Dietary nutrient intake study among older adults: baseline Malaysian pure study.

INTRODUCTION: The older adults (OA) is vulnerable to malnutrition, which may affect their health and quality of life. This study assesses the prevalence of deficiencies in dietary nutrients among the Malaysian OA stratified by residency, genders, socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI). METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted, utilizing purposive sampling, recruiting 2,299 Malaysian people aged 60 years old and above who agreed to be interviewed via a comprehensive semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The nutrients intake was calculated based on the Malaysian food composition and US Department of Agriculture food composition databases. Then, the nutrients intake was compared with the Malaysian Recommended Nutrients Intake guidelines, and the prevalence of deficiencies in dietary nutrients were calculated. The median (interquartile ranges) intakes of nutrients were compared between residency (urban and rural), genders (male and female), and SES (low and middle-high) using the Mann-Whitney U test. The differences in nutrient intake between BMI categories (underweight, normal, and overweight) were identified using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's post hoc test. RESULTS: The response rate was 70.3% (n = 2,299), predominantly were females (50.8%), received primary education (76.6%), were currently married (84.3%), were middle-high SES (57.7%), and had a normal BMI (59.8%). There was a notable inadequate intake prevalence of magnesium (100.0%), manganese (97.9%), zinc (95.6%), vitamin B6 (98.4%), potassium (91.0%), calcium (89.3%), vitamin B12 (80.2%), vitamin E (91.2%), and vitamin K (81.5%) among Malaysian OA. Additionally, significant differences were observed in nutrients intake levels across gender, residency, SES, and BMI within this population. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a high prevalence of dietary nutrients deficiency (> 80%) among the Malaysian OA, particularly for magnesium, manganese, potassium, zinc, vitamin B6, vitamin E, calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin K. To improve the nutritional status of OA and safeguard against adverse health effects, it is necessary to formulate and execute strategies to enhance their dietary nutrient intakes. The strategies may involve intervention such as nutrient supplementation and promotion of consuming nutrient-rich foods.

Associations of Antibiotics, Hormonal Therapies, Oral Contraceptives, and Long-Term NSAIDS With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results From the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Several medications have been suspected to contribute to the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study assessed the association between medication use and the risk of developing IBD using the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology cohort. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 133,137 individuals between the ages of 20 and 80 from 24 countries. Country-specific validated questionnaires documented baseline and follow-up medication use. Participants were followed up prospectively at least every 3 years. The main outcome was the development of IBD, including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Short-term (baseline but not follow-up use) and long-term use (baseline and subsequent follow-up use) were evaluated. Results are presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CIs. RESULTS: During a median follow-up period of 11.0 years (interquartile range, 9.2-12.2 y), there were 571 incident IBD cases (143 CD and 428 UC). Incident IBD was associated significantly with baseline antibiotic (aOR, 2.81; 95% CI, 1.67-4.73; P = .0001) and hormonal medication use (aOR, 4.43; 95% CI, 1.78-11.01; P = .001). Among females, previous or current oral contraceptive use also was associated with IBD development (aOR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.70-2.77; P < .001). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug users also were observed to have increased odds of IBD (aOR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.23-2.64; P = .002), which was driven by long-term use (aOR, 5.58; 95% CI, 2.26-13.80; P < .001). All significant results were consistent in direction for CD and UC with low heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotics, hormonal medications, oral contraceptives, and long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use were associated with increased odds of incident IBD after adjustment for covariates.

Caregiver burden among informal caregivers in the largest specialized palliative care unit in Malaysia: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Informal caregivers (IC) are often overshadowed by the attention required by the terminally ill. This study aims to reveal the estimated proportion of caregiver burden, psychological manifestations and factors associated with caregiver burden among IC in the largest specialized Palliative Care Unit (PCU) in Malaysia. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving IC attending a PCU. Caregiver burden and psychological manifestations were measured using previously translated and validated Zarit Burden Interview and DASS-21 questionnaires respectively. Two hundred forty-nine samples were selected for analysis. RESULT: The mean ZBI score was 23.33 ± 13.7. About half of the population 118(47.4%) was found to experienced caregiver burden whereby majority have mild to moderate burden 90(36.1%). The most common psychological manifestation among IC is anxiety 74(29.7%) followed by depression 51(20.4%) and stress 46(18.5%). Multiple logistic regression demonstrated that women who are IC to patients with non-malignancy were less likely to experience caregiver burden. IC who were highly educated and spent more than 14 h per day caregiving were at least twice likely to experience caregiver burden. Finally, those with symptoms of depression and anxiety were three times more likely to suffer from caregiver burden. CONCLUSION: Caregiver burden among IC to palliative patients is prevalent in this population. IC who are men, educated, caregiving for patients with malignancy, long hours of caregiving and have symptoms of depression and anxiety are at risk of developing caregiver burden. Targeted screening should be implemented and IC well-being should be given more emphasis in local policies.

