Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia (Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences)

Attitude and Motivation Influenced the Research Performance among Academicians with Lower Research Output at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Nurul Fatin Malek Rivan — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Despite publishing and securing research grants being obligatory in research universities, the literature on the factors influencing academic productivity is relatively scarce. Thus, in this study, we aimed to determine the personal and behavioural-related factors that influence the culture of publishing and securing research grants among academicians with lower research-related performance. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 49 academic staff members of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). A self-administered questionnaire consisting of personal, attitude and behavioural (barriers, perceived stress scale, work extrinsic and intrinsic motivation scale, psychological well-being scale, and basic needs satisfaction scale) questions were distributed during a workshop and online. Simple linear regression (SLR) analyses were performed for each variable, followed by multiple linear regression (MLR) to identify the associated factors of research output. After adjusting for covariates, having a doctoral degree (β=0.396, 95% CI=0.221-2.146, p<0.05) and integrated regulation (β=0.574, 95% CI=0.036-3.612, p<0.05) were found to be associated with research grant acquisition (R2=0.273). Moreover, increasing age (β=0.426, 95% CI=0.088-0.397, p<0.05), living alone (β=0.331, 95% CI=0.944-6.626, p<0.05), having a doctoral degree (β=0.248, 95% CI=0.174-6.747, p<0.05), environmental mastery (β=0.318, 95% CI=0.013-0.347, p<0.05), self-acceptance (β=0.284, 95% CI=0.010-0.242, p<0.05), satisfaction incompetence
(β=0.273, 95% CI=0.001-0.200, p<0.05) and relatedness (β=0.280, 95% CI=0.001-0.116, p<0.05) were found to be the factors that influence the publications produced among participants (R2=0.423). The findings of this study
could be used by management to formulate effective strategies to increase the productivity of academics in their
research-related performance.

Clinical Characteristics, Risk Factors, Diagnostic Methods and Therapeutic Response of Cutaneous Sporotrichosis Infection In An Endemic Region

Shen Wei Lee, Dy-Win Low, Ken Chen Loh, Adawiyah Jamil — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cutaneous sporotrichosis is a fungal infection caused by traumatic inoculation of Sporothrix. We aimed to study the clinical characteristics of human sporotrichosis, risk factors for infection, the yield of diagnostic methods and therapeutic response to standard clinical therapy. A cohort study of was performed. A total of 29 patients with clinical features suggestive of sporotrichosis were recruited within a one-year period from all public hospitals in Kedah, Malaysia. Majority were females (86%) who were housewives (69%). The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (38%), hypertension (31%) and dyslipidaemia (21%), none was a significant risk factor for severity of infection. Mean duration of disease was 2±2 months. More than 2/3 of the patients (79%) had pet cats, 14(48%) recalled minor cat-inflicted trauma. Lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis (62%) was more common than fixed cutaneous type, affecting the upper limbs in 94%. Ulcerations and nodules were the main lesion morphology. Histopathology showed granulomatous inflammation in 72%, culture grew Sprorothrix in 55% and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected Sporothrix schenkii sensu stricto in 65%. Itraconazole was effective with 93% of patients achieving complete resolution with 4 months of therapy. Sporotrichosis in Malaysia remains endemic. Feline contact is the most important risk factor for infection. Diagnosis is best confirmed with tissue PCR while culture and histopathology are also useful. Sporothrix schenkii sensu stricto was the only species identified and itraconazole is an effective first line therapeutic agent.

Reflecting Practice Of Integrated Supportive Cancer Care Education Materials For Radiotherapy Patients: A Pilot Study

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Patient cancer care education aims to inform and empower patients by providing clear, relevant information about cancer, including its mechanisms, treatment options, and management strategies. This study evaluated the effectiveness and accuracy of existing patient cancer care education materials in Malaysia, specifically assessing patients’ understanding of treatment, side effects, and their management. Method: A descriptive, correlational study was conducted involving 20 cancer patients at Gleneagles Penang Medical Center, using the Patient Cancer Education Needs Assessment questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 and Microsoft Excel 2013. Result: Patient age, education level, occupation, and socioeconomic status were not significant factors influencing understanding. Findings highlight the need to improve existing educational materials to enhance patient comprehension and ensure materials are comprehensive, culturally appropriate, and innovative. Conclusion: Patient cancer care education materials should be comprehensive, interactive, and patient is friendly. Current materials require revision and enhancement to keep pace with technological developments, ensuring they are accessible, understandable, and effective in supporting patients’ knowledge of cancer treatment, side effects, management strategies, and psychosocial aspects.

