Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 80 in total

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  1. Colour detection thresholds in faces and colour patches
    Tan KW, Stephen ID
    Perception, 2013;42(7):733-41.
    PMID: 24344549
    Human facial skin colour reflects individuals' underlying health (Stephen et al 2011 Evolution & Human Behavior 32 216-227); and enhanced facial skin CIELab b* (yellowness), a* (redness), and L* (lightness) are perceived as healthy (also Stephen et al 2009a International Journal of Primatology 30 845-857). Here, we examine Malaysian Chinese participants' detection thresholds for CIELab L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) colour changes in Asian, African, and Caucasian faces and skin coloured patches. Twelve face photos and three skin coloured patches were transformed to produce four pairs of images of each individual face and colour patch with different amounts of red, yellow, or lightness, from very subtle (deltaE = 1.2) to quite large differences (deltaE = 9.6). Participants were asked to decide which of sequentially displayed, paired same-face images or colour patches were lighter, redder, or yellower. Changes in facial redness, followed by changes in yellowness, were more easily discriminated than changes in luminance. However, visual sensitivity was not greater for redness and yellowness in nonface stimuli, suggesting red facial skin colour special salience. Participants were also significantly better at recognizing colour differences in own-race (Asian) and Caucasian faces than in African faces, suggesting the existence of cross-race effect in discriminating facial colours. Humans' colour vision may have been selected for skin colour signalling (Changizi et al 2006 Biology Letters 2 217-221), enabling individuals to perceive subtle changes in skin colour, reflecting health and emotional status.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  2. A comparison of smoking behaviour characteristics between Caucasian smokers in the United Kingdom and Malay smokers in Malaysia
    Robson N, Bond A, Wolff K
    Prev Med, 2013;57 Suppl:S8-10.
    PMID: 23624111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.04.010
    OBJECTIVES: There is evidence that smoking behaviour differs by ethnicity. This study aims to compare smoking behaviour characteristics between Caucasian and Malay smokers.
    METHODS: A cross sectional survey, involving 175 smokers attending smoking cessation clinics at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, United Kingdom and University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between May 2005 and February 2007. Data on demographics, smoking history, nicotine dependence and smoking behaviour were collected.
    RESULTS: All participants were males, mean age 30.7 ± 10.3 years. Caucasians initiated smoking significantly earlier (mean age 14.8 ± 2.8 years) (p = 0.001) and smoked regularly significantly earlier (mean age 17.3 ± 3.5) (p = 0.003) than Malays (mean starting age 16.9 ± 4.4 years and mean age regular use 19.5 ± 4.5 years), respectively. Caucasians smoked less for social integration than Malays (p = 0.03) but smoked more for regulation of negative affect than Malays (p = 0.008) and smoked more for hedonism than Malays (p < 0.001).
    CONCLUSION: Malays smoke as a means of socially integrating. This has important public health implications. Social reasons and the social environment play a role in smoking uptake, smoking maintenance and smoking cessation and this should be borne in mind for strategies planning to promote smoking cessation.
    KEYWORDS: Behaviour; Caucasian; Character; Cigarette; Malay; Nicotine; Smoking
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  3. Midlife crisis perceptions, experiences, help-seeking, and needs among multi-ethnic malaysian women
    Wong LP, Awang H, Jani R
    Women Health, 2012;52(8):804-19.
    PMID: 23127220 DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2012.729557
    In the present study, researchers explored attitudes toward midlife crises, experience with midlife crises, help-seeking, and needs among multi-ethnic Malaysian women. A total of 14 focus group discussions were conducted with 89 Malaysian women of different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Women expressed concern over physical aging and decline in their physical functional health. Having a midlife crisis was frequently reported. Issues that were frequently reported to trigger a midlife crisis, such as empty nest syndrome, impact of aging on sexual and reproductive function, extended parenthood, caring for aging or ill parents, and career challenges were noted by the study participants (listed here in order of most to least frequently reporting of these themes across the group discussions). Overall, these issues were associated with attitudes about aging. A comparatively less open attitude toward sexual attitudes and help-seeking for sexual problems were found among the Malay and Indian women. This may imply that intervention to increase positive attitudes concerning both sexuality and help-seeking intentions should be culturally specific. The use of religious coping for comfort and consolation was frequently reported; therefore, those providing midlife crisis prevention and intervention programs should consider involving faith-based interventions in the Malaysian setting.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  4. Fulltext Public perceptions and attitudes toward thalassaemia: Influencing factors in a multi-racial population
    Wong LP, George E, Tan JA
    BMC Public Health, 2011;11:193.
