The trend of using nonprescription substances for weight-loss management is common. There are several factors associated with the use of nonprescription substances. This study aimed to determine prevalence and factors associated with the use of nonprescription substances for weight-loss management among university students. A cross sectional study was conducted from August until October 2013 among 358 postgraduate students aged 22 - 45 years in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A validated self-administered questionnaire was distributed by multistage sampling to the students. The prevalence of using nonprescription substances among university students was 27.9% (n=100). There were significant association between use of nonprescription substances with age (t=2.41, p=0.017), peer influence (t=7.06, p
The leading cause of mortality in Malaysia is coronary heart disease (CHD). Several cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors contribute to this problem and smoking is one of the main modifiable risk factor. Most of the patients started smoking early during youth period. This study aimed to determine the association and to predict the cigarette smoking and cardiovascular risk factors among the male youth. A cross sectional study was conducted by self-administered data sheets, physical examinations: blood pressure measurement and body mass index calculation, blood taking procedure for blood glucose, total cholesterol and HDL-C levels. The results showed that the glycemic status was significantly associated with smoking status (p=0.048) however, there was no significant association for smokers and risk of developing diabetes mellitus compared to non smokers although smokers had higher odd ratio (OR: 4.33; 95%CI: 0.900-20.811) (p=0.068). Interestingly, for daily exposure of smoking, those who smoke 5 cigarette and less was significantly associated with high systolic blood pressure (p = 0.036) and smoking showed protective trend against systolic hypertension (OR: 0.57; 95% CI: 0.266-1.230), however, it was not significant (p=0.152). In conclusion, smoking among youth and its association with the cardiovascular risk factor should be addressed tactfully and early screening should be promptly done among the smoking youth for early prevention.
Introduction: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is on the rise in Malaysia. Physical inactivity is common among T2DM patients and is an important aspect that warrants action as it may lead to poor glycemic control. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of physical inactivity and its associated factors among T2DM patients.
Methods: The sample consisted of 121 T2DM patients aged 18 to 65 years who attended the UKMMC primary clinic for routine follow up. A questionnaire consisting of three sections was used to collect the data: (i) socio-economic and diabetes-related factors; (ii) physical inactivity using shortened International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); and (iii) five domains leading to physical inactivity.
Results: The mean age of the sample was found to be 56.2 ± 8.5 years; 55% were physically inactive; 76% had low education; 55.4% had low income; 76% had poor glycemic control; and mean duration of illness was 7.8 ± 6.9 years. Factors significantly associated with physical inactivity were presence of health complications (x2 = 5.89; p=0.015) and factor domains of 'respondent's current physical health' (t=5.88, p<0.001), 'availability of facility' (t=3.45, p<0.001), 'availability of time' (t=3.57, p<0.001) and 'respondent's perception of possibility of sustaining pain and injury during physical activity' (t=3.64, p<0.001). Using multiple logistic regression, only factors of 'physical health factor' (Adjusted OR: 1.58, confidence interval 95% (CI 95%): 1.31-1.92, p<0.001) and 'time' (adjusted OR: 1.27, CI 95%: 1.12-1.45, p<0.001) were found to be associated with higher odds for physical inactivity.
Conclusion: The results indicate that facility availability, time management and better management of health complications could increase physical activity among T2DM patients.
Key words: Physical inactivity, type 2 diabetes
Study site: Pusat Perubatan Universiti Kebangssan Malaysia (PPUKM) primary care clinic, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This study aimed at measuring the quality of life (QOL) among young adults in rural area of Selangor, and determined the factors that affect the QOL scores. A cross-sectional study was conducted among young adults aged 18 to 39 years in rural area of Hulu Langat district, Selangor with a total sample of 308 selected through simple random sampling. Validated Malay version of WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to measure the QOL, which generated overall QOL score and four domains’ scores of physical health, psychological health, social relationship and environmental QOL. The results showed that the highest mean score was social relationship domain 67.07 (18.87), followed by overall QOL 65.10 (17.92), environmental QOL domain 64.88 (12.83), psychological health domain 60.67 (11.88) and physical health domain 58.23 (11.00). Variables such as unemployment, having chronic diseases and mental distress were found to lower the QOL score.
Children less than 6 years old are the most vulnerable group to get harm from Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure, especially their respiratory system. To determine the prevalence of ETS exposure and its association with asthma like symptoms among children less than 6 years old. A cross sectional study was conducted in between January till April 2014 among parents with children less than 6 years old in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 142 parents were selected by simple random sampling and data were collected using guided questionnaire on ETS exposure and asthma like symptoms (cough and wheeze) among their children. A total of 52.8% of children found to be exposed to ETS, and 43.7% were exposed from their father. ETS exposure significantly associated with cough without cold (adjusted OR=5.46, 95% CI 2.37, 12.61), dry cough at night (adjusted OR=3.74, 95%CI 1.41, 9.95) and cough upon physical activity (adjusted OR=3.08, 95% 1.07, 8.89) among these children. Children less than 6 years old are vulnerable to respiratory problem due to ETS exposure especially on cough symptoms. More strategies should be developing to reduce the exposure to ETS.
