An Online Survey of the Perceptions of Clinical Professionals on Healthcare for Non-Communicable Diseases and Covid-19 Measures During the Pandemic in Malaysia

El material suplementario del artículo puede ser encontrado de manera online en: https://www.ssph-journal.org/articles/10.3389/ijph.2023.1605861/full#supplementary-material Este artículo está sujeto a una licencia CC BY 4.0.Objectives: This study assesses the opinions of health professionals in Malaysia on the disruption of non-communicable disease (NCD) services during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to January 2022. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 191 non-clinical public health workers and clinical health service workers in Malaysia from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants were recruited by the Malaysian Ministry of Health using major networks including key experts and practitioners. Secondary respondents were subsequently enrolled through snowballing. Results: The most notable issues raised by the survey participants relate to NCD service disruption, the redirection of NCD care resources, and NCD care being overburdened post-pandemic. Respondents also reported accounts of resilience and prompt reaction from the healthcare system, as well as calls for innovation. Conclusion: Most respondents perceived that the challenges arising from COVID-19 were mostly managed well by the healthcare system, which was able to provide the necessary services to NCD patients during this health emergency. However, the study identifies gaps in the health system response and preparedness capacity, and highlights solutions for strengthening NCD services.Peer reviewe

An Online Survey of the Perceptions of Clinical and Non-Clinical Professionals on Healthcare for Non-Communicable Diseases and COVID-19 Measures During the Pandemic in Malaysia

Objectives: This study assesses the opinions of health professionals in Malaysia on the disruption of non-communicable disease (NCD) services during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to January 2022. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey with 191 non-clinical public health workers and clinical health service workers in Malaysia from November 2021 to January 2022. Participants were recruited by the Malaysian Ministry of Health using major networks including key experts and practitioners. Secondary respondents were subsequently enrolled through snowballing. Results: The most notable issues raised by the survey participants relate to NCD service disruption, the redirection of NCD care resources, and NCD care being overburdened post-pandemic. Respondents also reported accounts of resilience and prompt reaction from the healthcare system, as well as calls for innovation. Conclusion: Most respondents perceived that the challenges arising from COVID-19 were mostly managed well by the healthcare system, which was able to provide the necessary services to NCD patients during this health emergency. However, the study identifies gaps in the health system response and preparedness capacity, and highlights solutions for strengthening NCD services

Exploring key-stakeholder perceptions on non-communicable disease care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya

Este artículo está sujeto a una licencia CC BY 4.0Introduction: over one third of total Disability-Adjusted-Life-Years lost in Kenya are due to non-communicable diseases (NCD). In response, the Government declared significant commitment towards improving NCD care. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the burden on the already overstretched health systems in Kenya. The aims of this study are to assess whether health care providers perceived NCD care to be optimal during the pandemic and explore how to improve responses to future emergencies. Methods: this cross-sectional online survey included healthcare personnel with non-clinical roles (public health workers and policy-makers) and those delivering health care (doctors and nurses). Respondents were recruited between May and September 2021 by random sampling, completed by snowball sampling. Results: among 236 participants (42% in clinical, 58% in non-clinical roles) there was an overall consensus between respondents on NCD care being disrupted and compromised during the pandemic in Kenya. Detracted supplies, funding, and technical resources affected the continuity of NCDs response, despite government efforts. Respondents agreed that the enhanced personnel capacity and competencies to manage COVID-19 patients were positive, but noted a lack of guidance for redirecting care for chronic diseases, and advocated for digital innovation as a solution. Conclusion: this paper explores the perceptions of key stakeholders involved in the management of NCDs in Kenya to improve planning for future emergency responses. Gaps were identified in health system response and preparedness capacity during the pandemic including the perceived need to strengthen NCD services, with solutions offered to guide resilience efforts to protect the health system from disruption.Peer reviewe

A study of developmental assessment among children with special needs in early intervention programme in Kuching, Sarawak

There is an estimate of around 12 to 26 percent of children with special needs attending early intervention programmes throughout Malaysia. However, very little research has been done on evaluation and monitoring of children with special needs attending these programmes. In order to determine a new method of developmental assessment of children with special needs attending early intervention programmes and to compare their development between clinic (n=27) and community-based (n= 29) centres, a cross-sectional study was conducted. A modified Schedule of Growing Skills (MSGS) assessment was used for this purpose. Concurrent validity was established when MSGS was compared with Denver Developmental Assessment (DDA) which sh9wed an excellent correlation between the two measurements (Spearman's rho = 0.87, p<O.OOI). Reliability statistical analysis (Cronbach's Alpha = 0.856-0.984) verified MSGS as an appropriate tool to be used for the developmental assessment. The inter-item factpr analysis showed consistency between the nine items assessed. The sensitivity and specificity of MSGS in this study was observed to be 83.33% and 33.33% respectively. When the mean scores for children from both centres were compared, it was noted that the children attending the community-based programme (mean = 111.69, CI 95%, 102.18 to 121.20) were more delayed than the clinic-based programme (mean = 80.04, CI 95%, 69.16 to 91.02) and the results were significant (p< 0.05). However, there was no difference for gender, diagnosis and severity of developmental delay. This study provides a preliminary data that implicates the usefulness of MSGS as a tool for assessment of developmental milestone for children with special needs. It also has the potential to be used as a tool for monitoring developmental milestone of those attending the intervention programme. Moreover, more studies are recommended to assess the early intervention programmes so that its approach, methods and facilities can be further improved

Kajian status sosial kanak-kanak keperluan khas di Sarawak dan Kelantan

The objectives of this study are to determine the social status of children with special needs in Kelantan and Sarawak and to identify the association of social status with study area, gender and diagnosis. The study involved 103 new cases children aged 6 to 18 years old. There are 67 (65% ) males and 36 ( 35% ) females and by diagnosis;26 ( 25.2% ) are Down’s Syndrome, 11 ( 10.7% ) are Cerebral Palsy while 66 (64.1% ) are Mental Retardation. The caretaker or the health personnel on each children completed a Quality Of Life questionnaire. The questions include 4 aspects ; (i) Problem in playing with friends, (ii) problem of sharing toys, (iii) problem of following instruction and (iv) take-turn problem. By associating the problems with gender, study area and diagnosis; there is a significant association between the problem of sharing toys, following instruction and take-turn with study area. Most of children from Sarawak; 44.8% are having problem in sharing toys compared to 14.9% children from Kelantan ( p<0.05 ); while 34.5% children’s from encountered problem in following instruction compared to Kelantan ( p<.05) and 37.9% children from Sarawak having take-turn problem compared to 13.5% children’s from Kelantan ( p<.05). There was no significant association between gender, study area and diagnosis with problem of playing with friends. The finding indicate that a special attention and a good intervention programme should be conducted in order to overcome the problems