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Fulltext The status of Malaysian school children’s visual acuity from year 1990 to 2017

Saidatul Norbaya Buang, Abdul Shukor Salha, Marhaida Mahmood, Noor Haire Sumarlie Nordin

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(104):100-100.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Refractive error is the most common cause of visual impairment among the school children. The visual acuity screening has long been administered through the school health service in Malaysia. The objective of this study was to examine the status of refractive error in the school health screening from year 1990 to 2017. Methods: Every year an average of 1.2 million students were screened for refractive errors through school health service. Stu-dents with visual acuity reading of 6/9 or worst based on 6-meter Snellen chart ware referred for confirmation of refractive error. Secondary data on school visual acuity screening from the Health Informatics for the period of 1990 to 2017 were used to describe the changing pattern of refractive errors. Results: It was observed that the prevalent of suspected refractive errors amongst the Standard 1 student increased from 7 per 1,000 students examined in 1990 to 44.4 per 1,000 students in the 2000 and further increased to 74 per 1,000 students before slow decline to 55 per 1,000 students from year 2015 to 2017. A higher level of detection was observed for students in standard 6 and form 3 between the period of 1990 to 2009 (78/1,000 and 65/1,000 respectively) and further decline thereafter to lowest level in 2017 (33/1,000 to 21.5/1,000 respectively). Conclusion: The Standard 1 students in the 21st century have higher rate of suspected refractive errors compared to their counterpart that lived in the 20th century. Community awareness program need to be introduce for early detection of visual acuity problem.

Matched MeSH terms: School Health Services
The state of lipid control in patients with diabetes in a public health care centre

Wong JS, Tan F, Lee PY

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2007;19(3):16-21.
PMID: 18330400 DOI: 10.1177/101053950701900304

Achieving treatment targets has been difficult in treating diabetic patients. This cross-sectional study describes the lipid profiles of patients with diabetes mellitus at a public primary health care centre in Sarawak, Malaysia. The targets for lipid control were based on the International Diabetes Federation recommendation (2002). 1031 patients (98% Type 2 Diabetes) were studied. Fasting lipid profiles were available in 990 (96%) patients. The mean total cholesterol was 5.3 +/- 1.0 mmol/L, Triglycerides 1.90 +/- 1.26 mmol/L, HDL-C 1.28 +/- 0.33 mmol/L and LDL-C 3.2 +/- 0.9 mmol/L. Overall, 22% of patients achieved the treatment target for LDL-C level < 2.6mmol/L. 67% of patients had HDL-C > 1.1 mmol/L and 42% of patients had a target TG level below 1.5 mmol/L. Of the 40% of patients who received lipid-lowering drug, 17% achieved LDL-C target, 50% had LDL-C 2.6-4.4 mmol/ L and 33% have LDL-C > 4.0 mmol/L. For the remaining 60% not receiving any lipid lowering therapy, 68% had LDL-C between 2.6-4.0 mmol/L and 7% had LDL-C level > 4 mmol/L. Dyslipidemia is still under-treated despite the availability of effective pharmacological agents and the greatly increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Community Health Services*
The simulated patient method: Design and application in health services research

Collins JC, Chong WW, de Almeida Neto AC, Moles RJ, Schneider CR

Res Social Adm Pharm, 2021 12;17(12):2108-2115.
PMID: 33972178 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2021.04.021

The simulated patient method is becoming increasingly popular in health services research to observe the behaviour of healthcare practitioners in a naturalistic setting. This method involves sending a trained individual (simulated patient among other names), who is indistinguishable from a regular consumer, into a healthcare setting with a standardised scripted request. This paper provides an overview of the method, a brief history of its use in health services research, comparisons with other methods, ethical considerations, and considerations for the development of studies using the simulated patient method in health services research, with examples from pharmacy and other fields. Methods of analysis, mixed-methods, and the use of simulated patients with feedback are also discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Research
The role of traditional healers in the provision of health care and family planning services: Sinseh

Kuek K, Liow TS

Malays J Reprod Health, 1985;3(1 Suppl):S90-4.
PMID: 12319997
Matched MeSH terms: Health Services; Health Services, Indigenous*
The role of traditional healers in the provision of health care and family planning services: Malay traditional and indigenous medicine

Raden Sanusi HR, Werner R

Malays J Reprod Health, 1985;3(1 Suppl):S82-9.
PMID: 12319996
Matched MeSH terms: Health Services; Health Services, Indigenous*
The role of traditional healers in the provision of health care and family planning services: Ayurveda and Sidda

Bin Mohammed A, Abdul Raheem KP, Kaivalyam K

Malays J Reprod Health, 1985;3(1 Suppl):S95-9.
PMID: 12319998
Matched MeSH terms: Health Services; Health Services, Indigenous*
Fulltext The role of traditional birth attendants in family planning programs in Southeast Asia

Peng JY

Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 1979 9 1;17(2):108-13.
PMID: 41751 DOI: 10.1002/j.1879-3479.1979.tb00128.x

The training and utilization of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) in maternal and child health and family planning programs in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia are discussed. Special efforts to organize and train TBAs for family planning in Malaysia are examined in detail. Import factors for successful utilization of TBAs include: (a) definite assignment of functions and tasks, (b) organization of good operational steps and (c) implementation of good supervisory activities.

