Singapore medical journal最新文献

{"title":"Anxiety in hospitalised families: lessons from the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.","authors":"Annushkha Sinnathamby, Siau Hwei Ng, Amanda Zain, Liangjian Lu, Celeste Yong, Xinyi Thong, Si Min Chan","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-413","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-413","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In the early phase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, children with COVID-19 in Singapore required hospital isolation. We aimed to explore the psychological experiences of children and their caregivers isolated in a tertiary university hospital due to COVID-19.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A prospective mixed-methods design was used to evaluate the psychological status of hospitalised family units with one or more children aged <18 years who had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Patient medical records were reviewed for demographic and clinical information. Parents and children ≥7 years of age underwent a psychologist-administered telephone-based interview. Self-reported, age-appropriate instruments, Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, and Screen for Adult/Child Anxiety-Related Disorders, were used to assess anxiety and depression, respectively. Participants were also interviewed qualitatively.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fifteen family units were hospitalised between March 2020 and May 2020. Of these, 13 (73%) family units were recruited. The median age of the children and median hospitalisation duration were 57 months and 21 days, respectively. Median number of COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction swabs performed for each child was eight. All children had asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 disease. The criteria indicative of anxiety disorder were met by 40% of adults and 80% of children, while the criteria indicative of separation anxiety were met by 60% of parents and 100% of children. One child met the criteria indicative of depression. Uncertainty, separation, prolonged hospitalisation and frequent swabs caused significant reported anxiety.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Families, especially children, had heightened anxiety while in hospital isolation. Therefore, home-based recovery from COVID-19 and psychological support for children and their families, with focus on early recognition of anxiety disorders, are recommended. We support review of paediatric isolation policy as the pandemic evolves.</p>","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"327-332"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12200820/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10020004","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Healthier SG Teams: a paradigm shift in population health care delivery.","authors":"Yi Rong Leonora Liu, Choon How How, Chien Earn Lee","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2023-065","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2023-065","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"237-239"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161644/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10185313","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population health for Singapore: does primary care need strengthening?","authors":"Sarah Ee Fang Yong, Chien Earn Lee, Choon How How","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-126","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-126","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"235-236"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161647/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10185311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Orchestrating population health: hitting the right note.","authors":"Sarah Ee Fang Yong, Choon How How, Chien Earn Lee","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-125","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-125","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"230-231"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161639/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10203465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pandemic-related health literacy: a systematic review of literature in COVID-19, SARS and MERS pandemics.","authors":"Jun Jie Benjamin Seng, Cheng Teng Yeam, Caleb Weihao Huang, Ngiap Chuan Tan, Lian Leng Low","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-026","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Health literacy plays an essential role in one's ability to acquire and understand critical medical information in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infodemic and in other pandemics. We aimed to summarise the assessment, levels and determinants of pandemic-related health literacy and its associated clinical outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review was performed in Medline ® , Embase ® , PsycINFO ® , CINAHL ® and four major preprint servers. Observational and interventional studies that evaluated health literacy related to the novel COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) were included. Items used in health literacy instruments were grouped under the themes of knowledge, attitudes and practices. Determinants of health literacy were grouped into five domains: sociodemographic, medical, psychological/psychiatric, health systems-related and others.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 2,065 articles screened, 70 articles were included. Of these, 21, 17 and 32 studies evaluated health literacy related to COVID-19, SARS and MERS, respectively. The rates of low pandemic health literacy ranged from 4.3% to 57.9% among medical-related populations and from 4.0% to 82.5% among nonmedical populations. Knowledge about the symptoms and transmission of infection, worry about infection, and practices related to mask usage and hand hygiene were most frequently evaluated. Sociodemographic determinants of health literacy were most frequently studied, among which higher education level, older age and female gender were found to be associated with better health literacy. No studies evaluated the outcomes associated with health literacy.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The level of pandemic-related health literacy is suboptimal. Healthcare administrators need to be aware of health literacy determinants when formulating policies in pandemics.</p>","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"244-255"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161643/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10203463","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Awareness and attitudes of elderly Southeast Asian adults towards telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.","authors":"Ryan Eyn Kidd Man, Aricia Xin Yi Ho, Ester Pei Xuan Lee, Eva Katie Diana Fenwick, Amudha Aravindhan, Kam Chun Ho, Gavin Siew Wei Tan, Daniel Shu Wei Ting, Tien Yin Wong, Khung Keong Yeo, Su-Yen Goh, Preeti Gupta, Ecosse Luc Lamoureux","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-117","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>We aimed to understand the awareness and attitudes of elderly Southeast Asians towards telehealth services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in this study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this qualitative study, 78 individuals from Singapore (51.3% female, mean age 73.0 ± 7.6 years) were interviewed via telephone between 13 May 2020 and 9 June 2020 during Singapore's first COVID-19 'circuit breaker'. Participants were asked to describe their understanding of telehealth, their experience of and willingness to utilise these services, and the barriers and facilitators underlying their decision. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, guided by the United Theory of Acceptance Use of Technology framework.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 78 participants, 24 (30.8%) were able to describe the range of telehealth services available and 15 (19.2%) had previously utilised these services. Conversely, 14 (17.9%) participants thought that telehealth comprised solely home medication delivery and 50 (51.3%) participants did not know about telehealth. Despite the advantages offered by telehealth services, participants preferred in-person consultations due to a perceived lack of human interaction and accuracy of diagnoses, poor digital literacy and a lack of access to telehealth-capable devices.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results showed poor overall awareness of the range of telehealth services available among elderly Asian individuals, with many harbouring erroneous views regarding their use. These data suggest that public health education campaigns are needed to improve awareness of and correct negative perceptions towards telehealth services in elderly Asians.