5.Effect of Instructions Set by the Dementia and Delirium Support Team on the Management of Insomnia and Restlessness When Changing Electronic Medical Record Vendors
Toshikazu ICHIE ; Noriko KUBOTA ; Chise HONDA ; Megumi YOKODE ; Mayu MINAMIKAWA ; Mika OSAKI ; Tsubasa SASAKI ; Michiyo HIROUMI ; Takeshi MIURA ; Zen NONOGAKI
Journal of the Japanese Association of Rural Medicine 2024;73(4):347-355
Use of benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor agonists for delirious or elderly patients has occasionally been found as a result of inappropriate instructions for insomnia or restlessness, according to research of the dementia and delirium support team (DDST), which manages instructions on admission and during hospital rounds. We believe that one reason for this is the lack of hospital guidelines for managing insomnia and restlessness. When changing electronic medical record vendors, we took the opportunity to establish proper drug usage instructions. The percentage of available instructions for insomnia and restlessness at the time of admission and the prescribed medications were surveyed and compared before and after the vendor change. The prescription rate for insomnia was 88.6% (1,779/2,007) before and 91.9% (1,902/2,069) after the change, showing a significant increase. The prescription rate of benzodiazepine receptor agonist use was 47.7% (848/1,779) before and 41.6% (792/1,902) after the change, showing a significant decrease. The prescription rate for restlessness was 71.2% (1,429/2,007) before and 85.6% (1,771/2,069) after the change, showing a significant increase. The recommended drug usage instructions affected prescriptions for insomnia and restlessness at admission and prescriptions of BZD receptor agonist usage at admission. Our findings seem to suggest that setting drug usage instructions for insomnia and restlessness when changing the electronic medical record vendor will be useful for promoting proper medication use.
6.Contribution of Snacks and Physical Activities to Elevated Blood Pressure of Adolescent Girls in West Java, Indonesia
Mohammad Zen Rahfiludin ; Alfi Fairuz Asna ; Suroto ; Lilik Hidayanti
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.4):53-60
Introduction: The prevalence of hypertension in Indonesia has continued to increase over the last few years. An
unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity can elevate blood pressure, particularly if an unhealthy lifestyle has been
followed since adolescence. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between snack consumption and physical
activity with blood pressure in adolescent girls. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 349 adolescent girls from seven Islamic boarding schools in West Java, Indonesia. Data on daily food and snack consumption
were obtained by the 24-hour recall for 3 non-consecutive days. Blood pressure was measured using a digital blood
pressure instrument, and the results were categorized by age, gender, and height. Linear regression analyses were
performed to investigate determinants of blood pressure. Results: A total of 120 (34.4%) of the adolescent girls in
the study had hypertension. A majority of girls had inadequate daily intake (energy, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium;
only total protein intake met Indonesia’s recommended dietary allowance). Snacks were found to be high in protein,
fat, and carbohydrates, with consumption levels above 15%. More than half (61.9%) of the subjects’ daily sodium
intake came from snacks. Low-fat intake from snacks was associated with an increase in blood pressure in this study.
Daily nutritional intake affecting blood pressure included sodium and total fat intake. Lack of physical activity in
adolescent girls was not a risk factor for elevated blood pressure. Conclusion: Fat and sodium intake was associated
with elevated blood pressure in adolescent girls.
7.Cost-benefit analysis of hepatitis B virus serological and nucleic acid testing in blood donors
Xianlin YE ; Wen XIONG ; Tong LI ; Ran LI ; Liqing HUANG ; Jinfeng ZEN
Chinese Journal of Blood Transfusion 2023;36(1):56-59
【Objective】 In an effort to prevent transfusion-transmitted hepatitis B infection, universal HBsAg screening, HBsAg+ MP nucleic acid test(NAT) for HBV and HBsAg + individual(ID) NAT were analyzed for cost-effectiveness. 【Methods】 On the basis of screening data and the documented parameter, the number of window period infections, chronic infections and occult infections was constructed, and cost-benefit analysis was conducted. 【Results】 Of 132 208 donations, the yield rate of ID NAT for HBsAg-/DNA+ (0.11%) was significantly higher than HBsAg+ MP NAT(0.058%). Furthermore, the predicted preventing transfusion transmitted HBV cases by ID NAT is 1.25 times as that by MP-6 NAT, so did the benefits. The cost-benefit of the three screening models were 1∶63.6、1∶28.6 and 1∶53.4. 【Conclusion】 Universal HBsAg in combination with ID HBV NAT screening was the most effective among all screening strategy. It is necessary to applied HBsAg and ID HBV NAT screening for the safety of blood transfusion.
