Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding exercise among people exercising in gymnasium and recreational parks around Kuantan, Malaysia.

Physical inactivity is becoming a global epidemic and lead to many diseases. This cross-sectional study tried to investigate knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding exercise among married and single person attending gymnasium and recreational parks. Furthermore, this study tried to look for factors associated with regularity of exercise and to find association between knowledge and attitude on practice of exercise. A total of 103 participants aged above 18 years old were purposely selected to answer an interview-guided questionnaire. Likert scale was used for participants to answer the questionnaire on KAP and the total score for each knowledge, attitude and practice was computed to find the associations using SPSS. The mean age of the respondent was 25.34 years (SD=5.699). Knowledge was not significantly associated with practice (r=0.071, p=0.475). There was also no significant correlation between practice and attitude score (r=0.006, p=0.510). Therefore, there is no association between knowledge and attitude on practice of exercise. Besides that, endurance exercise like jogging, cycling and walking was a respondent’s choice as their exercise routine. Other than that, there are significant associations between factors of gender (p=0.014), marital status (p<0.001) and age (p=0.005) with regularity of exercise. This study found that single person is more regularly doing exercise than married people. Regularity of exercise could be influenced by motivation. Therefore, relevant policies and campaigns might be able to change and boost people towards practicing exercise regularly in Malaysia.

The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Students of International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan Campus.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become the leading cause of death among the non-communicable diseases worldwide. There are many contributing risk factors for the emergence of CVD. A cross-sectional study was conducted to observe the prevalence of CVD risk factors among International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan Campus (KC) students. 156 participants from different faculties and years of study participated; among them 56 participants were able to complete the whole procedures. A set of questionnaires were distributed to participants. Anthropometric measurements, weight, height, waist circumference, random blood glucose (RBG) and blood pressure were measured. Prevalence of hypertension was 4%. The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 114.268 ± 12.034 and 74.964 ± 8.636 of mmHg respectively. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 34%, with women having a higher percentage (21%) than men (12%). The mean Body-Mass Index (BMI) was 22.184 ± 4.435 kg/m2. The waist circumference has an average of 71.661 ± 9.215 cm. Prevalence of high blood glucose was absent, and the mean blood glucose level was 6.007 ± 1.018 mmol/L. Dietary fibre-rich foods; vegetables were eaten 6-7 times per week, granola bars and fruits were eaten 1-2 times per week. Home cooked foods were taken 1-2 times per week. Fast foods were taken frequently around 3-5 times per week. The study community was engaged in physical activities such as brisk-walk, skipping and sports. Smoking prevalence was 4% only among the male population. The stress level was moderate. The students of IIUM KC practiced healthy diet and were physically active. The CVD-related risks do not prevail among the IIUM KC population.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Malaysian Public University Students on Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for 30% of all deaths in Malaysia. Major risk factors for CVD include age, gender, heredity, hypertension, cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, obesity and physical inactivity. The current study was conducted to understand the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of University students regarding cardiovascular diseases. This is a cross-sectional study using a stratified random sampling method. Students of all faculties of International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in Kuantan Campus were included. The respondents were randomly selected from each faculty. The sample size was 163. KAP questionnaire was developed and distributed to the respondents involved. The data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. The mean and standard deviation of the knowledge, attitude and practice scores were 42.98±2.46, 57.12±5.73 and 26.7±3.507, respectively. Significant difference on knowledge scores were found between different faculties (p<0.001), also on attitude and practice scores in comparison between different genders (p = 0.005 and 0.017, respectively). This study also shows a significant positive correlation between attitude and practice scores (r=+0.354, p<0.001). IIUM students should engage in exercise more and develop a healthier lifestyle.

Assessment of Chemical Disinfectants Efficacy against Escherichia coli Biofilm Developed on Glass and Wood at Refrigeration and Room Temperatures.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the formation of biofilm on glass and wood coupons at refrigeration and room temperatures, different incubation periods and to assess the efficacy of hydrogen peroxide (HP), Para Acetic Acid (PAA), Sodium hypochlorite (SH) and mixture of PAA + SH against the biofilm. Method: 200 μL of 108suspension E. coli ATCC 29922 was inoculated on the coupons inside petri dishes containing 20 ml of tryptic soy broth, incubated at 10 and 270C for 24, 48, 72 and 168 hours. Biofilm developed at each hour above was quantified by bead-vortex followed by agar plating. The action of disinfectants was tested on 168 hours biofilm. The surfaces were exposed to the disinfectants and incubated at 27 °C for 10 minutes, followed by deactivation for 5 minutes. Cells that resisted disinfectants effect were vortexed and enumerated by agar plating. Results: The results showed that E. coli can develop high biofilm on wood apart from glass. After disinfection treatment, HP had the highest efficacy at 27°C followed by PAA then SH, whilst PAA + SH had the least. Conclusion: It can be concluded that HP and PAA can be good disinfectants agents against E. coli biofilm.

