MyMedR

Displaying publications 81 - 100 of 506 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext The tobacco industry's accounts of refining indirect tobacco advertising in Malaysia

Assunta M, Chapman S

Tob Control, 2004 Dec;13 Suppl 2:ii63-70.
PMID: 15564223 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2004.008987

OBJECTIVE: To explore tobacco industry accounts of its use of indirect tobacco advertising and trademark diversification (TMD) in Malaysia, a nation with a reputation for having an abundance of such advertising.
METHODS: Systematic keyword and opportunistic website searches of formerly private tobacco industry internal documents made available through the Master Settlement Agreement.
RESULTS: 132 documents relevant to the topic were reviewed. TMD efforts were created to advertise cigarettes after advertising restrictions on direct advertising were imposed in 1982. To build public credibility the tobacco companies set up small companies and projected them as entities independent of tobacco. Each brand selected an activity or event such as music, travel, fashion, and sports that best suited its image. RJ Reynolds sponsored music events to advertise its Salem brand while Philip Morris used Marlboro World of Sports since advertising restrictions prevented the use of the Marlboro man in broadcast media. Despite a ban on tobacco advertisements in the mass media, tobacco companies were the top advertisers in the country throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The media's dependence on advertising revenue and support from the ruling elite played a part in delaying efforts to ban indirect advertising.
CONCLUSION: Advertising is crucial for the tobacco industry. When faced with an advertising ban they created ways to circumvent it, such as TMDs.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext Industry sponsored youth smoking prevention programme in Malaysia: a case study in duplicity

Assunta M, Chapman S

Tob Control, 2004 Dec;13 Suppl 2:ii37-42.
PMID: 15564218

OBJECTIVE: To review tobacco company strategies of using youth smoking prevention programmes to counteract the Malaysian government's tobacco control legislation and efforts in conducting research on youth to market to them.
METHODS: Systematic keyword and opportunistic website searches of formerly private internal industry documents. Search terms included Malay, cmtm, jaycees, YAS, and direct marketing; 195 relevant documents were identified for this paper.
RESULTS: Industry internal documents reveal that youth anti-smoking programmes were launched to offset the government's tobacco control legislation. The programme was seen as a strategy to lobby key politicians and bureaucrats for support in preventing the passage of legislation. However, the industry continued to conduct research on youth, targeted them in marketing, and considered the teenage market vital for its survival. Promotional activities targeting youth were also carried out such as sports, notably football and motor racing, and entertainment events and cash prizes. Small, affordable packs of cigarettes were crucial to reach new smokers.
CONCLUSION: The tobacco industry in Malaysia engaged in duplicitous conduct in regard to youth. By buying into the youth smoking issue it sought to move higher on the moral playing field and strengthen its relationship with government, while at the same time continuing to market to youth. There is no evidence that industry youth smoking prevention programmes were effective in reducing smoking; however, they were effective in diluting the government's tobacco control legislation.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
"The world's most hostile environment": how the tobacco industry circumvented Singapore's advertising ban

Assunta M, Chapman S

Tob Control, 2004 Dec;13 Suppl 2:ii51-7.
PMID: 15564221

To review how tobacco transnational companies conducted their business in the hostile environment of Singapore, attempting to counter some of the government's tobacco control measures; to compare the Malaysian and the Singaporean governments' stance on tobacco control and the direct bearing of this on the way the tobacco companies conduct their business.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext A mire of highly subjective and ineffective voluntary guidelines: tobacco industry efforts to thwart tobacco control in Malaysia

Assunta M, Chapman S

Tob Control, 2004 Dec;13 Suppl 2:ii43-50.
PMID: 15564220 DOI: 10.1136/tc.2004.008094

OBJECTIVE: To describe tobacco industry efforts in Malaysia to thwart government efforts to regulate tobacco promotion and health warnings.
METHODS: Systematic keyword and opportunistic website searches of formerly private tobacco industry internal documents made available through the Master Settlement Agreement and secondary websites; relevant information from news articles and financial reports.
RESULTS: Commencing in the 1970s, the industry began to systematically thwart government tobacco control. Guidelines were successfully promoted in the place of legislation for over two decades. Even when the government succeeded in implementing regulations such as health warnings and advertising bans they were compromised and acted effectively to retard further progress for years to come.
CONCLUSION: Counter-measures to delay or thwart government efforts to regulate tobacco were initiated by the industry. Though not unique to Malaysia, the main difference lies in the degree to which strategies were used to successfully counter stringent tobacco control measures between 1970 and 1995.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext Economic evaluation of type 2 diabetes management at the Malaysian Ministry of Health primary care clinics, in Machang, Kelantan

Rohana, D., Wan Norlida, W.l., Nor Azwany, Y., Mazlan, A., Zawiyah, D., Che Karrialudin, C.A., et al.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2007;7(1):5-13.
MyJurnal

