Browse publications by year: 1998

  1. Cyclic vomiting syndrome in South-East Asian children
    Lee WS, Kaur P, Boey CC, Chan KC
    J Paediatr Child Health, 1998 Dec;34(6):568-70.
    PMID: 9928652
    OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features, management and outcome of children with cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) from South-East Asia.

    METHODOLOGY: Retrospective review of all children who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of CVS and who were seen at Department of Paediatrics, University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur and Paediatric Unit, Penang Hospital, Penang, Malaysia from 1987 to 1997.

    RESULTS: Eight children with CVS were seen at the two units during the study period, five girls and three boys. All had cyclical, self-limited episodes of nausea and vomiting with symptom-free intervals. The mean age of onset was 5.9 years. The clinical features were similar to other series described in the literature. Only two of the eight children were described as 'perfectionist'. Two children identified stress as precipitating factors. Therapy to reduce the number of emeses during acute attacks and to prevent subsequent attacks had been ineffective.

    CONCLUSION: There are similarities and differences in CVS from South-East Asian children as compared to those described in the literature.

    MeSH terms: Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Nausea; Retrospective Studies; Sleep Stages; Syndrome*; Vomiting*; Age of Onset
  2. Effect of propranolol and nifedipine on maximal electroshock-induced seizures in mice: individually and in combination
    Raju SS, Gopalakrishna HN, Venkatadri N
    Pharmacol Res, 1998 Dec;38(6):449-52.
    PMID: 9990653
    A comparative effect of propranolol and nifedipine administered individually and in combination at graded dose levels; and that of phenytoin at 30 mg kg-1 on maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizure in mice was investigated. Propranolol in doses of 10 mg kg-1 and 20 mg kg-1, and nifedipine in doses of 8 mg kg-1 and 16 mg kg-1 significantly modified MES activity. Propranolol (40 mg kg-1), and a combination of propranolol (20 mg kg-1) and nifedipine (8 mg kg-1), produced antiMES activity, which was comparable to that of phenytoin (30 mg kg-1). In mice treated with propranolol and nifedipine combination, the tonic flexor and tonic extensor phase ratios (F/E ratio) were significantly higher than individual drug responses. Our findings suggest that a combination of propranolol and nifedipine has either synergistic or an additive effect in controlling MES-induced seizures in mice.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Anticonvulsants/pharmacology*; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electroshock; Male; Nifedipine/pharmacology*; Phenytoin/pharmacology*; Propranolol/pharmacology*; Seizures/etiology; Seizures/prevention & control*; Rats, Wistar; Mice; Rats
  3. Primary hyperparathyroidism presenting with pathological fracture
    Deshmukh RG, Alsagoff SA, Krishnan S, Dhillon KS, Khir AS
    J R Coll Surg Edinb, 1998 Dec;43(6):424-7.
    PMID: 9990797
    Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an intriguing condition. Routine automated biochemical screening has made the diagnosis commonplace in developed countries and the disease is diagnosed early in its course when it is often asymptomatic. In developing countries or in recent immigrants from these countries, PHPT is often seen in an advanced stage with bone involvement. Associated dietary deficiencies may alter the biochemical profile and cause a diagnostic dilemma. It is important to include it in the differential diagnosis of pathological fractures. We report three cases of PHPT presenting with pathological fractures and discuss their diagnosis and management.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Aged; Diagnosis, Differential; Femoral Fractures/etiology*; Femoral Fractures/surgery; Fracture Fixation, Internal; Fractures, Spontaneous/etiology*; Fractures, Spontaneous/surgery; Humans; Hyperparathyroidism/complications*; Hyperparathyroidism/diagnosis; Male; Parathyroid Glands/surgery; Parathyroid Neoplasms/complications; Parathyroid Neoplasms/surgery; Thyroidectomy; Tibial Fractures/etiology*; Tibial Fractures/surgery
  4. Lead exposure in the lead-acid storage battery manufacturing and PVC compounding industries
    Ho SF, Sam CT, Embi GB
    Occup Med (Lond), 1998 Sep;48(6):369-73.
