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Fulltext Flapping membrane wing: a prediction towards inter-domain flight

Abas, M.F., Aftab, S.M.A., Rafie, A.S.M., Ahmad, K.A., Yusoff, H.

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2016;24(2):439-449.
MyJurnal

The purpose of this research is to gain initial knowledge and to predict the sustainability of an all-weather
Micro-Aerial-Vehicle (MAV). The observed parameters are: the maximum coefficient of lift, CL and the
changes in CL after impact, the fluctuation of CL upon entering simulated rain environment, and length of
stability recovery in terms of time and flapping cycle, t and t/T, at flapping frequencies of 8, 16, and 24
Hz, at t/T = 3/8 and 7/8. At 24 Hz, the increase in peak CL value after impact of entering rain environment
is 0.59. The average fluctuations in CL occurred when entering the rain environment are 410.263. The
stability recovery time recorded is 0.006 seconds. Small birds (especially hummingbirds) have a very
high flapping frequency that enables them to efficiently withstand external disturbances caused by nature
and to instantly adapt to new environments.
Fulltext Prevalence and determinants of pre-hypertension among undergraduate preclinical medical students in central Malaysia.

Mohd Yusoff H, Mohd Tamil A, Mohd Fauzi MF, Mat Saruan NA

IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 2019;18(3):65-72.
MyJurnal

Pre-hypertension, a classification of blood pressure ranging from 120–139 mm Hg systolic and/or 80–89 mm Hg diastolic, has been introduced to identify those high-risk group of developing hypertension to implement early intervention to halt disease progression. This study determines the prevalence of pre-hypertension and its determinants among undergraduate preclinical medical students in Malaysia.
Materials & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 158 registered second year medical students at one research university in central Malaysia from January to April 2018.
Results: The prevalence of pre-hypertension was 20.6% among undergraduate preclinical medical students. The most respondent was female (69.9%), Malay ethnic (50.6%) who had normal body mass index (67.3%), no depression (79.5%), no anxiety (60.3%), no stress (68.6%), low physical activity level (44.9%), never smoked (95.5%), and never consumed alcohol (87.8%). Some respondents had positive family history of hypertension (43.6%) and diabetes mellitus (31.4%). After adjusted for all variables, gender (AOR=14.45, 95% CI 5.58-37.43) and depression status (AOR=6.37, 95% CI 1.29-31.49) were significantly associated with pre-hypertension.
Conclusion: The prevalence of pre-hypertension among preclinical medical students was lower compared to other country, predicted by gender and depression status. However, further comprehensive multicentered studies in Malaysia with larger sample size is recommended to get more precise results in identifying determinants for pre-hypertension so that early intervention could be implemented nationwide.
Fulltext Non-adherence to recommended Pap smear screening guidelines and its associated factors among women attending health clinic in Malaysia

Yunus NA, Mohamed Yusoff H, Draman N

Malays Fam Physician, 2018;13(1):10-17.
PMID: 29796205 MyJurnal

Introduction: Cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women in Malaysia. Although a cervical screening program has been introduced since 1960s and is provided free of charge in all government health facilities, the coverage and adherence rate to recommendation among Malaysian women remains low.

Objectives: To determine the proportion of non-adherence to Pap smear screening guidelines and its associated factors among women attending a health clinic in Malaysia.

Method: A cross sectional study involving 316 women aged 20 to 65 years who had undergone a Pap smear. Universal sampling method was applied to select participants among women who attended the selected health clinic from January 2013 to May 2013. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic characteristics, socio-health data and perceptions about cervical cancer and Pap smear screening. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression.

Result: The proportion of non-adherence to Pap smear screening was 90.5%. Age, marital status, duration of marriage, education level, employment, household income and number of children were not significantly associated with non-adherence. Perceived severity, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefit, perceived barrier and cues to action did not show significant association with non-adherence to Pap smear screening.

