Malaysian primary care doctors' views on men's health: an unresolved jigsaw puzzle

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Men have been noted to utilise health care services less readily then women. Primary care settings provide an opportunity to engage men in health care activities because of close proximity to the target group (men in the community). Understanding attitudes towards men's health among Malaysian primary care doctors is important for the effective delivery of health services to men. We aimed to explore the opinions and attitudes of primary care doctors (PCDs) relating to men's health and help-seeking behaviour.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A qualitative approach to explore the opinions of 52 PCDs was employed, using fourteen in-depth interviews and eight focus group discussions in public and private settings. Purposive sampling of PCDs was done to ensure maximum variation in the PCD sample. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. Open coding with thematic analysis was used to identify key issues raised in the interview.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The understanding of the concept of men's health among PCDs was fragmented. Although many PCDs were already managing health conditions relevant and common to men, they were not viewed by PCDs as "men's health". Less attention was paid to men's help-seeking behaviour and their gender roles as a potential determinant of the poor health status of men. There were opposing views about whether men's health should focus on men's <it>overall </it>health or a more focused approach to sexual health. There was also disagreement about whether special attention was warranted for men's health services. Some doctors would prioritise more common conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The concept of men's health was new to PCDs in Malaysia. There was wide variation in understanding and opposing attitudes towards men's health among primary care doctors. Creating awareness and having a systematic approach would facilitate PCDs in delivering health service to men.</p

Advanced catalysts and effect of operating parameters in ethanol dry reforming for hydrogen generation. A review

There is actually an intense research in ethanol dry reforming because bioethanol and carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, can be converted into syngas and, in turn, into chemicals and energy such as dihydrogen (H2). Here we review dry reforming of ethanol with focus on thermodynamics, catalysts and effect of operating conditions. Noble metal-based catalysts typically exhibit both ethanol and CO2 conversions above 85% in the range of 923‒1073 K, yet the high cost of precious metals has restrained their potential applications. H2 yield of 90% and above is achieved at 1073 K or above due to the endothermic nature of ethanol dry reforming. Improving catalytic performance and inhibiting coke formation may be achieved by using bimetallic catalysts and other types of metal oxides