Displaying publications 121 - 140 of 167 in total

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  1. Salim H, Lee PY, Ghazali SS, Ching SM, Ali H, Shamsuddin NH, et al.
    BMC Med Educ, 2018 Aug 29;18(1):206.
    PMID: 30157829 DOI: 10.1186/s12909-018-1315-y
    BACKGROUND: Blended learning (BL) is a learning innovation that applies the concept of face-to-face learning and online learning. However, examples of these innovations are still limited in the teaching of postgraduate education within the field of family medicine. Malaysian postgraduate clinical training, is an in-service training experience and face-to-face teaching with the faculty members can be challenging. Given this, we took the opportunity to apply BL in their training. This study provides an exploration of the perceptions of the educators and students toward the implementation of BL.

    METHODS: A qualitative approach was employed using focus group discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews (IDI) at an academic centre that trains family physicians. Twelve trainees, all of whom were in their hospital specialty's rotations and five faculty members were purposively selected. Three FGDs among the trainees, one FGD and two IDIs among the faculty members were conducted using a semi-structured topic guide. Data were collected through audio-recorded interviews, transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. A thematic approach was used to analyse the data.

    RESULTS: There were four main themes that emerged from the analysis. Both educators and trainees bill the perspective that BL encouraged continuity in learning. They agreed that BL bridges the gap in student-teacher interactions. Although educators perceived that BL is in concordance with trainees learning style, trainees felt differently about this. Some educators and trainees perceived BL to be an extra burden in teaching and learning.

    CONCLUSION: This study highlights a mix positive and negative perceptions of BL by educators and trainees. BL were perceived positively for continuity in learning and student-teacher interaction. However, educator and learner have mismatched perception of learning style. BL was also perceived to cause extra burden to both educators and learners. Integrating BL to a traditional learning curriculum is still a challenge. By knowing the strengths of BL in this setting, family medicine trainees in Malaysia can use it to enhance their current learning experience. Future study can investigate different pedagogical designs that suit family medicine trainees and educators in promoting independent learning in postgraduate training.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice/education*
  2. Leong KC, Teng CL
    Aust Fam Physician, 2007 Sep;36(9):679; author reply 680.
    PMID: 17918303
    Comment on: Cannon B, Usherwood TP. General practice consultations - how well do doctors
    predict patient satisfaction? Aust Fam Physician. 2007 Mar;36(3):185-6, 192. PubMed PMID: 17339988. https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/200703/15394
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice/standards*
  3. Yadav H, Lin WY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 2001;13 Suppl:S58-61.
    PMID: 12109251
    Malaysia enjoys a comprehensive range of health services, the government being committed to the principles of universal access to high quality health care, which the Ministry of Health provides through a wide variety of nation wide network of clinics and hospitals. One of the major problems is the availability of comprehensiveness and quality of health care in remote health centres. When patients are transferred from the health centres to the hospitals for further treatment, this not only incurs inconvenience to the patients and their family but also increases the cost to the health care system. Teleprimary care is one of the tools to overcome this problem. The doctors in the remote clinics are able to discuss the problem cases through teleconsultation with the doctors and specialist in the hospitals using an audiovisual system to provide better care in the health centers without transferring the patients to the hospitals. Only the essential and needy patients are referred to the hospitals. This has not only reduced the number of patients referred to the hospitals but it has reduced the cost to the health care system. It has also provided a more comprehensive care to the patients in the health centres. The doctors in the health centers are also provided training and are also updated on the latest in medicine. This method of training has made doctors in the health centers more efficient and satisfied.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice/education*; Family Practice/organization & administration
  4. Loh LC, Ong HT, Quah SH
    Ann Acad Med Singap, 2007 Apr;36(4):281-4.
    PMID: 17483859
    INTRODUCTION: Medical talks, newsletter circulars, scientific meetings and conferences, and interaction with members of the pharmaceutical industry, have become convenient means of carrying out continuing medical education (CME) for many busy doctors.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: To study the perceived importance of these various CME activities, a self-completed posted questionnaire survey was conducted among registered practitioners of a densely populated urban state in Malaysia.

