Displaying publications 521 - 540 of 938 in total

Abstract:
Sort:
  1. Azman N, Leong Bin Abdullah MFI, Musa KI, Hassan N, Mohd Shariff N
    J Psychosoc Oncol, 2024;42(5):688-708.
    PMID: 38449103 DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2024.2325498
    PURPOSE: While the unmet healthcare needs are still being improved upon, the wellbeing of cancer patients has increasingly become a prime concern in Malaysia. The objective of this study is to ascertain the trend of unmet supportive care needs, post-traumatic growth (P T G), coping strategies, and social supports among patients with breast cancer over the three time points of treatment: T1 at early diagnosis, T2 for three months after diagnosis, and T3 for six months after diagnosis.

    METHODS: A total of 240 cancer patients participated in this prospective cohort study, with follow-up visits from October 2019 until July 2021. Data were collected using several instruments: Brief COP E, the Source of Social Support Scale (SSSS), the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory - Short Form (P T GI-SF), and a Malay version of the 34-Item Shortform Supportive Care Need Survey (SCNS-SF34).

    RESULTS: The results indicated a significant change from T1 to T3 for all domains of the unmet needs (p-value < 0.001), except for the sexual domain. A lower SCNS-SF34 score resulted from more unfavorable social support. The P T GI-SF results indicated a trend toward meeting the unmet needs, and a higher SCNS-SF-34 score predicted a considerably higher P T GI-SF score.

    CONCLUSIONS: Our study findings suggest that majority of the factors evaluated in terms of unmet needs among cancer patients have undergone considerable changes.

    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Needs and Demand*
  2. Murphy JK, Khan A, Sun Q, Minas H, Hatcher S, Ng CH, et al.
    Int J Equity Health, 2021 07 12;20(1):161.
    PMID: 34253198 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-021-01484-5
    BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have profound mental health impact, including in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region. Some populations might be at higher risk of experiencing negative mental health impacts and may encounter increased barriers to accessing mental health care. The pandemic and related restrictions have led to changes in care delivery, including a rapid shift to the use of e-mental health and digital technologies. It is therefore essential to consider needs and opportunities for equitable mental health care delivery to the most at-risk populations. This rapid scoping review: 1) identifies populations in the APEC region that are at higher risk of the negative mental health impacts of COVID-19, 2) identifies needs and gaps in access to standard and e-mental health care among these populations, and 3) explores the potential of e-mental health to address these needs.

    METHODS: We conducted a rapid scoping review following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We searched Medline, Embase and PsychInfo databases and Google Scholar using a search strategy developed in consultation with a biomedical librarian. We included records related to mental health or psychosocial risk factors and COVID-19 among at-risk groups; that referred to one or more APEC member economies or had a global, thus generalizable, scope; English language papers, and papers with full text available.

    RESULTS: A total of 132 records published between December 2019 and August 2020 were included in the final analysis. Several priority at-risk populations, risk factors, challenges and recommendations for standard and e-mental health care were identified. Results demonstrate that e-mental health care can be a viable option for care delivery but that specific accessibility and acceptability considerations must be considered. Options for in-person, hybrid or "low-tech" care must also remain available.

    CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for equitable standard and e-mental health care. It has also highlighted the persistent social and structural inequities that contribute to poor mental health. The APEC region is vast and diverse; findings from the region can guide policy and practice in the delivery of equitable mental health care in the region and beyond.

