Nor Zainal - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Nor Zainal
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Depression is a leading cause of global disease burden and is one of the largest contributors to ... more Depression is a leading cause of global disease burden and is one of the largest contributors to non-fatal health loss and worldwide disability (Friedrich, 2017). It is especially prevalent in individuals with chronic diseases such as cancer and is often associated with aggravated existing pain, lower quality of life, reduced treatment success (
Healthcare
Self-care education can direct patients to manage their side effects during treatment, reduce psy... more Self-care education can direct patients to manage their side effects during treatment, reduce psychological distress, and improve self-care information. In this study, the effectiveness of the Self-Care Education Intervention Program (SCEIP) on patient activation levels, psychological distress, and treatment-related concerns in women with breast cancer was assessed by adopting a longitudinal quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design. The data for 246 women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy were collected. Pre- and post-interventional assessments were conducted at baseline (T1) and the second (T2), fourth (T3), and sixth (T4) cycles using the 13-item Patient Activation Measure, 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and 25-item Cancer Treatment Survey. It was found that the SCEIP significantly improved the activation level (p ≤ 0.001), psychological distress (anxiety level (p ≤ 0.001), the depression level (p ≤ 0.001)), and treatment-related concerns ...
The Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020
A case is presented of a middle-aged lady whose initial presentation was pseudocyesis, which was ... more A case is presented of a middle-aged lady whose initial presentation was pseudocyesis, which was terminated by delusional miscarriages. The belief of pseudocyesis was initiated by amenorrhea and abdominal distention, which could be caused by bilateral ovarian carcinoma, with consequent peritoneal infiltration and hence ascites, fueled by patient’s thought disorder. This case supported the somatopsychic and psychosomatic hypothesis of pseudocyesis, in an already predisposed individual with psychodynamic difficulties. Clinicians should consider a delusional miscarriage state following pseudocyesis, recognizing the possible physiologic and psychological etiologies. Please click PDF below to download the full paper...
Neuroscience Research Notes, 2018
Genetic hereditary has been implicated in bipolar disorder pathogenesis. The PDLIM5 and HTR2A gen... more Genetic hereditary has been implicated in bipolar disorder pathogenesis. The PDLIM5 and HTR2A genes have been investigated for its association with bipolar disorder in various populations, however, the results have been conflicting. In this study, we investigate the association between bipolar disorder and the two genes of interest, PDLIM5 and HTR2A genes. We recruited 253 bipolar disorder patients (75 Malays, 104 Chinese, and 74 Indians) and 505 control individuals (198 Malays, 155 Chinese, and 152 Indians) from three ethnic groups within Malaysian population. We genotyped for 3 SNPs of the PDLIM5 (rs2433320, rs2433322 and rs2438146) and 3 SNPs of the HTR2A (rs6313, rs2070040 and rs6311). Significant associations between bipolar disorder and each of the 3 SNPs of PDLIM5 in Malays, Indians and pooled samples. However, only rs2438146 remains significant in the Malays as co-dominant (T/T vs. C/C, p=0.004, OR=0.128, 95%CI=0.031-0.524) and recessive genetic models (T/T vs. C/T+C/C, p=0....
Nurse education in practice, Jan 17, 2018
The use of physical restraint exposes patients and staff to negative effects, including death. Th... more The use of physical restraint exposes patients and staff to negative effects, including death. Therefore, teaching nursing staff to develop the improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding physical restraint has become necessary. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used to evaluate the effect of educational intervention on nurses' knowledge, attitude, intention, practice and incidence rate of physical restraint in 12 wards of a hospital using a self-reported questionnaire and a restraint order form in Malaysia. The educational intervention, which included a one-day session on minimising physical restraint use in hospital, was presented to 245 nurses. The results showed a significant increase in the mean knowledge, attitude sand practice score and a significant decrease in the mean intention score of nurses to use physical restraint after intervention. There was a statistically significant decrease in the incidence rate of physical restraint use in the wards of the hos...
