MyMedR

Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 667 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Epidemiology and seasonality of respiratory viral infections in hospitalized children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: a retrospective study of 27 years

Khor CS, Sam IC, Hooi PS, Quek KF, Chan YF

BMC Pediatr, 2012;12:32.
PMID: 22429933 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-12-32

Viral respiratory tract infections (RTI) are relatively understudied in Southeast Asian tropical countries. In temperate countries, seasonal activity of respiratory viruses has been reported, particularly in association with temperature, while inconsistent correlation of respiratory viral activity with humidity and rain is found in tropical countries. A retrospective study was performed from 1982-2008 to investigate the viral etiology of children (≤ 5 years old) admitted with RTI in a tertiary hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
The effect of milk supplementation on bone mineral density in postmenopausal Chinese women in Malaysia

Chee WS, Suriah AR, Chan SP, Zaitun Y, Chan YM

Osteoporos Int, 2003 Oct;14(10):828-34.
PMID: 12915959

Dietary studies often report low calcium intake amongst post-menopausal Malaysian women and calcium deficiency has been implicated as part of the etiology of age-related bone loss leading to osteoporosis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of high calcium skimmed milk (Anlene Gold, New Zealand Milk, Wellington, New Zealand) to reduce bone loss in Chinese postmenopausal women. Two hundred subjects aged 55-65 years and who were more than 5 years postmenopausal were randomized to a milk group and control group. The milk group consumed 50 g of high calcium skimmed milk powder daily, which contained 1200 mg calcium (taken as two glasses of milk a day). The control group continued with their usual diet. Using repeated measures ANCOVA, the milk supplement was found to significantly reduce the percentage of bone loss at the total body compared to the control group at 24 months (control -1.04%, milk -0.13%; P<0.001). At the lumbar spine, the percentage of bone loss in the control group was significantly higher (-0.90%) when compared to the milk (-0.13%) supplemented group at 24 months (P<0.05). Similarly, milk supplementation reduced the percentage of bone loss at the femoral neck (control -1.21%, milk 0.51%) (P<0.01) and total hip (control -2.17%, milk -0.50%) (P<0.01). The supplemented group did not experience any significant weight gain over the 24 months. The serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level improved significantly (P<0.01) from 69.1 +/- 16.1 nmol/l at baseline to 86.4 +/- 22.0 nmol/l at 24 months in the milk group. In conclusion, ingestion of high calcium skimmed milk was effective in reducing the rate of bone loss at clinically important lumbar spine and hip sites in postmenopausal Chinese women in Malaysia. Supplementing with milk had additional benefits of improving the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D status of the subjects.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext Evaluation of Bond Strength and Load Deflection Rate of Multi-stranded Fixed Retainer Wires: AnIn-VitroStudy

Samson RS, Varghese E, Uma E, Chandrappa PR

Contemp Clin Dent, 2018 3 31;9(1):10-14.
PMID: 29599576 DOI: 10.4103/ccd.ccd_632_17

Background: Fixed orthodontic retainers must be well retained on the tooth surfaces, allow physiologic movement of teeth and exert minimal forces on the teeth to be retained. Previous studies analyzed the bond strength and amount of deflection caused due to the debonding force but not the magnitude of force needed for unit deformation.
Aims: This study aims to evaluate and compare the bond strength and load deflection rate (LDR) of three different fixed retainer wires.
Materials and Methods: The wires were divided into three Groups: A - three-stranded twisted ligature wire, B - Bond-A-Braid (Reliance Orthodontics), and C - three-stranded twisted lingual retainer wire (3M Unitek). Twenty models were prepared for each group with a passive 15 mm long lingual retainer wire bonded to two lower incisors. An occlusogingival force was applied to the wire until it debonded. For LDR, three-point bending test was done at 0.5 mm deflection. These forces were measured using a Universal Instron Testing Machine.
Statistical Analysis: Mean bond strength/LDR and pairwise comparisons were analyzed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's honest significant differencepost hoctest, respectively.
Results: Group C exhibited the highest mean bond strength and LDR of 101.17N and 1.84N, respectively. The intergroup comparisons were all statistically significant.
Conclusion: Compared to the other two wire types, Group C might be better retained on the teeth due to its higher bond strength. With its relatively higher LDR value, it may resist deformation from occlusal forces, thereby reducing inadvertent tooth movement and yet remain flexible enough to allow physiologic tooth movements.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext 3-Dimensional facial expression recognition in human using multi-points warping