</p>","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"256-264"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161648/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10169938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health profile of workers from different industries in Singapore.","authors":"Sin Eng Chia, Mei Ling Tan, Elise Cheok, Peh Woon Ong","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-380","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-380","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Workplace safety and health are interrelated - a worker who is not healthy may cause safety lapses at the workplace; conversely, safety lapses could affect the health of the workers. This study was part of a larger Total Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) programme run by the Workplace Safety and Health Council, Singapore. The objectives were to obtain a baseline health profile of workers across four major industries and identify important health risks for targeted workplace interventions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Five service providers (SPs) were appointed to run the Total WSH programme. As part of the programme, SPs conducted an anonymous basic health survey among workers of participating companies.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The responses of 6,373 respondents from the cleaning, construction, manufacturing, and transport and storage industries were studied. The overall response rate was 62%. Key health issues identified were high rates of obesity (22%) and smoking (24%) and low prevalence of regular exercise and healthy dietary habits. Chronic disease rates were similar to population self-reported rates (hypertension 15%, high lipid 12% and diabetes mellitus 6%). The workers reported high work stress (13%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Health issues are prevalent in the workforce and may affect work and employee safety. It is increasingly important for employees' health to be considered in risk assessments and prioritised in workplace safety and health management systems and strategies. Health promotion interventions should be targeted, and multilevel and multicomponent initiatives should be integrated with pre-existing occupational safety programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"271-277"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12161649/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10636175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A machine learning approach for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea using oximetry, demographic and anthropometric data.","authors":"Zhou Hao Leong, Shaun Ray Han Loh, Leong Chai Leow, Thun How Ong, Song Tar Toh","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-170","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a serious but underdiagnosed condition. Demand for the gold standard diagnostic polysomnogram (PSG) far exceeds its availability. More efficient diagnostic methods are needed, even in tertiary settings. Machine learning (ML) models have strengths in disease prediction and early diagnosis. We explored the use of ML with oximetry, demographic and anthropometric data to diagnose OSA.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 2,996 patients were included for modelling and divided into test and training sets. Seven commonly used supervised learning algorithms were trained with the data. Sensitivity (recall), specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) (precision), negative predictive value, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and F1 measure were reported for each model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the best performing four-class model (neural network model predicting no, mild, moderate or severe OSA), a prediction of moderate and/or severe disease had a combined PPV of 94%; one out of 335 patients had no OSA and 19 had mild OSA. In the best performing two-class model (logistic regression model predicting no-mild vs. moderate-severe OSA), the PPV for moderate-severe OSA was 92%; two out of 350 patients had no OSA and 26 had mild OSA.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study showed that the prediction of moderate-severe OSA in a tertiary setting with an ML approach is a viable option to facilitate early identification of OSA. Prospective studies with home-based oximeters and analysis of other oximetry variables are the next steps towards formal implementation.</p>","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"195-201"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12063937/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9447021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated care at the emergency department: an investment for better health.","authors":"Steven Hoon Chin Lim, Colin Eng Choon Ong, Arron Seng Hock Ang, Khai Pin Lee, Jean Mui Hua Lee, Venkataraman Anantharaman","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-030","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Abstract: </strong>It is crucial that policy makers, healthcare providers and relevant stakeholders understand how integrated care may be improved at our emergency departments (EDs) and what benefits that would bring. The potential that exists for right-siting care of special patient groups who could be managed in an ambulatory setting with the integration of a variety of hospital-based and community-based clinical support services is tremendous. This review describes the best practice and value of integrated care at the EDs. Local evidence is cited and compared with findings from overseas. The opportunities of care transition interventions among discharged patients are outlined, including that for paediatric patients, palliative care patients and patients with chronic diseases. This review also suggests ways to move forward to meet the aim of providing holistic care at EDs through integrated care programmes, innovation and research.</p>","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"102-107"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11906104/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9489195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of COVID-19 'circuit breaker' with higher rates of elderly trauma admissions.","authors":"Yee Har Liew, Zhenghong Liu, Mian Jie Lim, Pei Leng Chong, Norhayati Bte Mohamed Jainodin, Teng Teng Peh, Jing Jing Chan, Sachin Mathur, Jeremy Choon Peng Wee","doi":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-411","DOIUrl":"10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2021-411","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In December 2019, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) virus emerged and caused a worldwide pandemic, leading to measures being imposed by many countries to reduce its transmission. Singapore implemented the 'circuit breaker', which restricted all movements except for access to necessities and healthcare services. We aimed to investigate the impact of lockdown measures on the pattern of trauma and its effects.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An observational, retrospective, single-centre descriptive study was conducted using the trauma registry in Singapore General Hospital. It included patients above 18 years old who presented to the emergency department with trauma and were subsequently admitted. Patients admitted from 1 February 2020 to 31 July 2020 and those admitted during the same timeframe in 2019 were studied. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients aged ≥65 years and those <65 years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 1,037 patients were included for analysis. A 17.6% increase in trauma presentations was seen from 2019 to 2020. Patients aged ≥65 years accounted for the rise in admissions. The predominant mechanism of injury was falls at home for older patients and vehicular accidents in patients <65 years. There were no significant differences in injury severity score, intensive care/high-dependency unit admission rates, length of stay, mortality rate, and subsequent need for inpatient rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our study provided information on differences in trauma presentations before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies are required to better inform on additional precautionary measures needed to reduce trauma and improve safety during future lockdowns and pandemics.</p>","PeriodicalId":21752,"journal":{"name":"Singapore medical journal","volume":" ","pages":"91-96"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11906103/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9817077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}