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  1. Influenza as an issue on the agenda of health care workers: what can we do? What do we need?
    Vaccine, 2006 Nov 10;24(44-46):6791-2.
    PMID: 17167887
    ESWI recommends that the 25 European Union nations strive to vaccinate one-third of their collective population every year by 2010. This translates into an annual vaccine usage of 150 million doses for a population of 455 million. However, the current vaccine usage in Europe is 79 million doses, meaning that only 40% of ESWI's recommended target population is being vaccinated in the EU-25. Indeed, the EU's current risk groups equal about 28% of its population, but it is estimated that less than 62% are being vaccinated with the current vaccine supply--the equivalent of 17% of the total population. Clearly, as ESWI noted in its concluding position paper at the Malta conference, "a large proportion of those traditionally assumed to be at most risk from influenza are not being vaccinated." How to change this and minimize the consequences of a pandemic? "It's very interesting how the arithmetic works, given the goal of immunizing 75 percent of Europe's high-risk group, " said Dr K.Nichol of the University of Minnesota Medical Center who chaired the session. "If you go from a trivalent vaccine to a monovalent one, then you triple the number of doses you can manufacture. Thus, you could produce enough doses for the entire population of the EU." However, there is no coordinated approach in Europe, meaning such an optimistic scenario is unlikely in the medium-term. For the time being, emphasis must be on raising public awareness and raising vaccination rates at the local level, starting with health care workers themselves. Here the role and attitude of health policy officials and--critically--health care workers are crucial. These front-line policy and healthcare professionals constitute both the problem and the solution to a more effective influenza vaccine effort in Europe: they know first-hand the institutional obstacles blocking progress--i.e., lack of resources, poorly focused public information campaigns, etc.--but their own work practices and attitudes can be misdirected, too. To identify the issues and help the participants produce a set of recommendations, ESWI brought in Penny Lawson from to facilitate Dr.K. Nichol to steer this session's workshop debate. The participants were a diverse group of 35 health care workers from Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  2. A randomised controlled trial of an SMS-based mobile epilepsy education system
    Lua PL, Neni WS
    J Telemed Telecare, 2013 Jan;19(1):23-8.
    PMID: 23390210 DOI: 10.1177/1357633X12473920
    We evaluated an epilepsy education programme based on text messaging (SMS). Epilepsy outpatients from three hospitals in Malaysia were randomised into two groups: intervention and control. Patients in the control group were supplied with printed epilepsy educational material while those in the intervention group also received text messages from the Mobile Epilepsy Educational System (MEES). A total of 136 patients completed the study (mean age 31 years; 91% Malay; 51% with an illness duration of more than 5 years). A between-group analysis showed that the awareness, knowledge and attitudes (AKA) about epilepsy did not significantly differ between the groups at baseline (P > 0.05). The intervention patients reported better AKA levels during follow-up compared to the control patients (P < 0.05). A within-group analysis showed that in intervention patients, there were significant improvements in all AKA domains with larger effect sizes (P < 0.01) while control patients also exhibited significant improvement in most domains except for Awareness but with smaller effect sizes. After controlling for possible confounding variables (age, gender, educational qualification, monthly income and baseline mean for each domain), the intervention group still reported significantly higher AKA than the control group particularly in Awareness (P < 0.001) and Total AKA (P = 0.003). There was also significantly better medication adherence and clinic attendance in the intervention group (P < 0.05). The results suggest that the addition of the MEES to conventional epilepsy education is effective in improving AKA.
    Study site: Neurology clinics, public hospitals, Terengganu, Pahang, Kelantan, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  3. Fulltext Medical students' attitudes toward abortion education: Malaysian perspective
    Tey NP, Yew SY, Low WY, Su'ut L, Renjhen P, Huang MS, et al.
    PLoS One, 2012;7(12):e52116.
    PMID: 23300600 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0052116
    Abortion is a serious public health issue, and it poses high risks to the health and life of women. Yet safe abortion services are not readily available because few doctors are trained to provide such services. Many doctors are unaware of laws pertaining to abortion. This article reports survey findings on Malaysian medical students' attitudes toward abortion education and presents a case for including abortion education in medical schools.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  4. Fulltext Awareness of post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines against occupational exposure to HIV in Hospital Sungai Petani
    Bairy KL, Ganaraja B, Indira B, Thiyagar N, Choo CM, See CK
    Med J Malaysia, 2005 Mar;60(1):10-4.
    PMID: 16250274
    Occupational risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a matter of concern for health care workers. We conducted a study to gauge the level of awareness amongst HCW (doctors and nurses) working in Hospital Sungai Petani regarding the post-exposure prophylaxis in case of needle stick injuries from confirmed or suspected cases of HIV. Nineteen Doctors (56%) and 13 nurses (25%) were aware of correct risk of transmission. None identified all the four risk fluids correctly. 94% of doctors and 98% of nurses correctly stated that washing the site with soap and water is the initial procedure, but only few (1/10 of doctors and 1/3 of nurses) knew whom to contact immediately after injury. Twenty three doctors (67%) and 41(78%) nurses were aware of the use of Zidovudine but only 10 participants were aware of the use of second drug. Only 6 doctors (17%) and 8 nurses (15%) knew the correct duration of post-exposure prophylaxis. Twenty-three doctors (67%) and 35 nurses (67%) knew that the drugs were available in Hospital Pharmacy and 11 doctors and 12 nurses knew the approximate cost of therapy. On the average about 50% of doctors and nurses have fair knowledge of post exposure prophylaxis against HIV. Ongoing awareness and training are necessary to improve the same.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  5. Determinants of Willingness to Become Organ Donors among Dialysis Patients' Family Members
    Tumin M, Mohd Satar NH, Zakaria RH, Raja Ariffin RN, Soo-Kun L, Kok-Peng N, et al.
    Urol J, 2015 Sep 04;12(4):2245-50.
    PMID: 26341766
    PURPOSE: This study explores the factors affecting the willingness of dialysis patients' family members to become involved in living and deceased organ donation.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: We utilize cross sectional data on 350 family members of dialysis patients collected through self-administered survey from June to October 2013. The factors affecting willingness to become deceased and living organ donors among respondents were identified by running logistic regressions.

