Nur Amani Natasha Ahmad Tajuddin | University of Malaya, Malaysia (original) (raw)

Papers by Nur Amani Natasha Ahmad Tajuddin

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship Between Medication Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Patients

International journal of academic research in business & social sciences, Jul 28, 2021

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and healthrelated q... more This study aimed to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and healthrelated quality of life among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. A correlational survey design was used in this study. The study was conducted through assisted questionnaire administration via face to face with 188 T2DM patients. The questionnaire used was the Medication Compliance Questionnaire (MCQ) and Diabetes Quality of Life revised version (DQoL-R). Descriptive analysis, Crosstabs analysis and Chi-Square test was used to run the data of this study. Result shows the average age of the participants were 64.60 years old and a significant relationship was found between medication adherences with the domain Worry in diabetes quality of life. In conclusion, this study may provide a significant finding on quality of life factors which also need to be appropriately intervene in order to improve medication adherence among type 2 diabetes patients in Malaysian health care.

Research paper thumbnail of Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preintervention and postintervention evaluation on the improvement of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy

BMJ Open, Sep 1, 2019

et al. Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preinter... more et al. Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preintervention and postintervention evaluation on the improvement of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy. BMJ Open 2019;9:e030670.

Research paper thumbnail of Anthropometrical and fitness level changes following a 12-week walking football program for obese primary school children aged 8-11

Medicina Dello Sport, Oct 1, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Reasons for using e-cigarettes and support for e-cigarette regulations: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been ... more INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been estimated that 17% of adult daily cigarette smokers also used ECs on a daily basis in 2020. However, few studies have examined the reasons people use ECs in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study of adult cigarette smokers from Malaysia assessed reasons for EC use and their support for key proposed EC regulations. METHODS Data are from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Wave 1 Survey of adult (aged ≥18 years) smokers who reported that they used ECs at least monthly (N=459 out of 1047 smokers). Weighted analyses were conducted on EC users' reasons for using ECs and their support for various EC regulations. RESULTS Smokers who used ECs at least monthly were more likely to be male, aged 25-39 years, of Malay ethnicity, married, more highly educated, and living in Peninsular Malaysia. Smokers who used ECs daily reported using ECs to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (91.3%), pleasant taste (90.1%), to quit smoking (87.9%), and enjoyment (87.5%). Smokers who used ECs less than daily reported using ECs for their pleasant taste (weekly 89.4%, monthly 87.5%), curiosity (weekly 79.5%, monthly 88.8%), being offered EC by someone (weekly 76.3%, monthly 81.6%), and to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (weekly 76.2%, monthly 77.6%). Smokers who also used ECs were most likely to support EC regulations requiring a minimum purchasing age (88.3%) and limiting nicotine concentration (79.6%), and least likely to support regulations banning EC fruit and candy flavors (27.1%). CONCLUSIONS The most prevalent reasons for using ECs in Malaysia are comparable to those of other ITC countries, including Canada, US, England, and Australia. An understanding of use patterns of ECs, especially their interaction with cigarettes, are important in developing evidence-based regulations in Malaysia.

Research paper thumbnail of E-cigarette prevalence among Malaysian adults and types and flavors of e-cigarette products used by cigarette smokers who vape: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Mala... more INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Malaysia. The prevalence of EC use increased in Malaysia from 0.8% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2019. Three quarters of Malaysian EC users also smoke combustible cigarettes, and the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian smokers in 2014 was consistent with the prevalence of use among smokers from Canada and the US in 2016. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years in 2020 and the types of EC products and flavors used by cigarette smokers who also used ECs at least monthly. METHODS Data came from 1253 adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Wave 1 Survey. Weighted descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of adults who reported ever using ECs and the prevalence who used ECs either monthly, weekly, or daily. The types of EC products and flavors used were compared by frequency of EC use among current smokers who used ECs at least monthly (n=459). RESULTS Overall, 5.4% (95% CI: 3.7-7.5) of Malaysian adults reported using ECs on a daily basis in 2020. Among current cigarette smokers who used ECs daily, 81.0% (95% CI: 72.5-87.7) used nicotine in their ECs, 46.2% (95% CI: 37.8-54.7) used pre-filled ECs, and 60.4% (95% CI: 51.9-68.6) reported being somewhat/very addicted to ECs. The most common EC flavors were fruit, coffee, and menthol/ mint. CONCLUSIONS Continued surveillance of EC use is necessary to monitor EC use in non-tobacco using populations while longitudinal research is needed to determine the extent to which ECs are, or are not, related to quitting smoking.

