MyMedR

Displaying publications 161 - 180 of 259 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Association between pregnancy induced hypertension and low birth weight; a population based case-control study

Rahman LA, Hairi NN, Salleh N

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2008;20(2):152-8.
PMID: 19124309 DOI: 10.1177/1010539507311553

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between pregnancy-induced hypertension and low birth weight. A population-based case control study was conducted. Antenatal mothers who attended the government health centers in the district of Kuala Muda, Kedah, Malaysia from June 2003 to May 2004 were recruited. Cases were 312 mothers who delivered low birth weight babies, and controls were 312 mothers who delivered normal birth weight babies. Face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and a review of medical records were carried out. After controlling for important confounders such as gestational age at delivery, maternal age, ethnicity, education, parity, and previous history of abortion, pregnancy-induced hypertension was found to be an independent risk factor (adjusted odds ratio = 5.06; 95% confidence interval: 2.63, 9.71) for low birth weight. There was a significant association of pregnancy-induced hypertension with low birth weight. Women who delivered low birth weight babies were 5 times more likely to have had pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
How well were asthmatic patients educated about their asthma? A study at the emergency department

Lee PY, Khoo EM

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2004;16(1):45-9.
PMID: 18839867 DOI: 10.1177/101053950401600108

70 patients presented with acute asthma exacerbation requiring nebulised bronchodilator treatment at the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were interviewed over a two-week period in July 2001. The results showed that 45 (64%) patients had not been educated on the nature of asthma; 30 (43%) had not been advised on preventive measures or avoidance of triggers; 54 (77%) were not advised about the medications used and their side effects; 42 (60%) patients did not know the difference between reliever and preventive medications; 37 (53%) were unable to recognize features of worsening asthma and 68 (97%) were not told about the danger of non-prescribed self-medication or traditional medications. Only six (9%) patients were using peak flow meters and were taught self-management plans. The multiple regression results suggest that patients who were followed up at teaching hospital based clinics were better educated on asthma. In conclusion, asthmatic patients are still not educated well about their disease. Health care providers need to put more emphasis on asthma education so that the number of emergency room visits can be reduced.
Study site: Emergency department, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Utilisation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) through community pharmacies in Malaysia

Chua SS, Paraidathathu T

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2005;17(2):117-23.
PMID: 16425656

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by consumers who obtained these drugs from community pharmacies. Factors that influenced community pharmacists in their choice of NSAIDs were also determined. Personal interviews were conducted on consumers who visited the 25 participating community pharmacies throughout Malaysia. Of the 389 respondents, 49% requested for an NSAID by name, 42% asked the pharmacist to recommend a medication and 9% had a doctor's prescription. NSAIDs were mainly purchased for joint/shoulder pain and the most commonly dispensed was diclofenac. Elderly respondents were more likely to be dispensed a selective COX-2 inhibitor than those below 60. NSAIDs were recommended based mainly on the pharmacist's perception of their efficacy, cost and safety. Community pharmacists play an important role in assisting patients in choosing the most appropriate NSAID for their health problems.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Perceived health status and daily activity participation of older Malaysians

Ng ST, Tengku-Aizan H, Tey NP

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2011 Jul;23(4):470-84.
PMID: 20685663 DOI: 10.1177/1010539510374751

This article investigates the influence of perceived health status on the daily activity participation of older Malaysians. Data from the Survey on Perceptions of Needs and Problems of the Elderly, which was conducted in 1999, were used. The negative binomial regression results show that older persons with good perceived health status reported more varieties of daily activity participation, especially among the uneducated and those with below-average self-esteem. The multinomial logistic regression model suggests that older persons with good perceived health status tended to engage daily in paid work only or with leisure activities, whereas those perceived to have poor health were more likely to engage in leisure activities only or leisure and family role activities. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle at a younger age encourages every person to monitor and take responsibility for their own health, which is a necessary strategy to ensure active participation at an older age, and thus improve their well-being.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Barriers and Facilitators to HIV Care Linkage and Retention Among Older Adults Diagnosed With HIV in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study

