Introduction: FertiQoL questionnaire was developed and validated in 2011. It has been widely used and translated
into many languages to measure QoL among infertile individuals. The use of translated psychometric tools is often
subjected to cross-cultural variations. The objective of this study is to assess the psychometric properties of the
Malaysian FertiQoL. Methods: A study was conducted among attendees of a public infertility clinic. Demographic
details were collected and respondents answered the Malaysian FertiQoL. The questionnaire consists of 34 items.
Factor analysis and internal consistency were analysed using SPSS v24. Results: Data from 175 respondents were
analysed. Mean age is 32.1 ±3.8 SD with 56.6% female and 43.4% male. KMO index were 0.826 and significant
Bartlett’s test for sphericity. For Treatment domain, factor loadings for items T2 and T5 were < 0.32 but for all other
items were acceptable between 0.32 – 0.80 with no cross loadings and Cronbach alpha for environment (0.717)
and tolerability (0.660). For Core items, Q4, Q6 and Q14 loaded onto different domains and Q19 had poor factor
loading. All other items were acceptable. Cronbach alpha for specific domains were emotional (0.788) mind-body
(0.829), relational (0.639) and social (0.666). Cronbach alpha for emotional, relational, social improved to 0.857,
0.643 and 0.732 if Q4, Q6 and Q14 were omitted respectively. Conclusion: The study identified six items that affected the psychometric validity of the questionnaire and maybe explained by language or cross-cultural reasons.
However, the Malaysian FertiQoL can still be useful to measure QoL in those with infertility.
A 27-year-old man presented with a two-week history of central colicky abdominal pain associated with loose stools. Further history revealed that he had been exposed to contaminated waters. Stool investigation by direct wet stool smears revealed the presence of Entamoeba histolytica and Blastocystis hominis cysts. A diagnosis of amoebiasis secondary to E. histolytica and concurrent B. hominis infestation was made. We would like to emphasise the importance of clinical history including recent travel to endemic areas. Any suspicion of parasitic infection should prompt the clinician to investigate. Early diagnosis and management would prevent serious complications associated with E. Histolytica infection.
Patient satisfaction plays a crucial role in assessing the quality of services provided by healthcare services. The purpose of the present study was to determine the factors influencing patient satisfaction towards services of a specialist medical centre. A cross sectional study was conducted among 300 patients attending a semi-private multidisciplinary specialist centre in Malaysia. They were provided with a set of self-administered questionnaires on patient satisfaction with the services received at the facility. Patient satisfaction was divided into three main components: patient characteristics, delivery of services and hospital characteristics. Additional qualitative comments were also obtained. The mainstay of the analysis was multivariate logistic regression. Altogether, 273 (91.2%) of the patients rated their overall satisfaction as “good” or “very good”. Hospital characteristics (i.e., cleanliness; OR: 30.58 (95% CI: 3.52 – 265.79), hospital appearance; OR: 12.69 (95% CI; 1.51 – 106.53) had the strongest influence on the patient’s overall satisfaction. The findings revealed that the reason a majority of patients liked the hospital was related to good quality of services (18.7%), comfort (21.9%) and the friendly staff (8.8%). Hence, hospital characteristics are the most important determinants of overall patient satisfaction. In addition, the quality of delivery services and a friendly staff should also be considered when improving hospital services in a multidisciplinary specialist centre.
Introduction: Sudden cardiac death is the most common medical cause of death in athletes.
The aim of this study was to identify the electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern changes and its
association with echocardiography among Malaysian footballers during a pre-participation
evaluation (PPE). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on footballers attending a
PPE at a primary care centre. Secondary data collection was conducted and the proforma
included clinical history, physical examination, ECG, Echocardiogram and cardiovascular risk
factors assessment such as heart rate, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and
creatinine. Data were extracted from the medical records, echocardiogram report and the
original ECG. The ECG patterns were analysed according to the International consensus for
ECG interpretation in athletes to determine physiological versus pathological changes. The
data was analysed using SPSS v24. Results: This study included 85 male Malaysian
footballers with a mean age of 20.1 ± 3.0 years. The mean resting heart rate was 55.2 ± 9.3
beats per minute. Abnormal ECG changes were found in 20% of the participants, which were
higher compared to that reported in other studies (14% – 17.3%). The normal ECG findings in
athletes were sinus bradycardia (76.5%), J-point elevation (68.2%), prolonged PR interval
(3.5%) and incomplete right bundle branch block (4.7%). The abnormal ECG changes were
multiple T wave inversions (5.9%), hypertrophy (2.4%), and deep Q-waves (8.2%). Four
abnormal ECGs were consistent with abnormal echocardiography findings and out of these,
two ECGs with hypertrophic changes were consistent with mild inter atrial septal bulging and
apical hypertrophy. Conclusions: Malaysian footballers have ECG changes that are
consistent with physiological changes in athlete’s heart. The positive association between ECG
and Echocardiogram findings are useful in confirming pathological ECG changes. Physicians
should be trained in PPE protocol and ECG interpretation in athletes in order to improve
identification of those at risk of sudden cardiac death.