Displaying publications 161 - 180 of 187 in total

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  1. Fulltext Effectiveness of a nutrition education intervention for primary school children: the healthy kids programme, Malaysia
    Chin Yit Siew, Tee E Siong, Zawiah Hashim, Rasyedah Ahmad Raqi, Norimah A Karim
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2020;16(106):1-10.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: This paper discussed the effectiveness of “Healthy Kids Programme (HKP)”, specifically in improving the body weight status as well as knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the children. Methods: In this longi- tudinal intervention study, a total of 12 primary schools in Klang Valley were randomly selected and divided into intervention and control groups. There were 386 standard three children participated at baseline. All children in the intervention group participated in the HKP that was conducted by nutritionists. The evaluations included the pre- and post-Immediate Impact survey (IIS) (every topic), and changes in nutrition KAP survey and anthropometric assess- ment of the children at the beginning and end of every year for three years. Results: School children in intervention group reported with an increased in the IIS score for each topic and achieved a significantly higher mean nutrition knowledge score than those in the control group over time. There were no significant differences in mean attitude and practice scores between two groups after the intervention. Children in the intervention group had lower rates of overweight and obesity (pre-test: 27.3%; post-test: 32.5%) than their counterpart (pre-test: 26.6%; post-test: 44.0%). Conclusions: The HKP is effective in improving nutrition knowledge of the children. A lower rate of overweight and obesity was observed in intervention group than control group. This approach will contribute towards inculcating healthy eating and active lifestyle habits among Malaysian children that bring about long-term health benefits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
  2. The effects of betel-nut chewing on the buccal mucosa of 296 Indians and Malays in West Malaysia. A clinical study
    Chin CT, Lee KW
    Br. J. Cancer, 1970 Sep;24(3):427-32.
    PMID: 5475750
    Changes in the buccal mucosa of 296 Indian and Malay betel-nut chewers in Perak, West Malaysia, were studied clinically. 167 out of 212 Indian subjects incorporated tobacco in their quids, while 45 out of 84 Malay subjects incorporated. "Gambir". The Indians appeared to show a higher proportion of mucosal changes, particularly when tobacco was used. "Gambir" did not appear to be potent in the production of mucosal changes. Comparison with studies in other parts of the world suggested comparable findings with respect to both tobacco and non-tobacco chewing samples, and there would appear to be some evidence that tobacco-containing quids are likely to produce a higher proportion of mucosal changes as compared to non-tobacco-containing quids. An attempt to demonstrate a dose-effect relationship by dividing the subjects into "slight" and "heavy" chewers did not yield significant differences between these two categories in each of the groups.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
  3. The fading links between tradition and oral health in Singapore
    Cheong YH
    Int Dent J, 1984 Dec;34(4):253-6.
    PMID: 6597130
    Singapore is an island republic of 616 km2. Four main ethnic groups make up its population of 2.4 million; these are the Chinese, Malays, Indians and others. Singapore's successful housing, industrialization and modernization programmes have caused tremendous changes in the lifestyles and expectations of the people. This very success has rendered some traditional customs impractical and irrelevant. Older Indians and Malay women still chew betel-nut. During the Hindu Thaipusam ceremony a traditional practice of dental interest is the piercing of devotees' cheeks and tongues with slivers of silver. There is no pain, bleeding or permanent tissue damage. The Chinese pick their teeth, crack melon seeds and scrape their tongues every morning. They also drink large quantities of unsweetened tea. Yet they remain caries-prone. Singaporeans have recently adopted the practice of eating at all hours of the day and night. This may have a bearing on their future caries state. Singapore has two categories of dental practitioner: the graduate and the registered but unqualified dentist who is invariably of Chinese descent. The swaged metal crown over sound and diseased tooth structure is frequently the unfortunate trademark of the latter. Often abscesses and cysts develop beneath these crowns. Successful dental health programmes have produced a DMFT of 2.8 in 12-year-old children, which betters the DMF target of 3.0 set by WHO for the year 2000. The progressive outlook of Singaporeans may eventually reduce further the number of traditional practices which are harmful to oral health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits
  4. Ecological factors influencing the growth of the child
    Chen PC
    Med J Malaysia, 1979 Sep;34(1):6-12.
