members, and impact on training. Mental well-being was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA and multiple regression analysis was used, with significance level 0.05.

    RESULTS: Of the 129 eligible participants, 100(77%) responded. Junior doctors had clinically higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Age <30 years was significantly associated with anxiety. Junior doctors believed that redeployment led to loss of surgical skills (p<0.001) and trainees felt that clinical application of knowledge had reduced (p<0.020).

    CONCLUSION: Specific to our paediatric surgical community, this study highlights areas of concern, particularly among junior doctors. It is likely that recurrent cycles of the pandemic will occur soon. These issues must be addressed to preserve the mental and emotional well-being of all health care workers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health
  3. Samsuddin N, Razali A, Rahman NAA, Yusof MZ, Mahmood NAKN, Hair AFA
    Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Mar;26(2):131-137.
    PMID: 31447616 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.2.14
    The objectives of occupational health services (OHS) are to create a healthy and safe working environment, prevent work-related diseases, optimise employees' functional capacity and promote health. According to the literature, global accessibility to OHS has not shown much improvement and even worsened in certain countries. The main challenges come from the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). To respond to these global challenges, the basic occupational health services (BOHS) guideline was published under the purview of the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization. The guideline describes BOHS as part of the infrastructure called the occupational safety and health system, an essential element that ensures the high service coverage and sustainability of the programme. The BOHS guideline was introduced in Malaysia by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health with a focus on SMEs, but its accessibility is low. A gap analysis was conducted between the current BOHS in Malaysia and the published international guideline. The important challenges identified that contributes to the low BOHS accessibility in Malaysia is the weakness in the BOHS infrastructure and OHS system provision. The proposed BOHS infrastructure model is meant to increase accessibility and to provide fair and equitable health services for Malaysians.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health Services; Occupational Health
  4. Aazami S, Shamsuddin K, Akmal S, Azami G
    Malays J Med Sci, 2015 Jul-Aug;22(4):40-6.
    PMID: 26715907 MyJurnal
    The workplace environment has a great influence on employees' health. Job dissatisfaction has been widely recognised as a workplace stressor that can influence employees' psychological and physical health statuses. However, job satisfaction is a multi-dimensional concept, and it is necessary to investigate its different facets and their unique consequences. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the nine facets of job satisfaction and psychological health and somatic complaints (i.e., sleep disorders, headache, gastro-intestinal and respiratory problems).
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health
  5. Cheah WL, Giloi N, Chang CT, Lim JF
    Malays J Med Sci, 2012 Jul;19(3):57-63.
    PMID: 23610550
    This study aimed to determine the perception and level of safety satisfaction of staff nurses with regards to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) management practice in the Sabah Health Department, and to associate the OSH management dimensions, to Safety Satisfaction and Safety Feedback.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health*
  6. Sanaz A, Syaqirah A, Khadijah S
    Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Jan;21(1):50-7.
    PMID: 24639612 MyJurnal
    BACKGROUND: Work-family conflict has received increasing attention in recent decades in the area of workplace stressors, which can affect employees' health. However, the dimensionality of the work-family conflict construct among the Malay-speaking population has not been clarified. In order to do so, it is crucial to use an instrument that is appropriate and valid for the Malay-speaking population. As such, the goal of this study was to validate and test the dimensionality of the Malay version of the Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire.
    METHODS: The present study conducted exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, discriminant validity, convergent validity, and internal consistency, using Cronbach's alpha, of the work-family conflict construct among 332 working women in Malaysia.
    RESULTS: The results supported the existence of four dimensions in the Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire that distinguish between time based and strain-based work-family conflict and family-work conflict. The discriminant validity, convergent validity, and internal consistency of this construct are adequately supported.
    CONCLUSION: The findings of this study supported the existence of discriminant and convergent validity, as well as adequate reliability, for the construct. Thus, the Work-Family Conflict Questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument among Malay-speaking working women.
    KEYWORDS: factor analysis; professional-family relation; validity and reliability; working women
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health
  7. West BS, Choo M, El-Bassel N, Gilbert L, Wu E, Kamarulzaman A
    Int J Drug Policy, 2014 May;25(3):575-82.
    PMID: 24332971 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.11.007
    BACKGROUND: HIV prevalence among Malaysian fishermen is ten times that of the general population. Fishing boats are a key place where drug use occurs, but we know little about how these environments shape HIV risk behaviour. Utilizing Rhodes' 'risk environment' framework, we assessed drug use contexts and how characteristics of place associated with fishing and fishermen's social networks served as key axes along which drug use and HIV risk behaviour occurred.

