Sex, Age Group and Locality Differences in Adolescent Athletes' Beliefs, Values and Goal Orientation in Track and Field

This study used the Eccles et al. expectancy-value model of achievement choice and achievement goal theory to investigate sex, age group and locality differences in adolescent athletes' expectancy-related beliefs, subjective task values and achievement goals in track and field. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 632 (349 male, 283 female) athletes from the under 15 and 18 years age groups (mean, 15.2 ± 1.28 years) who volunteered to participate in the annual state track and field meet. The participants completed the expectancy-related beliefs, subjective task values measures, and Task and Ego Orientation in Sport Questionnaire. Results indicated a significant interaction effect between sex, age group and locality for expectancy-related beliefs, F(1, 624) = 8.02 (p < 0.05) and subjective task values, F(1, 624) = 5.98 (p < 0.05). However, no significant interaction effect between sex, age group and locality were found for task orientation, F(1, 624) = 0.68 (p > 0.05) and ego orientation, F(1, 624) = 0.04 (p > 0.05). Expectancy-related beliefs were found to be related with subjective task values (r = 0.64, p < 0.01), task orientation (r = 0.40, p < 0.01), and ego orientation (r = 0.24, p < 0.01). Subjective task values were related to task orientation (r = 0.47, p < 0.01) and weakly with ego orientation (r = 0.16, p < 0.01). Task orientation was also related to ego orientation (r = 0.29, p < 0.01)

Constraints in journal publishing and international research collaboration in the Asia Pacific Region

International research collaboration is when researchers from various nations working together to achieve the common goal of producing new scientific knowledge and internationally co-authored papers are used to measure collaborative international research activity. The benefits of international research collaboration includes sharing of developed scientific knowledge and skills, and improve research quality, while in terms of collaborative journal publishing, it could contribute to publications in high impact journals and, increase the citation and visibility of researchers. International collaborative research activity and publishing is beneficial particularly to low-resources countries such as those in the Asia Pacific region. However, Asia Pacific region holds multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, populous, poor and growing ageing populations and these factors posed limitations to international research collaboration and journal publishing such as: lack of resources in terms of financial, institutional and government support; geographical distance; language barrier; lack of research skills; the challenge of acceptance into international journals; the lack of journals which represent the Asia Pacific region and lastly issues in managing the journals including financial, establishing a peer review and journal management, and operation guidelines. Efforts to address the challenges and promote journal publishing and international research collaboration in the region are warranted.

Use of contraception among college students

BackgroundYoung people’s vulnerability to risky or unwanted sex and other unhealthy behaviors is tied to a host of individual, family, and community factors that influence young people’s behavior and that are closely related to economic and educational opportunities.AimsThis study aims to identify factors determining the sexual activity, knowledge and use of contraception among college students in Malaysia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among students of aged 17-24 years in 4 colleges in Malaysia in 2010. Data was collected via a self-administered multiple response questionnaire. Data analyses were performed on 552 completed questionnaires.ResultsThe mean knowledge score for this study was 2.86/6 (± standard deviation=1.29), 47.7%. Place of education and living arrangement were significant associated with the mean knowledge score. More than one third of the total respondents have engaged in sexual intercourse. There were significantly higher proportion of respondents who engaged in sexual activity among those from age group 23-24 years, whom were male, and those who study in college with rural exposure. Among those who have engaged in sexual intercourse, more than half did not use any contraception. A significantly higher proportion of respondents who did not use contraception were found among those in the age group of 19-20 years old, whom were female and those who study in colleges with rural exposure. Students studying in colleges with urban exposure were more likely to have better contraceptive knowledge and use of contraception. Male students were more likely to engage in sexual activity and use contraception compared to females.ConclusionThere is a need to impart reproductive health knowledge during the adolescent period so that young people can make informed decisions when it comes to reproductive health matters

Trend and impact of international collaboration in clinical medicine papers published in Malaysia