    PMID: 21447191 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-11-193
    Thalassaemia is a common public health problem in Malaysia and about 4.5 to 6% of the Malays and Chinese are carriers of this genetic disorder. The major forms of thalassaemia result in death in utero of affected foetuses (α-thalassaemia) or life-long blood transfusions for survival in β-thalassaemia. This study, the first nationwide population based survey of thalassaemia in Malaysia, aimed to determine differences in public awareness, perceptions and attitudes toward thalassaemia in the multi-racial population in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  5. Mammographic screening practices among Chinese-Australian women
    Kwok C, Fethney J, White K
    J Nurs Scholarsh, 2012 Mar;44(1):11-8.
    PMID: 22151348 DOI: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2011.01429.x
    To report mammographic screening practice among Chinese-Australian women, and to examine the relationship between demographic characteristics, acculturation factors (English proficiency and length of stay in Australia), cultural beliefs, and having a mammogram as recommended.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  6. The role of complementary indigenous Malay therapies: perspectives from palliative care patients
    Lua PL
    J Complement Integr Med, 2011 Jan;8.
    PMID: 22754943 DOI: 10.2202/1553-3840.1369
    Although the popularity of complementary indigenous Malay therapies (CIMT) in general healthcare is undeniable in the Malaysian context today, their usage within the palliative care scenarios remains unexplored. Our study was specifically embarked to determine CIMT’s usage pattern, reasons, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) differences (users vs. non-users) in a sample of hospice-based palliative patients in Selangor, Malaysia. From the 39 consenting patients (mean age = 56 years; female = 56.4 percent; Malay = 53.8 percent), 38.5 percent were users of CIMT. Dried medicinal roots, herbs and sea cucumber products were the most preferred types of CIMT (53.3 percent). The most common reason cited for usage was because these were "easier and simpler to be administered" (46.7 percent). Although users' attitudes, beliefs and perceptions were more favourable than the non-users, between 30.0-73.3 percent of users remained unsure or had no knowledge regarding CIMT. They also exhibited significantly poorer Physical Symptoms than the non-users (p=0.006), a probable motive for seeking CIMT in the first place. Despite the small sample size, the findings provided some insight into the role of CIMT especially with regard to usage trends and overall well-being among the terminally-ill, of which healthcare professionals should constantly be vigilant of amidst their routine care responsibilities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  7. Fulltext An Asian viewpoint on the use of vitamin D and calcium in osteoporosis treatment: physician and patient attitudes and beliefs
    Chan SP, Scott BB, Sen SS
    BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2010;11:248.
    PMID: 20977729 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-11-248
    BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis treatment guidelines recommend calcium and vitamin D supplementation for both prevention as well as treatment, however, compliance with these guidelines is often unsatisfactory. This study investigated the opinion of Asian physicians and Asian patients regarding vitamin D and calcium and patients' use of both.
    METHODS: Physicians selected from Malaysia, Taiwan, Philippines, Korea and Singapore were asked to grade the significance of vitamin D and calcium in the treatment of osteoporosis and their patients' use of these supplements. In addition, physicians recruited seven eligible osteoporotic women to answer a questionnaire to determine their use of vitamin D and calcium, and their attitudes and beliefs regarding these supplements.
