Repository@USM
Welcome to closed access digital repository of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
This repository contains multiple types of scholarly materials, especially USM theses and exam papers.
“Any doctoral thesis or academic work owned by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) that is downloaded through its official platforms shall not be shared, distributed, printed, or reproduced in any form to third parties without explicit written permission from USM. Any breach of this condition constitutes a violation of institutional intellectual property rights and may result in disciplinary action, legal proceedings, or revocation of academic credentials, depending on the severity of the offence.”
To access the full text, please log in with your USM email account.
Research outputs
7211
Projects
0
People
0
Recent Additions
- PublicationOrganisational, Job-Related And Personal Variables On Innovative Work Behaviour Of Special Needs School Teachers In Malaysia During Pandemic: Motivation As A Mediator(2025-08)Education 4.0 is a new teaching style and learning system that shapes students' self-learning, critical thinking, digital capabilities, and problem-solving capacity due to the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Education is an essential component of life for people with disabilities because it allows them to read and write, find work, and participate in decision-making. Students with special needs in Malaysia attend special needs schools, which would enable them to study in the most effective way for them. As a result, the role of special education teachers is critical. In order for special needs students to benefit from positive educational advances, teachers must exhibit innovative work behaviour. Furthermore, motivation plays a crucial role in determining teachers' innovative work behaviour. Apart from that, many variables affect special needs school teachers' motivation and innovative work behaviour. The Social Exchange Theory (SET) serves as the foundation for this study. Hence, a more comprehensive research model was established to investigate the relationships between organizational variables (organizational climate, effective ICT structure, and organizational justice), job-related variables (teachers’ professional development, job autonomy, and social support), and personal variables (proactive personality, competencies for digital pedagogy, and self-efficacy) and motivation, as well as the indirect relationship between the three types of variables and innovative work behaviour. The study's data was gathered from teachers at 11 special needs schools in Peninsular Malaysia, including primary and secondary schools. The collected data was then analysed using Partial Lease Square Analysis (Smart PLS). According to the findings, organizational climate, teachers' professional development, job autonomy, and proactive personality were all positively associated with motivation. Meanwhile, motivation was discovered to mediate the relationships between organizational climate and innovative work behaviour, teachers' professional development and innovative work behaviour, job autonomy and innovative work behaviour, and proactive personality and innovative work behaviour. The theoretical and practical contributions of the research findings were addressed. The study's findings will be useful to the Malaysian Ministry of Education, special needs schools, and special needs school teachers. They can learn about the variables that influence motivation and how to improve their innovative work behaviour. Finally, the study's limitations were discussed, as well as future research directions.
- PublicationStrategic Responses Of An Indonesian Public Hospital To Health Policy And Crisis: An Institutionalist Study(2025-07)This study aims to explore how a public hospital responds to environmental changes driven by national policy shifts influenced by global events. It focuses on how the National Health Insurance (NHI) implementation and COVID-19 pandemic have impacted hospital priorities, management decisions, and strategic responses. A qualitative case study was employed in this study, focusing on a provincial government hospital in Indonesia.
- PublicationMental distress and coping skills among caregivers of dependent patients in Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM)(2026-08)Caregiving is often associated with psychological challenges that may affect caregivers' mental well-being and coping abilities. This study aimed to determine the level of mental distress and coping skills among caregivers and to examine the association between mental distress, coping skills, and selected sociodemographic factors. A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 caregivers. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising sociodemographic information, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and the Brief COPE inventory. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. The findings revealed that most respondents had normal levels of anxiety and depression. Emotion-focused coping was identified as the dominant coping strategy (M = 31.04, SD = 5.16), followed by problem-focused coping (M = 19.94, SD = 3.59) and avoidant coping (M = 14.88, SD = 2.66). Correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between anxiety and emotion-focused coping (r = 0.203, p = 0.008). A significant negative relationship was found between depression and problem-focused coping (r = -0.252, p < 0.001). The analysis revealed that education level was significantly associated with depression (p = 0.015), while no significant associations were found between other sociodemographic factors and mental distress. Furthermore, no significant association was observed between sociodemographic factors and coping skills. In conclusion, most caregivers demonstrated normal levels of mental distress and predominantly utilized emotion-focused coping strategies. The findings highlight the importance of promoting effective coping mechanisms and providing psychological support to enhance caregivers' mental well-being.
