The Faculty of Medicine proudly congratulates Dr. Ina Sharyn Binti Kamaludin on the successful defence of her Doctor of Philosophy thesis titled “Development and Evaluation of a Personality-Tailored Smartphone Smoking Cessation Application for the Malaysian Population.”
Short Summary of the Thesis
Dr. Ina Sharyn’s research addresses a pressing public health challenge: smoking cessation. through an innovative and highly relevant digital health approach. Her work explores the effectiveness of smartphone cessation applications (SCAs) in the Malaysian context, a domain that has been under-researched.
The thesis is methodologically robust, combining three complementary components:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis (SRMA) demonstrating that full-featured SCAs significantly improve smoking abstinence rates.
- A cross-sectional study using nationally representative data, revealing that 18% of Malaysian smokers already utilise SCAs, particularly those motivated to quit within six months.
- A pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating the GEMPAQ V2.0 app, which integrates personality-tailored interventions. The findings show significantly higher abstinence rates in the intervention group, particularly at 30- and 60-day follow-ups.
Importantly, the study highlights the role of personality traits, especially conscientiousness, in influencing engagement with cessation tools, offering a novel direction for personalised mHealth interventions.
Highlights of Candidate Achievements
Dr. Ina Sharyn’s doctoral journey is marked by exceptional academic productivity and recognition:
- Peer-reviewed Publications:
- Published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health (2024).
- Two additional manuscripts under review in reputable international journals.
- Conference Excellence:
- Winner of Rapid Fire Oral Presentation at the Kuala Lumpur Nicotine Addiction International Conference (2022).
- Poster accepted at the SRNT-Europe Annual Conference (2025), Romania.
- Innovation and Impact:
- Silver Award at In-ViDE 2021 for GEMPAQ mobile application.
- Silver Award at NIICE 2022 for continued innovation in smoking cessation technology.
These accomplishments reflect not only academic rigour but also a strong commitment to translational and impactful research.
Contribution to Public Health
This thesis makes a significant contribution to public health in Malaysia and beyond:
- Introduces a locally relevant, evidence-based mHealth intervention tailored to Malaysian smokers.
- Advances the field of precision behavioural medicine by integrating personality psychology into smoking cessation strategies.
- Provides actionable insights for policymakers and healthcare providers on digital cessation tools.
- Supports national and global efforts to reduce tobacco use through scalable, cost-effective interventions.
By bridging behavioural science and digital innovation, Dr. Ina Sharyn’s work positions Malaysia at the forefront of personalised public health solutions.
Acknowledgement
We wish to acknowledge the invaluable guidance and mentorship provided by Dr. Ina Sharyn Binti Kamaludin’s supervisors, Dr. Lim Sin How and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yee Hway Ann @ Anne Yee, whose expertise and support were instrumental in the completion of her thesis.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Professor Dr. Chris Bullen (University of Auckland, New Zealand) and Professor Dr. Peter Selby (University of Toronto, Canada), as well as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rusdi Abd Rashid, the Internal Examiner.
We would also like to thank the Committee of Examiners for their thorough evaluation and insightful feedback, including Professor Dr. Jamunarani A/P S Vadivelu, the Chairperson of the viva voce session; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anand a/l Sanmugam, Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Studies), Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya; and Professor Dr. Victor Hoe Chee Wai Abdullah, Head of Department of Social and Preventive Medicine.
Congratulations and Future Expectations
Dr. Ina Sharyn’s success in her viva voce marks not just the culmination of years of dedication but the beginning of a promising career in digital health innovation and public health research.
Her work on the GEMPAQ application demonstrates strong potential for the following:
- Wider implementation across Malaysia’s healthcare system,
- Integration with clinical smoking cessation programmes,
- Expansion into other behavioural health domains.
We are confident that Dr. Ina Sharyn will continue to make meaningful contributions to academia, policy, and community health. Her journey exemplifies how research, when guided by purpose and innovation, can truly transform lives.
Congratulations once again, Dr. Ina Sharyn Binti Kamaludin, your achievement is both inspiring and impactful.
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