Wong HY, Rajasuriar R, Wong PL, Lee YK

Sex Transm Dis, 2024 Dec 01;51(12):826-837.
PMID: 39046151 DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000002053

INTRODUCTION: Older adults newly diagnosed with HIV experience poorer prognosis and higher mortality compared with those diagnosed at younger ages. We explored the barriers and facilitators in HIV care linkage and retention among newly diagnosed older persons living with HIV (OPLWH) in Malaysia.
METHODS: We conducted in-depth interviews with OPLWH and focus group discussions with health care providers (HCPs) from 5 specialties (primary care medicine, psychological medicine, gynecology, geriatrics, and infectious disease) at a tertiary hospital between September 2021 and April 2022. All sessions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically.
RESULTS: We recruited 16 OPLWH and 7 HCPs. Thirteen OPLWH were male. Eight of them self-identified as men who have sex with men, and the rest were heterosexual. Diagnosis of HIV was between the ages of 50 and 61 years. Barriers and facilitators could be categorized into 3 levels: individual, interpersonal, and institutional. Individual barriers included misinformation about HIV treatment, unable to afford HIV-related services, and belief that life was futile. Interpersonal barriers were HIV-related stigma, poor social and family support, and social prejudice toward men who have sex with men. Lastly, institutional barriers were the need for frequent hospital visits, high cost for HIV-related services, a lack of guidance after diagnosis, and poor communication with HCPs. Facilitators included doctor or friend support and positive institutional reputation.
CONCLUSIONS: Multiple challenges hindered optimal care for OPLWH after HIV diagnosis. Issues like high costs, belief that treatment is futile, and a lack of family support need to be addressed as part of long-term support services for OPLWH.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Perceptions and practices of community pharmacists regarding emergency contraceptives in Jordan: A qualitative study

Jum'Ah D, Binsaleh AY, Shilbayeh SA, Halboup A, Abu-Farha R

Afr J Reprod Health, 2025 Mar 25;29(3):115-124.
PMID: 40135411 DOI: 10.29063/ajrh2025/v29i3.14

This exploratory qualitative study examines the awareness, perceptions, and roles of Jordanian community pharmacists in providing emergency contraception. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with pharmacists from two major governorates, exploring their counseling practices, knowledge of emergency contraceptives, product differences, concerns, and views on patient requests. Findings show that pharmacists' decisions are influenced by societal stigma, legal constraints, and personal beliefs, with market trends also affecting dispensing practices. The gap was evident in how pharmacists were short on knowing the variety of different types and approaches to emergency contraception. Patient initiative in seeking information significantly mattered and influenced how pharmacists responded to such situations. Also, they reported ethical dilemmas when they handled these medications. Pharmacies in Jordan are so intertwined with community, where people sought to seek pharmacists' help in almost every occasion, proving ever strongly how it makes a difference whether the space is safe and supportive or not, especially for reproductive health issues. Our study highlighted where do we fall short and the need to design programs that fill the gaps in knowledge, perception, and practice. Cette étude qualitative exploratoire examine la sensibilisation, les perceptions et les rôles des pharmaciens communautaires jordaniens dans la fourniture de contraception d'urgence. Vingt entretiens semi-structurés ont été menés avec des pharmaciens de deux gouvernorats majeurs, explorant leurs pratiques de conseil, leurs connaissances des contraceptifs d'urgence, les différences entre les produits, leurs préoccupations et leurs points de vue sur les demandes des patients. Les résultats montrent que les décisions des pharmaciens sont influencées par la stigmatisation sociétale, les contraintes juridiques et les convictions personnelles, les tendances du marché affectant également les pratiques de délivrance. L’écart était évident dans la mesure où les pharmaciens ne connaissaient pas la variété des différents types et approches de contraception d’urgence. L’initiative des patients dans la recherche d’informations était importante et influençait la manière dont les pharmaciens réagissaient à de telles situations. En outre, ils ont signalé des dilemmes éthiques lorsqu’ils manipulaient ces médicaments. Les pharmacies en Jordanie sont tellement liées à la communauté que les gens ont cherché à demander l'aide d'un pharmacien presque à chaque occasion, prouvant ainsi à quel point il est important que l'espace soit sûr et favorable ou non, en particulier pour les problèmes de santé reproductive. Notre étude a mis en évidence nos lacunes et la nécessité de concevoir des programmes qui comblent les lacunes en matière de connaissances, de perception et de pratique.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Barriers to Childhood Immunization in Rural and Remote Areas: A Qualitative Exploration From the Perspectives of Community Leaders in Sindh, Pakistan

