The Malay Version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)-10 is a Reliable and Valid Measure for Stress among Nurses in Malaysia

Background: The Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10) is widely used to assess stress perception. The aim of this study was to translate the original PSS-10 into Malay and assess the reliability and validity of the Malay version among nurses. Methods: The Malay version of the PSS-10 was distributed among 229 nurses from four government hospitals in Selangor State. Test-retest reliability and concurrent validity was conducted with 25 nurses with the Malay version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) 21. Cronbach’s alpha, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson’s r correlation coefficient were used to determine the psychometric properties of the Malay PSS-10. Results: Two factor components were yielded through exploratory factor analysis with eigenvalues of 3.37 and 2.10, respectively. Both of the factors accounted for 54.6% of the variance. CFA yielded a two-factor structure with satisfactory goodness-of-fit indices [x2/df = 2.43; comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.92, goodness-of-fit Index (GFI) = 0.94; standardised root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.07 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.08 (90% CI = 0.07–0.09)]. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the total items was 0.63 (0.82 for factor 1 and 0.72 for factor 2). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.62–0.91) for test-retest reliability testing after seven days. The total score and the negative component of the PSS-10 correlated significantly with the stress component of the DASS-21: (r = 0.61, P < 0.001) and (r = 0.56, P < 0.004), respectively. Conclusion: The Malay version of the PSS-10 demonstrated a satisfactory level of validity and reliability to assess stress perception. Therefore, this questionnaire is valid in assessing stress perception among nurses in Malaysia.

Validity and Reliability of Malay Version Physical Activity (BPA) Questionnaire among Nurses

Physical activity reduces risk of non-communicable diseases. Physical activity prevalence is low due to barriers to physical activity. This study was conducted to translate the Barrier to Physical Activity (BPA) questionnaire into Malay and assess the reliability and validity of the translated version among nurses. The Malay version of BPA was developed after translating the English version of BPA through back to back translation process. The Malay BPA was distributed among 306 volunteered nurses from 5 government hospitals in Selangor state. Factor analysis, Cronbach’s alpha test and test – retest reliability was conducted to determine psychometric properties of BPA. Chronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.79 for perceived benefits items and 0.51 for perceived barrier items (overall was 0.73). The ICC was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.78-0.93) for test-retest testing after 7 days. Two factors components were yielded through exploratory factor analysis with eigenvalues of 3.9 and 2.0 respectively. Both the factors accounts for 31.4 % of the variance. Factor 1 included 14 items and explained 19.9% of the variance. Factor 2 consisted of 5 items and explained 11.5% of variance. CFA yielded two factor structures with acceptable goodness of fit indices [x2/df = 23.99; GFI = 0.82, SRMR = 0.09; PNFI = 0.49 and RMSEA = 0.10 (90%CI = 0.09-0.11)]. The Malay version of BPA had demonstrated satisfactory level of validity and reliability to assess barriers to physical activity. Therefore, this questionnaire is valid in assessing barriers to physical activity among working population.​

Responding to the Potential of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Importation into Malaysia

The current Ebola outbreak, which is the first to affect West African countries, has been declared to have met the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO). Thus, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Malaysia has taken steps to strengthen and enhanced the five core components of preparedness and response to mitigate the outbreak. The National Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC) commands, controls and coordinates the preparedness and response plans for disasters, outbreaks, crises and emergencies (DOCE) related to health in a centralised way. Through standardised case definition and mandatory notification of Ebola by public and private practitioners, surveillance of Ebola is made possible. Government hospitals and laboratories have been identified to manage and diagnose Ebola virus infections, and medical staff members have been trained to handle an Ebola outbreak, with emphasis on strict infection prevention and control practices. Monitoring of the points of entry, focusing on travellers and students visiting or coming from West African countries is made possible by interagency collaborations. To alleviate the public’s anxiety, effective risk communications are being delivered through various channels. With experience in past outbreak control, the MOH’s preparedness and response plans are in place to abate an Ebola outbreak.