    RESULTS: Of the 172 respondents [male, 77%; hospital-based, 37%; general practitioner (GP), 55%; private practice, 70%; respondent rate of 19.5%], most preferred local conferences and endorsements by local experts to their foreign counterparts. Meetings or conferences sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry were ranked similarly with those without such links, while the reputation of the pharmaceutical firms was of foremost importance. Among GPs (n = 95) and non-GPs (n = 77), medical society newsletters were rated significantly higher by GPs while overseas conferences were rated higher by non-GPs.

    CONCLUSION: Our findings provide an important first look at this under-explored area among Malaysian doctors and described a high degree of acceptance for the involvement of the pharmaceutical industry in CME activities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice/education*; Family Practice/standards
  5. Ariff KM, Schattner P
    Med J Malaysia, 1998 Mar;53(1):82-6.
    PMID: 10968143
    A survey of domestic childhood accidental injuries was conducted at a rural general practice in Arau, Perlis. Data was collected from parents or other caregivers of 171 children, aged 12 years and below, using a pretested questionnaire. Male children between the ages of 6 and 12 years were the most common group affected, with a male to female ratio of 1.7:1. The three most common accidents were injuries from falls (28%), cuts, lacerations, bruises and puncture wounds not resulting from falls (26%), and thermal injuries (22%). The most commonly affected parts of the body were the limbs. Most injuries to children between ages 4 to 12 years occurred in the house compounds, while those to children below 4 years occurred in the kitchen and other locations within the house. Major contributing factors to the injuries were the existence of unsafe home environments, the risk taking activities of the children, the presence of hazardous products in the household and unrealistic parental attitudes to injury prevention.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  6. Chadha S, Inechen B
    J Public Health Med, 1997 Sep;19(3):363-4.
    PMID: 9347467
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  7. Xinyi, Deborah Yong, Affizal Ahmad
    MyJurnal
    Awareness, involvement and training in dysphagia management are essential to ensure that patients are appropriately
    assessed for dysphagia and provided with intervention. The study aimed to identify levels of awareness, involvement and
    training of medical officers in dysphagia management. A total of 51 medical officers from the family medicine, medical,
    otorhinolaryngology, surgery, and neurosurgery departments in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in the
    study. Levels of awareness, involvement and training of medical officers in dysphagia management were reported using
    descriptive analysis. Results indicate that medical officers lacked awareness and training in dysphagia management.
    Referral rates to speech-language pathologists for dysphagia management were low with 58.4% of medical officers having
    had seldom or never referred patients. The results provide valuable information for addressing dysphagia management
    in the hospital.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  8. Teoh LC, Chan SC
    Family Physician, 2003;12(1):24-28.
    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.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  9. Nicholas Pang, Sofeinah Didora Judip, Jeanny John, Erwani Minin, Noor Rajrinnie Rajak, Luqman Ridha Anwar, et al.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: University-wide healthcare programme are difficult to implement without complete protocols. This paper describes a collaborative academia-nursing programme to design a quick, user-friendly primary care screen- ing toolkit, to be used at community level at each faculty in UMS. Methods: A Primary Care Condition Assessment Questionnaire was designed by family medicine physicians, mental health doctors, and public health physicians. The questionnaire was pilot tested in 2 different faculties. The Primary Care Condition Assessment Questionnaire was manualized, and a one-day intervention training programme was administered. Subsequently 19 nurses and assistant medical officers were trained in the questionnaire administration and given concurrent communication skills and collaborative practice training to operate the questionnaire. Qualitative assessments of abilities to perform common primary health assessments were performed. Results: Trained nurses qualitatively felt they were more con- fident to perform primary care screening of common healthcare conditions and were able to deliver advice and refer screen-positive individuals to appropriate referral pathways. Conclusion: Public health programmes like HUMS2U put healthcare into the hands of nurses, allowing task-shifting to adequately trained non-specialist professions, and empowers nurses in basic non-communicable disease training and management. Further research will be performed to assess efficacy of the programme at all 23 faculties and departments of the university.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  10. Khoo SB
