Introduction : Diabetes mellitus is recognized as a major public health problem worldwide. The burden of diabetes to society are morbidity, mortality and extensive usage of health care services.
Methodology : This study aimed to determine the provider’s cost in treating diabetic foot patient per day in orthopaedic ward, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) in year 2006. Result : A total of 54 patients fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 29 were eligible for analysis. The cost of health care providers derived from cost calculation on capital and recurrent costs. Results showed that the average cost for treating diabetic foot patient per day is RM 634.57. Recurrent costs contributed 75.3% of the total diabetic foot treatment and Intensive Care Unit costs was the biggest percentage (40.5%).
Discussion : The results were comparable with findings by Case-Mix Unit of UKMMC. Treatment cost of diabetic foot is substantial and therefore avoidance of this complication must be emphasized to all diabetic patients.
MeSH terms: Diagnosis-Related Groups; Health Services; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Malaysia; Orthopedics; Public Health; Health Care Costs; Diabetic Foot
Background: Social misconduct amongst adolescents is a worrying and ever growing problem in Malaysia, despite efforts taken to overcome it.
Methods : A cross sectional study was conducted among secondary school students in Melaka Tengah District to measure the prevalence and determine the factors associated with social misconduct amongst adolescents. A total of 414 form four students were recruited by systematic random sampling fulfilling the study criteria between Jun to September 2008, from eight randomly selected secondary schools in the district. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software version 12.0. Socio-demographic, housing and family factors in relation with social misconduct were studied.
Results : The prevalence of the social misconduct in this study was 70.5%. The most prevalent misconduct includes loitering (37.4%), truancy (30.0%), watching pornographic films (28.7%), and involved in pre-sexual activities (23.7%). The factors that showed significant association with social misconduct were sex and race.
Conclusion : The prevalence of social misconduct is high among adolescent and males as well as Malays are at higher risk. Activities planned for adolescents should be stressed on the danger and effects of social misconduct and be more focused towards male and Malay adolescents.
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Cross-Sectional Studies; Erotica; Housing; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Schools; Sexual Behavior; Software; Students; Prevalence
Introduction : Limited access to health services, variations in quality of health care and pressure to contain escalation of health care cost are problems in health care systems that are faced by all the societies in the world especially in developing countries. There is an urgent need to conduct a study to assess perception of individual towards health care services in the new planned National Healthcare Financing Scheme.
Objective : The study objective is to examine the perception towards health care services among the farming community and to assess the willingness to contribute to The New National Health Financing Scheme.
Methods : A cross sectional study involving farmers in the state of Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia was conducted. A total of 400 farmers as the household head were selected using multistage random sampling method.
Results : The respondents’ mean score of perception towards public healthcare services were higher than the respondents’ mean score of perceptions towards private healthcare services except for accessibility and convenience aspects. There was no association between willingness to contribute to The New National Healthcare Financing Scheme and perception towards public healthcare services but there was association between willingness to contribute to The New National Healthcare Financing Scheme and perception towards private healthcare services.
Conclusion : Perception towards healthcare services is an important element in the implementation of The New National Healthcare Financing Scheme as it will determine the willingness of an individual to contribute to it.
MeSH terms: Farmers; Agriculture; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care; Developing Countries; Family Characteristics; Health Services; Malaysia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Health Care Costs; Healthcare Financing
Introduction : Globalization has made health tourism possible and continues to flourish. For participating countries, this new industry rakes in billions of dollars a year, and is worth focusing on and being developed.
Objective : This write up aims to find out the history and success of health tourism in countries around the world, study the scenario in Malaysia and propose strategies which could make Malaysia prosper with this multibillion dollar industry.
Methodology: The methodology applied was compilation, data review and comparison from annual report, action plan report and articles.
Result : In the ASEAN region, Malaysia is making a mark in the health tourism industry, thanks to the availability of medical and technical expertise, political and economical stability, high quality infrastructure, and scenic beauty of the land. Nonetheless, despite all these, Malaysia has yet to be at par with her neighbours- Thailand, Singapore and India, in terms of the number of foreign patients and the revenue gained from this industry. Thus there is a serious and urgent need to conduct research to analyze the current situation and future prospects of health tourism in Malaysia. This industry is open to all countries around the world. It is those countries that can continually analyze and adapt that will prosper in the emerging medical tourism industry. Some of the key issues which need to be addressed are those of promotion, finding the niche market, branding, legislations, immigration and quality of healthcare. In addition to these, matters regarding human resource, particularly that of internal brain-drain, need to be looked into.
