MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study employed a multi-stage sampling method using a simple proportion formula at 5% type 1 error, p < 0.05 and absolute error at 2% which resulted in a sample of 520 participants. The data for the study was obtained using a validated bilingual self-constructed questionnaire and the model constructed using Mplus software.
RESULTS: Perceived severity, benefits and barriers were found to significantly influence the behavioral adoption of BSE. Married women aged from 45 to 55 years and knowledge were found to significantly moderate the relationship between perceived benefits and behavioral adoption of BSE. Further, self-efficacy was found as the core construct that mediates the relationship between married women aged 45 to 55 years and the behavioral adoption of BSE.
CONCLUSION: Self-efficacy is found in the study to influence the behavioral adoption of BSE. This is undeniable as self-efficacy can promote confidence in initiating and maintenance of behavioral change if the perceived change is beneficial at an acceptable cost.
Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 520 women from three different government health clinics in Kuantan and IIUM Family Health Clinic from February to April 2018. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire on socio-demographic factors and knowledge of breast cancer and its effect on the behavioral adoption of BSE.
Results: Significant difference was found between socio-demographic characteristics and behavioral adoption of BSE. However, only breast screening and the best time for screening were found to be significant with the behavioral adoption of BSE and knowledge of breast cancer.
Conclusion: It is found that most women in Kuantan, Pahang perform BSE but were still unaware of the importance of performing BSE for early breast cancer detection. This study was expected to enhance women's awareness of the benefits of performing BSE.
METHODS: This is an exploratory mixed-methods study. In phase 1 (qualitative phase), three groups of participants (i.e., clinicians, employers, and workers) will be invited to participate to focus group discussions (FGDs) until thematic saturation. The aim of the FGDs is to explore the understanding, experience, and potential risk factors of Long Covid-19 among manufacturing workers. Findings from the FGDs will be analysed thematically. Themes generated from the FGDs will be used to generate items in a new questionnaire. The newly developed questionnaire will be validated using a fuzzy Delphi study, which will also be conducted among clinicians, employers, and workers. Phase 2 is a cross-sectional study that will be conducted among manufacturing workers across all states in Malaysia to identify the prevalence and risk factors of Long COVID-19, as well as the prevalence and risk factors of adverse work outcomes among workers with Long COVID-19. A multistage cluster sampling will be used to collect data from 4500 manufacturing workers in Malaysia. Logistic regression will be performed to determine the association between risk factors with both Long COVID-19 and adverse work outcomes.
CONCLUSION: Once the prevalence and risk factors of Long COVID and its associated adverse work outcome are identified, timely support and effective interventions could be provided to manufacturing workers to maintain their health and productivity.
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Ethical approval has been granted by the Research Ethics Committee of the National University of Malaysia (JEP-2023-607) and the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC) Malaysia (NMRR ID-23-03310-H3E).