Research paper thumbnail of Methods of the 2020 (Wave 1) International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

The ITC Malaysia Project is part of the 31-country ITC Project, of which the central objective is... more The ITC Malaysia Project is part of the 31-country ITC Project, of which the central objective is to evaluate the impact of tobacco control policies of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This article describes the methods used in the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia (MYS1) Survey. Adult smokers and non-smokers aged ≥18 years in Malaysia were recruited by a commercial survey firm from its online panel. Survey weights, accounting for smoking status, sex, age, education, and region of residence, were calibrated to the Malaysian 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey. The survey questions were identical or functionally similar to those used in other ITC countries. Questions included demographic measures, patterns of use, quit history, intentions to quit, risk perceptions, beliefs and attitudes about cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products. Questions also assessed measures assessing the impact of tobacco demand-reduction domains of the FCTC: price/tax (Article 6), smokefree laws (Article 8), health warnings (Article 11), education, communication and public awareness (Article 12), advertising, promotion, and sponsorship restrictions (Article 13), and support for cessation (Article 14). The total sample size was 1253 (1047 cigarette smokers and 206 non-smokers). Response rate was 11.3%, but importantly, the cooperation rate was 95.3%. The 2020 ITC MYS1 Survey findings will provide evidence on current tobacco control policies and evidence needed by Malaysian government regulatory agencies to develop new or strengthen existing tobacco control efforts that could help achieve Malaysia's endgame, i.e. a tobaccofree nation by 2040.

Research paper thumbnail of E-cigarette prevalence among Malaysian adults and types and flavors of e-cigarette products used by cigarette smokers who vape: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases

INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Mala... more INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Malaysia. The prevalence of EC use increased in Malaysia from 0.8% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2019. Three quarters of Malaysian EC users also smoke combustible cigarettes, and the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian smokers in 2014 was consistent with the prevalence of use among smokers from Canada and the US in 2016. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years in 2020 and the types of EC products and flavors used by cigarette smokers who also used ECs at least monthly. METHODS Data came from 1253 adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Wave 1 Survey. Weighted descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of adults who reported ever using ECs and the prevalence who used ECs either monthly, weekly, or daily. The types of EC products and flavors used were compared by frequency of EC use among current smokers who used ECs at least monthly (n=459). RESULTS Overall, 5.4% (95% CI: 3.7-7.5) of Malaysian adults reported using ECs on a daily basis in 2020. Among current cigarette smokers who used ECs daily, 81.0% (95% CI: 72.5-87.7) used nicotine in their ECs, 46.2% (95% CI: 37.8-54.7) used pre-filled ECs, and 60.4% (95% CI: 51.9-68.6) reported being somewhat/very addicted to ECs. The most common EC flavors were fruit, coffee, and menthol/ mint. CONCLUSIONS Continued surveillance of EC use is necessary to monitor EC use in non-tobacco using populations while longitudinal research is needed to determine the extent to which ECs are, or are not, related to quitting smoking.

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationships between Depression and Physical Activity with Medication Adherence among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Klang Valley, Malaysia

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of Reasons for using e-cigarettes and support for e-cigarette regulations: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been ... more INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been estimated that 17% of adult daily cigarette smokers also used ECs on a daily basis in 2020. However, few studies have examined the reasons people use ECs in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study of adult cigarette smokers from Malaysia assessed reasons for EC use and their support for key proposed EC regulations. METHODS Data are from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Wave 1 Survey of adult (aged ≥18 years) smokers who reported that they used ECs at least monthly (N=459 out of 1047 smokers). Weighted analyses were conducted on EC users' reasons for using ECs and their support for various EC regulations. RESULTS Smokers who used ECs at least monthly were more likely to be male, aged 25-39 years, of Malay ethnicity, married, more highly educated, and living in Peninsular Malaysia. Smokers who used ECs daily reported using ECs to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (91.3%), pleasant taste (90.1%), to quit smoking (87.9%), and enjoyment (87.5%). Smokers who used ECs less than daily reported using ECs for their pleasant taste (weekly 89.4%, monthly 87.5%), curiosity (weekly 79.5%, monthly 88.8%), being offered EC by someone (weekly 76.3%, monthly 81.6%), and to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (weekly 76.2%, monthly 77.6%). Smokers who also used ECs were most likely to support EC regulations requiring a minimum purchasing age (88.3%) and limiting nicotine concentration (79.6%), and least likely to support regulations banning EC fruit and candy flavors (27.1%). CONCLUSIONS The most prevalent reasons for using ECs in Malaysia are comparable to those of other ITC countries, including Canada, US, England, and Australia. An understanding of use patterns of ECs, especially their interaction with cigarettes, are important in developing evidence-based regulations in Malaysia.

Research paper thumbnail of Feasibility Study for Implementation of Renewable Energy Based Electricity Generating System

This is to certify that I am responsible for the work submitted in this project, that the origina... more This is to certify that I am responsible for the work submitted in this project, that the original work is my own except as specified in the references and acknowledgements, and that the original work contained herein have not been undertaken or done by unspecified sources or persons.

Research paper thumbnail of Motivation Model for Employee Retention: Applicability to HRM Practices in Malaysian SME Sector

Canadian Social Science, Oct 30, 2012

In the Vision 2020, Malaysian government aims at achieving a developed nation status by the year ... more In the Vision 2020, Malaysian government aims at achieving a developed nation status by the year 2020. To realize the vision, the country needed the support and motivation from all Malaysians. Hence, human resource management (HRM) plays an important role for the said vision since it is a significant capital in the operation of an organization. For Malaysian entrepreneurial firms, it is crucial to retain their employees in order to achieve their ultimate goal i.e. maximizing profits. Such small, growthoriented firms are considered vulnerable to lose even one key employee because it may aggravate extensive consequences and, at the extreme, may imperil exertions to attain organizational objectives. Employee retention becomes a vital human capital objective for entrepreneurial companies which are seeking to grow and capture market share. Motivation is essential in leading the employees towards achieving organizational goals besides fostering the organizational commitment. Such organizational attachment and motivation has implications for whether an employee will opt for remaining with the organization or not. With HRM, the human resource (HR) model would regard humans as being inspired by an intricate collection of interconnected aspects, such as recognition, interpersonal relation, and desire for meaningful work. HR managers must endeavour to redesign the job to be more varied and decentralized in order to encourage sovereignty among employees. Therefore, motivation model is relevant to be employed in HRM practices for employee retention. This paper is primarily based on literature review. Extensive literature study is used to identify relevant information and references. This paper intends to elucidate one particular issue with regards to Malaysian SMEs which is employee retention and in more specifically, this study will aim to produce a model for employee retention conjoining it with organizational strategies, organizational culture and benefits factors. To attain this aim, the two-factor, or motivation-hygiene theory (Herzberg, 1968) was taken as the basic foundation.

Research paper thumbnail of The self-care behaviour association with quality of life among Chinese ethnic with heart failure in Malaysia

EDUCATUM Journal of Social Sciences, 2021

The aim of this study is to determine the association between self-care behaviour and quality of ... more The aim of this study is to determine the association between self-care behaviour and quality of life among the Chinese ethnic with heart failure (HF) in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted with 80 HF patients. The average age of participants was 61.39 years old (M = 61.39, SD = 15.88). Chinese version of Self-care Heart Failure Index version 6.2 and the World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF were utilized in this study. Pearson’s correlation and t-test were tested to run the analysis. Current findings suggested that the construct of confident to conduct self-care is significantly correlated positively with quality of life (r = .41, p<0.01). There is a significant difference in self-care management between genders [t(78) = -2.94, p=.00] and illness comorbidities [t(78) = -2.07, p=.04]. Hence, it is suggested that element of confidence is one of the important factors to be considered in future self-care interventions. Through this study, researchers and...

Research paper thumbnail of Health Innovation in Improving Patient Safety

Australasian Medical Journal, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Are first year medical students ready for OSCE

Objective: This study aimed to assess First Year medical students' readiness for OSCE. Design... more Objective: This study aimed to assess First Year medical students' readiness for OSCE. Design: This is a retrospective study where secondary data comprising both quantitative and qualitative data, were analysed. Materials and Methods: Three cohorts of First Year medical students (n = 454) took a 5-station OSCE. Two categories of tasks were assessed. Category A assessed patient and doctor interaction while Category B assessed clinical skills. A student must be scored as satisfactory in at least four out of five stations for a pass in Category A and at least three out of five stations for a pass in Category B. A pass in both Categories A and B is required to pass the OSCE. For each cohort, overall passing percentage, as well as passing percentage for Category A and Category B of each station, was computed. Examiners' feedback on students' performance during OSCE for each station was examined. Feedback from students regarding the OSCE was also sought. Results: For Cohort 20...

Research paper thumbnail of Why unassisted home birth? Perspectives of Malaysian Women

Research paper thumbnail of The Screening of Self-care Behaviour among Chinese Ethnic with Heart Failure in Malaysia

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 2021

This study aimed to determine the level of self-care behaviour among the Chinese ethnic with Hear... more This study aimed to determine the level of self-care behaviour among the Chinese ethnic with Heart Failure (HF) in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted with HF patients (N=80). The average age of participants was 61.39 years old (M = 61.39, SD = 15.88). Chinese version of Self-care Heart Failure Index version 6.2 were used in this study. Descriptive analysis such as mean and standard deviation were used to run the analysis. Current findings suggested that the self-care behaviour of Chinese ethnic HF patients in Malaysia is satisfactory adequate, with both self-care management and self-care confident having standardised scores of greater than 70. The studied population scored highest in self-care confidence. Hence, it is suggested that element of confidence is one of the important factors to be considered in future self-care interventions.

Research paper thumbnail of Reliability Testing of Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v6.2 Chinese Instrument Among Heart Failure Patients

Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 2021

Objective: Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) v6.2 Chinese is an instrument used to assess ... more Objective: Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) v6.2 Chinese is an instrument used to assess the ability of self-care behaviour among heart failure patients. It has been validated in Taiwan, however, it is yet to be validated in Malaysia. As a multi-ethnic country, Chinese language has been one of the major languages in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the reliability of Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) v6.2 Chinese among Malaysian population. Design: A successive independent sample design was used throughout a 4-months data collection period. Setting: Eighty heart failure patients from University of Malaya Medical Centre and National Heart Institute were recruited through purposive sampling. The two hospitals were chosen because they have specialized heart clinics that eased the data collection. The out-patients were screened by the cardiologists for their eligibility to participate in this study. Measures: The samples were administered with SCHF...

Research paper thumbnail of Developing and validating the Malay version instrument to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding second-hand smoke in the workplace: a cross-sectional study in teaching hospital in Malaysia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021

This research sought to develop and validate the “Workplace Second-hand Smoke: Perception on the ... more This research sought to develop and validate the “Workplace Second-hand Smoke: Perception on the SHS Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice” (WSHS: PAP) instrument, which targets non-smoking employees. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2018 to validate WSHS: PAP among non-smoking employees at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Experts were invited to validate the instrument. Then, for exploratory factor analysis, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 336 UMMC non-smoking employees who were recruited by convenience sampling. A total of 28 items on KAP, rated on five-point Likert scales, underwent exploratory factor analysis and were tested for internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). Participants were approached after 2 weeks for the assessment of test-retest reliability. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.828, 0.743 and 0.837, respectively, for the domains of perception of the knowledge, attitude and practice, indicating acceptable internal consistency (above 0.7). Exploratory factor analysis identified a one-factor solution for each of the KAP domains. Therefore, the Malay version of the WSHS: PAP instrument demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties for the assessment of non-smoking employees in workplaces with a smoking ban.

Research paper thumbnail of Why women chose unassisted home birth in Malaysia: A qualitative study

Background: Reports of unassisted home birthing practices have been increasing in Malaysia despit... more Background: Reports of unassisted home birthing practices have been increasing in Malaysia despite the accessibility to safe and affordable child delivery facilities. We aimed to explore the reasons for women to make such decision. Methods: Twelve mothers participated in-depth interviews. They were identified using snowballing approach. The interviews were supported by a topic guide which was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and previous literature. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Women in this study described a range of birthing experiences and personal beliefs to why they chose unassisted home birth. Four themes emerged from the interviews; i) preferred birthing experience, ii) a natural process, iii) expressing autonomy and iv) faith, as reasons for choosing unassisted homebirth. Such decision was firm and strong despite the possible risks and complications that can occur during home birthin...

Research paper thumbnail of Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preintervention and postintervention evaluation on the improvement of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy

BMJ Open, 2019

ObjectivesHealthcare providers are ideally positioned to advise their patients to quit smoking by... more ObjectivesHealthcare providers are ideally positioned to advise their patients to quit smoking by providing effective smoking cessation intervention. Thus, we evaluate the effectiveness of a 1-day training programme in changing the knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy of healthcare providers in smoking cessation intervention.MethodsA prepost study design was conducted in 2017. The 8-hour Smoking Cessation Organising, Planning and Execution (SCOPE) training comprised lectures, practical sessions and role-play sessions to 218 healthcare providers. A validated evaluation tool, Providers’ Smoking Cessation Training Evaluation, was administered to assess the impact of training on knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy on smoking cessation intervention.ResultsAfter SCOPE training, the knowledge score increased significantly from 7.96±2.34 to 10.35±1.57 (p<0.001). Attitude and self-efficacy in smoking cessation intervention also increased significantly from 34.32±4.12 to 37.04±3.92 (p&l...

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationship Between Medication Adherence and Health-Related Quality of Life among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Patients

International journal of academic research in business & social sciences, Jul 28, 2021

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and healthrelated q... more This study aimed to investigate the relationship between medication adherence and healthrelated quality of life among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients. A correlational survey design was used in this study. The study was conducted through assisted questionnaire administration via face to face with 188 T2DM patients. The questionnaire used was the Medication Compliance Questionnaire (MCQ) and Diabetes Quality of Life revised version (DQoL-R). Descriptive analysis, Crosstabs analysis and Chi-Square test was used to run the data of this study. Result shows the average age of the participants were 64.60 years old and a significant relationship was found between medication adherences with the domain Worry in diabetes quality of life. In conclusion, this study may provide a significant finding on quality of life factors which also need to be appropriately intervene in order to improve medication adherence among type 2 diabetes patients in Malaysian health care.

Research paper thumbnail of Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preintervention and postintervention evaluation on the improvement of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy

BMJ Open, Sep 1, 2019

et al. Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preinter... more et al. Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preintervention and postintervention evaluation on the improvement of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy. BMJ Open 2019;9:e030670.

Research paper thumbnail of Anthropometrical and fitness level changes following a 12-week walking football program for obese primary school children aged 8-11

Medicina Dello Sport, Oct 1, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Reasons for using e-cigarettes and support for e-cigarette regulations: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been ... more INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been estimated that 17% of adult daily cigarette smokers also used ECs on a daily basis in 2020. However, few studies have examined the reasons people use ECs in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study of adult cigarette smokers from Malaysia assessed reasons for EC use and their support for key proposed EC regulations. METHODS Data are from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Wave 1 Survey of adult (aged ≥18 years) smokers who reported that they used ECs at least monthly (N=459 out of 1047 smokers). Weighted analyses were conducted on EC users' reasons for using ECs and their support for various EC regulations. RESULTS Smokers who used ECs at least monthly were more likely to be male, aged 25-39 years, of Malay ethnicity, married, more highly educated, and living in Peninsular Malaysia. Smokers who used ECs daily reported using ECs to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (91.3%), pleasant taste (90.1%), to quit smoking (87.9%), and enjoyment (87.5%). Smokers who used ECs less than daily reported using ECs for their pleasant taste (weekly 89.4%, monthly 87.5%), curiosity (weekly 79.5%, monthly 88.8%), being offered EC by someone (weekly 76.3%, monthly 81.6%), and to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (weekly 76.2%, monthly 77.6%). Smokers who also used ECs were most likely to support EC regulations requiring a minimum purchasing age (88.3%) and limiting nicotine concentration (79.6%), and least likely to support regulations banning EC fruit and candy flavors (27.1%). CONCLUSIONS The most prevalent reasons for using ECs in Malaysia are comparable to those of other ITC countries, including Canada, US, England, and Australia. An understanding of use patterns of ECs, especially their interaction with cigarettes, are important in developing evidence-based regulations in Malaysia.

Research paper thumbnail of E-cigarette prevalence among Malaysian adults and types and flavors of e-cigarette products used by cigarette smokers who vape: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Mala... more INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Malaysia. The prevalence of EC use increased in Malaysia from 0.8% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2019. Three quarters of Malaysian EC users also smoke combustible cigarettes, and the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian smokers in 2014 was consistent with the prevalence of use among smokers from Canada and the US in 2016. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years in 2020 and the types of EC products and flavors used by cigarette smokers who also used ECs at least monthly. METHODS Data came from 1253 adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Wave 1 Survey. Weighted descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of adults who reported ever using ECs and the prevalence who used ECs either monthly, weekly, or daily. The types of EC products and flavors used were compared by frequency of EC use among current smokers who used ECs at least monthly (n=459). RESULTS Overall, 5.4% (95% CI: 3.7-7.5) of Malaysian adults reported using ECs on a daily basis in 2020. Among current cigarette smokers who used ECs daily, 81.0% (95% CI: 72.5-87.7) used nicotine in their ECs, 46.2% (95% CI: 37.8-54.7) used pre-filled ECs, and 60.4% (95% CI: 51.9-68.6) reported being somewhat/very addicted to ECs. The most common EC flavors were fruit, coffee, and menthol/ mint. CONCLUSIONS Continued surveillance of EC use is necessary to monitor EC use in non-tobacco using populations while longitudinal research is needed to determine the extent to which ECs are, or are not, related to quitting smoking.

Research paper thumbnail of Methods of the 2020 (Wave 1) International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

The ITC Malaysia Project is part of the 31-country ITC Project, of which the central objective is... more The ITC Malaysia Project is part of the 31-country ITC Project, of which the central objective is to evaluate the impact of tobacco control policies of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This article describes the methods used in the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia (MYS1) Survey. Adult smokers and non-smokers aged ≥18 years in Malaysia were recruited by a commercial survey firm from its online panel. Survey weights, accounting for smoking status, sex, age, education, and region of residence, were calibrated to the Malaysian 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey. The survey questions were identical or functionally similar to those used in other ITC countries. Questions included demographic measures, patterns of use, quit history, intentions to quit, risk perceptions, beliefs and attitudes about cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products. Questions also assessed measures assessing the impact of tobacco demand-reduction domains of the FCTC: price/tax (Article 6), smokefree laws (Article 8), health warnings (Article 11), education, communication and public awareness (Article 12), advertising, promotion, and sponsorship restrictions (Article 13), and support for cessation (Article 14). The total sample size was 1253 (1047 cigarette smokers and 206 non-smokers). Response rate was 11.3%, but importantly, the cooperation rate was 95.3%. The 2020 ITC MYS1 Survey findings will provide evidence on current tobacco control policies and evidence needed by Malaysian government regulatory agencies to develop new or strengthen existing tobacco control efforts that could help achieve Malaysia's endgame, i.e. a tobaccofree nation by 2040.

Research paper thumbnail of E-cigarette prevalence among Malaysian adults and types and flavors of e-cigarette products used by cigarette smokers who vape: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases

INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Mala... more INTRODUCTION E-cigarettes (ECs) have become increasingly common in many countries, including Malaysia. The prevalence of EC use increased in Malaysia from 0.8% in 2011 to 4.9% in 2019. Three quarters of Malaysian EC users also smoke combustible cigarettes, and the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian smokers in 2014 was consistent with the prevalence of use among smokers from Canada and the US in 2016. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of EC use among Malaysian adults aged ≥18 years in 2020 and the types of EC products and flavors used by cigarette smokers who also used ECs at least monthly. METHODS Data came from 1253 adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Wave 1 Survey. Weighted descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of adults who reported ever using ECs and the prevalence who used ECs either monthly, weekly, or daily. The types of EC products and flavors used were compared by frequency of EC use among current smokers who used ECs at least monthly (n=459). RESULTS Overall, 5.4% (95% CI: 3.7-7.5) of Malaysian adults reported using ECs on a daily basis in 2020. Among current cigarette smokers who used ECs daily, 81.0% (95% CI: 72.5-87.7) used nicotine in their ECs, 46.2% (95% CI: 37.8-54.7) used pre-filled ECs, and 60.4% (95% CI: 51.9-68.6) reported being somewhat/very addicted to ECs. The most common EC flavors were fruit, coffee, and menthol/ mint. CONCLUSIONS Continued surveillance of EC use is necessary to monitor EC use in non-tobacco using populations while longitudinal research is needed to determine the extent to which ECs are, or are not, related to quitting smoking.

Research paper thumbnail of The Relationships between Depression and Physical Activity with Medication Adherence among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Klang Valley, Malaysia

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Research paper thumbnail of Reasons for using e-cigarettes and support for e-cigarette regulations: Findings from the 2020 ITC Malaysia Survey

Tobacco Induced Diseases, Mar 31, 2022

INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been ... more INTRODUCTION Malaysia has the largest e-cigarette (EC) market in Southeast Asia, and it has been estimated that 17% of adult daily cigarette smokers also used ECs on a daily basis in 2020. However, few studies have examined the reasons people use ECs in Malaysia. This cross-sectional study of adult cigarette smokers from Malaysia assessed reasons for EC use and their support for key proposed EC regulations. METHODS Data are from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Wave 1 Survey of adult (aged ≥18 years) smokers who reported that they used ECs at least monthly (N=459 out of 1047 smokers). Weighted analyses were conducted on EC users' reasons for using ECs and their support for various EC regulations. RESULTS Smokers who used ECs at least monthly were more likely to be male, aged 25-39 years, of Malay ethnicity, married, more highly educated, and living in Peninsular Malaysia. Smokers who used ECs daily reported using ECs to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (91.3%), pleasant taste (90.1%), to quit smoking (87.9%), and enjoyment (87.5%). Smokers who used ECs less than daily reported using ECs for their pleasant taste (weekly 89.4%, monthly 87.5%), curiosity (weekly 79.5%, monthly 88.8%), being offered EC by someone (weekly 76.3%, monthly 81.6%), and to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked (weekly 76.2%, monthly 77.6%). Smokers who also used ECs were most likely to support EC regulations requiring a minimum purchasing age (88.3%) and limiting nicotine concentration (79.6%), and least likely to support regulations banning EC fruit and candy flavors (27.1%). CONCLUSIONS The most prevalent reasons for using ECs in Malaysia are comparable to those of other ITC countries, including Canada, US, England, and Australia. An understanding of use patterns of ECs, especially their interaction with cigarettes, are important in developing evidence-based regulations in Malaysia.

Research paper thumbnail of Feasibility Study for Implementation of Renewable Energy Based Electricity Generating System

This is to certify that I am responsible for the work submitted in this project, that the origina... more This is to certify that I am responsible for the work submitted in this project, that the original work is my own except as specified in the references and acknowledgements, and that the original work contained herein have not been undertaken or done by unspecified sources or persons.

Research paper thumbnail of Motivation Model for Employee Retention: Applicability to HRM Practices in Malaysian SME Sector

Canadian Social Science, Oct 30, 2012

In the Vision 2020, Malaysian government aims at achieving a developed nation status by the year ... more In the Vision 2020, Malaysian government aims at achieving a developed nation status by the year 2020. To realize the vision, the country needed the support and motivation from all Malaysians. Hence, human resource management (HRM) plays an important role for the said vision since it is a significant capital in the operation of an organization. For Malaysian entrepreneurial firms, it is crucial to retain their employees in order to achieve their ultimate goal i.e. maximizing profits. Such small, growthoriented firms are considered vulnerable to lose even one key employee because it may aggravate extensive consequences and, at the extreme, may imperil exertions to attain organizational objectives. Employee retention becomes a vital human capital objective for entrepreneurial companies which are seeking to grow and capture market share. Motivation is essential in leading the employees towards achieving organizational goals besides fostering the organizational commitment. Such organizational attachment and motivation has implications for whether an employee will opt for remaining with the organization or not. With HRM, the human resource (HR) model would regard humans as being inspired by an intricate collection of interconnected aspects, such as recognition, interpersonal relation, and desire for meaningful work. HR managers must endeavour to redesign the job to be more varied and decentralized in order to encourage sovereignty among employees. Therefore, motivation model is relevant to be employed in HRM practices for employee retention. This paper is primarily based on literature review. Extensive literature study is used to identify relevant information and references. This paper intends to elucidate one particular issue with regards to Malaysian SMEs which is employee retention and in more specifically, this study will aim to produce a model for employee retention conjoining it with organizational strategies, organizational culture and benefits factors. To attain this aim, the two-factor, or motivation-hygiene theory (Herzberg, 1968) was taken as the basic foundation.

Research paper thumbnail of The self-care behaviour association with quality of life among Chinese ethnic with heart failure in Malaysia

EDUCATUM Journal of Social Sciences, 2021

The aim of this study is to determine the association between self-care behaviour and quality of ... more The aim of this study is to determine the association between self-care behaviour and quality of life among the Chinese ethnic with heart failure (HF) in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted with 80 HF patients. The average age of participants was 61.39 years old (M = 61.39, SD = 15.88). Chinese version of Self-care Heart Failure Index version 6.2 and the World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF were utilized in this study. Pearson’s correlation and t-test were tested to run the analysis. Current findings suggested that the construct of confident to conduct self-care is significantly correlated positively with quality of life (r = .41, p<0.01). There is a significant difference in self-care management between genders [t(78) = -2.94, p=.00] and illness comorbidities [t(78) = -2.07, p=.04]. Hence, it is suggested that element of confidence is one of the important factors to be considered in future self-care interventions. Through this study, researchers and...

Research paper thumbnail of Health Innovation in Improving Patient Safety

Australasian Medical Journal, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Are first year medical students ready for OSCE

Objective: This study aimed to assess First Year medical students' readiness for OSCE. Design... more Objective: This study aimed to assess First Year medical students' readiness for OSCE. Design: This is a retrospective study where secondary data comprising both quantitative and qualitative data, were analysed. Materials and Methods: Three cohorts of First Year medical students (n = 454) took a 5-station OSCE. Two categories of tasks were assessed. Category A assessed patient and doctor interaction while Category B assessed clinical skills. A student must be scored as satisfactory in at least four out of five stations for a pass in Category A and at least three out of five stations for a pass in Category B. A pass in both Categories A and B is required to pass the OSCE. For each cohort, overall passing percentage, as well as passing percentage for Category A and Category B of each station, was computed. Examiners' feedback on students' performance during OSCE for each station was examined. Feedback from students regarding the OSCE was also sought. Results: For Cohort 20...