    PMID: 10024732
    This study was conducted as part of the Human Exposure Assessment Location (HEAL) Project which comes under the United Nations Environment Programme/World Health Organisation (UNEP/WHO) Global environmental Monitoring System (GEMS). The objective of the study was to evaluate workers' exposure to lead in industries with the highest exposure. All subjects were interviewed about their occupational and smoking histories, the use of personal protective equipment and personal hygiene. The contribution of a dietary source of lead intake from specified foods known to contain lead locally and personal air sampling for lead were assessed. A total of 61 workers from two PVC compounding and 50 workers from two lead acid battery manufacturing plants were studied together with 111 matched controls. In the PVC compounding plants the mean lead-in-air level was 0.0357 mg/m3, with the highest levels occurring during the pouring and mixing operations. This was lower than the mean lead-in-air level of 0.0886 mg/m3 in the lead battery manufacturing plants where the highest exposure was in the loading of lead ingots into milling machines. Workers in lead battery manufacturing had significantly higher mean blood lead than the PVC workers (means, 32.51 and 23.91 mcg/100 ml respectively), but there was poor correlation with lead-in-air levels. Among the lead workers, the Malays had significantly higher blood lead levels than the Chinese (mean blood levels were 33.03 and 25.35 mcg/100 ml respectively) although there was no significant difference between the two ethnic groups in the control group. There were no significant differences between the exposed and control group in terms of dietary intake of specified local foods known to contain lead. However, Malays consumed significantly more fish than the Chinese did. There were no ethnic differences in the hours of overtime work, number of years of exposure, usage of gloves and respirators and smoking habits. Among the Malays, 94.3% eat with their hands compared with 9.2% of the Chinese. Workers who ate with bare hands at least once a week had higher blood lead levels after adjusting for lead-in-air levels (mean blood lead was 30.2 and 26.4 mcg/100 ml respectively). The study indicated that the higher blood lead levels observed in the Malay workers might have been due to their higher exposure and eating with bare hands.
    MeSH terms: Adult; China/ethnology; Environmental Exposure/adverse effects; Humans; Lead/adverse effects*; Lead/blood; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Manufactured Materials/adverse effects*; Middle Aged; Polyvinyl Chloride; Electric Power Supplies/adverse effects*; Surveys and Questionnaires; Singapore/epidemiology; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*; Matched-Pair Analysis
  5. The international electronics industry
    LaDou J, Rohm T
    Int J Occup Environ Health, 1998 Jan-Mar;4(1):1-18.
    PMID: 10026464
    High-technology microelectronics has a major presence in countries such as China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, now the third-largest manufacturer of semiconductor chips. The migration of European, Japanese, and American companies accommodates regional markets. Low wage rates and limited enforcement of environmental regulations in developing countries also serve as incentives for the dramatic global migration of this industry. The manufacture of microelectonics products is accompanied by a high incidence of occupational illnesses, which may reflect the widespread use of toxic materials. Metals, photoactive chemicals, solvents, acids, and toxic gases are used in a wide variety of combinations and workplace settings. The industry also presents problems of radiation exposure and various occupational stressors, including some unresolved ergonomic issues. The fast-paced changes of the technology underlying this industry, as well as the stringent security precautions, have added to the difficulty of instituting proper health and safety measures. Epidemiologic studies reveal an alarming increase in spontaneous abortions among cleanroom manufacturing workers; no definitive study has yet identified its cause. Other health issues, including occupational cancer, are yet to be studied. The microelectronics industry is a good example of an industry that is exported to many areas of the world before health and safety problems are properly addressed and resolved.
    MeSH terms: Abortion, Spontaneous/etiology; Developing Countries; Electronics/organization & administration*; Emigration and Immigration; Female; Humans; Industry/organization & administration*; Neoplasms/etiology; Occupational Diseases/etiology*; Population Surveillance; Pregnancy; Occupational Health*; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*; Occupational Exposure/analysis; Developed Countries
  6. Dermatoglyphics of Down's syndrome patients in Malays--a comparative study
    Than M, Myat KA, Khadijah S, Jamaludin N, Isa MN
    Anthropol Anz, 1998 Dec;56(4):351-65.
