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  1. Yeong SW, Choong YC
    Complement Ther Med, 2017 Dec;35:92-108.
    PMID: 29154074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2017.09.005
    OBJECTIVES: We investigated the knowledge and characteristics of herbal supplement usage of the customers of community pharmacies in a Malaysian population.

    DESIGN AND SETTING: Self-administered questionnaires (in English, Malay, or Chinese) were provided to customers at three community pharmacies in Malaysia (Ipoh, Perak). Questionnaire validation and translation validation were performed. A pilot study was conducted before actual questionnaire distribution. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

    RESULTS: Total number of participants was 270 (99 males and 171 females) with majority from the 31-50 age group (41.5%). Among the participants, 45.6% were herbal users. The most commonly used herbal supplements were evening primrose oil (17.9%), ginkgo biloba (13.0%), and milk thistle (8.5%). The participants seemed to have sufficient knowledge regarding herbal supplements including safety, quality, and indication of use from medical literature. Participants obtained information about herbal supplements from pharmacists (26.9%), package inserts (25.2%), friends (20.5%), and the Internet (13.3%) more often than from their doctors (9.8%). Most herbal users did not inform their doctors about their usage of herbal supplements (68.3%) or the side effects (61.5%). Herbal supplement users also tended to be women, >50-year-old, and those with higher monthly household incomes.

    CONCLUSIONS: Community pharmacists have a vital role in educating their customers about the safe use of herbal supplements. The participants had sufficient knowledge about herbal supplement usage; therefore, customers of these community pharmacies may have benefitted from the advice of the pharmacists. Further studies could be carried out in future on the knowledge, skills and roles of community pharmacists in the safe use of herbal supplements.

  2. Yeong SW, Lee SW, Ong SC
    Value Health Reg Issues, 2023 Mar 02;35:57-68.
    PMID: 36870173 DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2023.01.006
    OBJECTIVES: This review explores the cost-effectiveness of the strategies used in the breast cancer early detection programs of low- to middle-income countries.

    METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify related studies, published up to August 2021, on PubMed, Cochrane, ProQuest, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. The Cochrane Handbook and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol were referenced during the reporting process. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022 criteria were used to assess the requirements of the selected studies. Articles with original data and full texts were included in the review. Non-low- to middle-income countries and non-English articles were excluded.

    RESULTS: This review identified 12 suitable studies, wherein 6 investigated the cost-effectiveness of clinical breast examinations (CBEs), whereas 10 looked into mammogram (MMG) with or without CBE. In 2 studies, the cost-effectiveness of raising awareness through mass media and the use of ultrasounds combined with CBE were investigated. Although cost-effective, MMG incurs greater costs and requires more skill to be performed. MMG screenings before the age of 40 years were not cost-effective. The limitations of this review include variability in the methodological approaches of its selected studies. Most of the chosen studies met the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022 criteria.

    CONCLUSIONS: This review shows that adopting an age- and risk-based MMG screening approach could be viable in countries with limited resources. Future cost-effectiveness analysis research should include a section on patient and stakeholder engagement with the study's results.

  3. Yeong SW, Lee SW, Ong SC
    Health Econ Rev, 2024 Jul 22;14(1):56.
    PMID: 39034345 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-024-00536-0
    This systematic review explores the cost of illness (COI) studies on breast cancer in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs). Studies in Cochrane, Proquest Thesis, PubMed and Scopus were considered. The reporting criteria were evaluated using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) 2022 statement. Studies must (1) be peer-reviewed, (2) report cost data, and (3) be full-text articles. Non-English articles were excluded. Twelve studies were included. The identified costs were made constant to 2022 USD values for reporting and comparison across studies. Annual costs per patient varied from $195 to $11,866 direct medical costs, $201 to $2233 direct non-medical costs and $332 to $26,390 productivity losses were reported. Cost differences were due to the cost types and components in each study. Only three COI studies reported sensitivity analysis and discount rates. Hence, it is recommended that future COI studies include an analysis of correlation between cost components and other variables.
  4. Nurjahan MI, Lim TA, Yeong SW, Foong AL, Ware J
    Med J Malaysia, 2002 Dec;57 Suppl E:58-66.
    PMID: 12733195
    OBJECTIVE: The objective of this survey was to obtain a self-reported assessment of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by medical students at the International Medical University, Malaysia.
    MATERIALS AND METHODS: Students' perceived skills and extent of usage of ICT were evaluated using a questionnaire. Chi-square analysis were performed to ascertain the association between variables. Further statistical testing using Chi-square test for trend was done when one of the variables was ordered, and Spearman rank correlation when both variables were ordered.
    RESULTS: Overall, (98%) of students responded to the questionnaire. Twenty seven students (5.7%) did not use a computer either in the university or at home. Most students surveyed reported adequate skills at word processing (55%), e-mailing (78%) and surfing the internet (67%).
    CONCLUSION: The results suggests that in order to increase the level of computer literacy among medical students, positive steps would need to be taken, for example the formal inclusion of ICT instruction in the teaching of undergraduate medicine. This will enhance medical students' ability to acquire, appraise, and use information in order to solve clinical and other problems quickly and efficiently in the course of their studies, and more importantly when they graduate.
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