Research collaboration is the way forward in order to improve quality and impact of its research findings. International research collaboration has resulted in international co-authorship in scientific communications and publications. This study highlights the collaborating research and authorship trend in clinical medicine in Malaysia from 2001 to 2010. Malaysian-based author affiliation in the Web of Science (Science Citation Index Expanded) and clinical medicine journals (n = 999) and articles (n = 3951) as of 30th Oct 2011 were downloaded. Types of document analyzed were articles and reviews, and impact factors (IF) in the 2010 Journal Citation Report Science Edition were taken to access the quality of the articles. The number of publications in clinical medicine increased from 4.5 % (n = 178) in 2001 to 23.9 % (n = 944) in 2010. The top three contributors in the subject categories are Pharmacology and Pharmacy (13.9 %), General and Internal Medicine (13.6 %) and Tropical Medicine (7.3 %). By journal tier system: Tier 1 (18.7 %, n = 738), Tier 2 (22.5 %, n = 888), Tier 3 (29.6 %, n = 1170), Tier 4 (27.2 %, n = 1074), and journals without IF (2.1 %, n = 81). University of Malaya was the most productive. Local collaborators accounted for 60.3 % and international collaborations 39.7 %. Articles with international collaborations appeared in journals with higher journal IFs than those without international collaboration. They were also cited more significantly than articles without international collaborations. Citations, impact factor and journal tiers were significantly associated with international collaboration in Malaysia’s clinical medicine publications. Malaysia has achieved a significant number of ISI publications in clinical medicine participation in international collaboration

Transcripts of unfulfillment : a study of sexual dysfunction and dissatisfaction among Malay-Muslim women in Malaysia

The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD), or in everyday notion, sexual dissatisfaction, among Malay women remains high, denoting that there are several influences shaping their experience of sex within marriage. This qualitative study identified the perceived effects of social factors in the development of sexual dysfunction among Malay women. Engaging a phenomenological framework, 26 in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted among married women from Peninsular Malaysia, based on their self-reporting of FSD symptoms. All sessions were audio-recorded and the data were transcribed verbatim and managed in the ATLAS.ti software before being analysed. The three themes that emerged—‘sex is taboo and culturally unacceptable’, ‘self-ignorance about sex’, and ‘lack of husband’s role in mutual sexual enjoyment’—suggest some influence of Islamic teachings and cultural conduct, as in Adat, on sexuality in society. However, a lack of knowledge and nonadherence to positive values and teachings around sexual satisfaction between men and women, as espoused through the Islamic religion, have affected woman’s sexual functions and coupling relationship even more significantly. The results of this qualitative study show that a formal, culturally sensitive, and comprehensive sex education programme incorporating both medical and Islamic knowledge may work to effectively reduce FSD

Pengembangan Aplikasi Android untuk Pelayanan DM Tipe 2

Deteksi dini Diabetes Mellitus (DM) tipe 2 berbasis android saat ini telah banyak berkembang. Namun pengembangan aplikasi tersebut belum melibatkan ahli seperti ahli dalam bidang kesehatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan deteksi dini penyaikit DM berbasis aplikasi android. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain research and development (RnD). Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan adalah kuisioner, sedangkan analisis data menggunakan deskriptif kuantitatif dalam bentuk persentase. Responden yang terlibat pada penelitian ini mayoritas berusia 50-59 tahun (35%), berjenis kelamin perempuan (80%), seorang pekerja (58%), pendidikan setara SMP (40%). Hasil analisis pada kelompok kecil, menunjukkan bahwa 74% responden menilai aplikasi ini jelas, mudah, dan sesuai untuk digunakan. Sedangkan hasil analisis pada kelompok sasaran sebesar 77% responden menilai bahwa aplikasi ini jelas, mudah dan sesuai untuk digunakan. Sehingga aplikasi ini dinilai layak digunakan oleh berbagai kalangan masyarakat yang berbeda usia, jenis kelamin, status pekerjaan, dan tingkat pendidikan

Coping among married and cohabiting individuals in Malaysia during the Covid-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study on associated factors

