The use of Complementary Medicine (CM) amongst diabetic patients attending the Diabetes/Hypertension, Clinic. Out Patient Department, Ipoh Hospital was studied: Forty-three patients were selected by systematic random sampling (1:5) over a one-week period starting 5/12/01. Data were collected by patient interview, from medical records and through a questionnaire. 56% were using CM together with conventional therapy. Most commonly used were herbal therapy, homeopathy and reflexology. The majority took CM daily with a mean duration of 7 years. Over half had subjective relief of pain with increased energy. Patients on CM or conventional therapy both showed poorly controlled FBS levels. There is a need to assess the effect of these therapies on diabetic outcome.
Study site: Diabetes/Hypertension, Clinic. Out Patient Department, Hospital Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Introduction: Depression is an important problem in primary care practice and is the commonest psychiatric disorder among the elderly.
Aim: To assess the prevalence of depression among the elderly patients attending a rural primary health care clinic in Malaysia and to identify its associated factors.
Method: The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) questionnaire was used as a screening instrument. Patients with positive GDS scores for depression were further assessed for Major Depression.
Results: 14% of the patients were found to have depression. The associated factors identified were gender, marital status, educational level, total family monthly income, living arrangement and if they had someone to confide in. Further clinical evaluation using the DSM IV Criteria for major depression revealed that two-thirds of the patients with depression were suffering from major depression.
Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among the elderly patients at a rural primary health care clinic was high. Primary health care doctors and staff should take extra care to detect depression when managing elderly patients.
Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in pregnancy. The effects of epilepsy include congenital abnormalities which are increased 2-3 fold. The babies born suffer from haemorrhagic disease of newborn. Preconception management and folic acid supplementation is important in optimizing outcome. With close monitoring and proper management, more than 90% of mothers have no complications throughout their pregnancy. Hormonal contraception dosage need to be increased due to the enzyme inducing nature of the anti epileptics drugs.
The morbidity patterns of elderly patients presenting to a family physician clinic was studied by the attending physician completing a questionnaire on all elderly patients aged 60 and above attending the clinic between 1st January to 31st March 2000. 612 elderly patients registered during the study period. The most common presentations included upper respiratory tract infections (21.6%), hypertension and diabetes mellitus (18%), gastritis/dyspepsia (5.0%) and injuries (5.0%), Musculoskeletal complaints (backache, gout, osteoarthritis) and anxiety were also among the top 10 most common presenting complaints. Injuries were mainly soft tissue injuries and sprains sustained at home. Some were preventable.
Upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) are the most common diseases treated in the primary health care centres in Kinta District, Perak. Thus, aretrospectiire study was undertaken to examine the documentation of the presentation of patients diagnosed with URTI and their antibiotic treatment at two health care centres in Kinta district, The randomly selected case notes of 700 patients documented the following symptoms, fever (43 .29%) , cough (68.14%) , no cough (24.43%), nasal symptoms (35 .29%) , sore throat (46.00%), headache (13 .57%) , bodyache (3 .57%) , earache (1 .86%) and gastrointestinal symptom (0, 14%) . Analysis of results using 'sore throat score' and isuggested appropriate management’ adopted from a study by Wawen et al. revealed poor correlation between diagnosis of URTI and the need for antibiotic therapy. Therefore, a clinical score for patients with sore throat can be introduced to overcome inappropriate prescription of antibiotics.