Pharmacogenomics, 2014
Aim: The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in schizophrenia patients receiving long-term anti... more Aim: The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in schizophrenia patients receiving long-term antipsychotics (APs) contributes to their high mortality rate. We aimed to determine whether genetic polymorphisms of identified candidate genes are associated with MS in our study population. Materials & methods: We recruited 206 schizophrenia patients receiving AP treatment for at least a year. Cross-sectional measurements of weight, height, blood pressure, waist and hip circumference, and other lipid profiles were recorded. Patient DNA was genotyped for 16 candidate gene polymorphisms. Results: Of these patients, 59.7% were found to have MS while 40.3% did not. All metabolic parameters were significantly different between the two groups. Only three of the 16 polymorphisms studied showed significant association with MS; rs9939609 of the FTO gene confers risk for MS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.07–2.78, p = 0.026), while rs1137101 of the LEPR gene (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28–0.80, p = 0.00...
Neurol J Southeast …, 2002
Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in Malaysia, a... more Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in Malaysia, and to determine the associated factors. Methods: The study subjects consisted of consecutive stroke admissions to the University Malaya Medical Centre between April to August, 2000 who were aged 18 years above. The patients were assessed 4 to 8 weeks after stroke. Major depression was determined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM IV) criteria, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and functional disability was determined using Modified Rankin Scale. Site of stroke was determined from CT brain scans and clinically. Results: The prevalence of major depression was 36% based on DSM IV criteria. Major depression was associated with left hemisphere brain lesion (p=0.03), significant physical disability with Modified Rankin Scale >2 (p=0.004) and previous history of depression (p=0.04). Conclusions: Major depression is common 4-8 weeks after stroke among Malaysian patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in University Malaya Medical Centre and to investigate the associated factors. METHODS This prospective study was carried out in the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. All consecutive stroke admissions between April to August 2000 who are 18 years old and above were included in the study. The diagnosis of stroke was according to the World Health Organization MONICA Project 13 and The Stroke Data Bank, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders. 14 Stroke was defined as rapidly developed clinical signs of focal or global disturbance of cerebral functions, lasting more than 24 hours or until death, with no apparent non-vascular cause. Subarachnoid hemorrhage and vetebrobasilar strokes were excluded. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is managed differently, has a different prognosis, and is often excluded from medical studies of stroke. 2,15 Similarly, vetebrobasilar stroke have different mortality rates and prognosis compared to hemispheric stroke. 2,16 Limiting the cases to hemispheric stroke is similar to other studies. 2,17 Patients with global aphasia or had severe comprehension deficits were excluded. Data on
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Breast cancer is a major public health issue. Women are most likely to develop the disease, which... more Breast cancer is a major public health issue. Women are most likely to develop the disease, which accounts for 24.2% of the total cancer incidence worldwide (Bray et al., 2018). In addition, 15% of all cancer deaths are caused by breast cancer (Bray et al., 2018). Several studies have shown that breast cancer incidence and mortality differ greatly among different countries, with high-income countries exhibiting a higher incidence and developing countries exhibiting a higher mortality rate (
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Introduction: Diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with the presence of psychological disorde... more Introduction: Diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with the presence of psychological disorders including depression. There is a lack of study examining the prevalence of depression among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Kazakhstan. Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated sociodemographic and clinical factors of depression symptoms in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: 162 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at the oncology center in Almaty were recruited for this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic and clinical information and the Beck Depression Inventory-II scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.41 years (SD=8.1). 95% of participants had unilateral breast cancer, and 79% of participants had stage I or stage II breast cancer. 73% of patients said that they do not have reliable social support. 46% of patients had symptoms of moderate depression, and 31% of patients had symptoms of severe depression. According to the multivariate analysis, factors associated with depression symptoms were: social status, household income level, reliability of social support, and stage of breast cancer. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression symptoms is very high among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Unemployed or retired patients, with a lower household income, and no reliable social support diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer are especially at high risk for developing depression.