Multi-Faceted Intervention to Improve the Antibiotic Prescriptions among Doctors for Acute URI and Acute Diarrhoea Cases: The Green Zone Antibiotic Project.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial resistance is a global problem that is perpetuated by the inappropriate use of antibiotics among doctors. This study aims to assess the antibiotic prescription rate for patients with acute upper respiratory infection (URI) and acute diarrhoea. METHODS: A completed clinical audit cycle was conducted in 2018 in the busy emergency department of a public hospital in Malaysia. Pre- and post-intervention antibiotic prescription data were collected, and changes were implemented through a multifaceted intervention similar to Thailand's Antibiotics Smart Use programme. RESULTS: Data from a total of 1,334 pre-intervention and 1,196 post-intervention patients were collected from the hospital's electronic medical records. The mean (SD) age of participants was 19.88 (17.994) years. The pre-intervention antibiotic prescription rate was 11.2% for acute diarrhoea and 29.1% for acute URI, both of which are above the average national rates. These antibiotic prescription rates significantly reduced post-intervention to 6.2% and 13.7%, respectively, falling below national averages. Antibiotic prescription rate was highest for young children. There were no significant changes in rates of re-attendance or hospital admission following the intervention. CONCLUSION: The multifaceted intervention, which included continuing medical education, physician reminders and patient awareness, was effective in improving the antibiotic prescription rates for these two conditions.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, control and socio demographic determinants of hypertension in Malaysian adults.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is the leading cardiovascular risk factor globally as well as in Malaysia. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, awareness, treatment, control and the socio demographic determinants of hypertension among Malaysian adults. METHOD: The analytic sample consisted of 11,288 adults aged ≥ 30 years recruited at baseline in 2007-2011 from the REDISCOVER Study which is an ongoing, prospective cohort study involving 18 urban and 22 rural communities in Malaysia. Socio-demographics, anti-hypertensive treatment details and an average of at least two blood pressure measurements were obtained. RESULTS: The age-adjusted prevalence was 42.0 % (CI: 40.9-43.2) and was higher in men [43.5 % (CI: 41.2-45.0)] than women [41.0 % (CI: 39.8-42.3)]. Participants from rural areas (APR: 1.12, CI: 1.04-1.20); aged at least 40-49 years (APR: 1.86, CI: 1.62-2.14); who were overweight (APR: 1.24, CI: 1.15-1.34) and obese (APR: 1.54, CI: 1.43-1.6) were more likely to have hypertension. The Indigenous ethnic group was less likely to be aware (APR: 0.81, CI: 0.69-0.92) and to be on treatment (APR: 0.66, CI: 0.55-0.79). Those in rural areas were less likely to have their hypertension controlled (APR: 0.61, CI: 0.49-0.75). On the other hand, control was more likely in females (APR: 1.25, CI: 1.01-1.54) and Indigenous group (APR: 1.64, CI: 1.19-2.25). CONCLUSION: Hypertension is common in the Malaysian adults. The control of hypertension has increased over the years but is still quite low. Public health measures, as well as individual interventions in primary care are crucial to reduce their risk of developing complications.

