Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 240 in total

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  1. Fulltext Levels and correlates of awareness of tobacco promotional activities among adult smokers in Malaysia and Thailand: findings from the International Tobacco Control Southeast Asia (ITC-SEA) Survey
    Yong HH, Borland R, Hammond D, Sirirassamee B, Ritthiphakdee B, Awang R, et al.
    Tob Control, 2008 Feb;17(1):46-52.
    PMID: 18218808 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2007.021964
    To examine the impact of tobacco advertising policy on adult smokers' awareness of tobacco promotion in two developing countries--Malaysia and Thailand.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  2. 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: Attitude to Health/ethnology*
  3. Factors influencing parental decision to consult for children with upper respiratory tract infection
    Ng CJ, Chia YC, Teng CL, Hanafi NS
    J Paediatr Child Health, 2008 Apr;44(4):208-13.
    PMID: 17999669 DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2007.01249.x
    AIM: This study aimed to determine which factors could influence (i) parents' decision to seek medical consultatin and (ii) their preference for either public or private medical service in children with upper respiratory tract infection.
    METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gombak district, which is an urban area in Malaysia. We randomly selected parents of kindergarten children aged 4-5 years to participate in this questionnaire survey. The main outcome measures were predictors of early medical consultation and type of service utilisation (public versus private).
    RESULTS: We achieved a response rate of 84.5% (n = 1033/1223). 64.1% sought early medical consultation and 70.9% preferred to consult a private doctor. Early consultation was predicated by the parent gender being male (OR 1.50; 95% CI 1.09, 2.05), non-Chinese (OR 1.75%; 95% CI 1.10, 2.79), and those who preferred child specialists (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.27, 3.23). Lower income group (OR 4.28; 95% CI 2.30, 7.95) and not having a regular doctor (OR 4.99%; 95% CI 3.19, 7.80) were predictors of using the public health services.
    CONCLUSIONS: Parent's gender, ethnicity and income influenced their decision to seek early medical consultation for their children's respiratory illness while income and having a regular doctor could predict their choice of healthcare services.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health*
  4. Prevalence and correlates of roll-your-own smoking in Thailand and Malaysia: Findings of the ITC-South East Asia Survey
    Young D, Yong HH, Borland R, Ross H, Sirirassamee B, Kin F, et al.
    Nicotine Tob Res, 2008 May;10(5):907-15.
    PMID: 18569766 DOI: 10.1080/14622200802027172
    Roll-your-own (RYO) cigarette use has been subject to relatively limited research, particularly in developing countries. This paper seeks to describe RYO use in Thailand and Malaysia and relate RYO use to smokers' knowledge of the harmfulness of tobacco. Data come from face-to-face surveys with 4,004 adult smokers from Malaysia (N = 2,004) and Thailand (N = 2000), collected between January and March 2005. The prevalence of any use of RYO cigarettes varied greatly between Malaysia (17%) and Thailand (58%). In both countries, any RYO use was associated with living in rural areas, older average age, lower level of education, male gender, not being in paid work, slightly lower consumption of cigarettes, higher social acceptability of smoking, and positive attitudes toward tobacco regulation. Among RYO users, exclusive use of RYO cigarettes (compared with mixed use) was associated with older age, female gender (relatively), thinking about the enjoyment of smoking, and not making a special effort to buy cheaper cigarettes if the price goes up. Finally, exclusive RYO smokers were less aware of health warnings (RYO tobacco carries no health warnings), but even so, knowledge of the health effects of tobacco was equivalent.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  5. Comparison of two methods in deriving a short version of oral health-related quality of life measure
    Saub R, Locker D, Allison P
    Community Dent Health, 2008 Sep;25(3):132-6.
    PMID: 18839717
    To compare two methods of developing short forms of the Malaysian Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-M) measure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  6. Young multiethnic women's attitudes toward the HPV vaccine and HPV vaccination
    Wong LP
    Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 2008 Nov;103(2):131-5.
    PMID: 18768178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2008.07.005
    To investigate the acceptability of the HPV vaccine among a multiethnic sample of young women in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health*
  7. Fulltext Reliability and validity of Champion's Health Belief Model Scale for breast cancer screening among Malaysian women
    Parsa P, Kandiah M, Mohd Nasir MT, Hejar AR, Nor Afiah MZ
    Singapore Med J, 2008 Nov;49(11):897-903.
    PMID: 19037556
    Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Malaysian women, and the use of breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography remain low in Malaysia. Therefore, there is a need to develop a valid and reliable tool to measure the beliefs that influence breast cancer screening practices. The Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) is a valid and reliable tool to measure beliefs about breast cancer and screening methods in the Western culture. The purpose of this study was to translate the use of CHBMS into the Malaysian context and validate the scale among Malaysian women.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  8. Perception of intensive care unit stressors in Malaysian Federal Territory hospitals
    Soh KL, Soh KG, Ahmad Z, Abdul Raman R, Japar S
    Contemp Nurse, 2008 Dec;31(1):86-93.
    PMID: 19117504