    RESULTS: In total, 237 physicians and 1463 osteoporosis patients completed the questionnaire. The results revealed that 22% of physicians in Malaysia, 12% in Taiwan, 72% in the Philippines, 50% in Korea and 24% in Singapore rated the importance of vitamin D supplementation as being extremely important. For calcium, 27% of physicians in Malaysia, 30% in Taiwan, 80% in the Philippines, 50% in Korea and 38% in Singapore rated the importance as being extremely important. Forty-three percent of patients in Malaysia, 38% in Taiwan, 73% in the Philippines, 35% in Korea and 39% in Singapore rated the importance of vitamin D as being extremely important. For calcium, 69% of patients in Malaysia, 58% in Taiwan, 90% in the Philippines, 70% in Korea and 55% in Singapore rated the importance as being extremely important. In addition, results of the patient questionnaire revealed that only a very small number regularly took both supplements. In addition, the results indicated that, with the exception of patients from the Philippines, the majority of patients had no or infrequent discussion with their physician about vitamin D and calcium.
    CONCLUSIONS: There is generally suboptimal appreciation by both physicians and patients of the importance of vitamin D and calcium for maintenance of bone health as reflected in the low number of patients who reported regularly taking these supplements. Recognition of this problem should translate to appropriate action to improve education for both physicians and patients, with a goal to increase use of these supplements among Asian patients with osteoporosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  8. Community knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards depression in the state of Penang, Malaysia
    Khan TM, Sulaiman SA, Hassali MA, Anwar M, Wasif G, Khan AH
    Community Ment Health J, 2010 Feb;46(1):87-92.
    PMID: 20146000 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-009-9262-z
    This study was intended to evaluate the mental health literacy vis-à-vis depression among inhabitants of Penang state in North Malaysia. Using a clustered random sampling method, 1,855 respondents were approached to participate in the survey. A total of 1,149 respondents actually participated, for a 61.9% response rate. Face to face interviews were then conducted using a pre-validated 21-item questionnaire. The mean age of the respondents was 30 years (SD +/-11.5). The majority (n = 884; 76.9%) could recognize three or more symptoms of depression. Chinese and/or female respondents performed the best in this domain. Respondents with a personal experience of depression displayed a significantly better knowledge of symptoms of and therapies for depression than those who did not (t = -35.745, P = <0.001). Overall, a moderate knowledge level of the symptoms of depression and a cursory knowledge towards therapy were observed among the general population in Penang. Notably, respondents were generally inclined towards the use of alternative medicine. The study suggests that strong beliefs in alternative and traditional medicines could undermine the respondents' willingness and ability to seek evidence-based mental health care.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  9. Fulltext Sex among Asian men and women: the Global Better Sex Survey in Asia
    Tan HM, Marumo K, Yang DY, Hwang TI, Ong ML
    Int J Urol, 2009 May;16(5):507-14; discussion 514-5.
    PMID: 19467120 DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2009.02283.x
    OBJECTIVES:
    To explore by a pooled subanalysis of the Global Better Sex Survey sexual aspirations and unmet needs of men and women from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

    METHODS:
    To qualify, respondents must have had sexual intercourse at least once in the past 12 months. Women must have had heterosexual intercourse. Data were weighted by population size between countries.

    RESULTS:
    Of 3538 Asian respondents (1776 men and 1762 women), 52% were aged <40 years, 40% were aged 40-59 years, and 8% were aged >or=60 years. The majority were married or in a relationship. Men and women reported having sexual intercourse 5.1 and 4.0 times monthly, respectively. Attraction to partner, foreplay, intercourse, and achieving orgasm were important to most men and women. Two thirds were less than very satisfied with their sex life, and 36% of men were interested in improving sex. For a good sexual experience, the man's ability to get and maintain an erection and erection hardness were important to the majority of Asian men and women. Few respondents reported using a prescription erectile dysfunction medication, but many showed interest in using these medications to improve their sex lives. A comparison between individual countries suggests that attitudes about sex differ from country to country, and between men and women in each country.

    CONCLUSIONS:
    Sex is very important to Asian men and women, but many of them are not fully satisfied with their sex lives and want to improve them.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  10. Regret and rationalization among smokers in Thailand and Malaysia: findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia Survey
    Lee WB, Fong GT, Zanna MP, Omar M, Sirirassamee B, Borland R
    Health Psychol, 2009 Jul;28(4):457-64.
    PMID: 19594270 DOI: 10.1037/a0014669
    OBJECTIVE: To test whether differences of history and strength in tobacco control policies will influence social norms, which, in turn, will influence quit intentions, by influencing smokers' regret and rationalization.