Klinik Kesihatan Gopeng, Klinik Kesihatan Malim Nawar, Kinta district, Perak, Malaysia
A shared experience in Health and Education are essential ingredients of nationhood. In healthcare, it is constructive to think in terms of the characteristics of a healthcare system that a substantial majority of our people would be enthusiastic to claim ownership. It is useful to think in terms of the elements of a 'charter for health for all Malaysians towards 2020' a) Healthcare for all Malaysians, that is equitable, accessible, and comprehensive. b) Care of quality given with courtesy and respect for patients and their families, with no financial barriers at the time of need. c) A commitment to healthcare of a quality that is appropriate to a Malaysia as a developed country by the Year 2020. Each Five-Year Plan should move in that direction, guided by extensive consultation with the community on priorities and preferences. We have to overcome the 'colonial hangover' that still leaves its mark. Health investment is still concentrated in the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, and in other cities. It is a hospital-centred system. The colonial hierarchy persists with its apex in the Capital city. Government servants are separated from other citizens in access to healthcare. Finally, health has low budget priority. However, there is good reason for optimism. A remarkable consensus has emerged between health professionals and government experts on the shape of a future health system for Malaysia. This is a considerable achievement, in contrasts to the bitter divisions that have characterised changes in other countries. There is still a long road ahead, so it is most important that the leaders of the Malaysian community make clear their preferences and priorities. The Ministry of Health speaks of a 'transformation' of the health system, and advises the medical profession to prepare for radical changes in their behaviour, and in the delivery and funding of healthcare. Four strands of change can be discerned. One, all the professions of health will have to provide evidence of competency, and must learn to monitor the quality of service they provide. Second, the great divide between public and private sector will end, and we have to find ways to integrate our services. Third, a Health Financing Authority may be established, providing hope to all Malaysians that their basic health needs will be met. As citizens, we have the duty to ask that there will be no 'privatisation' of the Health Financing Authority, or of the health facilities of the Ministry of Health. There is a fourth change, arising from our entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Foreign investors will demand access to Malaysian markets, under a so-called 'Globalisation'. All professions will be affected. More serious is the danger of commercialised health care that will damage the health of the less well-off in our country, and raise the cost of health for all of us. Health and education are most important concerns for all of us, yet it strange that as citizens we have contributed so little to shaping the sort of health system that we want for our families and for ourselves. I hope that this meeting is a new beginning.
Aim: To identify the factors associated with depression among elderly patients attending a primary health care clinic in Malaysia. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on patients aged 60 years and above in Klinik Kesihatan Butterworth, Seberang Perai Utara, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia from April to September 1999. The Geriatric Depression Scale questionnaire was used as a screening instrument. Results: The response rate was 99.0%. A total of 18% of the patients were found to have depression. The associated factors were females (odds ratio (OR) = 2.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.37-6.02), those who were unmarried (OR = 3.46, 95% CI = 1.66-7.21), without formal education (OR = 8.0, 95% CI = 2.97-21.48), low total family income (OR = 7.97, 95% CI = 2.71-23.46) and urban residence (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.09-4.58). Conclusion: Depression is very common among the elderly. As this is an important problem in primary care practice, primary care doctors should be aware of this problem so that early detection and management can be implemented., (C) 2003 Blackwell Science Ltd
The concept of palliative care is still quite new in Malaysia. Through the experience of delivering palliative care in both the hospital and community settings, the author has realized that there are many false beliefs among the medical and nursing professionals, as well as patients and their caregivers. By exploring and providing factual explanations to these beliefs, the present article highlights the differences in approach between acute and palliative management and the importance of good communication skills, as well as correcting the myths of patients and their caregivers, with the aim of improving the understanding of palliative care., (C) 2003 Blackwell Science Ltd
Background: Penang Medical College is a joint Ireland-Malaysia project in which Malaysian students spend their initial 3 years in Ireland and complete their clinical training in Penang and receive Irish qualifications and registration. The educational foundations for such a program, particularly in general practice/primary care, are complex. Objectives: To explore the experiences of current students undertaking clinical training at Penang. Methods: All students were invited to complete an anonymous, confidential questionnaire dealing with foundation course availability and participation, the perceived value of such courses and suggestions for change. Results: Two thirds of all students responded. Attendance at foundation courses varied greatly as did the perceived value of such courses for clinical training. Early patient contact and communications skills courses scored most highly. More 'hands-on' clinical skills training was requested. No student raised ethical, legal or economic issues although these areas include very significant differences between the countries. Discussion: Educational bridges which link the learning and healthcare environments in which students work are crucial in this novel undergraduate setting. Conventional educational structures have value for students but access and relevance can be improved. Students are highly conscious of the differences between these environments but prize familiar themes such as clinical skills training over less tangible areas such as ethical or social structures.
