Public health informatics in global health surveillance: A review

Background: Surveillance is the backbone for effective public health practice. Traditionally, surveillance system relies on the collection of information regarding health-related events through healthcare facilities, disease notification system from the physician, syndromic notification networks, selected sentinel healthcare facilities, or by event-based data. However, there are several limitations in using conventional surveillance. Methods: With the advancement of technology and computer science, overcoming those limitations and complementing the traditional method has been recommended. Three leading emerging technologies are applied in public health surveillance: the internet of things, artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Results: Application of informatics in public health surveillance could raise several issues including accessibility and affordability of innovations; public health informatics’ experts, law, and regulation to protect patients’ information; social and ethical considerations, norms, and standards of implementing new technologies; data ownership; privacy and sharing of information; biosecurity; biosafety; and cybersecurity. Conclusion: This article aimed to review several applications of informatics system in public health surveillance practice and its several issues related to the use of technology. Several applications of informatics could be useful for incoming challenges in public health. However, application of informatics can pose significant issues and must be taken into consideration in public health practice

Colorectal cancer and potential predictors of never screened for faecal occult blood test: a narrative review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health threat. Therefore, CRC screening uptake has been a focus with the established precancerous lesion and the strong association of early detection with staging and survival of the disease. However, CRC screening is relatively low in many countries. This article briefly discussed the current situation of CRC, recommendations, and current uptake of CRC screening in various countries. Besides that, this article also highlights the potential factors that help to predict the CRC screening uptake worldwide. Identification of those factors could guide policymakers to develop an effective strategy to improve the CRC screening uptake and ultimately improve the health outcome of the population

Predictors of severe covid-19 among healthcare workers in Sabah, Malaysia

Healthcare workers (HCWs) is the high-risk group for COVID-19 infection due to increased workplace exposure. However, evidence of the disease burden and factors associated with severe COVID-19 infection among HCWs is limited. Therefore, this article aims to describe the prevalence of severe COVID-19 disease among HCWs in Sabah, Malaysia, and to determine the factors associated with severe COVID-19 infection. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out by assessing the data of COVID-19-infected HCWs in Sabah, Malaysia, from 1st March 2021 until 30th September 2021. Logistic regression analysis was used in this study. Three thousand and forty HCWs were diagnosed with COVID-19 from 1st March 2021 until 30th September 2021. Of the 3040 HCWs, 2948 (97.0%) HCWs were mild, whereas 92 (3.0%) were severe. The multivariate logistic regression model showed that severe COVID-19 among HCWs in Sabah was associated with those do not receive any COVID-19 vaccination (aOR 6.061, 95% CI 3.408 – 10.780), underlying co-morbidity (aOR 3.335, 95% CI 2.183 – 5.096), and female (aOR 1.833, 95% CI 1.090 – 3.081). HCWs should strictly adhere to preventive measures, including vaccination, personal protective equipment, and early referral to a physician upon identifying severe COVID-19 infection. Early screening and aggressive co-morbidity treatment among HCWs are essential for public health practitioners to prevent severe COVID-19 disease. Regardless of co-morbidity status, HCWs should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, including booster doses

Knowledge, attitude and practice on COVID-19 among students during the early phase of pandemic in a university in Borneo, Malaysia

Background: COVID-19 related knowledge, attitude and practice plays a major role in determining the readiness of the community to adopt the behavioural change towards recommended preventive measures outlined by public health officials. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 among university students as well as its associated factors. Method: This is a cross sectional study that was conducted among students in a public university during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. An online validated self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis test was used to determine the association between independent variables with knowledge, attitude, and practice score.Results: Overall response rate of this study was 92.9 (n=524). Median score of knowledge domain was 78.0 (IQR= ±12.0), median attitude score of 49.0 (IQR= ±5.0), and median practice score of 80.0 (IQR= ±11.0). The mean knowledge, attitude and practice score were significantly higher among diploma holder (vs degree holder, p<0.05), residing in main Kota Kinabalu campus (vs non-KK campus, p<0.001), studying in medical faculty (vs non-medical faculty, p<0.001), and attended COVID-19 education (vs non-attendance; p<0.05).Conclusion: COVID-19 related knowledge and attitude were below satisfactory level during earlier phase of the pandemic. However, majority of respondents have positive behaviour towards COVID-19 prevention. This highlights the importance of accurate and tailored health education to improve the level of knowledge, attitude and practice of recommended measures to prevent COVID-19 spread

Improving Tuberculosis Medication Adherence: The Potential of Integrating Digital Technology and Health Belief Model

