Displaying publications 101 - 120 of 195 in total

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  1. Children and e-cigarettes: a new threat to health
    Binns C, Lee MK, Low WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2018 05;30(4):315-320.
    PMID: 29978722 DOI: 10.1177/1010539518783808
    The widespread availability and use of e-cigarettes in many countries has established the need for an assessment of their effect on children. By the end of 2017 the number published annually on e-cigarettes had increased to 2976 and included 171 papers on e-cigarettes and children. The objective of this commentary is to provide a review and public health perspective on the effects of e-cigarettes on children. There are four public health questions to be answered: 1. Are e-cigarettes and replenishing fluids toxic on accidental ingestion? 2. If children smoke e-cigarettes is this harmful? 3. Does exposure to second hand vapour from e-cigarettes cause harm to children? 4. Are children (adolescents) who use e-cigarettes more likely to begin smoking conventional cigarettes? There were 2229 reported exposures to e-cigarette fluids and liquid nicotine in the USA in 2017 causing cardiovascular symptoms of varying severity. No deaths were reported although the potential is always there. Exposure to e-cigarette vapor is less dangerous than cigarette smoke. However it does damage pulmonary endothelium in experimental models. No long term studies are yet available on chronic diseases although vapor does contain carcinogens. Adolescents who use e-cigarettes are more likely to become tobacco smokers. Because of the accumulating evidence of harm to children great caution should be exercised in widening the public promotion and usage of e-cigarettes. Children should avoid any contact with E-cigarettes or their vapour.
  2. Vale Professor Xiaoxian Liu
    Xu F, Binns C, Low WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2020 5 16;32(2-3):134-135.
    PMID: 32410510 DOI: 10.1177/1010539520915009
  3. Red Alert: Climate Change and Public Health in the Asia Pacific Region
    Binns C, Low WY, Wai Hoe VC
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2021 11;33(8):810-811.
    PMID: 34763537 DOI: 10.1177/10105395211051322
  4. The Effectiveness of Hypnosis Intervention for Labor: An Experimental Study
    Beevi Z, Low WY, Hassan J
    Am J Clin Hypn, 2017 Oct;60(2):172-191.
    PMID: 28891771 DOI: 10.1080/00029157.2017.1280659
    Hypnosis has been shown to help pregnant women experience improved labor and postpartum periods. The present study compares the differences between experimental (n = 23) and control groups (n = 22) on specific variables measured both during labor and 24 hr postpartum. The participants in the experimental group received the hypnosis intervention at weeks 16, 20, 28, and 36 of pregnancy, while those in the control group received only routine antenatal care. The data collected at the labor stage describe the length of the labor stage, pain relief used during labor, the method of delivery, and the type of assisted vaginal delivery. Within 24 hr of delivery, data on neonatal birth weight, neonatal Apgar scores, and self-reported pain were obtained. The labor stage results showed no significant differences in the length of the second and third stages of labor. Although the participants in the experimental group reported higher pain levels immediately prior to, during, and immediately after delivery, their use of pethidine during labor was significantly lower than the control group participants. None of the experimental group participants opted for an epidural, and they had a greater number of assisted vaginal deliveries than the control group participants. The 24 hr postpartum results showed that the neonates of the experimental group participants had nonsignificantly higher Apgar scores than those of the women in the control group. Group differences in neonatal weight were not significant. The results of the present study indicate that hypnosis is useful for assisting pregnant women during labor and the postpartum period.
  5. Addressing unmet needs of patients with chronic diseases: Impact of the VISIT website during consultations
    Lee YK, Ng CJ, Low WY
    J Eval Clin Pract, 2017 Dec;23(6):1281-1288.
    PMID: 28585242 DOI: 10.1111/jep.12777
    RATIONALE, AIMS, AND OBJECTIVES: Patient concerns are often neglected in consultations, especially for chronic diseases where patients and providers fall into the routine of chronic disease management in consultations. One strategy to elicit patient concerns has been to ask patients to complete agenda lists before the consultation. This study aimed to explore the impact of a preconsultation agenda website in addressing patients' unmet needs during chronic disease consultations.
    METHODS: Patients entered their concerns into a website (Values In Shared Interactions Tool (VISIT)). Doctors accessed this information via the electronic medical records before consultations. Individual in-depth interviews were then conducted with patients and doctors on the website's impact on consultations. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.
    RESULTS: The average age (years) was 65.7 for patients (n = 8) and 35.7 for doctors (n = 7). Patients in the study entered between 1 to 6 items in the website. From postconsultation interviews, we found that the website impacted the consultation in 5 ways: (1) It facilitated patients to communicate their full agenda to doctors; (2) it helped address unmet patient needs as it gave them opportunity to raise other issues besides their chronic condition; (3) it facilitated rapport between doctor and patient; (4) it facilitated doctors to organize their consultation around the concerns the patient had listed; and (5) it disrupted the doctor's usual consultation style if the list of concerns was lengthy.
