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Fulltext Smoking habits among medical students in a private university

Rashid AK, Azizah AM

Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2011;11(1):70-77.
MyJurnal

Comparison of rates of smoking across countries revealed that students are more likely to begin smoking in medical school than to give it up and increase their cigarette consumption rather than decrease it. A cross-sectional survey of all consenting medical students in a private medical university in north Malaysia was conducted in 2008 to determine the prevalence and smoking habits among them. A self administered questionnaire which was returned to the investigators in a sealed envelope was used. Results were tabulated and analysed with SPSS version 13.0 software. The response rate was 83.3% (508/610). The prevalence rate for current smokers was 5.3% (27/508) and for ever smokers 9.3% (47/508). Factors significantly associated with smoking were gender (p<0.001), age group (p<0.001) and family income (p=0.003). The odds of being a smoker was 14 folds high when a family member smoked and the odds of being an ever smoker was almost 6 folds more when a family member smoked. Friends were the most common influence to start smoking and the most common reason to stop smoking among ever smokers. The reasons for not smoking among the never smokers were health concerns and the distasteful smell of cigarettes. A module on how to help medical students to stop smoking should be included in the curriculum of every medical school. This will not only help them become good educators but will prevent them from picking up the habit. Educational intervention should also include family members who smoke.
Key words: smoking, medical students, university, Malaysia
Fulltext Prevalence of hypertension among the elderly Malays living in rural Malaysia

Rashid A, Azizah A

Australas Med J, 2011;4(6):283-90.
PMID: 23386889 DOI: 10.4066/AMJ.2011.660

BACKGROUND: We are living in an ageing world. The prevalence of hypertension which is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke increases with age. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension among the elderly Malays living in rural parts of north Malaysia.
METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly (aged ≥60) Malay residents living in 22 villages in a northwestern state called Kedah in Malaysia from 2007 to 2009. Kedah has one of the highest rates of elderly population in the country. Data was collected by trained research assistants. Besides the baseline demographic information, blood pressure was measured using standardised methods using a manual sphygmomanometer.
RESULTS: The response rate was 97.7%. The prevalence of hypertension among the elderly in these villages was 54.5% (228), 118 (28.2%) were known to be hypertensive and were on medication and an additional 110 (26.3%) respondents were newly diagnosed. Elevated mean systolic (146.17 ± 25.23) and diastolic (89.68 ± 15.60) blood pressure was noted among the known hypertensive. There was an almost fourfold risk (OR 3.64) of having uncontrolled blood pressure among the known hypertensive on treatment. Those with malnutrition were at an almost twofold at risk of being hypertensive (OR 1.73). Binary logistics regression showed occupation (OR 1.65), marital status (OR 2.32) and body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.62) as significant predictor variables.
CONCLUSION: Screening the elderly for hypertension will benefit this group of people by reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this condition.
Fulltext Cognitive impairment among the elderly Malays living in rural Malaysia

Rashid AK, Azizah AM, Rohana S

Med J Malaysia, 2012 Apr;67(2):186-9.
PMID: 22822641 MyJurnal

Cognitive impairment is a common psychiatric problem among the elderly. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment among the elderly Malays living in a rural community in north Malaysia. A cross sectional study was conducted among the elderly population of 22 villages in north Malaysia. Elderly cognitive assessment questionnaire was used to determine the cognition status. Analysis was done using SPSS version 13. The prevalence of cognitive impairment among the older adults in these villages was 11% (n=46). There was an increasing prevalence of cognitive impairment with increasing age (p < 0.05). Being unmarried (OR 2.31), unemployed (OR 2.74) and living alone (OR 2.32) were significantly associated with the risk of being cognitively impairment. Being unemployed (OR 2.29) was a significant predictor variable for cognitive impairment. Similar to other studies conducted in Malaysia the prevalence of cognitive impairment was high.
Fulltext Prevalence of undetected cognitive impairment and depression in residents of an elderly care home

Al-Jawad M, Rashid AK, Narayan KA

Med J Malaysia, 2007 Dec;62(5):375-9.
PMID: 18705469 MyJurnal

The elderly population in Malaysia is growing rapidly. Some of the most vulnerable are in residential care. Research is needed into the characteristics of this population to aid clinicians and policy makers in addressing the needs of this group. This observational, cross-sectional study aims to determine prevalence of undetected cognitive impairment and depression in elderly care home residents in Malaysia. One hundred and sixty-seven people over 60 years of age living in a state run residential home were interviewed. Validated assessment tools were used to measure dependency, cognitive impairment and depression. The prevalence of probable dementia is 36.5%, with increasing prevalence with age and level of dependence. Prevalence of depression is 67.0% (major depression 13.2%), with more depression in males and in the Indian population. None of the identified cases had been previously investigated or treated for dementia or depression.
Fulltext Awareness of cervical cancer and HPV vaccination and its affordability among rural folks in Penang Malaysia

Khoo CL, Teoh S, Rashid AK, Zakaria UU, Mansor S, Salleh FN, et al.

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2011;12(6):1429-33.
PMID: 22126476

INTRODUCTION: As the second most common cancer in women worldwide, cervical cancer causes major health and economic burdens. Recent introduction of HPV immunization program locally has been encouraging but vaccine uptake remains poor. In addition, no study has been conducted to explore the people' s awareness and knowledge on cervical cancer, HPV and its vaccine in a rural setting in Malaysia after the inception of the HPV vaccination program.
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the awareness of cervical cancer, HPV vaccination and its affordability among people in a rural area in Malaysia.

METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 116 participants in a village in Penang. All consenting female villagers aged 13 years and above, and males who were married were interviewed using a questionnaire.
RESULTS: Most participants (88.8%) had heard of cervical cancer, however only 29.3% and 42.2% of them had heard of HPV and HPV vaccination respectively. Only 5.2% knew the actual market price for the vaccine. They were willing to pay an average of RM 96.7 (USD $27.7) for the full course of vaccination if it is not given to them for free, whereas the market price is RM1200 (USD $342.85).
CONCLUSION: Awareness among the Malaysian population in a rural setting on HPV and HPV vaccination is low. Educating the public on the infection can help control the illness. Cost of the HPV vaccine is a serious barrier to the success of the vaccination program in Malaysia.