Agbolade O, Nazri A, Yaakob R, Ghani AA, Cheah YK

BMC Bioinformatics, 2019 Dec 02;20(1):619.
PMID: 31791234 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-019-3153-2

BACKGROUND: Expression in H-sapiens plays a remarkable role when it comes to social communication. The identification of this expression by human beings is relatively easy and accurate. However, achieving the same result in 3D by machine remains a challenge in computer vision. This is due to the current challenges facing facial data acquisition in 3D; such as lack of homology and complex mathematical analysis for facial point digitization. This study proposes facial expression recognition in human with the application of Multi-points Warping for 3D facial landmark by building a template mesh as a reference object. This template mesh is thereby applied to each of the target mesh on Stirling/ESRC and Bosphorus datasets. The semi-landmarks are allowed to slide along tangents to the curves and surfaces until the bending energy between a template and a target form is minimal and localization error is assessed using Procrustes ANOVA. By using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for feature selection, classification is done using Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA).
RESULT: The localization error is validated on the two datasets with superior performance over the state-of-the-art methods and variation in the expression is visualized using Principal Components (PCs). The deformations show various expression regions in the faces. The results indicate that Sad expression has the lowest recognition accuracy on both datasets. The classifier achieved a recognition accuracy of 99.58 and 99.32% on Stirling/ESRC and Bosphorus, respectively.
CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that the method is robust and in agreement with the state-of-the-art results.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext Morphometric approach to 3D soft-tissue craniofacial analysis and classification of ethnicity, sex, and age

Agbolade O, Nazri A, Yaakob R, Ghani AA, Cheah YK

PLoS One, 2020;15(4):e0228402.
PMID: 32271782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228402

BACKGROUND: The application of three-dimensional scan models offers a useful resource for studying craniofacial variation. The complex mathematical analysis for facial point acquisition in three-dimensional models has made many craniofacial assessments laborious.
METHOD: This study investigates three-dimensional (3D) soft-tissue craniofacial variation, with relation to ethnicity, sex and age variables in British and Irish white Europeans. This utilizes a geometric morphometric approach on a subsampled dataset comprising 292 scans, taken from a Liverpool-York Head Model database. Shape variation and analysis of each variable are tested using 20 anchor anatomical landmarks and 480 sliding semi-landmarks.
RESULTS: Significant ethnicity, sex, and age differences are observed for measurement covering major aspects of the craniofacial shape. The ethnicity shows subtle significant differences compared to sex and age; even though it presents the lowest classification accuracy. The magnitude of dimorphism in sex is revealed in the facial, nasal and crania measurement. Significant shape differences are also seen at each age group, with some distinct dimorphic features present in the age groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The patterns of shape variation show that white British individuals have a more rounded head shape, whereas white Irish individuals have a narrower head shape. White British persons also demonstrate higher classification accuracy. Regarding sex patterns, males are relatively larger than females, especially in the mouth and nasal regions. Females presented with higher classification accuracy than males. The differences in the chin, mouth, nose, crania, and forehead emerge from different growth rates between the groups. Classification accuracy is best for children and senior adult age groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
High yield production of sugars from deproteinated palm kernel cake under microwave irradiation via dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis

Fan SP, Jiang LQ, Chia CH, Fang Z, Zakaria S, Chee KL

Bioresour Technol, 2014 Feb;153:69-78.
PMID: 24342947 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.11.055