Sahitia S, Idris IB, Safian N, Ali RF, Shamsuddin K, Hod R

Qual Health Res, 2025 Mar;35(3):349-365.
PMID: 39189685 DOI: 10.1177/10497323241263279

Despite overall improvements observed at the national level, there is a significant disparity in childhood vaccination coverage rates between urban and rural regions, particularly within tribal and remote areas in Pakistan. Our study aimed to explore the views of community/tribal leaders concerning barriers and their local solutions for improving vaccine uptake, with a specific focus on remote settings. An exploratory qualitative research study was conducted from July to September 2019 in Shikarpur, Sindh, Pakistan. We interviewed 11 community leaders, after developing a semi-structured interview guide based on the health belief model. Following validation, the collected data was transcribed and subsequently translated into the English language. A stepwise process of manual familiarization, coding, theme generation, and theme review using an inductive approach was followed. While most of the rural community leaders expressed a willingness to support vaccinations, numerous unexplored barriers were identified. These barriers included an unsustainable communication system heavily dependent on polio mobile teams, discourteous behavior of healthcare personnel, cultural restrictions that limited women's involvement, economic hardships, limited transportation options, insufficient collaboration with the education sector, poor knowledge among community leaders, and security concerns. Additionally, they proposed some innovative solutions of information dissemination methods through the Ottaque system, ethics-based training, subsidized transportation services or voucher system, and addressing security concerns in collaboration with community leaders. Our findings suggest policymakers take both community leaders and members for an inclusive policy-making process to redraft the special policy for these remote and rural areas.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Recalling war trauma of the Pacific War and the Japanese occupation in the oral history of Malaysia and Singapore

Blackburn K

Oral Hist Rev, 2009;36(2):231-52.
PMID: 19999634

The Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation were traumatic periods in the lives of people now over seventy years old in Malaysia and Singapore. This study traces why individuals interviewed for oral history of the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation have often been able to tell stories of trauma without being overwhelmed by their reminiscences. It emphasizes that memories of traumatic experiences of the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation in Malaysia and Singapore are mediated and eased by supportive social networks that are part of the interview subject's community. The individual's personal memories of traumatic war experiences are positioned in the context of the collective memory of the group and, thus, are made easier to recall. However, for individuals whose personal memories are at variance with the collective memory of the group they belong to, recalling traumatic experiences is more difficult and alienating as they do not have the support in their community. The act of recalling traumatic memories in the context of the collective memory of a group is particularly relevant in Malaysia and Singapore. These countries have a long history of being plural societies, where although the major ethnic groups -- the Malays, Chinese, and Indians -- have lived side by side peacefully, they have lived in culturally and socially separate worlds, not interacting much with the other groups. The self -- identity of many older people who lived through the Pacific War and the Japanese Occupation is inextricably bound up with their ethnicity. Oral history on war trauma strongly reflects these identities.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic*
Fulltext "I can't stop worrying about everything"—experiences of rural Bangladeshi women during the first postpartum months

Edhborg M, Nasreen HE, Kabir ZN

Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being, 2015;10:26226.
PMID: 25595913 DOI: 10.3402/qhw.v10.26226

