1.Development and Validation of a Coping Scale for Caregivers in Malaysia
Norhayati Ibrahim ; Hui Chien Ong ; Suzaily Wahab
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2017;24(3):83-91
Introduction: Caregivers often experience stressful situations while in the midst of
the caregiving process. Thus, various methods of coping have been widely applied and studied
in previous researches. The aim of this study was to develop a novel questionnaire to assess the
coping strategies employed by those who provide care to patients, and to further validate it among
caregivers of schizophrenia patients in Malaysia.
Methods: This study, which involved the caregivers of schizophrenia patients from a
hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was comprised of three parts, namely in-depth interviews,
a pilot study, and the validation of the developed questionnaire, known as Caregiver Cope
(CgCopeTM).
Results: Part A originally consisted of eight themes, and it was later modified to
seven themes with four items each after discussions with some experts. Part B initially had
28 items derived from the seven themes in Part A, which were then reduced to six components
after a factor analysis. Part C of the questionnaire consisted of 19 items, with six components
(Distraction, Caring for patient, Venting, Religion, Recreation, and Social support) having a
moderate to high reliability ranging from a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.54 to 0.82. A factor
analysis showed that the six factors of coping accounted for 62.36% of the total variance.
Conclusion: The CgCOPETM questionnaire is suitable for use among caregivers of
schizophrenia patients. There is a need to further validate the instrument among caregivers of
other patient populations.
2.Radiographic features of COVID-19 based on an initial cohort of 96 patients in Singapore.
Hau Wei Wei KHOO ; Terrence Chi Hong HUI ; Salahudeen Mohamed Haja MOHIDEEN ; Yeong Shyan LEE ; Charlene Jin Yee LIEW ; Shawn Shi Xian KOK ; Barnaby Edward YOUNG ; Sean Wei Xiang ONG ; Shirin KALIMUDDIN ; Seow Yen TAN ; Jiashen LOH ; Lai Peng CHAN ; Angeline Choo Choo POH ; Steven Bak Siew WONG ; Yee-Sin LEO ; David Chien LYE ; Gregory Jon Leng KAW ; Cher Heng TAN
Singapore medical journal 2021;62(9):458-465
INTRODUCTION:
Chest radiographs (CXRs) are widely used for the screening and management of COVID-19. This article describes the radiographic features of COVID-19 based on an initial national cohort of patients.
METHODS:
This is a retrospective review of swab-positive patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to four different hospitals in Singapore between 22 January and 9 March 2020. Initial and follow-up CXRs were reviewed by three experienced radiologists to identify the predominant pattern and distribution of lung parenchymal abnormalities.
RESULTS:
In total, 347 CXRs of 96 patients were reviewed. Initial CXRs were abnormal in 41 (42.7%) out of 96 patients. The mean time from onset of symptoms to CXR abnormality was 5.3 ± 4.7 days. The predominant pattern of lung abnormality was ground-glass opacity on initial CXRs (51.2%) and consolidation on follow-up CXRs (51.0%). Multifocal bilateral abnormalities in mixed central and peripheral distribution were observed in 63.4% and 59.2% of abnormal initial and follow-up CXRs, respectively. The lower zones were involved in 90.2% of initial CXRs and 93.9% of follow-up CXRs.
CONCLUSION
In a cohort of swab-positive patients, including those identified from contact tracing, we found a lower incidence of CXR abnormalities than was previously reported. The most common pattern was ground-glass opacity or consolidation, but mixed central and peripheral involvement was more common than peripheral involvement alone.
COVID-19
;
Humans
;
Lung/diagnostic imaging*
;
Radiography, Thoracic
;
Retrospective Studies
;
SARS-CoV-2
;
Singapore