Public health care programme evaluation includes determining the programme effectiveness (outcome assessment), efficiency (economic evaluation), accessibility (reachability of services) and equity (equal provision for equal needs). The purpose of this study was to make comparison on cost·( efficiency and costeffectiveness in managing type 2 diabetes between the Ministry of Health (MOH) health clinics with family medicine specialist (FMS) and health clinics without FMS. A costeffectiveness analysis was conducted alongside across-sectional study at two government health clinics in Machang, Kelantan, one with FMS and the other without FMS. A total of 300 patients, of which 155 from the health clinic without FMS and 145 from the other group were evaluated for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics from August 2005 to May 2006. HbA1c
analysis was measured for each patient during the study period. Macrocosting and microcosting were used to determine costs. The provider cost for diabetic management ranged from RM270.56 to RM4533.04 per diabetic patient per year, withla mean cost of RM1127.91(t906.08) per diabetic patient per year in health clinic with FMS. In health clinic without FMS, the provider cost ranged from RM225.93 to RM4650.13, with a mean cost of RM802.15 (:626.26). Proportion ofgood HbA1c was 17.2% for health clinic with FMS and 10.3% for the health clinic without FMS. The annual mean provider cost per proportion of good HbA1c control (< 7%) (Costefkctiveness ratio/ CER) was RM6557.65.for health clinic with FMS and RM7787.88 for health clinic without FMS. This provider cost-epfectiveness ratio was not different statistically between the health clinic with FMS and health clinic without FMS (p=0.063). The cost of building, equipments, overheads, staff and consumables were higher for FMS group. Sensitivity analysis was performed for three discount rates (0, 5 and 7%). Relative cost-effectiveness of diabetes management in health clinic with FMS and health clinic without FMS was unchanged in all sensitivity scenarios. Even though, there was no significantly difference in provider CER in type 2 diabetes management at Malaysian MOH health clinics, but the provider CER in health clinic with FMS was lower compared to health clinic without FMS. Therefore, we can conclude that the presence of FMS in the health clinic will effectively improved the management of type 2 diabetes.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Public Perceptions of Ethical, Legal and Social Implications of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) in Malaysia

Olesen AP, Mohd Nor SN, Amin L, Che Ngah A

Sci Eng Ethics, 2017 Dec;23(6):1563-1580.
PMID: 27995446 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-016-9857-z

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) became well known in Malaysia after the birth of the first Malaysian 'designer baby', Yau Tak in 2004. Two years later, the Malaysian Medical Council implemented the first and only regulation on the use of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis in this country. The birth of Yau Tak triggered a public outcry because PGD was used for non-medical sex selection thus, raising concerns about PGD and its implications for the society. This study aims to explore participants' perceptions of the future implications of PGD for the Malaysian society. We conducted in-depth interviews with 21 participants over a period of one year, using a semi-structured questionnaire. Findings reveal that responses varied substantially among the participants; there was a broad acceptance as well as rejection of PGD. Contentious ethical, legal and social issues of PGD were raised during the discussions, including intolerance to and discrimination against people with genetic disabilities; societal pressure and the 'slippery slope' of PGD were raised during the discussions. This study also highlights participants' legal standpoint, and major issues regarding PGD in relation to the accuracy of diagnosis. At the social policy level, considerations are given to access as well as the impact of this technology on families, women and physicians. Given these different perceptions of the use of PGD, and its implications and conflicts, policies and regulations of the use of PGD have to be dealt with on a case-by-case basis while taking into consideration of the risk-benefit balance, since its application will impact the lives of so many people in the society.

Matched MeSH terms: Government Regulation
Fulltext Impact of a spreading epidemic on medical students

Loh LC, Ali AM, Ang TH, Chelliah A

Malays J Med Sci, 2006 Jul;13(2):30-6.
PMID: 22589602 MyJurnal

The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) had caused fear and anxiety of unprecedented proportion. To examine the impact of SARS on the medical students in a private medical university, a self-reporting questionnaire study was carried out to assess the factual knowledge, anxiety level and perception of the crisis, among the students. The two-week study (between 12 and 23 May, 2003) was carried out three weeks after the first reported SARS-related death in Malaysia. Ninety-one Phase I (junior) and 113 Phase II (senior) students completed the questionnaires. A large majority of students of Phase I and II were correct in their factual knowledge and were sensible in their perception of the future and the handling of the crisis by government(s). However, phase 1 students expressed significantly greater degree of anxiety compared to Phase II in relation to attendance and personal protection in hospital, and in meeting people coughing in public places. The lesser degree of anxiety expressed by phase II senior students may be due in part, to a more realistic assessment of SARS risk brought about by maturity, time spent in hospital and interaction with clinical lecturers and medical staff.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext Comparison on testability of visual acuity, stereo acuity and colour vision tests between children with learning disabilities and children without learning disabilities in government primary schools

Abu Bakar NF, Chen AH

Indian J Ophthalmol, 2014 Feb;62(2):141-4.
PMID: 24008790 DOI: 10.4103/0301-4738.116481

Children with learning disabilities might have difficulties to communicate effectively and give reliable responses as required in various visual function testing procedures.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext Editorial: on whom and how shall we spend our dollars?