Over recent years, researchers have found evidence which indicates that the prevalence of postpartum depressive symptoms crosses cultural boundaries and is reported to be at least as high in non-Western countries as in Western countries. However, qualitative studies about new mothers' experiences from non-Western countries, such as Bangladesh, are rare, particularly in rural areas. This study aims to describe the experiences and concerns of rural Bangladeshi mothers with postpartum depressive symptoms. Open narrative interviews were conducted with 21 mothers with depressive symptoms 2-3 months postpartum, consecutively selected from a longitudinal study about prevalence and risk factors of perinatal depressive symptoms. Inductive content analysis was used to analyse data and three themes emerged: family dynamics, living at the limits of survival, and role of the cultural context after childbirth. These themes were based on six categories and 15 subcategories. The findings show that troublesome family relationships, including intimate partner violence and violence in the family, influenced the mothers' mental well-being. They and their families lived at the limit of survival and the mothers expressed fear and worries about their insecure situation regarding economic difficulties and health problems. They felt sorry for being unable to give their infants a good start in life and sad because they could not always follow the traditional norms related to childbirth. Thus, it is important to focus on the depressive symptoms among new mothers and offer counselling to those showing depressive symptoms, as the cultural traditions do not always alleviate these symptoms in the changing Bangladeshi society today.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Who decides? A qualitative study on the decisional roles of patients, their caregivers and doctors on the method of bladder drainage after spinal cord injury

Engkasan JP, Ng CJ, Low WY

Spinal Cord, 2015 Feb;53(2):130-4.
PMID: 25403504 DOI: 10.1038/sc.2014.199

STUDY DESIGN: Qualitative study using individual in-depth interviews.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the roles of patients, their caregivers and doctors when making decisions on the method of bladder drainage after spinal cord injury (SCI).

SETTING: Five public hospitals in Malaysia.

METHODS: Semistructured (one-to-one) interviews with 17 male patients with SCI, 4 caregivers and 10 rehabilitation professionals.

RESULTS: Eight themes describing the respective decisional roles of patients, their caregivers and doctors emerged from the analysis: patient's right and responsibilities, patient as an informed decision maker, forced to accept decision; surrogate decision maker, silent partner; doctor knows best, over-ride patient's decision, or reluctant decision maker. Both patients and doctors acknowledged the importance of patient autonomy but not all patients had the chance to practice it. Some felt that they were forced to accept the doctor's decision and even alleged that the doctor refused to accept their decision. Doctors considered the caregiver as the decision maker in cases that involved minors, elderly and those with tetraplegia. Some patients considered bladder problems an embarrassing subject to discuss with their caregivers and did not want their involvement. Doctors were described as knowledgeable and were trusted by patients and their caregivers to make the most appropriate option. Some doctors were happy to assume this role whereas some others saw themselves only as information providers.

CONCLUSIONS: A paternalistic model is prevalent in this decision-making process and there is a discrepancy between patients' preferred and actual decisional roles.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Characterization of risk factors for DNA damage among paddy farm worker exposed to mixtures of organophosphates

How V, Hashim Z, Ismail P, Omar D, Said SM, Tamrin SB

Arch Environ Occup Health, 2015;70(2):102-9.
PMID: 24965330 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2013.823905

This is a cross-sectional study conducted among paddy farmers to characterize potential risk factors that influence levels of DNA damage from exposure to mixtures of organophosphates. Comet assay was used to determine the level of DNA damage by measuring the comet tail length from the exfoliated buccal mucosa. The result suggests that farmers who chronically exposure to a mixture of organophosphates has at least 2-fold significant increase of DNA damage as compared with control group. Factor analysis and linear regression both suggest that DNA damage reported by farmers may influence individual, occupational, and residential factors and are reported as significant predictor factors, whereas this effect is mainly caused by individual factors among the control group. The findings of the present study suggest that either farmer or control group bear certain extent of genotoxic burden contributed by different risk factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Fulltext Community knowledge, health beliefs, practices and experiences related to dengue fever and its association with IgG seropositivity

Wong LP, AbuBakar S, Chinna K

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2014 May;8(5):e2789.
PMID: 24853259 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002789

Demographic, economic and behavioural factors are central features underpinning the successful management and biological control of dengue. This study aimed to examine these factors and their association with the seroprevalence of this disease.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Life events and stress: do older men and women in Malaysia cope differently as consumers?