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health concern. Globally, TB is among the top 10 and the leading cause of death due to a single infectious agent. Providing standard anti-TB therapy for at least 6 months is recommended as one of the crucial strategies to control the TB epidemic. However, the long duration of TB treatment raised the issue of non-adherence. Non-adherence to TB therapy could negatively affect clinical and public health outcomes. Thus, directly observed therapy (DOT) has been introduced as a standard strategy to improve anti-TB medication adherence. Nonetheless, the DOT approach has been criticized due to inconvenience, stigma, reduced economic productivity, and reduced quality of life, which ultimately could complicate adherence issues. Apart from that, its effectiveness in improving anti-TB adherence is debatable. Therefore, digital technology could be an essential tool to enhance the implementation of DOT. Incorporating the health belief model (HBM) into digital technology can further increase its effectiveness in changing behavior and improving medication adherence. This article aimed to review the latest evidence regarding TB medication non-adherence, its associated factors, DOT’s efficacy and its alternatives, and the use of digital technology and HBM in improving medication adherence. This paper used the narrative review methodology to analyze related articles to address the study objectives. Conventional DOT has several disadvantages in TB management. Integrating HBM in digital technology development is potentially effective in improving medication adherence. Digital technology provides an opportunity to improve medication adherence to overcome various issues related to DOT implementation

Colorectal cancer and potential predictors of never screened for faecal occult blood test: A narrative review

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major public health threat. Therefore, CRC screening uptake has been a focus with the established precancerous lesion and the strong association of early detection with staging and survival of the disease. However, CRC screening is relatively low in many countries. This article briefly discussed the current situation of CRC, recommendations, and current uptake of CRC screening in various countries. Besides that, this article also highlights the potential factors that help to predict the CRC screening uptake worldwide. Identification of those factors could guide policymakers to develop an effective strategy to improve the CRC screening uptake and ultimately improve the health outcome of the population

Narrative Review of the Control and Prevention of Knowlesi Malaria

Despite the reduction in the number of cases of human malaria throughout the world, the incidence rate of knowlesi malaria is continuing to rise, especially in Southeast Asia. The conventional strategies for the prevention and control of human malaria can provide some protection against knowlesi malaria. Despite the numerous studies on the risk factors and the innovative methods that may be used to prevent and control the vectors of Plasmodium knowlesi, the incidence rate remains high. An integrated approach that includes environmental intervention should be adopted in order to ensure the successful control of zoonotic malaria. A combination of personal-level protection, vector control and environmental control may mitigate the risk of Plasmodium knowlesi transmission from macaques to humans and, ultimately, reduce the incidence rate of knowlesi malaria

Health related behavioral changes during COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) among medical students in institute of higher education Sabah, Malaysia Borneo: a qualitative study

SARS-CoV-2 virus created a huge health impact due to isolation, quarantine, or lockdown. University students also affected with the closure of institute and switch in teaching methods. The objective of this study is to explore the health-related lifestyle changes among university students during the implementation of movement control order. Secondly, we aimed to convoke suggestions and recommendations to promote healthy living amidst university students. This study implemented qualitative method via using a semi-structured interview. Three focus group discussions were conducted consisting of 12 participants recruited from snowball sampling method. Utilizing verbatim transcription approach, an inductive thematic point was sketch for data analysis. Seven male and five female students with a mean age of 20 ± 1.3 years (range 19-23) were recruited into this study. Four themes identified from the interview. Physical health influence by administrative roles to physically inactive and less sport activity. Secondly, mental health concern towards mixed emotions, coping strategy, psychological adjustment, and mental health issues. Variation and self-prepare food, food supply, dietary habit and dietary pattern contribute to changes in food intake. Student lifestyles modulate to sleep hygiene, alcohol consumption, online classes problem, individual factors, and other unhealthy activities. Some students experience no difference in the surrounding transformation. During the pandemic, students experienced health related-behavioural changes involving physical health, mental health, dietary and lifestyle. Even though some informants perceived no changes in certain aspect, they still experience health-related behavioural changes in other aspect linked to health

Prevalence and risk factors of depressive symptoms among institutionalized elderly in Sabah, Malaysia Borneo

The elderly population in Malaysia are multiplying, and older people's reliance on social services such as the elderly institutions has increased. Mental health problems especially depression is one of the main problems with institutionalized elderly. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of depression among elderly in all three state-run institutions in Sabah. A multi-centered, cross-sectional study was conducted on residents of all three state-run elderly institutions in Sabah (N=110). All residents that fulfill the criteria were included in the study through a self-administered set of validated questionnaires that measure perceived social support, loneliness, and depression. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences by IBM (IBM SPSS) v25 was used and Chi Square and logistic regression for analysis. The prevalence of depressive symptoms is at 60.9%. The independent risk factors for depression in residents were male gender (OR=4.09, 95%CI=1.55, 10.79), perceived poor health status (OR=6.63, 95%CI=2.49, 17.65), and loneliness (OR=6.12, 95%CI=2.02, 18.53). Depression is prevalent among the elderly in the state-run institutions in Sabah, Malaysia. A comprehensive mental health screening program needs to be implemented for the elderly institutions along with adequate training for staff to handle mental health issues in the elderl