    PMID: 542155
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits
  5. Food habits and malnutrition
    Chen PC
    Med J Malaysia, 1977 Mar;31(3):170-5.
    PMID: 904506
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits*
  6. Factors associated with obesity in Chinese-American children
    Chen JL, Kennedy C
    Pediatr Nurs, 2005 Mar-Jun;31(2):110-5.
    PMID: 15934563
    OBJECTIVE:A cross-sectional study design was utilized to examine factors associated with obesity in Chinese-American children.
    SUBJECTS:Chinese-American children (8 to 10 years old) and their mothers (N = 68) in California participated in the study.
    MEASUREMENTS:Mothers completed demographic information, the Family Assessment Device, Attitudes Toward Child Rearing Scale, and Suinn-Lew Asian Self-identity Acculturation Scale. Children's body mass index was measured, and children completed a self-administered physical activity checklist, Food Frequency Questionnaire, and the Schoolagers' Coping Strategies Inventory.
    RESULTS:Results indicated three variables that predicted children's body mass index: older age, a more democratic parenting style, and poor communication (R2=.263, F=8.727, p = .0001). Children whose mothers had a low level of acculturation were also more likely to be overweight than were children whose mothers were highly acculturated.
    CONCLUSION:This study revealed that children's ages, a democratic parenting style, and poor family communication contribute to increased body mass index in Chinese-American children. Other factors related to children's BMI and dietary intake include acculturation level of the mother and family affective responses. Future studies should examine the change in BMI over time and in different age groups and why parenting and family communication impact children's body weight.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits/ethnology
  7. Fulltext Dental caries and oral health behaviour in the Malaysian Territorial Army Personnel
    Borhan Jasmin, Nasruddin Jaafar
    Archives of Orofacial Sciences, 2011;6(2):19-25.
    MyJurnal
    A survey was conducted to assess dental caries experience and oral health related behaviour among Malaysian Territorial Army (TA) personnel. This cross-sectional study involved 284 personnel covering their socio-demography, oral hygiene habits and related behaviour and past utilization of dental services pattern. Dental caries were assessed using DMFT index. Caries prevalence was very high (97.2%; DMFT 8.15±5.36). Untreated decay (DT) was 3.67 (±3.15) and missing teeth (MT) 2.90 (±3.73). However, few were treated teeth (FT) at only 1.58 (±2.02). Almost everyone (98.2%) claimed they brushed their teeth at least once daily and 80% used fluoridated toothpaste. However, very few participants used dental floss (11.3%) while majority (60.2%) did not know about flossing. More than 70% were current smokers. Only 13.7% were regular attendees with the majority (86.3%) visiting the dentist only when they had dental problems. The most common reason (49.7%) for their last dental visit was related to presence of symptoms and few were (27.4%) for prevention. Symptomatic attendees are significantly more likely to have more severe caries experience than preventive oriented individuals (p=0.003). These findings support the importance of promoting preventive oral health utilization behaviour among army personnel.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
  8. Fulltext The prevalence of obesity among clinical students in a Malaysian medical school
    Boo NY, Chia GJ, Wong LC, Chew RM, Chong W, Loo RC
    Singapore Med J, 2010 Feb;51(2):126-32.
    PMID: 20358151
    INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity among medical students and its relationship with their dietary intake and physical activities.
    METHODS:This observational study was carried out on 240 medical students during the clinical phase of their medical course in a private medical school. Their body weight and height were measured, and a standardised questionnaire was used to collect information on their physical activities and dietary intake.
