1.Neuropsychological Task Performance in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Survivors of the Malay Population
Huda Qistina Zamsyari ; Azizah Othman ; Ahmad Zafrullah Afham Ahmad Fikri ; Surini Yusoff ; Norsarwany Mohamad ; Ariffin Nasir
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2026;22(Supp 2):17-27
Introduction: Leukemia is one of the most prevalent childhood cancers, accounting for 30% of paediatric cancers
globally and 39.1% in Malaysia. This study assesses neuropsychological functioning in childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) survivors, including executive functioning, attention span, working memory, problem solving, processing speed, cognitive flexibility, and inhibitory control. Methods: Twenty-seven childhood ALL survivors
(12 males, 15 females), aged 8–26 years and in remission for at least one year, were recruited from Hospital Pakar
Universiti Sains Malaysia. Participants completed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale: Digit Span and subtests from the
Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System: Trail Making Test, Verbal Fluency, Colour-Word Interference, and Sorting
Test. Results: Results revealed significant neuropsychological deficits compared to normative data. Working memory performance (Digit Span, M = 6.63) was significantly below the mean. Impairments in executive functioning
were found in Trail Making Test scores, particularly in Visual Scanning (M = 6.78), Letter Sequencing (M = 4.30),
and Number-Letter Sequencing (M = 4.70). Verbal Fluency deficits were most notable in Letter Fluency (M = 4.70).
Cognitive flexibility challenges were indicated by Colour-Word Interference scores (Inhibition, M = 8.04; Inhibition/
Switching, M = 8.26). Sorting Test scores (M = 7.33) indicated categorization difficulties. Correlations showed that
school and post-treatment duration positively affected task performance, while earlier diagnosis negatively affected
cognitive flexibility. Conclusion: These findings highlight neuropsychological deficits in Malay childhood ALL survivors, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions and screening tools to improve their quality of life and address
gaps in understanding long-term effects.
3.Burnout and Stressor Related Factors among Nurses Caring For Children in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
Siti Fatimah Abu Hussain ; Fahisham Taib ; Surini Yusoff ; Azriani Ab Rahman ; Azizah Othman ; Norsarwany Mohamad
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2022;18(No.1):214-221
Introduction: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of burnout and correlation between burnout score
and stressor domain score and to determine the association between sociodemographic and occupational related
factors with overall burnout among nurses caring for children in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (Hospital USM).
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using bilingual validated questionnaire; the General Stressor Questionnaire (GSQ) and Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) conducted among nurses providing medical service for children in Hospital USM particularly in wards and clinics. All 159 eligible nurses were recruited and 157 completed
questionnaires were analysed. Pearson’s correlation analysis was applied to study the correlation while simple logistic regression and multiple logistic regressions were applied to study the association. Results: The prevalence of
burnout among nurses caring for children in Hospital USM was 28.7% (95% CI = 21.6, 35.7) with the majority of
them experienced personal burnout (49.7%, 95% CI = 41.9, 57.5). There was a significant moderate positive correlation between different stressor domain score with overall burnout score with p-value < 0.05. Work placement
and bureaucratic constraints were identified as the main contributory factor leading to overall burnout. Conclusion:
Burnout among nurses providing medical services for children in Hospital USM is of concern especially involving
personal burnout. The main stressor related factors of burnout were work placement and bureaucratic constraints.
Therefore, burnout among nurses providing care for children must be addressed in order to enhance their psychological well-being.


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