European Journal of Cancer, 2020
La prévalence des symptômes de dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein en sta... more La prévalence des symptômes de dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein en stade avancé : revue systématique et méta-analyse Introduction. La dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein avancé est une comorbidité grave qui affecte la qualité de vie des patientes et leur taux de survie. Objectif. Cette étude vise à examiner systématiquement la littérature actuelle avec des données sur la prévalence des symptômes de dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein métastatique et récurrent, à examiner la prévalence moyenne combinée des symptômes de dépression et les sources potentielles d'hétérogénéité. Méthodes. Une revue systématique approfondie des bases de données PubMed,
Healthcare, 2022
The psychological distress reported among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) is concerning. Litt... more The psychological distress reported among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) is concerning. Little is known about the mental health of non-frontline, psychiatric HCWs, who play a central role in handling the mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among psychiatric HCWs and evaluate its association with socio-demographic, socio-economic, work-related factors and coping strategies. The authors proposed a cross-sectional study design using the Hospital Anxiety and Depressive Scale (HADS) and Brief-COPE scale. This study found that the prevalence of anxiety and depression were 22.0% and 16.8%, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that married psychiatric HCWs had a lower level of anxiety with OR = 0.31 (95% CI: 0.11–0.83). Psychiatric HCWs who were experiencing financial hardships, were unvaccinated and those who had a shorter duration of service in the psychiatric department had a higher level o...
International Psychiatry
The importance of traditional healing in low- and middle-income countries cannot be under estimat... more The importance of traditional healing in low- and middle-income countries cannot be under estimated. It is generally perceived as part of the prevailing belief system and traditional healers are often seen as the primary agents for psychosocial problems in these countries; estimates of their service share range from 45% to 60% (World Health Organization, 1992). The World Health Organization (2000) estimated that 80% of people living in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries depend on traditional medicine for their health needs.
International Psychiatry
Understanding the way in which people seek care for mental disorders is important for planning se... more Understanding the way in which people seek care for mental disorders is important for planning services, training and referral mechanisms. Pathways to care fall broadly into three categories: via primary care physicians; via native healers; and via patient choice (patients can have direct access to mental health professionals). The pattern and nature of access to service in low-income countries are different from those in high-income countries. In many societies, deep-seated cultural beliefs on the part of patients and families about the causes of mental disorders are a major barrier to the receipt of modern psychiatric care.
Current opinion in psychiatry, Sep 1, 2018
To understand the current situation, needs and challenges in the area of postgraduate training in... more To understand the current situation, needs and challenges in the area of postgraduate training in psychiatry in Asia and identify implementable solutions.Leaders in psychiatric education from nine Asia Pacific countries prepared country reports, based on a suggested list of items and met for a day to discuss and identify implementable solutions to improve the current unsatisfactory status of postgraduate training in psychiatry. Except Japan, all the other countries have a very low number of psychiatrists per 100 000 population - far lower than the global target of 10 psychiatrist per 100 000 population. The undergraduate teaching in psychiatry in majority of the countries is restricted to 20 h of lectures given during the 4-6 semester and 2-3 weeks of clinical ward placements. The duration as well as the overall quality of postgraduate training and methods of assessment and accreditation varies widely across and within countries. Numerous gaps that need to be addressed to enhance th...
Journal of affective disorders, May 1, 2018
Several studies have described the presence of perceived cognitive dysfunction amongst Asian pati... more Several studies have described the presence of perceived cognitive dysfunction amongst Asian patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). To date, no study has been conducted investigating the predictors of perceived cognitive dysfunction amongst Asian MDD patients. This was a post-hoc analysis of the Cognitive Dysfunction in Asian patients with Depression (CogDAD) study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the most common cognitive complaints by patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine variables associated with perceived cognitive dysfunction (Perceived Deficit Questionnaire-Depression, PDQ-D). The CogDAD study population is comprised of MDD patients with mild-to-moderate depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item [PHQ-9]: 11.3 ± 6.9) who reported perceived cognitive dysfunction (PDQ-D = 22.6 ± 16.2). The most common cognitive complaints were: mind drifting (42.3%), trouble making decision (39.6%) and trouble concentrating (38.0%). ...
