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  1. Fulltext Remission of recalcitrant dermatomyositis following a chiropractic adjustment
    Chu ECP, Lo FS, Bhaumik A
    J Family Med Prim Care, 2019 Nov;8(11):3742-3744.
    PMID: 31803683 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_839_19
    Dermatomyositis (DM) is an idiopathic inflammatory myopathy characterized by progressive muscle weakness and pathognomonic skin eruptions. Systemic corticosteroid with or without an immunosuppressive agent is the current treatment of choice in most cases. Cutaneous disease in DM is often refractory and can become the most challenging component to manage effectively. Here, we report a case of recalcitrant DM in a 66-year-old female who sought chiropractic attention for recent episodes of pain and paresthesia in the neck and exacerbation of joint pain. As expected, the musculoskeletal complaints including neck pain, peripheral arthralgia, and muscle weakness that resolved within 1 month after starting treatment. Unexpectedly, dramatic remission of the characteristic skin rashes occurred concurrently. The underlying therapeutic mechanisms of chiropractic remain elusive. This case highlights the importance of family physicians becoming familiar with diagnosing the condition and using a multidisciplinary team approach to treat recalcitrant DM.
    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians, Family
  2. A repeated point prevalence survey of antimicrobial use in specialized cancer care hospital of Pakistan: findings and implications
    Saleem Z, Hassali MA, Hashmi FK, Godman B, Bhutta OA
    Hosp Pract (1995), 2019 Aug;47(3):149-154.
    PMID: 31180791 DOI: 10.1080/21548331.2019.1628614
    Background: The extensive use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials in immunocompromised patients is inevitable in situations where culture and sensitivity testing is challenging. However, their overuse leads to an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is a growing concern. Method: A repeated point prevalence survey (PPS) was conducted to assess the pattern of antimicrobial prescribing in a specialized cancer care hospital in Pakistan using the methodology employed by the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control. Results: Out of 313 hospitalized patients, 156 (49.8%) were prescribed one or more antimicrobials, 82 (50.9) in 2017 and 74 (48.7) in 2018. The average bed occupancy in the hospital was 80.3%. Fever in neutropenic patients (20.2%), lower respiratory tract infections (17.8%), and sepsis (14.9%) were the three most common clinical indications. The total number of prescribed antimicrobials was 242, of whom, 41 (16.9%) were given orally and 201 (83.1%) were given parenterally. The most commonly used antimicrobials were piperacillin plus enzyme inhibitor (31.8%), meropenem (7.9%), ceftriaxone (6.2%) and vancomycin (6.2%). Of the total prescribed antimicrobials, 42 (17.3%) antimicrobials were used in surgical departments, 89 (36.8) in adult medical departments, 73 (30.1%) in pediatric medical departments and 38 (15.7) in the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition to these antibacterials, there was relatively high use of antivirals (acyclovir; 4.1%) and antifungals (fluconazole; 3.7%, amphotericin B; 2.9%). Conclusion: The study concluded that broad-spectrum antimicrobial usage in cancer hospitals in Pakistan is high, which can be a risk factor for the emergence of AMR. Repeated PPS is a fruitful way to maintain a focus on inappropriate antimicrobial use and develop pertinent intervention programs targeteing specific issues to improve future use.
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data
  3. A cross-sectional study evaluating the knowledge and beliefs about, and the use of antibiotics amongst Malaysian university students
    Haque M, Rahman NAA, McKimm J, Binti Abdullah SL, Islam MZ, Zulkifli Z, et al.
    Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther, 2019 04;17(4):275-284.
    PMID: 30761920 DOI: 10.1080/14787210.2019.1581607
    BACKGROUND: The introduction of antibiotics into modern medicine has changed clinical care by saving millions of lives. However, misuse of antibiotics has led to their benefits being overshadowed by the development of antimicrobial resistance.

    AIMS OF STUDY: This study aimed to assess university students' knowledge and beliefs about and their use of antibiotics.

    METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 674 medical and non-medical students of the National Defence University of Malaysia, using universal and convenience sampling methods. The data was collected using a validated questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS 24, and the MANOVA test and Logistic Regression were used to explore the associated factors.