    METHODS: Data were collected during 2009-2011 in Kuantan, a fishing port on the eastern coast of Malaysia, and include 28 in-depth interviews and 398 surveys collected using RDS. Logistic regression was used to determine the effect of occupational, network and risk environment characteristics on unsafe injection behaviour and access to clean needles/syringes; qualitative data were coded and analyzed thematically.

    RESULTS: Drug injecting was common and occurred on boats, often with other crewmembers. Captains and crewmembers were aware of drug use. Unsafe injection practices were significantly associated with having a larger proportion of drug injectors in network (OR=3.510, 95% CI=1.053-11.700) and having a captain provide drugs for work (OR=2.777, 95% CI=1.018-7.576). Size of fishermen network (OR=0.987, 95% CI=0.977-0.996), crewmembers' knowledge of drug use (OR=7.234, 95% CI=1.430-36.604), and having a captain provide drugs for work (OR=0.134, 95% CI=0.025-0.720) predicted access to clean needles/syringes. Qualitative analyses revealed that occupational culture and social relationships on boats drove drug use and HIV risk.

    CONCLUSIONS: While marginalized in broader society, the acceptance of drug use within the fishing community created occupational networks of risk. Fishing boats were spaces of both risk and safety; where drug users participated in the formal economy, but also where HIV risk behaviour occurred. Understanding the interplay between social networks and place is essential for developing HIV prevention and harm reduction policies appropriate for the unique needs of this fishing population.

