1.Sample Size Calculation in Animal Studies Using Resource Equation Approach
Wan Nor Arifin ; Wan Mohd Zahiruddin
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2017;24(5):101-105
Animal research plays an important role in the pre-clinical phase of clinical trials.
In animal studies, the power analysis approach to sample size calculation is recommended.
Whenever it is not possible to assume the standard deviation and the effect size, an alternative to
the power analysis approach is the ‘resource equation’ approach, which sets the acceptable range
of the error degrees of freedom (DF) in an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The aim of this article is
to guide researchers in calculating the minimum and maximum numbers of animals required in
animal research by reformulating the error DF formulas.
2.The Effectiveness of Methadone Maintenance Therapy Among Opiate - Dependants Registered with Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Jeganathan Premila Devi ; Ab Rahman Azriani ; Zahiruddin Wan Mohd ; Mohd Noor Mohd Ariff ; Abdullah Noor Hashimah
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2012;19(4):18-23
Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of MMT program among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Kota Bharu , Kelantan.
Methods: The study was a retrospective study based on the records of injecting drug users (IDUs) involved in the MMT program from November 2005 to 31st January 2008, registered at the Psychiatric Clinic of Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II. Opiate Treatment Index (OTI) was used as the research instrument. Repeated measures ANCOVA was used to compare the mean scores during the entry period and after completing twelve months of MMT program after adjusted for age, marital status and level of education.
Results: A total of 117 file records were reviewed. There was significant reduction in the mean scores after 12 months of heroin Q score , HIV Risk-taking Behavior Scale and health scale after adjusted for age, marital status and level of education. For Heroin Q score, mean difference was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.45, 2.56), for HIV Risk-taking Behavior Scale, mean difference was 7.64 (95% CI: 6.03, 9.26); and for health scale, mean difference was 5.35(95% CI: 3.90, 6.79).
Conclusion: This study supports the evidence that MMT program is effective in treating heroin and opiate dependence.
3.Updates on Knowledge, Attitude and Preventive Practices on Tuberculosis among Healthcare Workers
Farhanah Abd Wahab ; Sarimah Abdullah ; Jafri Malin Abdullah ; Hasnan Jaafar ; Siti Suraiya Md Noor ; Wan Mohd Zahiruddin Wan Mohammad ; Abdul Aziz Mohamed Yusoff ; John Tharakan ; Shalini Bhaskar ; Muthuraju Sangu ; Mohd Shah Mahmood ; Fauziah Kassim ; Md. Hanip Rafia ; Mohammed Safari Mohammed Haspani ; Azmi Alias ; Rogelio Hernández Pando
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(6):25-34
Ranking as the most communicable disease killer worldwide, tuberculosis, has accounted
with a total of 9.6 million new tuberculosis cases with 1.5 million tuberculosis-related deaths
reported globally in 2014. Tuberculosis has remain as an occupational hazard for healthcare
workers since 1920s and due to several tuberculosis outbreaks in healthcare settings in the early
1990s, the concern about the transmission to both patients and healthcare workers has been
raised. Healthcare workers have two to three folds greater the risk of active tuberculosis than the
general population. Several studies on knowledge, attitude and practices on tuberculosis among
healthcare workers worldwide have revealed that majority of the participated healthcare workers
had good knowledge on tuberculosis. Most of the healthcare workers from South India and South
Africa also reported to have positive attitude whereas a study in Thailand reported that most of
the healthcare providers have negative attitude towards tuberculosis patients. Nevertheless,
majority of the healthcare workers have low level of practice on tuberculosis prevention. An
improved communication between healthcare workers and the patients as well as their families
is the key to better therapeutic outcomes with good knowledge, attitude and preventive practice
towards tuberculosis.
4.Use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in chronic diabetic wound - A randomised trial
Nik Hisamuddin Nik Ab. Rahman ; Wan Mohd Zahiruddin Wan Mohammad ; Mohd Yazid Bajuri ; Rahmah Shafee
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(5):418-424
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate
the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) towards
diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients in addition to the standard
wound care management.
Methods: Fifty-eight diabetic patients with ulcers at Wagner
Grade 2 and above involved in this study after presented at
two study centres of tertiary teaching hospitals. The
assigned patients received conventional wound care with
additional HBOT given at 2.4 ATA for 90 minutes. Patients in
the control group who received conventional wound care
only were treated and observed for 30 days. The progress of
wound healing was observed and measured at day 0, 10, 20
and 30 of study. The data collected were analysed using
SPSS software (ver. 22) to study the association of HBOT
towards healing of the diabetic foot ulcers.
Results: Repeated Measures ANOVA analysis with
Greenhouse-Geisser correction indicated that the means of
wound size over time points (Day 0, 10, 20 and 30) among
patients under HBOT group were statistically significantly
different [F(1,61)=30.86, p<0.001)] compared to conventional
therapy group. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed
that HBOT group has nearly 44 times higher odds to achieve
at least 30% wound size reduction within the study period
(95%CI: 7.18, 268.97, p<0.001).
Conclusion: The results obtained in this study indicated that
as an adjunctive therapy to conventional wound care, HBOT
affected the rate of healing in diabetic foot ulcers
significantly in terms of wound size reduction when
compared to administering the conventional wound care
alone.
5.Effectiveness Of Community-Based Health Education On Preparedness For Flood-Related Communicable Diseases In Kelantan
Wan Mohd Zahiruddin Wan Mohammad ; Wan Nor Arifin Wan Mansor ; Noor Aman A Hamid ; Surianti Sukeri ; Habsah Hasan ; Lee Yeong Yeh ; Alwi Muhd Besari ; Nani Draman ; Rosnani Zakaria ; Zeehaida Mohamed
Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine 2020;20(3):117-124
The flood disaster in Kelantan in 2014 had resulted in substantial health implications including increased cases of communicable diseases. There was a lack of community preparedness including customized health educations in the prevention and control of flood-related communicable diseases in the affected areas. The research was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community-based health education modules on flood-related communicable diseases among communities in Kelantan. Health education modules focusing on major food-related diseases were developed. A non-randomized community-controlled trial using the modules were conducted. Outcomes were assessed on knowledge, attitude and preventive practice scores to flood-related communicable diseases using a pre-validated questionnaire. Independent t test was used to compare mean scores between the intervention community (Tumpat) and the control community (Bachok) at 1-month post intervention. One-way independent ANOVA test was done to compare score differences at baseline (pre), post 1-month and post 2-month from repeated surveys among random samples within the intervention community. There were significant improvements in all knowledge components from 9.4% to 52.6% with 10% increment in attitude scores toward preventing behaviours on flood-related communicable diseases. When compared against the control community at one-month post-intervention, there were significantly higher knowledge on types of diseases, symptoms and risk factors as well as practice scores of drinking safe water and protective habits. This research demonstrated that community-based health education is effective in improving relevant knowledge, attitude and preventive practices among affected communities as part of their preparedness toward communicable diseases related to flood.