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Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a global health burden that affects a broad scope of individuals worldwide. Pharmacists, as members of the multidisciplinary team, play a significant role in promoting public awareness towards potential risk factors for NCDs. This study aims to gauge the knowledge of NCDs risk factors among pharmacy students of a Malaysian public university. This paper also outlines perspectives of pharmacy students on the strategies to raise the awareness of NCDs risk factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Faculty of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia. Self-administered questionnaires were pretested and validated before being distributed to pharmacy students across different years of study. The data indicated an average level of knowledge towards risk factors of NCDs among study participants with no significant differences in knowledge between male and female genders (p = 0.583). However, there is a significant difference in knowledge concerning the year of study (p < 0.001); as positive correlation can be seen between the level of education and the knowledge of NCDs risk factor. Most of the students (75%) were unaware of the planning by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to control NCDs. Reinforcement of NCDs-related education activities is imperative in order to increase the overall awareness concerning the risk factors of NCDs among future pharmacy practitioners. Further collaborations between educational institutions and the MOH were proposed to help raise awareness of NCDs risk factors among the younger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In Malaysia, nurses form a significant part of the clinical mental health team, but the current level of training in mental health results in suboptimal nursing care delivery. Methods: For this study 220 registered nurses and medical assistants working with the mentally ill completed a structured questionnaire. The purpose of this study was to explore perceived competence in mental healthcare and the training needs of nurses working with mentally ill patients in inpatient mental healthcare facilities. Results: The skills perceived as important for practicing in mental health varied among the nurse participants. Post basic training in mental health was significantly related to perceived competence in patient mental state assessment (p=0.036), risk assessment for suicide (p=0.024), violence (p=0.044) and self-harm (p=0.013). Conclusion: There is little emphasis on psychosocial skills in current post basic mental health training in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare parenting stress between mothers of children with spina bifida (SB) and able bodied controls. Methods: Sixty-six mothers of children with SB and controls (matched for age, sex and ethnicity) completed the Parenting Stress Index Short Form (PSI/SF) and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12). Each child's adaptive skills was assessed using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales (VABS). Results: Mothers of children with SB had significantly higher scores for GHQ-12 and the Parental Distress (PD), Parent-Child Dysfunctional Interaction (P-CDI) and Difficult Child (DC) sub-scales of the PSI/SF, even after adjusting for socioeconomic and caregiver status. Single parent status, having a child with SB and higher Life Stress scores were associated with higher PD and DC scores. Lower VABS scores were associated with higher P-CDI scores. Conclusion: Factors such as recent life change events, single parent status and the child's adaptive skills modify the impact of spina bifida on parenting stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]