- PublicationAssociation between sleep quality and depression among undergraduate students at the health campus Universiti Sains Malaysia(2026-07)Sleep quality is an important determinant of physical and psychological well-being. Poor sleep quality has been linked to various mental health problems, including depression, among undergraduate students. Undergraduate students, particularly those enrolled in health-related programmes, are exposed to academic demands, clinical demands and stressors that may negatively affect their sleep patterns and mental health. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the level of sleep quality, determine the level of depression, and identify the association between sleep quality and depression among undergraduate students at the Health Campus, USM. A sample size of 370 students was calculated, and data were successfully collected from 296 participants. The collected data were analysed by SPSS version 29.0. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising socio-demographic characteristics, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Descriptive statistics were used to determine the levels of sleep quality and depression, while the Chi-square test was used to examine the association between sleep quality and depression. The findings revealed that 185 (62.5%) participants had poor sleep quality, while 111 (37.5%) had good sleep quality. 226 (76.4%) participants were classified as normal, while 70 (23.6%) exhibited depressive symptoms. The Chi-square analysis demonstrated a statistically significant association between sleep quality and depression among undergraduate students (X2 = 29.583, p < 0.001). Poor sleep quality was prevalent among undergraduate students at the Health Campus, USM, and was significantly associated with depression. Therefore, these findings emphasise the importance of promoting healthy sleep practices and strengthening mental health support services within the university. Early identification and intervention for sleep-related problems may contribute to better mental health outcomes among undergraduate students.
- PublicationThe Effectiveness Of The Flipped Classroom In Enhancing Thai Efl Undergraduates’ Reading Comprehension Ability, Learner Autonomy, And Interaction(2025-07)The flipped classroom, a student-centered approach, has been explored in various EFL contexts to address issues of students’ low reading comprehension ability, learner autonomy, and interaction, which are also prevalent in Thailand due to ineffective teacher-dominated instruction. However, little research has focused on the implementation of the flipped classroom to improve Thai EFL undergraduates’ reading comprehension ability, learner autonomy, and interaction. Therefore, this quasi-experimental study was conducted with five objectives: (a) to design and develop instructional plans and materials based on the flipped classroom for teaching reading to Thai EFL undergraduates, (b) to investigate the effectiveness of the flipped classroom in enhancing Thai EFL undergraduates’ reading comprehension ability, (c) to investigate the effectiveness of the flipped classroom in enhancing Thai EFL undergraduates’ learner autonomy, (d) to investigate the effectiveness of the flipped classroom in enhancing Thai EFL undergraduates’ interaction, and (e) to explore Thai EFL undergraduates’ experiences with the flipped classroom.
Most viewed
- ItemA study of mitochondrial A1555G mutation in aminogl ycoside induced ototoxicity(Pusat Pengajian Sains Perubatan Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2008-11)Aminoglycoside induced ototoxicity is one of the most common causes of acquired deafness, involving the auditory and vestibular system. The Vestibular and Audiotoxicity is frequently irreversible. In developing countries, eg Malaysia, aminoglycoside are more routinely used even for a minor infection, since it is relatively cheap and easily available. However, studies conducted in Asian country had proved that aminoglycoside caused 10 to 20% of hearing loss. (mitochondrial A 15550 Mutation - An alteration or change, as in nature, form, or quality of a gene that maternally inherited gene during fetal life and has an association with hearing loss). People who carry the genetic mutation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) A 15550, has a higher risk of having hearing loss when expose to aminoglycoside drug (eg: streptomycin, gentamycin etc) compare to them who do not carry the mutation gene. A study which was conducted in Japan, found that 40% of the patient who had hearing loss due to this drugs, also carry the mtDNA A1555G mutation. From this study, we hope that we can detect early genetic Al555G mutation, especially in newborn baby, so that prevention can be made early and precaution should be taken before prescribing amino glycoside drugs. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and association of mtDNA A1555G mutation in subjects with aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity. Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out in Otorhinolaryngology clinic HUSM and PKB, Kota Bharu from June 2007 to May 2008. Twenty two subjects with aminoglycoside induced ototoxicity and twenty two control subjects without ototoxicity after exposed to aminoglycosides were included in this study. Ototoxicity was confirmed by pure tone audiometry and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE). All eligible and consented patient was underwent buccal mucosa swab for further genetic analysis for mtDNA A 15550 mutation. Results: There was I subject (4.54%) in the aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity group identified to have the mtDNA A 15550 mutation. There was no significant association between mtDNA Al555G mutation and ototoxicity in this study (P = 0.500). Conclusion: In our study, we found mtDNA Al555G mutation in one of our subject who had hearing loss secondary to ototoxic drug. Though, it was not significant statistically. There is a possibility that the prevalence of this mtDNA mutation is truly very low in our population. However, a further larger study with a bigger sample size and a wider area of coverage need to be done to confirm our finding.