    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health*
  8. Saroja KI, Ramphal KG, Kasmini K, Ainsah O, Bakar OC
    Singapore Med J, 1999 May;40(5):349-51.
    PMID: 10489494
    To determine the relationship between absenteeism rates and psychological intervention over a 6-month period in an agency with 334 employees in Klang Valley, Malaysia, which had the highest absenteeism rates.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health
  9. Lugah V, Ganesh B, Darus A, Retneswari M, Rosnawati MR, Sujatha D
    Singapore Med J, 2010 Jul;51(7):586-92.
    PMID: 20730400
    Awareness of occupational safety and health (OSH) plays an important role in the prevention of occupational injuries and diseases. Following the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) in 1994, various programmes have been implemented by different agencies to increase awareness and knowledge of OSH in the workplace, including among healthcare workers. The objective of this study was to determine the level of OSH awareness and knowledge among healthcare professionals in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health Services/organization & administration; Occupational Health*
  10. Teo YX, Chan YS, Gouwanda D, Gopalai AA, Nurzaman SG, Thannirmalai S
    Sci Rep, 2021 07 22;11(1):15020.
    PMID: 34294775 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94268-4
    Although global demand for palm oil has been increasing, most activities in the oil palm plantations still rely heavily on manual labour, which includes fresh fruit bunch (FFB) harvesting and loose fruit (LF) collection. As a result, harvesters and/or collectors face ergonomic risks resulting in musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) due to awkward, extreme and repetitive posture during their daily work routines. Traditionally, indirect approaches were adopted to assess these risks using a survey or manual visual observations. In this study, a direct measurement approach was performed using Inertial Measurement Units, and surface Electromyography sensors. The instruments were attached to different body parts of the plantation workers to quantify their muscle activities and assess the ergonomics risks during FFB harvesting and LF collection. The results revealed that the workers generally displayed poor and discomfort posture in both activities. Biceps, multifidus and longissimus muscles were found to be heavily used during FFB harvesting. Longissimus, iliocostalis, and multifidus muscles were the most used muscles during LF collection. These findings can be beneficial in the design of various assistive tools which could improve workers' posture, reduce the risk of injury and MSD, and potentially improve their overall productivity and quality of life.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health/statistics & numerical data*
  11. Md Fuad Bahari, Abdul Rahman Omar1, Darius Gnanaraj Solomon, Nor Hayati Saad, Isa Halim
    Scientific Research Journal, 2006;3(2):31-44.
    MyJurnal
    Occupational health is considered as a crucial element in almost every Small
    and Medium Industries (SMIs) and it is believed to be one of vital challenges
    that can influence productivity and competitiveness. It has been known that
    the metal stamping industry involved a lot of materials handling tasks such as
    carrying stamped parts from machine to packaging section, transferring moulds
    from tools store to machines, sorting the finished products and others.
    Appropriate materials handling equipments are not often provided in SMIs
    because of the limitation of capital and lack of ergonomics awareness. The
    workers have to handle the materials and goods manually. These practices
    may lead to occupational injuries particularly back pain and musculoskeletal
    injuries. The objectives of the research are to assess and analyze the muscles
    activity of workers in metal stamping industry. Three male workers who
    performed metal stamping process using manual technique were participated
    in the research. Ergonomic assessment associated with Surface
    Electromyography (SEMG) was used to capture and interpret the data related
    to muscles activity at before and after the ergonomic intervention. For the
    purpose of muscle activity assessment, SEMG electrodes were attached to eight
    critical muscles: deltoid muscle-medial part (left), deltoid muscle-medial part
    (right), trapezius muscle (left), trapezius muscle (right), erector spinae muscle
    (left), erector spinae muscle (right), gastrocnemius muscle (left) and
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health
  12. Subramanian GC, Arip M, Saraswathy Subramaniam TS
    Saf Health Work, 2017 Sep;8(3):246-249.
    PMID: 28951800 DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2016.12.007
    Health-care workers are at risk of exposure to occupational infections with subsequent risk of contracting diseases, disability, and even death. A systematic collection of occupational disease data is useful for monitoring current trends in work situations and disease exposures; however, these data are usually limited due to under-reporting. The objective of this study was to review literature related to knowledge, risk perceptions, and practices regarding occupational exposures to infectious diseases in Malaysian health-care settings, in particular regarding blood-borne infections, universal precautions, use of personal protective equipment, and clinical waste management. The data are useful for determining improvements in knowledge and risk perceptions among health-care workers with developments of health policies and essential interventions for prevention and control of occupational diseases.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health*
  13. Syazwan A, Rafee BM, Hafizan J, Azman A, Nizar A, Izwyn Z, et al.
    PMID: 22570579 DOI: 10.2147/RMHP.S26567
    To meet the current diversified health needs in workplaces, especially in nonindustrial workplaces in developing countries, an indoor air quality (IAQ) component of a participatory occupational safety and health survey should be included.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health
  14. Rampal KG, Mohd Nizam J
    Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, 2006 Nov;46(2):131-5.
    PMID: 16899331
    In Malaysia exposures in the workplace are regulated under the Factories and Machinery Act (FMA), 1967 and also under the more comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) enacted in 1994. With OSHA 1994 the philosophy of legislating safety and health in the workplace changed from one that was very prescriptive and containing detailed technical provisions under FMA, 1967 to one that is more flexible and encourages self-regulation under OSHA 1994. OSHA 1994 is supported by regulations, codes of practices and guidelines to further clarify the provisions in the Act. Under the FMA 1967 emphasis was on safety while with OSHA 1994 there has been equal emphasis on addressing health hazards in the workplace. Regulations for occupational exposures are developed by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health with tripartite and stakeholder consultation. When developing these regulations International Labor Organization Conventions, laws of other countries and occupational exposure standards adopted internationally are reviewed. The government also conducts surveys to collect information on both exposures and health effects in workplaces to have better understanding on specific occupational health problems. Effective law enforcement is crucial in ensuring compliance to safety and health law. The challenge at the moment is to ensure all employers and employees, particularly those in the small and medium enterprises, understand and comply with the provisions stipulated in the legislation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health/legislation & jurisprudence*
  15. Lim HH
    Public Health, 1983 Jul;97(4):221-7.
    PMID: 6622644
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health Nursing/organization & administration*; Occupational Health Nursing/standards
  16. Nathavitharana RR, Bond P, Dramowski A, Kotze K, Lederer P, Oxley I, et al.
    Presse Med, 2017 Mar;46(2 Pt 2):e53-e62.
    PMID: 28256382 DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2017.01.014
    Healthcare workers (HCWs) play a central role in global tuberculosis (TB) elimination efforts but their contributions are undermined by occupational TB. HCWs have higher rates of latent and active TB than the general population due to persistent occupational TB exposure, particularly in settings where there is a high prevalence of undiagnosed TB in healthcare facilities and TB infection control (TB-IC) programmes are absent or poorly implemented. Occupational health programmes in high TB burden settings are often weak or non-existent and thus data that record the extent of the increased risk of occupational TB globally are scarce. HCWs represent a limited resource in high TB burden settings and occupational TB can lead to workforce attrition. Stigma plays a role in delayed diagnosis, poor treatment outcomes and impaired well-being in HCWs who develop TB. Ensuring the prioritization and implementation of TB-IC interventions and occupational health programmes, which include robust monitoring and evaluation, is critical to reduce nosocomial TB transmission to patients and HCWs. The provision of preventive therapy for HCWs with latent TB infection (LTBI) can also prevent progression to active TB. Unlike other patient groups, HCWs are in a unique position to serve as agents of change to raise awareness, advocate for necessary resource allocation and implement TB-IC interventions, with appropriate support from dedicated TB-IC officers at the facility and national TB programme level. Students and community health workers (CHWs) must be engaged and involved in these efforts. Nosocomial TB transmission is an urgent public health problem and adopting rights-based approaches can be helpful. However, these efforts cannot succeed without increased political will, supportive legal frameworks and financial investments to support HCWs in efforts to decrease TB transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health Services/organization & administration
  17. Mohd Fauzi MF, Mohd Yusoff H, Mat Saruan NA, Muhamad Robat R
    PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0241577.
    PMID: 33206663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241577
    Work-related activities during non-work time may influence the intershift recovery of post-work fatigue. Currently there is no valid and reliable scale available to measure the frequency for such activities among doctors. Therefore, this study aims to develop and validate 'Work-Related Activities during Non-Work Time Scale' (WANTS) that measure the frequency of work-related activities during non-work time for doctors. This was a scale development and validation study among doctors involving item generation, content and construct validation, and reliability assessment. 23-item seven-point Likert-type scale was developed through deductive (literature search) and inductive (interview with source population, authors' experiences, and expert opinion) methods. The content-validated scale was pre-tested, and the improved scale was subsequently administered to randomly-selected 460 doctors working at public hospital setting. Response rate was 77.76% (n = 382). Initial exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal axis factoring (PAF) using varimax rotation revealed unstable six-factor structure consisting of 17 variables; thus, we tested one- to six-factor model, and found that four-factor model is the most stable. Further analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) with a single component on each factor found that 17-variables four-factor model is stable. These factors were labelled as 'work-related thought', 'work-to-home conversation', 'task spillover' and 'superior-subordinate communication'. It showed good internal consistency with overall alpha value of 0.837. The scale is thus valid and reliable for measuring the frequency of each construct of work-related activities during non-work time among doctors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health*
  18. Dapari R, Mahfot MH, Ahmad Zamzuri M'I, Md Isa Z, Hassan MR, Che Dom N, et al.
    PLoS One, 2024;19(1):e0295771.
    PMID: 38165964 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295771
    INTRODUCTION: The significant contribution of the food and beverage industry to Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product is projected to increase in the upcoming years. With the industry's expansion, the demand for workers on food premises would also continuously increase. The food industry workers are exposed to risks arising from physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards while performing their duties. Thus, it is essential for these workers to be equipped with proper knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) in safety and health.

