awareness

Awareness and Knowledge of The Public on Facial Skin Care Products

    DOI: 10.52494/maljpharmv10105
    by Saik Hou Tay and Seok Ming Toh.
    Vol. 10 No 1 (2024): Malaysian Journal of Pharmacy / Published: June 30, 2024
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    Abstract

    Skincare encompasses a diverse range of products and procedures tailored to individual needs due to the varying skin types among people. The market is flooded with myriad products and not every product is suitable for everyone due to its content such as fragrances and preservatives which cause adverse reactions such as allergies and headaches. Additionally, the prevalence of counterfeit products has risen with the power of the Internet, reflecting the importance of equipping the public with the skills to select appropriate skincare products effectively. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge of the public on facial skincare products as well as their level of awareness regarding facial skincare products. Method: This is a quantitative cross-sectional study that involved the distribution of an online questionnaire via Google Forms from December 2022 to February 2023. The self-developed questionnaire consisted of three parts that collected information regarding participants’ sociodemographic, knowledge and awareness on facial skincare products which is then categorized according to Bloom’s cutoff. Results: Only 127 respondents (32.99%) scored more than 80% in Section B, indicating a high level of knowledge on facial skincare products while 205 respondents (53.25%) scored between 60% to 79% and 53 respondents (13.77%) scored less than 60%, indicating that they had moderate and low level of knowledge respectively. Meanwhile, 284 respondents (73.77%) had a high level of awareness on facial skincare products as they scored more than 80% in Section C while 87 respondents (22.60%) scored between 60% to 79% and 14 respondents (3.64%) scored less than 60%, indicating that they had moderate and low level of awareness respectively. Conclusion: The knowledge of the respondents regarding facial skincare products was moderate based on a mean score of 14.33 (71.65%) while their level of awareness was high based on a mean score of 23.38 (83.51%).

    Contraceptive Awareness, Knowledge and Attitude among Unmarried Young Adults in Malaysia

      DOI: 10.52494/RJMT2943
      by Mohd Hanif Zulfakar, Farida Islahudin and Nanthina Punniaseelan.
      Vol. 9 No. 1 (2023): Malaysian Journal of Pharmacy / Published: June 30, 2023
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      Abstract

      A lack of accurate sexual knowledge can lead to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), substantial morbidity and social problems. The aim of this study was to determine awareness, knowledge and attitude toward contraceptives among unmarried young adults in Malaysia. A cross-sectional, survey-based study among unmarried young adults aged between 18-35 years was conducted. Of the 406 participants, male and female respondents were 20.4% (n=83), and 79.6% (n=323) respectively, with 406 (100%) aware of at least one contraceptive method. Overall, the mean total knowledge score obtained was 4.76 ± 2.90 (maximum knowledge score of 12). The total attitude score of the participants was 29.92 ± 4.12 (maximum score of 50). There was a significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitudes towards contraception (ρ=0.317, p=0.000). There is an urgent need to educate Malaysian youths about the importance of contraception for the prevention of unintended pregnancy and STDs.

      Pharmacy Value-Added Services: Experience in a Malaysian Public Hospital

        DOI: 10.52494/VHSZ7452
        by Emily Shin Ni Chung, Shin Mei Sim, Sui Fern Wong, Shirlie Chai and Kamarudin Ahmad.
        Vol. 7 No. 1 (2021): Malaysian Journal of Pharmacy / Published: June 30, 2021
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        Abstract

        The Pharmacy value-added services (PVAS) has been implemented in Malaysian public hospitals to facilitate the collection of follow-up medications. In specific, PVAS include Integrated Drug Dispensing System, Medicine by Post, Drive-Through Pharmacy, and many more. While past studies examined the satisfaction towards PVAS and its impact on patients’ waiting time, little explored the awareness and the experience of patients towards each type of PVAS. This study aims to explore the patient’s awareness on PVAS, adoption of PVAS, their satisfaction towards PVAS, and willingness to adopt PVAS. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in January 2020. We invited the eligible patients or their family members to participate in the study. Respondents recruited at the Outpatient Pharmacy Department of Miri Hospital using convenient sampling. A questionnaire in the Malay language was developed and content validated to gather information on the demographic data, awareness on PVAS, adoption of PVAS, satisfaction towards PVAS, and willingness to adopt PVAS. A list of PVAS was included for the respondents to select the types they were aware of and used before. Results were presented as frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation. A total of 398 respondents participated in the study. Majority of the respondents (70.1%) were aware that PVAS offered in Miri Hospital. However, about a third of the respondents (31.4%) had experience using PVAS. The most commonly used PVAS was Appointment Card Dispensing System (49.6%) and that with the least usage was Local Partial Medication Supply Service (2.4%). The Drive-Through Pharmacy has the greatest satisfaction score, 4.40 (SD=0.70), whereas Call-and-Collect Service was the least satisfied, 3.88 (SD=0.91). Majority of the respondents (86.2%), specifically 95.8% of the experienced PVAS user and 90.1% of inexperienced group, were willing to adopt PVAS to collect their follow-up medications. The Drive-thru Pharmacy, which has the greatest awareness and satisfaction yet low usage, should be further promoted for greater adoption. Besides, such PVAS should be expanded to other healthcare facilities.

        Public Awareness of Community Pharmacy and Pharmacist

          DOI: 10.52494/QVBX2853
          by Hadida Hashim, Ahmad Mahmud, Lim Wai Hing, Lum Peck Yoong, Natasha Mohd. Yusof and Tang Yoke Bun.
          Vol. 1 No. 1 (2001): Malaysian Journal of Pharmacy / Published: May 1, 2001
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          Abstract

          A cross-sectional study was conducted among pharmacy students to determine factors influencing their choice of work place and to evaluate whether a one-year hospital pre-registration training programme had any effect on these choices. Questionnaires were distributed to graduating students at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. The questionnaires were again sent to the same group of students by post at the end of their pre-registration training year. The response rate during the follow-up stage was 46%. Results indicated that students in the survey were more interested in independent and chain community pharmacies compared to other practice settings. Students’ choices of first place of practice appeared to be influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic job factors. Our findings did not show major changes in students’ preferences for practice sites before and after the hospital pre-registration period. This information is expected to be useful for pharmacy employers.