1.Risk of Bias Assessment and Risk Minimisation Strategies in COVID-19 Diagnostic Test Accuracy Study
Muhammad Ikhwan Mud Shukri ; Nur Za&rsquo ; Imah Zainal ; Ahmad Zaid Fattah Azman
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):359-364
It is paramount to assess the risk of biases in may arise from diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) study as it will affect the
accuracy and validity of the tests. These biases can be found in published researches and here we look at COVID-19
DTA studies. The evaluation of bias risk in diagnostic research is mainly performed using QUADAS-2. The aim of
this review was to determine potential selection and information biases in diagnostic test accuracy studies and strategies to minimize risk of biases. Literature review related to diagnostic test accuracy study is identified through an
online search of databases namely PubMed, ScienceDirect, Research Gate, Google Scholar, and official government
websites range. Six potential biases in four QUADAS-2 domains are identified in COVID-19 diagnostic test accuracy
study which are 1) spectrum bias in patient selection; 2) interpretation bias in index test; 3) differential misclassification bias and nondifferential misclassification bias in reference standard; and 4) partial verification bias and
differential verification bias in patient flow. The identified biases exert effects on accuracy of COVID-19 diagnostic
tests. Six strategies are recommended to reduce these biases, hence, improving the accuracy of COVID-19 diagnostic
tests. The best diagnostic test can give benefits to the population in the mass screening program during COVID-19.
2.The Role of Big Data Analytics in Digital Health for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Asia
Nazmi Ainaa Azmi ; Norhafizah Mohd Noor ; Muhammad Ikhwan Mud Shukri ; Aidalina Mahmud ; Rosliza Abdul Manaf
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2022;18(No.4):173-181
Big data analytics (BDA) in digital health is critical for gaining the knowledge needed to make decisions, with Asia
at the forefront of utilising this technology for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This review aims to study
how BDA was incorporated into digital health in managing the COVID-19 pandemic in six selected Asian countries, discuss its advantages and barriers and recommend measures to improve its adoption. A narrative review was
conducted. Online databases were searched to identify all relevant literature on the roles of BDA in digital health
for COVID-19 preventive and control measures. The findings showed that these countries had used BDA for contact tracing, quarantine compliance, outbreak prediction, supply rationing, movement control, information update,
and symptom monitoring. Compared to conventional approaches, BDA in digital health plays a more efficient role
in preventing and controlling COVID-19. It may inspire other countries to adopt this technology in managing the
pandemic.
3.Barriers and Drivers of Physical Activity Participation Among Older Adults in Malaysia: A Systematic Review
Halimatus Sakdiah Minhat ; Wan Syahirah Wan Ghazali ; Muhammad Ikhwan Mud Shukri ; Norhafizah Mohd Noor ; Mohd Hafiidz Baharudin ; Zhao Yuanyuan ; Raja Nurzatul Efah Raja Adnan
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):253-262
Introduction: Ageing is commonly linked with physical inactivity. This review was performed to identify the factors
associated with participation in physical activity among older adults in Malaysia. Methods: A systematic review was
conducted using five databases; Pubmed, Sagepub, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Science Direct. Observational
and intervention studies published between January 2010 and December 2020 were included, with Malaysian older
adults aged 55 years and older being the main subject. Results: A total of 9 articles were included in the review.
Analysis was guided by the Social Ecological Model for Health Promotion. The review had successfully identified
gender, age, education level, health reasons, ethnicity and attitude as intrapersonal factors, social support (friend)
and marital status as interpersonal factors, and locality as well as availability of facilities as environmental factors.
Conclusions: Physical activity participation among Malaysian older adults were mainly determined by intrapersonal
factors, particularly gender, health condition and educational level.
4.Application of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Food Security During Flood Disaster in Malaysia: A Narrative Review
Muhammad Ikhwan Mud Shukri ; Nazmi Ainaa Azmi ; Chandramalar Kanthavelu ; Nur Za&rsquo ; Imah Zainal ; Rosliza Abdul Manaf ; Suhainizam Muhamad Saliluddin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.4):332-341
Disaster risk reduction (DRR) plays essential roles in ensuring food security to avoid adverse social, economic and
financial implications to the disaster victims. This article aims to review existing DRR strategies in food security
during flood disasters and recommend strategies that can be adapted into policies in Malaysia according to the
Sendai Framework. Sendai Framework provides comprehensive, globally recognized priority themes in DRR while
highlighting governmental and stakeholders’ responsibility. A literature review was carried out by searching available published literatures from online databases and selected information used in this review is taken from articles,
journals, reports, national reports, news, and thesis regarding the topic from November 2021 to January 2022. This
review revealed that DRR strategies of food security during flood disasters in Malaysia lack one out of 14 work areas
in four priorities in the Sendai Framework, which is the national-level risk and vulnerability assessment system and
tools. This article proposed 19 recommendations to improve eight work areas across all four priority areas to enhance
national food security during flood disasters.