    RESULTS: The median body weight of the participants was 59.0 kg (interquartile range: 51.3-66.8), the mean body height was 166.1 cm (standard deviation [SD] 8.5 cm), and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 21.8 kg/m2 (SD 3.4 kg/m2). Based on the World Health Organization BMI cut-offs for the Asian population, 30.1 percent (n is equal to 72) of the students were overweight or obese, with a BMI that was equal to or greater than 23.0 kg/m2. Logistic regression analysis showed that, after controlling for various potential confounders, the only significant risk factors associated with overweight/obesity among these students were: male gender (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.1; 95 percent confidence intervals [CI] of 1.1 and 4.1; p is equal to 0.03), Malay ethnic group (adjusted OR 2.4; 95 percent CI 1.0 and 5.7; p is equal to 0.04), Indian ethnic group (adjusted OR 3.6; 95 percent CI 1.5 and 8.9; p is equal to 0.005), and the number of soft drinks consumed per week (adjusted OR 1.3; 95 percent CI 1.0 and 1.5; p is equal to 0.02). Skipping breakfast, the frequency of physical exercise per week, the number of hours of sleep per day, and eating noodles or roti canai (a type of Malaysian pancake) for breakfast were not significant risk factors.
    CONCLUSION: Obesity remains a common problem among medical students in their clinical years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits
  9. Gnathostoma spinigerum Owen, 1836 (Nematoda: Gnathostomidae) from a civet cat, Prionodon linsang Hardwick, with reference to its dietary habits
    Boo Liat L
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1976 Dec;7(4):530-3.
    PMID: 1025748
    The recovery of six adult Gnathostoma spinigerum Owen, 1936 from a civet cat, Prionodon linsang Hardwick, constitutes the second reported record of this parasite and the first authenticated case of adult worms found in a wild animal from Malaysia. The food habits of the infected P. linsang as an important link in the transmission of G. spinigerum in the intermediate and definitive hosts together with the probable distribution of this parasite are discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits*
  10. Disease, disorder, or deception? Latah as habit in a Malay extended family
    Bartholomew RE
    J. Nerv. Ment. Dis., 1994 Jun;182(6):331-8; discussion 339-41.
    PMID: 8201305 DOI: 10.1097/00005053-199406000-00004
    Thirty-seven cases of latah are examined within the author's Malay extended family (N = 115). Based on ethnographic data collected and a literature review, cases are readily divisible into two broad categories: habitual (N = 33) and performance (N = 4). The first form represents an infrequent, culturally conditioned habit that is occasionally used as a learned coping strategy in the form of a cathartic stress response to sudden startle with limited secondary benefits (i.e., exhibiting brief verbal obscenity with impunity). In this sense, it is identical to Western swearing. Performers are engaged in conscious, ritualized social gain through the purported exploitation of a neurophysiological potential. The latter process is essentially irrelevant, akin to sneezing or yawning. It is concluded that latah is a social construction of Western-trained universalist scientists. The concept of malingering and fraud in anthropology is critically discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits*
  11. Processed foods and the nutrition transition: evidence from Asia
    Baker P, Friel S
    Obes Rev, 2014 Jul;15(7):564-77.
    PMID: 24735161 DOI: 10.1111/obr.12174
    This paper elucidates the role of processed foods and beverages in the 'nutrition transition' underway in Asia. Processed foods tend to be high in nutrients associated with obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases: refined sugar, salt, saturated and trans-fats. This paper identifies the most significant 'product vectors' for these nutrients and describes changes in their consumption in a selection of Asian countries. Sugar, salt and fat consumption from processed foods has plateaued in high-income countries, but has rapidly increased in the lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries. Relative to sugar and salt, fat consumption in the upper-middle- and lower-middle-income countries is converging most rapidly with that of high-income countries. Carbonated soft drinks, baked goods, and oils and fats are the most significant vectors for sugar, salt and fat respectively. At the regional level there appears to be convergence in consumption patterns of processed foods, but country-level divergences including high levels of consumption of oils and fats in Malaysia, and soft drinks in the Philippines and Thailand. This analysis suggests that more action is needed by policy-makers to prevent or mitigate processed food consumption. Comprehensive policy and regulatory approaches are most likely to be effective in achieving these goals.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits
  12. Fulltext A survey on computer password practices among medical undergraduate students at Faculty of Medicine, National University of Malaysia
    Azmi, M.T., Emran, M.T.
