Healthscope: The Official Research Book of Faculty of Health Sciences, UiTM

The relationship between breakfast habits, physical activity status and academic achievement among undergraduates in UiTM Puncak Alam Campus

Maximilia Jumi, Alia Md Yusof — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

A regular breakfast consumption and physical activity were among the important health practices in order to live a healthy life. However, breakfast is the most common skipped meal and physical activity has been neglected by many university students. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the relationship between breakfast habits, physical activity and academic achievement among university students. The main objective of this study is to assess students’ breakfast habit, physical activity status and their level of academic achievement. This is a cross-sectional study involving a total of 376 undergraduate students randomly selected from eight faculties in UiTM Puncak Alam Campus. A self-administered questionnaire on breakfast habits, physical activity and academic achievement was given. There were 49.5% of the respondents classified as breakfast eaters while the other 50.5% of them were breakfast skippers. Majority of the respondents claimed to be engaged in vigorous and moderate physical activity within 1-2 days/week and they only spent 1-2 hours/day in minimal activity. Most of the respondents have moderate CGPA which ranged from 3.00-3.49. The associations of breakfast habit, physical activity and CGPA was determined by using Pearson’s Chi-square test and the results obtained showed that there are no significant associations among those variables. In conclusion, the study did not find any relationship between breakfast habits, physical activity status and academic achievement.

ICT use and preference among hypertensive patients during COVID -19 pandemic in Selangor: A cross-sectional study

Mohd Ramadan Ab Hamid, Nurul Shafiqah Abdul Rahim — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Patients with hypertension acquire health information from healthcare practitioners or online sources. During the pandemic, patients are likely to search for health-related information primarily through information and communication technologies (ICTs). The purpose of this paper is to assess the use and preference ICTs among hypertensive patients. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey-based study from April to October 2020, involving 96 patients with hypertension. The questionnaire collected information regarding demographics, patients’ preference on ICTs platforms, quality of online information and belief towards the use of ICTs. A chi-square test for association and adjusted regression analysis were performed. Among all patients who participated, 99% reporting owing smartphone, with active internet connection. The most used ICT for obtaining information about hypertension was web-browsers, followed by YouTube and Facebook. Social media use was significantly associated with education level and residential area. The outcome of the regression analysis indicated that males were 1.31 times more likely to use social media platforms than females Finally, females were three times more likely to associate internet-based health education with better blood pressure control. Understanding how people with hypertension utilise and prefer ICTs may aid in improving their outcomes through the possible uses and benefits of ICTs. By determining the most frequently used ICT platform, health practitioners can devote more attention to it.

Potential of aedes breeding site with different types of container at plant nurseries in Klang

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Dengue fever which transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes has been one of the most widespread vector-borne disease. The most important thing in reducing the dengue infection cases is by controlling the populations of the Aedes mosquito by destructing Aedes breeding sites. Aedes breeding sites can be determine by conducting a larval survey. Most of the studies conducted were focusing on residential area. However, the mushrooming plant nursery within the housing vicinity has becoming a potential breeding places for aedes since it provides potential artificial and water source to the vector. In this study, 9 plant nurseries have been observed, and the overall cleanliness and distance from nearest housing area were measured. During the observation, pots, plates, tires, and bucket mostly found in nurseries and may harboring the immature stage of Aedes, hence this study has focused on the container survey and larval collection was carried out. Noteworthily, a total of 68 containers were found positive for breeding sites, and most likely the artificial container with larger surface area harboring more than lesser surface area. Adding up to that situation, the relationship between the type of container and likelihood of breeding potential has scored a great observation too.

Investigating Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms (SBSS) using generalized linear model

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Prediction of Indoor Air Quality and Sick Buildings Syndrome Symptoms (SBSS) was developed to predict the relative humidity (RH) inside the building. The developed generalized linear model (GLM) model consider relative humidity as dependent variables and independent variables consists of Indoor Air Quality Parameters (IAQ) such as ventilation performance indicator, physical and chemical parameters besides present SBSS. Primary data was collected, and distribution of questionnaires was conducted at the same time. Three models were developed which named Model A, Model B and Model C. A logarithmic link function was considered with a Poison probability distribution. Particular attention was dedicated to cases with Relative Humidity<mean (Model A), Relative Humidity mean range (Model B) and Relative Humidity >mean (Model C). Results indicate that best performance was Model A which outperformed Model B and Model C. It showed that there were a few contributions of SBS and IAQ towards RH inside the building such as dizziness, drowsiness, heavy headed, headache, temperature and PM₁₀. This study showed that Model A (R²=96.8%) outstand Model B (86.9%) and Model C (93.5%) due to the data collected mostly distribute lower than mean value of RH.

