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  1. Lee GWC, Yeap MY, Tan XY, Tang ASO, Ho YF, Law KB, et al.
    Med J Malaysia, 2024 Nov;79(6):749-756.
    PMID: 39614794
    INTRODUCTION: Aplastic anaemia (AA) is a rare disorder of bone marrow failure, characterized by bone marrow hypocellularity with pancytopenia. The annual incidence rates of AA in Asia are observed to be two to three times higher than Europe and North America. Since the introduction of immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and of allogenic stem cell transplant (SCT), the outcome of severe AA has significantly improved. We conducted a 12-year multi-centre retrospective study among the adult AA population in Sabah and Sarawak.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 119 AA patients had been identified from hospital records of the involved sites, namely Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Sabah, Sarawak General Hospital, Sibu Hospital, Miri Hospital and Bintulu Hospital in Sarawak from Jan 2006 to Dec 2017.

    RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 46 years, and native ethnic group from Sabah, Kadazan-Dusun, recorded the highest percentage of 41.2%, which could be explained by higher frequency of HLA-DRB1*15:01, an alelle linked to increased risk of AA, among this ethnic group. The majority of patients (59.7%) received cyclosporine (CsA) as monotherapy or in combination with other non-IST agents such as danazol, which was instituted in 48.7% of the patients, while a third of them (33.7%) received antithymocyte globulin (ATG) therapy with or without CsA, and 12.4% underwent allogenic SCT. The five-year overall survival (OS) for all AA patients was 76.1%. Elderly patients >60 years old and those with severe disease had more inferior 5-year survival.

