Displaying publications 61 - 80 of 422 in total

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  1. Ahmad NFD, Ren Jye AK, Zulkifli Z, Bujang MA
    Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Dec;27(6):128-143.
    PMID: 33447140 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.6.12
    Background: This study aims to develop and validate a job satisfaction questionnaire (JS-Q) for health workforce who are employed by a healthcare institution.

    Methods: The study consists of six phases which begins with eliciting a conceptual understanding of the subject matter which is then followed by questions development, designing the overall structure and format of the questionnaire, assessing both its content validity and face validity, conducting a pilot study and finally a field test. A sample of study respondents who were permanent hospital staff above 18 years of age had been recruited from three government hospitals in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

    Results: The finalised JS-Q consists of a total of 34 questions that were based on 8 domains. For all these 8 domains, the minimum loading of each item on the factors was calculated to be at least 0.500, its coefficient of Cronbach's alpha was calculated to be at least 0.750 and its corrected item-total correlation was calculated to be at least 0.500. The goodness of fit of the model was determined to be satisfactory with a value of Chi-square/df < 3.0, and a value of root mean square error approximation (RMSEA) < 0.8 and finally with both Tucker Lewis index (TLI) and comparative fit index (CFI) > 0.9.

    Conclusion: This newly developed and validated questionnaire (JS-Q) is found to be a valid and reliable study instrument for assessing job satisfaction among health workforce.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  2. Loh SY, Abdullah A, Abu Bakar AK, Thambu M, Nik Jaafar NR
    Glob J Health Sci, 2016;8(1):238-48.
    PMID: 26234968 DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v8n1p238
    Lifestyle moderate-intensity physical activity can lower the risk of over twenty chronic health conditions, whilst inactivity reduces daily functioning and physical health of individuals living with schizophrenia. This study conducted in 2014 examines the effect of structured walking participation on QOL, psychosocial functioning and symptoms in Hospital Permai, one of the largest psychiatry institution in Asia
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects*
  3. Manickam S, Abidin Nb, Parthasarathy S, Alzorqi I, Ng EH, Tiong TJ, et al.
    Ultrason Sonochem, 2014 Jul;21(4):1519-26.
    PMID: 24485395 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2014.01.002
    Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a highly contaminating wastewater due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Conventional treatment methods require longer residence time (10-15 days) and higher operating cost. Owing to this, finding a suitable and efficient method for the treatment of POME is crucial. In this investigation, ultrasound cavitation technology has been used as an alternative technique to treat POME. Cavitation is the phenomenon of formation, growth and collapse of bubbles in a liquid. The end process of collapse leads to intense conditions of temperature and pressure and shock waves which assist various physical and chemical transformations. Two different ultrasound systems i.e. ultrasonic bath (37 kHz) and a hexagonal triple frequency ultrasonic reactor (28, 40 and 70 kHz) of 15 L have been used. The results showed a fluctuating COD pattern (in between 45,000 and 60,000 mg/L) while using ultrasound bath alone, whereas a non-fluctuating COD pattern with a final COD of 27,000 mg/L was achieved when hydrogen peroxide was introduced. Similarly for the triple frequency ultrasound reactor, coupling all the three frequencies resulted into a final COD of 41,300 mg/L compared to any other individual or combination of two frequencies. With the possibility of larger and continuous ultrasonic cavitational reactors, it is believed that this could be a promising and a fruitful green process engineering technique for the treatment of POME.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  4. Al-Baldawi IA, Sheikh Abdullah SR, Anuar N, Suja F, Idris M
    Water Sci Technol, 2013;68(10):2271-8.
    PMID: 24292478 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2013.484
    One of the appropriate development technology options for the treatment of wastewater contaminated with diesel is constructed wetlands (CWs). Throughout 72 days of exposure, sampling was carried out for monitoring of physical parameters, plant growth and the efficiency of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) removal, as an indication for diesel contamination, to assess the pilot-scale performance. Four pilot CWs with a horizontal sub-surface flow system were applied using the bulrush of Scirpus grossus. The CWs were loaded with different diesel concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.25% (Vdiesel/Vwater). The TPH removal efficiencies were 82, 71, and 67% at the end of 72 days for diesel concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.25% respectively. In addition, the high removal efficiency of total suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 100 and 75.4% respectively, for a diesel concentration of 0.1%. It was concluded that S. grossus is a potential plant that can be used in a well-operated CW for restoring 0.1% diesel-contaminated water.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  5. Muhamad MH, Sheikh Abdullah SR, Mohamad AB, Rahman RA, Kadhum AA
