1.Effects of A Brief Stress Reduction Intervention On Medical Students' Depression, Anxiety And Stress Level During Stressful Period
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2011;12(1):1-14
Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether students exposed to a brief stress reduction intervention would have lesser stress, anxiety and depression levels compared to their non-exposed classmates during stressful events. Methods: The Ex Post Facto design was applied in this study. Students who were exposed and not exposed to a brief stress reduction intervention were surveyed during a continuous examination and during the final examination. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) was used to examine effects on anxiety, stress, and depression levels. Results: The exposed students statistically had lower anxiety and depression scores than the non-exposed students during the stressful period. Reduction of stress, anxiety and depression scores was sustained during the stressful period. Conclusion: The significant reduction of anxiety and depression scores suggested that brief intervention was effective in the enhancement of the psychological wellbeing of exposed medical students during stressful period.
2.Stability of Usmeq-I In Measuring Emotional Intelligence In Medical Students
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2012;13(1):1-6
Objective: Emotional Intelligence (EI) is described as the ability to perceive, express, understand, motivate, control and regulate emotion. The USM Emotional Quotient
Inventory (USMEQ-i) was designed to measure EI and it was found to be a reliable and valid tool in a sample of prospective medical students. The objective of this
study is to determine stability of the USMEQ-i to measure EI at different time and occasions. Methods: A prospective cohort study was done on 196 first year medical
students. It was administered to the medical students at four different intervals. The Cronbach’s alpha and intra-class correlation analysis were applied to measure the
internal consistency and agreement level across the intervals. The analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. Results: A total of
196 first year medical students participated in this study. Its overall Cronbach’s alpha value across intervals ranged between 0.94 and 0.97. The Cronbach’s alpha
values of emotional control, emotional maturity, emotional conscientiousness, emotional awareness, emotional commitment, emotional fortitude, and emotional
expression scale ranged between 0.59 and 0.91. The Cronbach’s alpha value for the faking index scale ranged from 0.76 to 0.89. The ICC coefficient values for EI total
score was 0.83, EI domain score ranged between 0.62 and 0.76 and the faking index score was 0.76. Conclusion: The USMEQ-i has demonstrated a good level of stability
and internal consistency to measure EI at different time and occasions. It is a promising psychometric instrument that can be used to measure EI
3.The validity of two malay versions of the general health questionnaire (GHQ) in detecting distressed medical students
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2010;11(2):135-142
Objective: To compare the sensitivity, specificity and reliability between the Malay GHQ-30 and the Malay GHQ-12 in detecting distressed medical
students. This study determined which version is more sensitive, specific and reliable in detecting distressed medical students. Methods: Three validated
instruments, the Malay version GHQ-30, the Malay version GHQ-12 and the Malay version Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), were administered to a total of 187 medical students. Distress diagnoses were made based on the
Malay version BDI-II. ROC curve analysis was applied to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the both GHQs by testing against the BDI-II. Reliability analysis (Cronbach’s alpha) was applied to test internal
consistency of the GHQ. The analysis was done using SPSS version 12. Results: 141 (75.4%) medical students participated in this study. The GHQ-30 sensitivity and specificity at cut-off point of 6 was 87.5% and 80.6%
respectively with positive predictive value (PPV) of 70% as well as area under ROC curve was 0.93. The GHQ-12 sensitivity and specificity at cut-off
point of 4 was 81.3% and 75.3% respectively with PPV of 62.9% as well as area under ROC curve was 0.82 The Cronbach’s alpha value of the GHQ-30 and GHQ-12 was 0.93 and 0.85 respectively. The Kappa value for the GHQ-
12 and GHQ-30 was 0.65 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed the Malay GHQ-30 had better ability to discriminate between distressed and non-distressed medical students compared to the Malay GHQ-12. The shorter version was found to be as reliable as the long version GHQ-30 in
detecting distressed medical students. The optimum threshold score for the GHQ-30 and GHQ-12 to detect distressed medical students were 6 and 4 respectively. The GHQ-12 and GHQ-30 showed a good level of agreement in
detecting distressed medical students.
4.Stress, stressors and coping strategies among secondary school students in a Malaysian government secondary school: initial findings
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2010;11(2):143-157
Objective: In the process of growing, adolescents experience stress either good or bad depending on how they cope. School training further adds to this
stressful situation. It is noteworthy that persistent over stress will impair students’ academic achievement, personal and professional development.
This preliminary study is meant to obtain initial data on the stress prevalence, stressors, and coping strategies among secondary school children in Malaysia. Data gained from this preliminary study provides valuable data
for subsequence research in the future. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 secondary school students from a Malaysian government
secondary school. The validated Malay version 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Soalselidik Stressor Sekolah Menengah (SSSM) and Malay version of Brief COPE were used to identify stress level, stressors,
and coping strategies. Results: A number of 90 (90%) students participated in this study. The prevalence of stress among secondary school students was
26.1%. It was found that the main stressors were related to academic. The top five coping strategies were religion, positive reinterpretation, active coping, planning, and use of instrumental support. Conclusion: The
prevalence of stress among secondary school students in a Malaysian stressor among the students. The most frequent coping strategies being used by the students were positive coping strategies.
5.The Effects of Tapping Force and Speed on the Activation of Motor-related Cortices
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2013;11(2):41-49
This single participant functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigates the effects of tapping force and
speed on the activation characteristics in motor-related cortices during bilateral self-paced tapping of hand fi ngers.
The participant performed four types of self-paced hand fi nger tapping which are soft-slow (SS), soft-fast (SF), hard-slow
(HS) and hard-fast (HF) in an fMRI scan. A general linear model (GLM) was implemented in generating brain activation.
Statistical inferences were then made about the brain activations using Gaussian random fi eld theory (RFT) at corrected
signifi cant level (α = 0.05), given that there is no activation. The results indicate that the brain coordinates bilateral selfpaced
tapping of hand fi ngers with the involvement of motor-related cortices which are bilateral precentral gyrus (PCG),
bilateral cerebellum and supplementary motor area (SMA). The increase in tapping force accentuate signifi cant activation
(p < 0.05 corrected) in bilateral PCG (Brodmann Area (BA) 6) in accordance with its function in triggering motor action
such as controlling the tapping force. The increase in tapping speed causes a signifi cant (p < 0.05 corrected) increase
in brain activation only in somatosensory associated region in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL) or right BA7. This
suggests that SPL plays important roles in coordinating purposeful, skilled movements
6.Knowledge and Attitude of Medical Nurses toward Oral Health and Oral Health Care of Pregnant Women
Suzana Sharif ; Norkhafizah Saddki ; Azizah Yusoff
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(1):63-71
Background: This study assessed the knowledge and attitudes of medical nurses regarding oral health and oral health care of pregnant women. Methods: This cross sectional study of 133 nurses in the district of Tumpat, Kelantan (Malaysia) used self-administered questionnaires. Results: Most nurses knew that dental plaque is associated with periodontal disease (97.7%). However, most nurses erroneously believed that tooth decay (86.5%) and excessive sugar consumption (87.2%) led to periodontal disease. About half of the nurses knew about the relationship between periodontal disease of pregnant women and low birth weight (43.6%) and preterm birth (48.9%). Many nurses had the misconception that the developing foetus draws calcium from the mothers’ teeth (78.2%). Most nurses had good attitudes toward improving their oral health knowledge (97.0%) and agreed they should help to deliver oral health education to pregnant women (94.0%). Age, length of service as a nurse, and length of service in antenatal care had no effect on the scores for the nurses’ knowledge and attitude regarding oral health and oral health care of pregnant women. Conclusion: Medical nurses had limited knowledge about oral health of pregnant women and had some misunderstandings about oral health, although they had good attitudes. Age, length of service as a nurse, and length service in antenatal care had no effect on the knowledge and attitude scores of the nurses.
Oral Health, Pregnant Women
7.Coping Styles And Stroop Test In Non-Clinical Sample: Exploring The Associations And Predictors Of Cognitive Styles
Teo Yong Chang ; Nasir Yusoff ; Tahamina Begum
ASEAN Journal of Psychiatry 2015;16(1):75-83
Objective: Literatures on factors influencing performance of the Stroop
interference have been elusive on coping styles. Past investigations of coping
influence on Stroop test have been indirect and inconclusive due to variability of
multidimensional coping models and application of different Stroop test. The
concept of constricted versus flexible or broad cognitive style have linked
personality and coping styles to Stroop performance. The objective of this study
was to determine the associations of coping styles with Stroop resistance towards
interference (Stroop RI) and subsequently determine the predictors of Stroop
performance. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community research design
study with purposive sampling. In this study, the self-administered Brief COPE
inventory questionnaires and Stroop Test were performed among 205
undergraduate medical students. Results: Findings revealed that behavioural
disengagement (r=-0.361), dysfunctional coping (r=-0.355), self-blame (r = 0.222),
and substance abuse (r = -0.173) showed negative correlation and proven strong
association with Stroop RI. Further multiple regression analyses identified
behavioural disengagement (R2 = 0.13), and dysfunctional coping (R2 = 0.024) as
significant predictors for interference. Conclusion: Coping styles have
implication on Stroop test exhibited in varied cognitive styles. Integrating coping
styles factor on Stroop test has glimpsed the future direction of other
neuropsychological assessment batteries on the importance of profiling
individualistic baseline norms.
8.The use of an in-house biotin-avidin linked immunosorbent assay to detect Aspergillus antigens in sera of immunocompromised patients.
S Abdul Samad ; H Yusoff ; S A Fadilah
The Medical journal of Malaysia 2001;56(1):32-8
A biotin-avidin-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect Aspergillus antigens in sera of immunocompromised patients. The assay was based on a double antibody sandwich ELISA using polyclonal antibodies raised against water-soluble antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus. Aspergillus antigens were positive in sera of 9 of 16 (56%) patients who were studied prospectively and in 13 of 73 (19%) patients studied retrospectively. The 9 prospectively studied patients who were antigen positive were febrile neutropenic hematological malignancy patients who exhibited a high risk of acquiring invasive aspergillosis.
Antigens
;
assay
;
Aspergillus
;
Immunocompromised Host
;
Biotin
9.Referral of pregnant women to dentists and advice for dental visit by medical nurses
Suzana Sharif ; Norkhafizah Saddki ; Azizah Yusoff
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2016;71(5):250-255
Objective: Dental attendance among pregnant women has
been low although they frequently experience oral health
problems. Nurses who provide antenatal health care are well
positioned to advise and refer their pregnant patients to
dentists. this study aimed to assess the practices of
medical nurses regarding advice for dental visits and
referral of their pregnant patients to dentists.
Methods: A total of 202 medical nurses who provide
antenatal health care at Ministry of Health facilities in the
district of Kota bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia were included in
this cross-sectional study. A structured self-administered
questionnaire was used to obtain information on variables
of interest.
Results: Most nurses frequently advised (90.6%) and
referred (91.1%) their pregnant patients to dentists, although
some (9.4%) advised their patients to defer dental visits until
after parturition. Multivariable analysis indicated that
individuals who worked as nurses for 10 years or fewer and
had their own dental visits within the past year were more
likely to advise their patients to see dentists with adjusted
OR of 3.98 (95% cI=1.37-11.54) and 2.58 (95% cI=0.99-6.70)
respectively. Nurses who visited dentists within the past
year were also more likely to make dental referrals (OR=3.46,
95% cI=1.32-9.10).
conclusions: Most nurses routinely advise and refer their
pregnant patients for dental visits. the time since a nurse’s
last personal dental visit was associated with their advice
and referral of patients to dentists, and duration
employment as a nurse was associated with advising
patients for dental visits.
10.Gene frequencies of human platelet alloantigens in Kelantan, Malaysia.
Shalini BHASKAR ; Jafri Malin ABDULLAH ; Narazah Mohd YUSOFF ; Atul PRASAD
Singapore medical journal 2007;48(6):598-599
Adolescent
;
Adult
;
Antigens, Human Platelet
;
genetics
;
Female
;
Gene Frequency
;
Genotype
;
Humans
;
Malaysia
;
epidemiology
;
Male
;
Middle Aged
;
Oceanic Ancestry Group
;
genetics
;
Polymorphism, Genetic