Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicines Among Cancer Patients In Penang, Malaysia: A Qualitative And Quantitative Assessment Of Health Beliefs, Treatment Disclosure And Health Related Quality Of Life

The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) is widespread for general health maintenance and management of disease symptoms. In Malaysia, there is evidence that a variety of CAM is used by patients with cancer. Cancer patients tend to use CAM in an attempt to reduce cancer recurrence and to lessen the side effects due to conventional therapies. The study aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of health beliefs, treatment disclosure and health related quality of life of cancer patients in the context of CAM. A mixed methodological approach using both qualitative and quantitative methods was adapted. The thematic content analysis identified three major themes: patients’ beliefs towards cancer and its treatment, patients’ perceptions toward the use of CAM for cancer treatment and the disclosure of CAM use to the health care providers. Twenty patients were interviewed, twelve of them reported to use CAM while only four disclosed it to the doctors. The slow progression of CAM effectiveness and cost were given as barrier to CAM use. Patients agreed that CAM disclosure is important to avoid any interaction with the conventional medicines

Role of Riyazat in prevention and control of lifestyle diseases: A review

Background: Riyazat (exercise) is a planned, structured and repetitive bodily movement that is done to improve or maintain physical fitness and overall health. It plays an important role not only in maintaining good health but also in preventing and curing certain ailments as well. Lifestyle diseases are ailments that are primarily based on the day to day habits of people. Lack of exercise and habits that detract people from the activity and push them towards a sedentary routine, these are the major causes which serve as an important factor in the rising prevalence of lifestyle diseases. Some of the emerging lifestyle diseases are obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, joint diseases and psychological disorders. Mortality and morbidity rates have also increased with increasing levels of these diseases. Frequent and consistent exercise helps in the prevention of these diseases. It helps in maintaining or losing weight, improves metabolic function and mental health by reducing stress. Many ancient Unani physicians like Hippocrates, Galen, Razi and Avicenna have discussed the beneficial effects of riyazat in their treatise. Conclusion:  It is used as a regimental therapy that acts by inhibiting agglomeration of morbid material in the body and helps in revocation of waste products through natural routes, thus reducing risks for the development of various diseases. So there is an indispensable need to procure exercise regularly to forestall lifestyle diseases for the betterment of life. Keywords: Riyazat, metabolic, ancient, regimental, morbi

Role of Dietotherapy in Lifestyle disorders: An overview

Objective: The aim of the present study to evaluate the role of dietotherapy in lifestyle disorders. Background: The incidence of lifestyle disorders like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and obesity associated with cardiovascular diseases is high on the rise. Cardiovascular disorders continue to be the major cause of mortality, representing about 30% of all death worlds wide. In the Unani System of Medicine (USM) of lifestyle, the disorder is the diseases that arise from the imbalance in asbabe- sitta-zarooriya over a long period. The management of the diseases in USM is largely based on the holistic approach. Four modes of treatment are employed, such as regimental therapy, dietotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and surgery. The dietotherapy is one of the most important non-medical therapy in which treatment is done through  modulation in dietary habit which is necessary for the prevention and control of diseases. The principle aim of dietotherapy is to maintain nutritional needs according to the demand of the body and avoid drugs as it is not considered to be part of the body and produce adverse reactions. Conclusion: The rationale for dietotherapy is that lifestyle disorder brought about by a faulty diet can be reversed or reduced by changes to this diet. Dietotherapy involves recommending a specific diet which is the simplest and most natural course of treatment by USM. Keywords: Lifestyle disorders, dietotherapy, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, unani system of medicine (USM

Nature of Stress among Health Science Students in a Malaysian University

AbstractIntroductionStress disorder among students is a major concern in tertiary education. This study aimed to determine the predominance source of stress among health sciences students in a government university in Malaysia by using validated Medical Student Stressor Questionnaire (MSSQ). Methodology: The MSSQ was distributed to 248 health science students. The items of MSSQ represent 40 events that reported to being possible sources of stress. Result and discussion: The MSSQ showed satisfactory level of psychometric property in the health science students. The main source of stress was the academic related stressorConclusionAcademic requirement is the major stressor for the students. This finding is consistent with the literature and appropriate measures should be sought to prevent its unwanted consequences

Use of Mind Body Complementary Therapies (MBCT) among Thalassemia Patients

This study aimed to determine the pattern use and their experiences of MBCT use in Thalassemia patients in the Northern region of Malaysia. A validated questionnaire was distributed among 390 thalassemia respondents at the Kedah Thalassemia society. Results showed that 313 (80.26%) reported using CAM. The data showed a significant association with age (p=0.001), an education level (p=0.020), and household income (p=0.037). The MBCT was mainly used among thalassemia patients, with 292 respondents (93.29%). This suggests that MBCT helps deal with stress and can be used in chronic management Keywords: thalassemia, complementary and alternative medicine, mind-body complementary therapies, chronic eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i20.352

Use of complementary and alternative medicines among Malaysian cancer patients: A descriptive study