    Environ Technol, 2012 Apr-May;33(7-9):915-26.
    PMID: 22720416
    A pilot scale granular activated carbon-sequencing batch biofilm reactor with a capacity of 2.2 m3 was operated for over three months to evaluate its performance treating real recycled paper industry wastewater under different operational conditions. In this study, dissolved air floatation (DAF) and clarifier effluents were used as influent sources of the pilot plant. During the course of the study, the reactor was able to biodegrade the contaminants in the incoming recycled paper mill wastewater in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), adsorbable organic halides (AOX; specifically 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP)) and ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) removal efficiencies at varying hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 1-3 days, aeration rates (ARs) of 2.1-3.4 m3/min and influent feed concentration of 40-950 mg COD/l. Percentages of COD, 2,4-DCP and NH3-N removals increased with increasing HRT, resulting in more than 90% COD, 2,4-DCP and NH3-N removals at HRT values above two days. Degradation of COD, 2,4-DCP and NH3-N were seriously affected by variation of ARs, which resulted in significant decrease of COD, 2,4-DCP and NH3-N removals by decreasing ARs from 3.4 m3/min to 2.1 m3/min, varying in the ranges of 24-80%, 6-96% and 5-42%, respectively. In comparison to the clarifier effluent, the treatment performance of DAF effluent, containing high COD concentration, resulted in a higher COD removal of 82%. The use of diluted DAF effluent did not improve significantly the COD removal. Higher NH3-N removal efficiency of almost 100% was observed during operation after maintenance shutdown compared to normal operation, even at the same HRT of one day due to the higher dissolved oxygen concentrations (1-7 mg/l), while no significant difference in COD removal efficiency was observed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  6. Teo PS, Nurul-Fadhilah A, Foo LH
    J Sci Med Sport, 2013 Jul;16(4):327-31.
    PMID: 22858164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2012.06.012
    To assess the validity and reproducibility of a new computer-based physical activity questionnaire (cPAQ) to estimate the habitual physical activity levels in Malaysian adolescents.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  7. Omar M, Zaliza S, Mariappan M, Zainal AO, Chua KB
    Malays J Pathol, 2011 Dec;33(2):113-7.
    PMID: 22299212 MyJurnal
    A field evaluation on the effectiveness of a modified approach of chemical fogging of insecticides against the conventional method was carried out in the Seremban district within the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia from 7th February 2003 to 7th September 2003. In the 3 months period, November 2002 to January 2003, prior to institution of modified approach of chemical fogging, 27 of 42 (64.3%) dengue outbreaks were successfully controlled within the stipulated time frame of 14 days by the conventional approach of thermal chemical fogging. However, during the period when the modified approach of chemical fogging was instituted, 25 of 27 (92.6%) dengue outbreaks within the same district were successfully controlled within the 14-days time-line. Statistically, the modified approach of chemical fogging significantly improved the success rate of achieving dengue outbreak control within the stipulated time frame (chi2 = 5.65, p = 0.01745). The modified approach of chemical fogging also appeared to reduce the number of dengue cases recorded in the same district. This small pilot study shows that the modified approach of chemical fogging reduced cost in carrying out each fogging activity to control dengue outbreak. It also substantially reduced the required time taken to complete each fogging activity in comparison to the conventional approach. Thus, it enabled similar number of workers to cover more localities simultaneously affected by the outbreaks. In addition, the modified approach reduced the exposure time to hazardous insecticides for each worker doing hand-held thermal fogging.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  8. Wibowo TC, Saad N
    ISA Trans, 2010 Jul;49(3):335-47.
    PMID: 20304404 DOI: 10.1016/j.isatra.2010.02.005
    This paper discusses the empirical modeling using system identification technique with a focus on an interacting series process. The study is carried out experimentally using a gaseous pilot plant as the process, in which the dynamic of such a plant exhibits the typical dynamic of an interacting series process. Three practical approaches are investigated and their performances are evaluated. The models developed are also examined in real-time implementation of a linear model predictive control. The selected model is able to reproduce the main dynamic characteristics of the plant in open-loop and produces zero steady-state errors in closed-loop control system. Several issues concerning the identification process and the construction of a MIMO state space model for a series interacting process are deliberated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  9. Hazmi AJ, Zuki AB, Noordin MM, Jalila A, Norimah Y
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jul;63 Suppl A:93-4.