    RESULTS: The findings reveal that ethnicity, education and role in family are significant factors explaining will­ingness for living donation, while ethnicity, knowledge of organ donation and donor age drive willingness for deceased donation. We also find that the reasons of respondents being unwilling to donate center on the lack of information and family objections for deceased donation, while being medically unfit, scared of surgery and family objections are the reasons for unwillingness to donate living organs.

    CONCLUSION: In light of our findings, educational efforts are suggested to decrease the reluctance to become in­volved in living and deceased donation.

    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  6. Fulltext Selection of Treatment Strategies among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Malaysia: A Grounded Theory Approach
    Low LL, Tong SF, Low WY
    PLoS One, 2016;11(1):e0147127.
    PMID: 26812053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147127
    BACKGROUND: Diabetes Mellitus is a multifaceted chronic illness and its life-long treatment process requires patients to continuously engage with the healthcare system. The understanding of how patients manoeuvre through the healthcare system for treatment is crucial in assisting them to optimise their disease management. This study aims to explore issues determining patients' treatment strategies and the process of patients manoeuvring through the current healthcare system in selecting their choice of treatment for T2DM.

    METHODS: The Grounded Theory methodology was used. Twelve patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, nine family members and five healthcare providers from the primary care clinics were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Three focus group discussions were conducted among thirteen healthcare providers from public primary care clinics. Both purposive and theoretical samplings were used for data collection. The interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim, followed by line-by-line coding and constant comparison to identify the categories and core category.

    RESULTS: The concept of "experimentation" was observed in patients' help-seeking behaviour. The "experimentation" process required triggers, followed by information seeking related to treatment characteristics from trusted family members, friends and healthcare providers to enable decisions to be made on the choice of treatment modalities. The whole process was dynamic and iterative through interaction with the healthcare system. The decision-making process in choosing the types of treatment was complex with an element of trial-and-error. The anchor of this process was the desire to fulfil the patient's expected outcome.

    CONCLUSION: Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus continuously used "experimentation" in their treatment strategies and help-seeking process. The "experimentation" process was experiential, with continuous evaluation, information seeking and decision-making tinged with the element of trial-and-error. The theoretical model generated from this study is abstract, is believed to have a broad applicability to other diseases, may be applied at varying stages of disease development and is non-context specific.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  7. Fulltext Practices of Dengue Fever Prevention and the Associated Factors among the Orang Asli in Peninsular Malaysia
    Chandren JR, Wong LP, AbuBakar S
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2015;9(8):e0003954.
    PMID: 26267905 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003954
    BACKGROUND: Dengue is prevalent among Malaysia's indigenous peoples, known as the Orang Asli, and it poses a serious health threat to them. The study aims to look at the socio-demographic factors, health beliefs, and knowledge about dengue and its association to dengue prevention practices among Orang Asli communities in Peninsular Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 randomly selected Orang Asli villages from eight states in Peninsular Malaysia from April 2012 until February 2013.