    AIMS: This study aims to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of the safety and health programme TRIMOSH (Theory-Based Intervention Module on Occupational Safety and Health) in improving the knowledge, attitude, and practice among food industry workers.

    METHODS: TRIMOSH intervention study is a two-arm randomised, single-blinded, controlled, parallel trial that will be conducted among food industry workers in Selangor, Malaysia. In a partnership with Food Handler Training Schools in Selangor, 10 pairs of Food Handler Training Schools with 12 participants per group (n = 240) will be recruited for balanced randomisation intervention and control conditions. Furthermore, data collection of all participants was conducted at four time points: baseline (T0), immediately (T1), one month (T2), and three months (T3) post-intervention. Generalised Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) will be conducted to determine the effects of intervention within and between study groups. Subsequently, the primary outcomes increase the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of safety and health at food premises. Clinical Trial Registry registration was approved by the ClinicalTrials.gov committee on October 2022 with the ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05571995. This study has also been approved by the Ethics Committee for Research Involving Human Subjects of Universiti Putra Malaysia (JKEUPM-2022-346). All participants are required to provide consent prior to participation.

    CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics of the respondents are expected to show no difference between the groups. It is hypothesised that TRIMOSH is effective in improving the knowledge, attitude, and practices of food industry workers in Selangor. The results will be reported and presented in international peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and other platforms. In addition, the TRIMOSH programme will be offered at the national level by the relevant authorities for the benefit of food industry workers.

    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health*
  19. Choi BC
    Occup Med (Lond), 2005 Oct;55(7):515-22.
    PMID: 16174662
    An international comparison study of women's occupational health issues was carried out in 2000 for the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore. The study was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency's Southeast Asia Gender Equity Program.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health*
  20. Sadhra S, Beach JR, Aw TC, Sheikh-Ahmed K
    Occup Environ Med, 2001 Jul;58(7):426-31.
    PMID: 11404445
    As part of a consultancy project on occupational health, the Delphi method was used to identify research priorities in occupational health in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health*
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