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The Malaysian government reinforced smoking restrictions at public venues to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. This study examined whether smokers' reports about smoking restrictions and psychosocial beliefs were associated with quit intentions among Malaysian smokers. Data from 1047 cigarette smokers (103 females and 944 males) aged 18 and older from the 2020 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Malaysia Wave 1 Survey were analyzed with bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models. Most Malaysian smokers (85.2%) reported having quit intentions. Smoking was completely restricted in 34.8% of the nighttime venues, 85.3% of air-conditioned (AC) food and beverage (F&B) venues (restaurants, food courts, coffee shops), 87.3% of non-AC F&B, and 69.4% of indoor workplaces. Smokers who visited nighttime entertainment venues where smoking was fully restricted were less likely to have quit intentions. There was no significant association found with quit intentions for smokers who visited AC and non-AC F&B venues and indoor workplaces where smoking was fully restricted. All five psychosocial beliefs assessed, age, and education were positively associated with quit intentions. Malaysian smokers are interested in quitting and psychosocial beliefs were positively associated with quit intentions. There is a need for the Malaysian government to implement and reinforce comprehensive smoking restrictions in all public venues and indoor workplaces to protect nonsmokers from SHS exposure and to encourage smokers to think about quitting, which may influence their quit intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While physical activity ensures healthy aging, rural community-dwelling older women tend to be more physically inactive compared with their counterparts in Malaysia. As social support is one of the key determinants of physical activity, this retrospective, cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of physical activity and its association with social support among 1,221 rural community-dwelling older women in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The prevalence of physical activity among older women was 45.1% with the highest prevalence reported for housework domain (52.3%). The total mean Duke Social Support index score was 27.24 ± 3.40. Multivariate analysis reported age, employment status, and income level to demonstrate significant association with the physical activity after adjusting for confounders. Older women with an increase in social interaction score were more likely (odds ratio = 1.22; 95% confidence interval [1.10, 1.34]; p <.001) to have high physical activity when adjusted for sociodemographic, health, mental health, and physical disability. Contrarily, older women with an increase in one subjective social support score were less likely (odds ratio = 0.91; 95% confidence interval [0.87, 0.96]; p <.001) to have high physical activity when adjusted for confounders. The findings were insightful to tailor interventions on promoting social support for physical activity enhancement among older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoke-free laws (SFL) are more effective with public support. This study investigated the smoking prevalence, public perceptions of smoking rules, and support for comprehensive SFL among 1047 people who smoke (PWS) and 206 people who do not smoke (PNS) aged ≥18 in the 2020 International Tobacco Control Malaysia Survey. Smoking prevalence was highest in nighttime entertainment venues (85.7%), non-air-conditioned eateries (49.7%), and indoor workplaces (34.6%). Respondents reported that smoking was banned in most indoor workplaces (81.7% PNS, 69.2% PWS), air-conditioned eateries (84.7% PNS, 75.7% PWS), and non-air-conditioned eateries (81.2% PNS, 78.7% PWS), but much less so in nighttime entertainment venues (30.1% PNS, 24.6% PWS). Support for comprehensive SFL in public venues was highest among PNS (≥84.9%) but still substantial among PWS (≥49.9%). PWS under 40, Malay, married, and aware of smoking rules supported SFL more. Robust SFL enforcement is essential in Malaysia to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in public places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION Tobacco epidemic is a global public health concern, killing more than 8 million people annually. Individual therapy is the standard of care of behavioral intervention for smoking cessation in Malaysia and group-based therapy for smoking cessation is an alternative to behavioral intervention commonly used in the western population effectively. The study explored the feasibility and efficacy of group-based therapy for smoking cessation for smokers who want to quit smoking at a quit smoking clinic and community centers in an urban setting in Malaysia. METHODS A total of 40 participants who were active smokers and fulfilled the criteria were recruited for the study at the quit smoking clinic. Participants were given behavioral support based on the GBT-M module and individually for 7 weeks with both groups receiving behavioral intervention plus pharmacotherapy. RESULTS The median age of participants was 48 years for individual therapy and 45 years for group therapy. Group-based therapy was comparable to individual therapy in smoking abstinence outcome at 4 weeks post quit date (35% vs 30%). CONCLUSIONS Group-based therapy was equally effective compared to individual therapy, similar to the western population. Using a group format should allow more people to be treated by a therapist, and therefore could be more costeffective. Group-based therapy is an option to be included as part of the smoking cessation program in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnant women who experience Chronic Energy Deficiency (CED) will be at risk of decreased muscle strength which will be used in the process of childbirth resulting in the occurrence of various complications such as low birth weight babies, miscarriage, birth defects, premature, and even infant death. The problem of CED among pregnant women requires intervention not only in nutritional aspects but also in socioeconomic aspects. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the overview of the chronic energy deficiency among pregnant women in Nusa Tenggara in 2018 and the factors that influence it. Methods: The approach used in this study was ecological analysis methods. All districts and cities in West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara were included in this study. This study looked at the prevalence of CED among pregnant women and 4 other independent variables, namely the percentage of supplementary feeding, the percentage of added blood tablets, poverty rate, and literacy rate. The data were analyzed using cross-tabulation. Results: The results show that supplementary feeding and literacy rates do not affect the incidence of CED. However, other variables such as the provision of blood booster supplements and poverty rate affect the incidence of CED. Conclusion: Health care facilities need to improve services and counseling regarding the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and the need for government support in improving the socio-economic status of the community to reduce the prevalence of CED in Nusa Tenggara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frailty and malnutrition commonly co-occur but remains undetected and untreated in community settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of co-occurring frailty and malnutrition, and its associated factors among community-dwelling older adults in a rural setting in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among adults aged ≥ 60 residing in Kuala Pilah district, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Physical frailty and nutritional status were assessed using the Fried phenotype and the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), respectively. Among 1855 participants, 6.4% had co-occurring frailty and at-risk/malnutrition and 11.3% had co-occurring prefrailty and at-risk/malnutrition. Older age, fair-to-poor self-rated health, long-term disease, polypharmacy, activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs' disabilities, cognitive impairment, and poor social support were associated with higher odds of co-occurring frailty and malnutrition. Therefore, beside early identification, targeted intervention is crucial to prevent or delay the progression of frailty and malnutrition in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, including frailty, disability, and mortality. Since the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 guidelines, which were published in 2020, are relatively new, studies on the association between sarcopenia as defined by these guidelines and mortality are limited in the Asian region. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the all-cause mortality risk associated with sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in rural Malaysia. This cohort study included 2404 older adults residing in Kuala Pilah District, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia who were followed up for 83 months. The prevalence rates of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia were 5.0% and 3.60%, respectively. Older adults with sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia had a 114% (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.14) and 146% (HR: 2.46) increased mortality risk compared with those without sarcopenia (HR: 2.14). Our findings indicate that early intervention is recommended to prevent sarcopenia in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tobacco smoking remains a major public health concern as it is a leading cause of serious illness and premature deaths worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of smoking among university students in Thailand and identify associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five public universities in Thailand. The inclusion criteria were current enrollment in the university and age ≥18 years. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about sociodemographic characteristics, smoking status, and knowledge and attitudes toward smoking. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with smoking. Of a total of 1,299 students included, 28.2% were smokers, 76.5% in males and 23.5% in females. Being male, aged between 21 and 22 years, enrolled in a non-science major, living off campus, having a family member or friend who smoked, having a favorable attitude toward smoking, and having a moderate attitude toward smoking were significantly associated with being a smoker. However, knowledge about smoking was not a significant influencing factor. A high prevalence of smoking among university students was reported in our study. Our findings should be taken into consideration when developing programs to prevent smoking among this young social group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reduced hand-grip strength predicts disability, morbidity and mortality, but whether it is shaped by socio-economic experiences is yet unknown. The authors examined the association of education, occupation, income and wealth with grip strength in older Europeans. Methods Data came from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe comprising 27 351 participants ages 50+ in 11 countries. Grip strength was objectively measured using a handheld dynamometer. Estimates were obtained based on multivariate linear regression controlling for a wide set of confounders, demographics, health and disability measures, and behavioural risk factors. Results In the total sample, education, occupational class, income and wealth predicted grip strength among men, whereas only education and wealth predicted grip strength among women. While education and income effects were inconsistent in most countries, wealth consistently predicted grip strength in each country. A one-point increase in the log of wealth was associated with 0.38 kg (95% CI 0.31 to 0.45) higher grip strength in men and 0.18 kg (95% CI 0.15 to 0.21) higher grip strength in women. While education, income and occupation effects disappeared after adjustment for health measures, log of wealth effects remained significant in both men (0.22, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.29) and women (0.08, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.11). Wealth effects were particularly evident in the two lowest quintiles. Conclusion Old-age socio-economic and financial circumstances as measured by wealth are associated with grip strength, particularly among the least wealthy, while circumstances defined earlier in life as measured by education, income and occupation do not consistently predict grip strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]