Current drug targets, Jan 26, 2018
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2017
To investigate the knowledge, attitude, intention and practice of nurses towards physical restrai... more To investigate the knowledge, attitude, intention and practice of nurses towards physical restraint and factors influencing these variables. A literature review showed a lack of studies focused on the intention of nurses regarding physical restraint throughout the world. Considering that very little research on physical restraint use has been carried out in Malaysia, assessment of nurses' knowledge, attitude, intention and practice is necessary before developing a minimising programme in hospitals. A cross-sectional study was used. A questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitude, intention and practice was completed by all nurses (n = 309) in twelve wards of a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Moderate knowledge and attitude with strong intention to use physical restraint were found among the nurses. Less than half of nurses considered alternatives to physical restraint and most of them did not understand the reasons for the physical restraint. Nurses' academic qualification, read any information source during past year and nurses' work unit showed a significant association with nurses' knowledge. Multiple linear regression analysis found knowledge, attitude and intention were significantly associated with nurses' practice to use physical restraint. This study showed some important misunderstandings of nurses about using physical restraint and strong intention regarding using physical restraint. Findings of this study serve as a supporting reason for importance of educating nurses about the use of physical restraint. Exploring the knowledge, attitude, intention and current practice of nurses towards physical restraint is important so that an effective strategy can be formulated to minimise the use of physical restraints in hospitals.
PloS one, 2017
Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a bro... more Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a broad construct encompass both depression and anxiety. Previous studies in examining which of these psychological symptoms (either anxiety or depression) were more significantly associated with the distress level in breast cancer patients is lacking. This study aims to compare the level of depression and anxiety between patients with different level of distress. The correlation between the changes in distress level with depression or anxiety over 12 months was also examined. This study is from the MyBCC cohort study. Two hundred and twenty one female breast cancer patients were included into the study. They were assessed at the time of diagnosis, 6 months and 12 month using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and distress thermometer. The information on age, ethnicity, treatment types and staging of cancer were collected. 50.2%, 51.6% and 40.3% of patients had perceived high level ...
The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2016
Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their... more Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their psychological distress. The benefit of psychotherapies was documented, but the types of psychotherapies proposed are varied. Given that the previous literature review was a decade ago and no quantitative analysis was done on this topic, we again critically and systematically reviewed all published trials on psychotherapy in cancer patients. Method We identified 17 clinical trials on six types of psychotherapy for cancer patients by searching PubMed and EMBASE. Result There were four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy which were included in quantitative analysis. Each trial demonstrated that psychotherapy improved the quality of life and coping in cancer patients. There was also a reduction in distress, anxiety, and depression after a psychological intervention. However, the number and quality of clinical trials for each type of psychotherapy were poor. The meta-analysis of the four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy showed no significant change in depression, with only significant short-term improvement in anxiety but not up to a year-the standardized mean differences were -0.37 (95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.57, -0.16) at 2 months, -0.21 (95% CI = -0.42, -0.01) at 4 months, and 0.03 (95 % CI = -0.19, 0.24) at 12 months. Conclusion The evidence on the efficacy of psychotherapy in cancer patients is unsatisfactory. There is a need for more rigorous and well-designed clinical trials on this topic.
Clinical nursing research, Jan 16, 2016
Incidence rate and patterns of physical restraint use were examined based on a cross-sectional st... more Incidence rate and patterns of physical restraint use were examined based on a cross-sectional study in 22 wards of a large teaching hospital in Malaysia. Results indicated that the highest rate of physical restraint (19.7%) was reported from neurology-neurosurgery wards. "Un-cooperative for electroconvulsive therapy" and "trying to pull out catheters" were the most commonly reported reasons to use restraint in psychiatric and non-psychiatric wards, respectively. There were some relationships between patterns of physical restraint in this study. Exploring the incidence rate and patterns of physical restraint is important so that effective strategies can be formulated to minimize using restraint in hospitals.
