Muhamad Hanafiah Juni

Beliefs and Behavior of Malaysia Undergraduate Female Students in a Public University Toward Breast Self-examination Practice

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, including Malaysia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out among 262 female undergraduate students in University Putra Malaysia using a validated questionnaire which was developed for this study. RESULTS The mean age of respondents was 22∓2.3 years. Most of them were single (83.1%), Malay (42.3%) and 20.7% reported having a family history of breast cancer. Eighty-seven (36.7%) claimed they had practiced BSE. Motivation and self-efficacy of the respondents who performed BSE were significantly higher compared with women who did not (p<0.05).There was no association between BSE practice and demographic details (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that women who perceived greater motivation (OR=1.089, 95%CI: 1.016-1.168) and had higher confidence of BSE (OR=1.076, 95%CI: 1.028-1.126) were more likely to perform the screening. CONCLUSIONS The findings show that Malaysian young females perception regarding breast cancer and the practice of BSE is low. Targeted education should be implemented to improve early detection of breast cancer.

Barriers of Modern Contraceptive Practices among Asian Women: A Mini Literature Review

Family planning has been cited as essential to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDG). Family planning has a direct impact on womens health and consequence of each pregnancy. The use of modern contraception among Asian women is less than global average. In Asia a majority of unintended pregnancies are due to using traditional contraceptive or no methods which lead to induced unsafe abortion. Cultural attitudes, lack of knowledge of methods and reproduction, socio demographic factors, and health service barriers are the main obstacles to modern contraceptive practice among Asian women. Culturally sensitive family planning program, reforming health system, and reproductive health education through mass media to create awareness of the benefits of planned parenthood are effective strategies to improve modern contraceptive practice among Asian women.

Result of randomized control trial to increase breast health awareness among young females in Malaysia

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide as well as in Malaysia. Breast self-examination (BSE) has a role in raising breast cancer awareness among women and educational programs play an important role in breast cancer preventive behavior. The aim of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Breast Health Awareness program based on health belief model on knowledge of breast cancer and breast-selfexamination and BSE practice among female students in Malaysia.MethodsA single-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out among 370 female undergraduate students from January 2011 to April 2012 in two selected public universities in Malaysia. Participants were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The educational program was delivered to the intervention group. The outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months after implementing the health educational program. Chi-square, independent samples t-test and two-way repeated measures ANOVA (GLM) were conducted in the course of the data analyses.ResultsMean scores of knowledge on breast cancer (p<0.003), knowledge on breast self examination (p<0.001), benefits of BSE (p<0.00), barrier of BSE (0.01) and confidence of BSE practice (p<0.00) in the intervention group had significant differences in comparison with those of the control group 6 and 12 months after the intervention. Also, among those who never practiced BSE at baseline, frequency of BSE practice increased 6 and 12 months after the intervention (p<0.05).ConclusionThe Breast Health Awareness program based on health the belief model had a positive effect on knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination and practice of BSE among females in Malaysia.Trial registrationThe ANZCTR clinical trial registry (ACTRN12616000831482), retrospectively registered on Jun 23, 2016 in ANZCTR.org.au.

Knowledge of Female Undergraduate Students on Breast Cancer and Breast Self-examination in Klang Valley, Malaysia

BACKGROUND In Malaysia, breast cancer is the first cancer among females regardness of race. AIM The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge and BSE practice among undergraduate female students at four public universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted among 820 undergraduate female students using a self-administered questionnaire covering socio-demographic data, knowledge of breast cancer and BSE practice. RESULTS The mean age of the respondents was 21.7±1.2 years. The majority of them were single (96.8%), Malay (91.9%) and 16.5% of respondents had a family history of breast cancer. This study showed low level of knowledge on breast cancer and breast self-examination among participants. Only 19.6% participants were performing BSE regularly. Knowledge of breast self-examination was significantly associated with BSE practice (p=0.00). Also, there were significant associations between performing BSE with age, marital status and being trained by a doctor for doing BSE (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our findings showed that the rate of BSE practice and knowledge of breast cancer is inadequate among young Malaysian females. A public health education program is essential to improve breast cancer prevention among this group.