    DESIGN: The data were from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Policy Evaluation Southeast Asia Survey, a cohort survey of representative samples of adult smokers in Thailand (N = 2,000) and Malaysia (N = 2,006). The survey used a stratified multistage sampling design.
    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measures included regret, rationalization, social norms, and quit intention.
    RESULTS: Thai smokers were more likely to have quit intentions than Malaysian smokers. This difference in quit intentions was, in part, explained by the country differences in social norms, regret, and rationalization. Reflecting Thailand's history of stronger tobacco control policies, Thai smokers, compared with Malaysian smokers, perceived more negative social norms toward smoking, were more likely to regret, and less likely to rationalize smoking. Mediational analyses revealed that these differences in social norms, accounted, in part, for the country-quit intention relation and that regret and rationalization accounted, in part, for the social norm-quit intention relation.
    CONCLUSION: The results suggest that social norms toward smoking, which are shaped by tobacco control policies, and smokers' regret and rationalization influence quit intentions
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  11. Sociocultural adjustment among sojourning Malaysian students in Britain: a replication and path analytic extension
    Swami V, Arteche A, Chamorro-Premuzic T, Furnham A
    Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 2010 Jan;45(1):57-65.
    PMID: 19337675 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-009-0042-4
    The present study examined the sociocultural adjustment of 249 sojourning Malaysian undergraduates in Britain. One-hundred and ten Malay and 139 Chinese students enrolled in various courses answered a self-report questionnaire that examined various aspects of sociocultural adjustment and socio-demographics. Overall, Malay students reported significantly poorer sociocultural adjustment than Chinese students, as well as more negative outcomes on a range of predictors. Path analysis for the total sample showed that higher family income led to greater sociocultural adjustment, but partially because it led to more contact with host and conationals, better language proficiency, lower perceived cultural differences and less perceived discrimination. Moreover, participants with higher English proficiency were better adapted, but partially because they perceived less cultural differences as well as having more contact with host nationals. Additionally, individuals reporting better sociocultural adjustment also reported better health statuses. The same model was equally useful at predicting sociocultural adjustment for both Malay and Chinese participants. These results are discussed in terms of the role played by income in buffering against the negative aspects of sociocultural adjustment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  12. Beliefs about schizophrenia and its treatment in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
    Swami V, Furnham A, Kannan K, Sinniah D
    Int J Soc Psychiatry, 2008 Mar;54(2):164-79.
    PMID: 18488409
    Lay beliefs about schizophrenia have been extensively studied in cross-cultural settings, but research on ethnic differences are currently lacking.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  13. Fulltext Validity, feasibility and acceptability of time trade-off and standard gamble assessments in health valuation studies: a study in a multiethnic Asian population in Singapore
    Wee HL, Li SC, Xie F, Zhang XH, Luo N, Feeny D, et al.
    Value Health, 2008 Mar;11 Suppl 1:S3-10.
    PMID: 18387064 DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4733.2008.00361.x
    OBJECTIVES: To assess the validity, feasibility and acceptability of standard gamble (SG) and time trade-off (TTO) assessments in a multiethnic Asian population.
    METHODS: Through in-depth interviews performed among Chinese, Malay, and Indian Singaporeans (education >or= 6 years), we assessed validity of SG/TTO methods for eliciting health preferences by hypothesizing that 1) SG/TTO scores for three hypothetical health states (HS) would exhibit ranked order (decreasing scores with worse HS); and 2) more subjects would rate the most severe HS as worse than dead. Subjects also evaluated feasibility and acceptability of SG/TTO using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) and open-ended questions. Ratings were compared using Kruskal-Wallis, Wilcoxon signed-rank tests or tests of proportions.
    RESULTS: VALIDITY: In 62 subjects (90% response rate), as hypothesized, SG and TTO scores exhibited ranked order with increasing HS severity (SG: 0.85, 0.08, -19.00; TTO: 0.85, 0.00, -0.18). More subjects rated the most severe HS as worse than dead (SG: 8%, 39%, 59%; TTO: 8%, 45% and 62%).