Matched MeSH terms: Child Health Services; Maternal Health Services
Fulltext The role of the occupational health nurse

Lim HH

Med J Malaysia, 1982 Mar;37(1):90-5.
PMID: 7121357
Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Health Services
Fulltext The role of electronic medical records in improving health care quality: A quasi-experimental study

Ibrahim AA, Ahmad Zamzuri M'I, Ismail R, Ariffin AH, Ismail A, Muhamad Hasani MH, et al.

Medicine (Baltimore), 2022 Jul 29;101(30):e29627.
PMID: 35905245 DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000029627

The Teleprimary Care-Oral Health Clinical Information System (TPC-OHCIS) is an updated electronic medical record (EMR) that has been applied in Malaysian primary healthcare. Recognizing the level of patient satisfaction following EMR implementation is crucial for assessing the performance of health care services. Hence, the main objective of this study was to compare the level of patient satisfaction between EMR-based clinics and paper-based clinics. The study was a quasi-experimental design that used a control group and was conducted among patients in 14 public primary healthcare facilities in the Seremban district of Malaysia from May 10, to June 30, 2021. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the validated Short-Form Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire, which consisted of 7 subscales. All data were analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. A total of 321 patients consented to participate in this study, and 48.9% of them were from EMR clinics. The mean score for the communication subscale was the highest at 4.08 and 3.96 at EMR-adopted clinics and paper-based record clinics. There were significant differences in general satisfaction and communication subscales, with higher patient satisfaction found in clinics using EMR. With the utilization of EMR, patient satisfaction and communication in delivering healthcare services have improved.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services
The results of a worksite health promotion programme in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Moy F, Sallam AA, Wong M

Health Promot Int, 2006 Dec;21(4):301-10.
PMID: 16963785

The worksite is one of the key channels for the delivery of interventions to reduce chronic diseases among adult populations. It provides easy and regular access to a relatively stable population and it encourages sustained peer support. This paper reports a 2-year follow-up of the impact of a worksite health promotion programme on serum cholesterol and dietary changes among employees in a city in Malaysia. A quasi-experimental study was conducted among Malay-Muslim male security guards, with those working in a public university in Kuala Lumpur comprising the intervention group, and those working in the teaching hospital of the same university as the comparison group. They were comparable in socio-demographic characteristics. The intervention group received intensive individual and group counselling on diet, physical activity and quitting smoking. The comparison group was given minimal education on the same lifestyle changes through mail and group counselling. The intervention group showed a statistically significant reduction in their mean total cholesterol levels as compared with the comparison group, with an intervention effect of -0.38 (95% CI = -0.63, -0.14) mmol/l. The intervention group also reported a reduction in the amount of cigarettes smoked. The worksite was shown to be an effective channel for health promotion. The adoption of the new lifestyle behaviours should be supported and sustained through modification of work policies.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Research; Occupational Health Services*
The reliability of a rapid molecular detection method in determining the prevalence of rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis in an urban district health facility in Malaysia

Ding CH, Ismail Z, Sulong A, Wahab AA, Gan B, Mustakim S, et al.

Malays J Pathol, 2020 Dec;42(3):401-407.
PMID: 33361721

INTRODUCTION: Rifampicin is a key first-line antimycobacterial agent employed for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). This study sought to obtain prevalence data on rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis among smear-positive PTB patients in the Klang District of Malaysia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 103 patients from the Chest Clinic of Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah with sputum smears positive for acid-fast bacilli were included in this cross-sectional study. All sputa were tested using Xpert MTB/RIF to confirm the presence of M. tuberculosis complex and detect rifampicin resistance. Sputa were also sent to a respiratory medicine institute for mycobacterial culture. Positive cultures were then submitted to a reference laboratory, where isolates identified as M. tuberculosis complex underwent drug susceptibility testing (DST).
RESULTS: A total of 58 (56.3%) patients were newly diagnosed and 45 (43.7%) patients were previously treated. Xpert MTB/RIF was able to detect rifampicin resistance with a sensitivity and specificity of 87.5% and 98.9%, respectively. Assuming that a single resistant result from Xpert MTB/RIF or any DST method was sufficient to denote resistance, a total of 8/103 patients had rifampicinresistant M. tuberculosis. All eight patients were previously treated for PTB (p<0.05). The overall prevalence of rifampicin resistance among smear-positive PTB patients was 7.8%, although it was 17.8% among the previously treated ones.
CONCLUSION: The local prevalence of rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis was particularly high among previously treated patients. Xpert MTB/RIF can be employed in urban district health facilities not only to diagnose PTB in smear-positive patients, but also to detect rifampicin resistance with good sensitivity and specificity.

