Factors influencing healthcare providers' behaviours in deprescribing: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Deprescribing serves as a pivotal measure to mitigate the drug-related problem due to polypharmacy. This study aimed to map the factors influencing healthcare providers' deprescribing decision using the Behaviour Change Wheel framework and develop an innovative conceptual model to support deprescribing practice.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey targeting doctors and pharmacists was conducted to assess the influence of various factors on healthcare providers' comfort in recommending deprescribing.

The effectiveness of pharmacist-led educational model in adult patients with allergic rhinitis: a single-center randomized control trial protocol (AR-PRISE RCT).

Background: Allergic rhinitis is a chronic respiratory disorder that significantly impacts patients' quality of life (QoL) and work performance. Pharmacists are recognized as suitable professionals to provide patient education and pharmaceutical care for managing allergic rhinitis patients. However, local clinical practice guidelines, particularly regarding pharmaceutical care in public healthcare institutions, are lacking.

Development of a Malaysian potentially inappropriate prescribing screening tool in older adults (MALPIP): a Delphi study.

Introduction: Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) are common among older adults. To guide appropriate prescribing, healthcare professionals often rely on explicit criteria to identify and deprescribe inappropriate medications, or to start medications due to prescribing omission. However, most explicit PIM criteria were developed with inadequate guidance from quality metrics or integrating real-world data, which are rich and valuable data source.

Development and validation of a pharmacist-led education model in allergic rhinitis management: a multi-phase study.

Background: Patient education is identified as one of the core and fundamental management strategies in the management of allergic rhinitis. The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines developed guidance for the management of allergic respiratory disease, and the guidelines are applicable to the international context. The ARIA guidelines for the pharmacy have specifically encouraged the creation of local pharmacist-led intervention in allergic rhinitis management.

Impact of deprescribing intervention on potentially inappropriate medications and clinical outcomes among hospitalized older adults in Malaysia: a randomized controlled trial (REVMED RCT) protocol.

Background: Polypharmacy and the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are prevalent among older patients admitted to hospitals, posing a heightened risk of adverse drug events. This trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led deprescribing intervention in reducing medications, PIM and improving clinical outcomes, using the locally developed Malaysian Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing Screening tool in Older Adults (MALPIP).

Methods: This is an 18-month cluster-randomized, open-label, parallel-arm controlled trial conducted at 14 public hospitals in the Perak state of Malaysia.

The Trend of the Burden of Allergic Rhinitis Pre- and Post-COVID-19 Pandemic in the Urban Population of Perak, Malaysia.

Aims: This study aims to determine the trend of allergic rhinitis (AR) prevalence in a tertiary hospital between 2017 and 2022, and to compare its prevalence pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving the extraction of all Malaysian patients' medical records who were diagnosed with AR and attended the otorhinolaryngology outpatient clinic of a government-funded tertiary hospital in Malaysia between 2017 and 2022.

Results: 3,744 cases out of the 57,968 first-encounter outpatient visits to the otorhinolaryngology clinic were extracted for analysis.

Huge Long Standing Staghorn Rhinolith in a Young Adult.

Rhinolith is an uncommon condition that usually happens due to mineralisation of calcium and magnesium salts over a retained foreign body inside the nasal cavity for long period of time. Here we report one such case of a 33-year-old lady who presented to us with long standing intermittent epistaxis and on examination rhinolith was discovered.

Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications among hospitalized older adults with COVID-19 in Malaysian tertiary hospitals.

Introduction: Older adults are among the most vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic, contributing to a large proportion of COVID-19-related death. Medication review and reconciliation by pharmacist can help reduce the number of potentially inappropriate medications but these services were halted during COVID-19.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with inappropriate medicine use among older populations with COVID-19.

Health system preparedness in infectious diseases: perspective of Malaysia, a middle-income country, in the face of monkeypox outbreaks.

The World Health Organization declared monkeypox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on July 23, 2022. As of July 25th, 2022, there were 16,016 laboratory-confirmed cases reported worldwide with 5 deaths. Malaysia's Health Ministry has developed a five-point strategy to prepare for the impending threat of the infectious disease, encompassing early detection of monkeypox, consolidation of laboratory diagnostic facilities, case management and treatment, cluster management, and strengthening public awareness.

Preferences and willingness of accepting COVID-19 vaccine booster: Results from a middle-income country.

The recent wave of COVID-19 cases has led to the potential need for booster doses. We surveyed 6,294 people and found that 87.6% reported willingness to take a booster dose, with vaccine efficacy rate being the most common reason cited to accept booster dose.

The management of allergic rhinitis by pharmacists in public services: a proposed PhaRmacISt-led Education Model (AR-PRISE).