Conclusion: Non-adherence to Pap smear screening was high among Malaysian women. Measures should be taken to increase Pap smear screening coverage in our country. Other factors beyond Health Belief Model that influence Pap smear screening practice among Malaysian women should be explored.
Fulltext Nutrition education and knowledge, attitude and hemoglobin status of Malaysian adolescents

Yusoff H, Daud WN, Ahmad Z

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2012 Jan;43(1):192-200.
PMID: 23082570

A higher occurrence of iron deficiency anemia is present in rural Malaysia than urban Malaysia due to a lower socio-economic status of rural residents. This study was conducted in Tanah Merah, a rural district of Kelantan, Malaysia. Our objective was to investigate the impact of nutrition education alone, daily iron, folate and vitamin C supplementation or both on knowledge, attitudes and hemoglobin status of adolescent students. Two hundred eighty fourth year secondary students were each assigned by school to 1 of 4 different treatment groups. Each intervention was carried out for 3 months followed by 3 months without treatment. A validated self-reported knowledge and attitude questionnaire was administered; hemoglobin levels were measured before and after intervention. At baseline, no significant difference in hemoglobin was noted among the 4 groups (p = 0.06). The changes in hemoglobin levels at 3 months were 11, 4.6, 3.9 and -3.7% for the supplementation, nutrition education, combination and control groups, respectively. The changes at 6 months were 1.0, 6.8, 3.7 and -14.8%, respectively. Significant improvements in knowledge and attitude were evidenced in both the nutritional education and combination groups. The supplementation and control groups had no improvement in knowledge or attitudes. This study suggests nutritional education increases knowledge, attitudes and hemoglobin levels among Malaysian secondary school adolescents.
Fulltext The use of an in-house biotin-avidin linked immunosorbent assay to detect Aspergillus antigens in sera of immunocompromised patients

Abdul Samad S, Yusoff H, Fadilah SAW

Med J Malaysia, 2001 Mar;56(1):32-8.
PMID: 11503293

A biotin-avidin-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect Aspergillus antigens in sera of immunocompromised patients. The assay was based on a double antibody sandwich ELISA using polyclonal antibodies raised against water-soluble antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus antigens were positive in sera of 9 of 16 (56%) patients who were studied prospectively and in 13 of 73 (19%) patients studied retrospectively. The 9 prospectively studied patients who were antigen positive were febrile neutropenic hematological malignancy patients who exhibited a high risk of acquiring invasive aspergillosis.
Fulltext Individual evaluation of fatigue at work to enhance the safety performance in the construction industry: A systematic review

Heng PP, Mohd Yusoff H, Hod R

PLoS One, 2024;19(2):e0287892.
PMID: 38324557 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287892

The construction industry is recognized as one of the most hazardous industries globally due to the dynamic on site activities and labour-intensive characteristics. The construction tasks are physically and cognitively demanding therefore the construction workers are prone to work fatigue which compromises safety performance. The evaluation of fit for duty, or fitness for work (FFW) aims to determine if workers are at risk of adverse impacts of ill-health, injury or accidents. This systematic review aimed to critically summarize up-to-date measures and evaluation tools that were employed to monitor work fitness or fatigue specifically among construction workers. Adhering with the PRISMA protocol, three databases were searched from the inception to 2022, with a total combination of 37 keywords, concluding to the selection of 20 relevant articles. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used as the guide for the study appraisal. A total of 20 articles were reviewed, published from 2008-2022. Majority of the studies employed experimental design. The review identified the subjective evaluation scales and objective measurement tool. The subjective self-response questionnaires can be categorized into single dimension or multidimension covering both physical and mental fitness; whereas the objective measurement tool can be categorized into physiological metrics, physical and cognitive performance measure. The available scientific evidence has raised the relevant issues for on-site practicality and potentially guide the formulation of evidence-based guidelines for the FFW assessment in the construction industry.
Antifungal susceptibility of molecularly confirmed Aspergillus species from clinical samples