Recent years, great interest has been devoted to the conversion of biomass-derived carbohydrate into sugars, such as glucose, mannose and fructose. These are important versatile intermediate products that are easily processed into high value-added biofuels. In this work, microwave-assisted dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis of deproteinated palm kernel cake (DPKC) was systematically studied using Response Surface Methodology. The highest mannose yield (92.11%) was achieved at the optimized condition of 148°C, 0.75N H2SO4, 10min 31s and substrate to solvent (SS) ratio (w/v) of 1:49.69. Besides that, total fermentable sugars yield (77.11%), was obtained at 170°C, 0.181N H2SO4, 6min 6s and SS ratio (w/v) of 1:40. Ridge analysis was employed to further verify the optimum conditions. Thus, this work provides fundamental data of the practical use of DPKC as low cost, high yield and environmental-friendly material for the production of mannose and other sugars.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Outcome study of first-episode schizophrenia in a developing country: quality of life and antipsychotics

Chee KY

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 2009 Feb;44(2):143-50.
PMID: 18642120 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-008-0415-0

AIM: Quality of life has recently been emphasized in the management of schizophrenia, yet data from developing country is lacking. We explored the differences in subjective quality of life between conventional antipsychotics (CAs) and atypical antipsychotics (AAs).
METHODS: This is a naturalistic study conducted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Patients with first-episode schizophrenia and related psychosis were recruited from Kuala Lumpur Hospital. WHOQOL-BREF, side effects of medications and other variables were assessed after 1 year of treatment in routine clinical situation.
RESULTS: The study comprised 120 adults. There were no significant statistical differences between groups concerning subjective quality of life, extrapyramidal side effects and employment. Significant less benzhexol usage was reported among AAs (P<0.001) compared to CAs and sulpiride.
CONCLUSION: Patients treated with CAs, sulpiride or AAs experienced similar quality of life, clinical and health outcomes after 1 year commencing treatment. Overall, the results are in line with other major pragmatic clinical trials. This study also found sulpiride cost-effective.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext Physical Activity and Its Correlates among Adults in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Cai Lian T, Bonn G, Si Han Y, Chin Choo Y, Chee Piau W

PLoS One, 2016;11(6):e0157730.
PMID: 27332883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157730

Obesity and rates of non-communicable diseases linked to physical inactivity have increased dramatically in Malaysia over the past 20 years. Malaysia has also been identified as one of the least physically active countries in the world with over 60% of adults being essentially sedentary. This study examines the relationship of socio-demographic factors to physical activity among 770 adults from 3 Malaysian states. Physical activity levels were significantly related to ethnicity, gender, age, occupation and educational level. Controlling for inter-relationships among these variables; age, gender, Chinese ethnicity and education level were found to have unique effects on total physical activity, as well as moderate and vigorous exercise. As would be expected, younger people were more physically active, engaging more in both moderate and vigorous types of exercise and males were generally more active than females. Contrary to findings from many developed countries, however, more educated Malaysians were less likely to engage in all types of physical activity. Ethnic Chinese participants, and to a lesser degree Indians also consistently reported lower levels of activity. Possible intervention strategies are discussed that specifically target ethnic and cultural norms related to physical activity. Future research programs exploring barriers to participation and perceptions of physical activity, as well as programs to encourage active life styles among youths are also suggested.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Ethnic differences of intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness: the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases study

Chua J, Tham YC, Liao J, Zheng Y, Aung T, Wong TY, et al.

Ophthalmology, 2014 Oct;121(10):2013-22.
PMID: 24950592 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.04.041

PURPOSE:
To determine the ethnic differences in the distribution of intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in a multi-ethnic Asian population by self-reported ethnicity and genetic ancestry.
DESIGN:
Population-based, cross-sectional study.
PARTICIPANTS:
A total of 10 033 adults (3353 Chinese, 3280 Malays, and 3400 Indians) aged >40 years.
METHODS:
Participants underwent standardized systemic and ocular examinations and interviewer-administered questionnaires for risk factor assessment. The IOP readings were obtained by Goldmann applanation tonometry (Haag-Streit, Konig, Switzerland) before pupil dilation. The CCT was measured with ultrasound pachymetry. Genetic ancestry was derived using principal component (PC) analysis. Regression models were used to investigate the association of IOP and CCT with potential risk factors and genetic ancestry.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Intraocular pressure and CCT.
RESULTS:
After excluding participants with a history of glaucoma surgery or medication, refractive surgery, corneal edema, or corneal dystrophy, IOP and CCT readings were available for 3251 Chinese, 3232 Malays, and 3317 Indians. The mean IOP readings in the Chinese, Malay, and Indian participants were 14.3±3.1, 15.3±3.7, and 15.8±2.9 mmHg, respectively (P