Factors influencing awareness and practice on household solid waste management among rural areas residents at Alor Pongsu, Kerian District

Nor Hamimi Mohamad, Mohd Izwan Masngut — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Improper household solid waste management may cause various diseases to humans and bad impact on the environment. In addition, the majority of rural areas still practice dig and burn as a common practice of household waste management due to lack of an proper effective waste management system. Descriptive correlational study involving a total of 142 respondents in Alor Pongsu, Kerian district, Perak. Data were collected using face-to-face interview using a set of questionnaires for socio-demography profiles together with awareness and practice level on household solid waste. Data Analysis were done using SPSS for both; descriptive statistics on socio demography and Chi-Square for determining relationship between parameters. Awareness and practice on managing solid waste at home among residents in the study area were at moderate levels. Mean awareness on household solid waste was 6.965 (SD = 3.209) and the mean for practice level was 2.429 (SD = 0.593). Age, marital status, education level, problem in household solid waste management and training on household solid waste management were significantly correlated with awareness level (p<0.001). Meanwhile training on household solid waste management was significantly correlated with practice level on proper household solid waste management among the resident (p < 0.005). Sustainable management of household solid waste practice amongst residents in rural area could be achieved by focusing on awareness and practice elements.

Assessment of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices among home-based food consumers in Kubang Pasu District

Atikah Hanani Ishak, Siti Norashikin Mohamad Shaifuddin — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have led to the growth of home-based online food businesses. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the present status of food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) among home-based food consumers in Kubang Pasu district. A validated, reliable online questionnaire was distributed among the community via social medial platforms. A total of 150 participants completed the questionnaire. The result showed that home-based food consumers had moderate attitudes (56.6 ±15.3) and practices (61.3 ±18.4) but have poor knowledge (49.5±14.7) of food safety. Further statistical analysis using Chi-square test revealed that gender and monthly income were the factors associated with food safety knowledge, whereas gender and current employment status were the factors associated with food safety practices(p<0.05). The study suggested that some aspects related to cross-contamination and time-temperature control should be given more attention. Therefore, awareness of food safety among home-based food consumers should be strengthened to prevent occurrence of food borne disease by taking into account the factors associated with the KAP. Food safety education should not only focus on theoretical aspects of knowledge but also positive attitudes towards food safety and promote good food safety practices.

Prediction of indoor air ventilation performance in kindergarten using nonlinear autoregressive neural network

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Indoor air pollution has become one of major issues that cause health issues towards the building occupants especially people from the sensitive group such as elderly and younger children. However, indoor air pollutants can be removed by providing adequate ventilation towards the building. Effective and adequate ventilation can help to dilute and removed the pollutants and providing healthier air for the building occupants to breath. Adequacy of ventilation can be determined by measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the building as CO₂is widely used as indicator for ventilation. To determine the ventilation performance, a method of forecasting through modelling process using nonlinear autoregressive neural network (NARNN) is developed where CO₂concentration data that collected from kindergarten is used construct and find the best fitted model with suitable number neurons and hidden layers. This model can help to predict the future concentration trend of CO₂in kindergarten and determine the ventilation performance of the building. The concentration of CO₂in the building is decreasing through the operations hours indicating it has adequate ventilation. The dataset of CO₂concentration is used to developed a prediction model which consist of artificial neural network (ANN) structure and a model with 1-9-1 structure with data division of 80:20 is the best fitted model for forecasting as it has high accuracy and highly relevant to be used for prediction as it has the nearest R-value near to one. Indoor air quality need a special attention by multiple authorities and organization especially the building that have younger children as occupants. Poor indoor air quality can risk the health of the occupants and disrupt the comfort of occupants on doing their activities in the building. Modelling technique is one of relevant and advance method to forecast the quality of a building as it can help to determine future concentration of pollutants in the indoor environment.