    The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a therapeutic place for monitoring critically ill patients. However, it is a stressful area for the patients and it is causing them great anxiety. Previous studies have identified three groups of stressors in ICU namely; physical, psychological and environmental. The aims of this study were to determine the ICU stressors as experienced by patients and to determine the level of stressors felt by patients in ICU. A cross sectional study was done on 70 patients from two tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. A face-to-face interview with structured questionnaire was used for patients. Data collection occurred from 15 December 2006 to 31 January 2007. The five major ICU stressors perceived by patients were pain, being stuck with needles, boredom, missing their spouses and being too hot/cold. The ICU physical stressors were the major items ranked by post ICU patients. The findings from this study provided a set of baseline information to the health care providers, particularly ICU nurses in Malaysia, with which to provide better care for the patients in ICU.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health*
  9. The report of posttraumatic growth in Malaysian cancer patients: relationships with psychological distress and coping strategies
    Schroevers MJ, Teo I
    Psychooncology, 2008 Dec;17(12):1239-46.
    PMID: 18457342 DOI: 10.1002/pon.1366
    The challenge of a cancer diagnosis may eventually lead to the experience of positive psychological changes, also referred to as posttraumatic growth. As most research on posttraumatic growth in cancer patients has been conducted in Western countries, little is known about the experience of such positive psychological changes in non-Western countries. Therefore, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of posttraumatic growth in a Malaysian sample of cancer patients. Secondly, we examined the association of posttraumatic growth with patients' report of psychological distress and their use of coping strategies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health*
  10. Fulltext The effects of smoking norms and attitudes on quitting intentions in Malaysia, Thailand and four Western nations: a cross-cultural comparison
    Hosking W, Borland R, Yong HH, Fong G, Zanna M, Laux F, et al.
    Psychol Health, 2009 Jan;24(1):95-107.
    PMID: 20186642 DOI: 10.1080/08870440802385854
    This research investigated the influence of smoking attitudes and norms on quitting intentions in two predominantly collectivistic countries (Malaysia and Thailand) and four predominantly individualistic Western countries (Canada, USA, UK and Australia). Data from the International Tobacco Control Project (N = 13,062) revealed that higher odds of intending to quit were associated with negative personal attitudes in Thailand and the Western countries, but not in Malaysia; with norms against smoking from significant others in Malaysia and the Western countries, but not in Thailand; and with societal norms against smoking in all countries. Our findings indicate that normative factors are important determinants of intentions, but they play a different role in different cultural and/or tobacco control contexts. Interventions may be more effective if they are designed with these different patterns of social influence in mind.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health*
  11. The development and comprehensibility of a pictorial asthma action plan
    Roberts NJ, Mohamed Z, Wong PS, Johnson M, Loh LC, Partridge MR
    Patient Educ Couns, 2009 Jan;74(1):12-8.
    PMID: 18789626 DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2008.07.049
    OBJECTIVE: Written action plans are regarded as an important part of asthma self-management education and yet they may not be understood by those with limited literacy skills. This study was designed to produce an understandable pictorial asthma action plan.
    METHODS: With advice from a group of doctors and nurses a "standard" written action plan was translated by a medical artist into a series of pictorial images. These were assessed using the techniques of guessability and translucency by a series of adults attending a specialist asthma clinic in London and the same process was subsequently used to assess comprehensibility of the images and plans amongst a group of Somalis living in Manchester, UK and Malaysians in Seremban, Malaysia.
    RESULTS: Guessability testing showed that the majority of pictograms were well understood by each of the study groups. Translucency testing revealed close agreement with intended meaning for the majority of the images. One image, depicting extra use of reliever medication scored less well in all populations; two other images scored less well in the Somali and Malaysian groups and reflect less use of certain inhaler devices in other countries. The overall plan was well understood by all patients who were able to adequately recount the appropriate actions to take in different clinical scenarios.
    CONCLUSION: We have developed a pictorial asthma action plan understandable by 3 different populations of patients with asthma.
    PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Pictorial representations have been shown by other studies in other situations to be an effective method of reinforcing the spoken word. The pictorial asthma action plan developed for this study has been shown to be comprehensible, personalised to the individual in the usual fashion. It is now suitable for further evaluation in clinical practice.
    Study site in Malaysia: Asthma clinic, Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health/ethnology
  12. An assessment of the knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of pharmacy students regarding HIV/AIDS
    Ahmed SI, Hassali MA, Aziz NA
    Am J Pharm Educ, 2009 Feb 19;73(1):15.
    PMID: 19513153
    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the level of knowledge, attitudes, and risk perceptions of University Sains Malaysia final-year pharmacy students regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunity deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