Conclusion : Malaysia has great potential of becoming the giant of the health tourism industry provided appropriate and timely actions are taken towards achieving it. The negative impact must not be ignored or overlooked; instead it must be thoroughly studied and rectified.
MeSH terms: Beauty; Brain; Delivery of Health Care; Emigration and Immigration; Humans; India; Malaysia; Professional Competence; Quality of Health Care; Research; Singapore; Thailand; Internationality; Medical Tourism
Introduction : Cervical cancer can be prevented through pap smear screening and its proper management of high risk cases. High level of knowledge regarding pap smear screening will encourage women to do pap smear as recommended.
Methadology : A cross sectional study was carried out in Jun 2007 to find out the level of knowledge regarding pap smear among married women in Kg. Sesapa Kelubi, Hulu Langat Selangor. Universal sampling was conducted using guided questionnaire and data was analysed using SPSS version 12.
Result : A total of 154 women participated in this study. Only 3.9% of respondents practiced pap smear as recommended and only 51.3% of them have high level of knowledge with 27.9% has no knowledge regarding pap smear. Women between the ages of 20-35 years old have higher level of knowledge (77.9%). The only factor that showed significant association with level of knowledge in this study is level of education. Age, income, gravida and occupation did not show any significant association.
Conclusion : The effectiveness of pap smear screening program should be regularly evaluated to determine the problem of its low coverage. Proper strategy should be planned to increase knowledge among women and their participation in pap smear program.
MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Marriage; Occupations; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Vaginal Smears; Gravidity; Papanicolaou Test
Introduction : Stress is part of our life. It can happen anywhere including in medical school. Medical school is perceived as being stressful because their difficulties in education, longest period of study and dealing with the patients. Stress can be perceive as negative or positive. Coping strategies are the method that we can use to prevent stress when it comes to us. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of stress and coping strategies among of medical students in National University of Malaysia, Malaysia University of Sabah and Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak.
Methods : This study involved 450 medical students through stratified sampling in which 150 medical students from each of the three universities. This study was conducted through self administered questionnaires. The questionnaires included were socio demographic factor, Personal Stress Inventory (using Stress Symptoms Scale with 52 items), BRIEF COPE (Coping Orientation for Problems Experienced with 28 items). The determination of cut off point for stress symptoms score was using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve.
Results : Response rate was 90.8%. The prevalence of stress among medical students were 44.1%. The contributory factors to the stress were financial problems, stress of up coming examination period, relationship problems with parents, peers, siblings and lecturers. Coping mechanisms which had significant association with stress includes self distraction, venting of emotion, denial, behavioral disengagement, humor and self blaming. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed a significant association (p
Introduction : The purpose of this study is to explore the differences of quality of life (QOL) of Malay and non-Malay breast cancer survivors using qualitative method.
Methods : Data was collected using in-depth face to face interview. List of the patients were obtained from Oncology & Surgery Departments and contact numbers were obtained from the medical record. The interviews were conducted either in their home or in the hospital after the appointment has been made.
Results : The majority of the Malays were unable to fulfill the needs of their families. However, the non-Malays were able to fulfill the needs of their families. The majority were satisfied with social interaction and the relationships with their families and friends. In terms of feelings, most survivors felt sad, angry and sometimes they feel like they were going to die early. However the majority coped well with their illness. Regarding sleep, all Malays did not have any sleeping problems, but most of the non-Malays reported serious problems. All survivors were worried about the other female members of the family of getting the same illness. Most survivors did not have any problems with altered body image.
Conclusion : Malays did not have any sleeping problems, but most of the non-Malays reported serious problems. However, the majority of survivors coped well with their illnesses.
