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
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.
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.
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health
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.
Le Thi Thanh Xuan, Quan Long Hoang, Nhung Thi Kim Ta, Quan Thi Pham, Thao Thanh Nguyen, Huong Thi Mai Phan, Thanh Van Nguyen, Ha Thi Thanh Le, Nam Thuy Nguyen, Linh Dieu Hoang, Phuong Thi Huyen Luong, Lien Hong An, Thu Ha Nguyen, Thinh Thi Nguyen, Hien Thuy Nguyen, Huong Thu Le, Doanh Qu
Frontiers in Tropical Diseases
Rationale: To prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest immunization campaign in history had been deployed worldwide. Therefore, it is important to inform the adverse events following immunization (AEFI) to populations. Objectives: To prevent vaccine hesitancy, this study focused on finding the common AEFI with the COVID-19 Comirnaty vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech) among participants aged 18 and above and related factors in Hanoi, Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out to collect participants’ data and AEFI after being vaccinated at Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam, in 2021. Logistic regression was utilized for analyzing the correlated factors of AEFI. Results: We recruited a random sample of 820 participants who received both basic doses of Pfizer vaccine in September and October 2021. The proportion of AEFI after the first dose, second dose, and both doses of Pfizer vaccine was 24.4%, 64.2%, and 18.5%, respectively. AEFI mostly appeared within 1 day and lasted for 1 to 2 days. The AEFI were more common in females (OR=1.7; 95% CI=1.25–2.29) and younger age groups (OR=1.9; 95%CI=1.37–2.58). History of allergy, allergic diseases, chronic diseases, and occupations were not statistically significant with AEFI Conclusion: Our findings indicated that the COVID-19 Comirnaty vaccine
is safe to be injected. Gender and age group are important factors
influencing AEFI.
Cogent Public Health
Despite the vaccination program’s great effectiveness, pertussis outbreaks are still reported with substantial spatial heterogeneity. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the spatio-temporal patterns of pertussis to determine the hot spots with the high-risk transmission in Vietnam from 2015 to 2019. This study was designed as a cluster case study from December 2019 to October 2020 in Hanoi, Vietnam. Data on 564 pertussis cases were collected via the pertussis case report form of the national immunization program and disease surveillance system of the Hanoi Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 2015 to 2019. Knox Test was applied to assess the risk of spreading epidemics by space and time via a program running on R software. The pertussis incidence per 100 000 population was the highest in the inner city, with an average of 2.96/100000 in 2015. An area with an extremely high risk of infection was located within 200 meters away from the pertussis case and within 40 days, apart from the detecting time (Relative risk (RR) = 3 to 222). Sixty-two hot spot clusters were defined, mainly distributed in the inner city areas, while only a few risk clusters belonged to suburban districts. By using well-defined spatio-temporal distributions, a geographical area of high pertussis transmission risk was identified. Our findings play a fundamental part in developing the ongoing and comprehensive database to complete the disease surveillance system and design effective intervention measures
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
The effects of temperature on behavior change and mental health have previously been explored, but the association between temperature and crime is less well understood, especially in developing countries. Single-city-level data were used to evaluate the association between the short-term effects of temperature on crime events in urban Hanoi, Vietnam. We used quasi-Poisson regression models to investigate the linear effects and distributed lag non-linear models to investigate the non-linear association between daily temperature and daily crime events from 2013 to 2019. There were 3884 crime events, including 1083 violent crimes and 2801 non-violent crimes during the 7-year study period. For both linear and non-linear effects, there were positive associations between an increase in daily temperature and crime, and the greatest effects were observed on the first day of exposure (lag 0). For linear effects, we estimated that each 5 ◦C increase in daily mean temperature was associated with a 9.9% (95%CI: 0.2; 20.5), 6.8% (95%CI: 0.6; 13.5), and 7.5% (95%CI: 2.3; 13.2) increase in the risk of violent, non-violent, and total crime, respectively. For non-linear effects, however, the crime risk plateaued at 30 ◦C and decreased at higher exposures, which presented an inverted U-shape response with a large statistical uncertainty.
