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Medical officers’ awareness, involvement and training in dysphagia management
Full text linkAwareness, involvement and training in dysphagia management are essential to ensure that patients are appropriately assessed for dysphagia and provided with intervention. The study aimed to identify levels of awareness, involvement and training of medical officers in dysphagia management. A total of 51 medical officers from the family medicine, medical, otorhinolaryngology, surgery, and neurosurgery departments in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia participated in the study. Levels of awareness, involvement and training of medical officers in dysphagia management were reported using descriptive analysis. Results indicate that medical officers lacked awareness and training in dysphagia management. Referral rates to speech-language pathologists for dysphagia management were low with 58.4% of medical officers having had seldom or never referred patients. The results provide valuable information for addressing dysphagia management in the hospital
Development of a computer-assisted learning courseware for anatomy and physiology of swallowing
Full text linkKnowledge of normal anatomy and physiology of swallowing is fundamental in the identification of individuals with or at risk for swallowing disorders. Learning anatomy and physiology however, is not an easy task thus, computer-assisted learning (CAL) approaches have been incorporated into the learning of the topics to enhance understanding. Although evidence exists on the benefits of using CAL in education, more studies are necessary in the field of swallowing. While courseware for the learning of anatomy and physiology of swallowing exist, they are not comprehensive. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a comprehensive CAL courseware for anatomy and physiology of swallowing. The current study used a designed-based research following the ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation) model to create a multimedia courseware, incorporating the use of text, still images, animations, audio narrations, and presented on a simple graphical user interface. The courseware was evaluated by 27 undergraduate students in terms of its usefulness, ease of use, and users’ satisfaction. Results indicate that the participants were satisfied with the courseware and that they perceived the courseware as useful, easy to learn and easy to use. The study represents an initiative to investigate the use of CAL in the subject and to establish the basis for further work which includes assessment on the learning outcomes from the usage of the CAL courseware. It is hoped that the use of this courseware in teaching and learning of anatomy and physiology of swallowing can enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of the area efficiently and effectively
Socio-demographic factors associated with knowledge and uptake of family planning among women of reproductive age in a Rural Community of Abuja, Nigeria
Full text linkNigeria has a population of about 180 million, estimated to double in 22 years due to low uptake of family planning services. Low utilization of family planning is the major factor associated with high fertility pattern in Nigeria. This trend is higher among rural women in Northern Nigeria. Without a thorough understanding of, and due attention to the local context, utilization of family planning may continue to be low. Identification of correlates of family planning would be invaluable in designing strategies for ultimately improving uptake of family planning services. This study became relevant as no previous study on family planning has been carried out in Ushafa Community. The study was conducted at Ushafa community, a rural community, located in Bwari Area Council on the northern axis of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who were permanent resident of Ushafa Community. Using proportion of contraceptive usage of 16% from a previous study, 240 women were recruited into the study by systematic sampling technique. Data was collected by means of a structured interviewer administered questionnaire, data was entered and analysed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. All tests were conducted using 2 tails while level of significance was set at 0.05. About a quarter of respondents (26.3%) knew that amenorrhoea could be a side effect of oral contraceptive pills, 51.1% knew that oral contraceptive pills must be taken daily, 58% were not using any form of family planning. Age (χ2 = 8.382, p = 0.01) and marital status (χ2 = 8.915, p = 0.01) were significantly associated with family planning knowledge. Level of education was significantly associated with current use of family planning (χ2 = 10.78, p = 0.03). Educational status was significantly associated with likelihood of using family planning in the future (χ2 = 8.64, p = 0.04). Although the respondents had fairly good knowledge of family planning, the study observed some misconceptions especially with respect to side effects and methodology of use of the commodities. Low uptake of family planning was observed among the respondents. Age and marital status were significantly associated with family planning knowledge; level of education was significantly associated with current use of family planning. There is need for incorporation of facts on usage and side effects of family planning in message disseminated by health workers in health facilities in Ushafa Community so as to correct misconceptions
Corak hilang upaya dalam kalangan pekerja di Malaysia: kajian kes bagi pencarum PERKESO