    PMID: 10027045
    There has been no recent report on the dermatoglyphics of the Malays (normal population as well as patients with Down's syndrome). A study on the frequencies of the dermal patterns (dermatoglyphics) of the digits, palms and hallucal areas was done therefore in 40 Malay patients with Down's syndrome and 200 unrelated normal controls. Only the patients with the standard 21 trisomy karyotype were included in the study. Comparison was made with the published data on studies done in various racial groups. Significant differences of the dermal patterns were found not only between the controls but also among patients of different races.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Cultural Comparison*; Dermatoglyphics*; Down Syndrome/ethnology; Down Syndrome/genetics*; Female; Humans; Karyotyping; Malaysia; Male
  7. Fulltext WHO in the 1970s and 1980s--a user's view
    Karim R
    World Health Forum, 1998;19(4):365-8.
    PMID: 10050161
    The author reflects on 24 years of involvement in WHO activities, and their effect on her own life and on the maternal and child health services in Malaysia.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Attitude of Health Personnel*; Child; Child Health Services/trends; Family Planning Services/trends; Humans; Malaysia; Maternal Health Services/trends; Physician Executives/psychology*; World Health Organization/organization & administration*
  8. Impact of the east Asian economic crisis on health and health care: Malaysia's response
    Suleiman AB, Lye MS, Yon R, Teoh SC, Alias M
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):5-9.
    PMID: 10050200
    In the wake of the east Asian economic crisis, the health budget for the public sector in Malaysia was cut by 12%. The Ministry of Health responded swiftly with a series of broad-based and specific strategies. There was a careful examination of the operating expenditure and where possible measures were taken to minimise the effects of the budget constraints at the service interface. The MOH reprioritised the development of health projects. Important projects such as rural health projects and training facilities, and committed projects, were continued. In public health, population-based preventive and promotive activities were expected to experience some form of curtailment. There is a need to refocus priorities, maximise the utilisation of resources, and increase productivity at all levels and in all sectors, both public and private, in order to minimise the impact of the economic downturn on health.
    MeSH terms: Budgets; Economics/trends*; Health Expenditures/statistics & numerical data; Financing, Government/economics; Health Priorities/economics*; Health Services/economics*; Health Status*; Humans; Malaysia; Private Sector/economics; Public Sector/economics
  9. Role of schools of public health on maternal and child health programmes in the Asia-Pacific region
    Zulkifli SN, Yun-Low W, Yusof K
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):10-6.
    PMID: 10050201
    This paper assessed the role of public health schools on maternal and child health programmes in the Asia Pacific region. Economic development and its associated effects, particularly in the ASEAN countries, for example, migrant labour, ageing, environmental health, turbulence and social climate, has a tremendous impact on maternal and child health. Based on these current issues, it is evident that public health schools can play a major role in maternal and child health in terms of policy formulation and programme development. Several areas were proposed as to what schools of public health can do, namely, through networking, communication, research and training.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Asia; Child; Child Health Services/organization & administration*; Developing Countries*; Health Policy; Health Status Indicators; Humans; Maternal Health Services/organization & administration*; Pacific Islands; Schools, Public Health/organization & administration*; Program Evaluation; Program Development
  10. Factors involved in the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in Malaysia
    Khoo SP, Shanmuhasuntharam P, Mahadzir WM, Tay KK, Latif A, Nair S
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 1998;10(1):49-51.
    PMID: 10050209 DOI: 10.1177/101053959801000111
    The delay in the diagnosis of oral cancer has been variously reported as being contributed by the clinicians, patients or both. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the referral pattern of 65 patients eventually diagnosed as having oral squamous cell carcinoma. The results showed that 50% of the patients delayed seeking professional help for more than 3 months after being aware of the lesion. The majority of the patients consulted medical practitioners as the first source of help. The mean clinicians' and patients' delay were 10.3 weeks and 28.9 weeks respectively. Dental practitioners showed a tendency to refer more advanced lesions compared to the medical practitioners. The findings raise the concern that lack of patients' awareness, misdiagnosis by clinicians and late detection by dental practitioners prevail thus calling for urgent measures towards early detection of the disease.