Ong FS, Phillips DR, Chai ST

J Cross Cult Gerontol, 2013 Jun;28(2):195-210.
PMID: 23652824 DOI: 10.1007/s10823-013-9190-9

The study of major life events and their effects on well-being has considerable relevance for scientific disciplines and policy making in understanding the consumer behaviour of older people. There is evidence of differences in reactions to and coping with stress between males and females but relatively little knowledge about such gender differences amongst older people, especially in middle-income countries. This study of older Malaysians looked at both coping strategies and gender differences in reactions to stress when people are confronted with certain life events. Seventeen major life events were used in interviews with 645 respondents aged 50 years or older in five major urban areas in Peninsular Malaysia. The analysis showed older women tended to experience higher levels of chronic stress than older men. They also had more health problems, had lower levels of self-esteem and were less satisfied with life. Whilst the results showed little support for gender differences in coping behaviours, stress had a significant influence on the way older men and women change store preferences. A hypothesis that older women would use more emotion-focused coping strategies was not supported. Knowledge of how older Malaysians cope with life events and stress and especially in this instance with regard to consumption behaviour, is likely to be of considerable academic and policy related interest.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Fulltext Neurogenic bowel management after spinal cord injury: Malaysian experience

Engkasan JP, Sudin SS

J Rehabil Med, 2013 Feb;45(2):141-4.
PMID: 23053003 DOI: 10.2340/16501977-1074

To describe the bowel programmes utilized by individuals with spinal cord injury; and to determine the association between the outcome of the bowel programmes and various interventions to facilitate defecation.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Fulltext Evaluation of patient satisfaction of an outpatient gastroscopy service in an Asian tertiary care hospital

Azmi N, Chan WK, Goh KL

BMC Gastroenterol, 2012;12:96.
PMID: 22839572 DOI: 10.1186/1471-230X-12-96

BACKGROUND: There are limited published studies on patient satisfaction towards endoscopy from Asian countries. Different methods of evaluation of patient satisfaction may yield different results and there is currently no study to compare results of on-site versus phone-back interviews.
METHOD: On-site followed by phone-back interviews were carried out on consecutive patients attending the outpatient gastroscopy service of University of Malaya Medical Centre between July 2010 and January 2011 using the modified Group Health Association of America-9 (mGHAA-9) questionnaire. The question on technical skill of endoscopist was replaced with a question on patient comfort during endoscopy.
RESULTS: Seven hundred patients were interviewed. Waiting times for appointment and on gastroscopy day, and discomfort during procedure accounted for over 90% of unfavorable responses. Favorable response diminished to undesirable level when waiting times for appointment and on gastroscopy day exceeded 1 month and 1 hour, respectively. Satisfaction scores were higher for waiting time for appointment but lower for personal manner of nurses/staff and explanation given during phone-back interview. There was no significant difference in satisfaction scores for other questions, including overall rating between the two methods.
CONCLUSION: Waiting times and discomfort during procedure were main causes for patient dissatisfaction. Phone-back interview may result in different scores for some items compared with on-site interview and should be taken into account when comparing results using the different methods.

Study site: University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Fulltext Estimating an EQ-5D value set for Malaysia using time trade-off and visual analogue scale methods

Yusof FA, Goh A, Azmi S

Value Health, 2012 Jan-Feb;15(1 Suppl):S85-90.
PMID: 22265073 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2011.11.024

OBJECTIVES: To estimate a EQ-5D value set for Malaysia by using time trade-off (TTO) and visual analogue scale (VAS) valuation methods.
METHODS: TTO and VAS valuations were obtained from face-to-face surveys of a convenience sample of patients, caregivers, and health professionals conducted at nine government hospitals in 2004 and 2005. Forty-five EQ-5D questionnaire health states were valued, divided into five sets of 15 health states. Analysis was conducted by using linear additive regression models applying N3 and D1 specifications. Model selection was based on criteria of coefficient properties, statistical significance, and goodness of fit.
RESULTS: One hundred fifty-two respondents were interviewed, yielding 2174 TTO and 2265 VAS valuations. Respondents found TTO valuations to be more difficult than VAS valuations, and there were more inconsistencies in TTO valuations. All the independent variables in the models were statistically significant and consistent with expected signs and magnitude, except for the D1 specification modeled on TTO valuations. The N3 model provided the best fit for the VAS valuation data, with a mean absolute error of 0.032.
CONCLUSION: This study provides a Malaysian EQ-5D questionnaire value set that can be used for cost-utility studies despite survey limitations.
Study site: convenience sampling from three categories of respondents (patients undergoing dialysis, patients’ carers, and dialysis center staff) from public hospitals

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Patient-reported adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions: a cross-sectional study on Malaysian HIV/AIDS patients

Hasan SS, Keong SC, Choong CL, Ahmed SI, Ching TW, Anwar M, et al.