The population with normal body mass index (BMI) but with abdominal obesity are most of the time the ‘neglected’ population in terms of health interventions. The aim of this study is to study the prevalence of abdominal obesity and to explore the factors causing abdominal obesity by using waist circumference (WC) measurement. A cross sectional study was conducted among a group of respondents in Tanjung Karang, Selangor, Malaysia from January until June 2010, among those aged 18 years old and above, to explore the demographic (gender and ethnics), lifestyle factors (physical activity, carbohydrate intake and smoking status) and measurement of body weight, height and waist circumference. A total of 629 subjects with normal BMI were studied. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 36.1% based on WC (40.0% males and 70.0% females). The predictor model revealed that being non-Malay (aOR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.35-3.20) and being female (aOR = 3.6; 95% CI: 2.51-5.06) were the associated factors of having abdominal obesity in normal BMI population. In conclusion, females and non-Malay were factors that were found to be associated with abdominal obesity in normal BMI population. This is important in targeting this vulnerable population with risk factors that can develop non communicable diseases for early interventions.
Kebelakangan ini, tanda-tanda kemurungan dalam kalangan remaja semakin meningkat. Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menentukan prevalens kemurungan dan faktor-faktor ramalan. Satu kajian keratan rentas telah dijalankan 191 remaja yang terpilih secara rawak dan terdiri daripada pelajar tingkatan empat dari lima buah sekolah menengah di negeri Selangor, Malaysia. Satu soal selidik yang terdiri daripada enam bahagian (A) demografi, (B) tahap kemurungan, (C) hubungan keluarga, (D) tahap sokongan rakan sebaya, (E) harga diri, dan (F) pencapaian akademik telah diedarkan. Prevalen kemurungan adalah 50.3%. Analisis regresi logistik mendapati, remaja yang mempunyai masalah dengan rakan-rakan adalah lebih cenderung untuk mengalami kemurungan berbanding dengan mereka yang tidak mempunyai masalah dengan rakan-rakan mereka (aOR 2.84, 95% CI 1.50, 5.36). Kajian selanjutnya perlu meneliti faktor-faktor lain seperti tekanan daripada guru-guru untuk mengukuhkan pemahaman kita mengenai kemurungan di kalangan remaja. Diharapkan hasil kajian ini berguna kepada pelbagai pihak yang mengambil berat tentang masalah ini.
Prevalence of visual impairment among students is increasing in trends especially in rural area. A cross sectional study was conducted among secondary school students in Taman PKNS Beranang, Selangor in March 2008 with the objective of determining the prevalence of visual acuity impairment and its influencing factors. A total of 77 secondary school students were interviewed using guided questionnaire. The prevalence of visual acuity impairment among the respondents was 25.0% and study found that being female and have been watching television at a distance of less than two meters were significantly associated with visual acuity impairment. In conclusion, the problem occurred maybe due to the students sit nearer to the television (
Introduction: Auditory hallucination (AH) is often unexplored in depth in clinical practice. This study sought
to ascertain the relationship between AH, depressive symptoms and quality of life (QOL) and its association
with socio-demographic and clinical variables.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study done in a
psychiatry unit involving 60 schizophrenic patients between 18 to 60 years old. Psychotic Symptom Rating
Scale – Auditory Hallucination subscale (PSYRATS-AH), Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS)
and World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were used as instruments.
Results: Alcohol intake was found to be significantly associated with the severity of AH. A significant
moderate positive correlation was found between AH total score and CDSS (r=0.53, p
Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Psychosocial distress, in the forms of depression and anxiety, regularly accompanies breast cancer diagnosis and throughout its treatment. Hence, it is important to objectively assess the therapy options that may help this distress. One of the most flexible psychotherapy modalities is the art therapy as it may be incorporated in many settings. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the efficacy of art therapy (via creative paintings) on the mental health outcomes of female breast cancer patients. Material and Methods: Related articles were identified from Medline (OvidSP), ScienceDirect, Pubmed, EbscoHost-Academic Search Premier and Wiley Online Library. Screenings were performed based on the criteria that the study must be a randomised control trial (RCT) that investigated the effect of art therapy in breast cancer. Data were extracted using standardised forms, followed by evaluation of quality of reporting using CONSORT Guidelines. Results: Six RCTs were identified. Based on the heuristic synthesis of data extraction results, none of the studies can be considered as studies with acceptable quality, although four of them showed promising results. Conclusion: There is inconclusive evidence of the efficacy of art therapy (via creative paintings) for the improvement of mental health outcomes among female breast cancer patients.