    Malays Fam Physician, 2011;6(1):7-14.
    MyJurnal
    Anaemia is the most common haematological problem in the elderly population. Using WHO criteria for anaemia (Hb of <12 g/dL in women and <13 g/dL in men), the prevalence of anaemia in the elderly has been found to range from 8-44% with the highest prevalence in men 85 years and older. Anaemia must not be considered simply as part of ageing because in 80% of cases, there is an underlying cause for Hb
    levels of <12 g/dL in the elderly. Anaemia has negative impacts on the quality of life for the elderly and there is evidence of improved morbidity and
    mortality after correction of anaemia. Chronic disease and thalassaemia may also cause microcytic anaemia besides iron deficiency and not all vitamin B12 and folate deficiency present with macrocytic megaloblastic anaemia. Nutritional deficiency anaemias are common, easily diagnosed, treatments are simple, inexpensive and effective. Tests for nutritional anaemia have to be given priority in the assessment before a patient is subjected to invasive tests to look for less common causes of anaemia. Serum ferritin which is the best non-invasive test for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia may be increased in the elderly while serum iron and transferrin decrease with ageing. Serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine (HC) levels are sensitive for detecting subclinical vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Routine iron therapy in non-anaemic elderly or in those without iron deficiency anaemia is of no use and may be detrimental to their health. Folate therapy may improve anaemia but may mask the signs and symptoms of neurological damage due to concomitant
    vitamin B12 deficiency. Blood transfusion offers prompt symptom relief of anaemia in patients with terminal malignancy irrespective of the causes for the anaemia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  11. Anis Safura R, Wijesinha S, Piterman L
    Malays Fam Physician, 2010;5(1):49-52.
    MyJurnal
    Rapid epidemiological transition globally has witnessed a rising prevalence of major chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, chronic respiratory diseases and cancers over the past 30 years. In Malaysia, these conditions are commonly managed in primary care and published evidence has consistently shown suboptimal management and poor disease control. This in turn, has led to the massive burden of treating complications in secondary care, burden to the patients and their families with regards to morbidity and premature death, and burden to the country with regards to premature loss of human capital. The crushing burden and escalating health care costs in managing chronic diseases pose a daunting challenge to our primary care system, as we remain traditionally oriented to care for acute, episodic illnesses. This paper re-examines the current evidence supporting the implementation of Wagner Chronic Care Model in primary care globally; analyses the barriers of implementation of this model in the Malaysian private general practice through SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis; and discusses fundamental solutions needed to bridge the gap to achieve better outcomes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  12. Chan SC, Mohd Amin S, Lee TW
    Malays Fam Physician, 2016;11(2-3):2-8.
    PMID: 28461851
    BACKGROUND: The College of General Practitioners of Malaysia and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners held the first Conjoint Member of the College of General Practitioners (MCGP)/Fellow of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) examination in 1982, later renamed the Conjoint MAFP/FRACGP examinations. The examination assesses competency for safe independent general practice and as family medicine specialists in Malaysia. Therefore, a defensible standard set pass mark is imperative to separate the competent from the incompetent.