Tzar MN, Mustakim S, Yusoff H, Tap RM

Malays J Pathol, 2024 Apr;46(1):71-78.
PMID: 38682846

Invasive aspergillosis is the second most common invasive human mycosis but susceptibility data of Aspergillus species is limited. Antifungal treatment of aspergillosis is often done empirically without knowing the true susceptibility. Therefore, we aimed to determine antifungal susceptibility of Aspergillus species isolated from various clinical specimens over a 1-year period. We identified 28 Aspergillus isolates by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and β-tubulin genes and performed antifungal susceptibility testing on these isolates using Sensititre YeastOne. The isolates were identified as Aspergillus niger (60.7%), A. fumigatus (21.4%), A. flavus (10.7%), A. chevalieri (3.6%) and A. tubingensis (3.6%). Based on the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) Antifungal Clinical Breakpoint for Aspergillus spp., 16/17 (94.1%) A. niger isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B, all six isolates (100%) of A. fumigatus were susceptible to amphotericin B, itraconazole and voriconazole, but only 5/6 (83.3%) A. fumigatus were susceptible to posaconazole. Meanwhile, all three (100%) A. flavus isolates were susceptible to itraconazole. There are no other breakpoints established by the EUCAST for other antifungal-species combinations. In conclusions, Aspergillus niger remains the most commonly isolated species from clinical specimens and Aspergillus isolates at our centre are still largely susceptible to amphotericin B, echinocandins and most azoles. This information is valuable in guiding antifungal therapy in the treatment of aspergillosis.
Effectiveness of Nutrition Education vs. Non-Nutrition Education Intervention in Improving Awareness Pertaining Iron Deficiency among Anemic Adolescents

Yusoff H, Wan Daud WN, Ahmad Z

Iran J Public Health, 2013;42(5):467-71.
PMID: 23802103

This study was carried out to compare the effect between nutrition education intervention and non-nutrition education intervention on awareness regarding iron deficiency among schooling adolescents in Tanah Merah, one of rural district in Kelantan, Malaysia.
Fulltext Survival Time and Prognostic Factors of Mortality among Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in North-East Peninsular Malaysia

Ngah H, Hairon SM, Yaacob NM, Yusoff H

Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Jul;26(4):70-78.
PMID: 31496895 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.4.8

BACKGROUND: Death resulting from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a worldwide concern. This study is aimed at determining the overall median survival time, and the prognostic factors of mortality among AIDS-infected patients in North-East Peninsular Malaysia.
METHODS: In 2018, a retrospective cohort study stretching from January to April was conducted. This study involved a review of data obtained from the National AIDS Registry. A total of 1,073 AIDS cases diagnosed from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 were selected, and follow-up procedures were conducted until 31 March 2015 (a 3-month follow-up). The Kaplan-Meier plot and Cox's proportional hazard regression were used for data analyses.
RESULTS: 564 (52.5%) patients died due to AIDS, while the remaining 509 (47.4%) were censored. The overall median survival time was 11 months. The probability of survival in 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 4-year and 5-year periods were 49.1%, 47.8%, 47.3%, 47.0% and 46.7%, respectively. Multiple Cox regression revealed that the significant prognostic factors were age 30-49 years [adjusted hazard ratio (Adj. HR) 1.57; 95% CI: 1.14, 2.16; P = 0.006], male (Adj. HR 1.39; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.79; P = 0.012), unemployed (Adj. HR 1.40; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.75; P = 0.003) and HIV-TB co-infection (Adj. HR 1.78; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.31; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: The overall median survival time among AIDS patients in North-East Peninsular Malaysia was revealed to be short, in comparison to the other studies. The chances for survival can be improved with more emphasis on early detection (to ensure early treatment) and social support, particularly for HIV-TB co-infected patients, as well as for younger and unemployed patients.
Nutrient Intakes Status and Physical Inactivity among Overweight and Obese School Children in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

Wan Dali WPE, Jan Mohamed HJ, Yusoff H

Iran J Public Health, 2018 Aug;47(8):1098-1107.
PMID: 30186781

Background: The study examined the baseline findings of a controlled intervention study comprising anthropometric measurements, nutrient intakes, and physical activity among overweight or obese children in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Methods: The study was completed in 2016 and the baseline data were gathered from four groups in a school-based randomized community trial among Year Five students from primary schools in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia. Participants completed anthropometry assessment, three-day dietary record, and Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C).
Results: The prevalence of obesity was higher among the boys (52.5%). Mean energy intake was significantly higher among boys as compared to the girls (P=0.003). Twenty-five percent of the participants had exceeded the recommended nutrient intakes (RNI) of energy recommended. The calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin were also significantly higher among boys as compared to the girls (P<0.05). Boys also exhibited a significantly higher score on performance of physical activity (mean=2.68; SD=0.60) as compared to the girls (mean=2.38; SD=0.51) however it is still in the category of moderately active. Approximately 14.4% of children had a very low physical activity level.
Conclusion: Overweight and obese boys had higher energy and fat intakes but were more physically active as compared to the girls. These findings might be useful in planning appropriate intervention strategies to be designed and delivered especially for this cohort.
Serological Prevalence of Leptospirosis Among Rural Communities in the Rejang Basin, Sarawak, Malaysia

Suut L, Mazlan MN, Arif MT, Yusoff H, Abdul Rahim NA, Safii R, et al.