Effectiveness of the EMPOWER-PAR Intervention in Improving Clinical Outcomes of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Care: A Pragmatic Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The chronic care model was proven effective in improving clinical outcomes of diabetes in developed countries. However, evidence in developing countries is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of EMPOWER-PAR intervention (based on the chronic care model) in improving clinical outcomes for type 2 diabetes mellitus using readily available resources in the Malaysian public primary care setting. METHODS: This was a pragmatic, cluster-randomised, parallel, matched pair, controlled trial using participatory action research approach, conducted in 10 public primary care clinics in Malaysia. Five clinics were randomly selected to provide the EMPOWER-PAR intervention for 1 year and another five clinics continued with usual care. Patients who fulfilled the criteria were recruited over a 2-week period by each clinic. The obligatory intervention components were designed based on four elements of the chronic care model i.e. healthcare organisation, delivery system design, self-management support and decision support. The primary outcome was the change in the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c < 6.5%. Secondary outcomes were the change in proportion of patients achieving targets for blood pressure, lipid profile, body mass index and waist circumference. Intention to treat analysis was performed for all outcome measures. A generalised estimating equation method was used to account for baseline differences and clustering effect. RESULTS: A total of 888 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were recruited at baseline (intervention: 471 vs. CONTROL: 417). At 1-year, 96.6 and 97.8% of patients in the intervention and control groups completed the study, respectively. The baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of both groups were comparable. The change in the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c target was significantly higher in the intervention compared to the control group (intervention: 3.0% vs. CONTROL: -4.1%, P < 0.002). Patients who received the EMPOWER-PAR intervention were twice more likely to achieve HbA1c target compared to those in the control group (adjusted OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.34-3.50, P < 0.002). However, there was no significant improvement found in the secondary outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the EMPOWER-PAR intervention was effective in improving the primary outcome for type 2 diabetes in the Malaysian public primary care setting. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered with: ClinicalTrials.gov.: NCT01545401 . Date of registration: 1st March 2012.

Study protocol of EMPOWER participatory action research (EMPOWER-PAR): a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial of multifaceted chronic disease management strategies to improve diabetes and hypertension outcomes in primary care.

BACKGROUND: Chronic disease management presents enormous challenges to the primary care workforce because of the rising epidemic of cardiovascular risk factors. The chronic care model was proven effective in improving chronic disease outcomes in developed countries, but there is little evidence of its effectiveness in developing countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMPOWER-PAR intervention (multifaceted chronic disease management strategies based on the chronic care model) in improving outcomes for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension using readily available resources in the Malaysian public primary care setting. This paper presents the study protocol. METHODS/DESIGN: A pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial using participatory action research is underway in 10 public primary care clinics in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Five clinics were randomly selected to provide the EMPOWER-PAR intervention for 1 year and another five clinics continued with usual care. Each clinic consecutively recruits type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension patients fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria over a 2-week period. The EMPOWER-PAR intervention consists of creating/strengthening a multidisciplinary chronic disease management team, training the team to use the Global Cardiovascular Risks Self-Management Booklet to support patient care and reinforcing the use of relevant clinical practice guidelines for management and prescribing. For type 2 diabetes mellitus, the primary outcome is the change in the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c < 6.5%. For hypertension without type 2 diabetes mellitus, the primary outcome is the change in the proportion of patients achieving blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of patients achieving targets for serum lipid profile, body mass index and waist circumference. Other outcome measures include medication adherence levels, process of care and prescribing patterns. Patients' assessment of their chronic disease care and providers' perceptions, attitudes and perceived barriers in care delivery and cost-effectiveness of the intervention are also evaluated. DISCUSSION: Results from this study will provide objective evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention based on the chronic care model in resource-constrained public primary care settings. The evidence should instigate crucial primary care system change in Malaysia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01545401.

Knowledge, Attitude and Factors associated with Self-efficacy in Screening and Treatment of Hepatitis C among Primary Care Doctors in Selangor.

Introduction: Primary care doctors (PCDs) play an increasingly important role in the management of hepatitis C. It is essential for PCDs to have good self-efficacy in screening and treating hepatitis C to achieve good outcomes. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and attitude towards and other factors associated with self-efficacy in screening and treating hepatitis C. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using an online Google Form. PCDs working at primary healthcare clinics were selected via simple random sampling. The online form contained items on sociodemographic and practice characteristics and a validated questionnaire on knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy towards screening and treating hepatitis C. Data were statistically analysed. Results: A total of 242 PCDs were included in the analysis. The median age was 35 years (interquartile range [IQR]=5). The majority of the PCDs were women (83.9%) and Malay (71.9%) and had a median working experience of 6 years (IQR=6). The mean self-efficacy score was 12.67 (standard deviation=3.38). The factors associated with a higher level of self-efficacy in screening and treating hepatitis C were postgraduate qualification, training within the last one year, better knowledge and attitude scores and prior experience in treating hepatitis C. Conclusion: The identified factors are crucial in improving the self-efficacy among PCDs in hepatitis C care services. Policymakers are suggested to implement training programmes and encourage continuous medical education, exposure to patient management and postgraduate certification in family medicine to help PCDs in treating hepatitis C better.

