We are delighted to announce that Dr Yap successfully defended his Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) thesis with minor corrections on 27 September 2024. His research, titled “A Cohort Study of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Incidence, Its Predictors, Effects on Workplace Productivity, and Monetary Loss Among School Teachers in Peninsular Malaysia,” represents a significant contribution to the fields of epidemiology and occupational health. The department extends its congratulations to his supervisors, Prof Dr Moy Foong Ming and Dr Lim Yin Cheng.
The viva voce was chaired by Professor Dr. Lau Yee Ling. Both the internal and external were also present, Professor Dr. Anselm Su Ting, Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kuching, Sarawak and Professor Dr. Noran Naqiah Mohd Hairi. The other committee of examiners were Professor Dr. Shahrul Bahyah Kamaruzzaman, Deputy Dean (Post Graduate), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya and Professor Dr. Victor CW Hoe, Head of Department, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.
Dr Yap reported a high percentages of unhealthy lifestyle factors among school teachers in Peninsular Malaysia. The incidence rate of CVD was particularly high among male teachers. His research underscores the urgent need for targeted screening, especially for at-risk teachers with diabetes mellitus, hypertension or dyslipidemia, to delay the onset or progression of CVD. He also delved into the broader implications of CVD on workplace productivity, emphasizing the associated absenteeism, presenteeism and monetary loss. Although absolute presenteeism was lower among teachers with CVD, the annual cost of presenteeism was significantly higher for those affected.
He has also successfully published the findings from both phases of his research in two academic journals:
- Cardiovascular disease incidence and its predictors among school teachers in Peninsular Malaysia: a prospective cohort study
- Assessing the effect of cardiovascular disease on work productivity and financial loss among school teachers in Peninsular Malaysia: a nested case-control study
Approximately 30 media articles were also published in mainstream newspapers discussing CVD. An official website was also created to share health-related findings with school teachers. The successful defense of his thesis marks an important step forward in public health research and Dr Yap’s work will undoubtedly pave the way for improved workplace policies within the education sector.
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