    RESULTS: More than half of the respondents' knowledge was low and their health beliefs outdated. Age, race and program were significantly associated with up-to-date knowledge and beliefs about antibiotic use, factors associated with finishing a course of antibiotics were studying medicine, personal health, and ethnicity. The significant factors associated with antibiotic self-prescribing were beliefs having been prescribed antibiotics during the last one year, and trusting the doctors who did not prescribe antibiotics.

    CONCLUSION: This study has identified a concerning low knowledge about antibiotics amongst some Malaysian university students, reflected in use of un-prescribed antibiotics and a lack of adherence to treatment. There is a need for educational interventions for students regarding antibiotic usage and resistance issues.

    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data
  4. Fulltext The effect of a user-guided request form for chest radiographs in a neonatal intensive care unit
    Lai MW, Yong SC, Boo NY
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Dec;59(5):598-603.
    PMID: 15889561
    The objectives of this prospective, observational study were to determine the current indications of requesting chest radiograph in sick infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the effect of a user-guided request form for chest radiographs of sick infants. During the three-month study period, a total of 423 chest radiographs were requested on 159 sick newborn infants in the intensive area of this NICU. A majority (55.6%) of these chest radiographs were performed to verify positions tips of either central catheters (27.4%) or endotracheal tubes (28.1%). The number of chest radiographs done during the period when the user-guided request forms were utilised was significantly lower (1.24 per patient) than before (1.37 per patient) or after (1.58 per patients) the period when these forms were in use (p=0.01). The rate of radiological abnormalities detected in radiographs requested to verify position of tips of endotracheal tubes were significantly greater during the period when user-guided forms were used than when they were not (p=0.01). A significantly higher proportion of changes in management were instituted when the user-guided forms were in use than during the period when they were not used (p=0.03). We conclude that a user-guided radiographic request form helps doctors in NICU to carry out their management more effectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  5. Physician counselling practices and decision-making for extremely preterm infants in the Pacific Rim
    Martinez AM, Partridge JC, Yu V, Wee Tan K, Yeung CY, Lu JH, et al.
    J Paediatr Child Health, 2005 Apr;41(4):209-14.
    PMID: 15813876
    This study was undertaken to evaluate physician counselling practices and resuscitation decisions for extremely preterm infants in countries of the Pacific Rim. We sought to determine the degree to which physician beliefs, parents' opinion and medical resources influence decision-making for infants at the margin of viability.
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'*
  6. Analytical performance of HPV assays on vaginal self-collected vs practitioner-collected cervical samples: the SCoPE study
    Saville M, Hawkes D, Keung M, Ip E, Silvers J, Sultana F, et al.
    J Clin Virol, 2020 06;127:104375.
    PMID: 32361328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2020.104375
    BACKGROUND: In the last decade, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing has been evaluated extensively for cervical screening, with studies finding increased sensitivity compared to cytology. Another advantage of HPV based-screening is the ability to test vaginal samples that can be collected by women themselves. Self-collection has the potential to extend cervical screening coverage by increasing participation rates, particularly among women who are under-screened or have never screened. This could have a significant impact on cervical cancer prevention, as the majority of invasive cervical cancer cases occur among under-screened women. Both the Netherlands and Australia have transitioned their national programs from cytology to HPV as the primary screening test and both countries include a pathway for self-collection.

    OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the relative sensitivity for HPV detection of self-collection compared with practitioner-collected cervical specimens in the context of the Australian National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP).

    STUDY DESIGN: 303 women aged ≥18 years attending a single tertiary referral centre took their own sample using a flocked-swab, and then had a practitioner-collected sample taken at colposcopy. All samples were tested at a single laboratory on the six PCR-based HPV assays which can be utilised in the NCSP; Roche cobas 4800 and cobas, Abbott RealTime, BD Onclarity, Cepheid Xpert, and Seegene Anyplex.

    RESULTS: HPV16/18 results had high observed agreement between self- and practitioner-collected samples on all assays (range: 0.94-0.99), with good agreement for non-HPV16/18 oncogenic HPV types (range: 0.64-0.73).

    CONCLUSIONS: Self-collection for HPV-based cervical screening shows good concordance and relative sensitivity when compared to practitionercollected samples across assays in the NCSP.

    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians
  7. Fulltext Some current challenges facing the athlete and their doctor
    Brun SP
    Aust J Gen Pract, 2020 2 3;49(1-2):23-31.
    PMID: 32008269 DOI: 10.31128/AJGP-09-19-5081
    BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians are often responsible for the care of people involved in sporting and exercise activities at various competitive levels. Issues confronting the athlete and their primary care physician are the potentially serious risks, responsibilities and challenges facing those involved with sport and physical activity.

    OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to address three of the most important challenges currently facing the athlete and primary care physician caring for athletes. The challenges are to recognise the potential risks to the athlete of sustaining a sudden cardiac arrest, sports-related concussion or doping violation in sport, as each of these have serious implications for life, wellbeing, performance and/or reputation. Education and risk mitigation are also essential components of care that will be addressed.

    DISCUSSION: The primary care physician caring for athletes has a pivotal role in ensuring appropriate screening, education and ongoing surveillance to minimise the potentially serious risks facing those involved with physical activity.

    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians, Primary Care/trends*
  8. Fulltext Determinants of uncontrolled hypertension in adult type 2 diabetes mellitus: an analysis of the Malaysian diabetes registry 2009
    Chew BH, Mastura I, Shariff-Ghazali S, Lee PY, Cheong AT, Ahmad Z, et al.
    Cardiovasc Diabetol, 2012;11:54.
    PMID: 22607105 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2840-11-54
    BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) is a significant contributor of morbidity and even mortality in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. This study was done to determine the significant determinants of uncontrolled blood pressure in T2D patients in Malaysia.
    METHODS: Between 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009, data from 70 889 patients with Type 2 diabetes was obtained from the Adult Diabetes Control and Management Registry for analysis; 303 centers participated in the study. Their demographic characteristics, the nature of their diabetes, their state of hypertension, treatment modalities, risk factors, and complications are described. Based on their most recent BP values, subjects were divided into controlled BP and uncontrolled BP and their clinical determinants compared. Independent determinants were identified using multivariate logistic regression.
    RESULTS: The mean age of patients at diagnosis of diabetes was 52.3 +/- 11.1 years old. Most were women (59.0 %) and of Malay ethnicity (61.9 %). The mean duration of diabetes was 5.9 +/- 5.6 years. A total of 57.4 % were hypertensive. Of the 56 503 blood pressure (BP) measured, 13 280 (23.5 %) patients had BP <130/80 mmHg. Eighteen percent was on > two anti-hypertensive agents. Health clinics without doctor, older age (>/= 50 years old), shorter duration of diabetes (< 5 years), Malay, overweight were determinants for uncontrolled blood pressure (BP >/=130/80 mmHg). Patients who were on anti-hypertensive agent/s were 2.7 times more likely to have BP >/=130/80 mmHg. Type 2 diabetes patients who had ischaemic heart disease or nephropathy were about 20 % and 15 % more likely to have their blood pressure treated to target respectively.
    CONCLUSIONS: Major independent determinants of uncontrolled BP in our group of T2D patients were Malay ethnicity, older age, recent diagnosis of diabetes, overweight and follow-up at health clinics without a doctor and possibly the improper use of anti hypertensive agent. More effort, education and resources, especially in the primary health care centres are needed to improve hypertensive care among our patients with diabetes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data
  9. Prevalence of plasma lipid disorders with an emphasis on LDL cholesterol in selected countries in the Asia-Pacific region
    Lee ZV, Llanes EJ, Sukmawan R, Thongtang N, Ho HQT, Barter P, et al.
    Lipids Health Dis, 2021 Apr 15;20(1):33.
    PMID: 33858442 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-021-01450-8
    Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity within the Asia-Pacific region, with the prevalence of CVD risk factors such as plasma lipid disorders increasing in many Asian countries. As members of the Cardiovascular RISk Prevention (CRISP) in Asia network, the authors have focused on plasma lipid disorders in the six countries within which they have clinical experience: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Australia. Based on country-specific national surveys, the prevalence of abnormal levels of total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively), and triglycerides (TG) are reported. An important caveat is that countries have used different thresholds to define plasma lipid disorders, making direct comparisons difficult. The prevalence of abnormal lipid levels was as follows: high total cholesterol (30.2-47.7%, thresholds: 190-213 mg/dL); high LDL-C (33.2-47.5%; thresholds: 130-135 mg/dL); low/abnormal HDL-C (22.9-72.0%; thresholds: 39-50 mg/dL); and high/abnormal TG (13.9-38.7%; thresholds: 150-177 mg/dL). Similarities and differences between country-specific guidelines for the management of plasma lipid disorders are highlighted. Based on the authors' clinical experience, some of the possible reasons for suboptimal management of plasma lipid disorders in each country are described. Issues common to several countries include physician reluctance to prescribe high-dose and/or high-intensity statins and poor understanding of disease, treatments, and side effects among patients. Treatment costs and geographical constraints have also hampered disease management in Indonesia and the Philippines. Understanding the factors governing the prevalence of plasma lipid disorders helps enhance strategies to reduce the burden of CVD in the Asia-Pacific region.
    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians
  10. Cost-utility analysis of physician-pharmacist collaborative intervention for treating hypertension compared with usual care
    Kulchaitanaroaj P, Brooks JM, Chaiyakunapruk N, Goedken AM, Chrischilles EA, Carter BL
    J Hypertens, 2017 Jan;35(1):178-187.
    PMID: 27684354
    OBJECTIVE: To estimate long-term costs and outcomes attributable to a physician-pharmacist collaborative intervention compared with physician management alone for treating essential hypertension.