After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak at the end of 2019, families are forced to adapt to various “new norms”. Coping strategy play important role in mediating the relationship between stressors and psychological morbidity. This study aims to examine the predictors of coping among married individuals factoring in the influences of age, gender, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, health and lifestyles. A sample of 221 participants who had a married or cohabiting Malaysian couples involved in this study. The findings indicated that factors such as being older, and male was protecting of coping during the COVID-19 pandemic. A positive appraisal of change after COVID-19 was also protective of better coping, as was better sleep. The results of this study should be used to target interventions on individuals who are in a relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic. The finding enable future studies to perform more rigorous investigations using validated and comprehensive questionnaires to further deepen their understanding on the results of this study

Factors influencing decision-making role preferences: a qualitative study of Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes during insulin initiation

Patient decision-making role preference (DMRP) is a patient's preferred degree of control when making medical decisions. This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore Malaysian patients' views on their DMRP. Between January 2011 and March 2012, 22 individual face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with patients with type 2 diabetes who were deciding about insulin initiation. The interviews were audio-recorded and analysed using a thematic approach. The age range of participants was 28–67 years old with 11 men. Ten patients preferred to make the decision themselves, six patients indicated that the clinician should make the decision and only one patient expressed a preference for a collaborative role. The following factors influenced DMRP: trust in clinicians, responsibility for diabetes care, level of knowledge and awareness, involvement of family and personal characteristics. In conclusion, the concept of shared decision-making is still alien, and a more participative communication style might help to facilitate patients' expression of DMRP

Global governance for improved human, animal, and planetary health : the essential role of schools and programs of public health

Since March 2021, the world’s leaders have expressed a desire to “build back better,” reflecting a desire to see an enhanced post-pandemic world and the need to improve and protect health by being better prepared to respond to future pandemics. On March 30, 2021, 25 of the world’s leaders signed an accord calling for a new pandemic preparedness treaty. There is great complexity in achieving an international health treaty. The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, appointed by the World Health Organization (WHO), reported on May 14, 2021. They called for better funding for WHO, a Global Council for Health threats to work collaboratively with the WHO, and the delivery of the global vaccine program. They called for “21st century health data surveillance” and transparency in data sharing across countries. The Rome Declaration of the Global Health Summit of the G20, called for better preparedness, for support to low- and middle-income countries and for better global financing and governance for public health and health care. The Carbis Bay Declarations of the G7 governments set out proposals for a better planet, economy, and health. The European Union has set out plans to strengthen its capabilities through a Health Emergency Responsiveness Agency (HERA). The vision for HERA may be an example of how other supra-national, continental, or WHO regional health response agencies could be organized and resourced. A Special Session of the World Health Assembly which took place in November 2021 has agreed to set up an Intergovernmental negotiating body to move forward the process of establishing a new Global Pandemic Preparedness Treaty

CHANGES IN EATING BEHAVIOURS FOLLOWING BARIATRIC SURGERY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Adopting healthy eating behavior is important in achieving successful weight loss after bariatric surgery. This study aims to determine the changes in eating behaviors 6 months after surgery. Fifty-seven patients who went through bariatric surgery in two tertiary referral hospitals were recruited and interviewed before surgery (T0), three (T1), and six (T2) months after surgery. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), which measured emotional, external, and restrained eating. Higher subscale scores indicate strong behavioral traits. Other information including psychological distress, quality of life, socio-demography, and morbidity were collected. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model was developed to study the change in eating behaviors and its’ predictors over time. Participants of the study were mostly women, from the Malay ethnic group and the average age at the time of surgery was 39.4 years. Emotional and external eating scores changed significantly over time with the values recorded at various time intervals as follows: 2.06 and 2.86 before surgery; 1.64 and 2.25 three months after surgery; and 1.81 and 2.40, 6 months after surgery. Reduction in the third month followed by a slight increase at the sixth was noted. Restrained eating did not show a significant change. The presence of diabetes was also associated with higher emotional and external eating scores. Further, higher anxiety scores were associated with higher external eating. Favorable changes in eating behaviors were noted after bariatric surgery. However, a risk of a reversal in the improvement was present. The emotional and external eating behaviors in surgical candidates should be identified and addressed accordingly with special attention to diabetic patients