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological; Body Image; Breast Neoplasms; Emotions; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Medical Records; Quality of Life; Survivors; Friends
Background : Safety and health is one of major concerns in public health issues. There are lots of injuries or accidents reported in the news which include school accidents and injuries.
Methodology : This survey was conducted among head of primary schools in Kota Bharu from May to June 2004. The objective of this study was to investigate the awareness about safety and health status among school’s head using a questionnaire.
Result : The study showed that knowledge on safety and health among the school’s heads were relatively low (7.7%). Forty-two percent of the schools did not implement any safety and health programme while more than 50 % did not have safety policies in their school.
Conclusions : It is necessary to have specific safety programmes in school in order to improve the safety and health awareness among teachers, staff, students and community.
MeSH terms: Adult; Child; Surveys and Questionnaires; Safety; Schools; Students; School Teachers
Background : A cross-sectional survey was carried out in December 2007 to compare the healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL) of stroke survivors with that of general Malaysian population.
Methodology : Stroke patients were recruited from two community-based rehabilitation centres in Selangor. HRQoL was assessed using Medical Outcome 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Result : A total of 61 patients (34 males and 27 females) were interviewed. Majority were Chinese (85%) and a small percentage were Malays (15%). 82% (n=50) were elderly of 60 years and above, and the remaining 18% (n=11) were younger patients. 64% had stroke for one year and more, and 36% were less than a year post-stroke. All subjects were community-dwellers and lived with their families. The result showed that with the exception of bodily pain, the mean score of all SF-36 health domains of stroke patients were lower than that of the general population. The greatest difference was in role physical, followed by physical functioning. Female patients demonstrated higher score than the males in all SF-36 domains, in particular general health (57.2 vs 70.3, p=0.01) and social functioning (52.2 vs 73.1, p=0.00). There were no differences of HRQoL domains after comparison according to poststroke duration (all p>0.05).
Conclusion : HRQoL of stroke survivors is lower than that of Malaysian general population in all SF-36 health domains, with the exception of bodily pain.
MeSH terms: Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Pain; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Rehabilitation Centers; Residence Characteristics; Survivors; Stroke
Background : Risk management strategy at the workplace needs two way interactions between employee and employer. Therefore, study on risk perception among workers based on scientific analysis is needed to gain knowledge and understanding on how workers perceived risk at the workplace in order to design risk management strategies more effectively.
Methodology : A cross sectional study was carried out among 628 respondents from 36 medical laboratories in the public and private sector in Klang Valley. Using a self administered questionnaire, respondents were required to perceive risk on 30 hazards which have been identified in the medical laboratory. Each hazard was encoded by using Likert scale 1= not risky, 2= risky but low, 3= moderate risk, 4= high risk and 5= very high risk.
Result : Overall, the study showed that working in the medical laboratory was perceived to of moderate risk. When comparing among ethic groups, the Malays had the highest perception of risk (3.07±0.88) as compared with Indians (3.03±0.88) and the Chinese (2.78±0.90). Employee with higher education and position level perceived low level of risk compared to those with lower education and position level. For those working in different types of laboratories, there are significant difference on risk perception, (p=0.001). Employees who work in government sector perceived higher (3.12±0.93) risk compared to workers in private sector (2.85±0.88). In terms of OSH based knowledge, those with higher level of education and position have a high score knowledge on OSH compared to those have lower education and position level.
Conclusion : This study showed that risk perception among workers in medical laboratory is influenced by socio-demography factor such race, education level, job position and the laboratory where the respondents are working.
Introduction : Quality is an important aspect in health care delivery not only because it is one of the most important factors in individual and community health, but it also influences lives in improving lifespan, health status and also reduction in disease and the burden of diseases.
Methodology : This is a systematic review on various papers, studies and articles based on studies and researches done by a few scholars, experts and organizations involved in quality, quality assessment and monitoring.
Results : Quality in health care delivery involves six main aspects including access to services, suitability to the needs, effectiveness, equity, social acceptance and efficiency. Quality is taken from the perspective of the consumers and the providers. Some of the issues surrounding quality assessment are identifying and balancing between the difference perspective among the stakeholders, producing accountable framework of assessment and also finding suitable criteria for outcome assessment. Health care services in Malaysia are provided both by the government and the private sector with each sector has its own advantages, disadvantages and challenges.
