Frontiers in Tropical Diseases
The COVID-19 global pandemic has been going on for more than two years, and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 with many variants of concern still poses a risk to public health. Sufficient access to qualified and validated testing plays an important role in detecting and alerting trends of the pandemic and provides evidence for making decisions in preventive strategies and policies. Depending on the method of testing and laboratory conditions, validation parameters (i.e., analytical sensitivity, limit of detection, diagnostic sensitivity, analytical specificity, diagnostic specificity, repeatability, reproducibility, robustness, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, applicability, practicability, and time to results) can be very different. With three main types of COVID-19 detection kits available, comprising nucleic acid, serological, and antigen detection, the kind of validation parameters that should be used becomes a complicated consideration and takes time to assess. Our review provides valuable and comprehensive information for laboratories in the assessment and selection of the optimal parameters to validate new COVID-19 test kits.
International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research
Background: Vietnam had received many support from international funds to fight against HIV/AIDS and started ARV treatment nationwide since 2005. Now, Vietnam had GDP of developing countries, no longer as poor countries, so the international funds would be phasing out at the end of 2019. Vietnam Ministry of Health (MoH) issued Circular No.15/2015/TT-BYT (Hereinafter called Circular No.15) to deal with HIV/AIDS medical service fees by applying co-paid mechanism by Social Health Insurance (SHI) and HIV patients. This circular was considered as the excellent strategies to ensure Vietnam capacity in controlling HIV/ AIDS pandemic. Unfortunately, this circular had not been implemented at Bach Mai hospital and others since 2015. Aims: This study aimed to assess the stakeholders’ acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility and sustainability of the increasing implemtation readiness of the intervention package. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with stakeholders (05 hospital managers, 05 OPC health staff and 20 HIV patients). Results: (1) We made all hospital managers know and understand the importance and the obligatory of implementing Circular No.15 at Bach Mai hospital. At first, the attention of Bach Mai Hospital in HIV/AIDS official letters from MoH, SHI such as Circular No.15, guidance No.4609 was very low. Conclusions: These documents were not well circulated to all relevant departments, only transferred to OPC. In addition, OPC had not done any response to these documents since all ART fees were still sponsored by International Fund. The relevant departments did not know that they had the key roles in implementing Circular No.15, they thought that it was OPC’s responsibilities, such as financial department should play the role of the consultant for OPC about medical service price, but it did not do so and General Planning department should play the role of plan making on implementing Circular No.15.
Infectious Diseases Diagnosis & Treatment
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Background: Depression is the leading burden of mental disease, especially in low-and-middle-income countries like Vietnam. The Stepped Care Model is a promising approach to managing depression in the community with low resources. This is the first study that implemented the adapted Stepped Care Model for depression management in the Vietnamese context and evaluated the initial e
Front. Psychol.
Aim: Healthcare workers have directly provided care for COVID-19 patients, and have faced many additional sources leading to poor mental health. The study aimed to investigate the mental health problems and related factors among healthcare staff in Vietnam. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional mixed methods study, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, was performed among 400 healthcare workers working at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Ninh Binh General Hospital from the first day of treatment for COVID-19 patients to May 01, 2020. Results: The results showed that 8.0% of participants had stress, 17.5% of participants had anxiety, and 14.8% of participants had depression. Approximately 50% of participants reported that they had at least one of these symptoms. The findings illustrated that stress, anxiety, and depression were associated with the position in a hospital, health status during the COVID-19 pandemic, family members/relatives infected with COVID-19, physical and mental support from friends, family, and community, department, years of working, and the average work hours per day of healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers who worked in the hospital providing treatment and care for COVID-19 patients dealt with mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depression. It is necessary to promote mental health among healthcare workers, to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam
Current Oncology
Understanding the burden and factors related to chemotherapy-induced toxicity is important in treatment planning for breast cancer patients. We conducted a prospective study among 396 newly diagnosed and chemotherapy-treated breast cancer patients recruited in two major cancer hospitals in northern Vietnam. Toxicities were captured through medical chart reviews and patient self-reports and graded using NCI CTCAE classification. Associations for sociodemographic and clinical factors with chemotherapy-induced toxicities during first-line chemotherapy were evaluated via multivariable logistic regression. Severe (i.e., grade ≥ 3) hematological (38.6%), and gastrointestinal (12.9%) toxicities were common. A pre-existing nephrological condition was significantly associated with the risk of severe hematological toxicity with adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of 2.30 (1.32–4.01). Patients living in rural areas had a lower risk of severe hematological toxicity (OR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.30–0.77). Patients diagnosed with stage II and stage III–IV had a lower risk of severe gastrointestinal toxicity with ORs and 95% CIs of 0.26 (0.12–0.59) and 0.47 (0.20–1.10), respectively. Triple-negative/basal-like subtype was associated with a higher risk of severe hematological (OR = 3.15; 95% CI, 1.56–6.34) and gastrointestinal toxicities (OR = 3.60; 95% CI, 1.45–8.95) comparing to hormone receptor (HR)-positive HER2-negative subtype. Further research investigating underlying mechanisms would facilitate the development and delivery of personalized treatment and care plans.
