Methods: A single blind randomized controlled trial on 34 patients with COPD was conducted. The participants were divided into two groups, including honey (n = 22) and standard care (n = 12). St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was used to assess the QoL. The QoL total score was analysed using repeated measure ANOVA.
Result: There were no significant differences between the honey and standard care groups for socio-demographic and QoL variables. The within-time analysis showed statistically significant differences between baseline and post 2, 4 and 6-months in the total QoL score in the honey group. Otherwise, only marginally significant difference was detected between baseline and post 2-months in the standard care group. A comparison of total QoL score between the two groups, based on time (between and within), favoured the honey group. The honey group demonstrated a significantly lower mean total QoL score compared with the standard group at 4-months (28.89; 95% CI: 21.19, 36.59 vs 42.38; 95% CI: 31.95, 52.81) and 6 months (22.91; 95% CI: 14.94, 30.87 vs 41.95; 95% CI: 31.17, 52.73).
Conclusion: Supplementation of honey in patients with COPD results in better intermediate and long-term changes in the overall QoL.
Methods: This study utilised the Delphi study between April to June 2019. Face-to-face interviews and a literature review were conducted to propose a set of domains and items for the FDP needs of medical teachers. Two rounds of the Delphi technique were incorporated to obtain a consensus for the proposed questionnaire by 10 expert panels from their respective fields. The consensus was pre-defined as a mean score of four or above and with a percent agreement of 75%.
Results: Initially, four domains and 26 items were proposed. Finally, a total of six domains and 38 items were endorsed by the expert panels. The selected domains included six competencies, including teaching, assessment, research, curriculum, publication, and public service. These domains consisted of seven, nine, six, seven, four, and five items, respectively.
Conclusion: This study developed the first preliminary FDPs needs questionnaire specifically designed for medical teachers. It would be an effective instrument to measure the needs of the FDPs in medical education.
METHODS: A qualitative phenomenological study was carried out in six Malaysian public medical schools from 15th March to 15th April 2019. A total of 10 junior medical educationists participated in the study. A purposive sampling technique was utilised to select eligible participants. A series of semi-structured interviews was conducted to collect the data using a pre-determined interview protocol. The collected data were then analysed using open, axial, and selective coding methods assisted by ATLAS.ti software.
RESULTS: Three themes (i.e. personal growth, professional growth, and self-reflective practice) and nine sub-themes (i.e. self-awareness, intention, internal satisfaction, career pathway, maintaining professional skills, acquiring new knowledge, identifying strengths and weaknesses, and areas for improvement) emerged from the data analysis.
CONCLUSION: The study showed that PID could be developed through personal growth, professional growth, and self-reflective practice. Policymakers should focus on these characteristics during training sessions designed for the professional development of their medical faculty staff.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate medical students of the School of Medical Sciences of USM. The proposed USM Medical Students' Guidance and Counselling Needs (USM-MSGCN) questionnaire is a self-administered instrument that consists of 68 initial items developed from the recommendation of medical students, counsellors, and lecturers in the medical education department. To determine the dimensionality (construct validity) and reliability of the questionnaire, exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha internal consistency reliability analysis were conducted.
RESULTS: A total of 208 students participated in the study. Factor analysis revealed that the items were not unidimensional; four potential constructs could be extracted from the questionnaire, namely, self-leadership (7 items), communication (5 items), learning (5 items), and psychological coping skills (3 items), with factor loading ranges of 0.56-0.82, 0.56-0.88, 0.65-0.84, and 0.79-0.80, respectively. These domains had the following internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha): 0.89, 0.90, 0.87, and 0.87, respectively; the overall alpha value was 0.93.
CONCLUSION: Four factors, with 20 items in the USM-MSGCN questionnaire had good validity and reliability values when administered among the pre-clinical medical students.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytical observational study was conducted among 380 secondary school teachers in Kelantan, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire addressing sociodemographic data and factors influencing CVD screening activities was administered. Descriptive analysis, simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results: A total of 348 teachers responded to the questionnaire, with a response rate of 91.6%. The prevalence of optimal CVD screening activities was 29.3% (95% CI: 24.52, 34.08). Age, knowledge of CVD screening, family history of CVD and availability of health facilities were significantly linked to CVD screening.
Conclusion: The prevalence of optimal screening activities was low. A great majority of the factors contributing to optimal screening were modifiable. Health care providers should widely implement global health-oriented rather than disease-orientated assessment in their daily practice.
Methods: In 2015, a cross-sectional study was conducted among adults visiting an outpatient clinic in Northeast Malaysia. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using Malay and English versions of the Malaysia Non-Communicable Disease surveillance questionnaire. This instrument captured information about sociodemographic, lifestyle status, and anthropometric data. Blood pressure was measured three times with a sphygmomanometer, the first measurement value was discarded, and an average of blood pressure from the second two readings was recorded for further data analysis. Logistic regression was performed to analyse factors associated with prehypertension.