    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Needs and Demand*
  3. Distelhorst SR, Cleary JF, Ganz PA, Bese N, Camacho-Rodriguez R, Cardoso F, et al.
    Lancet Oncol, 2015 Mar;16(3):e137-47.
    PMID: 25752564 DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70457-7
    Supportive care and palliative care are now recognised as critical components of global cancer control programmes. Many aspects of supportive and palliative care services are already available in some low-income and middle-income countries. Full integration of supportive and palliative care into breast cancer programmes requires a systematic, resource-stratified approach. The Breast Health Global Initiative convened three expert panels to develop resource allocation recommendations for supportive and palliative care programmes in low-income and middle-income countries. Each panel focused on a specific phase of breast cancer care: during treatment, after treatment with curative intent (survivorship), and after diagnosis with metastatic disease. The panel consensus statements were published in October, 2013. This Executive Summary combines the three panels' recommendations into a single comprehensive document covering breast cancer care from diagnosis through curative treatment into survivorship, and metastatic disease and end-of-life care. The recommendations cover physical symptom management, pain management, monitoring and documentation, psychosocial and spiritual aspects of care, health professional education, and patient, family, and caregiver education.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Accessibility/economics; Health Services Accessibility/standards*
  4. Naing C, Kai YC, Yi CH, Yee NS, Yi LM, Jun LX, et al.
    Int Health, 2013 Sep;5(3):217-22.
    PMID: 24159624 DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/iht019
    BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine knowledge of medication use, to investigate the treatment-seeking pattern and to identify factors affecting the use of public health clinics among the study population.

    METHODS: A survey was conducted in Mantin Town of Malaysia using a structured questionnaire based on a literature review. Households were recruited through a three-stage sampling technique.

    RESULTS: Of 183 respondents (mean age 44.6 [±16.9] years; 115 [62.8%] women), 157 (85.8%) did not know about the term 'generic name' and 159 (86.9%) were not sure about the difference in price between a generic medicine and a branded medicine. The majority sought healthcare from the public health clinics (102/183; 55.7%). In the multivariate analysis, higher education level of respondents (p = 0.028), good quality of services in public health clinics (p = 0.001) and short distances between their residences and the public health clinics (p<0.001) were the significant variables for predicting the use of a public health clinic.

