Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan - Tesis

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Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) on dietary fibre among undergraduate students school of Health Sciences in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
(2025)
Zailani, Nurul Nashwa Balqis
Consumption of fruits and vegetables among students in Malaysia is inadequate. The primary objective was to assess the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to dietary fibre among undergraduate students at the School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). A total of 147 respondents were recruited from the School of Health Sciences based on inclusion criteria using a convenience sampling method. A validated bilingual (available in both Malay and English) questionnaire was employed for data collection. The findings of the study revealed that most respondents exhibited low knowledge (57.8%) and low practice (91.2%) regarding dietary fibre, while the majority demonstrated a high level of positive attitude (83.0%) towards its intake. Sociodemographic characteristics related to academic programs (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with the level of knowledge regarding dietary fibre intake. In contrast, gender (p = 1.000), ethnicity (p = 0.377), and year of study (p = 0.243) did not demonstrate a significant association. Furthermore, the results regarding attitudes toward dietary fibre revealed no associations with any sociodemographic factors, with p-values for gender (p = 0.170), ethnicity (p = 0.089), programs (p = 0.716), and year of study (p = 0.432). Additionally, the practice of dietary fibre intake showed no significant associations with sociodemographic factors, with p-values for gender (p = 1.000), ethnicity (p = 0.455), program (p = 0.704), and year of study (p = 0.429). Body mass index status also did not exhibit any significant associations with sociodemographic characteristics, with p-values of gender (p = 0.929), ethnicity (p = 0.993), program (p = 0.203), and year of study (p = 0.722). Lastly, body mass index showed no associations with knowledge, attitude, and practice, with p-values for knowledge (p = 0.108), attitude (p = 0.217), and practice (p = 0.283).
Social networking addiction and mental health status among secondary students in SMJK Chung Hwa, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
(2025-08)
Khin, Wang De
Social networking use has become an integral part of adolescents’ daily lives, raising growing concerns about its potential impact on mental health. Excessive use may lead to addictive behaviours and emotional disturbances, especially among secondary school students. This study aimed to determine the level of social networking addiction (SNA) and its association with depression, anxiety, and stress (DASS), as well as to examine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and both SNA and mental health outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 176 secondary school students from SMJK Chung Hwa, Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Data were collected using two validated instruments: the Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The results showed that 61.4% of students were not addicted to social networking, while 38.6% were addicted. In terms of mental health status, 60.8% had normal depression scores, 68.2% had normal stress scores, and only 43.8% had normal anxiety scores, indicating a higher prevalence of anxiety symptoms. There was a significant positive correlation between SNA and all three mental health dimensions, depression (r = 0.391, p < 0.001), anxiety (r = 0.283, p < 0.001), and stress (r = 0.429, p < 0.001). Average daily time spent on social networking was significantly associated with both SNA and depression levels (p < 0.05). Academic level was significantly associated with depression (p = 0.033), and gender was significantly associated with stress (p = 0.034). In conclusion, the study found a moderate prevalence of social networking addiction among adolescents, with notable links to mental health symptoms, particularly anxiety and stress. The findings suggest the need for targeted health education programmes focusing on time management, digital wellness, and mental health awareness among school-aged children
Parental knowledge and awareness of food allergies among their children at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM)
(2025-08)
Zainuddin, Siti Zulaikha
Food allergies are an increasingly common public health concern that significantly affects the quality of life of children. This study aimed to assess the level of parental knowledge and awareness of food allergies among their children at Hospital Pakar Universiti Sains Malaysia (HPUSM). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 218 parents who were selected through convenience sampling and completed a structured questionnaire based on previous validated research. Findings revealed that 39.0% of parents had a moderate level of knowledge, 26.1% had good knowledge, while 34.9% demonstrated poor knowledge. In terms of awareness, 53.7% had moderate awareness, 32.6% had good awareness, and 13.8% had poor awareness. A significant moderate positive correlation was found between knowledge and awareness scores (r = 0.519, p < 0.001). The results highlight the need for effective educational interventions aimed at improving parental understanding of food allergy symptoms, causes, prevention, and management. Education plays a vital role in equipping parents with accurate information and appropriate management strategies. This study recommends implementing evidence-based educational programmes to support better food allergy management among children
Knowledge regarding alzheimer’s disease among undergraduate students in USM health campus
(2025-08)
Tarmizi, Siti Nursyahira Mohd
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia, significantly affecting memory, cognition, and behaviour. With Malaysia’s elderly population projected to reach 15% by 2030, knowledge of Alzheimer’s disease among future healthcare professionals is becoming increasingly important. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge regarding Alzheimer’s disease among undergraduate students at the Health Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 362 students from the School of Health Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, and School of Dental Sciences using a self-administered questionnaire based on the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and Pearson Chi-Square tests via SPSS version 28.0. The findings showed that most participants (n=256, 70.7%) had moderate knowledge, while 29.3% (n=106) had good knowledge. There were significant differences in knowledge levels across the three schools (p<0.001), and significant associations were found between knowledge level and demographic factors such as age (p=0.001), schools (p<0.001) and year of study (p<0.001). In conclusion, the study highlights the need to introduce a dedicated module on Alzheimer’s disease in undergraduate health curricula to enhance dementia literacy among students
Investigating intrapersonal, interpersonal factors and correlated outcomes associated with picky eating behaviour among nutrition and dietetics undergraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus
(2025-01)
Jun, Ng Xue
Evidence suggests that picky eating exists among undergraduates in Malaysia and could be associated with poor mental health and nutritional status. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate intrapersonal factor (disgust sensitivity), interpersonal factors (parental pressure to eat and encouragement to eat), and correlated outcomes (psychological distress and body mass index) associated with picky eating behaviour among nutrition and dietetics undergraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus. A total of 167 nutrition and dietetics undergraduates aged 21.19 ± 1.44 years (10.2% male and 89.8% female) participated in this study. The mean score of picky eating was 2.52 ± 0.62. The proportions of non-picky, moderate, and extreme picky eating behaviour were 23.4%, 52.7%, and 24.0%, respectively. The mean scores for disgust sensitivity, parental pressure to eat, and parental encouragement to eat were 9.54 ± 1.60, 3.33 ± 0.90, and 4.20 ± 0.65, respectively. For psychological distress, it had a mean score of 20.62 ± 7.12, where 25.7% of nutrition and dietetics undergraduates were found to have a mild level of psychological distress, 10.2% in a moderate level of psychological distress, and 13.2% in a severe level of psychological distress. The mean BMI was 21.41 ± 3.10 kg/m2. The proportion of underweight was 15%, while for overweight, obese class I and class II were 7.2%, 0.6%, and 0.6%, respectively. Disgust sensitivity was significantly predicted picky eating behaviour (Beta = 0.218, R= 0.264, R2 = 0.070; F (2, 164) = 6.145, p = 0.003). Picky eating was also positively related with psychological distress (Beta = 0.312, 95% CI: 1.905, 5.259, p < 0.001). Similarly, the study indicated a significantly positive relationship between picky eating behaviour and body mass index (Beta = 0.169, 95% CI: 0.087, 1.604, p = 0.029).

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