    CONCLUSION: A prospective study is warranted to determine the true incidence rate, epidemiological distributions, treatment outcome and overall survival of AA patients in Malaysia. Establishment of allogenic SCT in East Malaysia is imperative to make this curative therapy more accessible to patients with severe disease and improve the outcome.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  2. Zhang Y, Yusof FM
    Acta Psychol (Amst), 2024 Nov;251:104590.
    PMID: 39504842 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104590
    Drawing on Bronfenbrenner's ecological system, the present study employs a qualitative longitudinal approach to delve into the emotional experiences and ecological factors that contribute to these emotions in eight novice EFL teachers from four Chinese public universities. Based on data collected from semi-structured interviews and case documents, this study identifies four types of emotional experiences-fear, anger, sadness, and joy-in their first school year. The findings revealed that their emotional experiences were shaped by college students, teachers' teaching competence, EFL teaching-related activities in the microsystem, interpersonal relationships in the mesosystem, novice teacher education and development systems in the exosystem, traditional cultural values and English curriculum reforms in the macrosystem, and changes in the emotional experiences over time in the chronosystem. The implications for novice EFL teachers, teacher educators, school leaders, and policymakers are proposed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  3. Wang L, Gong Y, Zhang Q, Sun R, Wong PPW, Zhou WW
    Acta Psychol (Amst), 2024 Nov;251:104627.
    PMID: 39632323 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104627
    Few research studies attempt to merge the theory of planned behaviour and value-belief-norm theory in explaining consumers green hotels visits although they may deem to be complementary. This study attempts to merge both theories by investigating the relationships between the different aspects of values, attitudes, norms, perceived behavioural control, awareness of consequence, ascription of responsibility and intention. A total of 596 young responses were collected, and the results showed that altruistic value positively influenced subjective norm, extrinsic attitude and perceived behavioural control. Biospheric value positively influenced extrinsic attitude, intrinsic attitude and perceived behavioural control while collectivistic value positively influenced subjective norm, extrinsic attitude, and intrinsic attitude. A causal effect from extrinsic attitude and intrinsic attitude on awareness of consequence, then on ascription of responsibility, subsequently on personal norm, finally on intention had been found. Subjective norm positively influenced extrinsic attitude, intrinsic attitude, perceived behavioural control and personal norm. Furthermore, perceived behavioural control positively influenced intention. Lastly, theoretical and practical implications and limitations of the study were discussed accordingly.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  4. Wong YP, Tan GC, Khong TY
    APMIS, 2025 Jan;133(1):e13496.
    PMID: 39509086 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13496
    The 2016 Amsterdam Placental Workshop Group Consensus Statement recommends sampling a block of the placenta close to the umbilical cord insertion site (UCIB) for histopathological evaluation. This piece of placenta at the umbilical cord insertion is presumed to give a better yield of inflammation (if present). We aimed to investigate the utility of the UCIB in the detection of maternal and/or fetal inflammatory responses (MIR and/or FIR), in comparison with the other sections of the placental parenchyma. This is a retrospective cross-sectional study including all placentas with histologic chorioamnionitis. The histopathological slides of placentas were reviewed as per Amsterdam consensus guidelines. Diagnostic performance of UCIB in identifying MIR and/or FIR, relative to the other placental sections, was assessed. UCIB revealed diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of 79.2% (95% CI: 74.2-83.6%), 100.0% (95% CI: 95.6-100.0%), and 83.6% (95% CI: 79.5-87.2%), respectively, in the detection of FIR, while showing a low sensitivity of 52.6% (95% CI: 47.5-57.6%) in detecting MIR. In 59 (24.6%) cases, FIR was not seen in the corresponding placental parenchymal sections but was detected in the UCIBs. This study is the first study to confirm that a section from the UCIB is essential for the detection of FIR, which affirms the Amsterdam consensus sampling recommendations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  5. Romadhon PZ, Ashariati A, Bintoro SUY, Suryantoro SD, Windradi C, Mahdi BA, et al.
    Hemoglobin, 2024 Sep;48(5):301-307.
    PMID: 39497272 DOI: 10.1080/03630269.2024.2414102
