Gender and Ethnic Differences in Diabetes Self Care in Malaysia: An Individual Participant Meta-Analysis of Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities Studies.

Background: Many published studies in Malaysia have examined and assessed self care among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients using the Summary of Diabetes Self Care Activities (SDSCA) scale. The current paper is a meta-analysis of related studies that also examines how gender and ethnicity influence and shape T2DM self care practices in Malaysia.

Methods: We undertook a bibliographic search for studies conducted and published in Malaysia on T2DM adults using the SDSCA scale.

A Malaysian Delphi consensus on managing knee osteoarthritis.

Background: The 2013 Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Osteoarthritis (OA) recommend a linear step-up approach to manage knee OA. However, patients with knee OA often require a multimodal approach to address OA-related pain symptoms and functional limitations. This consensus aimed to provide doctors with an updated set of evidence-based, clinical experience-guided recommendations to manage knee OA.

Eating self-efficacy changes in individuals with type 2 diabetes following a structured lifestyle intervention based on the transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA): A secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Eating self-efficacy behavior is an important predictor of successful lifestyle intervention. This secondary analysis evaluated the changes in eating self-efficacy behavior in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight/obesity following structured lifestyle intervention based on the Malaysian customized transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm (tDNA).

Methods: Patients with T2D and overweight/obesity (n = 230) were randomized either into the tDNA group which included a structured low-calorie meal plan using normal foods, incorporation of diabetes-specific meal replacements, and an exercise prescription or usual T2D care (UC) for 6 months.

Intake of Palm Olein and Lipid Status in Healthy Adults: A Meta-Analysis.

It is not clear whether a saturated fatty acid-rich palm olein diet has any significant adverse effect on established surrogate lipid markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We reviewed the effect of palm olein with other oils on serum lipid in healthy adults. We searched in MEDLINE and CENTRAL: Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1975 to January 2018 for randomized controlled trials of ≥2 wk intervention that compared the effects of palm olein (the liquid fraction of palm oil) with other oils such as coconut oil, lard, canola oil, high-oleic sunflower oil, olive oil, peanut oil, and soybean oil on changes in serum lipids.

Interesterified Palm Olein (IEPalm) and Interesterified Stearic Acid-Rich Fat Blend (IEStear) Have No Adverse Effects on Insulin Resistance: A Randomized Control Trial.

Chemically-interesterified (CIE) fats are -fat free and are increasingly being used as an alternative to hydrogenated oils for food manufacturing industries to optimize their products' characteristics and nutrient compositions. The metabolic effects of CIE fats on insulin activity, lipids, and adiposity in humans are not well established. We investigated the effects of CIE fats rich in palmitic (C16:0, IEPalm) and stearic (C18:0, IEStear) acids on insulin resistance, serum lipids, apolipoprotein concentrations, and adiposity, using C16:0-rich natural palm olein (NatPO) as the control.

Decision making process and factors contributing to research participation among general practitioners: A grounded theory study.

Introduction: The participation of general practitioners (GPs) in primary care research is variable and often poor. We aimed to develop a substantive and empirical theoretical framework to explain GPs' decision-making process to participate in research.

Methods: We used the grounded theory approach to construct a substantive theory to explain the decision-making process of GPs to participate in research activities.

What does the multiple mini interview have to offer over the panel interview?

Introduction: This paper compares the panel interview (PI) performance with the multiple mini interview (MMI) performance and indication of behavioural concerns of a sample of medical school applicants. The acceptability of the MMI was also assessed.

Materials And Methods: All applicants shortlisted for a PI were invited to an MMI.

Are medical students confident in taking a sexual history? An assessment on attitude and skills from an upper middle income country.

Background: Sexual history training during undergraduate education is essential for preparing future doctors to handle patients' sexual health concerns. The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes and perceptions of final-year medical students in Malaysia toward sexual history taking and the training they receive from their medical schools.

Methods: The study used a cross-sectional survey of 379 final-year medical students from three medical schools in Malaysia.

Diets high in palmitic acid (16:0), lauric and myristic acids (12:0 + 14:0), or oleic acid (18:1) do not alter postprandial or fasting plasma homocysteine and inflammatory markers in healthy Malaysian adults.

Background: Dietary fat type is known to modulate the plasma lipid profile, but its effects on plasma homocysteine and inflammatory markers are unclear.

Objective: We investigated the effects of high-protein Malaysian diets prepared with palm olein, coconut oil (CO), or virgin olive oil on plasma homocysteine and selected markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in healthy adults.

Design: A randomized-crossover intervention with 3 dietary sequences of 5 wk each was conducted in 45 healthy subjects.

Process of care and prescribing practices for hypertension in public and private primary care clinics in Malaysia.

This study aimed to compare the process of care and the choice of antihypertensive medications used in both public and private primary care clinics in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey was completed in 2008 on randomly selected 100 public health clinics and 114 private primary care clinics in Malaysia. A total of 4076 patient records, 3753 (92.

Text messaging reminders to reduce non-attendance in chronic disease follow-up: a clinical trial.

Background: Non-attendance results in administrative problems and disruption in patient care. Several interventions have been used to reduce non-attendance, with varying degree of success. A relatively new intervention, text messaging, has been shown to be as effective as telephone reminders in reducing non-attendance.