Trauma and Coping in Battling the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Malaysian Healthcare Workers

Introduction: Prolonged COVID-19 pandemic with high morbidity and mortality may cause traumatic events to Healthcare Workers (HCW), resulting in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Hence, this study aims to determine the prevalence of PTSD symptoms and its association with coping strategies among HCW in managing COVID-19 pandemic at Klang Valley Public Hospitals in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study with total of 424 eligible respondents were recruited through stratified random sampling. Data was collected from 6th May until 6th June 2021 using a self-administered online questionnaire adopted from MPCL-5 and Brief COPE instruments. IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 26 was used to analyse data. Result: 25% of the respondents demonstrated PTSD symptoms. Respondents who are single (aOR=3.319, 95% CI: 1.912, 5.762, p-value <0.001) and had history of positive COVID-19 (aOR= 2.563, 95% CI:1.058, 6.209, p-value=0.037) were more likely to experience PTSD symptoms. Frequently coping with self-blaming (aOR= 7.804, 95% CI: 3.467, 17.568, p-value < 0.001), behavioural disengagement (aOR= 7.262, 95% CI: 1.973, 26.723, p-value =0.003), humour (aOR= 5.303, 95% CI: 1.754, 16.039, p-value =0.003), venting emotion (aOR= 3.287, 95% CI: 1.521, 7.105, p-value =0.002) and less planning (aOR= 2.006, 95% CI:1.154, 3.487 p-value =0.014) are significant predictors for PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: One in four HCW managing COVID-19 in Klang Valley public hospitals experienced PTSD symptoms. Therefore, urgent interventional program targeting HCW who are single with history of positive COVID-19 is beneficial to prevent PTSD. Maladaptive coping strategies like self-blaming, venting emotion, humour and behavioural disengagement should be replaced with more adaptive coping strategies like planning, self-compassion, self-care and self-reflection. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.

Visualizing COVID-19 Vaccination Rate and Vaccination Centre in Malaysia using DBSCAN Clustering model

In February 2021, the Malaysian government launched a vaccination campaign against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is a problem in identifying suitable location for vaccination centre should be allocated. At the same time, there are population that living in the rural area and has difficulty to travel to the nearest vaccination centres. Therefore, based on the data of vaccination rate collected by Ministry of Health, the proposed project aims to classify and visualise the data based on number of COVID-19 vaccination rate and centre in Malaysia for the adult and adolescent populations. This project uses machine learning technique called Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN). The system is developed in Python language platform for back-end development, and PyCharm is utilised for front-end development in web-based platform. This project follows four phases in Waterfall model: requirement analysis, design, implementation, and testing. The system is evaluated for functionality and usability based on user satisfaction and the accuracy of the model. The results of the testing shows that all the functionality of the system have been implemented successfully in the system. The system also rated good according to SUS Questionnaire in usability testing with score of 88.5%. The model of machine learning also achieved a good accuracy score which is greater than 0.3. In conclusion, the data visualization web-based application helps the Malaysian government to identify location for additional vaccination centres in strategic locations and it helps Malaysian people to locate nearby vaccination centres in their area. © 2022 IEEE.

Can simulation-based education or other education interventions replace clinical placement in medical radiation sciences? A narrative review.

OBJECTIVES: In response to increasing student enrolment and workload pressures from the Covid-19 pandemic, a recent focus on health student preparation programs has been on curricula adaptations and replacement of clinical placement time with alternative education activities. The aim of the narrative review was to explore the current evidence relating to education activities in Medical Radiation Sciences (MRS) used to replace clinical placements or part of clinical placements. Medline, CINAHL and Web of Science databases were used to search for articles published between 2017 and 2022. Data from the literature was summarised into (1) planning and development of clinical replacement learning activities in MRS, (2) evaluation of clinical replacement activities, and (3) benefits and challenges of clinical replacement in MRS. KEY FINDINGS: Planning and development of clinical replacement learning activities in MRSrequires support from a wide range of stakeholders, and evidence from activities already implemented exists. Activities largely encompass an institution-specific focus. Developed clinical replacement activities use a blended approach, with simulation-based education (SBE) as a main teaching platform. Evaluation of clinical replacement activities are largely focused on students' achievement of learning objectives relating to practical and communication skills. Emerging evidence based on small student samples shows that clinical and clinical replacement activities provide similar results in terms of learning objectives. CONCLUSION: Benefits and challenges of clinical replacement in MRS are similar to those presented in the other health professions. The balance between quality and quantity of teaching and learning experiences for clinical skill development in MRS needs to be further investigated. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: To meet the dynamic challenges of the health care environment and MRS profession, a major goal in the future will be to affirm the benefit of clinical replacement activities for MRS students.