Conclusion : The challenges in improving and maintaining quality include balancing advances in science and technology with the available brainpower and human resources. Therefore all agencies should work together in order to provide the best health care delivery and to keep improving the quality in health care services.
MeSH terms: Government; Health Status; Humans; Malaysia; Organizations; Research; Science; Social Distance; Private Sector
Background : Anemia in pregnancy is a worldwide problem. Ministry of Health Malaysia has conducted prophylaxis program to distribute hematinic pills to pregnant women since 3 decades ago.
Methodology : A cross sectional study was conducted among pregnant women who attended government health clinics in Johor Bahru district to assess the prevalence of taking iron tablet and factors associated with it by using a structured questionnaire.
Result : Prevalence of respondents taking ferrous pill daily was 68.6%. Anemia prevalence found in this study was 37.5%. Majority of the respondents did not take pills regularly said their reason as forgotten(54.0%), side effects caused by taking pill (39.3%) and did not like the taste (6.7%). The haemoglobin mean was directly inclined with frequency of ferrous pill intake. The significant associated factor in taking iron pill was only frequency of drinking tea. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that drinking tea was the only factor that contributing to iron pills consumption.
Conclusion : Education is the most important factor in improving adherence to iron pill. Besides that, motivation and behaviour modification of pregnant women also needs to be taken into account.
MeSH terms: Adult; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Anemia; China/ethnology; Contraceptives, Oral; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hematinics; Hemoglobins; Humans; India/ethnology; Iron; Malaysia; Malaysia/ethnology; Pregnancy; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tablets; Prevalence; Logistic Models; Pregnant Women
Background : Foot ulcers and its complications are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetes. The aim of this retrospective study is to determine the ulcer-free survival in diabetic foot and its relevant predictors in a cohort of diabetic patients in the primary health care setting.
Methods : Data of newly diagnosed diabetics (n=1121) who received treatment in five health centers in the district of Kuala Langat, Selangor between 1st January 1999 until the 30th June 2008 were studied. Information was gathered by reviewing patient’s medical records. All patients were followed until 31st December 2008. The duration of ulcer-free survival was measured from the date of being diagnosed as diabetic until the development of the ulcer.
Results : The total incidence of diabetic foot ulcer was 9.9% (n=111), with an average annual incidence of 1%. The total incidence of amputation was 1.2%. Mean age of being diagnosed having diabetic was 52+10.7 year old and mean age of being diagnosed having diabetic foot ulcer was 54.68+10.16 year old. The mean for overall ulcer-free survival was 99 months (95%CI:96-102). Male gender (LR=6.56; p=0.01), smokers (LR=3.94; p=0.04), low body mass index (LR=4.45; p=0.03), impaired renal function (LR=5.17; p=0.02) and long duration between follow-up (LR=25.10; p
MeSH terms: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Amputation; China/ethnology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; India/ethnology; Malaysia; Malaysia/ethnology; Male; Medical Records; Morbidity; Primary Health Care; Retrospective Studies; Ulcer; Cohort Studies; Body Mass Index; Incidence; Survival Analysis; Foot Ulcer; Diabetic Foot
Background : A safety culture practice through prevention needs skillful, knowledgeable and competencies workers. The effectiveness of occupational safety and health programme implementation needs the knowledge related to Occupational Safety and Health Acts, 1994 (OSHA 1994) and its regulations.
Objective : This study was to determine the level of knowledge and awareness towards Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) aspects among workers in medical laboratory.
Methodology : A cross-sectional study was carried out on 34 medical laboratories in which 17 were from private and another 17 laboratories were from public sectors. It consists of 112 medical laboratory disciplines. Data were obtained using self-administered questionnaire consisting of 33 questions related to Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). Each question was coded “know” and “do not know” and respondents were needed to state their understanding towards each OSH issue tendered.
Results : Respondent’s level of knowledge was analyzed according to socio-demography and socioeconomic factors. OSH level of knowledge among medical laboratory workers showed that there are significant differences (p0.05) in OSH knowledge according to between sex, marital status, income and services sectors among workers in medical laboratories. Only about 60.5% of respondents knew the existence of OSHA 1994, whereas those who knew about OSHA 1994 regulations were below than 50.0% from overall respondents.
