Psychology in Malaysia : looking ahead

Psychology touches almost every aspect of our lives, from the self to the family and to society as a whole. lVhat is our nature, how is personality developed or shaped, and why do people behave the way they do? Why and how are people different in their intelligence and temperaments and can we treat abnonnal behaviors with psychological techniques? These and many other questions arise in our minds at least some time in our lives. Especially in the modern world when man has advanced tremendously in science and technolog}~ he has yet to comprehend his own selfand his fellow beings for increased selfand mutual understanding that would hopefully result in a more harmonious world. There are many views on human behaviors and mental processes offered by psychologists. The development of modem psychology has taken place mostly in the West, particularly in the United State

Effectiveness of diabetes in pregnancy study group India diagnostic criterion in detecting gestational diabetes mellitus: a rural Bangalore study

Background: The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is considered the current standard for diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). International association of diabetes and pregnancy study groups (IADPSG) recommends OGTT, with fasting, one-hour and two-hour venous blood samples drawn after intake of 75g oral glucose. In the Indian context, diabetes in pregnancy study group in India (DIPSI) recommends glucose challenge test (GCT), where 75 g glucose is given irrespective of the fasting state, and a single venous sample is drawn after two-hour. Diagnosis of GDM is made, if any cut-off value is met or exceeded. This prospective study was conducted to compare the DIPSI and IADPSG criteria for diagnosis of GDM.Methods: Pregnant women between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation were subjected to non-fasting GCT. Capillary sample were also drawn simultaneously using Accu check active glucometer. These women were counselled to undergo a standard 75gram OGTT, within a week of recruitment.Results: According to IADPSG criteria, 17.6% (18/102) of our participants had GDM, as compared to 19.6% (20/102) by DIPSI criteria using venous samples, and 25.3% (25/99) by capillary sample method. Sensitivity and specificity of GCT using venous sample was 72.22% and 91.67%, and using capillary sample was 70.59% and 84.15% respectively. DIPSI criteria using venous samples wrongly labelled 8.3% women as GDM, and capillary samples wrongly labelled 15.9% women as GDM. More importantly DIPSI criteria using venous samples labelled 27.8% women as false-negative and capillary samples labelled 29.4% women as false-negative for GDM. Almost one quarter of women with GDM will be missed if DIPSI criteria is used as a universal screening modality.Conclusions: We suggest that the IADPSG criteria be used for diagnosis of GDM in antenatal women in India

Study of the Role of ZOOM Platform in Collaborative Learning from the Perspective of the Kabul University Lecturers

This paper examines the different qualities of the Zoom platform with a focus on its advantages and disadvantages in a collaborative learning style from Kabul University’s lecturers’ perspective. The study explored the role of both humans and technology in shaping the higher education system. The descriptive methodology is used to collect data through a questionnaire with sixteen questions. The statistical population is Kabul University, and the target population is the professors of Journalism, Computer Science, Psychology, Social Sciences and Agriculture faculties who were selected by cluster sampling method. The findings of this research indicate that the majority of the participants of this study believe that the use of Zoom can facilitate the process of collaborative learning and can increase the interaction between students and professors. Participants of this study considered sharing in discussions easily and cheaply as one of the noteworthy advantages of Zoom technology

THE IMPACT OF PAY SATISFACTION, JOB STRESS, AND ABUSIVE SUPERVISION ON TURNOVER INTENTION AMONG BANKING EMPLOYEES

Pakistan banks cannot survive well without trained and experienced employees. Many researchers have reported the high turnover in banking sector. Therefore it was highly important to address this problem. The purpose of this study was to test the factors (pay satisfaction, job stress, and abusive supervision) influencing turnover intention among bank employees. This study collected the data from a sample of 100 bank employees both public and private banks in Vehari. The results showed that there was a significant negative effect of pay satisfaction on turnover intention and there was significant positive effect both job stress and abusive supervision on turnover intention. This study will be helpful to decision authority in banks to identify factors contributing towards turnover intention.Â

Workload, Work Stress, Role Conflict, and Workplace Deviant Behaviour in Banks: an Empirical Analysis

This study identifies and explains the relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict, and workplace deviant behaviour. This study uses the Affective Events Theory (AET) as a foundation to test a proposed model. All Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires from a sample of 125 bank employees who work in banks around Faisalabad. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were used in this study. The findings demonstrate a low level of workplace deviant behaviour. The results showed a significant relationship between workload, work stress, role conflict and workplace deviant behavior. The role conflict was the major contributor to workplace deviant behaviour. This study has practical implications where the bank should take initiatives within banks provided

Does contracting of health care in Afghanistan work? Public and service-users' perceptions and experience

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In rebuilding devastated health services, the government of Afghanistan has provided access to basic services mainly by contracting with non-government organisations (NGOs), and more recently the Strengthening Mechanism (SM) of contracting with Provincial Health Offices. Community-based information about the public's views and experience of health services is scarce.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Field teams visited households in a stratified random sample of 30 communities in two districts in Kabul province, with health services mainly provided either by an NGO or through the SM and administered a questionnaire about household views, use, and experience of health services, including payments for services and corruption. They later discussed the findings with separate community focus groups of men and women. We calculated weighted frequencies of views and experience of services and multivariate analysis examined the related factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The survey covered 3283 households including 2845 recent health service users. Some 42% of households in the SM district and 57% in the NGO district rated available health services as good. Some 63% of households in the SM district (adjacent to Kabul) and 93% in the NGO district ordinarily used government health facilities. Service users rated private facilities more positively than government facilities. Government service users were more satisfied in urban facilities, if the household head was not educated, if they had enough food in the last week, and if they waited less than 30 minutes. Many households were unwilling to comment on corruption in health services; 15% in the SM district and 26% in the NGO district reported having been asked for an unofficial payment. Despite a policy of free services, one in seven users paid for treatment in government facilities, and three in four paid for medicine outside the facilities. Focus groups confirmed people knew payments were unofficial; they were afraid to talk about corruption.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Households used government health services but preferred private services. The experience of service users was similar in the SM and NGO districts. People made unofficial payments in government facilities, whether SM or NGO run. Tackling corruption in health services is an important part of anti-corruption measures in Afghanistan.</p