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Educational videos and other multimedia materials are frequently employed to enhance clinical undergraduate learning. The acceptability and use of a fall prevention training videos by Malaysian clinical students are examined in this study. The use of multimedia in the classroom offers numerous advantages, but it is important to understand the needs, preferences, and feedback of the students regarding its usefulness and efficacy. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the acceptability and usability of the fall prevention instructional videos among clinical undergraduates in Malaysia through quantitative and qualitative study methods. This study looks at the acceptability and usage of fall prevention videos among clinical undergraduates in Malaysia. A quantitative and qualitative study of 53 clinical undergraduate students in Malaysia was conducted. The System Usability Scale (SUS) was adapted for our study to incorporate two open-ended questions regarding educational video continuity and practicality, feedback sections, and closed-ended questions addressing video flaws. The educational video on fall prevention has an excellent usability score of 73.26 ± 13.32. Most of the feedback suggested trimming the videos because 15 participants (28 %) felt it was too long. Many participants said that the educational videos were essential for practical sessions and future learning. The consensus was that educational videos should be kept up to date for future learning and usefulness, but more improvements are required to make the learning process better for the students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance of physical and psychological health is crucial to prevent general health problems in older persons. There is inadequate information on gender based physical and psychological health status in older adults attending primary care clinics in Malaysia. Study Design: Cross-sectional study Methods: 106 participants were required to perform physical performance tests consisting of 30secs chair stand (30sCS), chair sit and reach (CSR), back scratch (BS), timed up and go (TUG), single leg stance (SLS) and 2minutes walk (2MWT) tests. Psychological health measures consisted of Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28). Results: Only CSR was found to be significantly higher in men (M= 1.27, SD= 3.1) compared to women (M= -0.88, SD= 3.67). A significant correlation (p<0.05) was found only in men between GHQ-28 and 30 seconds sit to stand test (r= -0.424), TUG (r= 0.361) and 2 Minute walk test (r= -0.436). Conclusion: Older males and females had similar physical and psychological measures except for lower limb flexibility which was greater in females. Lower physical performance (lower body strength, mobility and endurance) correlated with higher psychological issues in older males. There may be a need to consider distinct physical and psychological needs between genders in order to provide optimum health prevention and management stategies among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Falls prevention education is important to provide early awareness of falls prevention among older adults. However, information on the effectiveness of falls prevention education on its prevention behavior among older adults is limited. Objective: The objective of this systematic review was to identify effects of falls prevention education on the practice of falls prevention behavior among older adults. Method: A search of three electronic databases: PEDRO, EBSCHOHOST and OVID & MEDLINE, was performed in May and June 2018. Studies with falls prevention education as a single prevention intervention either in the hospital, long term care or community settings, participants aged 60 years and above and falls prevention behavior as an outcome measure were included. Results: A total of 129 studies were found with 16 being duplicates. A total of 14 and 62 studies were excluded for review after screening by title and abstract respectively. Another 31 studies were excluded for not fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Only six studies were finally eligible for inclusion in our present review. The results of our review suggested that falls prevention education significantly improved falls prevention behavior practice among older adults. However, there is limited information on periodic falls risk screening or assessment practice among older adults. Conclusion: Falls prevention education seems to be effective in heightening falls prevention behavior among older adults. More information about the effects of periodic falls risk screening or assessment on falls prevention behavior among older adults is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standards of physiotherapy practice by respective regulatory bodies and authorities is well documented. However, the triad alignment reported, and efforts taken by physiotherapy stakeholders is unclear and limited. This article aims to highlight any constructive alignment that exist between the three stakeholders namely the regulatory bodies, employers and the higher educational institutions (HEIs). Literature searched was conducted using Google Scholar using keywords on "physiotherapy standards", "clinical competence", "regulatory bodies" and "physiotherapy". Results showed evidence of physiotherapy regulatory bodies, educational institutions and healthcare employers advocating standards of physiotherapy. Physiotherapy authorities advocates the standards of physiotherapy competence, while educational institutions develop various competency assessment tools to measure the outlined standards on their physiotherapy graduate's. However, the healthcare providers' (employers) feedback on their expected employability skills is not promising. Evidence suggest discrepancy in the alignment, between these stakeholders and an improved mechanism could be proposed to ensure these standards are well communicated and integrated. Such constructive alignment is imperative in ensuring the physiotherapy workforce produced meet the current 21st century health care demands for optimal patient outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is