    CONCLUSIONS: Integrating patient concerns into electronic health records helped to facilitate patient-centred consultations. Doctors found this information useful but felt uneasy if the agenda list was too long or too complex. Areas for future studies include training doctors to manage complex agendas and formal evaluation of the VISIT tool.
    Study site: Primary care clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  6. Fulltext The Year of the Rabbit and the COVID Pandemic
    Binns C, Low WY, Shunnmugam B
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2023 Jan;35(1):5-6.
    PMID: 36694949 DOI: 10.1177/10105395221150836
  7. Effect of Self-Hypnosis on Test Anxiety among Secondary School Students in Malaysia
    Pachaiappan S, Tee MY, Low WY
    Int J Clin Exp Hypn, 2023;71(4):338-349.
    PMID: 37611140 DOI: 10.1080/00207144.2023.2246512
    Test anxiety comprises cognitive, physiological, and behavioral reactions due to anxiety about failure or a lower academic performance score on an exam or evaluation. This study examined the effect of self-hypnosis on reducing test anxiety among upper secondary school students using a quantitative methodology with a pre-experimental design. The prevalence of test anxiety was measured using the Friedben Test Anxiety Scale (FTAS) and students' demographic data were collected. Twenty-two 16-year-old students with moderate to high test anxiety were selected for a self-hypnosis intervention over a period of 5 weeks. The FTAS questionnaire was administered 4 times: at baseline, 3rd week, 5th week, and at follow-up (3 weeks after the intervention). Students' test anxiety differences were statistically significant across 4 time points. Self-hypnosis intervention decreased students' overall test anxiety scores and in the 3 constructs: social, cognitive, and tenseness. The outcomes indicate that self-hypnosis training can help students cope with test anxiety and should be further explored for managing test anxiety in school settings.
  8. Sexual Fluidity in a Malaysian Sample: A Case for the Presence of Facilitative Environments within a Restrictive Sociocultural and Political Landscape
    Pinto J, Lai SY, Low WY
    J Homosex, 2023 Dec 06;70(14):3399-3420.
    PMID: 35771718 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2022.2094745
    This study investigated sexual fluidity in attractions and subsequent fluidity in sexual identities, its associations with sexual orientation identity labels, and self-reported likelihood of future change in sexual identity labels in a sample of same-sex attracted Malaysian women and men. Participants completed an online questionnaire measuring sexual fluidity in attractions and sexual identity, sexual orientation identity labels and likelihood of future change in identity labels. Sexual fluidity in attractions was reported by 72% of women and 64% of men, with 44% of women and 38% of men reporting subsequent fluidity in sexual orientation identities. There were no significant gender differences observed in the frequency of sexual fluidity in attractions and change in sexual identity labels. There were also no significant gender differences in the self-reported likelihood of future change in sexual identity labels. Sexual fluidity was found to be associated with sexual identity labels representing non-exclusive sexual attractions for both men and women. Findings provide preliminary support for the presence of facilitative environments within a largely conservative and restrictive sociocultural and political landscape.
  9. The impact of social media on mental health among young people
    Tong WT, Bono SA, Low WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2023 Sep;35(6-7):449-450.
    PMID: 37649284 DOI: 10.1177/10105395231198919
  10. Fulltext Exploring patient values in medical decision making: a qualitative study
    Lee YK, Low WY, Ng CJ
    PLoS One, 2013;8(11):e80051.
    PMID: 24282518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080051
    BACKGROUND: Patient decisions are influenced by their personal values. However, there is a lack of clarity and attention on the concept of patient values in the clinical context despite clear emphasis on patient values in evidence-based medicine and shared decision making. The aim of the study was to explore the concept of patient values in the context of making decisions about insulin initiation among people with type 2 diabetes.

    METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted individual in-depth interviews with people with type 2 diabetes who were making decisions about insulin treatment. Participants were selected purposively to achieve maximum variation. A semi-structured topic guide was used to guide the interviews which were audio-recorded and analysed using a thematic approach. We interviewed 21 participants between January 2011 and March 2012. The age range of participants was 28-67 years old. Our sample comprised 9 women and 12 men. Three main themes, 'treatment-specific values', 'life goals and philosophies', and 'personal and social background', emerged from the analysis. The patients reported a variety of insulin-specific values, which were negative and/or positive beliefs about insulin. They framed insulin according to their priorities and philosophies in life. Patients' decisions were influenced by sociocultural (e.g. religious background) and personal backgrounds (e.g. family situations).

    CONCLUSIONS: This study highlighted the need for expanding the current concept of patient values in medical decision making. Clinicians should address more than just values related to treatment options. Patient values should include patients' priorities, life philosophy and their background. Current decision support tools, such as patient decision aids, should consider these new dimensions when clarifying patient values.