Differential biofilm formation and chemical disinfection resistance of Escherichia coli on stainless steel and polystyrene tissue culture plate.

Background: Biofilms are aggregates of microbial cells enclosed in an extracellular polymeric substance and attached to surfaces. Biofilm formation and its resistance to antimicrobials is becoming a serious challenge in food industries and hospital settings. The aim of this work was to study the formation of biofilm by E. coli on Stainless steel (SS) and Polystyrene Tissue Culture Plate (TCP) at 10 and 27°C, and also to assess the action Hydrogen Peroxide (HP), Para Acetic Acid (PAA), Sodium Hypochlorite (SH) and mixture of PAA + SH disinfectants against the biofilm. Methods: 200 μL of 108 suspension of E. coli ATCC 29922 was inoculated on the SS and into the wells of TCP, incubated at 10 and 27°C for 24, 48 72 and 168 hours. Biofilm developed at each incubation hour above was quantified by bead-vortex method followed by agar plating. The action of disinfectants was tested on 168 hours biofilm. The surfaces were exposed to the disinfectants and incubated at 27°C for 10 minutes, followed by deactivation for 5 minutes. Cells that resisted disinfectants action were vortexed and enumerated by agar plating. Results: From the results E. coli developed higher biofilm on SS than TCP at 72 hours and 27°C. After disinfection, HP was the most effective with log reduction value of 1.11 followed by PAA (1.07), then PAA + SH (1.04) while SH was the least (0.92). Conclusions: The result of this work showed that HP and PAA can be good disinfectants against E. coli biofilm.

Evaluation of biofilm formation and chemical sensitivity of Salmonella typhimurium on plastic surface.

S. typhimurium is an important socioeconomic problem in several countries, mainly in developing countries where it is reported as the main responsible for the food-borne disease outbreaks. A biofilm can be explained as a group of cells, diverse species or mono-species that are fixed to a surface and/or to one another. This study aimed to evaluate the biofilm formation of S. typhimurium on the plastic surface as well as to determine the relationship between contact time and incubation temperature. Crystal violet assay was performed to quantify the biofilm formation with and without treatments based on the value of optical density at 600nm of the destaining crystal violet at different interval of time. The outcomes of the result indicated that, the attachment of bacterial cells to the plastic surfaces increased with the increased contact time and determined by temperature. The values of OD600 at 37 °C for 24, 48 and 72 hours were 0.770, 0.968 and 2.363 respectively. This indicated that, the formation of biofilm by S. typhimurium on plastic surfaces varied with contact time. For the disinfectant treatments, hydrogen peroxide with 91 % sensitivity was the highest in treatment of S. typhimurium cells, followed by the mixture of sodium hypochloride and paracetic acid with 70 %, then paracetic acid with 67 %. Considering this result, S. typhimurium formed a biofilm on the plastic surface, hygienic activities on a plastic surface in food industry during handling, processing, distribution and storage of food should be a concerned and these disinfectants are suggested for the treatment of S. typhimurium.

Awareness of Tadika’s (Kindergarten) Children towards Healthy Lifestyle in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

Health is a common need for every human being. Six point six (6.6) million children under the age of five died in 2012. These child deaths are due to conditions that could be prevented or treated with access to simple and cheap interventions. Leading causes of death in under-five children are pneumonia, preterm birth complications, birth asphyxia, diarrhoea and malaria. School is the primary place of awareness and actually education enlighten people to practice safe-lifestyle. Therefore, World Health Organisation (WHO) launched in 1995 a Global School Health Initiative to incorporate health education in schools for children. Therefore, the current study was conducted with objective is to identify children’s awareness towards healthy lifestyle in the aspects of eating behavior, personal hygiene and physical activities. The specific objectives are: to evaluate the awareness level of children towards healthy lifestyle; to identify the attitude level of children in practicing healthy lifestyle; to document and correlate the level of awareness and attitude of children in practicing healthy lifestyle. Current study is a cross sectional study and conducted among children of a kindergarten named Tadika Nurul Iman As- Siddiq, Malaysia. Present study population was 60 children. All the students are Malay in race and religion is Islam. Sixty-eight percent of kids are familiar with the types of food to stay healthy. They also agreed (78%) that knowledge of healthy food is important. Proper authority should take initiative to conduct prospective research. Therefore necessary measures and interventions can be initiative in very early to have healthier Malaysian national.

