Ministry of Health

Incomplete Kawasaki disease preceding the diagnosis of AICDA deficiency (hyper-IgM syndrome type 2)

Abstract Background Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of immunity caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in AICDA . It is characterised by defective immunoglobulin class-switch recombination, resulting in recurren...

Prevalence, facilitators and barriers to patients’ decisions on root canal treatment in public dental clinics in central Malaysia: a multicentre mixed-methods study

Root canal treatment (RCT) is a key strategy for preserving natural teeth, yet the prevalence and factors influencing RCT uptake in Malaysia are still sparse in the literature. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of RCT uptake and identify facilitators and barriers influ...

Operational Workflows and Decision Making Processes in Hospital Pharmacy Services During Drug Shortages: A Scoping Review

Background: Drug shortages significantly impact hospital pharmacy services, patient care, and operational efficiency. Although causes and prevalence are well documented, evidence on operational workflows and decision making processes in shortage management remains fragmented. Obj...

Deep learning applications in parasite microscopy: A scoping review

Background Parasitic diseases remain a significant contributor to the global burden of disease and conventional microscopy remains the gold standard for parasite detection. However, it is labour-intensive and dependent on skilled personnel, leading to variability in diagnostic ac...

Effectiveness of Oral Health Programme for Teachers: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT Introduction Many studies investigated the effectiveness of oral health programmes for teachers in terms of the impact of oral health knowledge, practices, perceptions and attitudes. Objective To review the effectiveness of oral health programmes designed for teachers. M...

Interventions to promote sustainable and healthy food choices in universities: a scoping review

Abstract Background University settings play a crucial role in shaping the dietary habits of young adults. In response to growing concerns about public health and environmental sustainability, increasing attention has been directed toward interventions that promote healthy and su...

ABO blood groups and hemorrhagic stroke: no overall association but ethnicity-specific protective effects

Abstract Background The ABO blood group system influences hemostatic factors, including von Willebrand factor and factor VIII, and has been implicated in thrombotic disorders. However, its role in hemorrhagic stroke remains uncertain. Objective To systematically evaluate the asso...

Stakeholder perspectives on service factors influencing patient loyalty in Malaysia’s dental tourism sector: a qualitative survey

Abstract Aim To explore stakeholder perspectives on the service-related, organisational, and policy factors perceived to influence patient loyalty in Malaysia’s dental tourism sector. Materials and methods This qualitative study recruited 17 stakeholders directly involved in dent...

Individual and participatory ergonomics for dental professionals: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Objective Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WR-MSDs) are a major occupational hazard among dental professionals, contributing to disability, absenteeism, and workforce attrition. This systematic review synthesized randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence on ergonomic inte...

Mpox preventive practices and associated factors among adults in a travel-connected setting in Southern Sarawak, Malaysia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Mpox remains a relevant public health concern in non-endemic, travel-connected settings, where imported cases may occur despite the absence of sustained local transmission. Southern Sarawak, Malaysia, is a socio-demographically diverse region that includes Kuching District, a maj...

Kramer’s rule with or without transcutaneous bilirubin screening for neonatal jaundice in primary healthcare clinics: a cost-minimization analysis

Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is a prevalent condition requiring timely detection and management to prevent severe hyperbilirubinemia and its long-term sequelae. In Malaysia, NNJ screening in primary care predominantly relies on Kramer’s Rule (KR), followed by total serum bilirubin (TS...

Addressing youth mental health in Southeast Asia: a call to action with a spotlight on Malaysia

In Malaysia, 1 in 6 children aged 5–15 experience mental health difficulties, with this burden doubling between 2019 and 2023.1 Additionally, approximately 46% of youth report difficulties related to socialisation, including problems playing with others, making or maintaining fri...

Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) and BRCA oncogenic variants in newly diagnosed advanced Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC): first report among multi-ethnic patients

Ovarian cancer patients with homologous recombination deficiencies (HRD) exhibit specific clinical behaviours and improved responses to platinum-based chemotherapy and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase treatment. HRD-positive patients are characterised by having genomic scar score (GS...

Readiness, perceptions, and challenges of pharmaceutical e-labelling implementation among healthcare professionals in Malaysia

Electronic labelling (e-labelling) offers a digital alternative to conventional printed package inserts, disseminating up-to-date pharmaceutical information via Quick Response (QR) codes. While e-labelling addresses key limitations of paper-based systems, including space constrai...

Social network analysis and exponential random graph modelling of dengue spatiotemporal linkage networks in an urban Malaysian district

Dengue burden is increasingly concentrated in rapidly urbanising Asian cities, yet routine surveillance rarely captures fine-scale residential spatiotemporal co-occurrence. We characterised a case-level linkage network and identified sociodemographic and residential correlates of...

Dismantling structural inequities in global prevention of childhood and adolescent non-communicable diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for a growing proportion of morbidity and disability among children and adolescents worldwide. Contemporary NCD preventive strategies are predominantly adult-centric, resulting in delayed prevention and widening inequities, particularly in...

Understanding current practice and challenges to the implementation of rehabilitation for people living with dementia: insights from health professionals in Malaysia

PURPOSE: To examine Malaysian health professionals' knowledge, attitudes, confidence, beliefs, and practices regarding dementia rehabilitation, and to identify perceived barriers and enablers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online survey assessed dementia knowledge (DKAS), attitudes (...