Med Princ Pract, 2011;20(3):265-70.
PMID: 21454998 DOI: 10.1159/000321274

This study aimed to explore the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported by patients and to identify drug-drug interactions (DDIs) among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Enhancement of the cervical cancer screening program in Malaysia: a qualitative study

Abdullah F, Su TT

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2010;11(5):1359-66.
PMID: 21198293

INTRODUCTION: Cervical cancer has long been known as a preventable disease. Yet it still is a prime women's health issue globally. In Malaysia, the current cervical cancer screening program, introduced in the 1960s, has been found to be unsuccessful in terms of Pap smear coverage. The aim of this study is to determine providers perceptives on the program and the feasibility of practicing an organized cervical screening program in Malaysia.
METHODS: 11 key informant interviews were conducted with policy makers and health care providers from the Ministry of Health in Malaysia from October 2009 to May 2010. Interviewees' perceptions were explored on current and organized cervical screening program based on their expertise and experience.
RESULTS: The results highlighted that the existing cervical screening program in Malaysia faced flaws at all levels that failed to reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality. The identified weaknesses were poor acceptance by women, lack of commitment by health care providers, nature of the program, an improper follow-up system, limited resources and other competing needs. Complementarily, all interviewees perceived an organized cervical screening program as an alternative approach both feasible and acceptable by women and government to practice in Malaysia.
CONCLUSION: Better screening coverage depends on an effective screening program that incorporates a behaviour-based strategy. A new program should be focused in the policy-making context to improve screening coverage and to effectively combat cervical cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Temporal changes in psychobehavioral responses during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic

Wong LP, Sam IC

Prev Med, 2010 Jul;51(1):92-3.
PMID: 20403375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2010.04.010

This paper aimed to examine the temporal changes in psychobehavioral responses in relation to reported 2009 H1N1 influenza deaths.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic
Knowledge and attitudes in regard to pandemic influenza A(H1N1) in a multiethnic community of Malaysia

Wong LP, Sam IC

Int J Behav Med, 2011 Jun;18(2):112-21.
PMID: 20835855 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-010-9114-9

BACKGROUND: Assessment of general public's knowledge and attitudes toward the development and prevention of new disease outbreaks is imperative because they have profound effects on health behaviors and may contribute to the control of the epidemic.
PURPOSE: To investigate the level of knowledge and attitudes towards the influenza A(H1N1) outbreak across various ethnic groups and socio-demographic backgrounds in Malaysia.
METHOD: A cross-sectional, population-based, computer-assisted telephone interview exploring knowledge and attitudes regarding influenza A(H1N1) was conducted in Malaysia. Between July 11 and September 12, 2009, a total of 1,050 respondents were interviewed (response rate 69.3%).
RESULTS: The mean total knowledge score for the overall sample was 7.30 (SD ± 1.961) out of a possible score of 13 (Chinese had the highest scores, followed by Indians, then Malays). Some erroneous beliefs about the modes of transmission were identified. The majority of the participants (73.8%) perceived the A(H1N1) infection as often deadly. Despite the overestimation of the severity of A(H1N1) infection, high confidence in preventing infection and low perceived susceptibility of infection were reported. Influenza A(H1N1)-related stigma was prevalent and exhibited differences across ethnic groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that provision of education and clear information are essential to correct the misconceptions, and increase perceived susceptibility to infection so that the general public will take precautions against A(H1N1) infection.

Matched MeSH terms: Interviews as Topic

Filters

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

External Links