Why Breast Cancer Patients Seek Traditional Healers

Traditional healing is a common practice in low and middle income countries such as Malaysia. Eighty percent of Malaysians consult traditional healers or “bomoh” at some time in their life for health-related issues. The purpose of our study was to explore why breast cancer patients visit traditional healers. This is a qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with 11 cancer survivors who sought both traditional and Western medicine. The findings revealed the following reasons for which patients seek traditional healers: (1) recommendation from family and friends, (2) sanction from family, (3) perceived benefit and compatibility, (4) healer credibility, and (5) reservation with Western medicine and system delay. These factors work together and are strongly influenced by the Malaysian cultural context. The issue with the Western health system is common in a developing country with limited health facilities

Sustainable Program Development in Cancer Education: A Case Study

The purpose of this session is to first discuss a study in progress on the factors and elements that either assist or impede the planning and implementation of a breast cancer education program in a middle-income country in Southeast Asia. Second, participants will be asked to share similar studies they are aware of or have been involved with, and practical experiences they have had with programs of this nature

The Islamic Healing Approach in Cancer Treatment

Islamic healing is frequently sought as a choice by Muslim cancer patients in Malaysia. Despite its widespread use, limited documented evidence is available on Islamic healing practice in cancer treatment. Such information gives better insight about Islamic healing in cancer treatment to adjust treatment policies and practices accordingly. The purpose of this study is to understand Islamic healing practice in conjunction with conventional medicine for cancer treatment. A qualitative approach was deemed appropriate in investigating patient perspectives and experiences related to Islamic healing. Sixteen cancer survivors who had received both conventional medicine and Islamic healing during their treatment were identified by referrals from support group members, healers, and friends as participants in the study. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and were analyzed concurrently using the constant comparative method. Islamic healing treatment can be divided by 2 forms; 1) recitation of Quran verses alone and (2) mixed methods, which include the recitation of Quran, herbs and bless water. Islamic healing is structured similar to conventional healing and most Islamic healing occurs in the form of 2 main approaches, although there are minor variations within those approaches.   Keywords: Islamic healing, cancer, cancer patient

Keterukan bencana banjir tahun 2014 dan keberkesanan pengurusannya di jajahan Kuala Krai, Kelantan

The 2014 flood disaster in Kuala Krai has led to the significant destruction of property and the loss of life. This study argues that human interference in the ecosystems often invite risk and hazard in the flood drainage basin thus resulting to more frequent incidents with increasing intensity each year. Thus, the main objective of the study was to examine the effects of human and natural events that contribute to the severity of the floods in 2014 in Kuala Krai through land use change data and rainfall. In addition, a total of 300 people from three districts in Kuala Krai was used in this study evaluating the effectiveness of flood management systems.The results of the land use aspect showed many active land use activities at the survey spot mostly for sand mining, and opening of land for agriculture which covered an area of 6,930 hectars. While 34,850 hectars were for replanting, and 2,260 hectars for secondary jungle according to the 2014 data. This situation worsened when there was an unusual heavy rainfall in the Kuala Krai District in December 2014. To overcome the significant damage and the loss of lives due to flood, the government must implement the flood management system more effectively in the three phases of before, during and after the flood. According to the survey in the Kuala Krai District, the Dabong area had the the low min value (average) for the three phases: 3.04 (before), 2.99 (during) and 2.02 (after). Whereas for the Olak Jeram area the min value was 3.39 (before), 3.21 (during) and 2.30 (after). The one way ANOVA servey found that the people of Kuala Krai had different opinions about the management system of the before, during and the after phases. Whereas the satisfaction level was low at all the phases therefore giving the picture that the flood management system was unsatisfactory. This study suggests that the involvement of all parties in the flood management working draft must be integrated with the Directive 20 of the National Security Council so that future flood disaster management system would be more effective

Why cancer patients seek Islamic healing

Islamic healing is frequently referred to as the treatment of choice by many Muslim cancer patients in Malaysia. Despite its widespread use, there is limited information relating to patients’ healing preferences. With rising cancer rates in the country, this issue has become a concern to public health policy makers. The purpose of this study was to understand why cancer patients seek Islamic healing. This qualitative study utilized in-depth interviews with 18 cancer patients. The findings indicate three main reasons: (1) recommendations from family, friends and doctors; (2) belief in Islamic healing and (3) the perceived ineffectiveness and dissatisfaction with conventional treatments. Islamic healing will likely continue to be popular complementary cancer treatment in Malaysia as it is grounded in strong cultural and religious beliefs

Characteristics of pinewood dust combined with vinyl ester composites through material testing and machining