Matched MeSH terms: Urban Health Services
Fulltext The relative age effects among Malaysian age group swimmers

Punita Marapen, Low, Jeffrey Fook Lee

Jurnal Sains Sukan & Pendidikan Jasmani, 2015;4(1):1-8.
MyJurnal

The relative age effect (RAE) is the effects of differences between athletes born in the early compared to the later months of the year. This study investigated the presence of RAE among 306 age-group swimmers competing in the 2014 Malaysian Schools Sports Competition (MSSM). Participants’ birthdates were grouped according to four birth quartiles (Q1- Jan to Mar; Q2- Apr to June; Q3 – July to September; Q4 – October to December). Data analyzed using chi-squared goodness-of-fit showed there was a significant difference among overall male but not for the female swimmers. There was a presence of RAE in the U-12 and U-15 but none in the U-18 boys’ category. Further analyses on the medal winners showed no RAEs on both gender. Physical attributes of the male swimmers, especially the early adolescents are suggested to influence the relative age effects in swimming.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services
Fulltext The relationship of tobacco and alcohol use with ageing self-perceptions in older people in Ireland

Villiers-Tuthill A, Copley A, McGee H, Morgan K

BMC Public Health, 2016 07 22;16:627.
PMID: 27448397 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3158-y

BACKGROUND: Health behaviour patterns in older groups, including tobacco and alcohol use, are key factors in chronic disease prevention. We explore ageing self-perceptions as motivating factors behind smoking and drinking alcohol in older adults, and the complex reasons why individuals engage harmfully in these behaviours.
METHODS: Cigarette and alcohol use was assessed in a large cross-sectional national sample aged 50 years and above from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (n = 6,576). The Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (BAPQ) assessed individual's views of their own ageing across five domains. Study hypothesis that stronger beliefs on each of the BAPQ domains would be related to drinking and smoking was examined using multinomial logit models (MNLM). Regression parameter estimates for all variables were estimated relative risk ratios (RRR).
RESULTS: More women were non-drinkers (30 % vs. 20 %) and men displayed significantly higher alcohol use patterns. One in five older Irish adults was a current smoker (16.8 % of women, 17 % of men), and smoking and harmful drinking were strongly associated (P health risk from smoking and harmful drinking as a potential adverse effect of perceptions of control. Risks of concurrent smoking and harmful drinking increased with chronic awareness of ageing (RRR 1.24), and negative emotional responses to it (RRR 1.21), and decreased with stronger perceptions of the positive consequences of ageing (RRR 0.85).
CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between ageing perceptions, smoking and drinking is complex. Altering perceptions of ageing may be a useful intervention target aimed at facilitating engagement in preventative health behaviours in older people.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services for the Aged
Fulltext The relationship between task characteristics and employee engagement

Rowena Gloriana, George, Victoria, Jonathan, Florianna Lendai, Michael

Trends in Undergraduate Research, 2020;3(1):1-6.
MyJurnal

The objective of this study is to identify the relationship between task characteristics (variety of skills, task identity, task significance, autonomy, feedback) and employee engagement. The study was conducted in a healthcare service in Sabah, Malaysia. A self administered questionnaire was used to collect data by using convenience sampling. A total of 78 respondents participated in the study. Data was analyzed using Spearman Correlation. The results revealed a significant and positive relationship between task characteristics (variety of skills, task identity, task significance, autonomy, feedback) and employee engagement in the studied organization. This has important implications to employers. It is recommended that managers, human resource development (HRD) practitioners and supervisors provide employees with more challenging tasks, autonomy and feedback from time to time. Moreover, work designs should include how the tasks may improve employee identity and significance.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services
The relationship between poverty and fertility in Peninsular Malaysia: a district analysis

Teo Cheok Chin P

Tijdschr Econ Soc Geogr, 1989;80(5):284-301.
PMID: 12157771
Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Needs and Demand*
The prevalence of sexual dysfunction and potential risk factors that may impair sexual function in Malaysian women

Sidi H, Puteh SE, Abdullah N, Midin M

J Sex Med, 2007 Mar;4(2):311-21.
PMID: 17040486

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a prevalent sexual health problem that does not spare the women in Malaysia, a nation with a conservative multiethnic society.

