Factors Associated with the Health-Related Quality of Life of Malaysian Young Adults Post-Pandemic.

The transition from school to university brings significant adjustments in lifestyle, body weight, and living environment for young adults, potentially impacting their quality of life. Emerging evidence suggests the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have exacerbated these changes. This cross-sectional study involved 361 young adults (18-25 years) from Malaysian tertiary institutions, aiming to identify factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) post-COVID-19 restrictions.

Peer-led lifestyle interventions for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in community: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Peer-led lifestyle interventions have gained recognition as effective approaches for managing and preventing chronic diseases. However, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the impact and effectiveness of peer-led interventions specifically in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our systematic review aims to synthesise the available evidence and evaluate the impact of peer-led lifestyle interventions, providing invaluable insights that can guide the development of peer-led strategies for preventing CVD.

Healthcare cost coverage inequality and its impact on hypertension and diabetes: A five-year follow-up study in a Malaysian rural community.

Background And Aims: Inequality in health care access is a socioeconomic driver for non-communicable disease related risk factors. This study examined the inequality trend in healthcare cost coverage (HCC) compared to private health insurance (PHI) coverage, a subtype of HCC, over 5 years. The study will also determine the association between HCC (and PHI) and the status of hypertension and diabetes diagnosis.

Health insurance status, lifestyle choices and the presence of non-communicable diseases: a systematic review.

Background: Although health insurance (HI) has effectively mitigated healthcare financial burdens, its contribution to healthy lifestyle choices and the presence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is not well established. We aimed to systematically review the existing evidence on the effect of HI on healthy lifestyle choices and NCDs.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and CINAHLComplet@EBSCOhost from inception until 30 September 2022, capturing studies that reported the effect of HI on healthy lifestyle and NCDs.

Dietary and Lifestyle Risk Factors of Obesity Among Young Adults: A Scoping Review of Observational Studies.

Purpose Of Review: Obesity is a growing public health concern worldwide, especially among young adults. This scoping review aims to identify and summarize the current evidence on dietary and lifestyle risk factors associated with obesity among young adults.

Recent Findings: A scoping review was performed using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Social Media-Delivered Lifestyle Interventions Among Individuals Living with Diabetes and Prediabetes: A Scoping Review.

Purpose Of Review: There is a lack of synthesized evidence on social media-delivered lifestyle interventions for managing and preventing diabetes. This scoping review aims to evaluate recently reported lifestyle interventions delivered on social media for individuals with diabetes and prediabetes.

Recent Findings: Twelve studies were included in this review.

Comprehending Nutrition and Lifestyle Behaviors of People with Metabolic Syndrome: A Focus Group Study.

Demographically and socio-culturally appropriate care is critical for empowering people with metabolic syndrome (MetS) to self-manage their condition. This focus group study aimed to explore the understanding of nutrition and lifestyle behaviors (NLBs) of Malaysians with MetS. Adults with MetS (N = 21) participated in four focus groups at a university's research clinic in Malaysia.

Communication, the Heart of a Relationship: Examining Capitalization, Accommodation, and Self-Construal on Relationship Satisfaction.

The study of processes that enrich positive relationships has been an under-researched area within positive psychology practice. The way an individual responds during couple conflicts (accommodation response) and toward the disclosure of good news of a partner (capitalization response) has been linked to relationship quality. Although the accommodation and capitalization communication processes are part and parcel of our everyday lives, the two processes have been examined separately and dominated by the Western perspectives in past research.

Group-Based Lifestyle Intervention Strategies for Metabolic Syndrome: A Scoping Review and Strategic Framework for Future Research.

: Group-based lifestyle interventions reap social support benefits and have been implemented among individuals with various chronic diseases. However, there is a lack of consolidated evidence on its approaches to prevent or manage metabolic syndrome (MetS). This scoping review aims to assess the group-based lifestyle interventional strategies for MetS and provide a strategic framework for future research in this area.

An Evaluation of the Video Narrative Technique on the Self-Efficacy of Medication Understanding and Use Among Post-Stroke Patients: A Randomized-Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Self-efficacy is positively associated with medication understanding and use self-efficacy (MUSE) among post-stroke patients. It is also closely related to knowledge, belief, and perception, which vary among people from different socioeconomic backgrounds and cultures. As interventions using video and peer stories have emerged to be successful on behavior modification, this study aimed to explore the effectiveness of video narratives incorporated with Health Belief constructs on MUSE and its associated factors among patients with stroke at a local setting.

Video Narratives Intervention Among Stroke Survivors: Feasibility and Acceptability Study of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: A large number of stroke survivors worldwide suffer from moderate to severe disability. In Malaysia, long-term uncontrolled stroke risk factors lead to unforeseen rates of recurrent stroke and a growing incidence of stroke occurrence across ages, predominantly among the elderly population. This situation has motivated research efforts focused on tapping into patient education, especially related to patient self-efficacy of understanding and taking medication appropriately.

Nutrition and Lifestyle Behavior Peer Support Program for Adults with Metabolic Syndrome: Outcomes and Lessons Learned from a Feasibility Trial.

Background: While peer support interventions have shown to benefit adults with certain chronic conditions, there is limited evidence on its feasibility and effectiveness among people with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This paper describes the outcomes of a pre-post feasibility trial of "e pport program for ults with mtabolic syndrome" (PERSUADE), an evidence-based and community-specific nutrition and lifestyle behavior peer support program for Malaysian adults with MetS.