Natural fibre reinforced polymer (NFRP) composites can be environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives to synthetic fibre-reinforced composites. Major industries have expressed significant interest in the advancement of new natural fibre-reinforced composite materials. However, these materials perform poorly on their own and require further analysis since accessible information is lacking in the literature. This paper presents the results of previously reported works on natural fibre reinforced polymer composites, with strong attention to the types of fibres employed, the polymers used in the matrix, the treatment of fibres as well as the test parameters. The best proportion of composites is consequently selected. Composite materials are tested using a CNC router machine. Pinewood dust is combined with vinyl ester resin. A hand layup technique is used to prepare the samples. The availability of relevant pinewood dust and the volume of pinewood dust to be used are first determined to continue with the experiment. According to the findings, the impact of machining performance is successfully evaluated by employing the tensile strength test, Charpy V-notch impact test, flexural strength test and surface roughness measurement. The findings are derived from the microscopic assessment of the surface roughness of pinewood dust (PWD) fibre reinforced vinyl ester resin

A high precision n-p scattering measurement at 14.9 MeV

The n-p scattering angular distribution was measured with 14.9 MeV incident neutrons using the traditional time-of-flight technique with neutron-gamma discrimination. The scattering angle varied from 20o to 65o (laboratory system) in 5o incremental steps. The efficiency of the neutron detectors was measured in the energy range 2–9 MeV relative to the 252Cf-standard, and was calculated using Monte Carlo methods in the 2–14 MeV energy range. Two methods of analysis were applied for experimental and simulated data: a traditional approach with a fixed threshold, and a dynamic threshold approach. The present data agree with the ENDF/B-VII evaluation for the shape of n-p angular distribution within about 1.5%

The measurement of full scale structural beam-column connection deformation using digital close range photogrammetry technique

Measurement and monitoring of structural components such as beams and columns under loading are important in structural analysis and design assessment. Presently, the assessment on structural components on deformation or displacement measurement is carried out through LVDTs or dial gauges. The LVDTs or dial gauges were installed in contact with the structural components, also known as contact method. However, present contact method is subjected to some limitations such as s displacement points of measurement are highly depend on the position of LVDTs available, reliability of LVDTs and dial gauges to measure during the experiments due to possibility of damage sensors and consumption of time on the installation the sensors. Due to the limitations of contact method, this study demonstrates the use of a noncontact method using digital close range photogrammetry technique to measure the deformational behaviour of full-scale structural beams and columns. In this study, a full-scale load tests on structural components were performed under laboratory conditions. A series of digital images of the structural beams and columns under various loads were captured using Nikon DSLR cameras. The digital images then processed and analyzed using digital close range photogrammetric technique to measure and extract the magnitude of the structural beam and column displacements. The deformation and displacement of beam and columns have been validated by comparing the photogrammetric outputs against the results obtained from the LVDTs. The statistical analysis shows the differences obtained between the photogrammetric technique and contact method used were not significant

The Malay Muslim cancer patients’ perspectives on Islamic healing cancer treatment

Cancer patients want to be treated as a whole person including their physical, emotional and spiritual dimensions. For Muslim, they tend to use healing methods that are related to their Islamic tenets. Therefore, there is a growing number of Malay Muslim cancer patients seeking Islamic healing, but little empirical work exists on the use of Islamic healing. The purpose of this study is to understand: (1) why Malay Muslim cancer patients seek Islamic healing, (2) Islamic healing treatment, and (3) Islamic healing benefit and role in cancer treatment. A qualitative study was conducted using in-depth interviews with 15 Malay Muslim women cancer patients that sought both conventional system and Islamic healing from 4 different regions in Peninsular Malaysia. The participants were selected from purposive sampling and snowball tehnique. The following are the reasons cancer patients seek Islamic healing; (1) recommendation from family, friends and doctors, (2) belief in Islamic healing and (3) ineffectiveness or dissatisfaction with the conventional treatment. Islamic healing treatment can be categorized into two forms; (1) recitation of Quranic verses as a main method with du‘a and Sunnah (voluntary) salat and (2) a combination of herbs with recitation of Quranic verses, du‘a and healing water. Benefits and role of Islamic healing (1) provide physical and spiritual benefits and (2) as a complementary treatment to conventional medicine. The evidences suggest that Islamic healing will continue to be as a popular healing choice among Malay Muslims. The use of Islamic healing as a complementary treatment has its own potential as it is a holistic and natural healing. This finding is the first formal research of this type of study and needs to be considered by policy makers in providing a better health care system for the country