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2006;12(1):0-0.
    MyJurnal
    Background: Without any doubt, the combo of user ID and password are the most used authentication method in the computing and internet environment. However, due to the enormous number of accounts that require password authentication, users tend to develop bad habits in their password practices which in turn will put their account security at risk. With the increasing use of computing in health-care settings and the use of EMR in hospitals, such practices are a cause for concern.
    Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using self-administered questionnaires, investigating the practice of the respondents in keeping their passwords secure. Respondents in this survey are the undergraduate students of Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
    Results: Among the findings are that 87.4% of the respondents used the same password for more than one account. If a user used the same password for several accounts, it might trigger a domino effect if any of the account passwords were compromised. A total of 98.9% of the respondents memorised their password only in their mind, without writing down the password anywhere. This may lead to using easily guessable passwords which may introduce additional security risk to their accounts. The majority of the respondents (96.6%) never or rarely change their passwords. The study also showed that 82.7% of the respondents used passwords which are 6-8 characters in length. Longer passwords are usually safer but harder to remember. The questionnaire also explored the users’ password combination style, whether they used numbers only or combination of numbers and alphabets or some other pattern. A total of 39.1% used letters only but 27.6% used combination of numbers only which is less secure. About 77% of the respondents used personal information such as their birthday date or a person’s name as part of their password.
    Conclusions: This habit may make their password guessable to people who are close to them. In conclusion, most medical students are not practising safe password conduct and they should be educated on this. If not, patients’ data confidentiality may be compromised in the future due to such practices.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
  13. The Intragranular Textures of Aggregates and its Correlation to the Physical Properties
    Azimah Hussain, Poole C
    Sains Malaysiana, 2010;39.
    To evaluate the correlation of the intragranular textures on the physical properties of coarse aggregates, four aggregates samples consisting of three granitoid sources and one limestone have been studied. The role played by intragranular textures (mineral assembladge, grain size and grain boundaries) in influencing the physical properties are potentially significant to the fact that such textural variation may complicate the aggregate strength. This study indicates that the aggregates exhibited variation in textural habits. The granitoid aggregates, which is rich with silicate composition has typical heterogranular textures of porphyritic and equigranular grain structures. Whereas the limestone aggregate comprises of bioclast and peloid allochems cemented by micrite and spar. The granitoid aggregates showed better dispersed characters and had extremely interlocking crystal boundaries which have more physical strength compared to a carbonate aggregate.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
  14. Fulltext Assessment of diet quality among married couples in a selected urban area in Selangor
    Asma, A., Nawalyah, A.G., Rokiah, M.Y., Mohd Nasir, M.T.
    Malaysian Journal of Community Health, 2010;16(2):17-28.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the overall diet quality of husbands and wives in a selected urban area in Selangor.
    Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor among 150 married couples aged 20 and above, who voluntarily agreed to participate and were not practicing any special diet. Data were collected using a 2-day 24-Hour Dietary Recall and a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) to evaluate the quality of diet among husbands and wives using the Diet Quality Index Revised (DQI-R).
    Result: Majority of husbands and wives in this study were in the middle-age group, had received tertiary education, had household monthly income of more than RM3, 500 and encompass household size of 3 to 5 persons. The mean DQI-R score for husbands (mean age= 43.33 + 11.16 years) and wives (mean age= 41.28 + 10.93 years) were 67.8 + 9.1 and 64.4 + 9.3 respectively and there was a significant different in scores between the husbands and wives (p < 0.001). In general, the diet quality of this study population was not satisfactory and that the diet quality of husbands was better compared to their wives.