  11. Fulltext Self-determination and goal orientation in track and field
    Chin NS, Khoo S, Low WY
    J Hum Kinet, 2012 Jun;33:151-61.
    PMID: 23486244 DOI: 10.2478/v10078-012-0054-0
    This study investigated gender, age group and locality differences in adolescent athletes' self-determination motivation and goal orientations in track and field. It also examined the relationship between the self-determination theory and achievement goal theory. A total of 632 (349 boys, 283 girls) adolescent athletes (aged 13-18 years) completed the Sports Motivation Scale and Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire. Results indicated significant differences between gender on intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, amotivation (t(630) = 4.10, p < 0.05) and ego orientation (t(630) = 2.48, p < 0.05). Male students reported higher intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, amotivation and ego orientation. A significant difference was found between age groups on task orientation (t(630) = 1.94, p < 0.05) and locality on ego orientation (t(630) = 1.94, p < 0.05). Older athletes showed significantly higher task orientation. Rural athletes had higher ego orientation whereas urban athletes have higher intrinsic motivation. Task orientation was related to intrinsic motivation (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), extrinsic motivation (r = 0.55, p < 0.01), but weakly related to amotivation (r = 0.10, p < 0.01). Ego orientation was related to intrinsic motivation (r = 0.30, p < 0.01), extrinsic motivation (r = 0.36, p < 0.01) and amotivaion (r = 0.36, p < 0.01). Task orientation was related to ego orientation (r = 0.29, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis showed intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation accounted for 30.5% of the variances in task orientation.
  12. Fulltext The COVID-19 Pandemic: Public Health and Epidemiology
    Binns C, Low WY, Kyung LM
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2020 May;32(4):140-144.
    PMID: 32429675 DOI: 10.1177/1010539520929223
  13. Dragons, Condoms, and World Health Organization Anniversaries
    Binns C, Low WY, Shunnmugam B
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2024 Mar;36(2-3):169-171.
    PMID: 38476015 DOI: 10.1177/10105395241238062
  14. Factors influencing decision-making role preferences: A qualitative study of Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes during insulin initiation
    Lee YK, Low WY, Lee PY, Ng CJ
    Int J Nurs Pract, 2015 May;21 Suppl 2:125-31.
    PMID: 24804909 DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12355
    Patient decision-making role preference (DMRP) is a patient's preferred degree of control when making medical decisions. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore Malaysian patients' views on their DMRP. Between January 2011 and March 2012, 22 individual face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with patients with type 2 diabetes who were deciding about insulin initiation. The interviews were audio-recorded and analysed using a thematic approach. The age range of participants was 28-67 years old with 11 men. Ten patients preferred to make the decision themselves, six patients indicated that the clinician should make the decision and only one patient expressed a preference for a collaborative role. The following factors influenced DMRP: trust in clinicians, responsibility for diabetes care, level of knowledge and awareness, involvement of family and personal characteristics. In conclusion, the concept of shared decision-making is still alien, and a more participative communication style might help to facilitate patients' expression of DMRP.
    Study site: Public university hospital-based primary care clinic, Public health-care clinics (Klinik Kesihatan), Private specialist clinic, Malaysia
  15. Sexuality education in Malaysia: perceived issues and barriers by professionals
    Khalaf ZF, Low WY, Merghati-Khoei E, Ghorbani B
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2014 Jul;26(4):358-66.
    PMID: 24489084 DOI: 10.1177/1010539513517258
    This research explored the perspectives of Malaysian professionals on the issues and barriers affecting the implementation of sexuality education in Malaysia. This qualitative study involved in-depth interviews with 15 key professionals working in the field of sexuality and reproductive health in Malaysia. Thematic analysis was selected to analyze data. Barriers to sexuality education were perceived from 5 aspects: feasibility, acceptability, accountability, strategies, and community unawareness. Respondents believed that implementing national sexuality education is a time-consuming project. They regarded Malaysian multicultural society as a barrier to national sexuality education, and they believed that school-based sexuality education is not easily accomplished in Malaysia; also abstinence-only policy restricts the access of young people to accurate information. Lack of community involvement was perceived as a key concern to sexuality education. Campaigning to promote awareness of families, teachers, community leaders, and policy makers are recommended to help establishing national sexuality education in Malaysia.
  16. Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Malay language version of the TZO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life questionnaire: A health-related quality of life instrument for preschool children
    Tay CG, Jalaludin MY, Low WY, Lim CT
    J Child Health Care, 2015 Jun;19(2):167-81.