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 07;28(5):450-7.
PMID: 27183976 DOI: 10.1177/1010539516648003

Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease globally and is endemic in Malaysia. A study was conducted in the Rejang basin of Sarawak from June 2011 to May 2013 to determine the seroprevalence of leptospirosis among the communities and dominant infecting Leptospira serovars. A total of 508 human sera were analyzed using ELISA and the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The seroprevalence of leptospirosis in the study area was 37.4%, with the highest prevalence in Kapit division. More women were positive for leptospirosis (59.5%), and the mean age of seropositive individuals was 42.2 (SD = 18.7) years. Antibody titers between 1:50 and 1:1600 were reported, and serovars djasiman (22.1%), shermani (13.2%), and pomona (7.9%) predominated, with varied distribution between geographical locations. This study highlighted the endemicity and diversity of existing Leptospira serovars within the community. This information should be communicated to local health personnel and communities at risk, and rapid diagnostic capability should be made available to local health facilities.
Fulltext Why so stressed? A comparative study on stressors and stress between hospital and non-hospital nurses

Muhamad Robat R, Mohd Fauzi MF, Mat Saruan NA, Mohd Yusoff H, Harith AA

BMC Nurs, 2021 Jan 04;20(1):2.
PMID: 33390159 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-020-00511-0

BACKGROUND: Stress, which can be attributed to household and workplace stressors, is prevalent among nurses. However, these stressors' attribution may differ between hospital and non-hospital nurses. It is currently unknown whether there are significant differences in the sociodemographic and occupational characteristics between hospital and non-hospital nurses which may potentially influence the type and magnitude of stressors, and subsequently the stress status. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of stress and compare the roles of sociodemograhic characteristics, occupational profiles, workplace stressors and household stressors in determining the stress status between hospital and non-hospital female nurses in Malaysia.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly-selected 715 female nurses in Malaysia using pencil-and-paper self-reported questionnaires.
RESULTS: The majority of participants were ever married (87.0%), having children (76.2%), and work in hospital setting (64.8%). The level of household stressors was generally similar between hospital and non-hospital nurses. However, hospital nurses significantly perceived higher level of workplace stressors. Shift work is significantly associated with higher level of household and workplace stressors among nurses in both groups. The level of stress was significantly higher among hospital nurses. Both household and workplace stressors explained about 40% of stress status in both hospital and non-hospital nurses.
CONCLUSION: Hospital nurses are at higher risk of having stressors and stress as compared to non-hospital nurses, probably due to higher proportion of them involved in shift work. Hospital nurses should be given high priority in mitigating stress among nurses.
Fulltext The Impacts of Illegal Toxic Waste Dumping on Children's Health: A Review and Case Study from Pasir Gudang, Malaysia

Ibrahim MF, Hod R, Toha HR, Mohammed Nawi A, Idris IB, Mohd Yusoff H, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 02 24;18(5).
PMID: 33668186 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18052221

Poor management of hazardous waste can lead to environmental pollution, injuries, and adverse health risks. Children's exposure to hazardous waste may cause serious acute and chronic health problems due to their higher vulnerability to the toxic effects of chemicals. This study examines an incident of illegal chemical dumping in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia and its potential health impacts on children. The study introduced a risk assessment of possible health-related effects due to chemical contamination based on a real case scenario where quantification of the contamination was not feasible. A literature review and spatial analysis were used as research methods. On 6th March 2019, tons of hazardous waste were illegally disposed into Kim Kim River, Pasir Gudang, Malaysia. They were identified as benzene, acrolein, acrylonitrile, hydrogen chloride, methane, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and d-limonene. As a result, 975 students in the vicinity developed signs and symptoms of respiratory disease due to the chemical poisoning. The findings of this study indicate that more effective policies and preventive actions are urgently needed to protect human health, especially children from improper hazardous waste management.
Fulltext Fatigue and recovery among Malaysian doctors: the role of work-related activities during non-work time

