Factors influencing presentation delay among cancer patients: a cross-sectional study in Malaysia.

Background: Cancer represents a significant global public health challenge, with escalating incidence rates straining healthcare systems. Malaysia, like many nations, has witnessed a rise in cancer cases, particularly among the younger population. This study aligns with Malaysia's National Strategic Plan for Cancer Control Programme 2021-2025, emphasizing primary prevention and early detection to address cancer's impact.

Trends in cataract surgery and healthcare system response during the COVID-19 lockdown in Malaysia: Lessons to be learned.

Background: Elective surgeries were suspended during the national lockdown in March 2020 to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. We sought to evaluate the impact of the lockdown on cataract surgeries and suggest lessons for future outbreaks.

Study Design: We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to examine rates of cataract surgery before and during the lockdown.

Identifying factors in the provision of intravenous stroke thrombolysis in Malaysia: a multiple case study from the healthcare providers' perspective.

Background: Translation into clinical practice for use of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for the management of ischemic stroke remains a challenge especially across low- and middle-income countries, with regional inconsistencies in its rate. This study aimed at identifying factors that influenced the provision of IVT and the variation in its rates in Malaysia.

Methods: A multiple case study underpinning the Tailored Implementation for Chronic Diseases framework was carried out in three public hospitals with differing rates of IVT using a multiple method design.

Stroke thrombolysis in a middle-income country: A case study exploring the determinants of its implementation.

Introduction: Translation of evidence into clinical practice for use of intravenous thrombolysis in acute stroke care has been slow, especially across low- and middle-income countries. In Malaysia where the average national uptake was poor among the public hospitals in 2018, one hospital intriguingly showed comparable thrombolysis rates to high-income countries. This study aimed to explore and provide in-depth understanding of factors and explanations for the high rates of intravenous stroke thrombolysis in this hospital.

Duration of Referral-to-Death and its Associated Factors Among Cancer and Noncancer Patients: Retrospective Cohort Study of a Community Palliative Care Setting in Malaysia.

Addressing timely community palliative care integration is prioritized due to the increased burden of noncommunicable diseases. To compare referral-to-death duration among palliative cancer and noncancer patients and to determine its associated factors in a Malaysian community palliative care center. This retrospective cohort study included decedents referred to a Malaysian community palliative care center between January 2017 and December 2019.

Assessing the Availability of Teleconsultation and the Extent of Its Use in Malaysian Public Primary Care Clinics: Cross-sectional Study.

Background: The integration of teleconsultation into health care systems as a complement to existing approaches to care is growing rapidly. There is, however, limited information on the extent of its implementation across low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the availability and the extent of teleconsultation in Malaysian primary care clinics.

Translation and Validation of the Questionnaire on Acceptance to Telemedicine from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) for Use in Malaysia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated implementation of telemedicine in healthcare facilities for delivery of care. Healthcare providers' acceptance of the telemedicine services is important for successful implementation of this new system. A questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been used to measure user acceptance of telemedicine service.

Trends for Readmission and Mortality After Heart Failure Hospitalisation in Malaysia, 2007 to 2016.

Background And Objectives: Data on population-level outcomes after heart failure (HF) hospitalisation in Asia is sparse. This study aimed to estimate readmission and mortality after hospitalisation among HF patients and examine temporal variation by sex and ethnicity.

Methods: Data for 105,399 patients who had incident HF hospitalisations from 2007 to 2016 were identified from a national discharge database and linked to death registration records.

Trends of Stroke Incidence and 28-Day All-Cause Mortality after a Stroke in Malaysia: A Linkage of National Data Sources.

Background: Data on nationwide trends for stroke metrics are crucial to understand the extent of the disease burden to a country's health system. Yet, this information remains scarce in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: This study investigated trends of stroke incidence and 28-day all-cause mortality after a stroke from 2008 to 2016 in Malaysia, through linkage across national data sources.

Risk of 28-day readmissions among stroke patients in Malaysia (2008-2015): Trends, causes and its associated factors.

Background And Objectives: Risk of readmissions is an important quality indicator for stroke care. Such information is limited among low- and middle-income countries. We assessed the trends for 28-day readmissions after a stroke in Malaysia from 2008 to 2015 and evaluated the causes and factors associated with readmissions in 2015.

High-risk nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescribing in primary care: results from National Medical Care Survey Malaysia.

Background Information on the extent of high-risk prescribing for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) across developing countries is scarce. Objectives This study examines the prescribing pattern for NSAIDs in primary care, assesses the extent of high-risk NSAIDs prescribing and identifies associated factors. Setting 129 public and 416 private primary care clinics in Malaysia.

Sex differences in stroke metrics among Southeast Asian countries: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015.

Background: Sex differences in cardiovascular diseases generally disadvantage women, particularly within developing regions.

Aims: This study aims to examine sex-related differences in stroke metrics across Southeast Asia in 2015. Furthermore, relative changes between sexes are compared from 1990 to 2015.

Prescription of secondary preventive drugs after ischemic stroke: results from the Malaysian National Stroke Registry.

Background: Evaluation of secondary stroke prevention in low and middle-income countries remains limited. This study assessed the prescription of secondary preventive drugs among ischemic stroke patients upon hospital discharge in Malaysia and identified factors related to the prescribing decisions.

Methods: From Malaysian National Stroke Registry, we included patients with non-fatal ischemic stroke.

Use of Antihypertensive Drugs and Ischemic Stroke Severity - Is There a Role for Angiotensin-II?

Background: The increase in angiotensin II (Ang II) formation by selected antihypertensive drugs is said to exhibit neuroprotective properties, but this translation into improvement in clinical outcomes has been inconclusive. We undertook a study to investigate the relationship between types of antihypertensive drugs used prior to a stroke event and ischemic stroke severity. We hypothesized that use of antihypertensive drugs that increase Ang II formation (Ang II increasers) would reduce ischemic stroke severity when compared to antihypertensive drugs that suppress Ang II formation (Ang II suppressors).

Use of a Diagnostic Score to Prioritize Computed Tomographic (CT) Imaging for Patients Suspected of Ischemic Stroke Who May Benefit from Thrombolytic Therapy.

Background: A shortage of computed tomographic (CT) machines in low and middle income countries often results in delayed CT imaging for patients suspected of a stroke. Yet, time constraint is one of the most important aspects for patients with an ischemic stroke to benefit from thrombolytic therapy. We set out to assess whether application of the Siriraj Stroke Score is able to assist physicians in prioritizing patients with a high probability of having an ischemic stroke for urgent CT imaging.