1.The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Major Depressive Disorders in Gynaecological
BC Tee ; CK Phang ; A Rasidi ; M Rushdan ; I Aliyasand ; S Hatta
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2013;9(2):53-61
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in gynaecological cancer patients is a disabling illness with
signifi cant mental and physical suffering. Determining the risk factors of MDD in cancer patients enables
us to pay more attention to those who are vulnerable and to device effective strategies for prevention,
early detection, and treatment. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of MDD and
its associated risk factors in gynaecological cancer patients at Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star.
This is a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study of 120 gynaecological cancer patients in
Gynae-Oncology Unit in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star. Mini International Neuropsychiatry
Interview (MINI) was used for diagnosis of MDD. Socio-demographic data and clinical variables
were collected. MVFSFI (Malay version Female Sexual Function Index) was used to determine sexual
dysfunction, and WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization – Quality of Life-26) was performed
to assess quality of life. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer patients in the study was
18%. The variables found to be signifi cantly associated with MDD were lack of perceived social
support, greater physical pain perception, presence of past psychiatric history, and poorer quality
of life. Meanwhile, sexual dysfunction was not associated with MDD. Logistic regression analysis
revealed that only the psychological health domain of QOL was signifi cantly associated with MDD,
and contributed to 60% of the variation in MDD. The prevalence of MDD in gynaecological cancer
patients is higher than those in the general population. In view that MDD can compromise cancer
prognosis and patient’s well-being, psychosocial intervention is recommended as a part of multidisciplinary
and comprehensive management of gynaecological cancer.
2.The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Sexual Dysfunction in Gynaecological Cancer Patients
Tee BC ; Ahmad Rasidi MS ; Mohd Rushdan MN ; Ismail A ; Sidi H
Medicine and Health 2014;9(1):53-61
Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in gynaecological cancer patients. Most of the time, sexual dysfunction in gynaecological cancer is underdiagnosed as there is overlapping of symptoms with other psychological morbidities, interplaying of multiple risks, patients’ reluctance to complain or incompetence of health care
provider to assess. Determining the risk factors of sexual dysfunction in cancer patients enables us to pay more attention to those who are vulnerable and to device
strategies for early detection, prevention and treatment of sexual dysfunction in them. The main aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and
its risk factors in gynaecological cancer patients in Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Star, Malaysia. Sexual function of eighty-three gynaecological cancer patients who
were married were assessed with self-rated MVFSFI (Malay version Female Sexual Function Index). Self-rated WHOQOL-BREF (World Health Organization- Quality of Life- 26) which assessed the domains of quality of life was used while MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatry Interview) was used for diagnosis of major depressive disorder. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among the married gynaecological cancer patients was 65% (54/83). Sexual dysfunction was significantly associated with low education level (OR 3.055, CI 1.009-9.250), shorter duration of cancer(OR 0.966, CI 0.966- 0.998), ongoing chemotherapy (OR 3.045, CI 1.149-8.067),pain perception (OR 3.230, CI 1.257-8.303), absence of sexual intercourse for more than one month (OR 1.862) and three domains of quality of life such as physical health, psychological health and social relationship (OR 0.942, CI 0.908-0.978; OR 0.955, CI 0.916-0.995; OR 0.933, CI 0.894-0.973, respectively). However, sexual dysfunction was not associated with major depressive disorder (χ2
² = 1.224, p = 0.268). The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in gynaecological cancer patients was
comparable to other studies of similar population. Since, the risk factors of sexual dysfunction in gynaecological cancer patients are multidimensional, the process of assessment and management need to be holistic and patient-oriented.
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological
3.Development Of Clinical Pathway For Mild Cognitive Impairment And Dementia To Quantify Cost Of Age-Related Cognitive Disorders In Malaysia
Syed Mohamed Aljunid ; Namaitijiang Maimaiti ; Zafar Ahmed ; Amrizal Muhammad Nur ; Norashidah Mohamed Nor ; Normazwana Ismail ; Sharifah Aizah Haron ; Asrul Akmal Shafie ; Mohmad Salleh ; Suraya Yusuf ; Zanariah Mat Saher ; Ismail Drahman ; Ahmad Rasidi M. Saring ; Nazariah Aiza Harun ; Roshanim Koris
Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine 2014;14(3):88-96
As the Malaysian population ages, the burden of age-related cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease will increase concomitantly. This is one of the sub-study under a research project titled by quantify the cost of age-related cognitive impairment in Malaysia, which was undertaken to develop a clinical pathway for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Dementia. The clinical pathway (CP) will be used to support the costing studies of MCI and Dementia. An expert group discussion (EGD) was conducted among selected experts from six (6) government hospitals from different states of Malaysia, Ministry of Health, and United Nations University, International Institute for Global Health, UKM and UPM. The expert group includes psychiatrist specialists and public health medicine specialists. A total of 15 participants took part in the EGD. The group was presented with the different approach in managing MCI and Dementia. Finally, the group came to the consensus agreement on the most appropriate and efficient ways of managing the two conditions. In the EGD, an operational definition for MCI and Dementia was agreed upon and a pathway was developed for the usual practice in the Malaysian health system. A typical case used, as a reference is a 60-year-old patient referred to a memory clinic with complaint of “forgetfulness”. After three outpatient visits in the clinic, the diagnosis of MCI and Dementia could be clinically established. The clinical pathways covered all active clinical and non-clinical management of the patient over a period of one year. The experts identified the additional resources required to manage these patients for the whole spectrum of lifetime based on the expected life expectancy. The Clinical pathway (CP) for MCI and Dementia was successfully developed in EGD with strong support from practitioners in the health system. The findings will help the researchers to identify all-important clinical activities and interventions that will be included in the costing study.