1.Reliability and Validity of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) In Malay Language
Nor Azian Mohd Zaki ; Norhafizah Sahril ; Mohd Azahadi Omar ; Muhammad Hasnan Ahmad ; Azli Baharudin ; Noor Safiza Mohd Nor
International Journal of Public Health Research 2016;6(1):670-676
An Analysis of a Survey Questionnaire on health care workers’ knowledge and practices regarding of infection control and complains them to apply universal precautions. Health care workers are at substantial risk of acquiring blood borne pathogen infections through exposure to blood or other products of patients. To assess of infection control among health care workers in Sana'a healthcare centers, Yemen. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the health center to assess knowledge and practices regarding of infection control among 237 health workers in Sana,a city. A structured self-administered questionnaires were used and data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 and the associations were tested with chi-square, with p-value of < 0.05. The health care workers in public centers ware (51.1%) and (48.9%) of them works in private centers. One hundred and seventeen (49.4%) respondents had poor infection control knowledge, 113 (43.5%) had fair knowledge, and 17 (7.2%) had good knowledge. The knowledge was significantly associated with type of center (P < 0.018), such that the public center had the highest proportion with poor knowledge. And nurses and midwife having the highest proportion with fair knowledge of infection control. Eight (3.4%) respondents had a poor practice of universal precautions, 93 (39.2%) had fair practice, and 136 (57.4%) good practice. The practice was significantly associated with the profession, level of education and work experience (P < 0.001), (P < 0.006), (P < 0.001) respectively, and nurses and midwives as the profession with the highest proportion with good practice. We conclude that the practices and knowledge of universal precautions were low and that's need for intensive programmes to educate health care workers on various aspects of standard precautions and infection control programmes and policies.
2.Trauma and Coping in Battling the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Malaysian Healthcare Workers
Norhafizah Mohd Noor ; Ahmad Azuhairi Ariffin ; Umi Adzlin Silim ; Salmiah Md Said
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.2):203-213
Introduction: Prolonged COVID-19 pandemic with high morbidity and mortality may cause traumatic events to
Healthcare Workers (HCW), resulting in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Hence, this study aims to determine the prevalence of PTSD symptoms and its association with coping strategies among HCW in managing COVID-19 pandemic at Klang Valley Public Hospitals in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study with total of 424 eligible respondents were recruited through stratified random sampling. Data was collected from 6th May until 6th June 2021 using a self-administered online questionnaire adopted from MPCL-5 and Brief COPE instruments.
IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 26 was used to analyse data.
Result: 25% of the respondents demonstrated PTSD symptoms. Respondents who are single (aOR=3.319, 95% CI: 1.912, 5.762, p-value <0.001) and had history of positive COVID-19 (aOR= 2.563, 95% CI:1.058, 6.209, p-value=0.037) were more likely to experience PTSD symptoms. Frequently coping with self-blaming (aOR= 7.804, 95% CI: 3.467, 17.568, p-value < 0.001), behavioural disengagement (aOR= 7.262, 95% CI: 1.973, 26.723, p-value =0.003), humour (aOR= 5.303, 95% CI: 1.754, 16.039, p-value =0.003), venting emotion (aOR= 3.287, 95% CI: 1.521, 7.105, p-value =0.002) and less planning (aOR= 2.006, 95% CI:1.154, 3.487 p-value =0.014) are significant predictors for PTSD symptoms.
Conclusion: One in four HCW managing COVID-19 in Klang Valley public hospitals experienced PTSD symptoms.
Therefore, urgent interventional program targeting HCW who are single with history of positive COVID-19 is beneficial to prevent PTSD. Maladaptive coping strategies like self-blaming, venting emotion, humour and behavioural
disengagement should be replaced with more adaptive coping strategies like planning, self-compassion, self-care
and self-reflection.
3.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.
4.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.