Mohd Fauzi MF, Mohd Yusoff H, Mat Saruan NA, Muhamad Robat R, Abdul Manaf MR, Ghazali M

BMJ Open, 2020 09 25;10(9):e036849.
PMID: 32978189 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-036849

OBJECTIVES: This paper aims to estimate the level of acute fatigue, chronic fatigue and intershift recovery among doctors working at public hospitals in Malaysia and determine their inter-relationship and their association with work-related activities during non-work time.
DESIGN: Cross-sectional.
SETTING: Seven core clinical disciplines from seven tertiary public hospitals in Malaysia.
PARTICIPANTS: Study was conducted among 330 randomly-sampled doctors. Response rate was 80.61% (n=266).
RESULTS: The mean score of acute fatigue, chronic fatigue and intershift recovery were 68.51 (SD=16.549), 54.60 (SD=21.259) and 37.29 (SD=19.540), respectively. All these scores were out of 100 points each. Acute and chronic fatigue were correlated (r=0.663), and both were negatively correlated with intershift recovery (r=-0.704 and r=-0.670, respectively). Among the work-related activities done during non-work time, work-related ruminations dominated both the more frequent activities and the association with poorer fatigue and recovery outcomes. Rumination on being scolded/violated was found to be positively associated with both acute fatigue (adjusted regression coefficient (Adj.b)=2.190, 95% CI=1.139 to 3.240) and chronic fatigue (Adj.b=5.089, 95% CI=3.876 to 6.303), and negatively associated with recovery (Adj.b=-3.316, 95% CI=-4.516 to -2.117). Doing work task at workplace or attending extra work-related activities such as locum and attending training were found to have negative associations with fatigue and positive associations with recovery. Nevertheless, doing work-related activities at home was positively associated with acute fatigue. In terms of communication, it was found that face-to-face conversation with partner did associate with higher recovery but virtual conversation with partner associated with higher acute fatigue and lower recovery.
CONCLUSIONS: Work-related ruminations during non-work time were common and associated with poor fatigue and recovery outcomes while overt work activities done at workplace during non-work time were associated with better fatigue and recovery levels. There is a need for future studies with design that allow causal inference to address these relationships.
Validation of Occupational Zoonotic Disease Questionnaire Using Fuzzy Delphi Method

Sulaiman HF, Ismail R, Mohd Yusoff H, Anuar N, Mohd Jamil MR, Daud F

J Agromedicine, 2020 04;25(2):166-172.
PMID: 31533524 DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2019.1666763

Objective: The Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) is one of the phases in Design and Development Research (DDR). It is a systematic method for tool development and validation. This article aims to validate an occupational zoonotic disease questionnaire using this technique. DDR is applied going through phase 1 (needs analysis), phase 2 (development and design), and phase 3 (usability).Method: In phase 1, information about safe work practices and occupational zoonotic exposure was obtained from discussions to verify predetermined domains as stated in The National Park Service survey on zoonotic disease exposure and risk. In phase 2, agreement from 14 experts about the domains was obtained using the FDM. In phase 3, a cognitive debriefing was performed to determine its usability for future studies. A total of five superior domains were verified, and their items were adapted. All domains and their items were submitted to experts to obtain consensus agreement.Results: A total of 31 (96.9%) passed the Triangle of Fuzzy Numbers and Defuzzification process with acceptable consensus agreement (78.8-91.9%) and threshold d value (0.07-0.14). Only four veterinarians were needed for cognitive debriefing to achieve the point of saturation.Conclusion: FDM in DDR is suitable to be applied by various professions for tool validation, as it is doable and cost and time effective. The Occupational Zoonotic Disease Questionnaire is now ready to be used for future studies in Malaysia.
Fulltext The crucial role of molecular testing to facilitate the diagnosis of pneumocystis pneumonia during pregnancy

Ding CH, Yusoff H, Muttaqillah NAS, Tang YL, Tan TL, Periyasamy P, et al.