    RESULTS: A total of 560 Orang Asli were interviewed and 505 completed the survey. Slightly above half of the participants (n = 280, 55.4%) had a total dengue prevention score of 51-100 (of a possible score of 0-100). Multivariate analysis findings showed dengue knowledge, perceived barriers to perform dengue prevention, fogging frequency, and perceived susceptibility to dengue fever as significant factors associated to dengue prevention practices. Participants with a lower dengue knowledge score (score 0-18) were less likely (OR = 0.63, 95%CI = 0.44-0.92 vs. score 19-36, P = 0.015) to practice dengue prevention. Participants with low perceived barriers to prevent dengue (score of 1-5) were more likely (OR = 2.06, 95%CI = 1.21-3.53, vs. score of 6-10, P = 0.008) to practice dengue prevention. Villages that were not fogged (OR = 0.49, 95%CI = 0.24-0.99, P = 0.045) or rarely fogged (OR = 0.40, 95%CI = 0.22-0.75, P = 0.004) had lower dengue prevention practices than villages that were fogged often. Participants with low perceived susceptibility of acquiring dengue (score of 1-5) were less likely (OR = 0.54, 95%CI = 0.33-0.89 vs. score of 6-10, P = 0.018) to practice dengue prevention measures.

    CONCLUSION: Findings imply that educational and health programmes should focus on enhancing dengue knowledge and perceived susceptibility of acquiring dengue and reducing perceived barriers to performing dengue prevention practices among the Orang Asli. More outreach on mosquito control campaigns should be carried out especially in villages where mosquito fogging is frequent.

