Completers Versus Dropouts of A Parent Training Programme and Child Behaviour Improvement In Malaysia

@#Introduction: There is a strong body of evidence advocating parent training programmes in the management of behavioral problems in children. In these programmes, attrition is a major challenge. We aimed to examine the sociodemographic and clinical profiles, parental motivation, and pre-intervention severity of children’s behavioural problems as rated by mothers who completed (PC) and mothers who dropped out (PD) of a parent training programme. We also aimed to determine whether there was any change in their children’s behaviour scores before and after intervention. We hypothesized that parent and child sociodemographic and clinical profiles, parental motivation, and pre-intervention severity of children’s behavioural problems would be different between PC and PD, and that children of PC would experience significant improvements in their behaviour. Methods: Data from a randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving 35 mothers and children aged 6–12 years old with behavioural problems who were enrolled in a parent training programme were examined. Child behaviour was measured using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results: No significant differences were found between PC and PD in terms of the sociodemographic and clinical profiles, parental motivation, and pre- or post-intervention child behaviour. After programme completion, PC (n=27) reported improvements in all the behaviour subscales; total difficulties (p<0.001), emotional problem (p=0.004), conduct problem (p=0.001), hyperactivity symptoms (p<0.001), peer problems (p=0.036), and prosocial behaviour (p=0.001). Conclusion: The parent training programme produces significant child behaviour improvements in mothers who complete the programme. Nonetheless, the study has some limitations which restrict the generalizability of these findings.

A Cross Sectional Study to Explore Factors Affecting Adolescent-Parents Attachment in a Rapidly Developing Society in Malaysia

@#Introduction: Secure attachment to parents prevents adolescents from externalizingbehaviours especially in developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify thecontributors to parental attachment in a developing society. Methodology: This crosssectional study was performed on urban secondary students (aged between 13 and 17 years)based on multistage sampling in Pasir Gudang District, Johor, Malaysia. The depression,anxiety and stress (DASS-21) and Inventory of parent and peer attachment (IPPA)questionnaires were used along with a questionnaire for demographic information. Analysisof covariance (ANCOVA) was used to identify the main effect of study parameters on IPPAscores for father and mother. Results: A total of 2980 students (46.9% male and 53.1%female) participated in this study. Mean and SD for age was 14.39±1.28. Depression scoreand school form had a significant main effect on both paternal and maternal attachment(p<0.05). Age (p=0.003), ethnicity (p=0.01), history of intimate relationship (p=0.03),paternal education level (p=0.006) and maternal education level (p=0.04) had a main effecton paternal attachment, while gender (p=0.02) and stress (p=0.001) were shown to havesignificant main effect on maternal attachment. Discussion: The findings of this studyrevealed different contributors for adolescent attachment with father and mother. Local,cultural and economic structure of the community should be taken into account in order toplan for an intervention strategy to secure adolescent’s relationship with parents.

Prevalence and factors associated with internet addiction among medical students - A cross-sectional study in Malaysia

Introduction: Internet is important to university students, especially for medical students who use it to search for literature and relevant information. However, some of the users are experiencing a gradual loss of the ability to reduce the duration and frequency of their internet activities, despite the negative consequences. The literature on internet usage among Malaysian medical students is limited. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with internet usage among medical students in a public university in Malaysia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among all the medical students (Year 1-5). Students were assessed on their internet activities using the internet addiction questionnaires (IAT). A Multiple Logistic Regression was used for data analysis. Results: The study was conducted among 426 students. The study population consisted of 156 males (36.6%) and 270 females (63.4%). The mean age was 21.6 ±1.5 years. Ethnicity distribution among the students was: Malays (55.6%), Chinese (34.7%), Indians (7.3%) and others (2.3%). According to the IAT, 36.9% of the study sample was addicted to the internet. Using the multivariate logistic regression analysis, we have found that the use of internet access for entertainment purposes (odds ratio [OR] 3.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-12.00), male students (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.01-3.21) and increasing frequency of internet usage were associated with internet addiction (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.09- 1.67). Conclusion: Internet addiction is a relatively frequent phenomenon among medical students. The predictors of internet addiction were male students using it for surfing and entertainment purposes.