Chen PCY

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Dec;35(2):102-8.
PMID: 6790916
Matched MeSH terms: Financing, Government
Fulltext Prevalence of microvascular complications in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary healthcare clinics

Wong WL, Valliappan VN, Leong MC, Aminudin SNA, Chew SCJ, Cheong AT

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(2):237-243.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Delayed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) increases the risk of presenting late with microvas- cular complications due to untreated long-standing hyperglycaemia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of microvascular complications in newly diagnosed T2D patients in primary healthcare clinics.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in three government primary healthcare clinics in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. Malaysian aged 18 years and above with newly diagnosed T2D (<6 months of diagnosis) were invited to participate in the study. Data collected included the sociodemographic characteristic and the clinical profile (weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid, glycaemic, urine albumin, microalbuminuria and renal profile). The assessment of nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy and retinopathy were performed using standard protocol. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the significant factors that contribute to the presence of microvascular complications.
Results: A total of 162 newly diagnosed patients were recruited. The majority was women (64%). The mean age was 51 (SD 11) years. About one-third of the patients (27.7%) had developed at least one microvascular complication. Nephropathy was the commonest microvascular complication (19.2%), followed by peripheral neuropathy (8.6%) and retinopathy (6.5%). Poor glycaemic control was found to be a significant factor contributing to the presence of microvascular complications (OR 5.8, 95%CI:1.466, 23.288).
Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of microvascular complications among the newly diagnosed T2D. There is a need to develop appropriate strategies to increase the awareness and early detection of T2D.
Study site: three Klinik Kesihatan, Selangor, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Responses to HIV / AIDS: the case of Malaysia

Chong S

Venereology, 1995 Aug;8(3):149-52.
PMID: 12290782
Matched MeSH terms: Government Programs*
Fulltext COVID-19 Pandemic Recession and Recovery

Jomo KS, Chowdhury A

Development (Rome), 2020 Nov 16.
PMID: 33223764 DOI: 10.1057/s41301-020-00262-0

This review draws pragmatic lessons for developing countries to address COVID-19-induced recessions and to sustain a developmental recovery. These recessions are unique, caused initially by supply disruptions, largely due to government-imposed 'stay-in-shelter lockdowns'. These have interacted with falling incomes and demand, declining exports (and imports), collapsing commodity prices, shrinking travel and tourism, decreasing remittances and foreign exchange shortages. Highlighting implications for employment, wellbeing and development, it argues that governments need to design comprehensive relief measures and recovery policies to address short-term problems. These should prevent cash-flow predicaments from becoming full-blown solvency crises. Instead of returning to the status quo ante, developing countries' capacities and capabilities need to be enhanced to address long-term sustainable development challenges. Multilateral financial institutions should intermediate with financial sources at low cost to supplement the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights to lower borrowing costs for relief and recovery.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext Iatrogenic (‘clinician-induced’) damage incurred by human sperm during infertility treatment: postgraduate research and collaborative developments between the universities of Malaya and Oxford

Yelumalai, S., Jones, C., Coward, K.

JUMMEC, 2013;16(2):1-6.
MyJurnal

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is a suite of laboratory techniques designed to rescue infertile phenotypes. While ART has led to the birth of 5 million ART babies worldwide, success rates rarely exceed 40%. One potential factor for this could be iatrogenic (‘clinician-induced’) damage to critical sperm proteins, such as phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) and protamine, which are fundamental for oocyte activation and sperm DNA integrity, respectively. This report describes how we have begun to investigate the adverse effects of ART techniques upon these key sperm proteins. We also describe the pathway taken by Miss Suseela Yelumalai to acquire a scholarship from the Malaysian Government and her postgraduate experience at the University of Oxford. We introduce the facilities and learning opportunities available at the Institute of Reproductive Sciences (IRS) which houses Dr Kevin Coward’s research laboratory, and finally, highlight the potential for collaborative development between the Universities of Oxford and Malaya.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Breaking open a closed system

Cyranoski D

Nature, 2005 Aug 11;436(7052):884-5.
PMID: 16136648
Matched MeSH terms: Federal Government
Bioprospectors hunt for fair share of profits

Dalton R

Nature, 2004 Feb 12;427(6975):576.
PMID: 14961086
Matched MeSH terms: Federal Government
Fulltext Problems in housing development plan approval