    Patients suffering from thalassemia are recipients of routine transfusions leading to hemosiderosis. Taking iron chelating agents is mandatory. Several studies have shown different results regarding the occurrence of kidney complications in thalassemia patients who received iron-chelating agents. In this study, we were looking for kidney complications by examining human NAG urine/serum and NGAL urine/serum in thalassemia community in East Java community. The study was conducted cross-sectionally in the thalassemia community in East Java with a total sample of 91 patients aged 13-48 years. All thalassemia patients filled in demographic data, transfusion routines, duration of taking iron chelating agents, and length of time diagnosed with thalassemia. Laboratory tests included routine blood tests for ferritin, ureum, serum creatinine, human NAG urine or serum, and human NGAL urine or serum. Comparison tests (t-test, Mann-Whitney, and ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis) were conducted to see if there were significant differences in the levels of human NAG urine and human NGAL urine serum based on age, sex, blood group, duration of transfusion, routine of transfusion, duration of taking iron chelating agents, and types of iron chelating drugs. Multivariate analysis was conducted to see whether some of these categories were related to abnormalities in human NAG urine or serum and human NGAL urine or serum. All 91 patients had normal creatinine values, yet some had abnormal serum NAG. There is a significant difference in urine human NAG and urine human NGAL levels at ages over 23 years (p = 0.05 and p = 0.01). Significant differences in human NGAL serum were also found in working and student patients (p = 0.028). Serum NGAL also differed in those taking deferasirox (p = 0.030) and significantly different human NGAL urine was also found in iron overload status (Ferritin ≥ 1000 ng.ml) (p = 0.006). There is no difference between human NAG urine/serum and human NGAL urine/serum based on sex, body mass index, blood type, hemoglobin less than 10 g/dl, routine transfusion once a month, duration of using iron chelation for more than 10 years, or splenomegaly status (splenomegaly, splenectomy, or no splenomegaly). The multivariate logistic regression results showed that age above 23 was a factor associated with abnormal urine human NAG levels (aOR = 3.79, 95% CI = 1.08-13.28). Students (aOR = 4.89, 95% CI = 1.48-16.16) with ages above 23 years (aOR = 3.69, 95% CI = 1.09-12.43) showed higher risk for an abnormal serum human NGAL levels. Patients with beta-thalassemia major exhibit noticeable tubular damage. Further research is encouraged to determine other factors behind tubular damage in the thalassemia community, particularly in Indonesia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  6. Tosi G, Kalckert A, Sivasubramanian AK, Romano D
    Atten Percept Psychophys, 2024 Nov;86(8):2866-2876.
    PMID: 39349922 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-024-02964-w
    The rubber hand illusion is a well-known experiment that allows manipulation of one's own body experience. The original questionnaire gauges both the illusion experience and unforeseen experiences acting as control statements. In particular, two statements pertain to the referral of touch originating from the rubber hand (RoT), and one concerns the feeling of ownership of the rubber hand (SoO). Despite its prominence, the rubber hand illusion questionnaire has not undergone thorough examination of its psychometric properties. The literature reveals a tendency to use RoT and SoO statements interchangeably. In this study, we employed Exploratory Graph Analysis to explore the item structure and compared the correlation between SoO and RoT items in various conditions. While SoO and RoT are closely linked, our findings suggest potential separation. SoO and RoT statements consistently correlate, yet hints emerge that RoT might represent a distinct facet of the illusion. Correlations diminish beyond the perihand space, indicating a nuanced relationship. Additionally, moderate relationships between control statements and those measuring the illusion suggest that even control statements are modulated by the illusion experience. This study underscores the need for further exploration into the psychometric properties of body illusion questionnaires, prompting reflections on the interpretation in light of these results.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  7. Pei L, Sommer W, Ouyang G
    Br J Psychol, 2025 Feb;116(1):149-169.
    PMID: 39367804 DOI: 10.1111/bjop.12742
    Handwriting is an outstanding case of a highly complex and efficient fine motor skill. However, little is known about its neural underpinnings during continuous handwriting production. In the present study, we examined the effects of orthographic character complexity (i.e. the stroke number of a Chinese character) on both neural and behavioural activities during an EEG-based naturalistic fluent sentence-handwriting task from 102 adult Chinese native speakers. For each written character, the interval between finishing the preceding character and its onset (inter-character interval) as well as the amplitudes of the onset-synchronized event-related potential (ERP) in pre- and post-onset time windows was defined as dependent variables. The effects of character complexity and other confounding factors were analysed with linear mixed models. Character complexity increased the inter-character interval and significantly affected ERP amplitudes in both pre- and post-onset time windows. The ERP pattern in the pre-event time window exhibited a dipole-like activation in the left motor cortex, and its amplitude increased with character complexity in line with the documented relationship between the lateralized readiness potential and motor complexity. This study demonstrates the feasibility of studying neurocognitive processes in complex naturalistic motor tasks and extends our knowledge about the dynamic pattern of handwriting-related neural activities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  8. Wong WJ, Lee SWH, Lee RFS
    PMID: 39805656 DOI: 10.3352/jeehp.2025.22.2
    PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore pharmacy students' perceptions of remote flipped classrooms in Malaysia, focusing on their learning experiences and identifying areas for potential improvement to inform future educational strategies.

