# Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Periodic Medical Examinations Among Healthcare Professionals in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Malaysia

## TL;DR

This study explores how healthcare professionals in Malaysia understand and practice periodic medical exams, finding that while knowledge and attitudes are generally good, actual practice is low.

## Contribution

The study identifies factors like marital status and knowledge level that influence the frequency of PME practice among healthcare professionals.

## Key findings

- 80.1% of respondents had good knowledge of PME.
- Only 35.7% of respondents frequently practiced PME.
- Unmarried individuals and those with poor knowledge were less likely to practice PME regularly.

## Abstract

Background

Periodic medical examination (PME) is a fundamental step towards reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases by early detection and complication prevention. The study aimed to determine i) the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of PME among healthcare professionals in Malaysia and ii) the factors associated with the frequent practice of PME.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care hospital in Malaysia. A total of 317 healthcare professionals responded to the self-administered online and paper-based questionnaires.

Results

Of the respondents, 80.1% (254) had good knowledge of PME, 99.4% (315) had a positive attitude toward it, and 35.7% (113) practiced it frequently. Despite the high level of good knowledge and positive attitude, only approximately one-third of the respondents frequently practiced PME. Unmarried respondents (AOR: 0.441, 95% CI: 0.211-0.924) and those with poor knowledge (AOR: 0.462, 95% CI: 0.231-0.923) had lower odds of practicing PME regularly.

Conclusion

The burden of non-communicable diseases can be reduced by encouraging frequent practice of PME, especially among the unmarried, and improving knowledge about the importance of PME. Future national policymakers should focus on these factors to increase PME practice.