MyMedR

Displaying all 5 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Factors associated with breast-self examination practice and mammogram breast density among Malaysian women

Noor Khairiah A. Karim, Law Kim Sooi, Ernest Mangantig

Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(109):96-101.
MyJurnal

Introduction: Breast cancer is globally known to be the commonest cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Screening tools which include breast-self examination (BSE), clinical breast examination and mammography are well-recognised to aid the detection of breast cancer among high risk women. Thus, our study was aimed to evaluate breast cancer and BSE awareness and practice, and to perform mammography screening among women who attend- ed community breast cancer awareness and screening programme. Methods: Data was collected cross-sectionally from 2,021 women during community services from September 2013 until December 2015. Results: Majority of the women had previously attended health education on breast cancer (56.3%) and had been taught BSE techniques (61.4%), but only 38.6% performed BSE monthly. Factors associated with regular BSE practice were older age, higher education level, being married, higher monthly income, had attended health education on breast cancer, and had been taught BSE techniques. A subset of 130 high-risk women had underwent mammography screening and major- ity had heterogenously dense and normal mammogram findings. Conclusion: These findings suggested that regular breast cancer awareness campaigns is needed to strengthen breast cancer knowledge and to emphasise BSE tech- niques. Such campaigns should target younger women and those with low socioeconomic status.
Fulltext The effects of virgin coconut oil (VCO) as supplementation on quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer patients

Law KS, Azman N, Omar EA, Musa MY, Yusoff NM, Sulaiman SA, et al.

Lipids Health Dis, 2014;13:139.
PMID: 25163649 DOI: 10.1186/1476-511X-13-139

Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst Malaysian women. Both the disease and its treatment can disrupt the lives of the woman and adversely affect all aspects of life and thus can alter a woman's quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of virgin coconut oil (VCO) on the quality of life (QOL) of patients diagnosed with breast cancer.
Fulltext Depression and anxiety in the Malaysian urban population and their association with demographic characteristics, quality of life, and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic

Leong Bin Abdullah MFI, Ahmad Yusof H, Mohd Shariff N, Hami R, Nisman NF, Law KS

Curr Psychol, 2021;40(12):6259-6270.
PMID: 33623353 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-021-01492-2

The prevalence of depression and anxiety has been shown to be higher in the urban population compared with the rural population. The present study investigated the prevalence of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and depression with comorbid anxiety symptoms and their associated factors in a random sample drawn from several urban communities in Malaysia. This study also determined the association between the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and depression with comorbid anxiety symptoms. We recruited 326 participants, who were administered a sociodemographic characteristics questionnaire; the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to assess the presence or absence of depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and depression with comorbid anxiety symptoms; and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQoL-BREF) to assess their QoL. The following prevalence values were obtained among the participants: depression symptoms, 23.9%; anxiety symptoms, 41.7%; and depression with comorbid anxiety symptoms, 19.9%. Those assessed after the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic showed increased odds of depressive symptoms (adjusted OR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.41-6.35, p = 0.006) and depressive with comorbid anxiety symptoms (adjusted OR = 3.19, 95% CI = 1.37-7.45, p = 0.005), while the presence of comorbid stress increased the odds of depressive symptoms (adjusted OR = 16.00, 95% CI = 7.84-32.63, p
Evaluation of a motorised patient transfer device based on perceived workload, technology acceptance, and emotional states

Law MJJ, Ridzwan MIZ, Ripin ZM, Abd Hamid IJ, Law KS, Karunagaran J, et al.

Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol, 2024 Apr;19(3):938-950.
PMID: 36334271 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2022.2134472

PURPOSE: The high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among healthcare workers is partly attributed to the low adoption of patient transfer assistive devices. This study aimed to evaluate the nurses' perceived workload, technology acceptance, and emotional states during the use of the sliding board (SB) and mechanical intervention in the form of a Motorised Patient Transfer Device (MPTD).
METHODS: The SB and MPTD activities were performed by seven nurses on a simulated patient. The nurses' facial expressions were recorded during the trial. The NASA Task Load Index and technology acceptance questionnaire were also assessed.
RESULTS: The MPTD significantly reduced the mean overall NASA-TLX score by 68.7% (p = 0.004) and increased the overall acceptance score (median = 8.30) by 21.2% (p = 0.016) when compared to the SB (median = 6.85). All the subjects reported positive feelings towards MPTD. However, facial expression analysis showed that the nurses had a significantly higher peak density of fear while using MPTD (p = 0.016). Besides, there was no improvement in the negative valence and contempt emotion compared to the SB.
CONCLUSION: Overall, nurses showed positive perceptions and acceptance of MPTD even when they experienced negative emotions.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThe Motorised Patient Transfer Device (MPTD) reduced the perceived workload of nurses and showed a higher acceptance level compared to the commonly used baseline device (SB).Factors that attributed to the nurses' negative emotions can be used to improve technology and patient transfer processes.More training should be given to familiarise the health practitioners with the new assistive device to reduce their fear of technology.
Efficacy and safety of Labisia pumila var alata water extract among pre- and postmenopausal women

Norhayati MN, George A, Hazlina NH, Azidah AK, Idiana HI, Law KS, et al.

J Med Food, 2014 Aug;17(8):929-38.
PMID: 25000151 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2013.2953

This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Labisia pumila var alata (L. pumila) water extract for improving quality of life, cardiovascular and hormonal balance. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, 16-week study in healthy pre- and postmenopausal women aged 40-60 years was conducted in Kelantan, Malaysia. The subjects were randomized to 400 mg propriety extract of L. pumila or placebo. A Women's Health Questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data. A total of 197 subjects (L. pumila: n=102 and placebo: n=95) were analyzed. Subjects in the herbal group showed improved memory/concentration, vasomotor symptoms, menstrual symptoms, and sleep problems by 8.3%, 15.9%, 11.8%, and 31.0%, respectively. The greatest improvement was observed for the question: "I get frightened or panic feelings for apparently no reason at all" with a 53% decrease as compared with placebo. Improvements were also seen in the cardiovascular parameters, and the safety profiles were normal. Postmenopausal women supplemented with L. pumila showed no changes in gynecological relevant hormones luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and 17β-Estradiol. Water extract of L. pumila was shown to be safe and effective for improving several parameters of quality of life and cardiovascular risks factors (total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C]).