    Conclusion: This study gives an insight picture of husbands and wives’ quality of diet. It can be used as a guideline to improve health intervention programs in the future.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits
  15. Fulltext Salted fish and inhalants as risk factors for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Malaysian Chinese
    Armstrong RW, Armstrong MJ, Yu MC, Henderson BE
    Cancer Res, 1983 Jun;43(6):2967-70.
    PMID: 6850606
    We conducted a case-control study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma among Malaysian Chinese to test inhalants, salted fish consumption, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and nasal ointments as risk factors for the disease. Interviews with 100 cases and 100 controls indicated that salted fish consumption during childhood was a significant risk factor (relative risk, 3.0; p = 0.04); childhood daily consumption of this food item compared to nonconsumption carried a relative risk of 17.4 [95% confidence interval = (2.7, 111.1)]. Occupational exposure to smokes (relative risk, 6.0; p = 0.006) and to dusts (relative risk, 4.0; p less than 0.001) was also significantly associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The two risk factors (consumption of salted fish and exposure to smoke and/or dust) were independent of each other. There was no association between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and tobacco, alcohol, or nasal ointments.
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits
  16. Self-specific environments associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Selangor, Malaysia
    Armstrong RW, Kutty MK, Armstrong MJ
    Soc Sci Med, 1978 Dec;12(3D-4D):149-56.
    PMID: 734454 DOI: 10.1016/0160-8002(78)90029-1
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits
  17. Areca nut: a review
    Arjungi KN
    Arzneimittelforschung, 1976;26(5):951-6.
    PMID: 786304
    Areca cattechu Linn is commonly known as areca nut or betel nut. It is a very widely cultivated plant in eastern countries like India, Bangladesh, Ceylon, Malaya, the Philippines and Japan. The importance of this nut is due to its use for chewing purposes. It had an important place as a pharmaceutical in Ayurveda--the ancient Indian system of medicine--also in the Chinese medicinal practices. The pharmaceutical importance of areca nut is due to the presence of an alkaloid, arecoline. Synthetic arecoline hydrobromide is also shown to possess numerous pharmacological properties. Chewing of "betel quid" or areca nut is a typical oriental habit. Betel quid comprises betel leaf, areca nut, catechu, lime and sometimes also tobacco. It is shown that there exists a correlationship between betel quid or areca nut chewing habit and oral cancer. A number of investigators have been able to produce cellular changes such as leukoplakia by application of betel quid or areca nut extract to the buccal mucosa of different animal.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
  18. Fulltext An Evaluation of the Video Narrative Technique on the Self-Efficacy of Medication Understanding and Use Among Post-Stroke Patients: A Randomized-Controlled Trial
    Appalasamy JR, Quek KF, Md Zain AZ, Joseph JP, Seeta Ramaiah S, Tha KK
    Patient Prefer Adherence, 2020;14:1979-1990.
    PMID: 33116441 DOI: 10.2147/PPA.S253918
    Introduction: Self-efficacy is positively associated with medication understanding and use self-efficacy (MUSE) among post-stroke patients. It is also closely related to knowledge, belief, and perception, which vary among people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures. As interventions using video and peer stories have emerged to be successful on behavior modification, this study aimed to explore the effectiveness of video narratives incorporated with Health Belief constructs on MUSE and its associated factors among patients with stroke at a local setting.

    Methods: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) for 12 months was carried out on patients diagnosed with stroke at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The RCT recruited up to 216 eligible patients who were requested to return for two more follow-ups within six months. Consented patients were randomized to either standard care or intervention with video narratives. The control of potential confounding factors was ensured, as well as unbiased treatment review with prescribed medications, only obtained onsite.