    MeSH terms: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/diagnosis*; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/psychology; Dentistry; Diagnostic Errors/statistics & numerical data; Family Practice; Female; Hospitals; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Neoplasms/diagnosis*; Mouth Neoplasms/psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology; Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data*; Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data*; Risk Factors; Time Factors
  11. Fulltext Breastfeeding at 6 months and effects on infections
    Chye JK, Lim CT
    Singapore Med J, 1998 Dec;39(12):551-6.
    PMID: 10067400
    AIMS: To examine the pattern of and the influence of some socio-demographic factors on infant milk feedings, and the protective role of breastfeeding against infections.
    METHODS: Mothers who breastfed their infants (exclusively or partially) at 6 weeks postpartum, and who had singleton pregnancies and healthy infants at birth, were interviewed when their infants had reached 6 months of age.
    RESULTS: Of the 234 mothers studied, only 31 (13%) mothers were practising exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and 133 (57%) mothers were using exclusive infant formula feeding (EIF). Solid and semi-solid foods were introduced between 4 to 6 months of life in 89% of the infants. On logistic regression analysis, mothers who were in paid employment [OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.15, 0.42] and not breast feeding at 6 weeks [OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.19, 0.54] had decreased odds of EBF. Antenatal plans to breastfeed, breast-feeding difficulties, ethnicity, level of parental education, parental ages, fathers' income, primigravida status and infants' gender were not significant co-variates. In comparison, EIF was more likely in mothers who worked, practised mixed feedings at 6 weeks and of Chinese descent. There were no significant differences in the rates of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) or diarrhoeal illnesses between the infants who were or were not being breast-fed.
    CONCLUSIONS: Most mothers were unable to breastfeed their infants exclusively in the recommended first 4 to 6 months of life. Complementary changes outside the hospital and maternity services are essential in improving breastfeeding rates. Breastfeeding does not appear to confer significant protection to either URTI or gastrointestinal tract infections.
    Study site: Postnatal clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    MeSH terms: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Breast Feeding/ethnology; Breast Feeding/psychology*; Breast Feeding/statistics & numerical data*; China/ethnology; Diarrhea/microbiology; Diarrhea/prevention & control*; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hospitals, University; Humans; India/ethnology; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Malaysia; Malaysia/ethnology; Mothers/education; Mothers/psychology*; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Surveys and Questionnaires; Respiratory Tract Infections/microbiology; Respiratory Tract Infections/prevention & control*; Socioeconomic Factors; Cohort Studies; Logistic Models
  12. Pulmonary miliary tuberculosis with multiple intracerebral tuberculous granulomas--report of two cases
    Muin IA, Zurin AR
    Br J Neurosurg, 1998 Dec;12(6):585-7.
    PMID: 10070474
    Although intracerebral tuberculomas are common in countries where tuberculosis is still endemic, miliary tuberculosis with involvement of the central nervous system is exceptionally rare. We report two cases of pulmonary miliary tuberculosis with multiple intracerebral tuberculomas.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Tuberculosis, Miliary/complications; Tuberculosis, Miliary/drug therapy; Tuberculosis, Miliary/surgery*; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/complications*; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy; Tuberculoma, Intracranial/complications; Tuberculoma, Intracranial/drug therapy; Tuberculoma, Intracranial/surgery*
  13. Growth hormone deficiency and cardiovascular risk
    Hew FL, O'Neal D, Kamarudin N, Alford FP, Best JD
    Baillieres Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 1998 Jul;12(2):199-216.
    PMID: 10083892
    It is now recognized that growth hormone (GH) deficiency in adults represents a distinct clinical syndrome that encompasses reduced psychological well-being as well as specific metabolic abnormalities. The latter features, which include hypertension, central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and coagulopathy, closely resemble those of metabolic insulin resistance syndrome. The increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality demonstrated in these GH-deficient (GHD) adults reinforce the close association between the two syndromes. Replacement of GH in GHD adults has resulted in a marked reduction of central obesity and significant reduction in total cholesterol but little change in other risk factors, in particular insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. The persistent insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia, together with the elevation of plasma insulin levels and lipoprotein (a) with GH replacement in these subjects are of concern. Long-term follow-up data are required to assess the impact of GH replacement on the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality of GHD adults. Further exploration of the appropriateness of the GH dosage regimens currently being employed is also indicated.
