Page 74 - JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT SUPPLEMENT: SEPTEMBER 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021, SUPPLEMENT, JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMEN
SEPTEMBER 2021, SUPPLEMENT, JOURNAL OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT T
e-­‐poster
BM108 e-­‐Poster
PH018
Abstract Category: Biomedical Science
Abstract Category: Public Health
Islamic Fasting Approach on Weight Loss Intervention – Experience Through the Lens of Participants
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Johari, M. Z. , Sulaiman, N. S. , Abdullah, S. R. , Khalil, M. K. N. , Wan Mohd Zin, R. M. , Mohd Yunus, S.
What Do You Think? Public Perception on Malaysia’s Health System Response to COVID-­‐19
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N. N. , Kamaruddin, H. , Norshamsul, N. I. , Azizul, N. H.
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Fun, W. H. , Md. Sharif, S. , Ang, Z. Y. , Jailani Jailani, A. S. , Ismail, M. , Ng, R. J. , Kong, Y. L. ,
1 Centre for Health Communications and Informatics Research, Institute for Health Behaviour Research, National
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Selvarajah, S , Wan Mohd Zaid, W. N. S. , Sararaks, S
Institutes of Health
2 1 Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, National Institutes of
Centre for Health Outcomes Research, Institute for Health Systems Research, National Institutes of Health
Health
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Centre for Leadership & Professional Development, Institute for Health Management, National Institutes of
Health
Introduction
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Centre for Organizational Excellence Development, Institute for Health Management, National Institutes of
Weight loss is a natural process of weight management in life but the process and effectiveness varies
Health
from individual to individual. This study attempts to assess the effectiveness of an Islamic approach of
the sunnah fasting (Mondays and Thursday) combined with healthy plating as part of a weight loss
Introduction
intervention through the views of the participants.
The COVID-­‐19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges to health systems. Malaysia is not spared
from this challenge and has implemented various public health measures to address the
Method
pandemic. We describe here the public opinion on Malaysia’s health systems response to COVID-­‐19.
This qualitative study takes on exploratory approach in obtaining feedback from selected participants
of the intervention. Four groups of participants (two successful and two unsuccessful) were invited in
Method
separate Focus Group Discussions (FGD) to give their experiential feedback after completing the
We conducted an online survey from 31st March to 6th April 2020, recruiting participants through
intervention. FGDs were recorded verbatim and transcribed. Data was blind and axial coded before
social media platform and email. The survey items were adapted from the World Health
thematically analyzed.
Organization COVID-­‐19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. It measures 8 public health
response areas where each area consists of items for COVID-­‐19 management. We used a slider scale
Result
rating, from 0% (Very Poor) to 100% (Excellent). Descriptive analysis was conducted using Microsoft
In total 21 participants were interviewed. Four themes emerged -­‐ efficacy towards intervention,
Excel.
barriers and facilitators to success, support and sustainability. Participants who were success attributed
having a strong support system at home or at work and the sense of competitiveness as the main key
Result
to who were successful. Similarly, the same attributes are also the reason to those who did not
visited the online
750 respondents who
of
platform,
we analysed
Out
207 (28%)
succeed in losing the prescribed weight. Most suffered difficulty of at least one month to adapt to the
respondents. The overall mean score for the 8 response areas was 62%. Areas rated highest and
intervention. Sporadically in both groups stated the intervention is sustainable for a long period.
lowest mean scores for perceived response were national laboratories (66%) and risk
Individual motivation plays a strong role in the success or failure in weight loss.
communication (57%) respectively. Items in risk communication with low mean
Discussion
scores were identification of trusted community groups and establishment of local networks (52%),
Islamic fasting is perceived to be a viable intervention to weight loss and its success is driven both by
conducting rapid behaviour assessment to understand target audiences (55%) as well as preparing
individual motivation and a strong support system to be sustainable.
local messages (55%). The mean score for most items under risk communication were consistently
below the overall mean.
Keywords: weight loss, Islamic fasting, qualitative, effectiveness, sustainability

Discussion
Effective and timely risk communication is a challenge in public health crisis. The results
highlighted public opinion on Malaysia’s health systems response, revealing potential areas for
improvement in an outbreak.
Keywords: Health systems response, preparedness, COVID-­‐19, public, perceptions,

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