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Depression is a leading cause of global disease burden and is one of the largest contributors to ... more Depression is a leading cause of global disease burden and is one of the largest contributors to non-fatal health loss and worldwide disability (Friedrich, 2017). It is especially prevalent in individuals with chronic diseases such as cancer and is often associated with aggravated existing pain, lower quality of life, reduced treatment success (
Healthcare
Self-care education can direct patients to manage their side effects during treatment, reduce psy... more Self-care education can direct patients to manage their side effects during treatment, reduce psychological distress, and improve self-care information. In this study, the effectiveness of the Self-Care Education Intervention Program (SCEIP) on patient activation levels, psychological distress, and treatment-related concerns in women with breast cancer was assessed by adopting a longitudinal quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test design. The data for 246 women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy were collected. Pre- and post-interventional assessments were conducted at baseline (T1) and the second (T2), fourth (T3), and sixth (T4) cycles using the 13-item Patient Activation Measure, 14-item Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and 25-item Cancer Treatment Survey. It was found that the SCEIP significantly improved the activation level (p ≤ 0.001), psychological distress (anxiety level (p ≤ 0.001), the depression level (p ≤ 0.001)), and treatment-related concerns ...
The Malaysian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020
A case is presented of a middle-aged lady whose initial presentation was pseudocyesis, which was ... more A case is presented of a middle-aged lady whose initial presentation was pseudocyesis, which was terminated by delusional miscarriages. The belief of pseudocyesis was initiated by amenorrhea and abdominal distention, which could be caused by bilateral ovarian carcinoma, with consequent peritoneal infiltration and hence ascites, fueled by patient’s thought disorder. This case supported the somatopsychic and psychosomatic hypothesis of pseudocyesis, in an already predisposed individual with psychodynamic difficulties. Clinicians should consider a delusional miscarriage state following pseudocyesis, recognizing the possible physiologic and psychological etiologies. Please click PDF below to download the full paper...
Neuroscience Research Notes, 2018
Genetic hereditary has been implicated in bipolar disorder pathogenesis. The PDLIM5 and HTR2A gen... more Genetic hereditary has been implicated in bipolar disorder pathogenesis. The PDLIM5 and HTR2A genes have been investigated for its association with bipolar disorder in various populations, however, the results have been conflicting. In this study, we investigate the association between bipolar disorder and the two genes of interest, PDLIM5 and HTR2A genes. We recruited 253 bipolar disorder patients (75 Malays, 104 Chinese, and 74 Indians) and 505 control individuals (198 Malays, 155 Chinese, and 152 Indians) from three ethnic groups within Malaysian population. We genotyped for 3 SNPs of the PDLIM5 (rs2433320, rs2433322 and rs2438146) and 3 SNPs of the HTR2A (rs6313, rs2070040 and rs6311). Significant associations between bipolar disorder and each of the 3 SNPs of PDLIM5 in Malays, Indians and pooled samples. However, only rs2438146 remains significant in the Malays as co-dominant (T/T vs. C/C, p=0.004, OR=0.128, 95%CI=0.031-0.524) and recessive genetic models (T/T vs. C/T+C/C, p=0....
Nurse education in practice, Jan 17, 2018
The use of physical restraint exposes patients and staff to negative effects, including death. Th... more The use of physical restraint exposes patients and staff to negative effects, including death. Therefore, teaching nursing staff to develop the improve knowledge, skills, and attitudes regarding physical restraint has become necessary. A quasi-experimental pre-post design was used to evaluate the effect of educational intervention on nurses' knowledge, attitude, intention, practice and incidence rate of physical restraint in 12 wards of a hospital using a self-reported questionnaire and a restraint order form in Malaysia. The educational intervention, which included a one-day session on minimising physical restraint use in hospital, was presented to 245 nurses. The results showed a significant increase in the mean knowledge, attitude sand practice score and a significant decrease in the mean intention score of nurses to use physical restraint after intervention. There was a statistically significant decrease in the incidence rate of physical restraint use in the wards of the hos...
Pharmacogenomics, 2014
Aim: The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in schizophrenia patients receiving long-term anti... more Aim: The occurrence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in schizophrenia patients receiving long-term antipsychotics (APs) contributes to their high mortality rate. We aimed to determine whether genetic polymorphisms of identified candidate genes are associated with MS in our study population. Materials & methods: We recruited 206 schizophrenia patients receiving AP treatment for at least a year. Cross-sectional measurements of weight, height, blood pressure, waist and hip circumference, and other lipid profiles were recorded. Patient DNA was genotyped for 16 candidate gene polymorphisms. Results: Of these patients, 59.7% were found to have MS while 40.3% did not. All metabolic parameters were significantly different between the two groups. Only three of the 16 polymorphisms studied showed significant association with MS; rs9939609 of the FTO gene confers risk for MS (odds ratio [OR]: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.07–2.78, p = 0.026), while rs1137101 of the LEPR gene (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.28–0.80, p = 0.00...
Neurol J Southeast …, 2002
Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in Malaysia, a... more Objective: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in Malaysia, and to determine the associated factors. Methods: The study subjects consisted of consecutive stroke admissions to the University Malaya Medical Centre between April to August, 2000 who were aged 18 years above. The patients were assessed 4 to 8 weeks after stroke. Major depression was determined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM IV) criteria, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and functional disability was determined using Modified Rankin Scale. Site of stroke was determined from CT brain scans and clinically. Results: The prevalence of major depression was 36% based on DSM IV criteria. Major depression was associated with left hemisphere brain lesion (p=0.03), significant physical disability with Modified Rankin Scale >2 (p=0.004) and previous history of depression (p=0.04). Conclusions: Major depression is common 4-8 weeks after stroke among Malaysian patients. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of post-stroke depression in University Malaya Medical Centre and to investigate the associated factors. METHODS This prospective study was carried out in the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur. All consecutive stroke admissions between April to August 2000 who are 18 years old and above were included in the study. The diagnosis of stroke was according to the World Health Organization MONICA Project 13 and The Stroke Data Bank, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders. 14 Stroke was defined as rapidly developed clinical signs of focal or global disturbance of cerebral functions, lasting more than 24 hours or until death, with no apparent non-vascular cause. Subarachnoid hemorrhage and vetebrobasilar strokes were excluded. Subarachnoid hemorrhage is managed differently, has a different prognosis, and is often excluded from medical studies of stroke. 2,15 Similarly, vetebrobasilar stroke have different mortality rates and prognosis compared to hemispheric stroke. 2,16 Limiting the cases to hemispheric stroke is similar to other studies. 2,17 Patients with global aphasia or had severe comprehension deficits were excluded. Data on
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Breast cancer is a major public health issue. Women are most likely to develop the disease, which... more Breast cancer is a major public health issue. Women are most likely to develop the disease, which accounts for 24.2% of the total cancer incidence worldwide (Bray et al., 2018). In addition, 15% of all cancer deaths are caused by breast cancer (Bray et al., 2018). Several studies have shown that breast cancer incidence and mortality differ greatly among different countries, with high-income countries exhibiting a higher incidence and developing countries exhibiting a higher mortality rate (
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Introduction: Diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with the presence of psychological disorde... more Introduction: Diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with the presence of psychological disorders including depression. There is a lack of study examining the prevalence of depression among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in Kazakhstan. Objective: This study aims to assess the prevalence and associated sociodemographic and clinical factors of depression symptoms in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Methods: 162 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at the oncology center in Almaty were recruited for this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic and clinical information and the Beck Depression Inventory-II scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.41 years (SD=8.1). 95% of participants had unilateral breast cancer, and 79% of participants had stage I or stage II breast cancer. 73% of patients said that they do not have reliable social support. 46% of patients had symptoms of moderate depression, and 31% of patients had symptoms of severe depression. According to the multivariate analysis, factors associated with depression symptoms were: social status, household income level, reliability of social support, and stage of breast cancer. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression symptoms is very high among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Unemployed or retired patients, with a lower household income, and no reliable social support diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer are especially at high risk for developing depression.
European Journal of Cancer, 2020
La prévalence des symptômes de dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein en sta... more La prévalence des symptômes de dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein en stade avancé : revue systématique et méta-analyse Introduction. La dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein avancé est une comorbidité grave qui affecte la qualité de vie des patientes et leur taux de survie. Objectif. Cette étude vise à examiner systématiquement la littérature actuelle avec des données sur la prévalence des symptômes de dépression chez les patientes atteintes d'un cancer du sein métastatique et récurrent, à examiner la prévalence moyenne combinée des symptômes de dépression et les sources potentielles d'hétérogénéité. Méthodes. Une revue systématique approfondie des bases de données PubMed,
Healthcare, 2022
The psychological distress reported among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) is concerning. Litt... more The psychological distress reported among frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) is concerning. Little is known about the mental health of non-frontline, psychiatric HCWs, who play a central role in handling the mental health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of anxiety and depression among psychiatric HCWs and evaluate its association with socio-demographic, socio-economic, work-related factors and coping strategies. The authors proposed a cross-sectional study design using the Hospital Anxiety and Depressive Scale (HADS) and Brief-COPE scale. This study found that the prevalence of anxiety and depression were 22.0% and 16.8%, respectively. A multivariate analysis revealed that married psychiatric HCWs had a lower level of anxiety with OR = 0.31 (95% CI: 0.11–0.83). Psychiatric HCWs who were experiencing financial hardships, were unvaccinated and those who had a shorter duration of service in the psychiatric department had a higher level o...
International Psychiatry
The importance of traditional healing in low- and middle-income countries cannot be under estimat... more The importance of traditional healing in low- and middle-income countries cannot be under estimated. It is generally perceived as part of the prevailing belief system and traditional healers are often seen as the primary agents for psychosocial problems in these countries; estimates of their service share range from 45% to 60% (World Health Organization, 1992). The World Health Organization (2000) estimated that 80% of people living in rural areas in low- and middle-income countries depend on traditional medicine for their health needs.
International Psychiatry
Understanding the way in which people seek care for mental disorders is important for planning se... more Understanding the way in which people seek care for mental disorders is important for planning services, training and referral mechanisms. Pathways to care fall broadly into three categories: via primary care physicians; via native healers; and via patient choice (patients can have direct access to mental health professionals). The pattern and nature of access to service in low-income countries are different from those in high-income countries. In many societies, deep-seated cultural beliefs on the part of patients and families about the causes of mental disorders are a major barrier to the receipt of modern psychiatric care.
Current opinion in psychiatry, Sep 1, 2018
To understand the current situation, needs and challenges in the area of postgraduate training in... more To understand the current situation, needs and challenges in the area of postgraduate training in psychiatry in Asia and identify implementable solutions.Leaders in psychiatric education from nine Asia Pacific countries prepared country reports, based on a suggested list of items and met for a day to discuss and identify implementable solutions to improve the current unsatisfactory status of postgraduate training in psychiatry. Except Japan, all the other countries have a very low number of psychiatrists per 100 000 population - far lower than the global target of 10 psychiatrist per 100 000 population. The undergraduate teaching in psychiatry in majority of the countries is restricted to 20 h of lectures given during the 4-6 semester and 2-3 weeks of clinical ward placements. The duration as well as the overall quality of postgraduate training and methods of assessment and accreditation varies widely across and within countries. Numerous gaps that need to be addressed to enhance th...
Journal of affective disorders, May 1, 2018
Several studies have described the presence of perceived cognitive dysfunction amongst Asian pati... more Several studies have described the presence of perceived cognitive dysfunction amongst Asian patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). To date, no study has been conducted investigating the predictors of perceived cognitive dysfunction amongst Asian MDD patients. This was a post-hoc analysis of the Cognitive Dysfunction in Asian patients with Depression (CogDAD) study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the most common cognitive complaints by patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine variables associated with perceived cognitive dysfunction (Perceived Deficit Questionnaire-Depression, PDQ-D). The CogDAD study population is comprised of MDD patients with mild-to-moderate depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item [PHQ-9]: 11.3 ± 6.9) who reported perceived cognitive dysfunction (PDQ-D = 22.6 ± 16.2). The most common cognitive complaints were: mind drifting (42.3%), trouble making decision (39.6%) and trouble concentrating (38.0%). ...