    MeSH terms: Adult; Blood Coagulation Factors/metabolism; Blood Coagulation Factors/physiology; Cardiovascular System/metabolism*; Cardiovascular System/physiopathology; Female; Humans; Hyperlipidemias/etiology; Hyperlipidemias/physiopathology; Hypertension/etiology; Hypertension/physiopathology; Insulin Resistance/physiology; Lipoproteins/metabolism; Lipoproteins/physiology; Male; Obesity/etiology; Obesity/physiopathology; Human Growth Hormone/deficiency*; Human Growth Hormone/metabolism; Human Growth Hormone/therapeutic use*; Hormone Replacement Therapy*
  14. Religious--sociocultural psychotherapy in patients with anxiety and depression
    Razali SM, Hasanah CI, Aminah K, Subramaniam M
    Aust N Z J Psychiatry, 1998 Dec;32(6):867-72.
    PMID: 10084352
    To show the effectiveness of incorporating religious-sociocultural components in the management of patients with generalised anxiety disorders and major depression who have strong religious and cultural backgrounds as compared with a normal psychotherapeutic approach.
    MeSH terms: Anxiety Disorders/psychology; Anxiety Disorders/therapy*; Cultural Characteristics*; Depressive Disorder/psychology; Depressive Disorder/therapy*; Double-Blind Method; Ethnic Groups/psychology; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Malaysia/ethnology; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotherapy/methods*; Religion and Psychology*; Treatment Outcome
  15. Seasonal variation of fatty acid content in natural microplankton from the Tumpat coastal waters of the South China Sea
    Shamsudin L
    Arch Physiol Biochem, 1998 Jul;106(3):253-60.
    PMID: 10099722
    In the search for better understanding on the nutritional quality of natural tropical plankton, samples were collected from shallow coastal waters facing the South China Sea during the dry monsoon (May-September) and the wet monsoon (November-April) seasons from March 1993 to July 1994. The total fatty acid content of the predominantly phytoplankton communities (25-200 microns sieve nets) varied four to fivefold with the lowest value occurring during the dry monsoon when blue-green became predominant. Saturated fatty acid content (SAFA), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and total omega 3 (sigma omega 3) showed the same seasonal pattern as the total fatty acid with high values in October to December 1993. When species of the dinoflagellate Peridinium and Ceratium were present in considerable amount, the docosahexaenoic acid DHA content was high, especially from March to May 1993. The maximum content of eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, total omega-3 fatty acid, PUFA and sigma omega 3 in phytoplankton occurred during the pre-monsoon period (October and November 1993) when the diatoms were present in large amounts. The larger fraction sample (> 200 microns sieve nets) which consisted predominantly of zooplankton had high amounts of PUFA from September to November 1993.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Fatty Acids/analysis*; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated/analysis; Malaysia; Phytoplankton/chemistry*; Seasons; Time Factors; Zooplankton/chemistry*; Eicosapentaenoic Acid/analysis
  16. Use of capnography delaying the diagnosis of tracheal intubation
    Chan YK, Zuraidah S, Tan PS
    Anaesthesia, 1998 Dec;53(12):1207-8.
    PMID: 10193227
    There was a delay in making the correct diagnosis of tracheal intubation in a parturient who developed severe bronchospasm after intubation because we relied on the capnogram.
    MeSH terms: Bronchial Spasm/diagnosis*; Diagnosis, Differential; False Positive Reactions; Female; Foreign Bodies/diagnosis*; Humans; Intubation, Intratracheal/adverse effects*; Pregnancy; Time Factors; Capnography*
  17. An in vitro study comparing two different film-screen combinations in the detection of impacted fish bones
    Abdullah BJ, Kaur H, Ng KH
    Br J Radiol, 1998 Sep;71(849):930-3.