    PMID: 19025000
    This study was conducted based on the hypothesis that mineral and physicochemical properties of cockle shells similarly resemble the properties of corals (Porites sp.). Hence, the mineral and physicochemical evaluations of cockle shells were conducted to support the aforementioned hypothesis. The results indicated that cockle shells and coral exoskeleton shared similar mineral and physicochemical properties.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  10. Sopyan I, Rosli A, Raihana MF
    Med J Malaysia, 2008 Jul;63 Suppl A:81-2.
    PMID: 19024994
    A novel hydrothermal process has been developed various hydroxyapatite(HA) powder. The HA powder was investigated in different calcination temperatures over the range of 200 degrees C-800 degrees C. TG/DTA and XRD analysis revealed that at temperatures of 700-800 degrees C the decomposition processes and phase changes took place. It is due to the appearance of TCP phase substituting the HA phase. FESEM observation showed that the produced hydroxyapatite powder was extraordinarily fine with nanosize primary particles and almost evenly spherical in shaped. Its high purity proved that the powder fulfills medical requirement.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  11. Cheah PS, Norhani M, Bariah MA, Myint M, Lye MS, Azian AL
    Cornea, 2008 May;27(4):461-70.
    PMID: 18434851 DOI: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e318165642c
    To investigate the histological changes in primate cornea induced by short-term overnight orthokeratology (OK).
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  12. Woo M, Ng Kh
    Biomed Imaging Interv J, 2008 Jan;4(1):e13.
    PMID: 21614306 MyJurnal DOI: 10.2349/biij.4.1.e13
    Medical physics is a relatively small professional community, usually with a scarcity of expertise that could greatly benefit students entering the field. However, the reach of the profession can span great geographical distances, making the training of students a difficult task. In addition to the requirement of training new students, the evolving field of medical physics, with its many emerging advanced techniques and technologies, could benefit greatly from ongoing continuing education as well as consultation with experts.Many continuing education courses and workshops are constantly being offered, including many web-based study courses and virtual libraries. However, one mode of education and communication that has not been widely used is the real-time interactive process. Video-based conferencing systems do exist, but these usually require a substantial amount of effort and cost to set up.The authors have been working on promoting the ever-expanding capability of the Internet to facilitate the education of medical physics to students entering the field. A pilot project has been carried out for six years and reported previously. The project is a collaboration between the Department of Medical Physics at the Toronto Odette Cancer Centre in Canada and the Department of Biomedical Imaging at the University of Malaya in Malaysia. Since 2001, medical physics graduate students at the University of Malaya have been taught by lecturers from Toronto every year, using the Internet as the main tool of communication.The pilot study explored the different methods that can be used to provide real-time interactive remote education, and delivered traditional classroom lectures as well as hands-on workshops.Another similar project was started in 2007 to offer real-time teaching to a class of medical physics students at Wuhan University in Hubei, China. There are new challenges as well as new opportunities associated with this project. By building an inventory of tools and experiences, the intent is to broaden the real-time teleteaching method to serve a wide community so that future students entering the field can have efficient access to high-quality education that will benefit the profession in the long term.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  13. Zainab K, Adlina S
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Aug;59(3):395-401.
    PMID: 15727387 MyJurnal
    A comparative pilot study was conducted to determine the difference in the reduction of total serum bilirubin in a group of infants who had phototherapy at home compared to an in-patient group on hospital phototherapy. Eighteen infants with unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia who fitted the selection criteria were put under the mobile home unit (Bluelite Portable Light) placed in the home. A control group of 18 infants with the same matching characteristics had intense phototherapy in the hospital using a unit with top and bottom light sources. The infants were matched for race, starting total serum bilirubin level, birth weight (up to 250 grams) and age of baby at initiation of phototherapy (up to one-day difference). It was observed that the mean daily decrease in serum bilirubin concentration was significantly more in the home group as compared to the hospital group (t=2.95, df=17, P<0.05). The mean duration of treatment was significantly less for the home group as compared to the hospital group (t=2.84, df=17, P<0.05). None of the infants who had home phototherapy were re-hospitalized. Phototherapy related complications were mild and comparable in both groups. The result suggests that home phototherapy is safe and effective in bringing down the concentration of serum bilirubin for term babies with uncomplicated hyperbilirubinaemia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  14. Rijal OM, Abdullah NA, Isa ZM, Noor NM, Tawfiq OF