Allergic rhinitis has been identified as a major respiratory disease that places a significant burden on patients and the healthcare system. Nevertheless, the management of allergic rhinitis is challenging for both patients and practitioners. Pharmacists have been recognised as strategic in providing advice for allergic avoidance, disease information, and pharmacological care for allergic rhinitis management.

Managing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir during COVID-19: pharmacists' experiences from the Perak state of Malaysia.

Novel therapeutic agents for SARS-CoV-2 have emerged over time, serving to reduce the severity of the disease, admission and mortality, especially among high-risk populations. Oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) was found to reduce the risk of disease progression. Pharmacists played multiple roles in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perceived Gap of Age-Friendliness among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Findings from Malaysia, a Middle-Income Country.

Background: The United Nations predicts that the global population aged 65 years or above will double from 703 million in 2019 to 1.5 billion by 2050. In Malaysia, the older population has reached 2.

The challenges in managing the growth of indigenous children in Perak State, Malaysia: A qualitative study.

Indigenous peoples in Peninsular Malaysia, known as Orang Asli, have been associated with the problem of malnutrition. Approximately 40% of their children are underweight. Indigenous peoples' distinct social, cultural, and economic traits, which differ from those of the dominant communities in which they live, may pose significant challenges for health care providers (HCPs) in addressing the malnutrition issue.

Experiences of social stigma among patients tested positive for COVID-19 and their family members: a qualitative study.

Background: Social stigma against persons infected with COVID-19 is not uncommon. This qualitative study aimed to explore the experience of social stigma among COVID-19 positive patients and their family members.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted between April to June 2020 in Malaysia.

Filtering Facepiece Respirators for Healthcare Workers Protection in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Protecting healthcare workers (HCWs) who are in the frontline during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic is paramount. The filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) or N95 respirator is one of the personal protective equipment (PPE) used to protect HCWs exposed to airborne pathogens in clinical practice or when performing aerosol generating procedures. The FFRs should be able to serve the intended purpose without causing additional health and safety hazards for the HCWs.

Controversies on the Use of Ultraviolet Rays for Disinfection During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the use of ultraviolet (UV) rays to disinfect skin areas, clothes and other objects at the entry/exit points of public spaces has been widely discussed by stakeholders. While ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) has been shown to effectively inactivate coronaviruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), no specific evidence proves that it effectively inactivates the new SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. Because UV rays damage human tissue, UVGI should be used with caution and not directly on human skin.

Life-threatening parapharyngeal and retropharyngeal abscess in an infant.

Severe extensive deep neck abscess in an infant is uncommon. We share the case of a previously well 4-month old infant who was referred for a 4-day history of fever, lethargy and left lateral neck swelling. Contrast-enhanced CT scan revealed a large 5.

Fabrication of Phosphor-Free III-Nitride Nanowire Light-Emitting Diodes on Metal Substrates for Flexible Photonics.

In this paper, we report our study on high-performance III-nitride nanowire light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on copper (Cu) substrates via the substrate-transfer process. Nanowire LED structures were first grown on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. Subsequently, the SOI substrate was removed by combining dry- and wet-etching processes.

Endoscopic transmaxillary drainage of an infratemporal fossa abscess.

Infratemporal fossa abscess is a rare and challenging condition to diagnose and manage. A few reported cases have been mostly due to odontogenic infections and were managed by external or intraoral drainage. This is the first reported case of an infratemporal fossa abscess that was successfully managed by endoscopic drainage via a transmaxillary approach.

Changing trends in oesophageal endoscopy: a systematic review of transnasal oesophagoscopy.

The safety, efficacy, and economic implications of using transnasal oesophagoscopy (TNE) are compared with conventional rigid or flexible oesophagoscopy for oesophageal disorders in otorhinolaryngology (ORL) clinics in this systematic review. Eleven electronic databases were searched for articles on transnasal oesophagoscopy. A total of 67 relevant titles were identified and 39 abstracts were screened of which 17 full- text articles were included in this report.

Unusual foreign body of parotid gland presenting as sialolithiasis: case report and literature review.

This case report highlights an unusual case where a foreign body in the parotid gland was initially thought to be sialolithiasis based on CT scans. The foreign body was safely retrieved from the parotid gland without formal superficial parotidectomy using methylene blue and an image intensifier to localize the lesion. Diagnosis and management of foreign bodies in the parotid gland are reviewed, and surgical options in removal of such lesions are discussed.

Exploring the knowledge of nasopharyngeal carcinoma among medical doctors at primary health care level in Perak state, Malaysia.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is among the commonest cancers in Malaysia. The prognosis for NPC like most other head and neck cancer is dependent on its staging. Majority of patients in Malaysia at the time of diagnosis are either at stage III or IV (27 and 47%, respectively).