    CONCLUSION: This study highlights that health education on the use of generic drugs needs to be scaled up. These findings are important to the health policy makers who may need to consider addressing factors such as quality of care and physical distance to the clinic in the design and implementation of health facilities and the selection of the catchment areas.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services/statistics & numerical data*; Health Services Accessibility
  5. Svevo-Cianci KA, Hart SN, Rubinson C
    Child Abuse Negl, 2010 Jan;34(1):45-56.
    PMID: 20060588 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2009.09.010
    (1) To identify which United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) recommended child protection (CP) measures, such as policy, reporting systems, and services for child abuse and neglect (CAN) victims, individually or in combination, were most important in establishing a basic level of child protection in 42 countries; and (2) to assess whether these measures were necessary or sufficient to achieve basic child protection in developing and industrialized countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence; Child Health Services/organization & administration
  6. Tan S, Fung D, Hung SF, Rey J
    Australas Psychiatry, 2008 Jun;16(3):204-9.
    PMID: 18568628 DOI: 10.1080/10398560701874283
    Several Asian regions have undergone a dramatic transformation, some becoming very affluent. This paper aims to ascertain how countries that are becoming wealthy have dealt with child and adolescent mental health issues.
    Matched MeSH terms: Mental Health Services/supply & distribution; Mental Health Services/utilization*
  7. Liew KB, Lepesteur M
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2006 Oct;100(10):949-55.
    PMID: 16730364 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.11.018
    This study evaluates and discusses the impact of the rural health improvement scheme in reducing the incidence of dysentery, enteric fever, cholera and viral hepatitis in Sarawak, Malaysia, using data compiled from state and federal health department reports. This study suggests that from 1963 to 2002, water supply intervention contributed to a more than 200-fold decrease in dysentery and a 60-fold decrease in enteric fever. Variations in reporting of viral hepatitis during that period make it difficult to detect a trend. Cholera was still endemic in 2002. Cholera and dysentery outbreaks, occurring when rural populations relied on contaminated rivers for their water supply, suggested that sanitation intervention was not as effective in reducing waterborne diseases. Recommendations are made for successive one-component interventions focusing on catchment management to ensure protection of current and alternative water supplies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services/standards*; Rural Health Services/trends
  8. Moy F, Sallam AA, Wong M
    Health Promot Int, 2006 Dec;21(4):301-10.
    PMID: 16963785
    The worksite is one of the key channels for the delivery of interventions to reduce chronic diseases among adult populations. It provides easy and regular access to a relatively stable population and it encourages sustained peer support. This paper reports a 2-year follow-up of the impact of a worksite health promotion programme on serum cholesterol and dietary changes among employees in a city in Malaysia. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among Malay-Muslim male security guards, with those working in a public university in Kuala Lumpur comprising the intervention group, and those working in the teaching hospital of the same university as the comparison group. They were comparable in socio-demographic characteristics. The intervention group received intensive individual and group counselling on diet, physical activity and quitting smoking. The comparison group was given minimal education on the same lifestyle changes through mail and group counselling. The intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction in their mean total cholesterol levels as compared with the comparison group, with an intervention effect of -0.38 (95% CI = -0.63, -0.14) mmol/l. The intervention group also reported a reduction in the amount of cigarettes smoked. The worksite was shown to be an effective channel for health promotion. The adoption of the new lifestyle behaviours should be supported and sustained through modification of work policies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Research; Occupational Health Services*
  9. Dhillon JS, Wünsche B, Lutteroth C
    J Telemed Telecare, 2016 Mar;22(2):96-104.
    PMID: 26026175 DOI: 10.1177/1357633X15586082
    INTRODUCTION: Telehealth has been widely promoted as a technology to make healthcare more effective and affordable. However, current telehealth systems suffer from vendor lock-in and high cost, and are designed for managing chronic diseases rather than preventing them.
    METHODS: We address shortcomings of existing consumer-level health informatics applications in supporting senior health consumers, and provide designers of such systems with a design framework. We assess the feasibility of patient-centred health management systems (HMSs) that are designed based on the proposed framework. In contrast to traditional telehealth, HMSs are patient centred and aim at enabling health consumers to take control of their own health by providing functionality for health self-management. Quantitative and qualitative methods were adopted in evaluating a prototype HMS.
    RESULTS: Senior healthcare consumers viewed our HMS prototype positively, and experienced a positive change in their attitude towards their health. We identified requirements and challenges for HMSs. In particular, participants indicated that social networking features must have a clear purpose beyond simple broadcasting of emotions and opinions.
    DISCUSSION: Our study indicates that seniors are able and motivated to leverage a web-based patient-centred HMS, provided that there are suitable health support applications tailored to their needs. This could be achieved by making it attractive for third party application developers to contribute HMS content.
    KEYWORDS: Telehealth; Web 2.0 technologies; gerontechnology; health management system; patient empowerment; social networking
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services for the Aged/organization & administration*; Health Services for the Aged/standards
  10. Yadav H, Lin WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2001;13 Suppl:S58-61.
    PMID: 12109251
    Malaysia enjoys a comprehensive range of health services, the government being committed to the principles of universal access to high quality health care, which the Ministry of Health provides through a wide variety of nation wide network of clinics and hospitals. One of the major problems is the availability of comprehensiveness and quality of health care in remote health centres. When patients are transferred from the health centres to the hospitals for further treatment, this not only incurs inconvenience to the patients and their family but also increases the cost to the health care system. Teleprimary care is one of the tools to overcome this problem. The doctors in the remote clinics are able to discuss the problem cases through teleconsultation with the doctors and specialist in the hospitals using an audiovisual system to provide better care in the health centers without transferring the patients to the hospitals. Only the essential and needy patients are referred to the hospitals. This has not only reduced the number of patients referred to the hospitals but it has reduced the cost to the health care system. It has also provided a more comprehensive care to the patients in the health centres. The doctors in the health centers are also provided training and are also updated on the latest in medicine. This method of training has made doctors in the health centers more efficient and satisfied.
    Matched MeSH terms: Rural Health Services/manpower; Rural Health Services/standards
  11. United Nations. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCAP. Population Division, United Nations. Department of International Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division. International Population Information Network POPIN
    POPIN Bull, 1984 Dec.
    PMID: 12267292
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Accessibility; Health Services Needs and Demand*
  12. Karel SG, Robey B
    Asian Pac Cens Forum, 1988 Sep;2(1-2):1-4, 18-30.
    PMID: 12342138
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services; Health Services Needs and Demand*
  13. Murshid ME, Haque M
    J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol, 2020 06 11;27(2):e87-e99.
    PMID: 32621461 DOI: 10.15586/jptcp.v27i2.677
    The United States of America (USA) is one of the largest bilateral donors in the field of global health assistance. There are beneficiaries in 70 countries around the world. In 2015, the USA released US$638 million for the improvement of global health status by promoting family planning services. Unfortunately, in 2017, Trump administration reinstated Mexico City Policy/Global Gag Rule (GGR). This policy prevents non-US nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from receiving US health financial assistance if they have any relationship with abortion-related services. This restriction pushed millions of lives into great danger due to the lack of comprehensive family planning services, especially lack of abortion-related services. This article has attempted to let the readers know about the impacts of GGR around the world and how global leaders are trying to overcome the harmful effects of this rule. Finally, it proposes some solutions to the impacts of the extension of Mexico City Policy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health Services/economics; Reproductive Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence
  14. Rosenfield AG
    Med Today, 1973;7(3-4):80-94.
    PMID: 12309877
    PIP: Organizational and content features of various national family planning programs are reviewed. The Thai program is cited as an example of a family planning program organized on a massive unipurpose compaign basis. The Korean and Taiwan programs have utilized special field workers while upgrading the general health care network. 3 major problems with family planning programs are: 1) the lack of experience with such programs; 2) lack of commitment at the highest political levels; and 3) medical conservatism. Utilization of all available contraceptive methods instead of reliance on 1 method would improve most programs. Nursing and auxiliary personnel could be trained to take over the work of physicians in family planning programs. This is already being done with IUD insertion and pill prescription in several programs. The postpartum tubal ligation approach has proven effective and should be extended. There is a place in all national programs for both the private and the commercial sectors. Incentives for clinics, personnel, and acceptors might spread family planning more rapidly.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services; Maternal Health Services*
  15. Harapan H, Mudatsir M, Yufika A, Nawawi Y, Wahyuniati N, Anwar S, et al.
    Vaccine, 2019 03 07;37(11):1398-1406.
    PMID: 30739794 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.01.062
    BACKGROUND: Understanding people's perceptions of the economic benefits of a potential Zika vaccine (ZV) is critical to accelerating its introduction into either public sector programs or private market. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptance and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a hypothetical ZV and the associated explanatory variables in Indonesia.