    METHOD: A cross-sectional study among pharmacy students. Data were analyzed with Chi-square to find difference at p value < 0.05.

    RESULTS: The majority of students (83.07%) responded showing a difference in gender and race. Students showed low willingness (9.2%) to assist patients and low confidence (36.1%) in their education about HIV/AIDS patients. Students recommended HIV testing for health care professionals (69.4%) and patients (75.9%) before surgical procedures. Students knew little about Post Exposure Prophylaxis (18.5%) or about the time for HIV to develop into AIDS (57.4%). About 40% of students were unaware of the inability of antivirals to treat HIV/AIDS. Students had low awareness for opportunistic infections (18.5%), and low agreement on competency to treat and counsel HIV patients (12.9%).

    CONCLUSION: The study highlighted students' misconceptions, negative attitudes, and risk perceptions towards HIV/AIDS.

    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  13. Fulltext Smokers' responses toward cigarette pack warning labels in predicting quit intention, stage of change, and self-efficacy
    Fathelrahman AI, Omar M, Awang R, Borland R, Fong GT, Hammond D, et al.
    Nicotine Tob Res, 2009 Mar;11(3):248-53.
    PMID: 19246625 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntn029
    This paper is concerned with the effects of cigarette pack warning labels on quitting intentions. We examined whether different responses among smokers toward cigarette pack warning labels could predict quit intentions and self-efficacy in quitting. Variables studied were "noticing warning labels during last month," "reading or looking closely at warning labels," "avoiding looking at labels during last month," "thinking about health risks of smoking because of the warning labels, "more likely to quit because of the warning labels," and "stopping from having a cigarette when about to smoke one because of the labels."
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  14. 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: Attitude to Health*
  15. Maternal acceptance of human papillomavirus vaccine in Malaysia
    Sam IC, Wong LP, Rampal S, Leong YH, Pang CF, Tai YT, et al.
    J Adolesc Health, 2009 Jun;44(6):610-2.
    PMID: 19465327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2008.11.014
    Acceptability rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination by 362 Malaysian mothers were 65.7% and 55.8% for daughters and sons, respectively. Younger mothers, and those who knew someone with cancer, were more willing to vaccinate their daughters. If the vaccine was routine and cost free, acceptability rate was 97.8%.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  16. Validation of the drinking refusal self-efficacy questionnaire in Arab and Asian samples
    AlMarri TS, Oei TP, AbRahman RM
    Addict Behav, 2009 Sep;34(9):776-8.
    PMID: 19481874 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2009.05.009
    The influence of an individuals' belief in their ability to resist drinking alcohol has recognised importance in understanding the pattern of drinking behaviours among Caucasian samples. Measures used to investigate this construct, such as the drinking refusal self-efficacy questionnaire-revised (DRSEQ-R; [Oei, T. P. S., Hasking, P. A., & Young, R. M. (2005). Drinking refusal self-efficacy questionnaire-revised (DRSEQ-R): A new factor structure with confirmatory factor analysis. