Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DRP) is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes, affecting approximately 30% of patients with type 2 diabetes and over half of those with type 1 diabetes. It remains a leading cause of preventable blindness among adults worldwide. Early stages are frequently asymptomatic, making regular diabetic eye screening essential to detect sight-threatening changes before irreversible vision loss occurs. In Malaysia, where diabetes prevalence has reached 15.6% among adults (NHMS 2023), the effective implementation of annual retinal screening is crucial. Malaysian National Clinical Practice Guidelines recommend an annual retinal screening among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This clinical audit evaluated adherence to DRP screening. Methodology: A retrospective clinical audit was conducted at Pusat Perubatan Angkatan Tentera (PPAT), Kem Sungai Besi, to evaluate compliance with national DR screening standards among adults with T2DM. Thirty eligible patient records were reviewed. Three key indicators were assessed: (1) documentation of visual acuity at diagnosis, (2) annual fundoscopy, and (3) referral for fundus photography within the preceding 12 months. Performance was benchmarked against the 80% standard. Data were analyzed descriptively. Results: The median age group was 55–59 years, with equal gender distribution. Screening adherence was substantially below target: visual acuity assessment at diagnosis, 23.3%; annual fundoscopy, 26.7%; and fundus imaging referral, 36.7%. All screening indicators were below the recommended standard. Conclusion This audit reveals a significant implementation gap between national guidelines and routine practice. Structured workflow integration and documentation reinforcement strategies need to be emphasized. Additional measures include strengthening patient education and reinforcing guideline-based practice through regular CME sessions. However, a re-audit has not yet been conducted at the time of clinical audit reporting. An ongoing evaluation will be essential to determine the effectiveness and sustainability of these interventions in reducing preventable diabetic vision loss at PPAT Sungai Besi.
Humans ; iabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Clinical Audit

MY JOURNEY IN MEDICAL ETHICS: REFLECTING ON THE SINGAPORE MEDICAL ETHICS CONFERENCE In January 2024, I had the privilege of experiencing the inspirational atmosphere of the Centre for Biomedical Ethics at the National University of Singapore (NUS). During my time at NUS, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in the captivating realm of the CENTRES Clinical Ethics Conference 2024, focused on the theme "Revisiting Best Interests." e two day event oered abundant opportunity for networking, discussion and knowledge exchange through lectures, quizzes, and engaging sessions with experts in medical ethics and law, both locally and internationally.

MENTORSHIP AND GROWTH: REFLECTIONS FROM THE ASIAN MEDICAL STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION COMPETITION IN JAPAN Participating as a supervisor in the Asian Medical Students’ Association (AMSA) Competition in Japan was both enlightening and enriching. This prestigious event, which aimed to enhance medical students’ academic knowledge, cultural understanding and interpersonal skills, provided me with the opportunity to mentor aspiring professionals and reflect on my development as an educator. The AMSA Conference and Competition, held from 21 to 27 July 2024 at the International University of Health and Welfare’s Narita and Tokyo campuses, focused on the theme of ‘Disaster Medicine’. AMSC 2024 offered medical students a platform to explore disaster medicine, fostered international collaboration and idea exchange and highlighted the need for disaster preparedness and global health cooperation among future healthcare leaders.
Students, Medical

Introduction: Managing adolescent pregnancy in the primary care setting is complex, as it requires doctors to navigate through a combination of medical, social, financial and legal needs. Objective: This study explores the perspectives of private general practitioners on their roles and challenges in managing adolescent pregnancy in Malaysia. Methods: Nineteen private general practitioners in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur participated in in-depth interviews in 2015. A topic guide was used for interview navigation. Participants were asked to discuss their experiences and approaches in managing pregnant adolescents. We used purposive sampling to recruit consenting private general practitioners who had experience in managing adolescent pregnancy. The verbatim transcripts of the audio-recorded interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Data reached saturation at the nineteenth in-depth interview. Results: Two themes emerged. Under the theme ‘inadvertent advocator,’ participants described their tasks with regards to building trust, calming angry parents and delivering comprehensive counseling and care related to the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, including requests for abortions. Theme two, ‘challenges of private general practitioners,’ refers mainly to personal and religious conflicts arising from a request for an abortion and deficiencies in support and multidisciplinary integration within their practice settings. Conclusion: General practitioners practicing in the private sector identify themselves as active players in supporting pregnant adolescents but face many challenges arising from the personal, religious, professional and community levels. Addressing these challenges is important for optimal care delivery to pregnant adolescents in this community