Malays J Pathol, 2018 Apr;40(1):69-72.
PMID: 29704387 MyJurnal

Pneumocystis pneumonia is an important human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated opportunistic infection, and especially so in pregnant HIV-positive patients. We report a case of a 40-year-old woman in her first trimester of pregnancy who initially presented with acute gastroenteritis symptoms but due to a history of high-risk behaviour and the observation of oral thrush, she was worked up for HIV infection. Her retroviral status was positive and her CD4+ T cell count was only 8 cells/µL. She was also worked up for pneumocystis pneumonia due to the presence of mild resting tachypnoea and a notable drop in oxygen saturation (from 100% to 88%) following brief ambulation. Her chest radiograph revealed bilaterally symmetrical lower zone reticular opacities and Giemsa staining of her bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was negative for Pneumocystis jirovecii cysts. However, real-time P. jirovecii polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on the same BAL specimen revealed the presence of the organism. A course of oral co-trimoxazole plus prednisolone was commenced and her clinical condition improved.
Fulltext Development and validation of Work-Related Activities during Non-Work Time Scale (WANTS) for doctors

Mohd Fauzi MF, Mohd Yusoff H, Mat Saruan NA, Muhamad Robat R

PLoS One, 2020;15(11):e0241577.
PMID: 33206663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0241577

Work-related activities during non-work time may influence the intershift recovery of post-work fatigue. Currently there is no valid and reliable scale available to measure the frequency for such activities among doctors. Therefore, this study aims to develop and validate 'Work-Related Activities during Non-Work Time Scale' (WANTS) that measure the frequency of work-related activities during non-work time for doctors. This was a scale development and validation study among doctors involving item generation, content and construct validation, and reliability assessment. 23-item seven-point Likert-type scale was developed through deductive (literature search) and inductive (interview with source population, authors' experiences, and expert opinion) methods. The content-validated scale was pre-tested, and the improved scale was subsequently administered to randomly-selected 460 doctors working at public hospital setting. Response rate was 77.76% (n = 382). Initial exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with principal axis factoring (PAF) using varimax rotation revealed unstable six-factor structure consisting of 17 variables; thus, we tested one- to six-factor model, and found that four-factor model is the most stable. Further analysis with principal component analysis (PCA) with a single component on each factor found that 17-variables four-factor model is stable. These factors were labelled as 'work-related thought', 'work-to-home conversation', 'task spillover' and 'superior-subordinate communication'. It showed good internal consistency with overall alpha value of 0.837. The scale is thus valid and reliable for measuring the frequency of each construct of work-related activities during non-work time among doctors.
Fulltext Development and evaluation of a scale to measure nurses' unsafe driving behaviour while commuting

Mohd Yusoff H, Ismail KI, Ismail R, Khamis NK, Muhamad Robat R, Bryce JM

Heliyon, 2024 Jan 15;10(1):e23735.
PMID: 38226263 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23735

Driving is the most prevalent form of commuting for most workers but is also perhaps the most hazardous mode of travel with unsafe driving contributing significantly to road traffic accidents. Despite nurses having been reported as being at higher risk of commuter-related accidents over the last three decades, little is known about unsafe driving behaviours among nurses while commuting, which is unique from other driving routines. Additionally, the lack of appropriate tools to measure such behaviours is apparent. This study aims i) to identify unsafe driving behaviours among nurses while commuting and ii) to develop a scale to assess nurses' unsafe commuting driving behaviours. The study employed a multiphase and multimethod approach to develop the scale, which was subject to stringent validation and evaluation. Themes were specified via the Nominal Group Technique (NGT). Six themes were identified namely: i) violations and reckless driving, ii) negative emotions, iii) drowsy driving iv) mind wandering, v) error and vi) carelessness. Content and face validity were sought through expert review. A total of 442 nurses' data were collected across multisite hospitals for evaluation. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) resulted in recovered structure and was confirmed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with structural equation analyses being conducted to test predictive validity. All constructs met adequate validity and reliability. Nurses' unsafe driving behaviours while commuting were identified with a novel scale to assess them being both developed and validated. The resulting MyUDWC scale is a suitable tool for measuring nurses' unsafe driving behaviours while commuting.
Fulltext Unplanned Absenteeism: The Role of Workplace and Non-Workplace Stressors

Mat Saruan NA, Mohd Yusoff H, Mohd Fauzi MF, Wan Puteh SE, Muhamad Robat R

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 08 24;17(17).
PMID: 32846878 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17176132