    PMID: 24154842 DOI: 10.1177/1367493513503583
    The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the translated Malay language version of TZO-AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life (TAPQOL) questionnaire in preschool children. Preterm children and term children aged between two and five years were enrolled into the study. The Malay language version of TAPQOL and a set of questions regarding the child's health status were answered by the caregivers. The internal consistency, Spearman's correlation coefficients and principal component analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation and Mann-Whitney U test for group comparison were employed to evaluate the psychometric properties of this instrument. A total of 258 children (120 preterm children and 138 term children) were recruited to this study with a response rate of 94%. All (sub)domains except one had Cronbach's α coefficients of more than .7. The Spearman's correlation coefficients between 12 subdomains were generally low. PCA supported the structural unidimensionality of the items in the instrument. Preterm children had lower quality of life scores than that of term children. Malay version of TAPQOL has multidimensional construct. It is a reliable and valid instrument for preschool children, with almost similar psychometric properties to the original version.
  17. The 2004 tsunami in Penang, Malaysia: early mental health intervention
    Krishnaswamy S, Subramaniam K, Indran T, Low WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2012 Jul;24(4):710-8.
    PMID: 22790355 DOI: 10.1177/1010539512453261
    Disasters, natural or man-made, bring numerous health care challenges. In any crisis, mental health programs are a requirement during both the acute and postemergency phases. In the Asian tsunami on December 26, 2004, some of the northwestern coastal areas of Malaysia, particularly the island of Penang, were affected with devastating effects on the residents. Such disasters can predispose to mental health problems among the affected people. An early mental health intervention program was carried out in Balik Pulau, Penang, an area badly affected by the tsunami. The objective of the intervention program was to identify the victims, counsel them, make referrals if necessary, and provide help and resources to prevent the development of mental health problems. Penang residents identified as tsunami victims by the local health authorities were recruited. A group of health care workers, school teachers, village authorities, and volunteers were trained to carry out the crisis intervention program by health care workers experienced in crisis interventions. A total of 299 adults participated in the crisis intervention program, with follow-up assessments being made 4 to 6 weeks later. At the follow-up assessment, 1% of the victims had a problem and they were then referred for further medical assessment. This indicates that the intervention program in the first 2 weeks after the tsunami disaster with referrals to medical services may have helped stabilize the victims.
  18. How do men perceive erectile dysfunction and its treatment? A qualitative study on opinions of men
    Low WY, Ng CJ, Choo WY, Tan HM
    Aging Male, 2006 Sep;9(3):175-80.
    PMID: 17050117 DOI: 10.1080/13685530600914601
    INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common medical disorder affecting the aging male. A man's perception of a disease affects his health seeking behaviour. This study aimed to explore perceptions of ED among men with ED and how these perceptions came about.
    METHODS: This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews involving 17 urban men aged between 40 and 75 years old.
    RESULTS: Misconceptions existed regarding the definitions of ED. Most men perceived impotence to be more serious than ED. Although most were aware of the medical causes of ED, 'overuse of penis' and black magic were mentioned as culturally-related causes. ED was perceived as a serious problem associated with loss of manhood and it had a significant impact on relationships with their partners. However, some adopted an 'accepting' view and attributed it to aging and fate. Most men were only familiar with PDE-5 inhibitors and traditional therapies. PDE-5 inhibitors were perceived to be effective but they were concerned about side effects and costs.
    CONCLUSIONS: Identifying men's perceptions of ED and its treatment would help doctors in their consultation, and inform health policy makers in planning appropriate public education and services.
  19. Fulltext Definitions of somatisation and cultural influences
    Mathers N, Khoo EM, McCarthy S, Thompson J, Low WY
    Br J Gen Pract, 2003 May;53(490):409.
    PMID: 12830578
  20. Addressing procedural challenges of ethical review system: Towards a better ethical quality of clinical trials review in Malaysia
    See HY, Mohamed MS, Mohd Noor SN, Low WY
    Account Res, 2019 01;26(1):49-64.
    PMID: 30526066 DOI: 10.1080/08989621.2018.1556646
    The review of clinical trials with human participants in Malaysia is governed by a decentralized control system. The clinical trial protocols are reviewed by 13 registered research ethics committees (RECs) in Malaysia. A governmental body, the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau, is responsible for the inspection and oversight of these registered RECs to ensure that they comply with the regulatory requirements. However, this study highlights that each REC in Malaysia has a different standard operating procedure and ethical review process. Other procedural challenges identified include inadequate membership, poor mechanism for research monitoring after ethical approval, and insufficient resources. Establishments of a national standard of REC and a central ethics committee are suggested to ensure procedural compliance in the oversight of clinical trials in Malaysia. While there is a growing concern that procedural compliance may not have a direct impact on the protection of human subjects, our key point is that an ethical review system compliant with the national standards could serve as a strong framework to support and enhance the ethical quality of decision-making and judgement. We believe that being aware of how influential procedural compliance can be would help committees improve the ethical quality of their research review.
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