Sang M. Nguyen, Huong T.T. Tran, Lan M. Nguyen, Oanh Thi Bui, Dong V. Hoang, Martha J. Shrubsole, Qiuyin Cai, Fei Ye, Wei Zheng, Hung N. Luu, Thuan V. Tran, Xiao-Ou Shu
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Background: Evidence on associations between dietary intake and risk of breast cancer subtypes is limited and inconsistent. We evaluated associations of fruit, vegetable, meat, and fish consumption with risk of breast cancer overall and by molecular subtype in the Vietnamese Breast Cancer Study (VBCS). Method: VBCS includes 476 incident breast cancer cases and 454 age-matched controls. Dietary habits over the past 5 years were assessed by in-person interviews using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Associations of food groups with breast cancer were evaluated via logistic regression for overall and molecular subtype with adjustment for age, education, income, family history of cancer, menopausal status, body mass index, exercise, total energy intake, and other potential dietary confounders. Odds ratio (OR) was used to approximate relative risk. Results: High fruit intake was inversely associated with breast cancer risk, with adjusted ORs [95% confidence intervals (CI)] of 0.67 (95% CI, 0.47–0.95) and 0.41 (95% CI, 0.27–0.61) for second and third tertiles versus first tertile, respectively (Ptrend < 0.001). This association was stronger for triple-negative than other subtypes (Pheterogeneity < 0.001). High intake of freshwater fish was inversely associated with overall breast cancer (ORT3vsT1 ¼ 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42–0.95; Ptrend ¼ 0.03). An inverse association was observed between HER2-enriched subtype and red and organ meat intake (ORT3vsT1¼0.40; 95% CI, 0.17–0.93;Ptrend¼0.04;Pheterogeneity¼0.50). Conclusions: High intakes of fruit and freshwater fish were associated with reduced breast cancer risk; association for the former was stronger for triple-negative subtype. Impact: Our findings suggest high intakes of fruit and freshwater fish may reduce breast cancer risk among Vietnamese women.
Tropical Medicine & International Health
Objectives: In March 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak in a major referral hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam led to 7,664 patients and staff being sent into lockdown for two weeks, and more than 52,200 persons across 49 provinces being quarantined. We assessed SARS-CoV-2 transmission patterns during this to-date largest hospital outbreak in Vietnam using social network analysis (SNA). Methods: We constructed a directed relational network and calculated network metrics for ‘degree’, ‘betweenness’, ‘closeness’, and ‘eigenvector’ centrality to understand individual-level transmission patterns. We analysed network components and modularity to identify sub-network structures with disproportionately big effects. Results: We detected 68 connections between 46 confirmed cases, of whom 27 (58.7%) were ancillary support staff, seven (15.2%) caregivers, six (13%) patients, and two (4.4%) nurses. Among the ten most important cases selected by each SNA network metric, transmission dynamics clustered in 17 cases, of whom 12 (70.6%) cases were ancillary support staff. Ancillary support staff also constituted 71.1% of cases in the dominant sub-network and 68.8% of cases in the three largest sub-communities. Conclusions: We identified non-clinical ancillary support staff, who are responsible for room service and food distribution in hospital wards in Vietnam, as a group with disproportionally big impacts on transmission dynamics during this outbreak. Our findings call for a holistic approach to nosocomial outbreak prevention and response that includes both clinical and non-clinical hospital staff. Our work also shows the potential of SNA as a complementary outbreak investigation method to better understand infection patterns in hospitals and similar settings
Tobacco Induced Diseases
INTRODUCTION Smoking behavior can change with time and lead to different health outcomes. This study explored the trajectory of smoking and its relationship with cancer incidence and mortality among Korean male adults. METHODS We used 2002–2018 data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Smoking status was repeatedly measured in four waves of general health examinations provided by the NHIS between 2002 and 2009. Cancer incidence and mortality were tracked from 2010 to 2018. Trajectory analysis was used to identify the patterns of smoking. The hazard ratio was calculated using Cox proportional regression models. RESULTS For the 2448548 men (≥20 years), 137788 cases of cancers and 41146 cancer deaths were found. We identified six trajectory groups: never smokers, former smokers, new current smokers, decreasing light smokers, steady moderate smokers, and steady heavy smokers. All smoking groups had an increased risk of cancer. The steady heavy smokers showed higher cancer incidence and mortality rate than the steady non-smokers (hazard ratio, HR=1.53; 95% CI: 1.49–1.58 and HR=2.64; 95% CI: 2.50–2.79, respectively). The cancer-specific analysis showed that the larynx and lung cancer incidence and mortality rate of the smoking group were higher than in never smokers. CONCLUSIONS Smoking, even at low doses, increases the risk of most cancers in men. Quitting or reducing smoking, especially at a young age, can lower cancer incidence and mortality. This study may provide more objective results on the relationship between smoking and cancer, because smoking behavior was examined at multiple time points.