    FEASIBILITY: Subjects felt SG and TTO were easy to understand (median VAS scores: 8.0 vs. 8.0, P = 0.87) and to complete (8.0 vs. 8.0, P = 0.84). Acceptability: SG and TTO were well accepted, with TTO less so than SG (median [interquartile range] offensiveness: 2.0 [0, 4.0] vs. 2.0 [0, 3.0], P = 0.045). Overall, subjects did not have a clear preference for SG/TTO (50% vs. 45%, P = 0.70).
    CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the validity, feasibility and acceptability of SG and TTO for population-based HS valuation studies in a multiethnic Asian population.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  14. Invariance of parent ratings of the ADHD symptoms in Australian and Malaysian, and north European Australian and Malay Malaysia children: a mean and covariance structures analysis approach
    Gomez R
    J Atten Disord, 2009 Mar;12(5):422-33.
    PMID: 18367758 DOI: 10.1177/1087054708315171
    This study used the mean and covariance structures analysis approach to examine the equality or invariance of ratings of the 18 ADHD symptoms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  15. Fulltext Factors that hinder organ donation: religio-cultural or lack of information and trust
    Tumin M, Noh A, Jajri I, Chong CS, Manikam R, Abdullah N
    Exp Clin Transplant, 2013 Jun;11(3):207-10.
    PMID: 23432623 DOI: 10.6002/ect.2012.0194
    This paper examines factors that influence Malaysian persons with a tertiary level of education on their willingness to donate organs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  16. Correlates of Children's Eating Attitude Test scores among primary school children
    Shariff ZM, Yasin ZM
    Percept Mot Skills, 2005 Apr;100(2):463-72.
    PMID: 15974357
    A total of 107 Malay primary school girls (8-9 yr. old) completed a set of measurements on eating behavior (ChEAT, food neophobia scales, and dieting experience), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, body shape satisfaction, dietary intake, weight, and height. About 38% of the girls scored 20 and more on the ChEAT, and 46% of them reported dieting by reducing sugar and sweets (73%), skipping meals (67%), reducing fat foods (60%) and snacks (53%) as the most frequent methods practiced. In general, those girls with higher ChEAT scores tended to have lower self-esteem (r=.39), indicating they were more unwilling to try new foods (food neophobic) (r=.29), chose a smaller figure for desired body size (r=-.25), and were more dissatisfied with their body size (r=.31).
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  17. Prevalence and determinants of excessive daytime sleepiness in an Asian multi-ethnic population
    Ng TP, Tan WC
    Sleep Med, 2005 Nov;6(6):523-9.
    PMID: 16271696
    BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and determinants of daytime sleepiness in an Asian multi-ethnic population. Cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire in multi-ethnic Asian adult population of Singapore (2.4 million).
    PATIENTS AND METHODS: Measured frequency of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), socio-demographic status, sleep duration, perceived sleep insufficiency, frequent awakenings, difficulty falling asleep, snoring, breathing pauses, GHQ-12, shift work, solvent exposure at work, substance use, medications, and chronic diseases in random sample of 2,298 adults, aged 20-74 years, representing Chinese, Malays and Indians.
    RESULTS: Among the respondents, 10.8% reported usually feeling sleepy in the daytime, and 9.0% were classified as having EDS. Marked ethnic difference was observed, with higher rates of EDS in Malays and Chinese, compared to Indians. Increased risk of EDS was associated with perceived sleep insufficiency; snoring and breathing pauses; shift work and solvent exposure at work; psychiatric morbidity and chronic diseases, particularly chronic rhinitis; and medications with sedating effects.
    CONCLUSIONS: Daytime sleepiness is associated with a multiplicity of highly prevalent risk factors in the community, including sleep behavior, breathing-, work- and medically related factors. Significant ethnic differences, which were not explained by these factors, were observed between Chinese, Malays and Indians.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  18. Quality of life (QoL) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) control of patients attending anticoagulation clinics
    Hasan SS, Teh KM, Ahmed SI, Chong DW, Ong HC, Naina B
    Public Health, 2015 Jul;129(7):954-62.
    PMID: 26138018 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2015.05.014
    OBJECTIVES: To investigate association between quality of life (QoL) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) control, with the secondary aim of assessing QoL using generic and anticoagulation-specific, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS).