Exploring Spiritual and Religious Coping Among PLHIV in a Malaysian Muslim Community: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: Increase in life expectancy of PLHIV has brought new challenges especially for young Malay Muslim men who have sex with men (MSM) in Malaysia. This country has strong religious and cultural roots that may pose as additional stigma and discrimination in the lives of PLHIV. Therefore, coping skills among PLHIV is important. Theories on coping strategies has shown that spiritual and religion are one aspect of emotional focused coping. The aim of this study is to explore the views on spiritual and religious (S/R) coping among Malay Muslim MSMs. Patients and Methods: This was a qualitative study using in-depth interview. Eligible participants were recruited using purposive and snowballing sampling techniques via NGOs and online flyers. The narrative inquiry approach was used to understand the lived experiences of PLHIV and their coping strategies, particularly using S/R coping. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Miner. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Interviews with seven participants yielded four themes. Ambivalence towards religion was experienced by participants at some point following their diagnosis. Using S/R as a form of self-reflection was identified. Having positive religious support from family or NGOs helped some participants to embrace religious coping rather than to avoid it, and relationship with God was an important aspect of religious coping. Conclusion: Spirituality and religiosity can be a form of positive coping for PLHIV. This study suggests the need for S/R guidance as well as positive support from healthcare professionals and religious-based organizations for PLHIV. This can have positive effects towards handling of the condition, adherence to treatment and health outcomes.

Physical Activity in Malaysia: Are We Doing Enough? Findings from the REDISCOVER Study.

Physical activity (PA) in the form of structured or unstructured exercise is beneficial for health. This paper aims to study PA levels across four domains according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and its associated factors. A total of 7479 Malaysian adult participants between 18 to 90 years old from the REDISCOVER study who completed the IPAQ were analyzed. PA was calculated as MET-min per week and were categorized according to insufficiently active, sufficiently active and very active. Multinomial regression was used to determine the association between sociodemographic, clinical factors and the level of PA. The mean age of the participants was 51.68 (±9.5 SD). The total reported physical activity in median (IQR) was 1584.0 (0-5637.3) MET-min per week. The highest total for PA was in the domestic domain which is 490 (0-2400) MET-min per week. Factors associated with sufficiently active or very active PA include Malay ethnicity, no formal education, elementary occupation, current smokers and high HDL. Whereas low income, male and normal BMI are less likely to participate in sufficiently active or very active PA. Intervention to encourage higher PA levels in all domains is important to achieve recommended PA targets.

Prevalence, determinants and outcomes of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use for hypertension among low-income households in Malaysia and the Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) is used to treat a broad range of conditions. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), TCAM use is particularly common among those with low socio-economic status. To better understand the patterns and impact of TCAM use on the management of non-communicable diseases in these populations, this study examines the prevalence and characteristics of TCAM use for hypertension, its determinants, and its association with hypertension management outcomes and wellbeing among low-income adults in two Southeast Asian countries at different levels of economic and health system development, Malaysia and the Philippines. METHODS: We analysed cross-sectional data from 946 randomly selected adults diagnosed with hypertension from low-income rural and urban communities in Malaysia (n = 495) and the Philippines (n = 451). We compared the prevalence, characteristics and household expenditure on TCAM use between countries and used multi-level, mixed-effects regression to estimate associations between TCAM use and its determinants, and five hypertension management outcomes and wellbeing. RESULTS: The prevalence of TCAM use to manage hypertension was higher in the Philippines than in Malaysia (18.8% vs 8.8%, p < 0.001). Biologically-based modalities, e.g. herbal remedies, were the most common type of TCAM used in both countries, mainly as a complement, rather than an alternative to conventional treatment. Households allocated around 10% of health spending to TCAM in both countries. Belief that TCAM is effective for hypertension was a positive predictor of TCAM use, while belief in conventional medicine was a negative predictor. TCAM use was not strongly associated with current use of medications for hypertension, self-reported medication adherence, blood pressure level and control, or wellbeing in either country. CONCLUSIONS: A small, but significant, proportion of individuals living in low-income communities in Malaysia and the Philippines use TCAM to manage their hypertension, despite a general lack of evidence on efficacy and safety of commonly used TCAM modalities. Recognising that their patients may be using TCAM to manage hypertension will enable health care providers to deliver safer, more patient-centred care.

