The issues of professional accountability, faculty member development, and enhancing higher education quality in universities are gaining importance. A strategy that could increase personal control over teaching practices in addition to improving professional development among faculty members is peer review of teaching (PRT). Five themes that are important in determining the feasibility of PRT are (a) benefits of peer review in developing faculty members, (b) barriers to peer review of teaching, (c) gaps in literature, (d) potential problems to teaching practice, and (e) opportunities. Of the 65 studies identified, 34 were selected for further analysis, and drawing on PRT and the SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat) framework, 27 studies were selected for content mapping. Textual narrative synthesis was used to further categorize the review findings into the four quadrants of the SWOT framework. This analysis highlights a positive strategy in promoting PRT in higher education.

In recent years, there have been increasing accounts of illegal substance abuse among university students and professional groups in Malaysia. This study looks at university students’ perceptions about this phenomenon. Students from Malaysian universities were asked for their impressions about drug availability and abuse, as well as factors contributing to drug abuse and relapse. The questionnaire also inquired into their knowledge and views regarding government versus private rehabilitation centres, as well as their exposure to, and views about, school-based drug-prevention education. Participants were 460 university students from five Malaysian states: Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, and Sarawak. Results showed gender differences in perceptions of relapse prevention strategies, as well as factors leading to drug abuse and relapse. Students also believed that drug education would be more effective if initiated between the ages of 11 to 12 years, which is slightly older than the common age of first exposure, and provided suggestions for improving existing programs. Implications of student perceptions for the improvement of current interventions and educational programs are discussed.

This study examined reasons for substance abuse and evaluated the effectiveness of substance treatment programs in Malaysia through interviews with rehab patients and staff. Substance rehab patients (aged 18-69 years; n=30) and staff (ages 30-72 years; n=10) participated in semi-structured interviews covering a range of topics including: family and peer relationships, substance use and treatment history, factors for substance use and relapse, motivation for entering treatment, work experience, job satisfaction, treatment evaluation and patient satisfaction. Most patients did not demonstrate the substance progression trend and had normal family relationships. Most patients reported having peers from normal family backgrounds as well. A variety of environmental and personal factors was cited as contributing to substance abuse and relapse. There was no significant difference between patient and staff program evaluation scores although the mean score for patients were lower. A holistic treatment approach with a combination of cognitive-behavioral, medical, social and spiritual components was favored by patients. Suggestions for improving existing programs include better tailoring treatment to individual needs, and providing more post-treatment group support.

Background: The global prevalence of diabetes mellitus is escalating rapidly. Similarly in Malaysia, diabetes prevalence among adults rose exponentially. Artificial intelligence (AI) integrated into mobile health applications (apps) presents a promising avenue for enhancing diabetes management through personalized patient education and behaviour modification. However, adoption rates remain low, primarily due to limited awareness and technological challenges, especially among older adults. Objective: This study aimed to explore Malaysian healthcare professionals’ (HCPs’) perspectives on the use of AI in mobile apps for diabetes education and behavioural management. Methods: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 19 HCPs across Malaysia. Interviews were conducted via video conferencing, recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis with NVivo 14 software. Results: Seven key themes emerged: (1) acceptance and trust, (2) impact on patient behaviour, (3) skills and abilities required, (4) problems and obstacles, (5) key features and functions, (6) HCPs’ and patients’ information needs, and (7) strategies for increasing patient adoption. HCPs expressed positive sentiments towards AI-based apps, highlighting their potential for continuous, personalized education and real-time feedback. However, significant concerns were raised about accessibility for older adults, data privacy, and the apps’ ability to modify entrenched behaviours without human intervention. Conclusion: AI-based mobile apps show potential for improving diabetes management, but successful implementation requires addressing challenges. Strategies should focus on developing user-friendly interfaces, providing comprehensive education for patients and providers, and ensuring robust data protection. Future research should quantify the impact on patient outcomes and explore effective integration of human support with AI capabilities.