    STUDY DESIGN: This study assessed anticoagulation related QoL at three time intervals in two groups of patients on long-term warfarin therapy.
    METHODS: Data of 326 randomly sampled patients (163 patients each in DASS and SF-12 groups) who had been on warfarin therapy for at least one year at anticoagulation clinics were analysed. QoL was assessed at three time intervals: at the start, six months and one year of warfarin therapy. Indications and target INR ranges and subjects INR values were recorded. Time in Therapeutic Range (TTR) was estimated for four subject subgroups, based on target ranges of INR for clustered indications.
    RESULTS: Of the total, 43% of the subjects were aged between 50 and 64 years, and 51% were female. DASS assessed subjects older than 35 years perceived significant decrease in overall mean scores of anticoagulation related QoL, whilst all SF-12 assessed subjects perceived an increase in QoL. The mean percentage days in range for all INR target range subgroups did not exceed more than 60% but there was only a weak correlation (Rs = 0.104, P > 0.05) between INR control and overall QoL.
    CONCLUSION: Malaysian urban outpatients on warfarin treatment longer than one year report a significant overall decrease in QoL, as measured using a validated condition-specific instrument. These patients appeared to adapt well to lifestyle limitations imposed by long-term anticoagulation.
    KEYWORDS: Anticoagulation therapy; International Normalized Ratio; Quality of life

    Study site: anticoagulation clinics at a
    suburban tertiary Ministry of Health hospital in Peninsular
    Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
  19. Factors influencing degree of hearing loss at presentation, hearing aid choice, and usage in first time hearing aid users in Singapore
    Ho EC, Ong WMW, Li K, Zhang H, Bei YTE, Medapati SVR, et al.
    Int J Audiol, 2018 10;57(10):776-783.
    PMID: 29957077 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2018.1476781
    OBJECTIVE: To examine the factors associated with late presentation at first hearing aid (HA) fitting, HA choice and usage among users in Singapore.

    DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

    STUDY SAMPLE: 1068 subjects issued with HAs at a tertiary hospital from 2001 to 2013.

    RESULTS: Half of the subjects presented with more severe (>55 dB) hearing loss (HL) in their better ear. In multivariable analysis, older age, Malay ethnicity, conductive and mixed HL, and combination type of HL were associated with more severe HL at first presentation. Over 70% of subjects were older than 65 years. Worse pure tone audiometry (PTA) thresholds of the better ear, gradual onset and sensorineural HL were associated with older age presentation. For unilaterally fitted subjects, PTA thresholds were the only determinant of having the better ear aided. Better PTA thresholds, younger age and sensorineural HL were associated with choosing in ear compared to behind the ear HAs. Younger age and worse PTA of the better ear were associated with ≥4 h of daily HA usage.

    CONCLUSIONS: Age, ethnicity and type of HL were important determinants for more severe HL at first HA fitting. Older patients and those with better hearing were less likely to use their HAs regularly.

    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology
  20. Fulltext Suicide Precipitants Differ Across the Lifespan but Are Not Significant in Predicting Medically Severe Attempts
    Choo CC, Chew PKH, Ho RC
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2018 04 05;15(4).
    PMID: 29621197 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15040691
    An important risk factor for suicide assessment is the suicide precipitant. This study explores suicide attempt precipitants across the lifespan. Three years of medical records related to suicide attempters who were admitted to the emergency department of a large teaching hospital in Singapore were subjected to analysis. These cases were divided into three age groups: Adolescence, Early Adulthood, and Middle Adulthood. A total of 540 cases were examined (70.9% females; 63.7% Chinese, 13.7% Malays, 15.9% Indians), whose ages ranged from 12 to 62. There were eight cases above the age of 65 years which were excluded from the analysis. Significant differences were found in precipitants for suicide attempts across the lifespan. Middle adults had relatively fewer relationship problems, and adolescents had comparatively fewer financial and medical problems. The models to predict medically severe attempts across the age groups using suicide precipitants were not significant. The findings were discussed in regards to implications in suicide assessment and primary prevention in Singapore, as well as limitations and recommendations for future research.
    Matched MeSH terms: Asian Continental Ancestry Group/psychology*
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