1.Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Activity and Mental Health among Undergraduate Students (Impak Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Akibat COVID-19 terhadap Aktiviti Fizikal dan Kesihatan Mental dalam Kalangan Pelajar Sarjana Muda)
SHENG HUI KIOH ; AUN QUIN LIM ; JIN YIE CHONG ; ZHI KEAT CHAN
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2022;20(No.2):51-61
With the sudden change of environment and limited studies on the effects of COVID-19 lockdown among university
students, this study therefore aims to examine the effects of COVID-19 lockdown on physical activity level and mental
health among university students in Malaysia. This is a cross-sectional study involving university students studying in
Klang Valley, Malaysia. Demographics information, living status during COVID-19, physical activity level and mental
health status were obtained through online questionnaire via Microsoft forms. Paired T-test was used to compare the
effect of physical activity level and mental health status during COVID-19 lockdown. Data on falls was available for
383 participants with 254 (66.3 %) women and 129 (33.7%) men. Overall, the metabolic equivalent task (MET) of
vigorous, moderate, mild, and total MET has decreased during COVID-19 lockdown as compared to before COVID-19
lockdown. Approximately an increment of 6% of participants reported having depression and anxiety during COVID-19
lockdown. In conclusion, significant impact on physical activity level and mental health was found in our study. Our
study findings could therefore assist educational institutions and policymakers in forming strategies to improve student’s
overall health, yet further longitudinal studies should be performed to examine the long-term effects of COVID-19
lockdown.
2.The prevalence and the risk of falls among institutionalised elderly in Penang, Malaysia
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2018;73(4):212-219
Introduction and Objectives Over the years, falls has beenincreasingly the most common public health issue worldwide that affects all age groups. However, the risk is nine times higher in older persons especially among thoseresiding in nursing homes. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and the risk of falls and theirassociated factors among elderly living in nursing homes inPenang, Malaysia.Methodology Data were obtained from a cross-sectionalsurvey in ten different nursing homes in the state of Penang, Malaysia. Participants were selected through convenience sampling were interviewed face-to-face using aquestionnaire. Information concerning demographiccharacteristics, fall risk and depression status werecollected.Results Of the 357-elderly aged 60 years and aboveinterviewed in the nursing homes, 32.8% (n=354) reportedhaving one or more falls in the past 12 months whereas13.3% were at moderate/high risk of fall. Depression(Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)=1.71, 95%CI: 1.00 to 2.91) andrespiratory illnesses (aOR=3.38, 95%CI: 1.11 to 10.30) wereshown to be associated with prevalence of falls. Depression(aOR=2.12, 95%CI: 1.06 to 4.23) and history of fall more than once in the past 12 months (aOR=3.90, 95%CI: 1.72 to 8.8) were found to be associated with moderate/high risk of falls.Conclusion This study showed that the prevalence of fallwas higher among depressed elderly and those withrespiratory illness. Elderly with higher history of falls were also at higher risk of falls. These findings suggest the importance of screening the elderly for the risk factors of falls as a preventive measure.


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