    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  8. Ethnomedicinal uses of plants for the treatment of snake and scorpion bite in Northern Pakistan
    Butt MA, Ahmad M, Fatima A, Sultana S, Zafar M, Yaseen G, et al.
    J Ethnopharmacol, 2015 Jun 20;168:164-81.
    PMID: 25818693 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2015.03.045
    Medicinal plants represent one of the most accessible resources available for snake and scorpion bite among the rural communities of Northern Pakistan. This first ethno-botanical study aimed to document the indigenous knowledge and practices of using plants for snake and scorpion bite disorders in Northern Pakistan.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  9. Attitudes of Hong Kong high school students towards the nursing profession
    Rossiter JC, Foong A, Chan PT
    Nurse Educ Today, 1999 Aug;19(6):464-71.
    PMID: 10693494
    The increased development of hospital services in Hong Kong over the last decade has given rise in the demand for more recruits to join the nursing profession. Despite the advancement in education and the improvement in the working conditions, the problems of attracting sufficient new recruits remain critical. This study aimed to examine high school students' attitudes towards the nursing profession and to identify the contributing factors affecting shortage of nurses within the context of Hong Kong. A convenience sample of 375 high school students was recruited. A questionnaire was used to measure their knowledge, attitudes and intention to study nursing. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to describe their career preferences and to compare knowledge, attitudes and intention scales between gender and nursing exposure groups. Results indicated that the students were generally knowledgeable about nursing but were reluctant to pursue nursing as a career. However, students who were socially acquainted with a nurse demonstrated a slightly more positive attitude towards nursing and slightly higher intention to pursue nursing as a career compared with those having no social acquaintance with a nurse. Implications for promotion of nursing profession and limitations of the study were discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  10. Fulltext Audit of diabetes in Perak outpatient departments
    Chan SC, Tan OH, Tee AS
    Med J Malaysia, 1997 Dec;52(4):382-9.
    PMID: 10968115
    Adequacy of diabetic management in 5 Perak outpatient departments was studied in April 1996. Two hundred diabetic patients' records were analysed. All doctors and 100 patients answered questionnaires on diabetes. Fifty five percent of doctors had adequate knowledge. Patients' knowledge varied between centres (13% to 80% adequacy). Most records had insufficient data to determine adequacy of early detection. Centres with screeners had adequate weight and blood pressure measurement. Overall control and monitoring of diabetes were inadequate. Referral of complications were delayed in 2 centres. Refresher courses for doctors, patient health education, protocols, screeners and physician visits are recommended.
    Study site: Klinik kesihatan, outpatient clinics, hospitals, Perak, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  11. A spirited response: Malaysia's AIDS activists woo Muslim clerics
    Oorjitham S
    Asiaweek, 1999 Nov 5.
    PMID: 12295478
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  12. Menarche stories: reminiscences of college students from Lithuania, Malaysia, Sudan, and the United States
    Chrisler JC, Zittel CB
    Health Care Women Int, 1998 Jul-Aug;19(4):303-12.
    PMID: 9873290
    Women college students in four countries were invited to write the story of their first menstruation in as much detail as memory allowed. Stories were received from 26 Lithuanians, 27 Americans, 20 Malaysians, and 23 Sudanese. The stories were read and their contents analyzed for the presence or absence of information on such topics as emotional reaction, preparedness, sources of information about menstruation, changes in body image, and celebrations of this rite of passage. Similarities and differences among the groups are discussed, and passages from particularly interesting stories are quoted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  13. Cross-cultural variations in dental knowledge among antenatal mothers
    Esa R, Razak IA, Jalalludin RL
    Odontostomatol Trop, 1992 Mar;15(1):19-23.
    PMID: 1287607
    This study evaluates the level of dental knowledge among 328 antenatal mothers from different ethnic groups and ascertains the importance of the various sources of dental information. The mothers were interviewed based on a structured questionnaire. Most mothers knew about the number of sets of teeth they possessed throughout their life. This was most evident among the Chinese and least among the Malays. Only 42.7% of the mothers interviewed were positive about the preservation of their teeth throughout life. This belief was highest among the Chinese followed by the Indians. However about 40% of the Chinese believed that tooth decay is hereditary. Generally the principal sources of dental information cited by most mothers were television or radio followed by dentists, school and family. This order of importance was similarly observed among the Malays and Chinese. However, among Indians, family members represent the second most important source of dental information. The implications of these findings are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  14. Fulltext Rheumatic heart disease in Malaysia
    Jamal F, Mohd Salleh H, Tan SP
    World Health Forum, 1994;15(1):56-7.
    PMID: 8141979
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  15. Harm reduction in Asia: a successful response to hidden epidemics. The Asian Harm Reduction Network
    Crofts N, Costigan G, Narayanan P, Gray J, Dorabjee J, Langkham B, et al.
    AIDS, 1998;12 Suppl B:S109-15.
    PMID: 9679636
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  16. Fulltext Parents' views of lumbar puncture in children with febrile seizures
    Deng CT, Zulkifli HI, Azizi BH
    Med J Malaysia, 1994 Sep;49(3):263-8.
    PMID: 7845277
    A study was carried out to ascertain the views of parents regarding the performance of lumbar punctures on their children admitted for febrile seizures. One hundred and seventeen (117) children with febrile seizures were recruited over nine months. Either one of the parents was interviewed a day after admission. In most cases, this was usually the mother. The ethnic groups of the patients were Malays (62.4%), Indians (26.5%), Chinese (8.5%) and others (2.6%). Lumbar punctures were requested by the doctor in attendance in only 28 (23.9%) patients This showed that the rate of request for lumbar punctures in febrile seizures was low. Parents of eight of them refused. The main reasons for the refusal were: fears that the child might be paralysed, advice from relatives and fear that the child might die from the procedure, or might find it too painful. All the parents who refused were Malays. A lumbar puncture was also more likely to be refused in a girl. Those who consented to lumbar puncture did so because they wanted the doctor to get to the diagnosis. Another reason given was that it might be therapeutic. Parents whose children did not require a lumbar puncture also thought that lumbar puncture may cause paralysis. The main sources of information on lumbar punctures for the parents were their relatives and/or friends. In only 85% of the cases were the reasons for the lumbar puncture explained to the parent. In 71.4% of the time the explanation was done by the medical officer, and in only 4.8% of the time was the consultant involved.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  17. Do fertility intentions predict subsequent behavior? Evidence from Peninsular Malaysia
