On the 23rd and 24th of October 2024, the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing), Universiti Putra Malaysia organised the National Conference on Ageing 2024 (NCA2024) at Mercure Living Hotel, Putrajaya. NCA2024 aimed to facilitate meaningful conversations and collaborations in the field of ageing research and policy development. Three Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidates from the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya comprising Dr Farah Waheeda Azemee, Dr Siti Sarah Fadzil, and Dr Mohd Fadzil Mohd Hussin had the privilege of presenting their research protocols at this highly anticipated biennial event. Supported by Associate Professor Dr Farizah Mohd Hairi, who offered valuable guidance throughout the conference, the DrPH candidates delivered compelling presentations on their work and gained fundamental insights from leading experts in the field.

On the opening day of NCA2024, Dr Farah Waheeda captivated esteemed delegates with her presentation on “Acute Geriatrics Virtual Ward in Malaysia”. She highlighted the potential benefits of implementing the Hospital-at-Home model for elderly patients, which enables hospital-level care within the home environment. This approach, she explained, could ease hospital capacity pressures, decrease healthcare worker burnout, and reduce costs. Ultimately, this innovative, patient-centered care model promises to improve the quality of care for Malaysia’s ageing population while reinforcing commitments to policy-driven healthcare advancements.

Dr Siti Sarah then presented her ground-breaking work titled “Determinants of Public Stigma on Dementia Among Community-Dwelling Malaysian Adults”. This study offers a novel perspective on stigma involving dementia within the Malaysian context and fills the existing gap in this area. Given that most existing stigma-related questionnaires and studies on dementia are rooted in developed countries, this study could yield culturally relevant insights that have been previously unexplored. By adopting a validated questionnaire suited to Malaysia, the research aimed to contribute significantly to understanding the unique determinants of stigma on dementia in the context of a developing country. This may lay the foundation for more effective public health interventions and awareness campaigns.

On the second day of the conference, Dr Mohd Fadzil presented “Factors Associated with Loneliness Among Older Persons in Kuala Lumpur: A Mixed Methods Study”. Through a mixed-methods approach which combines quantitative surveys and qualitative in-depth interviews, the research aims to assess the prevalence of loneliness, identify associated factors, and explore the lived experiences of loneliness in this demographic group. The conference allowed him to benefit from feedback from the scientific community, which would help refine the methodology of the research and extend its impact. In addition, Dr Mohd Fadzil also delivered a poster presentation on a systematic literature review he performed to ascertain significant factors associated with loneliness among older persons in Malaysia and globally. The findings from his research could potentially assist in structuring future social programmes aimed at reducing loneliness among older persons in Malaysia.

For each of the three DrPH candidates, this was their first experience of presenting at a conference of this calibre, offering them valuable exposure. The platform also created opportunities to network with professionals from various backgrounds, thus fostering collaboration essential for addressing complex public health issues.

We hope that the DrPH candidates, along with all their colleagues, will enjoy great success with their research, graduate with flying colours and leave a lasting impact on the field of public health.