Malaysian Lifesaving Professional’s View about Drowning Prevention through the Lens of Quintuple Helix Model

Authors
D.Y. Lim 1
M. Sanmugam 1
W.A.J. Yahaya 1
Z.N. Khlaif 2
1 Centre for Instructional Technology and Multimedia, University of Science Malaysia, Gelugor, Malaysia
2 Faculty of Educational Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine
10.58209/hehp.13.4.625
Abstract
Aims: Malaysia is a low and middle-income country situated in the Western Pacific Region, a region with one of the highest recorded drowning statistics worldwide. As a maritime nation with a rich water landscape and an equatorial environment and climate, Malaysia ranks 12th in the world for the highest rate of flood disasters. The current study aimed to understand how lifesaving professionals perceive drowning prevention approaches in Malaysia through the lens of the quintuple helix model, which encompasses five subsystems: the educational system, the political system, the economic system, the natural environment, and civil society.

Participants & Methods: This qualitative study was done on 11 lifeguards and/or lifesaving professionals from three distinct lifesaving associations selected using purposive sampling. In-depth one-on-one interviews were conducted with participants, and the interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using deductive thematic analysis.

Findings: Five predetermined main themes, namely political system, economic system, education system, natural environment, and civil society along with six sub-themes were obtained, resulting in the construction of a thematic framework.

Conclusion: This research highlights how lifesaving professionals perceive drowning prevention approaches in Malaysia, emphasizing the need for collaboration among relevant stakeholders to enhance these strategies.

Keywords

Subjects

Health Education and Health Promotion
Volume 13, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 625-635