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 78, 297-307.]) have been widely used and have established psychometric properties. However, the exploration of the utility of this questionnaire with samples of different ethnicity, religion and living in different countries remains scarce. In the current study, Arab Muslim samples living in the United Arab Emirates and Oman (n=356) and Asian predominately Muslim samples living in Malaysia and Indonesia (n=256) were used. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the DRSEQ-R has a three factor structure. Internal consistency ranged from alpha .96 to alpha .86 and validity was good. This study offers evidence of the utility of this measure with Arab and Asian samples.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health
  17. Lay perceptions of current and future health, the causes of illness, and the nature of recovery: explaining health and illness in Malaysia
    Swami V, Arteche A, Chamorro-Premuzic T, Maakip I, Stanistreet D, Furnham A
    Br J Health Psychol, 2009 Sep;14(Pt 3):519-40.
    PMID: 18922210 DOI: 10.1348/135910708X370781
    This study examined beliefs about the causes and determinants of health, illness, and recovery in an opportunistic sample from Malaysia. In all, 371 women and 350 men completed the Health and Illness Scale, a 124-item scale that examined beliefs about current and future health, and beliefs about the causes of illness and recovery. Each of the four subscales of the Health Illness Scale were factor analysed to reveal the underlying structure. Results showed the emergence of a number of distinct factors in the case of each subscale, of which environmental, life-style, psychological, religious, and fate-related factors were fairly stable across subscales. Results also showed a number of differences in beliefs between religious groups, and that religiosity and sex were the strongest predictors of beliefs across the four subscales. The results are discussed in terms of the available cross-cultural literature on lay beliefs about health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health*
  18. Hazarding health: experiences of body, work, and risk among factory women in Malaysia
    Root R
    Health Care Women Int, 2009 Oct;30(10):903-18.
    PMID: 19742364 DOI: 10.1080/07399330903042807
    In the 1970s, Malaysia launched an export-oriented development strategy as a means of financing the nation's modernization. The success of the strategy hinged significantly on intensive recruitment of women for factory employment. I draw on descriptive qualitative research, including interviews (51), surveys (106), and ethnography in Malaysia to investigate factory women's experiences of work and work-related health risks. Discourse analysis surfaced a latent consciousness of bodily changes in relation to work. A grounded theory analysis showed a compromised access to occupational risk knowledge that may bear negatively on women's well-being and the role women's new labor identities played in mediating the meanings of work and risks. Given the predominance of women workers in low-end manufacturing globally, I aimed to contribute to theoretical and applied understandings of gender, globalization, and health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health/ethnology*
  19. Postpartum depression in Asian cultures: a literature review
    Klainin P, Arthur DG
    Int J Nurs Stud, 2009 Oct;46(10):1355-73.
    PMID: 19327773 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2009.02.012
    OBJECTIVES:
    Postpartum depression (PPD), a major health concern, produces insidious effects on new mothers, their infant, and family. This literature review aims to explore risk factors for postpartum depression among women in Asian cultures, which has not been fully elaborated.