important to quantify postural misalignment to provide effective treatment. Web-plot digitizer software (WPDS) was developed for analysis of posture angles. However, the reliability of this software in quantifying head posture angles is not known. Study Design: Repeated-measure study. Method: A total of 31 participants were recruited. Head posture angles were measured using Photogrammetry method and analyzed using WPDS. Intra-rater evaluations were performed twice by a rater with a period of three weeks’ interval. Three raters reanalyzed all the photographic data for inter-rater reliability. Results: High level of reliability was demonstrated for intra-rater analysis in participants with and without neck pain with ICCs ranging from 0.92 to 0.99 (SEMs: 0.10 to 0.88; CV: 1.65 to 10.77). The inter-rater reliability between three raters was also high (ICCs: 0.98 to 0.99). Conclusions: Excellent intra and inter-rater reliability was demonstrated using WPDS. WPDS can be used in clinical setting for head posture assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited information regarding combined sociodemographic data and physical performance measures as determinants and correlates of falls among community-dwelling older adults. In this study, we aimed to identify whether sociodemographic data and physical performance measures are significant determinants and correlates for falls in community-dwelling older adults. Three hundred twenty-five Malaysian community-dwelling older adults (145 men and 180 women), aged 60 to 89 (M = 67.64, SD = 5.56) years, were recruited through multistage random samplings for this prospective study (with 6 months' follow-up). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed on the sociodemographic data and physical performance measures to determine the determinants and correlates of falls among these participants. The Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) was the only significant (P < .05) physical performance measure that correlated with falls. The Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test and education levels were significant correlates and determinants of falls in this population, with the absence of PPA in the model. The PPA is the best physical performance measure correlate of falls among Malaysian community-dwelling older adults. However, when the PPA is not available, the TUG Test, although a simple performance tool, may be used to predict falls among community-dwelling older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Health Science graduates are increasingly in demand for improving and providing life services among the ageing population. Having substantial knowledge and positive attitude towards ageing will be a key step towards better care giving. However, to date there is limited published literature regarding knowledge and attitude towards ageing among health science students in Malaysia. The objective of our study was to assess knowledge and attitudes towards ageing among health science students. METHODOLOGY: A total of 786 (120 male, 666 female) health science undergraduates participated in this study. This cross-sectional study was conducted using Palmore's Facts on Aging Quiz I (FAQ I) and Kogan's Attitudes towards Older People (KAOP) to assess knowledge of ageing and attitudes towards older adults respectively. RESULTS: Majority of students in clinical (69.6%) and non-clinical programmes (65.6%) showed moderate knowledge towards ageing. More than two-third of students in clinical (77.2%) and non-clinical programs (75.8%) demonstrated a slightly positive attitude towards ageing. A significant moderate positive correlation (r=.308, p< 0.05) was found between knowledge of ageing and attitudes towards older adults. Clinical type of programme (t = -1.97, p <0 .05) and Malay ethnicity (t = 2.37, p < 0.001) were significant factors that influenced both knowledge and attitudes towards ageing. CONCLUSION: Health science students demonstrated a moderate knowledge and positive attitude towards ageing. Refining the current geriatric care curriculum with integration of experiential learning may further enhance knowledge and attitude towards ageing in health science students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Muscle morphology, age and gender may be determinants of muscle strength in older adults. However, very few research studies have directly examined such correlation in the ageing spine. The aim of the study was to examine the correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, its muscle fibre angles, thoracolumbar curvature, age and gender in the older and younger adults. Methods: Muscle fibre angles of lumbar extensor muscles, thoracolumbar curvature and lumbar extensor muscle strength were examined in 26 young (mean age 27.9, SD 5.2) and 26 older (mean age 72.1, SD 5.9) participants. Pearson's correlation was employed to determine the association among lumbar extensor muscle fibre angle, thoracolumbar curvature, age, gender and lumbar extensor muscle strength. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was used to identify significant determinants of lumbar extensor muscle strength. Results: The results demonstrated a significant correlation between lumbar extensor muscle strength, muscle fibre angle, age and gender. In the step wise regression analysis, both gender and age were identified as the most robust determinant for lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults. However, gender was the only determinant of muscle strength in the young. Conclusion: These results suggest that the decline in the lumbar extensor muscle strength in older adults was more dependent on age when compared to younger adults [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced muscle strength and quality of life (QoL) has an impact on adults at risk of osteoporotic fractures. Muscle strength and QoL among Malaysian adults at risk of osteoporotic fractures is not known. The aim of our study was to examine muscle strength and QoL status and its relationship among adults at low and moderate to high risk of osteoporotic fractures. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 27 men and 78 women (mean age 69.3 ± 8.5 years) from Orthopaedic Clinic, Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. A 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fractures were calculated according to WHO fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) with femoral neck BMD (cut-point 10%). Participants were categorized as low and moderate to high risk of osteoporotic fractures based on FRAX results. Back extensor muscle strength and dominant hand grip strength were measured using a load cell system and a hand dynamometer respectively. European QoL questionnaire (EQ5Dvas) was used to measure QoL. Multiple linear regression was performed with QoL as a dependent variable and back extensor muscle strength and hand grip strength as the independent variables. Approximate 40% of adults were categorized into moderate to high risk of osteoporotic fractures. The mean values among the low and moderate to high risk of osteoporotic fractures for QoL was 80.5 ± 13.2 and 76.9 ± 16.9 (p = 0.77); hand grip strength was 25.7 ± 17.3 and 20.6 ± 5.5 kg (p < 0.001) and back extensor muscle strength was 25.0 ± 7.0 and 18.9 ± 9.5 Newton (p < 0.01) respectively. Hand grip muscle strength appeared to be a determinant of QoL and accounted for 5.8% of the total variance. Improved muscle strength may lead to better QoL among adults at risk of osteoporotic fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimum physical health is important in maintaining independence among older adults. There is limited information regarding physical health status among older adults attending primary care clinics in the local population. The aim of this study was to examine physical health among older adults attending Primary Care Clinic at Cheras, Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Primary Care Clinic at Cheras, Malaysia with a total 106 participants (mean age of 68 ± 6.3 years). Participants performed a battery of physical function tests. The results showed that the percentages of participants who performed below recommended norms for the 30secs Chair Stand Test (lower limb strength), Chair Sit and Reach Test (lower limb flexibility), Back Scratch Test (upper limb flexibility), Timed Up and Go (TUG) (functional mobility), Single Leg Stance Test (balance) and 2 mins Walk Test (2MWT) (aerobic endurance) were 32%, 18%, 21%, 29%, 22% and 78% respectively. The results suggest that majority of older adults visiting primary health care clinics had inadequate physical function in relation to aerobic endurance. Older adults attending primary health care clinics should be encouraged to improve their physical health status, especially aerobic endurance, to optimise their physical independence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sarcopenia is one of the geriatric syndromes affecting the ability of older adults to lead an independent living. However, its risk factors among Malaysian older adults are yet to be determined. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults in Klang Valley. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 393 Malaysians aged 60 and above, residing in urban areas of Klang Valley recruited through convenience sampling. Socio-demographic and food intake information were obtained using validated questionnaires. Cut-off points for sarcopenia screening were obtained from the Asian Working Group of Sarcopenia( AWGS) while body impedance analysis(BIA) was employed to determine skeletal muscle index. A handgrip dynamometer was used to assess dominant handgrip strength and a 6-meter gait speed test was used to determine walking speed. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk factors of sarcopenia. Results: Prevalence of sarcopenia was 33.6% and women(35.9%) were more affected compared to men(30.1%). The mean age of women assessed to have sarcopenia(69.1±6.5 years old) was higher compared to men(68.3±5.8 years old) (p<0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors, older adults with one year increased in age and one mg decreased in habitual dietary iron intake were estimated to be 1.08 times and 0.93 times the chances to have sarcopenia respectively. Conclusion: Approximately one-third of community-dwelling older adults in Klang Valley were assessed to have sarcopenia. Older adults aged 60 years and above and those with low dietary iron intake were at an increased risk of developing sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study delves into the intriguing connection between knee osteoarthritis and diabetes in Malaysia. Specifically, the exacerbation of knee osteoarthritis in the presence of diabetes in terms of symptoms, physical performance, physical activity, psychological status, social participation, and quality of life was discussed., Design: This cross-sectional study recruited adults aged 50 and above by convenient sampling and grouped them into: knee osteoarthritis-diabetes-, knee osteoarthritis+diabetes-, knee osteoarthritis-diabetes+, and knee osteoarthritis+diabetes+., Subjects/patients: Of 436 recruited participants, 261 (59.8%) participants reported knee osteoarthritis., Methods: Handgrip strength, Timed Up and Go test, 6 Meter Walk Test, and 5 Times Sit to Stand Test were measured using standardized procedures. Six questionnaires were administered for the remaining parameters., Results: Across groups, there were significant differences: 6 Meter Walk Test (p = 0.024), Timed Up and Go test (p = 0.020), and 5 Times Sit to Stand Test (p < 0.001), quality of life (p = 0.009), and physical activity (p = 0.036). Knee osteoarthritis+diabetes+ was independently associated with reduced handgrip strength, 5 Times Sit to Stand Test, quality of life, and physical inactivity after adjustment. Knee osteoarthritis+diabetes- was independently associated with reduced Timed Up and Go test and social isolation., Conclusion: The findings revealed the diabetic knee osteoarthritis subgroup's unique physical and psychosocial features of reduced muscle strength and physical inactivity. Future studies should investigate whether managing metabolic factors, and enhancing physical activity and strength exercises, can reduce knee osteoarthritis symptoms and disease severity.