Huong Thien Ngoc Cai, Hang Thi Tran, Yen Hong Thi Nguyen, Giao Quynh Thi Vu, Thao Phuong Tran, Phuong Bich Bui, Huong Thi Thu Nguyen, Thai Quang Pham, Anh Tuan Lai, Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil, Sonia Lewycka
Frontiers in Public Health
Antibiotic use in the community for humans and animals is high in Vietnam, driven by easy access to over-the counter medicines and poor understanding of the role of antibiotics. This has contributed to antibiotic resistance levels that are amongst the highest in the world. To address this problem, we developed a participatory learning and action (PLA) intervention. Here we describe challenges and lessons learned while developing and testing this intervention in preparation for a large-scale One Health trial in northern Vietnam. We tested the PLA approach using community-led photography, and then reflected on how this approach worked in practice. We reviewed and discussed implementation documentation and developed and refined themes. Five main themes were identified related to challenges and lessons learned: understanding the local context, stakeholder relationship development, participant recruitment, building trust and motivation, and engagement with the topic of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Partnerships with national and local authorities provided an important foundation for building relationships with communities, and enhanced visibility and credibility of activities. Partnership development required managing relationships, clarifying roles, and accommodating different management styles. When recruiting participants, we had to balance preferences for top-down and bottom-up approaches. Building trust and motivation took time and was challenged by limited study team presence in the community. Open discussions around expectations and appropriate incentives were re-visited throughout the process. Financial incentives provided initial motivation to participate, while less tangible benefits like collective knowledge, social connections, desire to help the community, and new skills, sustained longer-term motivation. Lack of awareness and perceived importance of the problem of AMR, affected initial motivation. Developing mutual understanding through use of common and simplified language helped when discussing the complexities of this topic. A sense of ownership emerged as the study progressed and participants understood more about AMR, how it related to their own concerns, and incorporated their own ideas into activities. PLA can be a
powerful way of stimulating community action and bringing people together to tackle a
common problem. Understanding the nuances of local power structures, and allowing
time for stakeholder relationship development and consensus-building are important
considerations when designing engagement projects
Marc Choisy, Angela McBride, Mary Chambers, Chanh Ho Quang, Huy Nguyen Quang, Nguyen Thi Xuan Chau, Giang Nguyen Thi, Ana Bonell, Megan Evans, Damien Ming, Thanh Ngo-Duc, Pham Quang Thai, Duy Hoang Dang Giang, Ho Ngoc Dan Thanh, Hoang Ngoc Nhung, Rachel Lowe, Richard Maude, Iqbal Ely
Wellcome Open Research
This article summarises a recent virtual meeting organised by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam on the topic of climate change and health, bringing local partners, faculty and external collaborators together from across the Wellcome and Oxford networks. Attendees included invited local and global climate scientists, clinicians, modelers, epidemiologists and community engagement practitioners, with a view to setting priorities, identifying
synergies and fostering collaborations to help define the regional
climate and health research agenda. In this summary paper, we
outline the major themes and topics that were identified and what will
be needed to take forward this research for the next decade. We aim
to take a broad, collaborative approach to including climate science in
our current portfolio where it touches on infectious diseases now, and
more broadly in our future research directions. We will focus on
strengthening our research portfolio on climate-sensitive diseases,
and supplement this with high quality data obtained from internal
studies and external collaborations, obtained by multiple methods,
ranging from traditional epidemiology to innovative technology and
artificial intelligence and community-led research. Through timely
agenda setting and involvement of local stakeholders, we aim to help
support and shape research into global heating and health in the
region.