    OBJECTIVE: This paper discusses the process and issues encountered in implementing standard setting to the Conjoint Part 1 examination.

    DISCUSSION: Critical to success in standard setting were judges' understanding of the process of the modified Angoff method, defining the borderline candidate's characteristics and the composition of judges. These were overcome by repeated hands-on training, provision of detailed guidelines and careful selection of judges. In December 2013, 16 judges successfully standard set the Part 1 Conjoint examinations, with high inter-rater reliability: Cronbach's alpha coefficient 0.926 (Applied Knowledge Test), 0.921 (Key Feature Problems).
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  13. Bury G, Cullen W, Khoo SB
    Asia Pac Fam Med, 2003;2(4):200-205.
    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.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  14. Othman S, Chia YC, Ng CJ
    Asia Pac Fam Med, 2003;2(4):206-212.
    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.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  15. Hanafi NS, Teng CL, Yasin S
    Asia Pac Fam Med, 2003;2(1):10-15.
    Aim: To assess the importance of continuity of care among diabetic patients attending a primary care clinic and to correlate degree of continuity of care with diabetic control. Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out among diabetic patients (n = 166) attending follow-up consultations in a family practice clinic of a teaching hospital. Face-to-face interviews were carried out on patients' perception of continuity of care and various aspects related to diabetes. Diabetic control was assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin. Retrospective chart audits of each patient over the previous 28 months were done to assess the degree of continuity of care, measured with the Usual Provider Continuity Index (UPCI). Results: The UPCI ranged from 0.18 to 1.00 with a mean value of 0.60. The average number of visits per patient over the 28-month period was 11.7 visits. The majority of patients saw five different doctors for all their visits. There were no statistically significant associations between the degree of provider continuity with diabetic control (r = 0.054) and diabetic self-care behavior (r = 0.065). The majority of patients (89%) felt that it was important to have a regular doctor. The main reason given was that a regular doctor would know the patient's problems. Conclusions: Continuity of care was highly valued by diabetic patients attending a hospital-based family practice clinic. Even though the degree of continuity was not associated with the degree of diabetic control, patients felt that it was important to have doctors who are aware of their problems.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  16. Low WY, Khoo EM, Tan HM
    ISBN: 0-86471-096-8
    Citation: Low WY, Khoo EM, Tan HM. Sexual Health Problems: Attitudes and Practices of Malaysian General Practitioners. Auckland: Adis International Ltd, 2002
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  17. Ng CJ, Teo CH, Ang KM, Kok YL, Ashraf K, Leong HL, et al.
    Malays Fam Physician, 2020;15(1):6-14.
    PMID: 32284799
    Introduction: This study aimed to determine the views and practices of healthcare providers and barriers they encountered when implementing the national health screening program for men in a public primary care setting in Malaysia.

    Methods: An online survey was conducted among healthcare providers across public health clinics in Malaysia. All family medicine specialists, medical officers, nurses and assistant medical officers involved in the screening program for adult men were invited to answer a 51-item questionnaire via email or WhatsApp. The questionnaire comprised five sections: participants' socio-demographic information, current screening practices, barriers and facilitators to using the screening tool, and views on the content and format of the screening tool.

    Results: A total of 231 healthcare providers from 129 health clinics participated in this survey. Among them, 37.44% perceived the implementation of the screening program as a "top-down decision." Although 37.44% found the screening tool for adult men "useful," some felt that it was "time consuming" to fill out (38.2%) and "lengthy" (28.3%). In addition, 'adult men refuse to answer' (24.1%) was cited as the most common patient-related barrier.

    Conclusions: This study provided useful insights into the challenges encountered by the public healthcare providers when implementing a national screening program for men. The screening tool for adult men should be revised to make it more user-friendly. Further studies should explore the reasons why men were reluctant to participate in health screenings, thus enhancing the implementation of screening programs in primary care.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  18. Nantha YS, Hs AS
    Korean J Fam Med, 2020 Jul;41(4):267-270.
    PMID: 31992021 DOI: 10.4082/kjfm.18.0056
    BACKGROUND: The provision of sick leave to patients in general practice often entails a complex decision-making process. Commonly, general practitioners believe that the act of providing sick leave can become confrontational. We assessed the intention, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control of general practitioners in relation to sick leave provision at public health clinics in Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was implemented using data from 86 primary health care clinics in two states in Malaysia from February 2014 to March 2015. A questionnaire that comprised indirect measures were developed on the basis of the Theory of Planned Behavior. The questionnaire assessed several dimensions related to sickness certification provision viz., intention, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control.