Health Beliefs and Breast Self-Examination among Undergraduate Female Students in Public Universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia.

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in women and the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was carried out among 792 female undergraduate students in public universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia, from January to April 2011. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire developed for this study. RESULTS The mean age of respondents was 21.7±1.2 years. Most of them were single (96.8%), Malay (91.9%) and 150 (19.6%) claimed they had practiced BSE. There was a significant differences between performers and non-performers correlated to age, marital status, check breast by doctor, and being trained about BSE. Performers had lower mean scores for perceived barriers and susceptibility and higher mean score for confidence. Stepwise logistic regression analysis yielded four significant predictor variables. CONCLUSIONS Overall our findings indicate that the practice of BSE while perceived as being important is not frequently practiced among female in Malaysia. Targeted education should be implemented to improve early detection of breast cancer.

Relationships among perceived quality of healthcare services, satisfaction and behavioural intentions of international students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: a cross-sectional study

Objective The current study aimed to investigate the relationships among the perceived quality of healthcare services, satisfaction and behavioural intentions among international students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Setting A cross-sectional study on public universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Participants All participants in this study were international students joining public universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Primary independent variable Perceived quality of healthcare services measured on a SERVQUAL scale. Primary dependent variable Participants’ satisfaction of healthcare services assessed using five items. Secondary dependent variable Behavioural intentions measured on six items. Results Of the 556 international students, 500 (90%) completed the survey. The study used structural equation modelling (SEM) through the AMOS (Analysis of Moment Structures) software to analyse the data. SEM analyses showed that the perceived quality of healthcare services significantly and directly affected satisfaction, with a value of 89% and an effect size of 0.78. It also had a significant indirect impact on the behavioural intentions (0.78) of international students. The results indicated that participants’ satisfaction had a statistically significant impact on their behavioural intentions (0.77). Conclusion Perceived quality of care is an important driver of international students’ satisfaction and their behavioural intention with healthcare services. Such relations of effects among the three investigated factors were also positive and significant.

Impact of 'Adl Self-Management Module' on Health Related Quality of Life Among Road Traffic Accidents’ Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Research Approach

Background: Road traffic accidents represent a community and governmental concern in Saudi Arabia and worldwide. In addition, road traffic accidents injuries are among the main causes of physical impairment and functional dependency. Therefore, performance of activity of daily living of those injured patients are severely affected due to loss of independence. Subsequently, quality of life is affected as well. Objective: To develop, implement and evaluate the impact of “ADL self-management module” on health related quality of life among road traffic accidents’ patients. Methods/design: A quasi experimental study design will be conducted in Saudi Arabia in which 152 orthopedic patients with lower extremities fractures due to road traffic accidents who have difficulty in carrying out daily activity will be recruited from the study hospitals based on Barthel Index. The patients in the intervention group will provided with the ADL Self-Management Module in a form of an educational material. They will be supplemented in that module with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in self-management of activity of daily living tasks independently, whereas the control group will receive the usual care. Descriptive analysis, chi square and Generalized Estimation Equation, Independent t test will be used to test the differences of activity of daily living and health related quality of life between and within the groups. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first experimental study that will conducted in Saudi Arabia on ADL self-management to improve the quality of life of Road Traffic Accident survivors who have difficulty in performing daily activities.

Predictors of Parental Pedestrian Safe Road Behaviour in Rural Areas in Malaysia

Objective The study was done to assess the predictors of pedestrian safe road behaviour of parents with their children in the rural areas of Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Method A cross sectional survey was conducted among parents in the rural areas of Rembau, Negeri Sembilan from September to December 2010. The simple random sampling method was used for selection of the respondents for the study and data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Results A total of 202 respondents participated in the research with a 78%response rate. There is a significant mean difference between parental safe road behaviour and education status (p=0.012), household income (p=0.000), occupational class (p=0.012) and the presence of playgrounds (p=0.014). However, in multiple linear regression analyses only household income emerged as a significant factor (p=0.004). Conclusion Parents with higher income showed higher safe road behaviour while being a pedestrian walking their children on the road.