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Clinical profile, morbidity, and outcome of adult-onset generalized pustular psoriasis: analysis of 102 cases seen in a tertiary hospital in Johor, Malaysia

Choon SE, Lai NM, Mohammad NA, Nanu NM, Tey KE, Chew SF

Int J Dermatol, 2014 Jun;53(6):676-84.
PMID: 23967807 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.12070

BACKGROUND: Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a severe but rare variant of psoriasis. Our objective is to review the clinical profile, comorbidities, and outcome of patients with GPP.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective note review of all patients with adult-onset GPP.
RESULTS: A total of 102 patients with adult-onset GPP were diagnosed between 1989 and November 2011, with a female to male ratio of 2 : 1. The mean age at onset of GPP was 40.9 years (range: 21-81 years). Acute GPP was the most common variant seen (95 cases), followed by four localized variants of GPP and three with annular pustular psoriasis. Fever and painful skin were present in 89% of patients, arthritis in 34.7%, and leukocytosis in 78.4%. Common triggers were systemic steroids (45 cases), pregnancy (17 cases), and upper respiratory tract infections (16 cases). A positive family history of psoriasis and GPP was present in 29% and 11%, respectively. Comorbidities included obesity (42.9%), hypertension (25.7%), hyperlipidemia (25.7%), and diabetes mellitus (23.7%). The mean duration of admission and pustular flare for acute GPP was 10.3 days (range: 3-44 days) and 16 days (range: 7-60 days), respectively. Fifty-four patients responded to systemic retinoid, 21 to methotrexate, eight to cyclosporine, and one to adalimumab, but recurrences were common.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the poor response of GPP to currently available anti-psoriatic agents, with frequent flare-ups. There is a need for a more effective targeted therapy for this condition.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Strategies adopted by the mudskipper Boleophthalmus boddaerti to survive sulfide exposure in normoxia or hypoxia

Ip YK, Kuah SS, Chew SF

Physiol Biochem Zool, 2004 Sep-Oct;77(5):824-37.
PMID: 15547800

The effects of sulfide on the energy metabolism of Boleophthalmus boddaerti in normoxia and hypoxia were examined. The 24-, 48-, and 96-h LC50 values of sulfide for B. boddaerti with body weight ranging from 11.6 to 14.2 g were 0.786, 0.567, and 0.467 mM, respectively. The tolerance of B. boddaerti to sulfide was not due to the presence of a sulfide-insensitive cytochrome c oxidase. There was no accumulation of lactate in the muscle and liver of specimens exposed to sulfide in normoxia. In addition, the levels of ATP, AMP, and energy charge in both the muscle and the liver were unaffected. These results indicate that B. boddaerti was able to sustain the energy supply required for its metabolic needs via mainly aerobic respiration when exposed to sulfide (up to 0.4 mM) in normoxia. Exposure of B. boddaerti simultaneously to hypoxia and 0.2 mM sulfide for 48 h resulted in decreases in the ATP levels in the muscle and liver. However, the energy charge in both tissues remained unchanged, and the level of lactate accumulated in the muscle was too low to have any major contribution to the energy budget of the fish. Our results reveal that B. boddaerti possesses inducible mechanisms to detoxify sulfide in an ample supply or a lack of O2. In normoxia, it detoxified sulfide to sulfate, sulfite, and thiosulfate. There were significant increases in the activities of sulfide oxidase in the muscle and liver of specimens exposed to sulfide, with that in the liver being >13-fold higher than that in the muscle. However, in hypoxia, sulfide oxidase activity in the liver was suppressed in response to environmental sulfide. In such conditions, there were significant increases in the activities of sulfane sulfur-forming enzyme(s) in the muscle and liver that were not observed in specimens exposed to sulfide in normoxia. Correspondingly, there were no changes in the levels of sulfate or sulfite in the muscle or liver. Instead, B. boddaerti detoxified sulfide mainly to sulfane sulfur in hypoxia. In conclusion, B. boddaerti was able to activate different mechanisms to detoxify sulfide, producing different types of detoxification products in normoxia and hypoxia.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Occupational competence and its relationship to emotional health in injured workers in return to work programs: a Malaysian study