Noni Harianti Junaidi, Dani Salleh

Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 2016;1(2):36-44.
MyJurnal

The practice of development planning does not empower the local authority to prepare a development
plan, as planning and development control is under the jurisdiction of the State Planning Authority
(SPA). Rapid growth in the housing sector shows a positive indicator towards urbanization in Sarawak.
This study showed that the current centralised process is fair to all parties, for it ensures equilibrium in
all areas. Beside that, the study also found that there is some confusion in the roles played by the
involved parties. The study also identified few problems that often occur, among them complicated
procedures, slow approval process, bureaucracy, and risks in planning and marketing. However, the
practice of development planning is concerned with aspects quality and quantity so as not to burden the
purchaser. The state government, through the SPA, controls the price of housing to ensure equilibrium
and to avoid the occurrence of abandoned housing projects.

Matched MeSH terms: State Government
Fulltext Perceived Severity and Susceptibility towards Leptospirosis Infection in Malaysia

Sukeri S, Zahiruddin WM, Shafei MN, Hamat RA, Osman M, Jamaluddin TZMT, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 09 01;17(17).
PMID: 32882876 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176362

BACKGROUND: Perceived severity and susceptibility refers to one's belief of the seriousness and the risk of contracting a specific disease. It is an essential study in public health as it assists in the understanding of the motivating factors towards disease prevention. This qualitative study aimed to explore perceived severity and susceptibility towards leptospirosis infection among respondents in two states of Malaysia.
METHODS: Focus group discussions using the phenomenology approach was conducted involving 72 respondents in Selangor and Kelantan. Data were examined using content analysis.
RESULTS: Respondents perceived leptospirosis infection as severe due to its poor disease prognosis and complications. However, some rated it less severe when compared with other chronic diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Their perceptions were influenced by their knowledge about the disease, media portrayal and frequency of health campaigns by the government. All respondents believed they were not susceptible to the disease.
CONCLUSION: The low perceived susceptibility of leptospirosis infection is a matter of concern as it may contribute to respondents' lack of motivation towards preventing the disease. The study findings may provide the basis for health promotional activities designed to heighten public perceived threat towards leptospirosis infection and thereby improving preventive health behaviors for avoiding leptospirosis.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext Approaches and future direction of social security system: Malaysian perspective

Rohaizat, B.Y., Hassan, M.O.N.M., Davis, J.

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2012;12(1):1-13.
MyJurnal

Social security traditionally means a social insurance program providing social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. It also hovers around the subject of social insurance, where people receive benefits or services in recognition of contributions to an insurance scheme. Providing services for medical care, aspects of social work and even industrial relations may be included as part of social security services. Lately, the term is also used to refer to basic security, a term roughly equivalent to access to basic necessities. The 1 World Conference on Social Security organised by the Brazilian Government on 1st to 5th of December 2010 stimulates the countries to adopt universal, comprehensive and equitablesocial security systems as a valid, ethical and feasible option in the process of national reforms and regional integration. The main challenge to achieving the noble objective of universal social security system is financial sustainability and social cohesion supported by political will. As seen in a number of countries, Malaysia has a mixed social security schemes comprising state and private schemes, statutory obligatory requirements on the part of
employers as well as state social assistance programmes. Maintaining the quality of life of the individuals and their dependents has become the primary focus of policies and programmes in providing social security. Among the critical pressures on the population’s standard of living is the provision of health care. Extension of the coverage for social security is critical in ensuring social inclusion.

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Fulltext The effectiveness of the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2015 (OSH-MP 15) in enhancing government leadership and preventive workplace

Norhafizah Yaacob, Shamsul B.M. Tamrin, Ng, Yee Guan, How, Vivien, Rozanah A. Rahman, Zerguine, Haroun, et al.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2018;14(2):57-66.
MyJurnal

Background: Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan for Malaysia 2015 was intended to increase awareness, knowledge and commitment to Occupational Safety and Health in all undertaking to reduce the number of injuries, diseases and fatalities. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of Occupational Safety Health Master Plan for Malaysia 2015 (OSH-MP 15) in enhancing government leadership and preventive workplace culture. Methods: This cross sectional study covered all the states in Malaysia, constituting of 309 employers, 350 Occupational Safety Health practitioners and 360 employees as respondents. There were three questionnaires for three different groups which were employers, Occupational Safety Health practitioners and general employees. The respondents were selected through random sampling. Results: For strategy 1, there was a significant difference in mean of effectiveness of OSH-MP15 between sectors for general workers [F (11, 348) =12.06, p= =

Matched MeSH terms: Government
Population and development in Asia and the Pacific: a demographic analysis

Debavalya N

Bull Unesco Reg Off Educ Asia Pac, 1982 Jun.
PMID: 12265657
Matched MeSH terms: Government Programs

Filters

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links