    Results and Discussion: A repeated measure of MUSE mean score differences at T0 (baseline), T2 (6th month) and T4 (12th month) for antithrombotic, antihypertensive, and all medication categories indicated significant within and between groups differences in the intervention group (p<0.05). Moreover, this impact was reflected upon continuous blood pressure (BP) monitoring compared to the control group (F (1214) =5.23, p=0.023, ƞ2=0.024). Though BP measure differences were non-significant between the groups (p=0.552), repeated measure analysis displayed significant mean differences between intervention and control group on BP control over time (F (1.344, 287.55) =8.54, P<0.001, ƞ2=0.038). Similarly, the intervention's positive impact was also present with similar trends for knowledge, illness perception, and the belief about medicine. Though significant differences (p<0.05) of all outcome measures gradually decreased between T2 and T4 in the intervention group; nevertheless, these positive findings confirmed that personalized video narratives were able to motivate and influence MUSE and its associated factors among post-stroke patients. The significant improvement in medication-taking self-efficacy and the sustenance of BP monitoring habits among patients in the intervention group strengthened our conceptual framework's practicality.

    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
  19. Fulltext A workplace email-linked website intervention for modifying cancer-related dietary and lifestyle risk factors: rationale, design and baseline findings
    Ang YK, Mirnalini K, Zalilah MS
    Malays J Nutr, 2013 Apr;19(1):37-51.
    PMID: 24800383 MyJurnal
    Introduction: The use of email and website as channels for workplace health
    information delivery is not fully explored. This study aims to describe the
    rationale, design, and baseline findings of an email-linked website intervention
    to improve modifiable cancer risk factors. Methods: Employees of a Malaysian
    public university were recruited by systematic random sampling and randomised
    into an intervention (n=174) or control group (n=165). A website was developed
    for the intervention and educational modules were uploaded onto the website.
    The intervention group received ten consecutive weekly emails with hypertext
    links to the website for downloading the modules and two individual phone
    calls as motivational support whilst the control group received none. Diet,
    lifestyle, anthropometric measurements, psychosocial factors and stages of change
    related to dietary fat, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity were
    assessed. Results: Participants were predominantly female and in non-academic
    positions. Obesity was prevalent in 15% and 37% were at risk of co-morbidities.
    Mean intake of fats was 31%, fruit was ~1 serving/day and vegetable was <1
    serving/day. Less than 20% smoked and drank alcohol and about 40% were
    physically inactive. The majority of the participants fell into the Preparation
    stage for decreasing fat intake, eating more fruit and vegetables, and increasing
    physical activity. Self-efficacy and perceived benefits were lowest among participants in the Precontemplation/Contemplation stage compared to the Preparation
    and Action/Maintenance stages. Conclusion: Baseline data show that dietary and
    lifestyle practices among the employees did not meet the international guidelines
    for cancer prevention. Hence the findings warrant the intervention planned.
    Keywords: Cancer, risk factors, email, website, worksite
    Matched MeSH terms: Food Habits/physiology*; Food Habits/psychology
  20. Diurnal-activity Patterns of the Small Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) in Southern India
    Ali AH, Asokan S
    Trop Life Sci Res, 2015 Apr;26(1):9-20.
    PMID: 26868589
    The diurnal time-activity patterns of the Small Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) were studied between 2005 and 2006 in the Nagapattinam District of Southern India. Bee-eaters were observed to spend an average of 52.5% of their day time scanning, 21.3% feeding, 13.3% flying, 8.8% resting and 4.1% engaging in preening activities. The time spent on scanning varied among seasons in 2005 (p<0.05) and among time blocks (p<0.05), but it did not vary among years or habitats (p>0.05). The feeding patterns differed among years, seasons within years, time blocks and habitats (p<0.05). The flying habits varied among years, time blocks and habitats (p<0.05) but did not change between seasons within years (p>0.05). The resting habits differed among years and habitats (p<0.05) but did not differ among seasons within years or time blocks (p>0.05). Preening differed among years and time blocks (p<0.05) but did not vary among seasons within years or habitats (p>0.05). We conclude that several factors, such as food availability, environmental factors and predation threats, may affect the diurnal activity patterns of Bee-eaters between habitats and seasons; a further study could clarify this conclusion.
    Matched MeSH terms: Habits
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