Psychometric Properties of a Theory of Planned Behavior Questionnaire for Assessing the Midwives’ Intention to Provide Planned Home Birth Services in Nigeria

ABSTRACT

We developed and psychometrically tested a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) questionnaire which focused on assessing the midwives’ intention to provide planned home birth (PHB) services. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional survey, conducted among 226 midwives working in ten participating health facilities. The reliability and validity of the theoretical constructs were assessed. The Cronbach’s alpha values were >0.8 for all scales, suggesting satisfactory internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed sufficient convergent validity (the average variance extracted was >0.5 for each construct) and discriminant validity. The study gathered an evidence of the usefulness of TPB in the specific context of PHB.     

Predictors of poor glycaemic control in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

INTRODUCTION

We assessed the predictors of poor glycaemic control among older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Malaysia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used the data of 21,336 patients aged ≥ 60 years with T2DM from the Adult Diabetes Control and Management Registry 2008–2009.

RESULTS

Predictors of poor glycaemic control were: age groups 60–69 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.66–2.33) and 70–79 years (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.20–1.71); Malay (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.41–1.66) and Indian (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.19–1.46) ethnicities; T2DM durations of 5–10 years (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.35–1.58) and > 10 years (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.59–1.91); the use of oral antidiabetic agents only (OR 5.86, 95% CI 3.32–10.34), insulin only (OR 17.93, 95% CI 9.91–32.43), and oral antidiabetic agents and insulin (OR 29.42, 95% CI 16.47–52.53); and elevated blood pressure (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01–1.20), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.38–1.59) and triglycerides (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.51–1.73). Hypertension (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.64–0.80), hypertension and dyslipidaemia (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.61–0.75), pre-obesity (OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.98) and obesity (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.70–0.84) were less likely to be associated with poor glycaemic control.

CONCLUSION

Young-old and middle-old age groups (i.e. < 80 years), Malay and Indian ethnicities, longer T2DM duration, the use of pharmacological agents, and elevated blood pressure and lipid levels were associated with poor glycaemic control. The presence of comorbidities, pre-obesity and obesity were less likely to be associated with poor glycaemic control.     

Age ≥ 60 years was an independent risk factor for diabetes-related complications despite good control of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Providing effective medical care for older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) that may contribute to their active aging has always been challenging. We examined the independent effect of age ≥ 60 years on disease control and its relationship with diabetes-related complications in patients with T2D in Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional study using secondary data from the electronic diabetes registry database Adult Diabetes Control and Management (ADCM). A total of 303 centers participated and contributed a total of 70,889 patients from May 2008 to the end of 2009. Demographic data, details on diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and their treatment modalities, various risk factors and complications were updated annually. Independent associated risk factors were identified using multivariate regression analyses. Fifty-nine percent were female. Malay comprised 61.9%, Chinese 19% and Indian 18%. There were more Chinese, men, longer duration of diabetes and subjects that were leaner or had lower BMI in the older age group. Patients aged ≥ 60 years achieved glycemic and lipid targets but not the desired blood pressure. After adjusting for duration of diabetes, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, disease control and treatment, a significantly higher proportion of patients ≥ 60 years suffered from reported diabetes-related complications. Age ≥ 60 years was an independent risk factor for diabetes-related complications despite good control of cardiovascular risk factors. Our findings caution against the currently recommended control of targets in older T2D patients with more longstanding diseases and complications.     

Insights into how Malaysian adults with limited health literacy self‐manage and live with asthma: A Photovoice qualitative study

BackgroundAdjusting to life with a chronic condition is challenging, especially for people with limited health literacy, which is associated with low compliance with self‐management activities and poor clinical outcomes.ObjectiveWe explored how people with limited health literacy understand asthma and undertake self‐management practices.DesignWe adapted the arts‐based qualitative methodology Photovoice.Setting and ParticipantsWe sampled ethnically diverse adults with asthma and limited health literacy from four primary healthcare clinics in Malaysia. After a semistructured in‐depth interview, a subset of participants took part in the Photovoice component in which participants undertook a 2‐week photo‐taking activity and subsequent photo‐interview. Interviews, conducted in participants'' preferred language, were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated and analysed thematically. We used the Sorensen''s framework (Domains: access, understand, appraise, apply) to describe participants'' experience of living with asthma, what they understood about asthma and how they decided on self‐management practices.ResultsTwenty‐six participants provided interviews; eight completed the Photovoice activities. Participants with limited health literacy used various sources to access information about asthma and self‐management. Doctor–patient communication had a pivotal role in helping patients understand asthma. The lack of appraisal skills was significant and experiential knowledge influenced how they applied information. Self‐management decisions were influenced by sociocultural norms/practices, stigmatizing experiences, and available social support.ConclusionLocally tailored multilevel interventions (interpersonal, health system, community and policy) will be needed to support people with limited health literacy to live optimally with their asthma in an ethnically diverse population.Patient/Public ContributionPatients were involved in the study design, recruitment, analysis and dissemination.     

Predictors of health related quality of life in older people with non-communicable diseases attending three primary care clinics in Malaysia

Objectives

To determine the health related quality of life and its predictive factors among older people with non-communicable diseases attending primary care clinics.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Three public primary care clinics in a district in Selangor, Malaysia.

Participants

Registered patients aged 55 years and above.

Measurements

A face-to-face interview was conducted using a validated questionnaire of Medical Outcome Study 36-item short form health survey (SF-36). The outcome measure was the health related quality of life (HRQoL) and other factors measured were socio demography, physical activity, social support (Duke-UNC Functional Social Support Questionnaire), and presence of non-communicable diseases.

Results

A total of 347 participants had non-communicable diseases which included hypertension (41.8%), type 2 diabetes (33.7%), asthma (4.8%), hyperlipidaemia (1.7%), coronary heart disease (1.2%), and osteoarthritis (0.2%). Age ?? 65 years old (OR =2.23; 95%CI=1.42, 3.50), single (OR=1.75; 95%CI=1.06,2.90), presence of co-morbid condition (OR=1.66; 95%CI=1.06, 2.61), and poorer social support (OR=2.11; 95%CI=1.27, 3.51; p=0.002) were significant predictors of poorer physical component of HRQoL. In predicting lower mental health component of HRQoL, the significant predictors were women (OR=2.28; 95%CI=1.44, 3.62), Indian ethnicity (OR=1.86; 95%CI=1.08, 3.21) and poorer social support (OR=2.71; 95%CI=1.63, 4.51). No interactions existed between these predictors.

Conclusion

Older people with non-communicable diseases were susceptible to lower health related quality of life. Increasing age, single, presence of co-morbid conditions, and poorer social support were predictors of lower physical health component of HRQoL. While the older women, Indian ethnicity and poorer social support reported lower mental health component of HRQoL.