Introduction: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder among the elderly. The hallmark of depression in the elderly is its comorbidity with medical illness. Aim: To determine the prevalence of depression and its association with chronic illness among the elderly in a rural community setting. Methods: A cross sectional study design was used. A 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale questionnaire was used as a screening instrument. Results: The prevalence of depression was higher among elderly with chronic illness (9.0%) compared to elderly without chronic illness (5.6%). Depression among the elderly was signi.cantly associated with ischemic heart disease. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression among the elderly with chronic illness in the community is high. Primary care providers need to be vigilant when treating elderly patients in their care as depression is commonly found in this group.
Aim: This study explored the health beliefs, concerns and expectations of primary care patients presenting with abdominal pain, headache and chest pain. Methods: Over a 6-week period, 107 adult patients with symptoms of pain were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. Results: The presenting symptoms of these patients were: abdominal pain, 41; headache, 35; and chest pain, 31. Females made up 53.3%; the ethnic groups were Malay (35.5%), Chinese (18.7%) and Indian (45.8%); and 71.8% of the patients had primary or secondary education. The patients' attributions of their symptoms were predominantly non-medical in all three ethnic groups. The non-medical causes mentioned include food, trauma, stress, weather changes and winds ('angin'). Only two fifths of the patients mentioned disease-specific concerns. Three quarters of these patients expected either medications or wanted the doctor to look for serious causes. Very few patients specifically wanted referral or special tests. Conclusions: The patients in the study had health beliefs and concerns, in view of their non-medical focus, that was at variance with those of the health care providers. However, having decided to consult the health clinic, they were mainly looking for symptomatic relief or evaluation for serious pathology.
Aim: To determine the accuracy of urinalysis in the detection of urinary tract infection (UTI) in symptomatic patients at primary care level. Methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken on 100 patients with symptoms of UTI presenting at the Primary Care Clinic of University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia during the months of August to November 1999. Their urine samples were tested simultaneously using urine dipstick, urine microscopy and urine culture. Urine culture was used as the gold standard and UTI was diagnosed when the urine culture showed a bacteria count of >= 105 organisms per mL. The sensitivity and specificity of each test was calculated. Results: The prevalence of UTI was 25% in symptomatic patients. The urine dipstick for leukocyte esterase, nitrite and red blood cell had sensitivities of 76, 56 and 76%, respectively. Their specificities were 60, 81 and 61%, respectively. Urine microscopy for leukocytes, red blood cells and bacterial count had sensitivities of 80, 52 and 84%, while their specificities were 76, 80 and 54%, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of UTI in the present study was low despite reported symptoms of UTI. Urinalysis is needed to support the diagnosis of UTI. In the present study, while there is accuracy in the urinalysis (as the sensitivities and specificities of various tests are comparable with other studies); lack of precision in each test because of the wide range of 95% confidence interval make it less reliable. Caution should be made in interpreting each test.
Between 2/10/2000 and 30/1/2001, the organizational structure and management in 4 general practice (GP) clinics & 2 health centers (HC) in Kinta District were studied by 14 Level 4 medical students of Perak College of Medicine. Data collected from work process files and staff interviews / shadowing showed that GPs in the study had more working experience with postgraduate qualifications than HC doctors. All HC nurses but only one GP clinic nurse had formal training. HC organization was more complex with documentation. GP organization was simple and lacked documentation. HC management was by a group while GPs handled all management aspects. This study enhanced students' understanding of Malaysian primary care system.
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to screen for psychiatric symptomatology in Form 4 students in Ipoh, Perak and to determine demographic characteristics, contributing factors and the key person consulted for psychiatric / emotional problems. Methods: Between December 1997 and March 1998, 84 Form 4 students selected by random sampling from 2 Ipoh schools (one co-educational - S1 and one all boys - S2) were screened using the 30-item Malay version General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30) and a demographic questionnaire. S1 students were interviewed by a psychiatrist (second author) to assess for anxiety / depression / somatization using DSM IIIR criteria. Results: Eighty three students (98.8%) completed their questionnaires. Twenty four students (28.9%) had high GHQ scores (8 and above). There was no significant association found between GHQ scores and gender, race, parental occupation and marital status / situation, number of siblings, frequency of illness and Penialian Menengah Rendah (PMR) results. A significant association was found between the GHQ scores and the students' birth order and perceived performance in the past 6 months as compared to PMR. Fifty percent consulted their friends for emotional problems, 29.2% their parents, 4.9% their siblings. None consulted their teacher / school counselor. Conclusion: Further studies are recommended to look into the prevalence of psychiatric symptomatology amongst our Malaysian secondary school students and into the possible use of the Malay version GHQ-30 as a screening tool in this age group.