AbstractThe use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM; 補充與替代醫學 bǔ chōng yǔ tì dài yī xué) has been rapidly increasing among cancer patients. However, this pervasiveness is still largely unexplored among Malaysian cancer patients. The current study aimed to evaluate the patterns of CAM use among cancer patients from a local hospital in Malaysia. In addition, the study focused on the information-seeking behavior and CAM use disclosure to doctors. Of 393 patients, 184 (46.1%) had used CAM for their cancers. CAM usage was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.021), level of education (p = 0.001), employment status (p = 0.02), and monthly income (p < 0.001). Among frequently used CAM were nutritional supplements (n = 77, 41.8%), natural products (n = 74, 40.2%), and multivitamin (n = 62, 33.6%). Friends and family members were the most common source of CAM information (n = 139, 75.5%). Seventy-nine (43%) reported to disclose their CAM use to the health care providers. The most common (n = 63, 34.2%) reason of nondisclosure was “it is not important to discuss it with oncologist.” This study confirmed that CAM use is common among Malaysian cancer patients, thus highlighting a greater need for patient education regarding CAM therapies and their potential interactions with conventional therapies. Although some types of CAM therapies may help patients to cope with emotional distress and improve quality of life, CAM, with no proven efficacy, may pose dangers to patients' health due to interactions with conventional therapies. Doctors and other health care providers including nurses and pharmacists should engage cancer patients in an open nonjudgmental dialog to ascertain CAM use disclosure to their health care providers

Knowledge, Attitude and Health Belief (KAHB) on Cancer and Its Treatment: Qualitative exploration of cancer patients in Penang, Malaysia

KAHB toward cancer and its treatment determines the patients' clinical outcome. This study explored KAHB among cancer patients in Penang, Malaysia. Sixteen cancer patients were interviewed upon saturation. This study recorded the information, transcribed, translated and validated before coded and categorized into themes. The study showed that perceived knowledge of cancer and its treatment was moderate. Their attitude toward cancer and its treatment was positive; however, revealed various health belief which influences their cues to action. Most patients seek traditional treatment besides modern medicine as they felt better. This information can support health caregivers for better patient's management. eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.269

Perceptions of thalassemia and its treatment among Malaysian thalassemia patients: A qualitative study

Background Thalassemia is a common public health problem in Malaysia and one of the most common chronic and genetic disorders. Aims The present qualitative study explores knowledge about thalassemia, perceptions about conventional therapies and the points that affect Malaysian patients with thalassemia in taking medications correctly. Methods This study used a qualitative method. Purposive and theoretical samplings were combined to explore the issues related to thalassaemia and its perceptions. Twenty-one patients with thalassemia were recruited from the Thalassemia Society, Kedah, Malaysia from July to October 2015. The semi-structured interviews were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and translated into English for thematic content analysis. Results Participants perceived thalassemia as an incurable disease which is due to genetic and blood related disorders. A positive perception was shown towards conventional therapies considering it as effective for their condition. High treatment cost was given as a reason why patients perceived conventional therapies as effective. Fear of side effects was the main reason the patients gave for their delay in looking for treatment. However, due to limited treatment options, patients were reported to show positive attitude towards the side effects due to thalassemia treatment. Conclusion This explanatory investigation suggests that thalassemia patients’ understanding about thalassemia is complex in nature. The findings may help healthcare providers remove myths about the fear of the treatment. It may also help in improving patient’s compliance towards the thalassemia therapies. Main focus for future research should be on those patients who declined the conventional therapies

Pharmacists’ Perception of the Sale of Non-Clinically Proven Health Supplements in Penang, Malaysia

Purpose: To explore community pharmacists’ perception of the sale of non-clinically proven health supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) products available in Penang, Malaysia.Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a self-completed postal questionnaire was conducted in July 2010 among 200 community pharmacists practicing in Penang Island.Results: Fifty six pharmacists participated in the study (response rate, 28.0 %). A total of 10.7 % respondents indicated that the sale of non-clinically proven products result in high profit. Only 25.0 % of the pharmacists believed that non-clinically proven OTC products are effective, while 35.7 % thought that it is not ethical to sell these products. A majority of the respondents (94.7 %) agreed that manufacturers’ advertisement have a huge effect on positive consumers’ behaviour towards such products. Most respondents agreed that manufacturers of these products claim that their products are effective (57.1 %) and have fewor no side effects (60.7 %).Conclusions: Pharmacists who participated in the study have mixed  opinions on the efficacy and effectiveness of non-clinically proven products. There is a need for pharmacists to be well educated on the  evidence-based use of these products in order to be able to offerappropriate advice to those who come to them to purchase the items.Keywords: Perception, Health promotion, Urban poor, Health supplements

Complementary and Alternative Medicine versus Conventional Medicine Use in Thalassemia Patients

Background: This study explores thalassemia patients' perceptions concerning the effectiveness of conventional therapies for Thalassemia healthcare. Method: The semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English. Results: Nearly all thalassemia patients reported to have relied on conventional treatment methods to treat and reduce the severity of their disease. Few patients reported not to comply with their treatment procedures due to fear of infection through blood transfusion, surgery and organ failure. Conclusions: In conclusion, patients showed positive views about the conventional therapies carried out for Thalassemia. Keywords:: Thalassemia; qualitative; conventional; complementary and alternative medicine eISSN: 2398-4287© 2021. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning &amp; Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v6i16.266