1.Knowledge and practice of colorectal cancer screening in an urban setting: cross-sectional survey of primary care physicians in government clinics in Malaysia.
Chor Yau OOI ; Nik Sherina HANAFI ; Su May LIEW
Singapore medical journal 2019;60(11):596-604
INTRODUCTION:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) was the third most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide in 2008 (1.23 million cases, 9.7%). CRC screening was shown to be effective in reducing 70% of CRC mortality. However, the screening rate for CRC remains poor.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among primary care physicians (PCPs) in public primary care clinics in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A 30-item self-administered questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge and practice of CRC screening.
RESULTS:
The response rate was 86.4% (n = 197/228). Less than half (39.1%) of the respondents answered correctly for all risk stratification scenarios. Mean knowledge score on CRC screening modalities was 48.7% ± 17.7%. The knowledge score was positively associated with having postgraduate educational qualification and usage of screening guidelines. Overall, 69.9% of PCPs reported that they practised screening. However, of these, only 25.9% of PCPs screened over 50% of all eligible patients. PCPs who agreed that screening was cost-effective (odds ratio [OR] 3.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69‒6.59) and those who agreed that they had adequate resources in their locality (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.01‒3.68) were more likely to practise screening. Knowledge score was not associated with the practice of screening (p = 0.185).
CONCLUSION
Knowledge and practice of CRC screening was inadequate among PCPs. Knowledge of screening did not translate into its practice. PCPs' perceptions about cost-effectiveness of screening and adequate resources were important determinants of the practice of screening.
2.Influence of Infant Massage Practice on Breastfeeding Among Mothers In Sarawak
Chan Kim Geok ; Saloma Pawi ; Shalin Lee Wan Fei ; Helmy Hazmi ; Ooi Chor Yau ; Zurraini Arabi ; Chen Yoke Yong
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.4):218-227
Introduction: Practice of infant massage by mothers has been reported previously to provide benefits such as nurturing touch, warmth and relaxation to infants and a more positive breastfeeding practice due to its stimulant for oxytocin release. This study aimed to determine the influence of infant massage by mothers on their breastfeeding practice
in the local context. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 310 mother-infant pairs who were
recruited from five selected health centres within First Division of Sarawak. Intervention group participants (n=155)
were taught to do infant-massage during the clinic session and instructed to practice 15 minutes twice daily throughout the two-months intervention period, while the control group (n=155) were not. Breastfeeding practice data were
obtained using questionnaire from both groups pre-intervention at infants’ age one-month and post-intervention at
age three-months. Results: Multinomial regression analysis showed that those in the intervention group were two
times more likely than the control group for exclusive breastfeeding when compared to mothers who stopped breastfeeding (RR=2.022, 95% CI=1.007, 4.071; p-value=0.048). Similarly, mothers from the intervention group were two
and half times more likely than control group for mixed feeding (RR=2.560, 95% CI=1.280, 5.121; p-value=0.008).
Those who were housewives were nearly three times more likely than the private workers for exclusive breastfeeding
(RR=2.734, 95% CI=1.246, 5.997; p-value=0.012). Conclusion: Infant massage influenced breastfeeding practice
positively at infants’ age three-months, in particular, among mothers who were housewives. Healthcare providers
should encourage infant massage practice by mothers as part of the maternal and child healthcare service.