Murad MS, O'brien L, Farnworth L, Chien CW

Scand J Occup Ther, 2013 Mar;20(2):101-10.
PMID: 22967302 DOI: 10.3109/11038128.2012.720276

Workers with musculoskeletal disorders undertaking Malaysia's return to work (RTW) programmes may experience challenges in occupational competence (OC) and negative emotional states (NES). This study aimed to measure and examines the OC and NES of the workers by comparing specific comparison groups and groups of different phases. A total of 76 participants were recruited from a national RTW programme and categorized into three groups based on different RTW phases: off-work (n = 22), re-entry (n = 31), and maintenance (n = 23). Self-report questionnaires consisted of the Occupational Self Assessment version 2.2 and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Results showed that injured workers exhibited significantly lower OC in comparison with an international group with various disabilities. In contrast, there was significantly higher NES when compared with Malaysia's general population. Significant differences in OC and NES were also found between workers in the three RTW phases. In particular, OC and NES in the off-work and re-entry phases were significantly lower (OC) and higher (NES) than in the maintenance phase. Furthermore, there was a moderate, negative correlation between OC and NES in the off-work and re-entry phase groups. This indicated that low levels of perceived OC were associated with higher levels of NES.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext The impact of return to work programs on the health status of injured workers with-related musculoskeletal disorders: a Malaysian study

Murad MS, Farnworth L, O’Brien L, Chien CW

Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2012;9(1):3-44.
MyJurnal

Introduction: This study explores the health status of injured workers in return to work (RTW) programs based on their ability and capacity. Injured workers were diagnosed with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. The findings will help not only the service provider plan a specific strategy but also allow stakeholders to review their role in the RTW program.

Methods: 102 participants were chosen from a national RTW program, and categorized into three groups based on different phases of the RTW program: off-work (n=30, 29.4%), work re-entry (n=44, 43.1%) and maintenance (n=28, 27.5%). Self-report questionnaires identified demographic data, health surveillance via SF-36 and perceived physical and psychological workload by 10-point numerical scales. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal-Wallis Test was employed to examine the differences in three phases of the RTW program. Paired t-test analyzed the differences of related samples of physical and psychological workload before and after injuries.

Results: The domains of health status are below the average compared to the norm-based population. Mental health component summary is better than physical health. At the domain level, there are significant differences among injured workers, specifically in the three RTW program phases. The SF-36 domains are: role-physical, vitality, bodily-pain, general health, and mental health (p ! 0.049). In contrast, non-significant differences were found in physical and social functioning, and role of emotion status. Moreover, their self-perceived physical and psychological work-load significantly worsened after injuries (p ! 0.020).

Conclusions: The case manager-coordinated RTW program provided further opportunities to improve injured workers’ health status when looking at their differences for different phases of RTW. Other health professionals like occupational therapists, ergonomists and psychologists should become involved in the RTW program. Specific guidelines and regulations have to be implemented to ensure full participation with all parties in the workplace.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext Quality of life after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a multiracial population

Bee PC, Gan GG, Sangkar VJ, Haris AR, Chin E

Med J Malaysia, 2011 Dec;66(5):451-5.
PMID: 22390100 MyJurnal

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was started in Malaysia since 1993 and it has improved the survival of patients with otherwise fatal haematological diseases. This study was initiated because quality of life of these survivors is an important tool in assessing the outcome of this treatment modality. The secondary objective was to identify factors that influenced their quality of life. The European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-30) was used to assess the quality of life of eligible patients. A total of 62 patents were recruited. The mean global health score (QoL) was 71.2. The major symptoms faced by our patients were fatigue, financial difficulty and appetite loss. Appetite loss was an independent adverse factor for lower QoL.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext Sport Commitment among Malaysian Racquet Sports Athletes

