1.Factors affecting adherence to antiepileptic drugs therapy in Malaysia
XC Tan ; M Makmor-Bakry ; CL Lau ; FW Tajarudin ; AA Raymond
Neurology Asia 2015;20(3):235-241
Poor adherence to antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy can lead to various undesirable complications.
Identifying the contributing factors of poor adherence is beneficial in assisting health care professionals
to provide optimal interventions to control the seizures. This study aimed to identify the prevalence
and factors affecting the adherence level to AED therapy in a multiracial population with epilepsy.
This cross-sectional study was conducted at the neurology clinic of a tertiary care setting. Researcherassisted
questionnaire was utilised. Adherence level was assessed using validated Modified Morisky
Adherence Scale-8. A total of 145 patients with epilepsy were included in this study. The prevalence
of poor adherence to AED therapy was 64.1%. Poor adherence level was significantly associated
with younger age (χ2
= 7.609, p = 0.022), medication adverse effects (χ2
= 5.075, p = 0.020), shorter
duration of epilepsy (r = 0.180, p = 0.030) and uncertainty about the necessity for AEDs (χ2
= 11.803,
p = 0.001).
Conclusion, prevalence of poor adherence to antiepileptic drugs was high and factors associated with
poor adherence to AEDs were identified for a multiracial population with epilepsy.
Anticonvulsants
;
Epilepsy
2.Laboratory bioefficacy of nine commercial formulations of temephos against larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.), Aedes albopictus Skuse and Culex quinquefasciatus Say.
Chen CD ; Lee HL ; Chan CK ; Ang CL ; Azahari AH ; Lau KW ; Sofian Azirun M
Tropical Biomedicine 2009;26(3):360-365
The bioefficacy of nine commercial formulations of temephos against Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and Culex quinquefasciatus larvae were evaluated in the laboratory. WHO larval bioassay with operational dosage of temephos at 1 mg/L was performed. The larval mortality was recorded every 5 minutes until complete mortality was achieved. All formulations of temephos exhibited various toxicity level against Ae. aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus. Generally, larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus was susceptible to all formulations of temephos, followed by Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus.