Biopsychosocial factors of depression among community-dwelling geriatric population with low perceived social support; a population-based study.

Background: Although significant and disabling consequences are presented due to geriatric population-related depression, an insufficient comprehension of various biological, psychological, and social factors affecting this issue has been observed. Notably, these factors can contribute to geriatric population-related depression with low social support. This study aimed to identify factors associated with depression among the community-dwelling geriatric population with low social support in Malaysia.

Achieving cervical cancer elimination: The simulated impacts of HPV vaccination and transitioning from liquid-based cytology to HPV-based screening test.

The Ministry of Health Malaysia aims to fully replace liquid-based cytology (LBC) with Human Papillomavirus (HPV) tests and increase the screening coverage from a baseline of 25% to 40% by 2023, followed by a 10% yearly increment until 70% coverage. This transition requires proper planning, including the number of tests needed and budget allocation. This study aims to simulate different transition strategies involving the shift from LBC to HPV testing with expanded screening coverage to predict their impact on cervical cancer elimination in Malaysia.

The impact of long-term care interventions on healthcare utilisation among older persons: a scoping review of reviews.

Background: As the ageing population grows, the demand for long-term care (LTC) services will rise, concurrently amplifying healthcare utilisation. This review aims to examine and consolidate information on LTC interventions that influence healthcare utilisation among older persons.

Methods: A scoping review was performed through a systematic search in PubMed, EBSCO CINAHL, EBM Reviews - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, APA PsycInfo, EBM Reviews - Health Technology Assessment, and EBM Reviews - NHS Economic Evaluation Database.

Social support in maintaining mental health and quality of life among community-dwelling older people with functional limitations in Malaysia: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the mediation role of perceived social support in the relationship between functional limitations, depressive symptoms and quality of life among older people in Malaysia.

Setting: The Malaysian National Health Morbidity Survey 2018: Elderly Health was a cross-sectional health community survey among adults aged 50 and above.

Participants: 3977 community-dwelling older Malaysians aged 60 and above.

COVID-19 clusters in Malaysia: characteristics, detection methods and modes of early transmission.

Objective: Effective prevention and control measures are essential to contain outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Understanding the characteristics of case clusters can contribute to determining which prevention and control measures are needed. This study describes the characteristics of COVID-19 case clusters in Malaysia, the method used to detect a cluster's index case and the mode of early transmission, using the seven cluster categories applied in Malaysia.

Prevalence and sociodemographic predictors of high-risk vaginal human papillomavirus infection: findings from a public cervical cancer screening registry.

Introduction: High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) screening is vital for early cervical cancer detection and treatment. With the introduction of the national cervical cancer screening programme and screening registry in Malaysia, there is a need to monitor population-based HPV screening uptake and high-risk HPV prevalence as part of cervical cancer surveillance.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and sociodemographic factors predicting high-risk HPV infection in Malaysia based on a public, community-based cervical cancer screening registry targeting women at risk of getting HPV infection.

Embedding rapid reviews in health policy and systems decision-making: Impacts and lessons learned from four low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Demand for rapid evidence-based syntheses to inform health policy and systems decision-making has increased worldwide, including in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To promote use of rapid syntheses in LMICs, the WHO's Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) created the Embedding Rapid Reviews in Health Systems Decision-Making (ERA) Initiative. Following a call for proposals, four LMICs were selected (Georgia, India, Malaysia and Zimbabwe) and supported for 1 year to embed rapid response platforms within a public institution with a health policy or systems decision-making mandate.

Effect of supplementary private health insurance on inpatient utilisation: Evidence from Malaysia.

Supplementary private health insurance (PHI) provides better access to healthcare, improves health outcomes, potentially lowers the costs for health systems and supports the social security system. Improperly regulated PHI, however, may aggravate inequity of access towards preferential care and encourage moral hazard among PHI purchasers, altering the health-seeking behaviour, which is often observed through the pattern of health care utilisation. We investigated the effect of PHI ownership on private inpatient care utilisation, its frequency of admission and length of stay by conducting secondary data analysis of the Malaysian National Health Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015 data, a nationally representative community health survey.

Healthcare provider person-centred practice: relationships between prerequisites, care environment and care processes using structural equation modelling.

Background: The translation of person-centred care concepts into practice requires fulfilment of necessary components, including person-centred values and practice held by the employees and having a supportive system. The objectives of this study were multifold: firstly, to evaluate the measurement model, secondly, to examine the roles of prerequisite or attributes of healthcare providers and care environment and how they affect delivery of person-centred processes; and finally, to examine the mediating effect of care environment towards the relationship between prerequisite and care processes.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among healthcare providers working in primary care facilities in a state in Malaysia.

Addressing Gaps for Health Systems Strengthening: A Public Perspective on Health Systems' Response towards COVID-19.

Strengthening the health systems through gaps identification is necessary to ensure sustainable improvements especially in facing a debilitating outbreak such as COVID-19. This study aims to explore public perspective on health systems' response towards COVID-19, and to identify gaps for health systems strengthening by leveraging on WHO health systems' building blocks. A qualitative study was conducted using open-ended questions survey among public followed by in-depth interviews with key informants.

Private Health Insurance in Malaysia: Who Is Left Behind?

Despite various efforts introduced, private health insurance coverage is still low in Malaysia. The objective of this article is to find the factors associated with not having a private health insurance in Malaysia. We analyze data involving 19 959 respondents from the 2015 National Health Morbidity Survey.

Cross-cultural adaptation and exploratory factor analysis of the Person-centred Practice Inventory - Staff (PCPI-S) questionnaire among Malaysian primary healthcare providers.

Background: The Person-centred Practice Inventory-Staff (PCPI-S) instrument was developed to measure healthcare providers' perception towards their person-centred practice. The study aimed to explore the influence of culture, context, language and local practice towards the PCPI-S instrument adaptation process for use among public primary care healthcare providers in Malaysia.

Methods: The original PCPI-S was reviewed and adapted for cultural suitability by an expert committee to ensure conceptual and item equivalence.

Socio-Economic Factors Related to Drinking Water Source and Sanitation in Malaysia.

Access to improved water and sanitation is essential. We describe these practices in Malaysia using data from a nationwide community survey and used logistic regression to assess the determinants. Of the 7978 living quarters (LQs), 58.

Protocol for a cross-sectional study measuring person-centredness among healthcare providers in Malaysian primary care clinics: the adaptation and validation of the Person-Centred Practice Inventory-Staff (PCPI-S) Questionnaire.

Introduction: Person-centred care (PCC) has become a global movement in healthcare. Despite this, the level of PCC is not routinely assessed in clinical practice. This protocol describes the adaptation and validation of the Person-Centred Practice Inventory-Staff (PCPI-S) tool that will be used to assess person-centred practices of primary healthcare providers in Malaysia.