Empowering recovery: A holistic case study on conservative management of scapular dyskinesia

Noor Izzati Azhar, Syamil Hazwan Mohd Zaidin, Nur Ainah Mohd Shipah — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Scapular dyskinesia, often overlooked in athletes, significantly affects shoulder function and performance. This case study focused on a 23-year-old male badminton player who experienced moderate shoulder pain and limited range of motion after a traumatic injury during a game. The objective was to alleviate pain and improve scapular function through physical therapy approaches. Scapular joint mobilization and strengthening exercises were administered, resulting in reduced pain and increased shoulder joint range of motion. The study demonstrated that conservative management of the scapular joint and muscles had a beneficial effect on athletes with shoulder pain. Addressing scapular issues is crucial to enhance overall shoulder function and support athletes' performance. This research highlights the importance of recognizing scapular dyskinesia as a significant contributor to shoulder pain and advocates for holistic management strategies to aid athletes in their recovery.

Mental health status and challenges in clinical practice among physiotherapists in the private sector during the Covid-19 pandemic

Nurul Farhana Mohd Haidil, Ajau Danis, Anne Majumdar, Kartini Ilias — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The covid-19 pandemic exposed healthcare workers, including physiotherapists, to mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression in the private sector. In minimising the infection risk, they faced challenges operating their rehabilitation facility. This study aimed to identify the mental health status and challenges experienced by physiotherapists in private practice during the Covid-19 pandemic. The study setting for this cross-sectional research was conducted at Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia. Data were analysed using SPSS 20.0 and described descriptively. A total of 80 private physiotherapists participated in the survey. Statistically, 82.5% of the respondents were females aged 22 and 56 (27.60 ± 5.073). They mostly worked in private organisations (86.3%), especially in Selangor (70.0%). About 61.3% of respondents experienced stress subjectively, and 71.3% and 83.8% had normal anxiety and depression levels, respectively. In clinical settings challenges, 70 (87.5%) respondents recorded that the most challenging was abiding by the healthcare policies were frequent sanitisation for modalities, plinths, and chairs. About 52.5% of participants faced challenges in applying social distancing due to lacking clinic spaces. About 48.4% of physiotherapists experienced decreased income. Additionally, 77.5% of respondents had difficulty applying physical examinations while using telerehabilitation. In conclusion, most physiotherapists in the private sector in Malaysia experience common psychological issues, such as depression and anxiety, except for stress.

Unveiling phytochemicals in P. guajava leaves: Thin layer chromatography (TLC) investigation using methanol, chloroform and hexane

Wan Zahirul Syahmi Wan Bakree, Hannis Fadzillah Mohsin, Ibtisam Abdul Wahab — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Guava (Psidium guajava L.), a member of the Myrtaceae family, is a widespread tropical tree, grown in a wide variety of tropical and subtropical regions for its medicinal and nutritional properties. The fruit, bark, root, and leaves of the guava plant have all been used to treat various diseases and ailments. Guava leaves are the most often and extensively utilised part of the guava plant for traditional purposes, worldwide. Due to their diverse phytochemical composition, guava leaf extracts have been studied for their biological activities, including anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antidiarrheal, and antibacterial properties. In this study, P. guajava leaves were extracted by using organic solvents of different polarities. The groups of compounds in the extract were identified via thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and preliminary qualitative analysis. The leaves powder was macerated with methanol, chloroform, and hexane, in parallel. The TLC analysis was carried out by mixing hexane: ethyl acetate (7:3) and hexane: ethyl acetate (3:7) to identify polar and non-polar compounds in the guava leaves extracts. The preliminary qualitative analysis is performed to detect the presence of alkaloid and phenolics by using the Dragendorff’s reagent and 5% ferric chloride solution. Results from the phytochemical screening shows the presence of flavonoids, terpene, alkaloids, carbohydrates, and phenolics. In summary, this project could provide valuable insights and supplementary details for the plant's monograph.