Ngoc Minh Luu, Thi Kim Thuy Nguyen, Thu Trang Vu, Thai Son Dinh, Ngoc Hoat Luu, Thi Thanh Toan Do, Van Son Nguyen, Thi Bich Van Ha, Dinh Chuc Nguyen, Thi Huong Tran, Thi Thuy Hang Phung, Xuan Phuong Duong, Quynh Long Khuong, Thi Thu Trang Nguyen, Yu Mon Saw, Thi Ngoc Anh Hoang, Thi Nh
Nagoya J Med Sci.
Evaluation of liver fibrosis is necessary to make the therapeutic decision and assess the prognosis of CHB patients. The current study aimed to describe the progression and identify some influencing factors in patients with chronic hepatitis B at a General Hospital in Northern Vietnam. The longitudinal study included 55 eligible subjects diagnosed Hepatitis-B-virus. Dependent variable was the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index and we collected some demographic variables and disease related and behaviour variables. Bayesian Model Averaging was used to select variables into model. Mixed-effect linear models were used to evaluate the change of the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index over time and identify related factors. the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index differences between examinations, age of participants, working status were statistically significant. This pattern indicated that the average the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index of the population decreased by 0.005 (95% CI=-0.009; –0.001) after each patient’s visit, and increased by 0.013 if the patient’s age increased by 1 year (95% CI=0.005; 0.0219). For non-working patients, the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index was lower, coefficient was –0.054 (95% CI=-0.108; 0.001). Other variables such as gender, education level, time for disease detection, drinking tea, alcohol consumption, forgetting to take medicine and the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index were not significantly different. The study showed that the majority of study subjects had average the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index, and were relatively well controlled and treated during the study. Age and working status are factors that influence the the aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index
Tobacco consumption, as a worldwide problem, is a risk factor for several types of cancer. In Vietnam, tobacco consumption in the form of waterpipe tobacco smoking is common. This prospective cohort study aimed to study the association between waterpipe tobacco smoking and gastric cancer mortality in Northern Vietnam. A total of 25,619 eligible participants were followed up between 2008 and 2019. Waterpipe tobacco and cigarette smoking data were collected; semi-quantitative food frequency and lifestyle questionnaires were also utilized. Gastric cancer mortality was determined via medical records available at the state health facilities. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confdence intervals (95% CI). During 314,992.8 person-years of followup, 55 men and 25 women deaths due to gastric cancer were identifed. With never-smokers as the reference, the risk of gastric cancer mortality was signifcantly increased in participants who were ever-smoking (HR=2.43, 95% CI=1.35–4.36). The positive risk was also observed in men but was not signifcantly increased in women. By types of tobacco use, exclusive waterpipe smokers showed a signifcantly increased risk of gastric cancer mortality (HR=3.22, 95% CI=1.67–6.21) but that was not signifcantly increased in exclusive cigarette smokers (HR=1.90, 95% CI=0.88– 4.07). There was a signifcant positive association between tobacco smoking and gastric cancer death for indicators of longer smoking duration, higher frequency per day, and cumulative frequency of both waterpipe and cigarette smoking. Waterpipe tobacco smoking would signifcantly increase the risk of gastric cancer mortality in the Vietnamese population. Further studies are required to understand the waterpipe tobacco smoking-driven gastric cancer burden and promote necessary interventions.