Comparative study of professionalism of future medical doctors between Malaysia and Bangladesh.

Every profession has its particular social responsibilities. Thus, professionalism is the foundation of medicine’s indenture with humanity. The schooling and refinement of professionalism has long been part of medical education. Recently professionalism is recognized as a fundamental qualification in both developed and developing countries. The objective of this study was to scrutinize and compare the professionalism of medical students of Malaysia and Bangladesh. This was Cross-sectional study conducted on 1208 Year-I to Year-V MBBS students of session 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, from Malaysia and Bangladesh. Data was collected using a validated instrument. Only 42% respondents were male and the rest 58% were female. Total mean professionalism scores for male was 177.57 and female was 175.82. Again total score of professionalism of Malaysia and Bangladesh were 175.50 and 177.14 respectively. Significant differences observed between gender (p=0.026) and country (p=0.044) in total scores of elements of professionalism. The present study found there has almost equal level of understanding on principal humanistic concerns of professionalism. Between gender and country there are significant differences. Professionalism should be incorporate in undergraduate and postgraduate medical course curriculum. Henceforth, communities will have rational prescriber for the common marginalized people.

Assessment of Bangladeshi Interns' Knowledge of Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Prescribing.

Every medical graduate must have the intention to prescribe rationally. It is pharmacology which teaches rational of prescribing correct drug in undergraduate medical course. Therefore many eminent medical educationists believe that pharmacology is the most essential part of the medical curriculum. Medical graduates join as interns in their respective teaching hospital immediately after graduation. Although interns work is usually under the supervision of a senior consultant but there are occasions, when they need to make their own decision. Again drug market in Bangladesh, like many other countries, is rapidly expanding. Henceforth, interns’ are sometime confused to choose a drug from therapeutic choices. This study was conducted with the intention to provide some light about the knowledge of pharmacology among the Bangladeshi interns. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on Interns (n=191) of six medical schools of Bangladesh. Validated instrument was used to uptake the data. These medical schools are both government and private but Bangladesh has unique curriculum for all medical schools. Out of these 191 participants 81 (42%) rated pharmacology knowledge is good, while another 77 (40%) had average understanding. As high as 80% (152) intern population feel that undergraduate training has prepared them to prescribe safely. One hundred seventeen (61%) interns have already observed cases of adverse drug reactions in their short active clinical life. Although it is a cross sectional study with its limitations, has identified that pharmacology and therapeutics course curriculum is not enough to produce safe prescribers.

Preference of teaching and learning methods in a new medical school of Malaysia.

Teaching and learning are the two sides of a coin. Henceforth, there is a strong correlation between the methods used in delivering the information by the lecturers and the assimilation of that knowledge by the students. MBBS programme of FPSK, UniSZA, is divided into two phases, preclinical (Year I and II) and clinical (Year III, IV and V) phases. The main teaching and learning methods for preclinical phase include lecture, tutorial, practical, problem based learning (PBL) and early clinical exposure (ECE). This cross-sectional study was conducted in July 2013 in UniSZA, Malaysia. 50 respondents from preclinical phase were randomly selected from total 117 students to answers the questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed with extensive literature review and pretested and validated. The questionnaire has been divided into 5 sections. The data were analysed using the SPSS 17.0. This study showed that 36 (72%) out of 50 respondents chose lecture as the most preferred teaching and learning method. Five (10%) out of 50 respondents preferred tutorial and 3 (6%) out of 50 respondents preferred PBL, practical and ECE respectively. None of the respondents chose Computer Assisted Learning (CAL) as a preferred method. Probably learning guideline of CAL is not clear that make the session the most unpreferred. Majority of the students in preclinical phase preferred lecturer/teacher-centred learning session to acquire knowledge in a medical school.

Stress Among Preclinical Medical Students of University Sultan Zainal Abidin.

It is well known that medical students often face many difficulties during their studies in medical school. Stress is the feeling which is created when a person react to the particular events. It makes you feel threatened or upset. Stress is a combination of psychological, physiological and behavioral reactions that people have in response to event that challenge them. This is a cross sectional study and was conducted in FPSK, UniSZA, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia. An instrument on stress assessment was developed through extensive review of literatures. Questionnaire was pretested and validated. A total of 60 questionnaires were given to the preclinical medical students of UniSZA. Study subjects were selected randomly. Current study found out that 47 (78.3%) students might be having stress related problem. Major cause of stress is academic because of curricular overload. The dominant approach to cope with stress is prayer in this medical school. Coping stress in medical student life is one of most important quality. Therefore students should be taught different stress management techniques to improve their ability to cope with a demanding professional course. The hostel related issues and recreational facilities should be improved as far as possible within limited funds.