Quality of Life Following 3D-Conformal Hypofractionated Radiotherapy of Breast Cancer

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose: Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT), while effective in reducing cancer recurrence and improving survival rates, often comes with radiation toxicity that can adversely affect the patient’s quality of life (QoL). Evaluating toxicity after RT is crucial because it helps to identify and manage adverse effects that can significantly impact a patient’s QoL. By monitoring toxicity, we can adjust treatment plans to mitigate these effects, improve patient comfort, and ensure a better overall outcome. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate and compare QoL following 3D-conformal hypofractionated RT in breast cancer patients. Methods: We included twenty-one Malaysian women with unilateral breast cancer treated with lumpectomy (n=15) or mastectomy (n=6) followed by 3D-conformal hypofractionated RT. QoL was evaluated using the EORTC QLQ-BR45 questionnaire before, during, and after RT. Results: During RT, there was a significant increase in the mean score of the breast symptoms scale compared to baseline (p=0.002), with the most common symptoms being skin problems, followed by swelling and oversensitivity. However, these symptoms were generally mild for most patients. The other quality of life scales remained stable during RT. Post-RT, most QoL scales showed improvements compared to both baseline and during RT, with significant enhancements in the mean breast symptoms score and breast satisfaction score (all p<0.05). Conclusion: Radiotherapy negatively impacted the QoL of our breast cancer patients, specifically on the breast symptoms scale. However, these symptoms improved after 4 months, resulting in high breast satisfaction and indicating a near-excellent cosmetic outcome. Future studies with larger cohorts are essential to validate these findings, as the small sample size (n=21 at baseline; n=13 post-RT) may have limited the detection of more subtle changes.

Translation, Validation, and Reliability Testing of the Parent Reading Beliefs Survey (PRBS): The Malay Versi

David Eu Han Kung, Affizal Ahmad, Wan Najibah Wan Mohamad, Monica Anne Wallace — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Children’s proficient reading performance is not merely an academic skill; it is a fundamental cornerstone of a child’s cognitive development, academic success, and long-term life outcomes. As a primary role model, parental reading attitudes will most likely influence the home literacy environment and children’s reading performance. Parents’ reading habits and experiences may provide the necessary knowledge to assist children’s reading development. Currently, no Malay language instruments are available to assess parents’ attitudes towards reading. Thus, this study aimed to translate the English version of the Parent Reading Beliefs Survey (PRBS) into Malay language and evaluate its validity and reliability. PRBS was chosen because it can measure how parents’ reading attitudes align with current at-home literacy practices and literacy development. The Malay-translated questionnaire was content validated through content validity ratio (CVR), content validity index-relevance (CVI-Relevance), and
content validity index-clarity (CVI-Clarity) methods by eight expert panels (professionals that having expertise related to early literacy), and finally reliability tested using Cronbach’s alpha with 50 participants (preschool
children’s parents). The results showed that all items’ CVR values were at least 0.75, and all items’ CVI-Relevance and CVI-Clarity values were higher than 0.83, indicating satisfactory validity. As for each subscale, Cronbach’s alpha value ranges from 0.71 to 0.97, indicating acceptable and good internal consistency. Overall, the Malay translated version of the PRBS was found to be valid and reliable for use in future studies. The findings of this study can pave the way for more research efforts in the field of reading in Malaysia. The questionnaire can also assist speech therapists and educators in assessing the attitudes that parents have in reading to come up with better designs for parent-child reading intervention.

Strategi Terapeutik Berasaskan CRISPR: Sempadan Baru Dalam Rawatan Kanser Payudara (CRISPR-Based Therapeutic Strategies: A New Frontier in Breast Cancer Treatment)

Yuh Cai Chia, Saiful Effendi Syafruddin, Mohamad Aimanuddin Mohtar — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Kanser payudara kekal sebagai salah satu punca utama morbiditi dan kematian berkaitan kanser di seluruh dunia. Kepelbagaian molekul dan genetiknya yang kompleks menjadi cabaran besar dalam membangunkan rawatan yang berkesan. Terapi konvensional seperti kemoterapi, terapi hormon, dan ubat sasaran sering menghadapi rintangan seperti kerintangan terhadap ubat dan kebolehan tumor untuk berulang. CRISPR/Cas9, satu teknologi penyuntingan gen yang revolusioner, telah muncul sebagai alat yang berpotensi untuk memajukan rawatan kanser payudara. Ulasan ini meneroka bagaimana CRISPR boleh digunakan untuk merawat kanser payudara dengan menumpukan kepada tiga aspek utama: menyasarkan onkogen bagi menghentikan pertumbuhan tumor, memulihkan fungsi gen penindas tumor yang sering dinyahfungsi akibat mutasi, dan mengatasi rintangan terhadap ubat. Selain itu, kami membincangkan inovasi terkini dalam sistem penghantaran CRISPR yang meningkatkan ketepatan dan kecekapannya. Walau bagaimanapun, seperti mana-mana teknologi canggih, terdapat cabaran yang perlu ditangani, termasuk kesan luar sasaran dan pertimbangan etika berkaitan penyuntingan genom. Dengan ketepatan CRISPR, penyelidik kini sedang membangunkan strategi terapeutik baharu yang boleh menjadikan rawatan kanser payudara lebih berkesan dan disesuaikan dengan individu. Seiring dengan perkembangan bidang ini, CRISPR berpotensi untuk mengubah landskap rawatan kanser payudara, memberikan harapan kepada pesakit untuk terapi yang lebih tepat.