    METHODS: We conducted a health facility-based cross-sectional study in Aceh and West Sumatra province from 1 February to 13 June 2018. Patients who visited outpatient departments, have had children or were expecting their first child, were approached and interviewed to collect information on acceptance, WTP, demographic and socio-economic variables and attitudes towards childhood vaccines. Associations of explanatory variables influencing acceptance and WTP were assessed using logistic regression and linear regression analysis, respectively.

    RESULTS: In total, 956 respondents were included in the final analysis of acceptance, of whom 338 (35.3%) expressed their WTP. We found that 757 (79.1%) of the respondents were likely to be vaccinated and to recommend their partner to be vaccinated. Higher educational attainment, having a job, having heard about Zika and a good attitude towards childhood vaccination were associated with ZV acceptance in the univariate analyses. In the multivariate analysis, attitude towards childhood vaccination was the strongest predictor for ZV vaccination. We found the geometric mean and median of WTP was US$ 13.1 (95% CI: 11.37-15.09) and US$ 7.0 (95% CI: 4.47-10.98), respectively. In the final model, having heard about Zika, having a job, and higher income were associated with a higher WTP.

    CONCLUSION: Although the acceptance rate of the ZV is relatively high in Indonesia, less than 40% of respondents are willing to pay, underscoring the need for a low-cost, high-quality vaccine and public sector subsidies for Zika vaccinations in the country.