    Tan PC, Tey NP
    Stud Fam Plann, 1994 Jul-Aug;25(4):222-31.
    PMID: 7985216 DOI: 10.2307/2137905
    Data from the 1984 Malaysian Population and Family Survey were matched with birth registration records for 1985-87 to determine the accuracy of statements regarding desired family size that were reported in a household survey in predicting subsequent reproductive behavior. The findings of this study were that stated fertility intention provides fairly accurate forecasts of fertility behavior in the subsequent period. In other words, whether a woman has another child is predicted closely by whether she wanted an additional child. Informational, educational, and motivational activities of family planning programs would, therefore, have greater success in reducing family size if fertility intentions were taken into account.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  18. Fulltext Childhood epilepsy: what parents know, believe and do
    Norzila MZ, Azizi BH, Motilal R
    Med J Malaysia, 1997 Mar;52(1):60-3.
    PMID: 10968054
    This was a descriptive study to assess parents' knowledge of epilepsy in their children at the Klinik Pakar Pediatrik in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia from 1.1.93-31.6.93. Factors that influence the level of knowledge were examined. Our hypothesis was that the level of knowledge was low and level of education and social factors were important. Fifty consecutive parents were interviewed during the clinic appointments. The questionnaire consisted of 25 questions which had been used in a survey on epilepsy in Australia. In order to cater for the local population the questions were modified by adding new questions pertaining to local situation. The results showed that 90% (45/50) of parents were unaware of the type of epilepsy their children were suffering from. 50% (25/50) of parents knew the underlying cause of epilepsy of which 32% (8/25) attributed it to brain disease, 8% (2/25) to birth defects and 10% (3/25) to fever. Factors such as duration of epilepsy, parental education and racial differences between Malay and other races (Chinese, Indians) did not reach any statistical significance (p > 0.05). 80% of patients (30/50) were on monotherapy. However, 90% (45/50) of parents were unaware of their children's medications. 82% of parents (31/50) knew that the anti-convulsants would only control their children's convulsions. Only 10% (8/50) of parents knew the acute management of seizures. Wrong practices such as inserting spoons (5/50) or massaging their limbs (17/50) during an acute attack were still common. 70% of parents (35/50) attended the follow-up clinics hoping that their children's epilepsy would be cured. Parents with low economic status and of children with duration of epilepsy of less than five years had been coming to the clinic regularly. (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively). In conclusion, the overall knowledge of these parents was poor. In order to improve the management of epilepsy, it is necessary to educate parents with reading materials and effective educational packages.
    Study site: Paediatric clinic, Institut Pediatrik, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  19. Awareness and attitudes toward hepatitis B among Malaysian dentists
    Razak IA, Latifah RJ, Nasruddin J, Esa R
    Clin Prev Dent, 1991 Jul-Aug;13(4):22-4.
    PMID: 1884572
    A questionnaire was mailed to 1217 dentists whose names appear in the Dentist Register of 1987 in order to assess their awareness and acceptance of hepatitis B vaccine and their pattern of glove usage. Almost all the respondents (99.6%) were aware of the availability of the hepatitis B vaccine yet only 44.8% have received the vaccine. This is in spite of the fact that the majority (61.2%) of the vaccine non-acceptors have no reservations concerning the vaccine. About 71% and 63% of the vaccine-acceptors and non-acceptors respectively believed that the risk of their contracting hepatitis B was high or very high. About 22% of the vaccine non-acceptors never used gloves when treating patients as compared to 9% among vaccine acceptors. Overall, about 78% of the respondents have experienced needleprick injuries in the 3 years preceding the survey.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  20. Study on incidence of needle stick injury and factors associated with this problem among medical students
    Norsayani MY, Noor Hassim I
    J Occup Health, 2003 May;45(3):172-8.
    PMID: 14646293
    Medical students face the threat of needle stick injury with the consequent risk of acquiring blood-borne infection by pathogens such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C while performing their clinical activities in the hospitals. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 417 final year medical students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), University Malaya (UM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). The aims of the study were to determine the incidence of cases and episodes of needle stick injury among them in the past year. This study was also done to find out the factors that might be associated with the occurrence of this problem. The factors were sociodemographic factors, duration of exposure, level of knowledge of blood-borne diseases and Universal Precaution, perception of risk of blood-borne diseases and level of practice of Universal Precaution. The incidence of needle stick injury among medical students was 14.1% (59 cases). The total number of episodes of needle stick injury was 87 and the incidence of episodes among respondents was high i.e. 20.9%. The highest incidence of episodes of needle stick injury occurred in Obstetric & Gynaecology postings, followed by Medicine and Surgery. For clinical procedures, venepuncture had the highest incidence followed by setting up drips and giving parenteral injections. The results showed the students who had needle stick injury (cases) had lower scores in the practice of Universal Precautions than non-cases (p<0.05). There was a significant association between the level of practice of Universal Precautions and the number of episodes of needle stick injury, i.e. the higher the score for the practice of Universal Precautions, the lower the number of episodes (beta=-2.03 x 10(-2), p<0.05). This study showed that medical students are at risk of needle stick injury and blood-borne infections during their clinical activities while performing procedures on patients especially for those who were poor at practising Universal Precautions. Therefore some preventive measures should be taken by the management of the universities and medical students to avoid the occurrence of these problems.
    Matched MeSH terms: Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
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