Unplanned absenteeism (UA), which includes medically certified leave (MC) or emergency leave (EL), among nurses may disturb the work performance of their team and disrupt the quality of patient care. Currently, there is limited study in Malaysia that examines the role of stressors in determining absenteeism among nurses. Therefore, apart from estimating the prevalence and the reasons of UA among nurses in Malaysia, this study aims to determine its stressor-related determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 697 randomly sampled nurses working in Selangor, Malaysia. Most of them were female (97.3%), married (83.4%), and working in shifts (64.4%) in hospital settings (64.3%). In the past year, the prevalence of ever taking MC and EL were 49.1% and 48.4%, respectively. The mean frequency of MC and EL were 1.80 (SD = 1.593) and 1.92 (SD = 1.272) times, respectively. Meanwhile, the mean duration of MC and EL were 4.24 (SD = 10.355) and 2.39 (SD = 1.966) days, respectively. The most common reason for MC and EL was unspecified fever (39.2%) and child sickness (51.9%), respectively. The stressor-related determinants of durations of MC were inadequate preparation at the workplace (Adj.b = -1.065) and conflict with doctors (adjusted regression coefficient (Adj.b) = 0.491). On the other hand, the stressor-related determinants of durations of EL were conflict with spouse (Adj.b = 0.536), sexual conflict (Adj.b = -0.435), no babysitter (Adj.b = 0.440), inadequate preparation at workplace (Adj.b = 0.257), lack of staff support (Adj.b = -0.190) and conflict with doctors (Adj.b = -0.112). The stressor-related determinants of the frequency of MC were conflicts over household tasks (Adj.b = -0.261), no time with family (Adj.b = 0.257), dangerous surroundings (Adj.b = 0.734), conflict with close friends (Adj.b = -0.467), and death and dying (Adj.b = 0.051). In contrast, the stressor-related determinants of frequency of EL were not enough money (Adj.b = -0.334), conflicts with spouse (Adj.b = 0.383), pressure from relatives (Adj.b = 0.207), and inadequate preparation (Adj.b = 0.090). In conclusion, apart from the considerably high prevalence of unplanned absenteeism and its varying frequency, duration and reasons, there is no clear distinction in the role between workplace and non-workplace stressors in determining MC or EL among nurses in Malaysia; thus, preventive measures that target both type of stressors are warranted. Future studies should consider longitudinal design and mixed-method approaches using a comprehensive model of absenteeism.
Fulltext A qualitative exploration and a Fuzzy Delphi validation of high-risk scaffolding tasks and fatigue-related safety behavioural deviation among scaffolders

Mohd Yusoff H, Heng PP, Hj Illias MR, Karrupayah S, Fadhli MA, Hod R

Heliyon, 2024 Aug 15;10(15):e34599.
PMID: 39157346 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34599

BACKGROUND: Most construction mishaps were caused by scaffolding incidents despite implementing various safety measures, and the association with human factors like fatigue has been widely reported. This study aims to identify all high-risk task sequences involved during the erection of the most commonly used scaffold; the deviation from the standard protocol led to a substandard fatigue state, followed by content validation using the Fuzzy Delphi Method.
METHODS: Qualitative exploration was conducted via focal group discussions (FGDs) involving 30 certified experts. The findings generated from FGDs were further validated by utilising the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) by consulting 19 experts with extensive practical experience and leadership roles in scaffolding safety.
RESULTS: The FGDs identified a total of 7 constructs and 50 items for task sequences involved in the tubular scaffold erection, namely construct Instruction (3 items), Preparation (3 items), Foundation (10 items), First Lift (8 items), Working Platform (7 items), Guardrails (5 items) and Second Lift (14 items). In the FDM validation process, the experts' consensus for each construct was fulfilled with a threshold value (d) ≤ 0.2; thus, all constructs were accepted. Experts' consensus for all items achieved an expert agreement of 75 % and above. Items ranking was conducted using average fuzzy numbers. The highest average fuzzy number documented was 0.8, while the lowest was 0.588. None of the items with the lowest ranking was discarded as all items perfectly fulfilled the second prerequisite and obtained excellent experts' agreement.
CONCLUSIONS: The tool generated will help guide the development of a protocol for scaffolding safety management.

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