Full text linkKecederaan yang berkait dengan pekerjaan merupakan suatu isu yang perlu diambil berat untuk mengurangkan permasalahan hilang upaya dan kematian di tempat kerja. Pekerja sihat dan berproduktiviti tinggi merupakan salah satu faktor yang penting kepada peningkatan ekonomi sesebuah negara. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti corak hilang upaya bagi pekerja yang dilindungi Skim Bencana Pekerjaan di bawah Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial Malaysia (PERKESO) untuk tahun 2009-2013. Berdasarkan perihalan diskriptif yang diperoleh, sebanyak 80% daripada jumlah keseluruhan pekerja yang mengalami masalah hilang upaya atau kematian di tempat kerja merupakan pekerja lelaki. Selain itu, pekerja yang berumur 25 tahun dan ke atas lebih terdedah kepada kecederaan dan kematian yang berkait dengan pekerjaan. Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan faktor sosiodemografi seperti jantina dan umur, serta tahap hilang upaya merupakan beberapa faktor penting yang perlu dipertimbangkan dalam mengenal pasti corak hilang upaya dalam kalangan pekerja
Characteristics of human spermatozoa harvested in culture media with and without serum proteins
Full text linkThis study was aimed to determine the efficiency of synthetic protein-free media in spermatozoa washing, preparation and retention of the activity of washed spermatozoa over short periods in vitro. Normozoospermic semen samples (n = 71) were equally apportioned and washed using synthetic protein-free medium (PFM), minimum essential medium + HSA (MEM) or commercial protein-containing medium (CPC). Washed spermatozoa were cultured in vitro using PFM, MEM or CPC media and held for 24 hrs at 4°C, 15°C, 22°C or 37°C. Spermatozoa activity was evaluated at 0 hr, 4 to 7 hrs and 24 hrs post-wash. The effects of PFM on spermatozoa motility, vitality, membrane integrity and DNA fragmentation level were not significantly different from that of MEM and CPC media at 0 hr, 4 to 7 hrs and 24 hrs post-wash in vitro. Synthetic PFM, MEM and CPC retained spermatozoa activity highest when specimen were held at 22°C and it was significantly higher (p 0.05) were noted in spermatozoa DNA fragmentation (SDF) levels when specimen were held at 22°C or 37°C at 4 to 7 hrs and also after 24 hrs post-wash in vitro in all media. The use of synthetic PFM as an alternative to the commercial protein-containing media in human spermatozoa washing and preparation procedure for an efficient and safer (Assisted Reproduction Technology) ART outcome. Spermatozoa activity can be successfully retained at room temperature post-wash over short periods; spermatozoa may lose viability rapidly if held for long hours at 37°C in all media
The effect of burned liver on the length, weight and development of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae) – a preliminary assessment and implications in forensic entomology
Full text linkDevelopment of insects in laboratory for minimum post mortem interval estimation (mPMI) or time of colonisation (TOC) in forensic entomology can be affected by the type and quality of food consumed during larval period. Since mPMI estimation also involves analysis of larval specimens collected from burned human remains, it is important to study if burned tissues could affect growth of sarcosaprophagous larvae. This study investigated the effect of burned tissues on the size and developmental period of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae), a species of forensic importance. Development of M. scalaris on 75 g burned cow’s liver was compared with control liver in three study replicates. Mean larval length (2.87 ± 0.11 mm) and weight (0.81 ± 0.08 mg) of M. scalaris larvae in burned liver diets were significantly lower than larval length (5.03 ± 0.15 mm) and weight (2.85 ± 0.21 mg) of control liver diets (p < 0.001) whilst mean pupal length (2.53 ± 0.06 mm) and weight (0.92 ± 0.06 mg) in burned liver diets were significantly lower than pupal length (3.52 ± 0.06 mm) and weight (2.84 ± 0.16 mg) in control liver diets (p < 0.001). Development of larvae in burned liver was 5-9 hours slower than those feeding on control liver based on single observation. Although the assessment is preliminary, the findings indicate physical growth of larvae feeding on burned animal tissues was affected and entomological specimens recovered from burned remains should be evaluated carefully to avoid errors in mPMI/TOC estimation. Limitations and suggestions for further research are also presented herei
Screening and evaluation of antioxidant activities of selected naphthalene compounds
Full text linkThe antioxidant activities of twelve naphthalene compounds containing (E)-1-((3-iodophenylimino)methyl) naphthalen-2-ol (NAPH1), (E)-1-((3-bromophenylimino) methyl) naphthalen-2-ol (NAPH2), E)-1-((4-bromo-2-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylimino) methyl) naphthalen-2-ol, (E)-1-((4-bromo-2-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylimino) methyl)naphthalen-2-ol (NAPH3), (E)-1-((2-methoxy-5-(trifluoromethyl) phenylimino) methyl) naphthalen-2-ol (NAPH4), (E)-1-((naphthalen-2-ylimino) methyl) naphthalen-2-ol (NAPH5), (E)-1-((2-bromo-3-methylphenylimino) methyl) naphthalen-2-ol (NAPH6), (E)-N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)-3-methylaniline (NAPH7), (E)-4-ethoxy-N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl) methylene) aniline (NAPH8), (E)-N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl) methylene) naphthalen-1-amine (NAPH9), (E)-1-(2,5-difluorophenyl)-N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl) methylene) methanamine (NAPH10), (E)-N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl) methylene)-4-fluoroaniline (NAPH11), (E)-N-((2-ethoxynaphthalen-1-yl)methylene)-2-ethylaniline (NAPH12) were investigated in vitro by antioxidant activity (phosphomolybdenum assay), reducing power, H2O2 scavenging activity, metal chelating effects and lipid peroxidation. Scavenging activities of the naphthalen compounds were tested against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals. Most of them are potent antioxidant, radical superoxide anion scavengers and in vitro inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The compounds; NAPH5, NAPH10 and NAPH12 were found to exhibit promising antioxidant profiles at 10 and 50 mM concentrations. Among these, NAPH5 at higher concentration was the most active compound in inhibiting lipid peroxidation as shown in the homogenates of kidney, heart and spleen. The presented results validate that NAPH5, NAPH10 and NAPH12 can be possessed as a source of antioxidant potential and a rich source of synthetic antioxidant for medicinal or foods
