Search results

This paper aims to identify and explore the factors affecting type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients' adherence to lifestyle change recommendations, with the guidance of the trans-theoretical model (stages of change).

This study was conducted in two parts. In Part A, 163 randomly selected participants were asked to complete a cross-sectional survey. Data regarding demographics, stages of change and levels of confidence to engage in lifestyle changes were collected. In Part B, in-depth interviews were conducted among 30 individuals, aged between 30 and 65 years, had been diagnosed with T2DM and had seen dietitian at least once. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants with different sociodemographic characteristics.

Part A showed that most of the participants were in the pre-action group (60%), with a higher mean HbA1c (8.9%) as compared to the action group (40%) which had a mean HbA1c of 6.9%. Part B further revealed the pre-action group and action group identified four key themes concerning lifestyle changes adherence: stumbling block; self-care belief; knowledge implementation; and self-empowerment.

Health-care providers should identify patients' stages of change before lifestyle changes implementation.

This study highlighted that many factors might influence a T2DM patient's adherence to lifestyle change recommendations. Determining the stages of change and self-confidence of T2DM patients is needed to ascertain long-term adherence.

Despite the world’s effort in grappling with the coronavirus disease that has affected many sectors globally, knowledge and research on the COVID-19 pandemic as well as on the halal food and beverage industry remain limited, particularly in Brunei Darussalam. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the challenges that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the halal food processing industry face amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the sultanate.

A qualitative approach based on four semi-structured interviews was employed using a purposive sampling of managers and business owners of the manufacturing SMEs. Several government agencies were also interviewed to further supplement the findings. This paper also uses the support from a review of relevant academic journal articles, and other secondary data including newspapers and websites, to uncover the hindering factors surrounding the phenomenon.

Four themes emerged, covering four overarching and inter-related challenges including limited production; closure of retail stores; delay in exporting; and less sales to cover overheads.

This study positively contributes to the understanding of the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into the country as well as adds and enriches the halal research sphere. Several implications for the SMEs, policymakers, as well as academic scholars, and limitations are also discussed.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to investigate the halal food processing industry in Brunei Darussalam especially, during the time of uncertainties such as the COVID-19 era. The paper’s value also lies in addressing the gap that there is a need to study on the impact of this outbreak on SMEs in the developing countries, inclusive of Brunei Darussalam.