    RESULTS: The mean scores in this study revealed that physicians acknowledged that patient factors such as clinical symptoms (6.59±0.04), debilitating signs and symptoms of diseases (6.45±0.06), importance of illness recovery (6.07±0.07), and approval of employers (5.35±0.09) played an important role in their decision to provide sick leave.

    CONCLUSION: The act of providing sickness certification to patients is a complex decision-making process. The findings of this study can be used to devise a targeted intervention to reduce the conflict that physicians face in issuing sick leaves.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  19. Fletcher E, Burns A, Wiering B, Lavu D, Shephard E, Hamilton W, et al.
    BMC Prim Care, 2023 Jan 20;24(1):23.
    PMID: 36670354 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-01973-2
    BACKGROUND: Electronic clinical decision support tools (eCDS) are increasingly available to assist General Practitioners (GP) with the diagnosis and management of a range of health conditions. It is unclear whether the use of eCDS tools has an impact on GP workload. This scoping review aimed to identify the available evidence on the use of eCDS tools by health professionals in general practice in relation to their impact on workload and workflow.

    METHODS: A scoping review was carried out using the Arksey and O'Malley methodological framework. The search strategy was developed iteratively, with three main aspects: general practice/primary care contexts, risk assessment/decision support tools, and workload-related factors. Three databases were searched in 2019, and updated in 2021, covering articles published since 2009: Medline (Ovid), HMIC (Ovid) and Web of Science (TR). Double screening was completed by two reviewers, and data extracted from included articles were analysed.

    RESULTS: The search resulted in 5,594 references, leading to 95 full articles, referring to 87 studies, after screening. Of these, 36 studies were based in the USA, 21 in the UK and 11 in Australia. A further 18 originated from Canada or Europe, with the remaining studies conducted in New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia. Studies examined the use of eCDS tools and reported some findings related to their impact on workload, including on consultation duration. Most studies were qualitative and exploratory in nature, reporting health professionals' subjective perceptions of consultation duration as opposed to objectively-measured time spent using tools or consultation durations. Other workload-related findings included impacts on cognitive workload, "workflow" and dialogue with patients, and clinicians' experience of "alert fatigue".

    CONCLUSIONS: The published literature on the impact of eCDS tools in general practice showed that limited efforts have focused on investigating the impact of such tools on workload and workflow. To gain an understanding of this area, further research, including quantitative measurement of consultation durations, would be useful to inform the future design and implementation of eCDS tools.

    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice
  20. Tong SF, Low WY, Ismail SB, Trevena L, Willcock S
    BMC Fam Pract, 2011;12:29.
    PMID: 21569395 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-12-29
    BACKGROUND: Men have been noted to utilise health care services less readily then women. Primary care settings provide an opportunity to engage men in health care activities because of close proximity to the target group (men in the community). Understanding attitudes towards men's health among Malaysian primary care doctors is important for the effective delivery of health services to men. We aimed to explore the opinions and attitudes of primary care doctors (PCDs) relating to men's health and help-seeking behaviour.
    METHODS: A qualitative approach to explore the opinions of 52 PCDs was employed, using fourteen in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions in public and private settings. Purposive sampling of PCDs was done to ensure maximum variation in the PCD sample. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Open coding with thematic analysis was used to identify key issues raised in the interview.
    RESULTS: The understanding of the concept of men's health among PCDs was fragmented. Although many PCDs were already managing health conditions relevant and common to men, they were not viewed by PCDs as "men's health". Less attention was paid to men's help-seeking behaviour and their gender roles as a potential determinant of the poor health status of men. There were opposing views about whether men's health should focus on men's overall health or a more focused approach to sexual health. There was also disagreement about whether special attention was warranted for men's health services. Some doctors would prioritise more common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia.
    CONCLUSIONS: The concept of men's health was new to PCDs in Malaysia. There was wide variation in understanding and opposing attitudes towards men's health among primary care doctors. Creating awareness and having a systematic approach would facilitate PCDs in delivering health service to men.
    Matched MeSH terms: Family Practice/organization & administration*
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