    PMID: 10195007
    Dried fish bones from eight species of Malaysian fish were placed in an animal cadaver at four sites (tonsil, valleculae, larynx and oesophagus) and radiographed using a double and a single film-screen combination. The use of the single film-screen combination resulted in visibility of all fish bones placed in the larynx, two of which were not visible on the double film-screen combination. There was a 50% increase of the visibility of the fish bones in the oesophagus using the single film-screen combination. The difference in dose and cost between the two different film-screen combinations was not significant.
    MeSH terms: Animals; Bone and Bones/radiography*; Esophagus/radiography*; Fishes*; Foreign Bodies/radiography*; Glottis/radiography; Goats; Larynx/radiography*; Sensitivity and Specificity; Palatine Tonsil/radiography; X-Ray Film/standards*
  18. Survey of fungal counts and natural occurrence of aflatoxins in Malaysian starch-based foods
    Abdullah N, Nawawi A, Othman I
    Mycopathologia, 1998;143(1):53-8.
    PMID: 10205885
    In a survey of starch-based foods sampled from retail outlets in Malaysia, fungal colonies were mostly detected in wheat flour (100%), followed by rice flour (74%), glutinous rice grains (72%), ordinary rice grains (60%), glutinous rice flour (48%) and corn flour (26%). All positive samples of ordinary rice and glutinous rice grains had total fungal counts below 10(3) cfu/g sample, while among the positive rice flour, glutinous rice flour and corn flour samples, the highest total fungal count was more than 10(3) but less than 10(4) cfu/g sample respectively. However, in wheat flour samples total fungal count ranged from 10(2) cfu/g sample to slightly more than 10(4) cfu/g sample. Aflatoxigenic colonies were mostly detected in wheat flour (20%), followed by ordinary rice grains (4%), glutinous rice grains (4%) and glutinous rice flour (2%). No aflatoxigenic colonies were isolated from rice flour and corn flour samples. Screening of aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1 and aflatoxin G2 using reversed-phase HPLC were carried out on 84 samples of ordinary rice grains and 83 samples of wheat flour. Two point four percent (2.4%) of ordinary rice grains were positive for aflatoxin G1 and 3.6% were positive for aflatoxin G2. All the positive samples were collected from private homes at concentrations ranging from 3.69-77.50 micrograms/kg. One point two percent (1.2%) of wheat flour samples were positive for aflatoxin B1 at a concentration of 25.62 micrograms/kg, 4.8% were positive for aflatoxin B2 at concentrations ranging from 11.25-252.50 micrograms/kg, 3.6% were positive for aflatoxin G1 at concentrations ranging from 25.00-289.38 micrograms/kg and 13.25% were positive for aflatoxin G2 at concentrations ranging from 16.25-436.25 micrograms/kg. Similarly, positive wheat flour samples were mostly collected from private homes.
    MeSH terms: Aflatoxins/analysis*; Aflatoxins/toxicity; Edible Grain/microbiology*; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Fungi/isolation & purification; Malaysia; Colony Count, Microbial
  19. Pacific Rim report: Malaysia
    Suleiman AB, Mohan J
    Telemed Today, 1998 Dec;6(6):16.
    PMID: 10339345
    MeSH terms: Malaysia; Telemedicine*; Remote Consultation; Education, Distance
  20. Prioritisation in speech and language therapy departments in Scotland and Malaysia
    Santiago C, Stansfield J
    Int J Lang Commun Disord, 1998;33 Suppl:102-7.
    PMID: 10343674
    This study investigates how prioritisation in health services have influenced speech and language therapy (SLT) services in Scotland in prioritising their caseload. Additionally, it evaluates how current prioritisation systems may contribute towards the development of the SLT service in Malaysia. Health, education and social agencies in Malaysia were contacted and a literature review was conducted. Information on prioritisation systems used in Malaysia was unavailable. Prioritisation systems from seven SLT departments within Scotland were investigated, of which three SLT managers took part in semi-structured interviews. The findings show that prioritisation is influenced by a combination of factors and that the principles could only be applied to the Malaysian SLT service if consideration is given to the political, economical, social, geographical and cultural factors.
    MeSH terms: Health Priorities*; Health Services Accessibility; Humans; Language Therapy/organization & administration*; Malaysia; Scotland; Speech Therapy/organization & administration*; Patient Selection*
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