1.Tobacco use and attitudes towards tobacco control activities of Malaysian dental students
Nor Azlida Mohd Nor ; Nurulain ISMAIL ; Farhan IBRAHIM ; Ishak Abdul RAZAK ; Norintan AB-MURAT
Archives of Orofacial Sciences 2018;13(1):6-15
Tobacco usage among dental students and the amount of training they received may have an impact on tobacco cessation activities undertaken for their patients. This study aims to assess Malaysian dental students’ tobacco use, exposure to second-hand smoke and their attitude towards tobacco control activities and curriculum. This was a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Global Health Professions Students Survey (GHPSS). The questionnaire was distributed to all Malaysian fourth and fifth year dental students in four public dental schools (n=372), namely University of Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). The data were analysed using descriptive and chi square tests. In total, (n=349) respondents completed the questionnaire, yielding a 93.8% response rate. Although the prevalence of Malaysian dental students who ‘ever smoked’ was 21.2%, the prevalence of current smokers was low (2.3%). About 62% and 39% of students reported having been exposed to second-hand smoke in public and at home, respectively. USIM students were significantly less likely to recall having received training about approaches to smoking cessation (52.9%, p<0.001). Significantly fewer smokers than non-smokers agreed on tobacco banning policy. Regardless of their smoking status, the majority of dental students showed positive attitudes towards dentists’ role in tobacco cessation. Tobacco user among Malaysian dental students was low. There were statistically significant differences between ever smokers and non-smokers’ attitudes towards tobacco banning policy. The majority of dental students showed positive attitudes towards dentists’ role in tobacco cessation.
2.Motor performance and functional mobility in children with specific learning disabilities
Suhaili Ibrahim ; Dzalani Harun ; Masne Kadar ; Hanif Farhan Mohd Rasdi ; Nur Sakinah Baharudin ; Evelyn Jong Tze Hui
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(1):34-39
Limitations in motor performances among
children with specific learning disabilities (SLD) can lead to
impaired functional skills. Thus, this study aimed to
determine the level of motor performances and functional
mobility, and the influence of motor performances on the
functional mobility in children with SLD.