Parenting Stress, Quality Of Life And Social Support In Parents Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder In Asian Countries: A Scoping Review

Noh Amit, Nurul Izzati Adlee, Mahadir Ahmad — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Parenting children with autism spectrum disorder comes with challenges that impact parenting stress and quality of life, with social support being an influencing factor. The cultural context appears to influence associations between parenting stress, social support, and quality of life. There is a lack of reviews examining these associations in Asia. Thus, this review aims to provide an overview of the relationship between parenting stress, QOL and social support specific to the population in Asian countries. Systematic searches based on PRISMA guidelines were conducted on Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus, which found 26 eligible studies to be included in the review. Findings from the studies demonstrated social support, parenting stress, and quality of life to be significantly associated with each other directly and indirectly. They are also related to multiple variables like coping strategies and self-efficacy. In the future, data from a wider scope of Asian countries will be beneficial since most literature originated from China. Furthermore, more studies on potential moderator and mediator variables could be conducted.

Strategi Pencegahan Untuk Gangguan Muskuloskeletal Akibat Kerja dalam Kalangan Ahli Fisioterapi di Malaysia: Kajian Kualitatif (Prevention Strategies for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Physiotherapists in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study)

Deepashini Harithasan, Pei Sean Lim — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji strategi yang digunakan untuk mencegah gangguan muskuloskeletal akibat kerja (WMSDs) dalam kalangan ahli fisioterapi dari segi kesedaran, keberkesanan, galakan, dan halangan. Kajian kualitatif telah dilakukan dalam kalangan ahli fisioterapi di Malaysia menggunakan metodologi keratan rentas, dengan platform dalam talian digunakan untuk menjalankan temu bual semi-struktur secara individu. Analisis tematik menunjukkan bahawa 13 peserta menyedari kaedah berbeza yang digunakan oleh ahli fisioterapi untuk mencegah WMSD. Peserta menyedari kepentingan menggunakan strategi yang berkesan untuk mencegah WMSD, seperti mengekalkan mekanik badan yang betul (61.5%), melakukan senaman fizikal (23.1%), memastikan ergonomik tempat kerja yang sesuai (15.4%), mempunyai kakitangan yang mencukupi (15.4%), menggunakan peralatan (15.4%), dan mempraktikkan teknik memanaskan badan yang betul (7.7%). Peserta kerap mempromosikan penggunaan alatan dan peralatan (53.8%), mengekalkan mekanik dan postur badan yang betul (46.2%), dan menerima pendidikan (30.8%) sebagai strategi pencegahan utama. Namun begitu, terdapat halangan untuk mengambil bahagian dalam langkah pencegahan, seperti kekurangan peralatan, beban kerja yang tinggi, dan kakitangan yang tidak mencukupi. Penemuan menunjukkan bahawa ahli fisioterapi sedar dan menyokong idea bahawa melaksanakan strategi khusus boleh membantu mencegah WMSD. Namun begitu, keputusannya menggariskan kepentingan untuk mempertimbangkan halangan ini untuk meningkatkan keberkesanan strategi pencegahan dalam intervensi amalan klinikal.