Conclusion : Promotion and practices of dynamic safety culture through prevention needs high knowledge of OSH.
MeSH terms: Cross-Sectional Studies; Demography; Health Promotion; Income; Surveys and Questionnaires; Socioeconomic Factors; United States; United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Occupational Health; Public Sector; Marital Status; Safety Management
Introduction : Health management is a tool to ensure an effective running of health program and at the same time avoiding flaws to its components including patients, workers and the entire organization. Risk management is a new concept in health management where the determinants of the problems or the risks are put to minima. It’s strategies are oriented towards prevention as well as controlling to all its administrative system.
Methodology : This is a systematic review on various papers, studies and observations put forwards by risk management experts. It is also supported by feedbacks from many scholars who are involved in research and teaching.
Results : It is been observed that risk management activities have been on practiced in health care delivery system. It is not a new form, but rather a situational action based on certain issues. In fact, it happens in any organization – public or private. Close observation on this area has triggered development of various risk management models including some administrative standard and guidelines.
Conclusion: Risk management is a new approach that need to be practiced by all manager and leader. Its discipline involves interpretation of risk at all angles. It is not only confined to the explicit component, but should also be expended to others area as well. It needs a good sense and good attitude of the manager. The essence of risk management is to minimize the risk to patient, staff, public and the entire organization.
Background : The worldwide prevalence of diabetes is increasing, as is the demand for and cost of medical care. Diabetic Mellitus (DM) prevalence in Malaysia rose from 6.3% of the population in 1986 to 8.3% in 1996 and costs need to be managed more effectively.
Objective : To estimate the financial burden of diabetic care, including providers’ and patients’ costs in government facilities in Selangor and to determine factors influencing cost of diabetic care.
Methodology : A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2005 among Hospitals with and without Specialist and Health Clinics. Total sample of 361 subjects with type 2 diabetes representing both inpatient and outpatient were chosen randomly. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 13.0.
Results : The average cost for a diabetic patients’ admission in a Hospital with Specialist was RM1951 and RM1974 for patient admitted in a Hospital without Specialist and these cost difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Providers’ mean cost for outpatient care was RM772.69 and RM761.07 respectively for Hospital with Specialist and Hospital without Specialist per year. As for the health clinics the average providers’ cost for a patient was RM385.92 per year. The cost difference was statistically significant (p0.05). The mean total costs of outpatient care were RM841.46, RM832.80 and RM458.01 per year for Hospital with Specialist, Hospital without Specialist and Health Clinics respectively. Level of care and length of stay were the influencing factors for inpatient provider’s cost. The overall provider’s cost for outpatient diabetic care was influenced by level of care, number of visits and complications. Cost of treating diabetes mellitus year 2004, was estimated at RM18,956,021.51 which was equivalent to 3.3% of total state health expenditure.
Conclusion : As much as 60.2 % was spent on management of outpatient diabetic care and 39.8% for management of inpatient diabetic care. Financial burden of diabetic care is predominantly for outpatient care. Therefore, effective and efficient management of outpatient care is needed to improve allocate efficiency, equity, accessibility and appropriateness of the health care system so that the health care services delivered to the nation are of good quality.
MeSH terms: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Delivery of Health Care; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Economics, Medical*; Health Expenditures; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Inpatients; Length of Stay; Malaysia; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; Outpatients; Prevalence; Disease Management
Introduction : Selangor’s private clinic registry system had been introduced in 2006 following gazettment of The Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act. Through the act, data’s from the private clinics can be obtained and its characteristics can be compared between the urban and rural private clinic. An overview of the services can be known and an appropriate action can be planned.
Methodology : A cross-sectional study was done on private clinics registered in state of Selangor. Using databased known as MedPCs (Medical Practice Control System), a purposive sampling was used to select four districts – two urban and two rural. All private clinics in the selected districts were studied and all details shall be collected online.