An Artificial Approach for the Fractional Order Rape and Its Control Model

The current investigations provide the solutions of the nonlinear fractional order mathematical rape and its control model using the strength of artificial neural networks (ANNs) along with the Levenberg-Marquardt back -propagation approach (LMBA), i.e., artificial neural networks-Levenberg-Marquardt backpropagation approach (ANNs-LMBA). The fractional order investigations have been presented to find more realistic results of the mathe-matical form of the rape and its control model. The differential mathematical form of the nonlinear fractional order mathematical rape and its control model has six classes: susceptible native girls, infected immature girls, sus-ceptible knowledgeable girls, infected knowledgeable girls, susceptible rapist population and infective rapist population. The rape and its control differ-ential system using three different fractional order values is authenticated to perform the correctness of ANNs-LMBA. The data is used to present the rape and its control differential system is designated as 70% for training, 14% for authorization and 16% for testing. The obtained performances of the ANNs-LMBA are compared with the dataset of the Adams-Bashforth-Moulton scheme. To substantiate the consistency, aptitude, validity, exactness, and capability of the LMBA neural networks, the obtained numerical values are provided using the state transitions (STs), correlation, regression, mean square error (MSE) and error histograms (EHs).

Contributions of Industry 4.0 to resilience achievement in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

In the totally unprecedented context of the COVID-19 health crisis, the widespread adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, and the great interest in resilience, have been stronger than ever. Within this framework, the present paper outlines the involvement of technologies emerging from the fourth industrial revolution in the fight against the epidemic expansion, and the results of this implication in terms of strengthening and achieving resilience in diverse fields. In order to gain a fuller understanding of these points, fourteen resilience domains related to the COVID-19 pandemic are defined. On the other hand, the third section of this paper digs into the literature to expose a variety of Industry 4.0 solutions developed to cope with the sanitary crisis. Afterwards, a fuzzy cognitive map is elaborated, using mental modeler, in order to emphasize the causal links between Industry 4.0 technologies and resilience domains Subsequently, a simulation of this model is performed to evaluate the contribution of an optimized joint use of Industry 4.0 core technologies in the achievement of resilience in its different dimensions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to discuss how the identified gaps or weaknesses can be addressed. Copyright (C) 2022 The Authors.

COVID-19 Lockdown: Impact on PM10 and PM2.5 in Six Megacities in the World Assessed Using NASA's MERRA-2 Reanalysis

The changes in air quality were investigated in six megacities during the shutdown phases in 2020 and were compared to the same time periods in the previous 10 years (2010-2019) using the data of Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis and Research and Application, version 2 (MERRA-2). The concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were greatly reduced in all megacities during the lockdown in 2020 when compared to the same period in 2019 and in the previous ten years. The highest reduction in PM10 was recorded in Delhi, and Sao Paulo (21%, and 15% and by 27%, and 9%), when compared with the concentrations in 2019 and in the period 2010-2019, respectively. Similarly, levels of PM2.5 in Delhi, Sao Paulo, Beijing, and Mumbai decreased by 20%, 14%, 12%, and 10%, respectively in 2020 when compared to the last ten years. Results indicated that the lockdown is an effective mitigation measure to improve air quality. The MERRA-2 reanalysis dataset could be a vital tool in air quality studies in places with a lack of In-situ observations.

Simultaneous perception of prosthetic and natural vision in AMD patients.