    METHODS: A qualitative approach was employed, utilizing inductive thematic analysis. Twenty Bachelor of Pharmacy students (18 women, 2 men; age range, 19-24 years) from Monash University participated in 8 focus group discussions over 2 rounds during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (2020-2021). Participants were recruited via convenience sampling. The focus group discussions, led by experienced academics, were conducted in English via Zoom, recorded, and transcribed for analysis using NVivo. Themes were identified through emergent coding and iterative discussions to ensure thematic saturation.

    RESULTS: Five major themes emerged: flexibility, communication, technological challenges, skill-based learning challenges, and time-based effects. Students appreciated the flexibility of accessing and reviewing pre-class materials at their convenience. Increased engagement through anonymous question submission was noted, yet communication difficulties and lack of non-verbal cues in remote workshops were significant drawbacks. Technological issues, such as internet connectivity problems, hindered learning, especially during assessments. Skill-based learning faced challenges in remote settings, including lab activities and clinical examinations. Additionally, prolonged remote learning led to feelings of isolation, fatigue, and a desire to return to in-person interactions.

    CONCLUSION: Remote flipped classrooms offer flexibility and engagement benefits but present notable challenges related to communication, technology, and skill-based learning. To improve remote education, institutions should integrate robust technological support, enhance communication strategies, and incorporate virtual simulations for practical skills. Balancing asynchronous and synchronous methods while addressing academic success and socioemotional wellness is essential for effective remote learning environments.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  9. Hunter EC, Fine E, Black K, Henriks J, Tofail F, Morroni C, et al.
    Bull World Health Organ, 2024 Dec 01;102(12):861-872.
    PMID: 39611192 DOI: 10.2471/BLT.23.291162
    OBJECTIVE: To refine a standard questionnaire on sexual practices, experiences and health-related outcomes to improve its cross-cultural applicability and interpretability. We aimed to explore participants' willingness and ability to answer the draft questionnaire items, and determine whether items were interpreted as intended across diverse geographic and cultural environments.

    METHODS: We conducted cognitive interviews (n = 645) in three iterative waves of data collection across 19 countries during March 2022-March 2023, with participants of diverse sex, gender, age and geography. Interviewers used a semi-structured field guide to elicit narratives from participants about their questionnaire item interpretation and response processes. Local study teams completed data analysis frameworks, and we conducted joint analysis meetings between data collection waves to identify question failures.

    FINDINGS: Overall, we observed that participants were willing to respond to even the most sensitive questionnaire items on sexual biography and practices. We identified issues with the original questionnaire that (i) affected the willingness (acceptability) and ability (knowledge barriers) of participants to respond fully; and/or (ii) prevented participants from interpreting the questions as intended, including poor wording (source question error), cultural portability and very rarely translation error. Our revisions included adjusting item order and wording, adding preambles and implementation guidance, and removing items with limited cultural portability.

    CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that a questionnaire exploring sexual practices, experiences and health-related outcomes can be comprehensible and acceptable by the general population in diverse global contexts, and have highlighted the importance of rigorous processes for the translation and cognitive testing of such a questionnaire.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  10. Mohamad I, Nik Hassan NF
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2013 Aug;42(8):422-3.
    PMID: 24045382
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  11. Singh SK, Enzhong L, Reidpath DD, Allotey P
    Public Health, 2017 Mar;144:78-85.
    PMID: 28274388 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2016.11.022
    OBJECTIVE: To explore the initiating factors of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) among youth.

    STUDY DESIGN: The analytic framework for this scoping review was performed using the methodology outlined by Arksey and O'Malley, which includes identification of the research question, study selection, charting the data, collating, summarizing and reporting the results that were primarily guided by the research question; 'what is known about the initiation of shisha smoking among youth?'

    METHODS: Electronic databases such as Cochrane, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were used to search for relevant articles. Articles included were all in English and published within the year of 2006 to 2015. Inclusion criteria; i) age range of 10 to 29 years; ii) examined the reasons why youth started or tried WTS; iii) in full text. Therefore, 26 articles were included in this scoping review.

    RESULTS: This review has identified and classified the initiating factors of WTS among youth in four subtopics: individual factors, interpersonal influences, cigarettes and alcohol use, and media influences. Individual factors and interpersonal influences played an important role in initiation factors of WTS among youth.