Result: A total 151 adults participated in the study, and the prevalence of prehypertension was 37.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29.29, 44.69). Factors associated with prehypertension in this study were age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.06 95% CI: 1.02, 1.11; p = 0.007), male sex (aOR = 4.44 95% CI: 1.58, 12.44; p = 0.005), and abnormal waist circumference (aOR = 31.65 95% CI: 11.25, 89.02; p
Methods: A quasi-experimental trial study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of nasal rinsing between two groups. The intervention group was instructed to perform nasal rinsing during ablution, while the control group was not asked to do nasal rinsing. Both groups were provided progress diaries to record the symptoms of respiratory tract infection, including cough, rhinorrhoea, nasal blockage, fever, and sore throat, as well as thick phlegm, shortness of breath, epistaxis, and changes in sense of smell. The groups were also instructed to record any visits to clinics for their symptoms throughout their stay in Makkah for the Hajj ritual.
Results: The study showed that nasal rinsing significantly reduced the symptoms of cough, rhinorrhoea, and nasal blockage. The intervention group had an increased number of visits to healthcare facilities for treatment, when compared to those of the control group. There were no significant differences in the groups regarding the symptoms of fever and sore throat.
Conclusion: Nasal rinsing can be included as part of intervention methods that include vaccination and the use of a face mask. Nasal rinsing can be easily practiced by the pilgrims, since it is a Sunnah act in ablution, which is an integral element of Muslims' daily life.
METHODS: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded control trial was performed on eligible diabetic patients with full-thickness cavity wounds. Patients' demographics, size and site of wounds, and baseline routine blood investigations were recorded. The wounds were dressed every other day with Kelulut honey for the intervention group or gel for the control group. The wound size reduction and granulation tissue formation percentage were calculated every 6 days for 1 month.
RESULTS: Seventy-one patients were randomized. After 30 days of follow-up, 62 participants were available for analysis: 30 from the control group and 32 from the treatment group. The control group had increased granulation tissue at baseline and more wounds on the lower limb and posterior trunk. Both groups showed an increasing mean and median percentage of wound epithelialization and granulation tissue over time, with significantly higher values at every timepoint in the honey group (p
METHODS: This was a qualitative phenomenology study conducted on 116 second-year medical students from two Malaysian public universities via teleconferencing applications that allowed synchronous small-group activities. Each group was given a different link to 10 GJ slides that featured plain anatomy diagrams and instructions for the group task. Upon completion of the tasks, the students presented their tasks to the whole class. An online feedback form was distributed at the end of the practical session to explore the experience of the students when using the tool.
RESULTS: Thematic analysis of student responses generated seven themes that reflected perceived learning benefits, challenges faced by the students, and suggestions for future improvement.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that GJ is a useful tool for promoting collaborative learning in virtual anatomy education. Nevertheless, the impact of this tool on the attainment of learning outcomes remains unknown. Hence, more widescale research is needed to confirm our findings.
Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 women, ages 21-56 who were either divorced or currently in the process of getting divorced in Kelantan, Malaysia.
Results: Several themes emerged, indicating the following five reasons for divorce: 1) reaching the point of ultimatum, 2) having adequate support pre- and post-divorce, 3) concern for children's welfare, 4) seeking financial independence, and 5) fear of harm.
Conclusion: The identification of the driving factors for divorce may spark a change in our society's mindset to empower female divorcees and allow them to lead happy, abuse-free lives.
METHODS: A qualitative phenomenology study using the focus group discussion method was conducted on 30 final-year students from four public universities. Four focus group discussion sessions were conducted, and students' responses were transcribed and converted to electronic formats. The transcripts were analyzed thematically with ATLAS.ti software.
RESULTS: The first-cycle coding of the text analysis generated 157 open codes based on the phrases used by the participants. The subsequent coding cycle produced 16 axial codes-groups of open codes with similar features. During the final coding cycle, the content and interrelations between the axial codes were categorized into six codes: (1) preclinical anatomy learning experience, (2) anatomy content and teaching, (3) anatomy-related competency, (4) the importance of anatomy knowledge in clinical practice, (5) the importance of early exposure to applied clinical anatomy, and (6) suggestions for future anatomy education.
CONCLUSIONS: The six identified themes reflected students' perceptions of their anatomy learning experience, the challenges that they faced during their preclinical years, and their opinions regarding the anatomy knowledge and skills that are functionally relevant during the clinical years. Their responses also echoed the need to improve anatomy teaching and learning, thereby emphasizing the importance of early clinical integration and application.
METHODS: A total of 139 participants (plateletpheresis donors and normal controls) were recruited and divided into two groups: Group 1 participants who underwent tests for haemostatic and platelet indices and Group 2 participants who underwent tests for platelet activation markers using CD62P and PAC-1 monoclonal antibodies.
RESULTS: A significant mild shortening of prothrombin time and platelet activation were demonstrated (by increased CD62P and PAC-1 markers) among regular plateletpheresis donors as compared to healthy controls. The current pre-donation platelet count of plateletpheresis donors was significantly lower than their mean baseline platelet count obtained before their first plateletpheresis procedure. However, no significant differences were observed for the other platelet parameters (platelet count, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, activated partial thromboplastin time, protein C, protein S, antithrombin, and von Willebrand Factor antigen) between plateletpheresis donors and healthy controls.
CONCLUSION: This study concludes that regular plateletpheresis is a safe procedure. A possibility of mild platelet activation among regular donors requires further confirmation. However, pre-analytical platelet and FVII activations could occur in vitro contributing to these findings.