Matched MeSH terms: Women's Health Services/organization & administration
The prevalence of cardiac murmurs amongst standard one schoolchildren in the district of Gombak

Yong, J.F., Zulkifli, H.I., Che' Zuraifah, A.Z.

Malaysian Journal of Child Health, 1998;10(1):28-33.
MyJurnal

Background - Cardiac mumurs are common in childhood and are often innocent in nature. With careful examination, most innocent murmurs can be reliably diagnosed by a paediatric cardiologist, thus obviating the need for further investigations.

Aim - To look at the prevalence of cardiac murmurs amongst standard one schoolchildren in an urban setting, and calculate the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of clinical diagnosis in differentiating innocent from pathological murmurs.

Methods - One thousand three hundred and fourteen students from 7 primary schools in the district of Gombak were examined during a routine school health examination. Those who were found to have murmurs were referred for echocardiography. A diagnosis was made at the time of clinical examination and following echocardiography. Children with median sternotomy, lateral or posterior thoracotomy scars or those with previously diagnosed cardiac lesions were excludedfrom the study.

Results - Thirty six children were referred for echocardiography out of which 2 were confirmed to have underlying cardiac disease on echocardiography. The prevalence of previously undiagnosed cardiac mumurs in this study was 3%. The sensitivity of clinical examination in diagnosing pathological murmurs was 100% while the specificity was 75%. Positive predictive value was 25% and negative predictive value was 100%. Forty three percent of the students who underwent echocardiography were found to have trivial pulmonary regurgitatibn on Doppler echocardiography.

Conclusion - The prevalence of previously undiagnosed cardiac murmurs is low in this study. This may be due to the fact that they are detected and treated at an earlier age. There is need to conduct a similar study in a rural setting to compare the results.

Matched MeSH terms: School Health Services
Fulltext The prevalence and risk factors of major depressive disorders in gynaecological cancer patients

Tee, B.C., Phang, C.K., Rasidi, A., Rushdan, M., Aliyasand, I., Hatta, S.

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2013;9(2):53-61.
MyJurnal

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in gynaecological cancer patients is a disabling illness with significant mental and physical suffering. Determining the risk factors of MDD in cancer patients enables us to pay more attention to those who are vulnerable and to device effective strategies for prevention, early detection, and treatment. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of MDD and its associated risk factors in gynaecological cancer patients at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. This is a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 120 gynaecological cancer patients in Gynae-Oncology Unit in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview (MINI) was used for diagnosis of MDD. Socio-demographic data and clinical variables were collected. MVFSFI (Malay version Female Sexual Function Index) was used to determine sexual dysfunction, and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization – Quality of Life-26) was performed to assess quality of life. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients in the study was 18%. The variables found to be significantly associated with MDD were lack of perceived social support, greater physical pain perception, presence of past psychiatric history, and poorer quality of life. Meanwhile, sexual dysfunction was not associated with MDD. Logistic regression analysis revealed that only the psychological health domain of QOL was significantly associated with MDD, and contributed to 60% of the variation in MDD. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients is higher than those in the general population. In view that MDD can compromise cancer prognosis and patient’s well-being, psychosocial intervention is recommended as a part of multi- disciplinary and comprehensive management of gynaecological cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services
The present problems and future needs of primary health care in Malaysia

Ho TM

Int J Health Serv, 1988;18(2):281-91.
PMID: 3378859 DOI: 10.2190/EJ77-C1UH-KHMQ-8HAX

This article examines the numerous problems faced by primary health care in Malaysia, care that traditionally has been a private sector activity. While general practitioners have adapted, and are continually adapting, to the needs of a multiracial society with diverse cultural patterns, it is hoped that with the emergence of a dynamic discipline of family practice, family doctors will be able to provide a sophisticated form of primary health care that will serve the needs of the people.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services Needs and Demand*; Health Services Research*
Fulltext The performance of classical and robust logistic regression estimators in the presence of outliers

Habshah, M., Syaiba, B.A.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2012;20(2):313-325.
MyJurnal

It is now evident that the estimation of logistic regression parameters, using Maximum LikelihoodEstimator (MLE), suffers a huge drawback in the presence of outliers. An alternative approach is touse robust logistic regression estimators, such as Mallows type leverage dependent weights estimator(MALLOWS), Conditionally Unbiased Bounded Influence Function estimator (CUBIF), Bianco andYohai estimator (BY), and Weighted Bianco and Yohai estimator (WBY). This paper investigates therobustness of the preceding robust estimators by using real data sets and Monte Carlo simulations. Theresults indicate that the MLE behaves poorly in the presence of outliers. On the other hand, the WBYestimator is more efficient than the other existing robust estimators. Thus, it is suggested that the WBYestimator be employed when outliers are present in the data to obtain a reliable estimate.

Matched MeSH terms: Health Services

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