- PublicationEvaluation of medical students’ learning performances, engagement, and cognitive load in ospe-based anatomy practical session(2025)Background: Human anatomy education conventionally relies on cadaver dissection but faces challenges from limited teaching time, decreasing cadaver availability, and singlemethod limitations. This has driven exploration of innovative approaches that retain conventional strengths while addressing modern constraints. The integration of Objective Structured Practical Examination (OSPE) principles into practical sessions offered structured, interactive, provides immediate feedback, and enhances student engagement. Universiti Sains Malaysia's School of Medical Sciences transitioned from cadaveric dissection to multimodal teaching, implementing OSPE-based practical session since 2015. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of OSPE-based anatomy practical session on students' learning performances, engagement, and cognitive load. Methodology: This randomised control trial (RCT) study recruited 117 students (57 completed) who were randomly allocated 1:1 to either OSPE-based practical intervention or conventional teaching control groups via stratified randomization. The intervention involved a 1-hour lecture, 30-minute pre-practical assessment, and a 1 hour and 40 minutes practical session. The OSPE-based practical group engaged in anatomical identification tasks with peer/lecturer discussion, while controls used plastic models for senior lecturer debriefing and independent learning. Post-practical data included a 30- minute assessment, Burch Engagement survey, validated cognitive load scale, and online feedback. Data were analysed using SPSS 29.0 with descriptive statistics, independent/paired t-tests, and Mann-Whitney U tests as appropriate. Results: Both groups showed significant pre- to post-assessment improvements in psychomotor and cognitive scores. The OSPE-based practical group significantly enhanced cognitive performance compared to the conventional group, though no differences were found in psychomotor or overall scores. No significant between-group differences emerged in cognitive load or engagement domains. Student feedback indicated high satisfaction with the OSPE-based anatomy practical sessions. Conclusion: The OSPE-based approach demonstrated a modest advantage in enhancing cognitive performance, with comparable outcomes in psychomotor gains, cognitive load, and student engagement relative to conventional methods. While pre-intervention differences and high participation dropout may limit generalizability, within-group improvements and positive learner feedback affirm the pedagogical value of structured, scenario-based practical assessments in anatomy education.
- PublicationDevelopment of hydrophobic polyurethane nanocomposite coating for metal protection(2024-08-01)Polyurethane (PU) paint has been widely used to provide protection for the metallic structure from the corrosion. The application of the PU paint to the metal surface can greatly increase its lifetime. In this project, the brushing coating technique was employed to coat the PU paint onto the 304 stainless steel surfaces. The brushing coating was carried out at different brushing times to determine the optimum parameters. Further, the hydrophobic coatings were prepared by the addition of different ratio of HDTMS to nano particles, different ratio between CeO2 and SiO2, different weight percentage of nano particles, and the addition of self-healing agent (DMG, HEDS, and CuCl2) into commercial PU paint. Then, the properties of the fabricated coatings were characterized by WCA, FTIR, SEM, AFM, and corrosion resistance test. The optimum brushing times used to coat the PU paint was 3 times with 30 minutes interval. When the HDTMS, nano SiO2, and nano CeO2 were added into the PU paint, the WCA was showed improvement from 0.5o to 46.1o. For the FTIR analysis, the FTIR peaks showing the important PU bonds existed in the fabricated samples. In the SEM analysis, there were presence of nano particles in the fabricated PU paint. Moreover, in the hardness testing, the hardness number (HV) was increase when the nano particles weight percentage increase. The nano particles dispersed in the PU coating also can enhance the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel. The corrosion rate of the PU coating was improved from 55.19% to 97.36% due to the presence of nano particles act as the barrier to reduce the corrosive ion in contact with the stainless-steel surface.
- PublicationMediating Role Of Tourist Satisfaction On Image And Tourist Loyalty Of Local Food In Penang Island, Malaysia(2023-07)Destination food image and local cuisines can be considered significant aspects from the perspective of tourism that play a substantial role in tourist satisfaction and loyalty intentions. Despite ever-increasing research and academic recommendation toward the role of local food in tourism, there are still a contextual gap and a lack of theoretical argument in Malaysian tourism research on the concept of local food images, halal awareness, tourist satisfaction, and loyalty. In Penang Island tourism, there is a lack of research in identifying and learning components of local food image in tourism marketing, the contribution of cultural value, the role of heritage, and religion (halal awareness). This study attempts to investigate the multidimensional construct of local food images, considering the halal awareness and beliefs, and assessed their impact in Penang Island tourism industry as a gastronomy tourism destination on intention to repurchase, intentions to recommend (Word of Mouth), and Electronic Word of Mouth. In addition, the mediating effect of tourist satisfaction on this relationship has been examined. This study was designed as a quantitative method, data collection was conducted by self-administrative questionnaire. It was a cross-sectional study and the random sampling technique was employed. In total, 332 questionnaires were returned from respondents, and only 329 completed questionnaires were found usable for data analysis. The SmartPLS software version 3.2 was used to analyse the data, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied.
- ItemPost disaster environment management practices (EMP) on energy conservation (a case study of japan stay Sakura Hotel, Tokyo)(2012)EMP has become an important practice in organizations today. More organization start to practice to save cost, improve reputation, required by government and so on. Hence, awareness of environment is easily available through the internet, but this practises is still weak in most countries. The recent major disaster in Japan (11 March 2011) has affected the power supply in north and east of Japan. This is due to the failure of nuclear reactor in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. This study focuses on Japan Stay Sakura a local chain hotel in Tokyo, Japan on their post disaster environment management practises. It concentrates rules and regulations on energy conservation implemented by the Japanese government which took effect on summer 2011. This paper look at ways the company could improve in energy conservation due to the disaster. An examination was carried out to identify the current practices against the best practices available for hotel industry on energy conservation. Recommendations focus on ways to improve from their currently practices.