Kesan Dialisis Terhadap Prestasi Aktiviti Kehidupan Seharian dalam Kalangan Pesakit Diabetes di Wilayah Kuala Selangor: Satu Kajian Kualitatif (The Impact of Dialysis On Daily Living Activity Performance Among Diabetes Patients in Kuala Selangor: A Qualitative Study)

Nur Atikah Suib, Farahiyah Wan Yunus — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dialisis merupakan rawatan yang lazim bagi pesakit kegagalan buah pinggang. Dari tahun ke tahun, bilangan pesakit yang menjalani dialisis semakin meningkat dengan kadar yang membimbangkan. Tahap keupayaan fungsi pesakit dialisis adalah lebih rendah berbanding pesakit diabetes yang tidak menjalani dialisis. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti bagaimana dialisis mempengaruhi prestasi Aktiviti Kehidupan Seharian (ADL) dalam kalangan pesakit diabetes di Kuala Selangor serta faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi prestasi ADL mereka. Kajian berkaitan prestasi ADL dalam kalangan pesakit dialisis yang menghidap diabetes masih terhad. Oleh itu, kajian ini menggunakan kaedah kualitatif melalui sesi temu bual bersemuka secara separa berstruktur. Seramai sepuluh peserta telah direkrut berdasarkan kriteria kemasukan yang ditetapkan. Lima tema utama telah dikenal pasti daripada temu bual, iaitu: (i) meningkatkan kualiti kehidupan seharian: perspektif baharu terhadap aktiviti harian; (ii) kesan diabetes terhadap aktiviti kehidupan seharian; (iii) kesan dialisis terhadap aktiviti kehidupan seharian; (iv) prestasi fungsi dalam aktiviti asas kehidupan seharian; dan (v) aktiviti harian yang dianggap penting. Hasil kajian menunjukkan bahawa pelbagai jenis aktiviti kehidupan seharian telah terjejas akibat kelemahan fizikal yang dialami oleh peserta. Kajian ini dapat memberi pemahaman yang lebih mendalam kepada ahli terapi cara kerja dan bidang pemulihan lain mengenai keupayaan fizikal pesakit diabetes yang menjalani hemodialisis.

Physicochemical Characteristics, Sodium Content And Sensory Evaluation Of Selected Commercialised Soy Sauces In Malaysia

Hasnah Haron, Nur Huda Azahir, Chai Jia Law — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In Malaysia, the government has made it mandatory to label sodium content on food packaging effectively from 1st January 2024. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics, sodium content, and sensory evaluation of selected commercial soy sauce without sodium labelling in Malaysia. 25 soy sauce samples were studied. Each soy sauce has a significant difference (p<0.05) in physicochemical properties except for the pH value. Results found that the sodium content in light soy sauce was the highest (5766.50±968.37mg) while sweet soy sauce was the lowest (3289.09± 589.14mg). For total soluble solids, sweet soy sauce was the highest (52.73°B). The range of pH values for soy sauce is between 4.90-5.19. Sweet soy sauce showed the highest viscosity (145.78cP) and brightness (L* = 2.48). Light soy sauce showed the highest values for redness and yellowness (a* = 1.34 and b* = 1.57). Soy sauce without caramel has a significantly higher (p<0.05) sodium content and is less viscous than the one with caramel. The sensory evaluation shows that sweet soy sauce has significantly (p<0.05) the highest score for overall acceptance. Sodium content information on all soy sauce available in the Malaysian market to help consumers make smarter choices.

Exploring the Commercial Availability and Marketing Claims of Cognitive-Enhancing Dietary Supplements: A Comparative Analysis of Offline and Online Retail Platforms

Ng Wei Jie, Hanis Mastura Yahya — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Public interest in cognitive enhancement has driven the widespread availability of dietary supplements claiming to support brain health and memory. This comparative cross-sectional study explores the commercial availability
and marketing claims of cognitive-enhancing dietary supplements across offline and online retail platforms. A dual-component design was employed in a comparative cross-sectional study. The first component involved assessing the commercial availability and marketing claims of cognitive-enhancing dietary supplements sold through offline retail outlets in Kuala Lumpur using a purposive sampling approach. The second component consisted of a parallel assessment conducted on online platforms, employing a convenience sampling strategy. A total of 13 products were identified on offline retail platforms in Kuala Lumpur, and 117 products were identified on online platforms. Capsules were the most common dosage form, both offline (46.2%) and online (79.5%). Products sold offline most frequently originated from Singapore (69.2%), whereas online products predominantly came from the United States of America (74.4%). The median prices of offline products were RM 190 (55.5), and online products were RM 196 (183), which are comparable, although the online products exhibited a wider price range (RM14–RM1,147). The most frequent claims were “brain health” for offline products and “memory” for online products. Natural or compound extracts were the most common active ingredients. This study’s findings found significant differences between offline and online dietary supplements in terms of availability, country of origin, price and marketing claims. These inconsistent findings underscore the need for stronger regulation and improved transparency in labelling to safeguard consumer health and ensure product credibility. Future research should focus on dosage accuracy, long-term safety, and mechanisms of action for supplements with cognitiveenhancing
claims.