Avascular Necrosis of the Hip in Primary Care.

Avascular necrosis, or osteonecrosis of the femoral head, is a debilitating condition which leads to the destruction of the hip joint due to an interruption in the blood supply to the bony region and is most commonly due to trauma. The case discussed here has been highlighted as it presented as non-traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head with an absence of risk factors in a healthy adult male. A 37-year-old male presented with a 4-month history of recurrent left hip pain, which worsened with initiation of movement and weightbearing on the affected side. The patient was overweight but normotensive with a full range of movement of the hips bilaterally. There were no abnormalities detected on initial X-ray images of the left hip. However, due to the persistent pain and sclerotic changes in a subsequent X-ray, a magnetic resonance image of the bilateral hips was obtained, leading to the diagnosis of osteonecrosis of the bilateral femoral heads. Due to the lack of improvement with physiotherapy and analgesia, the patient was subjected to conservative surgery of the symptomatic left hip with concurring evidence of avascular necrosis based on intraoperative anatomical biopsy. This case emphasizes the importance of identifying underlying issues during history taking and physical examination in adults without risk factors. The early diagnosis of osteonecrosis assists in preventing joint collapse and can delay the requirement of joint replacements. High levels of suspicion are necessary to instigate investigation in persistent cases without the presence of risk factors.

Polycythaemia Vera JAK 2 Mutation in a Patient with Underlying Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease at a Primary Care Setting.

The presence of erythrocytosis along with the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may veer a primary care clinician in a busy clinic towards attributing the erythrocytosis to hypoxia secondary to COPD; however, this is not always the case. This case highlights the importance of investigation and the significance not excluding a primary cause in COPD patients with erythrocytosis. A 57-year-old male, presenting with chronic cough, was subsequently diagnosed with COPD clinically and confirmed by spirometry. Erythrocytosis was also incidentally noted. The patient did not have any symptoms of polycythemia or hepatosplenomegaly. Therefore, the erythrocytosis was initially thought to be caused by hypoxia secondary to COPD. However, the JAK2 V617F gene mutation was detected and hence the diagnosis of polycythemia vera was made. Although the erythrocytosis was initially attributed secondary to the underlying pulmonary disease, investigations proved it to be primary in origin. This case report highlights the importance of investigating the underlying cause and to confirm the diagnosis of erythrocytosis as primary and secondary polycythemia differ in their management approach. This will avoid inappropriate diagnosis, treatment, and undesirable outcomes.

Health Literacy, Knowledge on Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear and Its Influence on Pre-Marital Malay Muslim Women Attitude towards Pap Smear.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is preventable. In Malaysia, women are found to have good awareness of the disease and yet, the Pap smear uptake is still poor. Measuring health literacy level could explain this discrepancy. This study aims to determine the relationship between health literacy, level of knowledge of cervical cancer and Pap smear with attitude towards Pap smear among women attending pre-marital course. METHODS: A cross sectional study was performed in three randomly selected centres that organised pre-marital courses. All Malay Muslim women participants aged 18 to 40 years old were recruited while non-Malaysian, illiterate, and had hysterectomy were excluded. Validated self-administered questionnaires used were European Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q16 Malay) and Knowledge and attitude towards Cervical Cancer and Pap Smear Questionnaire. The mean percentage score (mean± SD) was calculated, with higher scores showed better outcomes. Multiple linear regression was used to measure the relationship of independent variables with attitude towards Pap smear. RESULTS: A total of 417 participants were recruited with a mean age of 24.9 ± 3.56 years old. Prevalence of awareness of cervical cancer was 91.6% (n=382, 95% CI: 89.0%, 94.2%) and mean percentage score was 74.7%±7.6. Prevalence of awareness of Pap smear was 59.0% (n=246, 95% CI: 54.2%, 63.8%) and mean percentage score was 80.2% ± 6.5. The health literacy mean score was 13.3±3.6, with minimum score 0 and maximum score 16. The mean percentage score of attitudes towards Pap smear was 64.8%±9.3. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated significant relationship between health literacy (p=0.047) and knowledge of Pap smear (p<0.001) with attitude towards Pap smear. CONCLUSION: A higher health literacy with high knowledge of Pap smear improves the attitude towards Pap smear. Pre-marital course is an opportunistic platform to disseminate information to improve health literacy and knowledge of cervical cancer and Pap smear screening.

