Week 2

June 2, 2025- Introduction to SPSS/Descriptive Data Analysis

see "Research" tab for full reflection

June 4, 2025- Breast Cancer/Telemedicine Study Data Collection Day 1

see "Research" tab for full reflection

June 5, 2025- Visiting the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association

Today, I paid another visit to the Malaysian Parkinson's Disease Association. Thursdays are for dance sessions, so I learned how to waltz, salsa, and rumba with the older visitors! I didn't think my dance moves were anything outstanding, but so many of the elders complimented me and told me I should take dance classes haha!! 

After the dance session, I sat down with the President of the center, Ms. Sara Lew, to have the introduction we weren't able to have last week. Sara explained to me that she has to fund a lot of the events herself because they do not receive financial aid from the government, so most of their events rely on volunteers and community members. Despite this, she believes her members have created some of the strongest friendships at this center over the past several years, so she never struggles to find a pair of helping hands, and having been to two of their weekly sessions now, I can confirm this; everyone talks to and treats each other like family. It's so touching to see.

June 6, 2025- Shadowing in the Geriatric Clinic

Today, I shadowed Dr. Khairizan for 2 hours in the geriatric clinic, and I was able to meet 3 patients. Below are my observations:

• each patient receives a blue appointment book

• geriatric and psychiatric wards communicate with one another via handwritten notes because psychiatric notes on the EHR have restricted access; Dr. Khairizan points out that this causes slow communication, and sometimes, she's not sure why the patient was referred to her because they may have lost the note

• one of the patients was a former lecturer with osteoporosis and Parkinson's; he was not initially compliant with calcium carbonate, but after Dr. Khairizan explained that it strengthens his brittle bones, he agreed. His noncompliance needed to be addressed right away since bon mineral density scans showed very severe osteoporosis, so he was at severe risk of being injured in the case of a fall

Other:

• doctors in the clinic assess dementia by examining their instrumental vs basic ADLs (IADLs vs BADLs)

  • patients that have their IADLs affected first often show signs of dementia

• recurrent delirium leads to higher risk of dementia