Ling A, Teo EW, Chin NS

Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Jul;26(4):86-93.
PMID: 31496897 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.4.10

Background: The Sport Commitment Model is widely used to understand the motivation and commitment of athletes to continue playing sports. However, the factors influencing athletes' commitment to racquet sports have not received much research attention, especially in Malaysia.
Purpose: This study aims to use the Sport Commitment Questionnaire-2 (SCQ-2) to examine Malaysian athletes' commitment to racquet sports.
Methods: A total of 612 athletes (367 males/245 females, μ age= 30.32 ± 11.56) completed the SCQ-2, which measures seven factors and two dimensions of sport commitment.
Results: The results revealed that sport enjoyment was the main factor contributing to the athletes' commitment in all sports. Two-way ANOVA analyses showed significant differences in athletes' enthusiastic commitment [F(3,604) = 44.92, P = 0.00] and constrained commitment [F(3,604) = 15.32, P = 0.00] across four sports. There were also significant differences in both enthusiastic commitment [F(3,604) = 7.53, P = 0.00] and constraint commitment [F(3,604) = 18.82, P = 0.00] across age groups.
Conclusion: Enjoyment is the main factor in sport commitment. Tennis athletes possess the highest level of enthusiastic commitment across all the racquet sports. Moreover, male athletes showed higher levels of enthusiastic commitment than female athletes.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Near esophoria is associated with high myopia

Chung KM, Chong E

Clin Exp Optom, 2002 12 11;83(2):71-75.
PMID: 12472457

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was undertaken to examine the hypothesis that esophoria is associated with higher amounts of myopia. METHODS: One hundred and forty-four subjects were selected from the files of optometry clinics at the Department of Optometry, National University of Malaysia, from the years 1995 to 1998 inclusive. These subjects were matched in terms of age group, sex, race and near phoria group. Near phorias were determined by Maddox wing technique and were classified into three groups: more than six prism dioptres exophoria, zero to six prism dioptres exophoria and any esophorias. RESULTS: One way analysis of variance revealed that there were significant differences in mean myopias between the three phoria groups (ANOVA, F(2,141) = 5.34, p < 0.01). Further analysis with the Student-Newman-Keuls test showed that the amount of myopia is significantly higher in the esophoric group than in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that near esophoria is associated with high myopia. This study suggests that near phoria might be an important factor in myopia development.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext Knowledge, awareness and attitude of first aid among health sciences university students

Jamaludin TSS, Zakaria MA, Saidi S, Chong MC

International Journal of Care Scholars, 2018;1(1):29-33.
MyJurnal

Objective: As the incidence of emergencies has steadily increased in recent years, it is important to en-sure that individuals, including university students, are adequately trained to deal with such events. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness of, and attitudes towards, first aid among IIUM Kuantan campus students.

Method: A quantitative cross-sectional survey with stratified random sam-pling study was conducted among 348 students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire which was adapted from Hong Kong Red Cross. The questionnaire was available in both English and the Malay language.

Results: A total of 42.8% participants had a moderate level of first aid knowledge. However, 90.8% participants had aware-ness of and a positive attitude towards first aid knowledge. On the other hand, 55.4% of study participants had not experienced taking first aid courses and they had little knowledge of this. There were significant associations between gender, Kulliyyah or faculty, year of study, and first aid training experience, and the level of first aid knowledge based on a one-way ANOVA test with p-values of < 0.05 representing statistical significance.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that most health sciences university students have good awareness and attitudes towards first aid. Nevertheless, implementation of regular educational programs with structured modules may be able to improve their knowledge of first aid practices and skills.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext Attitudes toward concordance and self-efficacy in decision making: a cross-sectional study on pharmacist-patient consultations