Loss of photoreceptors in atrophic age-related macular degeneration (AMD) results in severe visual impairment. Since the low-resolution peripheral vision is retained in such conditions, restoration of central vision should not jeopardize the surrounding healthy retina and allow for simultaneous use of the natural and prosthetic sight. This interim report, prespecified in the study protocol, presents the first clinical results with a photovoltaic substitute of the photoreceptors providing simultaneous use of the central prosthetic and peripheral natural vision in atrophic AMD. In this open-label single group feasibility trial (NCT03333954, recruitment completed), five patients with geographic atrophy have been implanted with a wireless 2 x 2 mm-wide 30 µm-thick device, having 378 pixels of 100 µm in size. All 5 patients achieved the primary outcome of the study by demonstrating the prosthetic visual perception in the former scotoma. The four patients with a subretinal placement of the chip demonstrated the secondary outcome: Landolt acuity of 1.17 ± 0.13 pixels, corresponding to the Snellen range of 20/460-20/565. With electronic magnification of up to a factor of 8, patients demonstrated prosthetic acuity in the range of 20/63-20/98. Under room lighting conditions, patients could simultaneously use prosthetic central vision and their remaining peripheral vision in the implanted eye and in the fellow eye.

Impact of Systemic Diseases on Olfactory Function in COVID-19 Infected Patients

Background COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV) is now a major public health threat to the world. Olfactory dysfunctions (ODs) are considered potential indicating symptoms and early case identification triaging for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The most common reported comorbidities are diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease, and cardiovascular disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate prevalence of different types of smell disorders in patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and impact of involved systemic diseases. Methodology A cross-sectional retrospective study has been done for patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection (mild-to-moderate). The data collected from patient’s files and developed online electronic questionnaire (WhatsApp) based on the patients most common and recurrent reported data including: a) symptoms of olfactory dysfunction and associated covid19 symptoms fever and headache, cough, sore throat, pneumonia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, arthralgia and myalgia and taste dysfunction. b) Associated systemic diseases including: diabetes, hypertension, asthma, chronic renal disease, chorionic liver disease and hypothyroidism. Results Of 308 patients confirmed with Covid-19 infection, (72.4%) developed OD distributed as follows;complete anosmia (57.8%), troposmia (8.4%), hyposmia (2.9%), partial anosmia (2.6%) and euosmia (0.6%). Significantly increased prevalence of diabetes, hypertension asthma in the group with olfactory dysfunction (p < 0.001), chronic liver disease (p = 0.005), and hypothyroidism (p = 0.03). Conclusion The development of ODs after Covid-19 infection was associated with mild disease form and lower hospitalization. In addition, it showed significant relationship with preexisting systemic diseases. Anosmia is the common modality of ODs.

EXPLORING THE LAW ON THE MOVEMENT CONTROL ORDER IN MALAYSIA TO FIGHT THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This paper explores the laws enforced for the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia, which are the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 [Act 342] and its subsidiary legislations, to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The MCO was first enforced in Malaysia on March 18, 2020. This paper aims to explore and inform the non-legal person on the legal mechanisms in Malaysia during COVID-19. This paper applied the qualitative research approach, where the methodology used was a socio-legal analysis with reference to specific legal texts and statutes of Malaysia. Legal analysis was conducted on the main law, which Act 342, and its subsidiary legislations. Information by way of secondary data was also obtained from the official website of the Ministry of Health of Malaysia and newspaper articles. It was observed and concluded that the role of law is essential in times of crisis. The MCO in Malaysia has a significant role as a preventive measure in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and to break the chain of virus infection. Non-compliance is an offence, punishable by law and upon conviction, offenders are fined or imprisoned, or both. © Penerbit UMT

Resilience assessment of system process through fuzzy logic: case of COVID-19 context

The present work is undertaken as part of research studies aiming to provide sociotechnical systems with a decision-making tool that supports them in assessing the resilience of their processes. The ultimate objective is to fix the identified imperfections in order to steadily gain strength and effectiveness to cope with new and existing threats and challenges. In that respect, this paper presents a framework called 3R process whose goal is to calculate the resilience score for a process based on several parameters and grade it on the resilience scale. In order to achieve this, a fuzzy model has been put in place and graphic user interfaces have been designed so that the 3R process becomes an integral part of daily working practices. Finally, a real case company example in the context of COVID-19 is exposed towards putting into practice the proposed model. © 2020 ASTES Publishers. All rights reserved.