Result : District of Gombak and Klang were selected as urban and Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor represented rural area. Of a total 625 clinics selected, 90.0% (562) from urban and 10.0% (63) rural. Distributions of clinic were in line with the act. The most prominent services were general treatment (89.4%) and ability to serve more than eight hours daily (89.4%). Medical clinic still dominated at 84.0% compared to dentistry at 16.0%. About 70.6% were operated by male doctors. Though clinic services in rural were relatively as good as urban, the different were significantly observed to the ethnicity of the doctor. Indian doctors more in rural (46.03%), whilst in urban, Malay doctors were more dominant (39.50%). Followed closely by seniority, where rural doctors were much senior (51.02 years old), however, most of the doctors in rural private clinics experienced less exposure in government sectors, compared to those in urban areas.
Conclusion : There were obvious difference in terms of distribution, where more clinics were located in urban compared to rural, but all were still in line to the act and their services were comparable. Most noticeable differences were ethnicity, seniority and past experience working in the public sector. Indian doctors were dominant in rural and Malay in urban. Although rural doctors were more senior, relatively they were less experienced working in the government sector.
MeSH terms: Ambulatory Care Facilities; Cross-Sectional Studies; Malaysia; Private Facilities
Background : Visual impairment among the rural community has rarely been studied in this country. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of visual impairment and its related factors among the adult population of Kampung Kuala Pajam, Branang.
Methodology : A cross sectional study was carried out in Kampung Kuala Pajam, Mukim Beranang from 25th of December till 30th of December 2007. Universal sampling is adopted and the sample size consists of 321 respondents who is 18 years and above. Trained interviewer has been used to obtain the data through questionnaire and eye examinations using logMAR chart, Red Reflex eye test, Relative Afferent Pupillary Defect (RAPD) test and Pin-Hole test.
Result : A total of 261 respondents who fulfil the criteria were interviewed and had eyes examination during the study period. The prevalence of visual impairment in this population was 9.2% and factors that showed significant association were age (p
MeSH terms: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Physical Examination; Pupil Disorders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Reflex; Rural Population; Vision Disorders; Prevalence; Sample Size; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; Visually Impaired Persons
Modelling observed meteorological elements can be useful. For instance, modelling rainfall has
been an interest for many researchers. In a previous research, trend surface analysis was used and
it was indicated that the residuals might spatially be correlated. When dealing with spatial data, any
modelling technique should take spatial correlation into consideration. Hence, in this project, fitting
of spatial regression models, with spatially correlated errors to the annual mean relative humidity
observed in Peninsular Malaysia, is illustrated. The data used in this study comprised of the annual
mean relative humidity for the year 2000-2004, observed at twenty principal meteorological stations
distributed throughout Peninsular Malaysia. The modelling process was done using the S-plus
Spatial Statistics Module. A total of twelve models were considered in this study and the selection
of the model was based on the p-value. It was found that a possible appropriate model for the
annual mean relative humidity should include an intercept and a term of the longitude as covariate,
together with a conditional autoregressive error structure. The significance of the coefficient of the
covariate and spatial parameter was established using the Likelihood Ratio Test. The usefulness
of the proposed model is that it could be used to estimate the annual mean relative humidity at
places where observations were not recorded and also for prediction. Some other potential models
incorporating the latitude covariate have also been proposed as viable alternatives.
The removal of heavy metals like lead, copper and cadmium from wastewater streams is an important environmental issue. The capability of immobilized Pycnoporus sanguineus (P. sanguineus), a white-rot macrofungi to remove heavy metals from aqueous solution in a packed bed column was investigated. Lead (Pb (II)) biosorption by immobilized cells of P. sanguineus was investigated in a packed bed column. The experiments were carried out by considering the effect of bed height (5-13 cm), flow rate (4-12 ml min-1) and initial lead (II) concentration (50-300 mg L-1). The breakthrough profiles showed that the saturation of metal ions was achieved faster for 5 cm bed height and 12 ml min-1 influent flow rate. However, the breakthrough time decreased as the initial metal concentration increased from 50 to 300 mg L-1. The column was regenerated using 0.1M HCl solution and biosorptiondesorption studies were carried out for 2 cycles. The results showed that the breakthrough time decreased as the number of cycle was proceeded.