1.Prevalence and Predictors of Pap Smear Practice among Staff of a Public University in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan
Nuurain Amirah Mohd Razi ; Rosliza Abdul MANAF ; Suriani ISMAIL
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2017;13(3):33-42
Introduction: The practice of Pap smear has long been an issue worldwide especially in the developing countries. Malaysia National Health and Morbidity Survey IV reported an uptake of 12.8% in 2011. It was found that Malay women has the lowest prevalence of uptake compared to other major ethnicities in the country. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of Pap smear practice and its predictors among staff in a public university with majority of Malay ethnicity. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among female staff in a public university in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan using a self-administered and validated questionnaire. All female staff from the seven faculties and the library were invited to participate. Data were analysed using SPSS version 22 for descriptive and inferential statistics, whereby Multiple Logistic Regression were performed to identify the predictors. Results: One-hundred-and eighty-seven respondents participated this study. The prevalence of Pap smear practice was 65.2%, of which, two-thirds (65.6%) had done it within the past three years. Predictors of the practice were higher parity, attending annual medical check-up, husband’s support and positive attitude towards the test. Conclusion: The prevalence of Pap smear uptake among this population is higher than other studies in Malaysia, however, not all of them have done it regularly within 3 yearly interval as suggested by the World Health Organisation.
2.A Systematic Review on Caregiver’s Burden Among Caregivers of Dementia Patients in Malaysia
Nuurain Amirah Mohd Razi ; Halimatus Sakdiah Minhat ; Nor Afiah Mohd. Zulkefli ; Norliza Ahmad ; Tengku Amatullah Madeehah Tengku Mohd ; Hafiz Jaafar
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.1):254-262
Introduction: Increasing prevalence of dementia and the associated caregiving burden are expected due to longer
life expectancy. This review aimed to critically assess dementia-driven caregiving burden and the associated factors
in Malaysia. Methods: A systematic search using several combinations of keywords was conducted in Ovid Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, and Ebscohost databases. The primary outcome was the score or level of
caregiver burden, while the secondary outcome was the factors associated with such burden. The quality of the
individual articles was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results:
The systematic search resulted in seven studies being reviewed, consisting of six cross-sectional studies and one
quasi-experimental study. Using the Zarit Burden Interview, two studies reported moderate caregiver burden with
mean scores of 35.4 (15.08) and 46.0 (17.0). High levels of burden or strain were reported using the Caregiver Strain
Index in other studies. The three main associated factors with burden identified in these studies were the presence
of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), higher education level, and lack of social support.
Conclusion: Moderate to severe caregiving burden level were found to be experienced by dementia caregivers in
this country. High education, lack of support, as well as taking care of patient with BPSD being the most prominent
factors associated with burden. Therefore, burden should be regularly assessed among the dementia caregivers
especially among those with lack of social support and manage family members with BPSD, as to prevent adverse
outcome from dementia caregiving.