Ha-Linh Quach, Thai Quang Pham, Ngoc Anh Hoang, Dinh Cong Phung, Viet Cuong Nguyen, Son Hong Le, Thanh Cong Le, Dang Hai Le, Anh Duc Dang, Duong Nhu Tran, Nghia Duy Ngu, Florian Vogt, Cong Khanh Nguyen
Healthcare Informatics Research
Objectives: Online misinformation has reached unprecedented levels during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study analyzed the magnitude and sentiment dynamics of misinformation and unverified information about public health interventions during a COVID-19 outbreak in Da Nang, Vietnam, between July and September 2020. Methods: We analyzed user-generated online information about five public health interventions during the Da Nang outbreak. We compared the volume, source, sentiment polarity, and engagements of online posts before, during, and after the outbreak using negative binomial and logistic regression, and assessed the content validity of the 500 most influential posts. Results: Most of the 54,528 online posts included were generated during the outbreak (n = 46,035; 84.42%) and by online newspapers (n = 32,034; 58.75%). Among the 500 most influential posts, 316 (63.20%) contained genuine information, 10 (2.00%) contained misinformation, 152 (30.40%) were non-factual opinions, and 22 (4.40%) contained unverifiable information. All misinformation posts were made during the outbreak, mostly on social media, and were predominantly negative. Higher levels of engagement were observed for information that was unverifiable (incidence relative risk [IRR] = 2.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33–0.62), posted during the outbreak (before: IRR = 0.15; 95% CI, 0.07–0.35; after: IRR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.34-0.63), and with negative sentiment (IRR = 1.84; 95% CI, 1.23–2.75). Negatively toned posts were more likely to be misinformation (odds ratio [OR] = 9.59; 95% CI, 1.20–76.70) or unverified (OR = 5.03; 95% CI, 1.66–15.24). Conclusions: Misinformation and unverified information during the outbreak showed clustering, with social media being particularly affected. This indepth assessment demonstrates the value of analyzing online “infodemics” to inform public health responses.
Objective: This study examined relationships between weight-change trajectories and all cancers and obesity-related cancer risks. Methods: A total of 1,882,304 men and 899,912 women from the 2002 to 2017 National Health Insurance Service cohort were included. Weight-change trajectories in 2002 to 2009, according to BMI, were determined using group-based trajectory modeling. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed associations between trajectories and cancer incidence. Results: Overall, >50% of individuals maintained stable weight, as did two-thirds of those in the overweight and obesity groups. A total of 64,725 men and 37,608 women developed incident cancer. Weight stability in overweight or obesity groups was associated with greater cancer risk. In both sexes, higher weight across BMI groups increased risks of all cancers, obesity-related cancers and thyroid, colorectal, stomach, liver, prostate, and postmenopausal breast cancer. Stratified by BMI, weight gain increased risks of all cancers and obesity-related cancers in men with obesity class I and women with overweight. Weight loss decreased risks of obesity-related cancers, thyroid cancer, and kidney cancer among men with overweight, premenopausal breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer in women with overweight, and obesity-related cancers and thyroid cancer in women with class I obesity. Conclusions: Maintaining weight and avoiding weight gain are crucial for reducing cancer risk, but achieving a stable, normal BMI optimizes cancer prevention
Thao Thi Phuong Nguyen, Hai Thanh Phan, Thuc Minh Thi Vu, Phuc Quang Tran, Hieu Trung Do, Linh Gia Vu, Linh Phuong Doan, Huyen Phuc Do, Carl A. Latkin, Cyrus S. H. Ho, Roger C. M. Ho
Purposes This cross-sectional study assessed the quality of life and related factors of Vietnamese women during perimenopause in terms of vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual aspects. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study on 400 middle-aged women was conducted in Hung Yen, a delta province in Vietnam. Data about socioeconomic characteristics, daily activity patterns, quality of life in terms of vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual aspects, and level of social support were collected. Tobit multivariate regression model was used to identify factors related to the quality of life among participants. Results The symptoms of perimenopause appeared to worsen with the increase of age and the existence of such health issues as migraine and diabetes. Meanwhile, exercises, recreational activities, and social support appeared to alleviate the negative impact of perimenopausal symptoms on women. Conclusions It is important to address the care needs of women during perimenopausal age, especially their sexual well-being, and development of specific healthcare services and programs focusing on sport, entertainment, and support for women in perimenopause should be
facilitated
Ha-Linh Quach, Thai Quang Pham, Ngoc-Anh Hoang, Dinh Cong Phung, Viet Cuong Nguyen, Son Hong Le, Thanh Cong Le, Thu Minh Thi Bui, Dang Hai Le, Anh Duc Dang, Duong Nhu Tran, Nghia Duy Ngu, Florian Vogt, Cong Khanh Nguyen
Background Trends in the public perception and awareness of COVID-19 over time are poorly understood. We conducted a longitudinal study to analyze characteristics and trends of online information during a major COVID-19 outbreak in Da Nang province, Vietnam in July-August 2020 to understand public awareness and perceptions during an epidemic. Methods We collected online information on COVID-19 incidence and mortality from online platforms in Vietnam between 1 July and 15 September, 2020, and assessed their trends over time against the epidemic curve. We explored the associations between engagement, sentiment polarity, and other characteristics of online information with different outbreak phases using Poisson regression and multinomial logistic regression analysis. We assessed the frequency of keywords over time, and conducted a semantic analysis of keywords using word segmentation Results
We found a close association between collected online information and the evolution of the
COVID-19 situation in Vietnam. Online information generated higher engagements during
compared to before the outbreak. There was a close relationship between sentiment polarity
and posts’ topics: the emotional tendencies about COVID-19 mortality were significantly
more negative, and more neutral or positive about COVID-19 incidence. Online newspaper
reported significantly more information in negative or positive sentiment than online forums
or social media. Most topics of public concern followed closely the progression of the
COVID-19 situation during the outbreak: development of the global pandemic and vaccination; the unfolding outbreak in Vietnam; and the subsiding of the outbreak after two months.
