Cross-Sectional Study Methodology

The study design was calibrated for national-level representativeness rather than per-hospital statistical comparisons, meaning inter-hospital variability should be interpreted cautiously. The six-week data collection window may not capture seasonal variation, though Malaysia's tropical climate limits the extent of such fluctuation. The study was a cross-sectional analysis conducted as part of a Ministry of Health Malaysia functional exercise over six weeks in June–July 2022 across thirteen public emergency hospitals. Of 10,247 records initially collected, 9,942 complete records were retained for analysis after exclusion of incomplete or erroneous entries. Systematic random sampling was applied using a fixed interval of every 10th record within each participating hospital until each hospital's pre-specified quota was reached. The study recommends expanding data collection to a full calendar year to capture seasonal trends and provide a more robust basis for DRG development.