Socio-demographic determinants of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in migrant workers of Peninsular Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: The number of migrants working in Malaysia has increased sharply since the 1970's and there is concern that infectious diseases endemic in other (e.g. neighbouring) countries may be inadvertently imported. Compulsory medical screening prior to entering the workforce does not include parasitic infections such as toxoplasmosis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection among migrant workers in Peninsular Malaysia by means of serosurveys conducted on a voluntary basis among low-skilled and semi-skilled workers from five working sectors, namely, manufacturing, food service, agriculture and plantation, construction and domestic work. METHODS: A total of 484 migrant workers originating from rural locations in neighbouring countries, namely, Indonesia (n = 247, 51.0%), Nepal (n = 99, 20.5%), Bangladesh (n = 72, 14.9%), India (n = 52, 10.7%) and Myanmar (n = 14, 2.9%) were included in this study. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 57.4% (n = 278; 95% CI: 52.7-61.8%) with 52.9% (n = 256; 95% CI: 48.4-57.2%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG only, 0.8% (n = 4; 95% CI: 0.2-1.7%) seropositive for anti-Toxoplasma IgM only and 3.7% (n = 18; 95% CI: 2.1-5.4%) seropositive with both IgG and IgM antibodies. All positive samples with both IgG and IgM antibodies showed high avidity (> 40%), suggesting latent infection. Age (being older than 45 years), Nepalese nationality, manufacturing occupation, and being a newcomer in Malaysia (excepting domestic work) were positively and statistically significantly associated with seroprevalence (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that better promotion of knowledge about parasite transmission is required for both migrant workers and permanent residents in Malaysia. Efforts should be made to encourage improved personal hygiene before consumption of food and fluids, thorough cooking of meat and better disposal of feline excreta from domestic pets.

Migrant Workers in Malaysia: Current Implications of Sociodemographic and Environmental Characteristics in the Transmission of Intestinal Parasitic Infections.

A cross-sectional study of intestinal parasitic infections amongst migrant workers in Malaysia was conducted. A total of 388 workers were recruited from five sectors including manufacturing, construction, plantation, domestic and food services. The majority were recruited from Indonesia (n = 167, 43.3%), followed by Nepal (n = 81, 20.9%), Bangladesh (n = 70, 18%), India (n = 47, 12.1%) and Myanmar (n = 23, 5.9.2%). A total of four nematode species (Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Enterobius vermicularis and hookworms), one cestode (Hymenolepis nana) and three protozoan species (Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia sp. and Cryptosporidium spp.) were identified. High prevalence of infections with A. lumbricoides (43.3%) was recorded followed by hookworms (13.1%), E. histolytica/dispar (11.6%), Giardia sp. (10.8%), T. trichura (9.5%), Cryptosporodium spp. (3.1%), H. nana (1.8%) and E. vermicularis (0.5%). Infections were significantly influenced by socio-demographic (nationality), and environmental characteristics (length of working years in the country, employment sector and educational level). Up to 84.0% of migrant workers from Nepal and 83.0% from India were infected with intestinal parasites, with the ascarid nematode A. lumbricoides occurring in 72.8% of the Nepalese and 68.1% of the Indian population. In addition, workers with an employment history of less than a year or newly arrived in Malaysia were most likely to show high levels of infection as prevalence of workers infected with A. lumbricoides was reduced from 58.2% to 35.4% following a year's residence. These findings suggest that improvement is warranted in public health and should include mandatory medical screening upon entry into the country.

Availability, affordability, and consumption of fruits and vegetables in 18 countries across income levels: findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study.