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) among secondary school students in Selangor

Sabrina Subri, Nurin Syahmina Mohd Naziran — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) is a group of ocular and vision-related symptoms that manifest after prolonged digital device usage. With increasing use of digital devices especially among teenagers, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of CVS among secondary school students in Selangor and their level of awareness about this condition. In this cross-sectional study, CVS-Q (Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire) (Seguí et al., 2015) was distributed both online and offline to secondary school students in Selangor. The questionnaire included demographic information, general and ocular health conditions, and questions on CVS to determine their awareness about the condition and symptoms of CVS that they have experienced. A total of 202 students, aged between 13 and 18 years, 72.3% of whom were females participated in the study. About 50% of the total participants were reported to have CVS. The most prevalent symptoms experienced by the students were headache (69%) and itchy eyes (69%), followed by burning sensation (60%) and watery eyes (59%); whereas seeing halos around objects (24%) was found to be the least reported symptoms experienced by them. 18.8 % of the participants claimed that they were aware of CVS. The chi-square test revealed that CVS was associated with gender (x² (1) = 8.01, p = 0.005) with females being associated with higher CVS scores. The prevalence of CVS among secondary school students in Selangor is considerably high, with higher CVS symptoms found in female participants. A low level of awareness of CVS warrants health education on this matter among this population.

The prevalence of stillbirth due to antenatal complications (hypertension, diabetes, and anemia): A single center study in Malaysia

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Stillbirth is a serious problem globally with approximately 2.65 million third trimester stillborn baby cases recorded around the world each year. In Malaysia, there are very limited studies on the risks of stillbirth. So, the objective of the study was to investigate odds and probability of stillbirth due to antenatal complications (hypertension, diabetes and anemia) among women in Malaysia. A case-control study was undertaken in Hospital Serdang in Selangor. The sample size for the study is 367 patients who gave birth at this hospital of which 155 are cases and 212 are the controls. The data is collected from the year 2013 to 2015 based on the patient’s data in the manual book and database. Descriptive analysis is conducted to know the percentage of mothers with antenatal problems with birth of their babies. Chi-square Test of Independence and odds ratio was conducted to identify the association between antenatal complications and stillbirth. The results showed that most of the stillbirth’s mothers did not have any antenatal complication during pregnancy just 18.1% has hypertension, 18.7% has diabetes and 23.2% has anaemia. Mothers with babies born alive showed quite similar results with only 18.9% with diabetes and 25% with anaemia but a slight difference for hypertension with only 1.9%. The chi square tests of independence results concluded that only hypertension is associated with birth of baby. Based on the odds ratio, a mother who has hypertension during pregnancy has 11.465 times higher odds (95 CI: 3.930 to 33.445) of getting a stillbirth baby compared to a mother without hypertension. Thus, pregnant women who have hypertension during pregnancy have a higher risk of getting stillbirth baby.

Methanol versus acetic acid extract effects on chicken eggshell membrane protein concentration, visualization and antioxidative potential

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a fibrous microstructure located between the eggshell’s layers. ESM contains numerous protein constituents that serve its beneficial biological activities. Proteins such as ovalbumin, collagens, keratins, ovomucoid and ovocleidin-116 have been extracted from ESM. However, ESM is extremely insoluble in water and has poor stability. Solvents are often used in the extraction process; thus, this study aims to extract and compare the effect of methanol and acetic acid on proteins from chicken ESM. Findings from this study demonstrate differences in methanol compared to acetic acid in ESM protein extraction. ESM protein concentration from acetic acid (1.14 mg/ml) is slightly higher than methanol (1.01 mg/ml). The SDS-PAGE result shows both solvents can extract proteins from ESM with different bands intensity. Both solvents show moderate antioxidative activity compared to L-Ascorbic acid as a control in the FRAP assay. This study shows the potential of both solvents to extract and maintain the bioactivity of proteins from ESM. However, further purification and quantitative studies are needed to completely identify protein fragments isolated by both solvents to be used in future applications such as medicine, dentistry, and food industry.

Knowledge and attitude towards cervical cancer among women in the sub-urban area: A cross-sectional study

Fatin Syahzani Abd Manap, Nurul Ain Adiba Mohd Rashid , Noraini Hashim — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Cervical cancer is preventable and curable in its early stage, but it remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Malaysian women. Raising awareness is crucial to reducing cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates. This study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes toward cervical cancer among women in a suburban area in Selangor. A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling, involving 359 women aged 21 to 60. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire through a Google link. Results showed that approximately half of the participants had moderate knowledge of cervical cancer, 179 (49.9%), while 217 (60.4%) exhibited a favorable attitude toward cervical cancer. A significant positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude (p < 0.05). The findings suggest increasing knowledge about cervical cancer can lead to more positive attitudes. Future efforts should focus on educational programs and campaigns highlighting the importance of cervical cancer screening and its symptoms to enhance awareness.