    PMID: 23367155 DOI: 10.1109/EMBC.2012.6347220
    Selected landmarks from each of 47 maxillary dental casts were used to define a Cartesian-coordinate system from which the positions of selected teeth were determined on standardized digital images. The position of the i-th tooth was defined by a line of length (l(i)) joining the tooth to the origin, and the angle (θ(i)) of this line to the horizontal Cartesian axis. Four teeth, the central incisor, lateral incisor, canine and first molar were selected and their position were collectively used to represent the shape of the dental arch. A pilot study using clustering and principal component analysis strongly suggest the existence of 3 groups of arch shape. In this study, the homogeneity of the 3 groups was further investigated and confirmed by the Dunn and Davies-Bouldein validity indices. This is followed by an investigation of the probability distribution of these 3 groups. The main result of this study suggests 3 groups of multivariate (MV) normal distribution. The MV normal probability distribution of these groups may be used in further studies to investigate the issues of variation of arch shape, which is fundamental to the practice of prosthodontics and orthodontics.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  15. Lee KN, Yoon SY, Cho HI
    PMID: 12755265
    The Asian Network for Clinical Laboratory Standardization (ANCLS) decided to start her First Inter-laboratory Quality Assurance survey at the business meeting during the Second Asian Colloquium on October 21-22, 2000 in Kobe, Japan. The first survey materials of Asian Quality Assurance Survey (AQuAS) were distributed in July 2001 to 21 hospitals in the field of chemistry and 22 hospitals in the field of hematology among total 24 participating laboratories from seven Asian countries: Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The survey methods in chemistry and in hematology were somewhat different. In chemistry the survey material was considered as unknown but handled similarly to the sample from the patient. Nineteen routine tests were performed only once. The hematology samples were considered as unknown but handled similarly to control or calibration material. Five parameters were tested five times repetitively and their average for each parameter was calculated. All the results were supposed to be sent back to the office within two weeks. Although it took more than two weeks, the return rate was 100%. The analysis was performed in several ways such as all the results together, by instruments and by methods. Mean, standard deviation (SD), standard deviation index (SDI), coefficient of variation (CV) and variance index score (VIS) were to be calculated in chemistry, and in hematology the same parameter were to be calculated except CV and VIS. In the first survey, the CV in chemistry was not calculated and the analysis by instrument or by methodology was also not attempted since there were not enough participating hospitals to do such analysis. In hematology the analysis was done by instrument only. The survey process was carried out successfully though there were some difficulties in communication tools, transportation methods and handling of specimens due to different weather conditions, and returning the report in the correct unit and to the correct place. The submitted data were acceptable for analysis. There were some differences in the units of measurement in different countries or laboratories. It was necessary to convert some of the units. Some laboratories apparently do not perform certain tests such as calcium, potasium and gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT). The gamma-GT is the most frequently not performed test. With the experience of this first survey, all the members involved in the survey have been trained well to do future surveys.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  16. Chan PW, Hussain S, Ghani NH, Debruyne JA, Liam CK
    PMID: 12693597
    A pilot study to evaluate the direct cost of treating 51 adults and 50 children with bronchial asthma was conducted. All aspects of the medical care provided over a 6-month period were considered. The mean treatment costs per month were US dollars 22.97 (adults) and US dollars 15.56 (children). The cost of maintenance therapy accounted for 55.5% and 73.4% of the total direct cost treatment for adults and children respectively. Only 27 (52.9%) adults and 17 (34.0%) children paid for their inhaled prophylactic drugs, amounting to 12.3% of the total maintenance therapy costs. Thirteen (25.4%) adults and 9 (18.0%) children were using alternative therapy at a monthly cost of US dollars 41.50 and US dollars 16.77 respectively. A substantial proportion of the direct cost of asthma treatment is heavily subsidized in Malaysia. Adequate attention to the allocation of the health budget, to ensure the optimal provision of health care, is warranted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  17. Siti Nor Aishah AR, Mutalib A, Asma H, Baig AA, Naing NN, Hashim SE, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2020 11;75(6):685-690.
    PMID: 33219178
    OBJECTIVES: To design and develop a simple vision test algorithm for mobile application and perform a pilot study to determine its validity and reliability as a tool for vision test in the community.