    METHODS: A Markov model cohort simulation with a 6-month cycle length to predict acute coronary syndrome, stroke, and heart failure throughout lifetime was performed. A cohort of 399 patients was obtained from two prospective, cluster randomized controlled clinical trials implementing physician-pharmacist collaborative interventions in community-based medical offices in the Midwest, USA. Framingham risk equations and other algorithms were used to predict the vascular diseases. SBP reduction due to the interventions deteriorated until 5 years. Direct medical costs using a payer perspective were adjusted to 2015 dollar value, and the main outcome was quality-adjusted life years (QALYs); both were discounted at 3%. The intervention costs were estimated from the trials, whereas the remaining parameters were from published studies. A series of sensitivity analyses including changing patient risks of vascular diseases, probabilistic sensitivity analysis, and a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve were performed.

    RESULTS: The lifetime incremental costs were $26 807.83 per QALY (QALYs gained = 0.14). The intervention provided the greatest benefit for the high-risk patients, moderate benefit for the trial patients, and the lowest benefit for the low-risk patients. If a payer is willing to pay $50 000 per QALY gained, in 48.6% of the time the intervention would be cost-effective.

    CONCLUSION: Team-based care such as a physician-pharmacist collaboration appears to be a cost-effective strategy for treating hypertension. The intervention is most cost-effective for high-risk patients.

    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians*
  11. The general practitioner and the diagnosis of hypertension
    Catterall RA
    Family Practitioner, 1976;2:13-17.
    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians; Physicians, Family
  12. Fulltext Health-care provider screening for tobacco smoking and advice to quit - 17 countries, 2008-2011
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
    MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 2013 Nov 22;62(46):920-7.
    PMID: 24257201
    Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable mortality in the world. Article 14 of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) states that countries should promote cessation of tobacco use and adequate treatment for tobacco dependence. Health-care providers asking all patients about their tobacco use and advising tobacco users to quit are evidence-based strategies that increase tobacco abstinence. This report examines the proportion of tobacco smokers in 17 countries responding to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) who saw a health-care provider in the past year and who reported that a health-care provider asked them about smoking and advised them to quit. Respondents were tobacco smokers aged ≥15 years surveyed during 2008-2011 in Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Vietnam. The proportion of smokers who had visited a health-care provider during the previous 12 months ranged from 21.6% in Egypt to 62.3% in Poland. Among these, the proportion reporting that a health-care provider asked if they smoked ranged from 34.9% in Vietnam to 82.1% in Romania. Among those screened for tobacco use, those who reported their health-care providers advised them to quit ranged from 17.3% in Mexico to 67.3% in Romania. In most countries, persons aged ≥45 years were more likely to report being screened and advised to quit than were persons aged ≤24 years. Health-care providers should identify smokers and provide advice and assistance in quitting at each visit as an adjunct to effective community interventions (e.g., increased price of tobacco products; smoke-free policies, mass media campaigns, and tobacco quitlines).
    Study name: Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS-2011)
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data*
  13. Mentoring for the Academy of Family Physicians of Malaysia
    Ch'ng KS
    Family Physician, 2000;11:16-7.
    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians, Family
  14. Exploring the knowledge of nasopharyngeal carcinoma among medical doctors at primary health care level in Perak state, Malaysia
    Balachandran R, Philip R, Avatar S, Simon R, Mann GS, Benedict CT, et al.
    Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2012 Feb;269(2):649-58.
    PMID: 21691719 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-011-1665-0
    Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is among the commonest cancers in Malaysia. The prognosis for NPC like most other head and neck cancer is dependent on its staging. Majority of patients in Malaysia at the time of diagnosis are either at stage III or IV (27 and 47%, respectively). The lack of knowledge among primary care medical doctors regarding NPC may contribute to this delay in diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of the primary care doctors in the state of Perak on the various aspects of NPC. The doctors at the primary care level in the state of Perak were recruited to take part in this study on a voluntary basis. A total number of 154 out of 198 doctors participated in this survey. They were given a questionnaire to fill in to test their knowledge on different aspects of NPC and its treatment. The overall respondents' score was poor with a score of 67.5% on all sections. The doctors appear to be able to identify common presenting features of NPC with a mean score of 85.3% but for the uncommon presentations of NPC, the scores were poorer with 61.8%. In addition, 54.1% of the participants answered that they would refer a patient with symptoms suspicious of NPC after a period of 1 month from the onset of symptom. However, only 34% would refer within 2 weeks. Based on the results of this study, the authors feel that it is clear that the doctors posted in the primary care hospitals and clinics appear to have inadequate knowledge to diagnose and refer patients with suspected NPC. As early diagnosis can often lead to a better prognostic outcome, steps must be taken to raise the awareness among these doctors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians, Primary Care/education*
  15. Follow-up care practices and barriers to breast cancer survivorship: perspectives from Asian oncology practitioners
    Ng T, Toh MR, Cheung YT, Chan A
    Support Care Cancer, 2015 Nov;23(11):3193-200.
    PMID: 25791392 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-015-2700-2
    PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the perspectives of Asian oncology practitioners on the physical and psychosocial issues experienced by breast cancer survivors (BCS), current survivorship care practices, and the barriers to follow-up care.

    METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey study. Oncology practitioners were recruited from a major cancer center in Singapore and through two regional cancer meetings that took place in Singapore and Malaysia in 2013.

    RESULTS: A total of 126 oncology practitioners from various Southeast Asian countries, mostly nurses (58.7 %) and physicians (37.3 %), were recruited. The majority of the respondents agreed that fatigue (78.4 %) and anxiety (69.1 %) were the most common physical and psychosocial problems experienced by BCS. Monitoring for physical and treatment-related adverse effects (80.7 %) and reviewing patients' noncancer medical history (65.3 %) were the most practiced aspects of follow-up care. Compared with the other practitioners, the physicians were more likely to communicate with other healthcare professionals (adjusted OR = 4.24, 95 % CI 1.54 to 11.72; p = 0.005). Most of the respondents also agreed that patient-specific barriers were the main impediments to follow-up care.

    CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into the various aspects of breast cancer survivorship care from the perspectives of oncology practitioners and shows that survivorship care is relatively inadequate in Asia. There is a need for new survivorship care models to meet the needs of Asian BCS and to complement the unique healthcare systems of Asia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians
  16. Fulltext Assessing predictors of intention to prescribe sick leave among primary care physicians using the theory of planned behaviour
    Swarna Nantha Y, Wee LH, Chan CM
    BMC Fam Pract, 2018 01 16;19(1):18.
    PMID: 29338699 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-017-0690-5
    BACKGROUND: Providing sickness certification is a decision that primary care physicians make on a daily basis. The majority of sickness certification studies in the literature involve a general assessment of physician or patient behaviour without the use of a robust psychological framework to guide research accuracy. To address this deficiency, this study utilized the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to specifically gauge the intention and other salient predictors related to sickness certification prescribing behaviour amongst primary care physicians.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among N = 271 primary care physicians from 86 primary care practices throughout two states in Malaysia. Questionnaires used were specifically developed based on the TPB, consisting of both direct and indirect measures related to the provision of sickness leave. Questionnaire validity was established through factor analysis and the determination of internal consistency between theoretically related constructs. The temporal stability of the indirect measures was determined via the test-retest correlation analysis. Structural equation modelling was conducted to determine the strength of predictors related to intentions.