Students’ belief towards COVID-19 vaccine: A challenge in reopening university

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Little is known about health sciences students’ belief and its relation to COVID-19 vaccine uptake as vaccination program was already taken place in Malaysia. An anonymous electronic survey of health sciences students was conducted at one large Malaysian university setting. The objectives of this study were the students' beliefs and actual behaviour towards Covid-19 vaccines. Students' beliefs about COVID-19 vaccines were elicited through a series of questions about the vaccine's acceptance, the risk of COVID -19 exposure, the perceived severity of COVID -19 and their negative attitudes towards vaccination. The main outcome of the study was the students’ acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines and multiple logistics regression was performed to elucidate associated factors related to COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. A total of 275 students participated in this survey. The average age of the participants was 21.9(0.9) and more than three quarters of them (82.5%) were female. Most of the respondents have completed the COVID -19 booster vaccination (82.9%), and a higher acceptance of the vaccine 4.8 (95% CI: 4.7— 4.8). Students’ risk of COVID-19 exposure, perceived severity of COVID -19 and their negative attitudes towards vaccination were measured at 0.4 (95% CI:0.3—0.5), 3.8(95% CI: 3.7—4.0) and 3.2 (95% CI: 3.1—3.2) respectively. Student belief in the safety of the COVID–19 vaccine was the only significant factor in vaccine acceptance. While health sciences students reported having high acceptance and vaccine uptake, concerns about the safety of the vaccine safety remained.

Preliminary investigation of digital reading techniques and their impact on eye movement and blinking rate

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This preliminary study investigates the effect of four digital reading techniques on eye movement and blinking rate. A total of ten young adults (aged 18-26 years) were recruited in this preliminary investigation about the ocular impact of digital reading techniques. The inclusion criteria were best-corrected visual acuity of 6/6 and N5 (6/9 Snellen equivalent) or better for far and near, respectively. The exclusion criteria were any known vision problems and ocular diseases. Four types of digital reading techniques were studied: (1) skimming, (2) scanning, (3) intensive reading and (4) extensive reading. The ocular parameters encompass eye movements (fixation and saccadic) and blinking rate. The measurements were recorded using a Dikablis^TM eye tracker. There was no significant difference among the four types of digital reading techniques in all eye movement investigations (p>0.05). However, the blinking rate was the lowest during ‘scanning technique’ (average of 10.90 blinks per minute) and the highest during ‘extensive reading’ (average of 26.95 blinks per minute) (Friedman ANOVA Test =11.35, p=0.03). The eye movement patterns remain the same regardless of the types of digital reading techniques may indicate the robustness of individual visual search capability. The significant variation in blinking rate might be associated with the cognitive demand of the reading techniques. It will be interesting to investigate the ocular impact of these different digital reading techniques among school children due to the digital shift in our education system.

Evaluation of the physical characteristics of Beta vulgaris and Intsia bijuga aqueous and methanolic extracts in comparison to haematoxylin stain

Nuraishah Mohamad, Fatimah Salim, Mohd Nazri Abu — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The haematoxylin stain is universally recognised as pathology's gold-standard nuclear staining. This study evaluated and compared the pH value, and colour concentration of Intsia bijuga and Beta vulgaris extracts to that of haematoxylin. After lyophilisation, the plant material was extracted using methanol and water. Analyses were performed on the extracts' physical colour, pH, and colour concentration, and the results were compared to haematoxylin. A pH meter was used to obtain the pH value and spectrophotometric absorbance readings were taken to determine the colour concentration. The pH range for extracts of B. vulgaris was between 4.18 and 5.80, whereas the pH range for extracts of I. bijuga was between 4.46 and 4.65. There are statistically significant discrepancies (p < 0.001) in the pH and colour concentration analyses, as shown by the colour concentration statistical analysis. The colour properties of I. bijuga and B. vulgaris were also discussed to further enrich the understanding of their physical characteristics. In conclusion, the pH levels of the extracts were greater than those of haematoxylin. Regarding the colour concentration, the methanolic extract of B. vulgaris had a lower concentration than haematoxylin, while the other extracts had more significant concentrations than haematoxylin. In conclusion, the methanolic extract of I. bijuga shows the most significant similarity to haematoxylin in terms of its physical qualities.