    METHODS: A simple visual acuity test algorithm in the form of a single letter E display was designed as the optotype for development of a mobile application. The standardised optotype is presented at random to test visual acuity for corresponding level of 3/60, 6/60, 6/18, and 6/12. The final result is auto-generated based on the classification of the WHO for visual impairment and blindness. The Snellen chart was used as the gold standard to determine its validity while five different users were involved to determine its inter-rater reliability. A pilot study was performed between April till November 2019, in the Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Medical Centre (UMC) at Kuala Nerus and Mooris Optometrist Centre at Marang, Terengganu. A total of 279 participants aged four years old and above were involved in this study.

    RESULTS: The highest sensitivity was found at the vision level cut-off point of 6/12 with the percentage of 92.7% and 86.8% for the right and left eye, respectively. The specificity was more than 89% for all vision levels in both eyes. The Krippendorff's alpha value for the inter-rater reliability was 0.87 and 0.83.

    CONCLUSION: The relatively high level of validity and reliability obtained indicate the feasibility of using the designed optotype to develop a valid and reliable mobile app for vision test. The app can be used to screen vision by nonmedical persons, at anytime and anywhere to help improve public awareness and capability to correctly determine their visual status.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  18. Abhishek A, Curran DJ, Bilwani F, Jones AC, Towler MR, Doherty M
    Rheumatology (Oxford), 2016 Feb;55(2):379-80.
    PMID: 26342227 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kev339
    Study done in England
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  19. Islam T, Musthaffa S, Hoong SM, Filza J, Jamaris S, Cheng ML, et al.
    Support Care Cancer, 2021 May;29(5):2631-2638.
    PMID: 32968861 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05776-4
    PURPOSE: Wider breast cancer (BC) treatment options, short consultation time with physicians, lack of knowledge, and poor coping skills at the time of diagnosis may affect patients' decisions causing treatment delays and non-adherence. To address this gap, a breast care nurse video orientation program was started. Our aim was to evaluate the video on patients' knowledge, satisfaction, and treatment adherence.

    METHODS: The video was developed using the BC delay explanatory model. A self-administered pre- and post-survey on 241 newly diagnosed BC patients in University Malaya Medical Center was performed. The Wilcoxon matched paired signed rank test was used to evaluate patients' pre and post perceived knowledge using a Likert scale 0 to 4 (0 = "no knowledge," 4 = "a great degree of knowledge"). Treatment adherence among participants were measured after 1-year follow-up.

    RESULTS: Eighty percent of the patients reported that the video met or exceeded their expectations. In total 80.5% reported that the video was very effective and effective in improving their perspective on BC treatments. There was improvement in perceived knowledge for treatment options (mean scores; M = 0.93 versus M = 2.97) (p < 0.001) and also for perceived knowledge on types of operation, information on chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, healthy diet, physical activity after treatments, and care of the arm after operation(p < 0.001). In total 89.4%, 79.3%, and 85.9% adhered to surgical, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy recommended treatment, respectively.

    CONCLUSION: The video improved patients' perceived knowledge and satisfaction. The program improved access not only to new BC patients but also the public and found sustainable using the YouTube platform.

    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
  20. Nurul Azmawati, M., Hariz, M.S., Mohd Dzulkhairi, M.R., Shalinawati, R., Ilina, I.
    Medicine & Health, 2018;13(2):48-57.
    MyJurnal
    Ebola virus disease (EVD), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV), rabies and Nipah infections were examples of diseases that were related to bats and shook the world with a series of outbreak and epidemic. Through the understanding of bats as potential public health risk, awareness had become vital to prevent another outbreak. This pilot study was done to evaluate the appropriateness of the questionnaires and to determine preliminary data on knowledge, attitude and practices of bats-related infections. Residents of a village were recruited by randomly choosing houses from a list obtained from the local head village. Knowledge, attitude and practice were assessed using a 56-items questionnaire. The study recruited 100 respondents. The questionnaire’s Cronbach Alpha score was 0.817. Majority of the respondents were found to have good knowledge (71%), attitude (99%) and practice (64%) relating to bat-related infection. There was a weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice towards bat-related infections among residents of the study population. Majority (80%) of respondents did not aware that bats can cause rabies, and 84% did not know about rabies vaccination. The result of this pilot study provides a limited but valuable insight into bat-related infection. Overall, respondents had good knowledge, attitude and practice scores towards bats-related infection. However, more awareness is needed to key areas lacking such as in educating awareness about rabies in bats.
    Matched MeSH terms: Pilot Projects
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