The cost of radiology procedures using Activity Based Costing (ABC) for development of cost weights in implementation of casemix system in Malaysia
Full text linkPresently there is a gross lack of information on cost and cost weights in many developing countries that implement casemix system. Furthermore, studies that employed Activity Based Costing method (ABC) to estimate the costs of radiology procedures were rarely done in developing countries, including Malaysia. The main objective of this study is to determine the costs of radiology procedures for each group in casemix system, in order to develop cost weights to be used in the implementation of the casemix system. An economic evaluation study was conducted in all units in the Department of Radiology in the first teaching hospital using the casemix system in Malaysia. From the 25,754 cases, 16,173 (62.8%) of them were from medical discipline. Low One Third and High One Third (L3H3) method was employed to trim the outlier cases. Output from the trimming, 15,387 cases were included in the study. The results revealed that the total inpatients’ charges of all the radiology procedures was RM1,820,533.00 while the cost imputed using ABC method was RM2,970,505.54. The biggest cost component were human resources in Radiology Unit (Mobile) (57.5%), consumables (78.5%) of Endovascular Interventional Radiology (EIR) Unit, equipment (81.4%) of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit, reagents (68.1%) of Medical Nuclear Unit. The one highest radiology cost weight, was for Malaysia Diagnosis Related Group (MY-DRG®) B-4-11-II (Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Neoplasms with severity level II, 2.8301). The method of calculation of the cost of procedures need to be revised by the hospital as findings from this study showed that the cost imposed to patient is lower than the actual cost
Infeksi parasit dalam kalangan penerima transplan renal di Hospital Kuala Lumpur
Full text linkSuatu kajian irisan lintang dengan pensampelan purposif telah dijalankan untuk menentukan kadar prevalens infeksi parasit iaitu Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), Giardia intestinalis (G. intestinalis), Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis) dan Strongyloides stercoralis (S. stercoralis) di kalangan 171 orang pesakit renal kronik di Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). Subjek kajian terbahagi kepada 2 kumpulan iaitu 138 orang penerima transplan renal (postransplan) dan 33 orang dari kumpulan pratransplan. Di dalam kajian ini, prevalens infeksi parasit turut dikaji dari aspek bangsa, jantina, kumpulan pesakit renal dan tempoh postransplantasi renal. Peringkat oosista C. parvum dan sista G. intestinalis dikesan melalui teknik pewarnaan imunofluoresen manakala kaedah kultur ‘Sand Charcoal’ pula diaplikasi bagi mengesan kehadiran helmin S. stercoralis di dalam feses pesakit. Hasil kajian menunjukkan kadar prevalens protozoa C. parvum, G. intestinalis dan B. hominis di kalangan pesakit postransplan adalah masing-masing 18.1%, 10.9% dan 22.5% manakala pesakit pratransplan tiada yang terinfeksi. Keputusan turut menunjukkan kedua-dua kumpulan pesakit adalah bebas daripada infeksi S. stercoralis. Di samping itu, kajian ini juga menunjukkan hubungan antara tempoh postransplantasi dan corak prevalens infeksi parasit tidak signifikan, walau bagaimanapun, berlakunya pernurunan kadar prevalens C. parvum dan G. intestinalis selepas 6 bulan transplantasi renal dijalankan
Validation of the Malay version of the snyder hope scale among Malaysian cancer patients
Full text linkHope leads to lower depression and anxiety and is associated with improved quality of life of cancer patients. In this study, Hope Scale (HS) was translated into Malay, and the psychometric properties of the Malay version of the Hope Scale were investigated among Malaysian cancer patients. Concurrent translation and back translation of the original English version of the Hope Scale were performed, and the Malay version was administered to 195 cancer patients with different cancer diagnoses at baseline assessment and 2 months later at follow-up. The Hope Scale (Malay) total score (Cronbach’s α = 0.72; intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.67) and its domains (Cronbach’s α [pathway] = 0.7; Cronbach’s α [agency] = 0.7; ICC[Pathway] = 0.64; ICC[Agency] = 0.70) demonstrated acceptable internal consistencies and test-retest reliability. Convergent and discriminant validities were also achieved by the Hope Scale (Malay). The Hope Scale (Malay) demonstrated construct validity, as confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that the items in the Hope Scale (Malay) best fit into two domains, which was true for the original English version. The Hope Scale (Malay) had acceptable psychometric properties and thus is suitable for assessing hope in Malaysian cancer patients