8.Retrospective Study of The Outcome of Primary Repair of Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) Aneurysm and Pseudoaneurysm in Secondary Hospital Setting (Kajian Retrospektif Pembaikian Primer Ateriovenous Fistula (AVF) Aneurisma dan Pseudoaneurisma di Hospital Sekunder)
Ong Xin Zen ; Ling Li Fan ; Philip Ding Hsin Loong ; Chong Kar Hon ; Goh Neng Xiang
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2023;21(No.1):9-14
Aneurysms and pseudoaneurysm are commonly encountered with arteriovenous vascular access for haemodialysis.
They are difficult complications to manage. Due to the limited number of vascular centers available, patients were
unable to seek treatment until further complications arise. The technique of partial aneurysmectomy and primary repair
was adopted as the method of repair in this study. A total of 20 cases underwent the surgery from 2019 to 2020. Among
the 20 cases, one patient had two pseudoaneurysms at different location which requires her to undergo the procedure
twice. The successful cannulation rate post repair was 70% whereas the overall complication rate was 35% which might
be attributed to the small sample size. Overall, this study demonstrated that AVF aneurysm and pseudoaneurysm can be
safely treated with this approach and can be done effectively in non-vascular centers by general surgeons.
9.COVID-19 clusters in Malaysia: characteristics, detection methods and modes of early transmission
Zen Yang Ang ; Nur Zahirah Balqis-Ali ; Anis-Syakira Jailani ; Yuke-Lin Kong ; Shakirah Md Sharif ; Weng Hong Fun
Western Pacific Surveillance and Response 2023;14(4):37-47
Objective: Effective prevention and control measures are essential to contain outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Understanding the characteristics of case clusters can contribute to determining which prevention and control measures are needed. This study describes the characteristics of COVID-19 case clusters in Malaysia, the method used to detect a cluster’s index case and the mode of early transmission, using the seven cluster categories applied in Malaysia.
Methods: This cross-sectional study collected publicly available data on COVID-19 clusters occurring in Malaysia from 1 March 2020 to 31 May 2021. The characteristics of cases were described by category, and their associations with several outcomes were analysed. Descriptive analyses were performed to explore the method used to detect the index case and the mode of early transmission, according to cluster category.
Results: A total of 2188 clusters were identified. The workplace cluster category had the largest proportion of clusters (51.5%, 1126/2188 clusters), while the custodial settings category had the largest median cluster size (178 cases per cluster) and longest median duration of cluster (51 days). The high-risk groups category had the highest mortality. There were significant differences in cluster size, duration and rate of detection across the categories. Targeted screening was most commonly used to detect index cases, especially in custodial settings, and in imported and workplace clusters. Household–social and social–workplace contacts were the most common modes of early transmission across most categories.
Discussion: Targeted screening might effectively reduce the size and duration of COVID-19 clusters. Measures to prevent and control COVID-19 outbreaks should be continually adjusted based on ongoing assessments of the unique context of each cluster.
10.SEARCHING FOR GREY LITERATURE FOR RAPID COMPILATION OF MALAYSIA’S HEALTH SYSTEMS RESPONSE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNT
Shakirah Md. Sharif ; Zen Yang Ang ; Weng Hong Fun ; Kit Yee Cheah ; Yuke Lin Kong ; Anis Syakira Jailani ; Nur Balqis Zahirah Ali ; Sondi Sararaks
Journal of University of Malaya Medical Centre 2023;26(2):81-88
Grey literature is a valuable source of information for evidence synthesis in public health, particularly when swift action is needed to address issues. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was an example where rapid knowledge sharing was quintessential as the world grappled with the management of a novel coronavirus that was spreading at an alarming rate. To document and contextualise the health systems strategies used to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia from January 2020 to April 2020, we conducted a rapid review of publicly available documents from WHO Global Research on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) (WHO database), official government websites and local newspapers. This paper aims to describe the methods and discuss the lessons learnt from the review. In the early stage of the pandemic, published articles in the WHO database focused on clinical knowledge, hence we relied on grey literature as a primary source of information, mainly official government websites, which provided real-time information relevant to our study. Grey literature can be a good source of information for a rapid review of nascent and urgent topics particularly in the area of public health, however, a trade-off between comprehensiveness and efficiency has to be considered.
Gray Literature


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