    CONCLUSION: This study concludes that public health professionals within the Southeast Asia region need to promote innovative preventive measures through peer-to-peer led interventions that are also easily assessable on social media platforms. The public health messages need to address the misconceptions of risk associated to WTS use.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  12. Huang X, Lee K, Wang MC, Shah NS, Perak AM, Venkatesh KK, et al.
    JAMA Pediatr, 2024 Jan 01;178(1):65-72.
    PMID: 37955913 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.4907
    IMPORTANCE: Preterm birth is a major contributor to neonatal morbidity and mortality, and considerable differences exist in rates of preterm birth among maternal racial and ethnic groups. Emerging evidence suggests pregnant individuals born outside the US have fewer obstetric complications than those born in the US, but the intersection of maternal nativity with race and ethnicity for preterm birth is not well studied.

    OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is an association between maternal nativity and preterm birth rates among nulliparous individuals, and whether that association differs by self-reported race and ethnicity of the pregnant individual.

    DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a nationwide, cross-sectional study conducted using National Center for Health Statistics birth registration records for 8 590 988 nulliparous individuals aged 15 to 44 years with singleton live births in the US from 2014 to 2019. Data were analyzed from March to May 2022.

    EXPOSURES: Maternal nativity (non-US-born compared with US-born individuals as the reference, wherein US-born was defined as born within 1 of the 50 US states or Washington, DC) in the overall sample and stratified by self-reported ethnicity and race, including non-Hispanic Asian and disaggregated Asian subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Pacific Islander, Vietnamese, and other Asian), non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic and disaggregated Hispanic subgroups (Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and other Hispanic), and non-Hispanic White.

    MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) and the secondary outcome was very preterm birth (<32 weeks of gestation).

    RESULTS: Of 8 590 988 pregnant individuals included (mean [SD] age at delivery, 28.3 [5.8] years in non-US-born individuals and 26.2 [5.7] years in US-born individuals; 159 497 [2.3%] US-born and 552 938 [31.2%] non-US-born individuals self-identified as Asian or Pacific Islander, 1 050 367 [15.4%] US-born and 178 898 [10.1%] non-US-born individuals were non-Hispanic Black, 1 100 337 [16.1%] US-born and 711 699 [40.2%] non-US-born individuals were of Hispanic origin, and 4 512 294 [66.1%] US-born and 328 205 [18.5%] non-US-born individuals were non-Hispanic White), age-standardized rates of preterm birth were lower among non-US-born individuals compared with US-born individuals (10.2%; 95% CI, 10.2-10.3 vs 10.9%; 95% CI, 10.9-11.0) with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.89-0.90). The greatest relative difference was observed among Japanese individuals (aOR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.60-0.79) and non-Hispanic Black individuals (aOR, 0.74; 0.73-0.76) individuals. Non-US-born Pacific Islander individuals experienced higher preterm birth rates compared with US-born Pacific Islander individuals (aOR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.27). Puerto Rican individuals born in Puerto Rico compared with those born in US states or Washington, DC, also had higher preterm birth rates (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03-1.12).

    CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Overall preterm birth rates were lower among non-US-born individuals compared with US-born individuals. However, there was substantial heterogeneity in preterm birth rates across maternal racial and ethnic groups, particularly among disaggregated Asian and Hispanic subgroups.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  13. Ab Wahab NFN, Wan Hanafi HH, Yaacob NM, Dzarr AA, Azlan H
    Med J Malaysia, 2025 Jan;80(1):31-36.
    PMID: 39812426
    INTRODUCTION: Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by the presence of Reed Sternberg cells, with generally favourable outcomes compared to other hematological malignancies. This study aims to determine the socio-demographic, clinical and treatment characteristics, as well as the short-term overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, of HL patients treated at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), a tertiary centre in northeast peninsular Malaysia.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HL patients treated from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2018, with follow-up until December 31, 2021. Data on demographics, clinical features, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. OS and PFS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

