Universiti Teknologi MARA

The goal of this cluster randomized trial is to develop and test a new method for preparing indigenous (locally termed as Orang Asli) households in Selangor, a state in Malaysia, for an outbreak of Disease X, a potential unknown infectious threat. It aims to determine if the new method, a health education package comprised of workshops, simulation exercises, and card game play sessions, can enhance the readiness of these families for such outbreaks.
The main questions it is looking to answer are:
1. Will the intervention package increase the level of preparedness for a Disease X outbreak among indigenous households in Selangor?
2. Will the intervention improve the awareness and attitudes of the indigenous people in Selangor towards outbreak preparedness?
3. Will it lead to more proactive preparedness actions by these households?
To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention package, researchers will compare outcomes between two groups: the intervention group receiving both the intervention package and educational brochures on communicable disease prevention, and the control group receiving only the brochures.
Participants will:
1. Participate in the activities in the newly developed intervention package, which would include workshops, simulation exercises, and card game play sessions.
2. Answer surveys four times: before, immediately after, 1 month after and 2 months after the intervention, to measure any changes in their preparedness levels for an outbreak.

Background:
Low back pain (LBP) is highly prevalent globally, affecting people of all ages(Wu et al., 2020). In China, LBP is a leading cause of disease burden(Wu et al., 2019). Exercise therapy such as core stability training(CST), Tai Chi(TC) and education are commonly recommended treatments, but research on optimal protocols has been limited. Blood flow restriction(BFR) is beneficial for inducing muscle hypertrophy and promoting muscle strength (Hughes et al., 2019). Combined approaches using multiple modalities may provide added benefits but are understudied.
Research objectives:
1. To determine the effects of combined CST, BFR and Tai Chi on muscle physiology (muscle activation, muscle fatigue, back extensor strength, and transverses abdominus control) among working adults with LBP.
2. To determine the effects of combined CST+ BFR+Tai Chi on functional performance (gait speed, balance, proprioception, and postural sway) among working adults with LBP.
3. To determine the effects of combined CST+BFR+Tai Chi on pain intensity among working adults with LBP.
4. To determine the effects of combined CST+BFR+Tai Chi on fear among working adults with LBP.
Location of research:
Qianxinan Wutong Orthopedic Hospital, Guizhou Province, China
Instrumentations:
1. Demographic Data
2. Surface Electromyography (S-EMG)
3. Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU)
4. Back Extensor Strength Test (BEST)
5. Joint Repositioning Error(JRE)
6. APECS app
7. Y-Balance Test(YBT)
8.10-Meter Walk Test(10MWT)
9.Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
10.Chinese version of the Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire(FABQ-CHI)
Interventions:
Group A: CST+BFR+Tai Chi+Education;
Group B: CST+BFR+Education;
Group C: Tai Chi +BFR+Education;
Group D: CST+Education.
Sample size:
Considering 30% drop out. 52 participants. 13 participants in each group
Statistical analysis:
Data were processed using SPSS version 25.0 and Microsoft Excel 2010 software.
1. Demographic data = descriptive analytics.
2. All objectives = repeated measure ANCOVA (within-between interactions) for all variables.
3. The significant level is P < 0.05.