Conclusion
This study shows how online information can reflect a public health threat in real time, and
provides important insights about public awareness and perception during different outbreak
phases. Our findings can help public health decision makers in Vietnam and other low and
middle income countries with high internet penetration rates to design more effective communication strategies during critical phases of an epidemic
Asian Journal of Educational Research
The current ESP material has been used for second-year students at Hanoi Medical University for four years without any evaluation. Moreover, needs analysis had not been carried out thoroughly before the course started. It was, thus, necessary to conduct an evaluation on the textbook used for second-year students to see if it matched with the objectives of the course and with students' needs. Some principal criteria listed in Hutchinson and Water's model, such as the aims, the content and the methodology were the focus of the study. Data was collected by two instruments: document analysis and questionnaires. Documents were analyzed including the English curriculum, the English reading passages given by specialist lecturers and ex-students, and the textbook. The questionnaires were delivered to second year students, ex-students, ESP lecturers and specialist lecturers. The results of the study showed that the textbook properly matched with students' needs in terms of vocabulary. It provided students with a wide range of medical words which were practiced thoroughly through a variety of exercises. Although the textbook could provide students with grammatical structures frequently used in medical documents, there were few exercises for practicing. The textbook was weakest at providing students with reading skills. Despite some limitations, the findings of this study could provide a practical implication. Combined with the literature, it is recommended that Hanoi Medical University (HMU) should make some changes in the current curriculum and in the textbook so that the revised one could meet students' needs. Along with the existing curriculum, ESP lecturers should provide students with more grammar exercises in the form of extra handouts. Besides, reading sub-skills must also receive more attention by designing supplementary reading materials with some topics in the textbook and with some topics suggested by specialist lecturers and ex-students. Moreover, the study also provided information on the direction of making changes in the English curriculum in the future. The newly developed curriculum should take reading skill into consideration because medical students wanted to be equipped with reading skills.
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health
Ngo Tri Tuan, Huy Van Nguyen, Thanh Hai Pham, Tien Van Nguyen. Kien Duy Vu, Minh Duc Pham, Dung Phung, Anh Ngoc Thi Tran, Phuong The Nguyen, Phuong Mai Le, An Minh Thi Dao, Hiep Tri Ngo, Minh Van Hoang
International Journal of Health Planning and Management
Objective: To determine the relationship between team dynamics with healthcare coordination and clinical job satisfaction of the community health workers (CHWs). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 health workers (including doctors, nurses, or midwives) at 21 Commune Health Cent in Quoc Oai District, Vietnam, from July 2015 to May 2017. A self-administered questionnaire consisting of 5-Likert items regarding team dynamics and healthcare coordination clinical work satisfaction was utilised. Descriptive statistics and correlation matrix were applied for seven factors of team dynamic, clinical work satisfaction, and patient care coordination queried by primary care providers. Bayesian model averaging (BMA) was used to identify the predictors of the level of team dynamics and healthcare coordination. Results: The mean score of overall team dynamics among the study participants was 4.08. Clinical work satisfaction and patient care coordination scores among resident physicians were higher than those of attending clinicians;
however, the differences were not statistically significant.
