Staff Development Programme and Job Performance in Kuala Muda/Yan

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perception of secondary school teachers on the effects of staff development programme on the their job performance. The study was carried out at 10 selected secondary schools in the Kuala Muda/Yan district in Kedah. 322 respondents were randomly chosen from the 10 selected schools to take part in the survey using a 41-item questionnaire. The results of the survey were analysed using the Pearson correlation method, t-test and analysis of variance in SPSS. The analysis showed that there is very significant relationship between the perception of teachers on job performance and staff development. However, only a moderate correlation of 0.6065 was obtained between the perception of teachers on job performance and staff development programme. Job performance could be affected by other factors such as motivation, ability, traits, role perceptions, rewards and reinforcers. The salary movement in the New Remuneration System for government employees was found to be very significantly related to the perception of teachers on staff development programme and job performance. The perception of the teachers on their job performance and staff development programme were found to be significantly related to the number of inservice and in-house training programmes attended by the teachers. The results of the analysis of variance proved that the perception of staff development programme and job performance of the teachers were found to be very significantly related to the position held by the teachers. In contrast, it was found that the demographic factors of gender, age, marital status, academic qualifications and length of service have no effect on the teachers’ perception of staff development programme not job performance. Suggestions for future staff development programme and further study were proposed

Days of Yore, Days of Change

The following interview was conducted by email after an initial informal meeting with the author in Kuala Lumpur in May 2013. The replies were received in July 2013

A “near miss" congenital eventration of the right hemidiaphragm in a neonate: a case report

Focal eventration involving the posterior segment of the hemidiaphragm is a rare congenital anomaly. We report of a 10-day-old infant who presented with significant respiratory insufficiency and failure to show any responses to standard treatment. The diagnosis of focal eventration of the diaphragm was not anticipated until ultrasonographic examination revealed the defect. Diaphragmatic plication resulted in complete resolution of symptoms. A high level clinical awareness is crucial as a relatively simple surgical procedure could avert long term life-threatening complications

Child Maltreatment Experience among Primary School Children: A Large Scale Survey in Selangor State, Malaysia

<div><p>Official reports of child maltreatment in Malaysia have persistently increased throughout the last decade. However there is a lack of population surveys evaluating the actual burden of child maltreatment, its correlates and its consequences in the country. This cross sectional study employed 2 stage stratified cluster random sampling of public primary schools, to survey 3509 ten to twelve year old school children in Selangor state. It aimed to estimate the prevalence of parental physical and emotional maltreatment, parental neglect and teacher- inflicted physical maltreatment. It further aimed to examine the associations between child maltreatment and important socio-demographic factors; family functioning and symptoms of depression among children. Logistic regression on weighted samples was used to extend results to a population level. Three quarters of 10–12 year olds reported at least one form of maltreatment, with parental physical maltreatment being most common. Males had higher odds of maltreatment in general except for emotional maltreatment. Ethnicity and parental conflict were key factors associated with maltreatment. The study contributes important evidence towards improving public health interventions for child maltreatment prevention in the country.</p></div

Prevalence of specific type of maltreatment, cumulative abuse and range of CES-DC score.

<p>#Weights have been applied to the sample to adjust for complex study design.</p><p>Prevalence of specific type of maltreatment, cumulative abuse and range of CES-DC score.</p

Lens-sparing vitrectomy for shaken baby syndrome

AIM: To document the ophthalmological findings and visual outcomes for shaken baby syndrome(SBS)patients who had lens-sparing vitrectomy(LSV)for non-resolving premacular and vitreous hemorrhages obscuring the macula.<p>METHODS: A retrospective review and statistical analysis of ophthalmological and demographic data of patients admitted with SBS from 2010 to 2012 was done. Patients with premacular and vitreous hemorrhage obscuring the macula who underwent LSV were included as subjects. Paired samples <i>t</i>-test was used to compare means, categorical data was analysed using Fisher's exact test and Pearson Chi-squared test. <i>P</i> value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.<p>RESULTS: Thirty two subjects were recruited with a mean age of 5.09±1.96mo. Twenty one(65.6%)subjects had visual acuity of no light perception at presentation. Subjects with poorer initial visual acuity had larger pupil sizes(<i>P</i>=0.021)and most of them had neurosurgical intervention(<i>P</i>=0.027). The mean duration to perform LSV was 28.56±20.83d. Our vitrectomy complication rate was 4.26%. Post-operatively, 26(80%)subjects had vision of light perception or better, the spherical equivalent was significantly more myopic(<i>P</i>=0.001).<p>CONCLUSION: Prompt ophthalmological assessment is vital to ensure optimum visual rehabilitation in SBS patients. With low complication rates, early surgical intervention with LSV represents a promising option for non-resolving intraocular hemorrhages obscuring the macula in SBS

Multivariate associations between demographic, parental & environmental factors and child maltreatment.

<p>° Weights have been applied to the sample to adjust for complex study design. Odds ratios are adjusted for other variables shown and represent population measures.</p><p>Referent values for independent variables are:</p><p>¹Rural,</p><p>²Malay,</p><p>³Female,</p><p>⁴No parental conflict,</p><p>⁵No alcohol abuse,</p><p>⁶No drug abuse,</p><p>⁷Both biological parents,</p><p>⁸Father employed,</p><p>⁹Five persons in household,</p><p>¹⁰Never moved house,</p><p>¹¹Mostly happy with father,</p><p>¹²Mostly happy with mother,</p><p>¹³Highest tertile of parental communication,</p><p>¹⁴Always safe at home,</p><p>¹⁵Average and below comfort score,</p><p>¹⁶ Happy most of the times</p><p>^! Father’s Occupational status was found to be significant only for Parental Neglect. Mother’s occupational status was not found to be significant in univariate analysis and therefore not included in multivariate modelling.</p><p>Multivariate associations between demographic, parental & environmental factors and child maltreatment.</p