    RESULTS: Among 126 patients, the median follow up was 41 months. Most were male (55.6%) and of Malay ethnicity (97.6%). Nodular sclerosis was the predominant histology (52.4%), with 77.8% presenting with advanced-stage disease. All patients received chemotherapy, while 23.1% underwent combined modality therapy either with radiotherapy or immunotherapy. Post-treatment, only 34.1% achieved complete response. The 3-year OS and PFS rates were 74.9% and 59.5%, respectively-relatively lower than rates reported in developed countries. Independent adverse prognostic factors for OS and PFS included advanced-stage disease, bulky disease, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

    CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for tailored treatment approaches to improve HL outcomes in northeast Peninsular Malaysia. The relatively modest OS and PFS rates compared to developed nations suggest potential benefits from enhanced access to advanced therapied and diagnostic tools like positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) scan.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  14. Al-Khawlani AR, Qasim QA, Halboup AM, Thiab S, Zawiah M, Al-Ashwal FY
    PLoS One, 2024;19(10):e0311235.
    PMID: 39352911 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311235
    BACKGROUND: Medication use during pregnancy is a critical concern due to potential risks to both the mother and fetus. To the extent of our knowledge, there has been no prior research to assess medication use and identify the specific factors of pregnant women within the Yemeni community. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, beliefs, and practices of Yemeni pregnant women regarding medication use and assess the factors associated with the knowledge during pregnancy.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional multi-center study was conducted through face-to-face interviews using a validated structured questionnaire. The study was conducted on pregnant women receiving antenatal care at tertiary care hospitals in four governorates in Yemen. Univariable and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to examine the relationship between participant variables and their knowledge. A P-value of less than .05 was considered statistically significant.

    RESULTS: Out of the 1003 pregnant women, 35.4% (n = 355) were aged 21-25 years, 33.9% (n = 340) had primary education, 73.6% (n = 738) lived in urban areas, 12.2% (n = 122) were smokers, 38.3% (n = 384) reported chewing khat, and the majority (90.2%, n = 905) were unemployed. Also, 65.5% (n = 657) of the participants reported taking folic acid in their current pregnancy. A total of 2,623 medications were utilized during pregnancy, with 17.8% during the first trimester (n = 468). Around 39.3% (n = 1,037) of medications used fell under the blood and blood-forming organs category. Education level (AOR: 4.00, P < .001), insurance status (AOR: 1.71, P = .026), information about medication risks to the fetus (AOR: 1.96, P = .023), the use of folic acid either in a previous pregnancy (AOR: 1.65, P < .008) or in the current pregnancy (AOR: 4.26, P < .001), and checking the medication leaflet (AOR: 5.67, P < .001) were predictors of higher knowledge.

    CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the pressing need for educational interventions aimed at pregnant women. By bridging knowledge gaps and promoting informed decision-making, such initiatives can contribute to a safer and healthier pregnancy journey, reducing the inclination towards self-medication.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  15. Sánchez-Rodríguez Á, O'Dea C, Uskul AK, Kirchner-Häusler A, Vignoles V, Chobthamkit P, et al.
    Br J Soc Psychol, 2025 Jan;64(1):e12854.
    PMID: 39853754 DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12854
    We examined the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and endorsement of honour. We studied the SES-honour link in 5 studies (N = 13,635) with participants recruited in different world regions (the Mediterranean and MENA, East Asian, South-East Asian, and Anglo-Western regions) using measures that tap into various different facets of honour. Findings from these studies revealed that individuals who subjectively perceived themselves as belonging to a higher (vs. lower) SES endorsed various facets of honour more strongly (i.e. defence of family honour values and concerns, self-promotion and retaliation values, masculine honour beliefs, emphasis on personal and family social image, the so-called street code). We discuss implications of these findings for the cultural dynamics linked to SES.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  16. Wang C, Yuan Y, Ji X
    BMC Public Health, 2024 Nov 14;24(1):3170.
    PMID: 39543547 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-20469-x
    BACKGROUND: The importance of physical education in higher education is widely recognized, as it improves not only exercise attitudes and motor skills but also physical fitness, social skills, and academic performance. However, physical education courses in Chinese colleges and universities face various constraints, such as a shortage of teachers, limited teaching methods, and insufficient resources, resulting in low student motor skills, negative attitudes toward sports, and low participation rates. This study explores the effectiveness of a blended learning model, which integrates traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning components, in improving university students' exercise attitudes and basketball skills.