    DATA SOURCES:
    A literature search was undertaken by using various electronic research databases. Studies were eligible for this review if they (a) examined risk factors for PPD, (b) were conducted in Asian countries using quantitative or qualitative methodologies, and (c) were published in English in peer-reviewed journals between 1998 and 2008. A total of 64 studies from 17 countries were reviewed, summarised, and synthesised.

    RESULTS:
    The prevalence of postpartum depression in Asian countries ranged from 3.5% to 63.3% where Malaysia and Pakistan had the lowest and highest, respectively. Risk factors for postpartum depression were clustered into five major groups: biological/physical (e.g., riboflavin consumption), psychological (e.g., antenatal depression), obstetric/paediatric (e.g., unwanted pregnancy), socio-demographic (e.g., poverty), and cultural factors (e.g., preference of infants' gender). Traditional postpartum rituals were not found to provide substantial psychological benefits for the new mothers.

    CONCLUSIONS:
    This review informs a current state of knowledge regarding risk factors for postpartum depression and has implications for clinical practice. Health care professionals should be aware that the phenomenon is as prevalent in Asian cultures as in European cultures. Women should be screened for potential risk factors and depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum periods so that appropriate interventions, if needed, can be initiated in a timely fashion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health/ethnology*
  20. Fulltext Initial psychological responses to Influenza A, H1N1 ("Swine flu")
    Goodwin R, Haque S, Neto F, Myers LB
    BMC Infect Dis, 2009 Oct 06;9:166.
    PMID: 19807908 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-9-166
    BACKGROUND: The outbreak of the pandemic flu, Influenza A H1N1 (Swine Flu) in early 2009, provided a major challenge to health services around the world. Previous pandemics have led to stockpiling of goods, the victimisation of particular population groups, and the cancellation of travel and the boycotting of particular foods (e.g. pork). We examined initial behavioural and attitudinal responses towards Influenza A, H1N1 ("Swine flu") in the six days following the WHO pandemic alert level 5, and regional differences in these responses.

    METHODS: 328 respondents completed a cross-sectional Internet or paper-based questionnaire study in Malaysia (N = 180) or Europe (N = 148). Measures assessed changes in transport usage, purchase of preparatory goods for a pandemic, perceived risk groups, indicators of anxiety, assessed estimated mortality rates for seasonal flu, effectiveness of seasonal flu vaccination, and changes in pork consumption

    RESULTS: 26% of the respondents were 'very concerned' about being a flu victim (42% Malaysians, 5% Europeans, p < .001). 36% reported reduced public transport use (48% Malaysia, 22% Europe, p < .001), 39% flight cancellations (56% Malaysia, 17% Europe, p < .001). 8% had purchased preparatory materials (e.g. face masks: 8% Malaysia, 7% Europe), 41% Malaysia (15% Europe) intended to do so (p < .001). 63% of Europeans, 19% of Malaysians had discussed the pandemic with friends (p < .001). Groups seen as at 'high risk' of infection included the immune compromised (mentioned by 87% respondents), pig farmers (70%), elderly (57%), prostitutes/highly sexually active (53%), and the homeless (53%). In data collected only in Europe, 64% greatly underestimated the mortality rates of seasonal flu, 26% believed seasonal flu vaccination gave protection against swine flu. 7% had reduced/stopped eating pork. 3% had purchased anti-viral drugs for use at home, while 32% intended to do so if the pandemic worsened.

    CONCLUSION: Initial responses to Influenza A show large regional differences in anxiety, with Malaysians more anxious and more likely to reduce travel and to buy masks and food. Discussions with family and friends may reinforce existing anxiety levels. Particular groups (homosexuals, prostitutes, the homeless) are perceived as at greater risk, potentially leading to increased prejudice during a pandemic. Europeans underestimated mortality of seasonal flu, and require more information about the protection given by seasonal flu inoculation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Attitude to Health*
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