Research paper thumbnail of Why unassisted home birth? Perspectives of Malaysian Women

Research paper thumbnail of The Screening of Self-care Behaviour among Chinese Ethnic with Heart Failure in Malaysia

International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 2021

This study aimed to determine the level of self-care behaviour among the Chinese ethnic with Hear... more This study aimed to determine the level of self-care behaviour among the Chinese ethnic with Heart Failure (HF) in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey design was conducted with HF patients (N=80). The average age of participants was 61.39 years old (M = 61.39, SD = 15.88). Chinese version of Self-care Heart Failure Index version 6.2 were used in this study. Descriptive analysis such as mean and standard deviation were used to run the analysis. Current findings suggested that the self-care behaviour of Chinese ethnic HF patients in Malaysia is satisfactory adequate, with both self-care management and self-care confident having standardised scores of greater than 70. The studied population scored highest in self-care confidence. Hence, it is suggested that element of confidence is one of the important factors to be considered in future self-care interventions.

Research paper thumbnail of Reliability Testing of Self-Care of Heart Failure Index v6.2 Chinese Instrument Among Heart Failure Patients

Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 2021

Objective: Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) v6.2 Chinese is an instrument used to assess ... more Objective: Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) v6.2 Chinese is an instrument used to assess the ability of self-care behaviour among heart failure patients. It has been validated in Taiwan, however, it is yet to be validated in Malaysia. As a multi-ethnic country, Chinese language has been one of the major languages in Malaysia. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the reliability of Self-Care of Heart Failure Index (SCHFI) v6.2 Chinese among Malaysian population. Design: A successive independent sample design was used throughout a 4-months data collection period. Setting: Eighty heart failure patients from University of Malaya Medical Centre and National Heart Institute were recruited through purposive sampling. The two hospitals were chosen because they have specialized heart clinics that eased the data collection. The out-patients were screened by the cardiologists for their eligibility to participate in this study. Measures: The samples were administered with SCHF...

Research paper thumbnail of Developing and validating the Malay version instrument to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding second-hand smoke in the workplace: a cross-sectional study in teaching hospital in Malaysia

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021

This research sought to develop and validate the “Workplace Second-hand Smoke: Perception on the ... more This research sought to develop and validate the “Workplace Second-hand Smoke: Perception on the SHS Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice” (WSHS: PAP) instrument, which targets non-smoking employees. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2018 to validate WSHS: PAP among non-smoking employees at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Experts were invited to validate the instrument. Then, for exploratory factor analysis, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 336 UMMC non-smoking employees who were recruited by convenience sampling. A total of 28 items on KAP, rated on five-point Likert scales, underwent exploratory factor analysis and were tested for internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha). Participants were approached after 2 weeks for the assessment of test-retest reliability. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.828, 0.743 and 0.837, respectively, for the domains of perception of the knowledge, attitude and practice, indicating acceptable internal consistency (above 0.7). Exploratory factor analysis identified a one-factor solution for each of the KAP domains. Therefore, the Malay version of the WSHS: PAP instrument demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties for the assessment of non-smoking employees in workplaces with a smoking ban.

Research paper thumbnail of Why women chose unassisted home birth in Malaysia: A qualitative study

Background: Reports of unassisted home birthing practices have been increasing in Malaysia despit... more Background: Reports of unassisted home birthing practices have been increasing in Malaysia despite the accessibility to safe and affordable child delivery facilities. We aimed to explore the reasons for women to make such decision. Methods: Twelve mothers participated in-depth interviews. They were identified using snowballing approach. The interviews were supported by a topic guide which was developed based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and previous literature. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Women in this study described a range of birthing experiences and personal beliefs to why they chose unassisted home birth. Four themes emerged from the interviews; i) preferred birthing experience, ii) a natural process, iii) expressing autonomy and iv) faith, as reasons for choosing unassisted homebirth. Such decision was firm and strong despite the possible risks and complications that can occur during home birthin...

Research paper thumbnail of Empowering healthcare providers through smoking cessation training in Malaysia: a preintervention and postintervention evaluation on the improvement of knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy

BMJ Open, 2019

ObjectivesHealthcare providers are ideally positioned to advise their patients to quit smoking by... more ObjectivesHealthcare providers are ideally positioned to advise their patients to quit smoking by providing effective smoking cessation intervention. Thus, we evaluate the effectiveness of a 1-day training programme in changing the knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy of healthcare providers in smoking cessation intervention.MethodsA prepost study design was conducted in 2017. The 8-hour Smoking Cessation Organising, Planning and Execution (SCOPE) training comprised lectures, practical sessions and role-play sessions to 218 healthcare providers. A validated evaluation tool, Providers’ Smoking Cessation Training Evaluation, was administered to assess the impact of training on knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy on smoking cessation intervention.ResultsAfter SCOPE training, the knowledge score increased significantly from 7.96±2.34 to 10.35±1.57 (p<0.001). Attitude and self-efficacy in smoking cessation intervention also increased significantly from 34.32±4.12 to 37.04±3.92 (p&l...