    Matched MeSH terms: Community Health Services/economics; Community Health Services/statistics & numerical data*
  16. Rahman S
    Malays J Reprod Health, 1985 Dec;3(2):133-7.
    PMID: 12314740
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services; Rural Health Services*
  17. Schröeder SE, Pedrana A, Scott N, Wilson D, Kuschel C, Aufegger L, et al.
    Liver Int, 2019 Oct;39(10):1818-1836.
    PMID: 31433902 DOI: 10.1111/liv.14222
    Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, but has long been neglected by national and international policymakers. Recent modelling studies suggest that investing in the global elimination of viral hepatitis is feasible and cost-effective. In 2016, all 194 member states of the World Health Organization endorsed the goal to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030, but complex systemic and social realities hamper implementation efforts. This paper presents eight case studies from a diverse range of countries that have invested in responses to viral hepatitis and adopted innovative approaches to tackle their respective epidemics. Based on an investment framework developed to build a global investment case for the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030, national activities and key enablers are highlighted that showcase the feasibility and impact of concerted hepatitis responses across a range of settings, with different levels of available resources and infrastructural development. These case studies demonstrate the utility of taking a multipronged, public health approach to: (a) evidence-gathering and planning; (b) implementation; and (c) integration of viral hepatitis services into the Agenda for Sustainable Development. They provide models for planning, investment and implementation strategies for other countries facing similar challenges and resource constraints.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Accessibility/legislation & jurisprudence; Health Services Accessibility/statistics & numerical data*
  18. Low WY, Binns C
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2014 Sep;26(5 Suppl):7S-8S.
    PMID: 25143527 DOI: 10.1177/1010539514545287
    Matched MeSH terms: School Health Services
  19. Kabir MA, Goh KL, Khan MH
    BMC Public Health, 2013;13:379.
    PMID: 23617464 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-379
    BACKGROUND:
    Tobacco consumption (TC) among youths poses significant public health problem in developing countries. This study utilized the data of Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), 2007 to examine and compare youth TC behavior in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

    METHODS:
    The GYTS covered a total of 2,242 Bangladeshi, 1,444 Nepalese and 1,377 Sri-Lankan youths aged 13-15 years. They represented response rates of 88.9%, 94.6%, and 85.0% for the three countries, respectively. Socioeconomic, environmental, motivating, and programmatic predictors of TC were examined using cross tabulations and logistic regressions.

    RESULTS:
    Prevalence of TC was 6.9% (9.1% in males, 5.1% in females) in Bangladesh, 9.4% (13.2% in males, 5.3% in females) in Nepal and 9.1% (12.4% in males, 5.8% in females) in Sri Lanka. The average tobacco initiation age was 9.6, 10.24 and 8.61 years, respectively. Cross tabulations showed that gender, smoking among parents and friends, exposure to smoking at home and public places, availability of free tobacco were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with TC in all three countries. The multivariable analysis [odds ratio (95% confidence interval)] indicated that the common significant predictors for TC in the three countries were TC among friends [1.9 (1.30-2.89) for Bangladesh, 4.10 (2.64-6.38) for Nepal, 2.34 (1.36-4.02) for Sri Lanka], exposure to smoking at home [1.7 (1.02-2.81) for Bangladesh, 1.81 (1.08-2.79) for Nepal, 3.96 (1.82-8.62) for Sri Lanka], exposure to smoking at other places [2.67 (1.59-4.47) for Bangladesh, 5.22 (2.76-9.85) for Nepal, 1.76 (1.05-2.88) for Sri Lanka], and the teaching of smoking hazards in schools [0.56 (0.38-0.84) for Bangladesh, 0.60 (0.41-0.89) for Nepal, 0.58 (0.35-0.94) for Sri Lanka].

    CONCLUSIONS:
    An understanding of the influencing factors of youth TC provides helpful insights for the formulation of tobacco control policies in the South-Asian region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Adolescent Health Services
  20. Sabirin J, Bakri R, Buang SN, Abdullah AT, Shapie A
    Med J Malaysia, 2010 Dec;65(4):261-7.
    PMID: 21901941
    A systematic review on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of school scoliosis screening programme was carried out. A total of 248 relevant titles were identified, 117 abstracts were screened and 28 articles were included in the results. There was fair level of evidence to suggest that school scoliosis screening programme is safe, contributed to early detection and reduction of surgery. There was also evidence to suggest that school-based scoliosis screening programme is cost-effective. Based on the above review, screening for scoliosis among school children is recommended only for high risk group such as girls at twelve years of age.
    Keywords: Systematic review, scoliosis screening
    Matched MeSH terms: School Health Services
Filters
Contact Us

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links