    METHODS: The research was conducted in 2022 at Luoyang Normal University in China, utilizing a cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) with 78 healthy first-year university students. Participants were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (blended learning) or the control group (traditional learning), and the intervention lasted 16 weeks. Exercise attitudes were assessed via the Exercise Attitude Scale, whereas basketball skills were evaluated via set shot and half-court dribbling and shooting tests.

    RESULTS: Both instructional models improved students' exercise attitudes and basketball skills; however, the blended learning model demonstrated significantly superior outcomes. Effect sizes (d) ranging from 0.57 to 1.92 indicated that the experimental group showed greater improvements in behavior attitude, target attitude, behavior cognition, behavior intention, emotional experience, behavior control, and subjective standards. In basketball skills, the experimental group outperformed the control group in set shots (d = 0.56) and half-court dribbling and shooting (d = 0.46).

    CONCLUSION: Compared with traditional methods, blended learning significantly enhances university students' exercise attitudes and basketball skills. Future research should explore the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of blended learning in physical education, involving larger and more diverse samples to validate these findings.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  17. Soh HC, Nah SA, Tan WS, Singaravel S, Tan YW, Woon SF, et al.
    Pediatr Surg Int, 2024 Dec 28;41(1):52.
    PMID: 39733003 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-024-05952-1
    BACKGROUND: In middle-income countries, healthcare systems face unique challenges in ensuring timely antenatal detection of congenital abnormalities that require pediatric surgical intervention. Early detection can significantly improve outcomes, yet resource constraints often limit access to diagnostic technologies. This study evaluates the antenatal detection rate of congenital abnormalities referred to pediatric surgical services in three Malaysian tertiary centers and examines its effect on maternal anxiety.

    METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB), Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA), and University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) over a 8 month period. Data were collected from mothers of neonates born with congenital abnormalities, and the Spielberg State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to assess maternal anxiety.

    RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were recruited. The overall antenatal detection rate for congenital abnormalities was 43.1%, comparable to high-income countries despite resource limitations. Antenatal counselling by pediatric surgeons was rare (6.9%) and showed no significant reduction in maternal anxiety (p = 0.374).

    CONCLUSION: The antenatal detection rates at the three Malaysian centers align with those in more developed nations, underscoring the potential of middle-income healthcare systems to deliver high-quality prenatal care. However, improving access to diagnostic technologies and involving pediatric surgical teams in antenatal counselling could further enhance care.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  18. Feng Y, Wang M
    BMC Psychol, 2025 Jan 17;13(1):47.
    PMID: 39825434 DOI: 10.1186/s40359-024-02336-x
    This study explores the impact of music therapy on emotional resilience, well-being, and employability. Through an 8-week music therapy intervention involving 256 participants, the results demonstrated that music therapy significantly enhanced participants' emotional resilience, which in turn improved their well-being and employability. A significant positive correlation was found between emotional resilience, well-being, and employability, with well-being mediating the relationship between emotional resilience and employability. Additionally, the study identified moderating effects of age and education level, revealing that younger individuals and those with higher education levels benefit more from emotional resilience in terms of well-being and employability. These findings suggest that music therapy is an effective intervention for enhancing emotional resilience and career development, with well-being playing a crucial role in this process. Future research should continue to investigate the long-term benefits of music therapy, explore its effects across diverse populations, and incorporate objective measures and longitudinal designs to validate and expand upon these findings.
    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  19. Tan ML, O'Sullivan EJ, Ho JJ, Omer-Salim A, McAuliffe FM
    PLoS One, 2025;20(1):e0317374.
    PMID: 39804854 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0317374
    BACKGROUND: The warm chain of support is the continuous enabling environment from the mother's first contact with healthcare professionals during early pregnancy, birth and immediate post-partum period, her transition from healthcare facility to home, through to work and the community at large. A breastfeeding-friendly city should be able to support a breastfeeding journey across the warm chain.

