Many studies on postural photogrammetry had reported various intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) across postural variable measurements, however no conclusive solution was given. This reliability and cross-sectional study was done in June 2016 at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah. A total of 24 male adult subjects with mean age 28.5 years (± 4.8 years), body mass 24.97 kg (± 3.85 kg) and height 166.6 cm (± 6 cm) were evaluated for standing postural photogrammetry. Four sets of manually digitized posture image files (by 4 raters) were measured and statistically analyzed for interrater agreement as well as the influence of image resolution and camera height from the floor on various postural variable measurements. The ICC between 4 raters for all postural variables was excellent (the lowest ICC was 0.940 for Q Angle of the Right Knee measurements). Two-Way ANOVA showed that postural variable measurements were not affected by either image resolution or camera height from the floor. Scrupulous attempts done on standing postural photogrammetry amplified the potential for standing postural evaluation in clinical settings.
The main objective of this study was to obtain information regarding the effects of educational and socio-economic status of the patients on the prescribing pattern of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) by the qualified medical personnel in the outpatient departments (OPDs) of two selected polyclinics in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. A total of 200 selected patients (100 from each polyclinic) attending the OPDs were interviewed using a questionnaire. Again data were collected, photocopied and later analyzed. Educated and higher income group of patients mostly attended in a Private Polyclinic (PPC) whereas less educated and lower income group of patients generally attended UMS Polyclinic (UPC). This was reported as a probable reason for the wide variations in the prescribing pattern with respect to pharmacological subclasses of NSAIDs in the OPDs of two polyclinics. The present results strongly support that probable reason. The number of patients taking NSAIDs before coming to hospital was more in PPC compared to UPC. They were influenced by pharmacists, friends and doctor’s advice given previously. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that overall prescribing pattern of NSAIDs among two polyclinics is rational.