BACKGROUND: Several international guidelines recommend the consumption of two servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables per day, but their intake is thought to be low worldwide. We aimed to determine the extent to which such low intake is related to availability and affordability. METHODS: We assessed fruit and vegetable consumption using data from country-specific, validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study, which enrolled participants from communities in 18 countries between Jan 1, 2003, and Dec 31, 2013. We documented household income data from participants in these communities; we also recorded the diversity and non-sale prices of fruits and vegetables from grocery stores and market places between Jan 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2013. We determined the cost of fruits and vegetables relative to income per household member. Linear random effects models, adjusting for the clustering of households within communities, were used to assess mean fruit and vegetable intake by their relative cost. FINDINGS: Of 143 305 participants who reported plausible energy intake in the food frequency questionnaire, mean fruit and vegetable intake was 3·76 servings (95% CI 3·66-3·86) per day. Mean daily consumption was 2·14 servings (1·93-2·36) in low-income countries (LICs), 3·17 servings (2·99-3·35) in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs), 4·31 servings (4·09-4·53) in upper-middle-income countries (UMICs), and 5·42 servings (5·13-5·71) in high-income countries (HICs). In 130 402 participants who had household income data available, the cost of two servings of fruits and three servings of vegetables per day per individual accounted for 51·97% (95% CI 46·06-57·88) of household income in LICs, 18·10% (14·53-21·68) in LMICs, 15·87% (11·51-20·23) in UMICs, and 1·85% (-3·90 to 7·59) in HICs (ptrend=0·0001). In all regions, a higher percentage of income to meet the guidelines was required in rural areas than in urban areas (p<0·0001 for each pairwise comparison). Fruit and vegetable consumption among individuals decreased as the relative cost increased (ptrend=0·00040). INTERPRETATION: The consumption of fruit and vegetables is low worldwide, particularly in LICs, and this is associated with low affordability. Policies worldwide should enhance the availability and affordability of fruits and vegetables. FUNDING: Population Health Research Institute, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, AstraZeneca (Canada), Sanofi-Aventis (France and Canada), Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany and Canada), Servier, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, King Pharma, and national or local organisations in participating countries.

Are medical students confident in taking a sexual history? An assessment on attitude and skills from an upper middle income country.

BACKGROUND: Sexual history training during undergraduate education is essential for preparing future doctors to handle patients' sexual health concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes and perceptions of final-year medical students in Malaysia toward sexual history taking and the training they receive from their medical schools. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional survey of 379 final-year medical students from three medical schools in Malaysia. Students were asked to rate their attitudes and perceptions regarding training on taking sexual histories using a newly developed questionnaire with good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.73). Ethics approval was obtained from the relevant medical schools, and the statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, Version 20.0. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 23.58 ± 0.65 SD. Participants reported high interest in sexual health and felt it was important for doctors to know how to take a sexual history (95%). Among the participants, only half felt comfortable in taking sexual histories from patients. The participants identified cultural and religious differences between the doctor and the patient as a potential barrier for discussing sexual health. Participants were aware of their own practice and ability, as well as their limitations, in taking sexual histories. Less than half (46%) felt that the training they received adequately prepared them to take sexual histories. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified gaps in sexual health training among medical schools in Malaysia. The delivery of sexual health education program should incorporate confidence building and to make students feel comfortable to take sexual histories from patients. The barrier caused by differences in culture or religion between a doctor and a patient may be overcome through cross cultural and cultural competency training. This is important for multi-faith, multi cultural societies such as Malaysia and other similar countries.

JIS definition identified more Malaysian adults with metabolic syndrome compared to the NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a steering force for the cardiovascular diseases epidemic in Asia. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of MetS in Malaysian adults using NCEP-ATP III, IDF, and JIS definitions, identify the demographic factors associated with MetS, and determine the level of agreement between these definitions. The analytic sample consisted of 8,836 adults aged ≥30 years recruited at baseline in 2007-2011 from the Cardiovascular Risk Prevention Study (CRisPS), an ongoing, prospective cohort study involving 18 urban and 22 rural communities in Malaysia. JIS definition gave the highest overall prevalence (43.4%) compared to NCEP-ATP III (26.5%) and IDF (37.4%), P < 0.001. Indians had significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence compared to other ethnic groups across all MetS definitions (30.1% by NCEP-ATP III, 50.8% by IDF, and 56.5% by JIS). The likelihood of having MetS amongst the rural and urban populations was similar across all definitions. A high level of agreement between the IDF and JIS was observed (Kappa index = 0.867), while there was a lower level of agreement between the IDF and NCEP-ATP III (Kappa index = 0.580). JIS definition identified more Malaysian adults with MetS and therefore should be recommended as the preferred diagnostic criterion.