The results of BMA analysis indicated that team dynamics
significantly associated with clinical work satisfaction, and it
explains 9% of the total variance in clinical work satisfaction.
Team dynamics level was also positively associated with
patient care coordination. Patient care coordination was not
a significant mediator between team dynamics and clinical
work satisfaction.
Conclusion: Team dynamics is a potential contributor to
improving patient care coordination and clinical job satisfaction of CHWs. As no significant correlation between patient
care coordination and clinical job satisfaction was observed,
to improve team performance, providing conditions that
facilitate team building and teamwork should be conducted
for CHWs in CHCs.
Frontiers in Public Health
Introduction: Tetanus vaccine coverage in Vietnam has been declining in recent years due to a rapid population growth rate, shrinking budget, and inecient resource mobilization strategy. This study examined the uptake, demand, and willingness to pay (WTP) for tetanus vaccines in Vietnamese women of reproductive age as well as determined associated factors and assessed the feasibility of the long-term tetanus vaccine resource mobilization scheme. Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained on 807 women of childbearing age in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2016. Tetanus vaccine uptake, demand, and willingness to pay were collected by using a structured questionnaire. Multivariable logistic and interval regression models were used to examine associated factors with vaccine uptake, demand, and WTP. Results: Of 807 participants, 42.4 and 64.8% had sucient tetanus vaccination (i.e., received at least three doses of vaccine) and were willing to pay for tetanus vaccination. The mean amount of WTP for one dose of tetanus was US$ 7.3 (95% CI = 6.7–7.9). Having children or being aware that the tetanus vaccine was free-of-charge were negatively associated with WTP for tetanus vaccine. Having a high school education, living in a rural area, and not being aware of vaccine prices or being aware that vaccines were provided freely reduced the amount of WTP. WTP increased among women receiving information from friends and relatives. Conclusion: Despite of exemption from the tetanus vaccination programs, this study indicated a low tetanus vaccination coverage and a moderate degree of WTP for tetanus vaccine among Vietnamese women of childbearing age. Frontiers in Public Health 01 frontiersin.org Nguyen et al. 10.3389/fpubh.2022.980850 Target-specific educational and financial support interventions, along with e
International journal of public health
Introduction: Patient satisfaction is one of the most important components of measuring healthcare quality. Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the patient satisfaction scale with the quality of health services and its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data on patient satisfaction with 301 outpatients at one polyclinic in Hanoi, Vietnam. Results: The overall outpatient satisfaction was 53.5%. There were five factors (facilities, services provision results, information transparency and administrative procedures, accessibility, and interaction and communication of staff) including one major factor with high Eigenvalues coefficient, 22.5 for satisfaction with facility, and four others with lower Eigenvalues coefficient, 3.2, 2.0, 1.5, and 1.2 for satisfaction with service provision results, information transparency and administrative procedures, accessibility, and interaction and communication of staff respectively. All satisfaction-factors show internal consistency reliability, with a Cronbach’s Alpha of over 0.9. The insured are 3.5 times (95% CI: 1.9–6.2) more likely to be satisfied with health services than the uninsured. Conclusion: The patient satisfaction measurement tool should be used for intervention to improve the quality of health services at the clinic
Frontiers in Tropical Diseases
Introduction: The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2, the varying vaccine coverage, and the appearance of new variants posed a significant threat during the pandemic, especially in LMIC countries. Hospitals in Vietnam at both central and local levels have had cross-infection of patients and healthcare workers. Therefore, providing a safe and secure environment for staff and patients was a major focus for all healthcare institutions. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, to answer the question of how hospital safety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnamese hospitals was implemented and what the challenges were. Secondary data from a recent national survey of safety in 1,398 hospitals conducted by the Vietnam Ministry of Health (MOH) were extracted and analyzed. In-depth interviews of key health managers and health staff in four selected hospitals were performed to further explore challenges in implementing Decision 3088/QD-BYT. Results: The proportion of hospitals classified as “safe hospital”, “safe hospital with moderate level”, and “unsafe hospital” was 91.7%, 7.3%, and 1.0%, respectively. The rate of “safe hospital” was highest in the central level hospitals (96.1%), followed by private hospitals (94.4%), provincial hospitals (94.2%), specialized hospitals (93.1%), regional hospitals (93.0%), and district hospitals (89.9%), while “safe hospital” rates were lowest in the ministerial level hospital group (82.2%). Challenges in ensuring hospital safety in public and private hospitals related to COVID-19 transmission, such as lack of preparedness before COVID-19 and other pandemics, limited hospital facility, limited space and equipment, shortage of human resources, inadequate training and knowledge transfer, poor patient compliance in declaring health conditions, and lack of patient understanding of infection prevention methods, were explored. Conclusion: Most hospitals in Vietnam successfully met the classification of “safe hospitals” according to Decision 3088/QD-BYT, a key tool for hospitals to self-assess preparedness and responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MOH should adapt the criteria in Decision 3088/QD-BYT to be more suitable Frontiers in Tropical Diseases 01 frontiersin.org OPEN ACCESS EDITED BY Harapan Harapan, Syiah Kuala University, Indonesia REVIEWED BY Olushayo Oluseun Olu, World Health Organization, South Sudan Abhay Machindra Kudale, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India *CORRESPONDENCE Bui Thi My Anh buithimyanh@hmu.edu.vn SPECIALTY SECTION This article was submitted to Disease Prevention and Control Policy, a section of the journal Frontiers in Tropical Diseases RECEIVED 10 May 2022 ACCEPTED 24 August 2022 PUBLISHED 06 October 2022 CITATION Thu NTH, Anh BTM, Khanh LB, Anh PT and Luong DH (2022) Hospital safety preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from Vietnam. Front. Trop. Dis. 3:940268. doi: 10.3389/fitd.2022.940268 COPYRIGHT © 2022 Thu, Anh, Khanh, Anh and Luong. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. TYPE Original Research PUBLISHED 06 October 2022 DOI 10.3389/fitd.2022.940268 for the new phase of the pandemic as we move towards “living with COVID”. Furthermore, we recommend that the MOH work to develop mechanisms or regulations that require hospitals to regularly report on disease preparation and responses for future pandemic preparedness.
Pham Thi Thanh Hang, Thi Thuy Linh Nguyen, Samuel So, Thi Hai Van Hoang, Thi To Uyen Nguyen, Thanh Binh Ngo, Minh Phuong Nguyen, Quang Hung Thai, Ngoc Khoi Nguyen, Thi Quynh Anh Le Ho, Quang Phuc Tran, Trung Son Mai, Mehlika Toy, Minh Khue Pham
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Background: Medical students play important frontline roles in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of hepatitis C. This study investigated knowledge and attitudes toward hepatitis C among 5th- and 6th-year medical students and possible associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2000 students from eight medical universities using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Results: The mean knowledge and attitude scores for hepatitis C were 20.1 ± 4.0 (out of 26) and 10.6 ± 2.9 (out of 20), respectively. Approximately, three-quarters (74.4%) of the participants had a good knowledge score, but only a small proportion (3.1%) obtained a good attitude score. Although the participants had fairly high knowledge about the causes, consequences, and transmission routes of hepatitis C, there were important gaps in their knowledge about hepatitis C screening and treatment. In multivariate analysis, female students, 5th-year students, and students from the central provinces had significantly higher knowledge and attitude scores. There was a low positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores. Conclusion: This study points out the need to update the medical training curriculum to improve the knowledge and attitude of students about hepatitis C infection.
Substance Abuse Journal
Background: Patients report that familial support can facilitate initiation and maintenance of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). However, providing such support can create pressure and additional burdens for families of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV. We examined perspectives of people with HIV receiving treatment for OUD in Vietnam and their family members. Methods: Between 2015 and 2018, we conducted face-to-face qualitative interviews with 44 patients and 30 of their family members in Hanoi, Vietnam. Participants were people living with HIV and OUD enrolled in the BRAVO study comparing HIV clinic-based buprenorphine with referral to methadone treatment at 4 HIV clinics and their immediate family members (spouses or parents). Interviews were professionally transcribed, coded in Vietnamese, and analyzed using a semantic, inductive approach to qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Family members of people with OUD and HIV in Vietnam reported financially and emotionally supporting MOUD initiation and maintenance as well as actively participating in treatment. Family members described the burdens of supporting patients during opioid use, including financial costs and secondary stigma. Conclusions: Describing the role of family support in the lives of people living with OUD and HIV in the context of Vietnam enriches our understanding of their experiences and will support future treatment efforts targeting the family unit.
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