    RESULTS: The mean scores for intention to provide patients with sickness was low. The Cronbach α value for the direct measures was good: overall physician intent to provide sick leave (0.77), physician attitude towards prescribing sick leave for patients (0.77) and physician attitude in trusting the intention of patients seeking sick leave (0.83). The temporal stability of the indirect measures of the questionnaire was satisfactory with significant correlation between constructs separated by an interval of two weeks (p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians, Primary Care*
  17. Fulltext Type 2 diabetes mellitus with hypertension at primary healthcare level in Malaysia: are they managed according to guidelines?
    Chan GC
    Singapore Med J, 2005 Mar;46(3):127-31.
    PMID: 15735877
    A study was conducted at primary healthcare level in the Melaka Tengah district of Malaysia to determine whether hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were managed according to guidelines.
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'/standards; Practice Patterns, Physicians'/statistics & numerical data*
  18. Lipid-lowering treatment in hypercholesterolaemic patients: the CEPHEUS Pan-Asian survey
    Park JE, Chiang CE, Munawar M, Pham GK, Sukonthasarn A, Aquino AR, et al.
    Eur J Prev Cardiol, 2012 Aug;19(4):781-94.
    PMID: 21450606 DOI: 10.1177/1741826710397100
    BACKGROUND: Treatment of hypercholesterolaemia in Asia is rarely evaluated on a large scale, and data on treatment outcome are scarce. The Pan-Asian CEPHEUS study aimed to assess low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal attainment among patients on lipid-lowering therapy.
    METHODS: This survey was conducted in eight Asian countries. Hypercholesterolaemic patients aged ≥18 years who had been on lipid-lowering treatment for ≥3 months (stable medication for ≥6 weeks) were recruited, and lipid concentrations were measured. Demographic and other clinically relevant information were collected, and the cardiovascular risk of each patient was determined. Definitions and criteria set by the updated 2004 National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines were applied.
    RESULTS: In this survey, 501 physicians enrolled 8064 patients, of whom 7281 were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 61.0 years, 44.4% were female, and 85.1% were on statin monotherapy. LDL-C goal attainment was reported in 49.1% of patients overall, including 51.2% of primary and 48.7% of secondary prevention patients, and 36.6% of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia. The LDL-C goal was attained in 75.4% of moderate risk, 55.4% of high risk, and only 34.9% of very high-risk patients. Goal attainment was directly related to age and inversely related to cardiovascular risk and baseline LDL-C.
    CONCLUSION: A large proportion of Asian hypercholesterolaemic patients on lipid-lowering drugs are not at recommended LDL-C levels and remain at risk for cardiovascular disease. Given the proven efficacy of lipid-lowering drugs in the reduction of LDL-C, there is room for further optimization of treatments to maximize benefits and improve outcomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  19. Fulltext Knowledge and practice of complementary medicine amongst public primary care clinic doctors in Kinta district, Perak
    Ismail IA, Chan SC
    Med J Malaysia, 2004 Mar;59(1):4-10.
    PMID: 15535328 MyJurnal
    The knowledge and practice of doctors (n=40) towards complementary medicine (CM) in 16 health clinics in the Kinta District were assessed by questionnaire. Thirty-four (85%) responded. More than half felt that acupuncture (73.50), homeopathy (59%) and herbal medicine (59%) were occasionally harmful. Forty-four percent felt manipulative therapy was frequently harmful. Relaxation technique (79%) and nutritional therapy (44%) were considered most frequently useful. 59% used some form of CM. There were no significant differences found in usage rates by gender, age group and exposure to CM during undergraduate training. Sixty-seven percent had encouraged patients to seek CM. Seventy-three percent perceived an increasing demand for CM. Eighty-eight percent were in favour of a hospital based CM referral center. Only 6% were trained in CM.
    Study site: Klinik kesihatan, Perak, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Practice Patterns, Physicians'*; Physicians, Primary Care
  20. Lo, the ever confounding nipple shadow!
    Boo WH, Chan YC
    Malays Fam Physician, 2020;15(3):79-82.
    PMID: 33329866
    The discovery of a solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) on chest imaging can be alarming for both the clinician and the patient. In the absence of a uniform guideline, managing SPN is nothing short of challenging for primary care physicians (PCPs). We present a case here of a patient presenting with prolonged cough who also displayed unilateral SPN on her chest radiograph. Through further examination, this presence was later shown to be a nipple shadow simulating SPN, and the patient was spared unnecessary testing and psychological distress.
    Matched MeSH terms: Physicians, Primary Care
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