Ng YK, Shah NM, Loong LS, Pee LT, Hidzir SAM, Chong WW

Patient Prefer Adherence, 2018;12:615-624.
PMID: 29731609 DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S159113

Purpose: This study investigated patients' and pharmacists' attitudes toward concordance in a pharmacist-patient consultation and how patients' attitudes toward concordance relate to their involvement and self-efficacy in decision making associated with medication use.
Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with chronic diseases and pharmacists from three public hospitals in Malaysia. The Revised United States Leeds Attitudes toward Concordance (RUS-LATCon) was used to measure attitudes toward concordance in both patients and pharmacists. Patients also rated their perceived level of involvement in decision making and completed the Decision Self-Efficacy scale. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent t-test were used to determine significant differences between different subgroups on attitudes toward concordance, and multiple linear regression was performed to find the predictors of patients' self-efficacy in decision making.
Results: A total of 389 patients and 93 pharmacists participated in the study. Pharmacists and patients scored M=3.92 (SD=0.37) and M=3.84 (SD=0.46) on the RUS-LATCon scale, respectively. Seven items were found to be significantly different between pharmacists and patients on the subscale level. Patients who felt fully involved in decision making (M=3.94, SD=0.462) scored significantly higher on attitudes toward concordance than those who felt partially involved (M=3.82, SD=0.478) and not involved at all (M=3.68, SD=0.471; p<0.001). Patients had an average score of 76.7% (SD=14.73%) on the Decision Self-Efficacy scale. In multiple linear regression analysis, ethnicity, number of medications taken by patients, patients' perceived level of involvement, and attitudes toward concordance are significant predictors of patients' self-efficacy in decision making (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Patients who felt involved in their consultations had more positive attitudes toward concordance and higher confidence in making an informed decision. Further study is recommended on interventions involving pharmacists in supporting patients' involvement in medication-related decision making.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Fulltext The flexural strengths of five commercially available tooth-coloured restorative materials

Sulaiman, E., Yeo, Y.M., Chong, Y.T.

Ann Dent, 2007;14(1):39-45.
MyJurnal

Purpose of the study: The objective of this study was to investigate the flexural strengths of five commercially available tooth-coloured restorative materials – Alpha-Dent (composite resin, Dental Technologies Inc.), Solare Anterior (composite resin, GC), F2000 (polyacid-modified composite resin, 3M), Beautifil (giomer, Shofu) and Fuji II LC (resin- modified glass ionomer cement, GC] using the ISO 4049 specifications. Materials and Method: Ten specimens of (25±0.2)mm x (2±0.1)mm x (2±0.1)mm from each material were prepared at 22-23ºC using a customized metal mould. After light polymerization, the specimens were stored in distilled water at 37ºC for 24 hours. The specimens were subsequently blotted dry, measured and subjected to flexural testing using an Instron Universal Testing Machine with a crosshead speed of 0.5mm/min. The flexural strengths were calculated from the maximum load exerted on the specimens. Data were analysed using one way ANOVA and scheffe’s post-hoc multiple comparison tests at a significance level of 0.05.Results: The results showed that the mean flexural strengths of Beautifil, Solare Anterior and Alpha-Dent were above 80 MPa and those of F2000 and Fuji II LC were below 80 MPa. The results of one-way ANOVA and Scheffe’s post-host tests demonstrated that Beautifil had significantly higher mean flexural strength compared to Fuji II LC, F2000 and Alpha-Dent (P

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance
Predictors of axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer: is there a role for minimal axillary surgery?

Yip CH, Taib NA, Tan GH, Ng KL, Yoong BK, Choo WY

World J Surg, 2009 Jan;33(1):54-7.
PMID: 18958521 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-008-9782-7

Axillary nodal status is one of the most important prognostic factors in breast cancer. In the present study we used it to determine the predictors of axillary lymph node metastases in breast cancer and to determine if there is a group of patients in whom minimal axillary surgery is indicated.

Matched MeSH terms: Analysis of Variance

Filters

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

External Links