Current drug targets, Jan 26, 2018
Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2017
To investigate the knowledge, attitude, intention and practice of nurses towards physical restrai... more To investigate the knowledge, attitude, intention and practice of nurses towards physical restraint and factors influencing these variables. A literature review showed a lack of studies focused on the intention of nurses regarding physical restraint throughout the world. Considering that very little research on physical restraint use has been carried out in Malaysia, assessment of nurses' knowledge, attitude, intention and practice is necessary before developing a minimising programme in hospitals. A cross-sectional study was used. A questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitude, intention and practice was completed by all nurses (n = 309) in twelve wards of a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Moderate knowledge and attitude with strong intention to use physical restraint were found among the nurses. Less than half of nurses considered alternatives to physical restraint and most of them did not understand the reasons for the physical restraint. Nurses' academic qualification, read any information source during past year and nurses' work unit showed a significant association with nurses' knowledge. Multiple linear regression analysis found knowledge, attitude and intention were significantly associated with nurses' practice to use physical restraint. This study showed some important misunderstandings of nurses about using physical restraint and strong intention regarding using physical restraint. Findings of this study serve as a supporting reason for importance of educating nurses about the use of physical restraint. Exploring the knowledge, attitude, intention and current practice of nurses towards physical restraint is important so that an effective strategy can be formulated to minimise the use of physical restraints in hospitals.
PloS one, 2017
Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a bro... more Breast cancer patients often experience a high level of distress. Psychological distress is a broad construct encompass both depression and anxiety. Previous studies in examining which of these psychological symptoms (either anxiety or depression) were more significantly associated with the distress level in breast cancer patients is lacking. This study aims to compare the level of depression and anxiety between patients with different level of distress. The correlation between the changes in distress level with depression or anxiety over 12 months was also examined. This study is from the MyBCC cohort study. Two hundred and twenty one female breast cancer patients were included into the study. They were assessed at the time of diagnosis, 6 months and 12 month using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and distress thermometer. The information on age, ethnicity, treatment types and staging of cancer were collected. 50.2%, 51.6% and 40.3% of patients had perceived high level ...
The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 2016
Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their... more Objective Psychotherapy is a common non-pharmacological approach to help cancer patients in their psychological distress. The benefit of psychotherapies was documented, but the types of psychotherapies proposed are varied. Given that the previous literature review was a decade ago and no quantitative analysis was done on this topic, we again critically and systematically reviewed all published trials on psychotherapy in cancer patients. Method We identified 17 clinical trials on six types of psychotherapy for cancer patients by searching PubMed and EMBASE. Result There were four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy which were included in quantitative analysis. Each trial demonstrated that psychotherapy improved the quality of life and coping in cancer patients. There was also a reduction in distress, anxiety, and depression after a psychological intervention. However, the number and quality of clinical trials for each type of psychotherapy were poor. The meta-analysis of the four trials involved adjunct psychological therapy showed no significant change in depression, with only significant short-term improvement in anxiety but not up to a year-the standardized mean differences were -0.37 (95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.57, -0.16) at 2 months, -0.21 (95% CI = -0.42, -0.01) at 4 months, and 0.03 (95 % CI = -0.19, 0.24) at 12 months. Conclusion The evidence on the efficacy of psychotherapy in cancer patients is unsatisfactory. There is a need for more rigorous and well-designed clinical trials on this topic.
Clinical nursing research, Jan 16, 2016
Incidence rate and patterns of physical restraint use were examined based on a cross-sectional st... more Incidence rate and patterns of physical restraint use were examined based on a cross-sectional study in 22 wards of a large teaching hospital in Malaysia. Results indicated that the highest rate of physical restraint (19.7%) was reported from neurology-neurosurgery wards. "Un-cooperative for electroconvulsive therapy" and "trying to pull out catheters" were the most commonly reported reasons to use restraint in psychiatric and non-psychiatric wards, respectively. There were some relationships between patterns of physical restraint in this study. Exploring the incidence rate and patterns of physical restraint is important so that effective strategies can be formulated to minimize using restraint in hospitals.