1. Revised ARA criteria (1987) the diagnosis of RA requires presence of at least 4 of the following 7 features: 1) morning stiffness> 1 hour 2) swelling of 2 or more joints (of 6 weeks duration) 3) symmetrical joint involvement 4) arthritis of more than 1 hand joints (of at least 6 weeks duration) 5) positive rheumatoid factor, 6) presence of rheumatoid nodule 7) X-ray changes. 2. Use of DMARD should start early, along with pain control by non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) 3. Early referral to rheumatologists is the current recommendation 4. Indications for early referral include: i. Early morning stiffness (EMS) of 30 mins ;- ii. Metatarsophalangeal (MTP) / metacarpophalageal (Mep) involvement. iii. 2 or more swollen joints.
Musculoskeletal complaints are one of the most common presenting symptoms to primary care physicians. However, in Malaysia, there has been no prospective survey to look at this problem. This was a descriptive study to look at the prevalence of non-traumatic musculoskeletal complaints presenting to the primary care clinic at University Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur. Over a 3-week period, there were 408/4201 patients (9.7%) with non-traumatic musculoskeletal disorders. The most common regional problem was backache and the most commonly made diagnosis was non-specific musculoskeletal pain. In conclusion, musculoskeletal disorders form a significant proportion of primary care consultations and thus should be included in the curriculum for the primary care physician training. Keywords: musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis, primary care
Study site: Primary care clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The morbidity patterns and demographics of patients presenting to two government health centers and four private general practice clinics were studied over one week. Results showed little difference in the morbidity patterns but a significant difference in the demographics of the patients. The commonest illnesses seen were minor ones like upper respiratory tract infection and chronic ones like hypertension and diabetes mellitus. A wide spectrum of illnesses was seen in all the clinics. Both places handled few emergencies and referred only occasionally. There was an equal percentage of patients from both sexes. Ages of the patients varied from place to place and the racial distribution was influenced by several factors, including the existing patient population and the race of the doctor.
In the light of present HIV worldwide epidemic. there is a need to teach the busy general practitioners how to recognise HIV & AIDS. Due to the deadly nature of this infection and its manifold presentations from opportunistic diseases. the busy general practitioners in primary care may be misled in making the correct diagnosis. In Malaysia. the doctors in the primary care level constitute 70 to 75% of the doctors' population. The rest are specialists in secondary and tertiary care institutions. Family Physicians from the Font liners to recognise and detect early cases of HlV in all its early manifestalions on the various systems. Any doctors in primary medicine whether from private or public sector, amy be confronted by patients who present with trivial complaints. These patients may be fee-paying, or particularly those doctors involved with welfare and health of factory workers and the other forms of the main work force should well arm themselves with updates in HIV and AIDS.
This cross sectional study describes the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among 100 patients attending the diabetic clinic at Klinik Kesihatan Seri Manjung from December 2002 until January 2003. A face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire was carried out for data collection. The results revealed that 87% of the respondents were able to answer 50% or more questions on knowledge correclty, while 98% of them had 50% or more score for the attitude questions. Ninety-nine percent of them reported 50% or more score for the questions on practice. However, only 56% of them practice all 4 of the practices that were asked - regular exercise, healthy diet, monitoring blood glucose level, and monitoring body weight. There was a significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r=0.536, p<0.01), but there was no significant correlation found between attitude and practice. The results indicate that an increase in knowledge will increase the attitude, however this is not necessarily the same between attitude and practice. A better structured educational programme on diabetes and preventive measures should be conducted for all especially those with diabetes to improve their practice towards diabetes. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP)