1.Effects of Social support and Self-efficacy of Glucose Control Among Malaysian Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Primary Care
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2020;16(No.1):70-76
Diabetic control depends partially on self-management. Diabetes self-care is reported to be a strong
predictor of glycemic control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. Factors contributing to better self-care
include self-efficacy and social support. We aim to determine effects of these factors on glucose control in T2DM
patients in a primary care clinic. Methods: This study utilised data from a bigger study looking into factors affecting
social support and self-efficacy and their correlation in T2DM patients. This study was done among 329 T2DM patients attending a primary care clinic in Selangor, Malaysia between November 2013- January 2014. Systematic random sampling was used. Instruments used were the MOS Social Support Survey and the Diabetic Management Self
Efficacy Scale (DMSES). Patients’ socio-demographic data and glucose monitoring records were obtained. The association between social support and self-efficacy with blood glucose control was determined using logistic regression.
Results: The mean age of the respondents is 54.6 (+11.2), mostly female (55.3%) and Malay ethnicity (63.5%). Being
older and retired were predictors for good glucose control (OR=1.05,p=0.01 and OR=2.2,p=0.023) respectively.
There is also significant correlations between number of close friends/relatives with social support and self-efficacy
(r=0.162,p=0.030 and r=0.190,p=0.01) respectively. The correlation of social support and self-efficacy with HbA1c
levels are r= -0.044(p=0.426) and r= -0.08(p= 0.744) respectively. Conclusion: There were no correlations between
social support and self-efficacy with the level of HbA1c among patients with T2DM in this study. We found older
aged and retired patients to have better HbA1c levels.
2.Social support, self-efficacy and their correlation among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A primary care perspective
Aneesa Abdul RASHID ; Zuhra HAMZAH ; Tan CHAI-ENG
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2018;73(4):197-201
Introduction: Social support and self-efficacy are factorsthat influence patients’ health behaviour. However, therelationship between these two factors among patients withType 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has not been adequatelyexplored. This study aims to report social support and selfefficacy of Malaysian T2DM patients, and their correlations.Methods: This cross-sectional questionnaire study involved329 patients with T2DM who received their follow up at apublic primary care clinic. Patients were selected viasystematic random sampling. Patients self-completedlocally adapted versions of the Medical Outcomes Study(MOS) Social Support Survey and Diabetic Management SelfEfficacy Scale (DMSES). The scores of both tools wereanalysed to determine the association and correlationbetween social support and self-efficacy.Results: The mean score for overall social support was72.7±21.40 score range (0-100). “Affectionate support” wasrated the highest averaged mean score at 78.31±23.71 (scorerange: 0-100). The mean DMSES score was 147.6±35.5(score range :0-200), of which “medications” subscale wasrated the highest with averaged mean scores 9.07±1.67(score range: 0-10). Overall social support and self-efficacywere found to be weakly correlated (r=0.197, p<0.001).However, all subscales of social support were moderatelycorrelated with “medications” subscale of self-efficacy.Conclusion: Social support is significantly associated withpatients’ self-efficacy in handling their own medications.
3.Breastfeeding Practice, Support, and Self- Efficacy Among working Mothers in a Rural Health Clinic in Selangor
Aneesa Abdul RASHID ; Nurainul Hana SHAMSUDDIN ; Raja Dalila Athirah Raja Malek Ridhuan ; Nurin AMALINA ; Navin Kumar DEVARAJ
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2018;14(2):39-49
Introduction: In first six months of life, breastfeeding is the recommended form of feeding by the World Health Organisation for the growing child. To enable the working mother to continue this noble practice, adequate workplace breastfeeding support and self- efficacy is needed.This study aims to determine the prevalence of breastfeeding among working mothers of children aged three months to two years and factors associated with breastfeeding practice including workplace support and mother’s self-efficacy. Method: This is a cross sectional questionnaire study carried out in a rural Health Clinic in Selangor using socio-demographic data, Workplace Breastfeeding Support Scale (WBSS), and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale Short Form (BSES-SF). This study was conducted for a period of three months from April to June 2015. The respondents were employed Malaysian mothers of healthy infants aged three months to two years. A total of 84 participants were involved in the study. Data analysis was done with SPSS 22.Results: The prevalence of breastfeeding among working mothers were high at 97.6%. We found significant association of breastfeeding practice with workplace breastfeeding support (p=0.005) and self-efficacy (p= 0.017). We also noted a significant correlation between breastfeeding workplace support and breast feeding self-efficacy (r= 0.40, p <0.01). Age, religion, ethnicity, educational level and place of employment were found to be not associated with breastfeeding practices.Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of workplace support and self-efficacy with workplace breastfeeding practices. Policymakers and stakeholders should provide a conducive and supportive environment to enhance breastfeeding among working mothers.
4.Topical corticosteroids in clinical practice
Navin Kumar Devaraj ; Aneesa Abdul Rashid ; Abdul Hadi Abdul Manap ; Shaaira Nasir
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(2):187-189
Topical corticosteroids are common medications prescribed
for skin problems encountered in the primary care or
dermatology clinic settings. As skin conditions comprise of
around 20% of cases seen in primary care, this article
written to guide readers, especially non-dermatologists on
the appropriate potency of topical corticosteroids to be
chosen for skin problems of patients and to list the side
effects both local and systemic
5.The role of social media in primary care
Aneesa Abdul Rashid ; Ahmed Kamarulzaman ; Sakinah Sulong ; Suhazeli Abdullah
Malaysian Family Physician 2021;16(2):14-18
Online activities have become the norm. From searching for new information to conducting business meetings, social media’s role in daily life continues to grow in prominence. It is estimated that the majority of the population uses social media, and users include doctors and other healthcare professionals. It is critical for primary care doctors to note how social media can substantially influence one’s healthcare behaviour and decision making. Because primary care doctors are usually the first line of contact for patients, they are the most easily accessible and most instrumental in using social media to steer the public toward proper information on healthcare.
6.A life-threatening condition—ruptured ectopic pregnancy with negative urine pregnancy test: A case report
Fadzilah Mohamad ; Ahmad Shuib Yahya ; Aneesa Abdul Rashid ; Navin Kumar Devaraj ; Abdul Hadi Abdul Manap
Malaysian Family Physician 2021;16(1):121-123
Ectopic pregnancy is an extra-uterine pregnancy and is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to death from intra-peritoneal hemorrhage. This case reports a rare occurrence of ruptured tubal pregnancy in which the patient presented early with abdominal pain and a negative urine pregnancy test but subsequently presented again with evidence of intra-peritoneal hemorrhage. A negative urine pregnancy test is often used to rule out pregnancy, but it is not 100% sensitive. Complete assessment is critical in this important diagnosis in order to plan for the appropriate emergency management.
7.Efforts on Reducing Dietary Salt Intake and its Associated Factors Among Medical Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia
Lee Zhan Yue ; Nur Shafeeqah Zainudin ; Afifah Alya Ahmad Pauzi ; Aneesa Abdul Rashid ; Cheong Ai Theng
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.1):88-96
Introduction: Increased dietary salt intake can cause retention of fluid and subsequently an increase in blood pressure. Excessive salt consumption is one of the main causes of hypertension. This study aims to determine efforts
done by medical students to reduce dietary salt intake and its associated factors in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire looking into efforts to reduce dietary salt
intake adapted from the WHO STEPS questionnaire was used. There were six efforts altogether which were; limiting consumption of processed food; looking into sodium contents on food labels; purchasing low salt or sodium
alternatives; avoid eating out; using spices when cooking; and doing things specifically to control salt consumption.
Other factors in this questionnaire are on socio-demographic, practice of salt consumption, awareness, perception,
attitude of dietary salt intake. Results: A total of 362 respondents participated. The majority had good awareness on
salt intake (98.1%). A larger proportion of females significantly made the effort to buy low salt alternatives (p=0.003)
and avoided eating out (p=0.048). On salt consumption practice, there were a bigger proportion of those that rarely
ate processed food, that avoided eating out (p=0.08), bought low salt/sodium alternatives (p<0.001), looked at the
sodium contents on labels (p=0.027) and limited the consumption of processed food (p<0.001). Conclusion: There
are significant associations between the female gender and practice of eating processed food with efforts to decrease
salt intake. More studies are recommended to look into assisting efforts to reduce salt consumption.
8.A Prevalence Study of Pharyngitis and Its Associated Factors Among Adults With a Sore Throat in Three Primary Clinics in Selangor, Malaysia
AbdulRahman Muthanna ; Nurainul Hana Shamsuddin ; Aneesa Abdul Rashid ; Sazlina Shariff Ghazali ; Rukman Awang Hamat ; Maliza Mawardi ; Hani Syahida Salim ; Siti Zulaikha Zakariah
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.4):210-217
Introduction: Since pharyngitis in adults is one of the most common infectious diseases seen in general practitioner
consultations in Malaysia, data on pharyngitis among adults concerning to its prevalence, socio-demographic, risk
factors and clinical manifestations is very much lacking. This study aims to determine the prevalence of pharyngitis
among adults in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia from 2016 to 2017 and its associated demographic and risk factors.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 215 adult patients with a sore throat as the main symptom and
who did not receive any antibiotic treatment within two weeks at three Malaysian primary care clinics. The researchers assessed the participants’ clinical manifestations and collected throat swabs for culture to determine the presence
of group A streptococcus (GAS). Data on demographic characteristics, clinical manifestation and throat swab culture
results were analyzed using chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Pharyngitis was diagnosed in
130/215 (65%) adults with a sore throat. Only six isolates (2.8%) were identified as GAS. The overall mean age ± S.D
was 36.43 ± 15.7. The majority of the participants were in the age group of 18-28 years. There were 42.3% males
and 57.7% females; most participants were Malay 62.8%, followed by 30.2% Indian, 5.1% Chinese, and 1.9% other
ethnicities. The most common symptom among the participants was cough 196 (91.2%), followed by rhinorrhea
161 (74.8%), tonsillar swelling or exudates 68 (31.6%), inflamed or reddish of pharynx 62 (28.8%), swollen anterior
cervical lymph nodes 50 (23.3%), and fever ≥37.5°C 28 (13.0%). Conclusion: Besides, there was no significant association between pharyngitis and the demographic variables; the current findings emphasized that inflamed or reddish
pharynx, tonsillar swelling or exudates were among the factors associated with pharyngitis.
9.Risk Perception and Emergency Preparedness Against Flood Affected Participants From the Primary Health Care Centre, Malaysia: A Comparison Between Genders
Siew Mooi Ching ; Lee Kai Wei ; Mari Kannan Maharajan ; Hani Salim ; Ng Jun Ying ; Ng Kar Yean ; Aneesa Abdul Rashid ; Dhashani A/P Sivaratnam ; Nurainul Hana Shamsudin ; Imran Ahmad ; Vasudevan Ramachandran
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.4):8-14
Introduction: Flooding has become a major natural disaster in Malaysia in recent decades. There may be a gender difference in many aspects related to flood response and practice. This study aimed to examine the gender gap in knowledge, attitudes, and practice of flood preparedness in Malaysia. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients attending the primary care clinic at Universiti Sains Malaysia health campus, Kelantan. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection.
Results: 328 subjects were recruited, 56.1% of them were females. The female respondents were younger than the males (36 vs. 41 years old). However, females have better knowledge, and practice on flood preparedness compared to male respondents. Among those, women were more aware of the local emergency plan than males (p=0.01). More female respondents kept their vaccination and
personal medical records in a waterproof container or sealed plastic bag during past and future flood preparations (3-5 day supply of non-perishable food) than male respondents (p<0.05). In addition, with the practice of keeping a one-week supply of medication, and having their medical records in a waterproof container along with a first-aid kit (p=0.001). For future flood preparation, more women would filter the cloudy water through clean clothes for boiling (p=0.035). The determinants of good preparedness for future floods for female were older-age (p=0.001), blue-collar (p=0.043); whereas male were lower household income (p=0.014), being blue collar (0.014) and white collar (0.039) compared with student/retiree based on multivariate logistic regression.
Conclusion: Our study reported that the determinants of good preparedness for future floods were older-age, blue-collar and having a lower-household income.