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Awareness, Attitude and Practice Towards Blood Donation Among Undergraduate Students
Get PDFNational Blood Center (PDN) has faced shortage crisis when COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, which led the Ministry of Health (MOH) urgently call for public to donate their blood in order to help increasing the amount of blood at PDN. Kedah specifically faced the worst situation which the blood supply can only last for less
than four days. According to KKMNOW statistics, only 12.0% of all the blood donors in Malaysia are students in the past year. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the awareness, attitude and knowledge of blood donation among undergraduate students. A questionnaire survey was conducted which involved 268
undergraduate students. Descriptive statistics, frequency distribution table and Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient were adopted to analysis the collected data. Based on their responses, majority of the respondents have adequate knowledge and positive attitude towards blood donating. 60.4% of the
respondents have donating history. The main reasons the respondents do not participate in donating blood are ‘Due to fear or pain’ and ‘Never thought about donating blood’. This study also found that both attitude and practice have a positive relationship with the awareness of blood donatin
Colour Image Enhancement Model of Retinal Fundus Image for Diabetic Retinopathy Recognition
Get PDFDiabetic retinopathy (DR) features are typically identified through ophthalmologist eye examinations, but these images often face challenges like low contrast, non-uniform illumination, and colour inconsistency, affecting the diagnosis accuracy. Therefore, this study introduces two novel techniques to improve image quality. One is applying colour image processing techniques to original retinal fundus images, overcoming existing algorithm limitations. Firstly, a new colour correction algorithm was proposed based on Tuned Brightness Controlled Single-Scale Retinex (TBCSSR) named Fuzzy TBCSSR Histogram Matching (fTBCSSRhm) to address the issue of colour inconsistency in the dataset. Secondly, based on hybrid particle swarm optimisation-contrast stretch (HPSOCS), the hybrid of TBCSSR and HPSOCS named eTBCSSR-HPSOCS algorithm is introduced to tackle the limitations of the standard Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) algorithm in HPSOCS, which is prone to local optima and exhibits low convergence rates. This technique combines the L-component of the LAB colour model with an enhanced velocity mechanism in PSO and contrast stretching (lavHPSOCS). Its goal is to fine-tune parameters automatically, reduce over-enhancement, avoid unwanted artefacts, and preserve intricate details. This approach improves optimisation by balancing exploration and exploitation and refining velocity control. The proposed algorithm underwent both qualitative and quantitative evaluations. Tests on 100 retinal
fundus images from primary datasets were performed to benchmark the algorithm against three existing approaches. The results show that the qualitative performance of the proposed enhancement is more favourable to ophthalmologist specialists than other images. Quantitatively, eTBCSSR-HPSOCS outperforms others with the lowest mean squared error (MSE) of 42.72859, the highest peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 32.768, and entropy of 0.97
"Mama Papa Please Hear Me": The Participation of Children in Child Custody Mediation in the Syariah Courts of Malaysia
Get PDFThe laws in Malaysia uphold the rights of children to participate in family law proceedings, particularly in custody disputes. However, with regard to the practice of mediation (sulh) in child custody disputes, the specific legislation that highlights measures to obtain the views of children is still vague. This paper will discuss the practice of children’s participation during mediation (sulh) in child custody disputes. The study reported in this paper has also highlighted the challenges and the adequacy of legal provisions on the practice of children’s participation during mediation (sulh). The present qualitative study has adopted a library-based research method to collect information, data, and theories from selected materials, including journal articles, textbooks, statutes, and interview methods. It also discussed how children were engaged in court-directed mediation proceedings in the Syariah Court of Malaysia. It has also examined the practice of the Syariah court in accepting the voice of children in mediation regarding decision making in child custody dispute cases. The examination focused on the relevant legislations and policies relating to children participating in mediation in the context of international legal provisions and Syariah laws. The paper further discussed the analysis of whether the rules and procedures in Malaysia are adequate to sustain children’s participation during mediation. The data were also gathered from interviews conducted with mediators or sulh officers. Finally, the study revealed that interviewing children during sulh sessions at the Syariah Court is common even though there are no clear regulations on the practice. It is suggested that a broader interpretation of the current legislation on the voice of children enables the legality of the practice of accepting children’s voices during the Majlis Sulh. Furthermore, it is recommended that a proper standard operating procedure (SOP) for obtaining children’s views during the mediation (sulh) process is also neede
Conceptual, Legal, and Ethical Considerations in Physician-Assisted Suicide: An Overview
Get PDFPhysician-assisted suicide (PAS) remains a contentious and highly debated topic within medical, legal, and ethical spheres. The complex issue of (PAS) raises significant inquiries regarding patient autonomy and societal norms. Ambiguities in conceptual, legal, and ethical aspects impede policy formulation, leading to unequal access and apprehensions about patient welfare and confidence. This article provides a thorough examination of assisted suicide, exploring its legal, ethical, and medical dimensions. It aims to facilitate informed dialogue and stimulate further investigation into the legal framework and ethical considerations surrounding this contentious issue. Through a library-based research approach and qualitative analysis of existing literature, this study delves into the diverse facets of assisted suicide. The article begins with a definition and contextualisation of assisted suicide, distinguishing it from related end-of-life practices. It then delves into the legal landscape, discussing different legal frameworks and regulations across various jurisdictions, and significant legal cases that have shaped the current discourse. From an ethical standpoint, this article explores the ethical considerations involved in assisted suicide, including autonomy, dignity, and the sanctity of life, and presents the perspectives of different stakeholders. The medical perspective examines the role of healthcare professionals, the criteria for assisted suicide, and empirical research on its effectiveness and safety. Realworld case studies are presented to illustrate the complexities of assisted suicide. Furthermore, this article analyses public opinion and ongoing debates on the topic. Ultimately, this analysis aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of assisted suicide, fostering informed discussions and encouraging further exploration of this contentious issu