Methods: We recruited 48 peers (median age: 46 (IQR = 11) years old) into four peer groups, who underwent 3 months of PERSUADE, followed by 3 months of follow-up period.

Process Evaluation of a Nutrition and Lifestyle Behavior Peer Support Program for Adults with Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors that increases the risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle intervention is the gold standard of MetS management and prevention. Despite the growing positive influence of peer support-based interventions on management of various chronic diseases, its potential among adults with MetS has not been elucidated.

Relationship of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and diet habits with metabolic syndrome (MetS) among three ethnic groups of the Malaysian population.

Objectives: Literature shows a high prevalence of MetS among Malaysians, varying across the major ethnicities. Since sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and diet habits of such communities have been reported to be diverse, the objective of this study was to investigate the association of various sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors and diet habits with MetS overall, as well as with the three major ethnic communities in Malaysia, specifically.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 481 Malaysians of ages 18 years and above living in the state of Johor, Malaysia.

Exploring stroke survivors' self-efficacy in understanding and taking medication and determining associated factors: a cross-sectional study in a neurology clinic in Malaysia.

Background And Aim: Evidence-based prescribing practices for stroke-preventive medication have benefited stroke survivors; however, medication-nonadherence rates remain high. Medication understanding and use self-efficacy (MUSE) has shown great importance in medication-taking behavior, but its relationship with medication nonadherence in stroke-preventive regimens lacks exploration. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MUSE and its association with nonadherence causes and other potential factors among stroke survivors in Malaysia.

An Intervention to Promote Medication Understanding and Use Self-Efficacy: Design of Video Narratives for Aging Patients at Risk of Recurrent Stroke.

Background: The debilitating effects of recurrent stroke among aging patients have urged researchers to explore medication adherence among these patients. Video narratives built upon Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs have displayed potential impact on medication adherence, adding an advantage to patient education efforts. However, its effect on medication understanding and use self-efficacy have not been tested.

The minimum amount of fluids needed to achieve the fastest time to reach permissible level for release in well-differentiated thyroid patients undergoing high-dose I-131 therapy.

Unlabelled: Radioiodine (131I) therapy is the mainstay of treatment for patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy for well differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Increased fluid intake has always been encouraged to minimize the risk of non-target organ exposure to I-131radiation. This study aimed to determine the minimum amount of fluids needed for patients to have the fastest time to achieve permissible level for release after high dose I-131therapy.

Randomised-controlled trial of a web-based dietary intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes: changes in health cognitions and glycemic control.

Background: Increasing prevalence and disease burden has led to an increasing demand of programs and studies focused on dietary and lifestyle habits, and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We evaluated the effects of a 6-month web-based dietary intervention on Dietary Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour (DKAB), Dietary Stages of Change (DSOC), fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in patients with uncontrolled HbA1c (> 7.0%) in a randomised-controlled trial (myDIDeA) in Malaysia.

The effectiveness of culturally tailored video narratives on medication understanding and use self-efficacy among stroke patients: A randomized controlled trial study protocol.

Introduction: A substantial number of the world's population appears to end with moderate to severe long-term disability after stroke. Persistent uncontrolled stroke risk factor leads to unpredicted recurrent stroke event. The increasing prevalence of stroke across ages in Malaysia has led to the adaptation of medication therapy adherence clinic (MTAC) framework.

Emotional Distress as a Predictor of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Malaysian Nursing Professionals.

Background: Emotional distress is becoming a great concern and is more common in both developed and developing countries. It is associated with several disease conditions.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of self-perceived emotional distress and its relation to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) in nurses.

Factors associated with ultrasound-guided water enema reduction for pediatric intussusception in resource-limited setting: potential predictive role of thrombocytosis and anemia.

Background/purpose: Although ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction (USGHR) is increasingly used in managing pediatric intussusception, there is limited literature concerning its use in Malaysia. We aim to examine the experience and factors associated with the effectiveness of USGHR using water.

Methods: This is a single-center retrospective observational study in a Malaysian tertiary referral center.

Seroprevalence of dengue among healthy adults in a rural community in Southern Malaysia: a pilot study.

Background: The frequency and magnitude of dengue epidemics continue to increase exponentially in Malaysia, with a shift in the age range predominance toward adults and an expansion to rural areas. Despite this, information pertaining to the extent of transmission of dengue virus (DENV) in the rural community is lacking. This community-based pilot study was conducted to establish DENV seroprevalence amongst healthy adults in a rural district in Southern Malaysia, and to identify influencing factors.

Type 2 diabetes patients are more amenable to change following a contextualised diabetes education programme in Malaysia.

The aim of the study is to determine the impact of diabetes education on patients' glycaemic control. A prospective 18-month intervention study was conducted at four ambulatory diabetes centres. Poorly controlled type 2 diabetes patients attended an hour of structured diabetes education at their respective diabetes centres.

A community-based prospective cohort study of dengue viral infection in Malaysia: the study protocol.

Background: Globally, dengue infections constitute a significant public health burden. In recent decades, Malaysia has become a dengue hyper-endemic country with the co-circulation of the four dengue virus serotypes. The cyclical dominance of sub-types contributes to a pattern of major outbreaks.

Prevalence and Correlates of Prehypertension Among Adults in Urban South India.

Prehypertension is one of the most common conditions affecting human beings worldwide. It is associated with several complications including hypertension. The blood pressure between normal and hypertension is prehypertension as per the Seventh Report Joint National Committee (JNC-7) classification.