    OBJECTIVE: To determine breastfeeding women's perspective of an ideal breastfeeding-friendly city.

    METHODS: Between September 2021 and January 2022, twenty-two women who were breastfeeding or had ever breastfed in the last 5 years from Ireland and Malaysia were interviewed. A set of selection criteria was applied to ensure representation of a range of the characteristics known to be associated with breastfeeding success: diverse age groups, birth and breastfeeding experiences, culture and socioeconomical background. One-on-one semi-structured online interviews were conducted by the first author. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's Thematic Analysis framework.

    RESULTS: One overarching theme of breastfeeding at the front and centre of the city, and three major themes were developed: 1. mothers feel supported when breastfeeding is prioritised; 2. when breastfeeding is visible in the environment, it becomes normalized; 3. there is a need to have seamless breastfeeding support across the continuum of the warm chain, and at all levels of society.

    CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrated the importance of prioritized, and continuous support throughout the breastfeeding journey. The hopes and aspirations of a breastfeeding-friendly city expressed here would be useful for cities to consider when developing or implementing breastfeeding support programmes as well as guide development of indicators of a breastfeeding-friendly city.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
  20. Pal B, Chong SV, Thein AW, Tay AGM, Soe HHK, Pal S
    Med J Malaysia, 2024 Jul;79(4):421-428.
    PMID: 39086339
    INTRODUCTION: High-fidelity simulation (HFS) provides a high level of interactivity and realistic experience for the learner by means of using full scale computerised patient simulators. It imitates clinical experience in a controlled and safe environment that closely resembles reality. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of HFS versus video-assisted lecture (VAL) based education in enhancing and consolidating retention of skills among undergraduate medical students.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) study involving 111 undergraduate medical students was conducted where the competency of skills was assessed by objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in the first, fourth and seventh/eighth weeks. A cohort of 12-14 students was enrolled for each session. The randomisation of the participants into control (VAL-based teaching) and intervention (HFS-based teaching) groups was achieved by implementing the computer-based random sequence generation method. VAL-based teaching module was a fully interactive face-to-face teaching session where a prerecorded video clip was used. The video clip detailed the diagnosis of tension pneumothorax in an acute medical emergency and its management by performing needle decompression on a high-fidelity patient simulator (METIman). HFS-based teaching module was delivered as a fully interactive hands-on training session conducted on the same METIman to demonstrate the diagnosis of tension pneumothorax in an acute medical emergency and its management by performing needle decompression. OSCE scores were compared as the denominator of learning (enhancement and retention of skills) between two groups who underwent training with either VAL-based or HFS-based teachings. The OSCE assessments were used to evaluate the participants' performance as a group. These scores were used to compare the enhancement and medium-term retention of skills between the groups. The outcome was measured with the mean and standard deviation (SD) for the total OSCE scores for skills assessments. We used General Linear Model two-way mixed ANOVA to ascertain the difference of OSCE marks over assessment time points between the control and the intervention groups. ANCOVA and two-way mixed ANOVA were used to calculate the effect size and the partial Eta squared. p value less than 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant.

    RESULTS: The two-way mixed ANOVA showed no statistically significant difference in mean OSCE scores between intervention and control groups (p=0.890), although the mean score of the intervention group was better than the control group.

    CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that HFS was not significantly effective over VAL-based education in enhancing skills and consolidating retention among undergraduate medical students. Further research is needed to determine its suitability for inclusion in the course curriculum considering the cost-effectiveness of implementing HFS that may supplement traditional teaching methods.

    Matched MeSH terms: Young Adult
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