Thao Thi Phuong Nguyen, Tham Thi Nguyen, Vu Trong Anh Dam, Thuc Thi Minh Vu, Hoa Thi Do, Giang Thu Vu, Anh Quynh Tran, Carl A. Latkin, Brian J. Hall, Roger C. M. Ho, Cyrus S. H. Ho
Frontiers in Psychology
Introduction: This study aimed to explore the mental wellbeing profiles and their related factors among urban young adults in Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Hanoi, which is the capital of Vietnam. There were 356 Vietnamese who completed the Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) questionnaire. The Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was used to identify the subgroups of mental wellbeing through five items of the MHI-5 scale as the continuous variable. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine factors related to subgroups. Results: Three classes represented three levels of MHI-5 score, which included “Poor mental health,” “Fair mental health,” and “Good mental health,” were, respectively, 14.3, 46.6, and 39.0%. Compared to a low household economy, participants with an average household economy had 2.11 and 4.79 times higher odds of being in a good mental health class relative to fair and poor mental health classes. Respondents with more than two acute symptoms had 3.85 times higher odds of being in a good mental health class relative to a poor mental health class, as compared to those without acute symptoms. Regarding the measurement of the Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS), people having support from their family had 1.80 and 2.23 times higher odds of being in classes of fair and good mental health relative to the poor mental health class; and participants having friend support also had 1.87 times higher odds of being in a good mental health class compared with the fair mental health class, as the MSPSS score increased by 1 unit. People with Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale increased by 1 score, those who had 1.17, 1.26, and 1.47 times higher odds of being in a good compared to fair mental health class, fair compared to poor mental health class, and good compared to poor mental
health class, respectively.
Conclusion: Our findings were given to promote a new classification method
for mental health screening among the general population. The current
findings could be used as evidence to develop policies and plans that focus
on encouraging early screening for mental health problems among the
general young population in the future
Interactive Journal of Medical Research
research, performance, productivity, scientometric, Vietnam, Asia, metric, pattern, journal, publication, publishing, output, science, scientific
Background: Vietnam’s 2045 development plan requires thorough reforms in science and technology, which underlines the role of research-oriented universities in generating and transforming knowledge. Understanding the current research performance and productivity in Vietnam is important for exploiting future agendas. Objective: This study aims to explore the growth patterns and collaborations in the scientific publications of Vietnam. Methods: Data on documents in the Web of Science Core Collection database were searched and extracted to examine the research performance in Vietnam. Publication growth patterns in both quantity and quality were examined. The evolution of research disciplines and collaboration networks were also analyzed. Trends in the growth in the number of publications, citations, and average citations per publication between 1966 and 2020 were presented. Temporal tendencies of the 10 most productive research areas in each period were illustrated. VOSviewer software was used to analyze the discipline network, country network, and institution networks. The trends and the geographical distribution of the number of publications and citations were analyzed. Results: A total of 62,752 documents in 8354 different sources from 1966 to 2020 were retrieved. A substantial growth was observed in the Vietnamese scientific output during this period, which was mainly research with international collaboration. Natural sciences such as mathematics, materials science, and physics were the top 3 most productive research fields during 1966-2020 in Vietnam, followed by experimental research fields such as multidisciplinary sciences, plant sciences, public, environmental, and occupational health. In 1966-2020, there was the emergence of multidisciplinary research–oriented universities in both public and private sectors along with a significant increase in the number of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary publications. Although the scientific quality has improved, these publications are still of mostly medium quality as they are concentrated in middle-ranking journals.Conclusions: Our study highlights the notable growth in research performance in terms of both quality and quantity in Vietnam
from 1966 to 2020. Building multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research agenda, developing networks of local and international
researchers for addressing specific local issues, improving the participation of private sectors, and developing science and
technology mechanisms are critical for boosting the research productivity in Vietnam.
Ha T. T. Tran, Minh H. Nguyen, Thu T. M. Pham, Giang B. Kim, Hiep T. Nguyen, Ngoc-Minh Nguyen, Hoa T. B. Dam, Thai H. Duong, Yen H. Nguyen, Thao T. Do, Thao T. P. Nguyen, Thuy T. Le, Hien T. T. Do, Tham T. Nguyen, Khue M. Pham, Tuyen Van Duong
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health
health literacy, preventive behaviors, fear, COVID-19, anxiety, depression, nursing students, handwashing, mask-wearing, physical distancing, Vietnam
Background: The infodemic has been co-existing with the COVID-19 pandemic with an influx of misinformation and conspiracy theories. These affect people’s psychological health and adherence to preventive measures. eHealth literacy (eHEALS) may help with alleviating the negative effects of the infodemic. As nursing students are future healthcare professionals, having adequate eHEALS skills is critically important in their clinical practice, safety, and health. This study aimed to (1) explore the eHEALS level and its associated factors, and (2) examine the associations of eHEALS with preventive behaviors, fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S), anxiety, and depression among nursing students. Methods: We surveyed 1851 nursing students from 7 April to 31 May 2020 from eight universities across Vietnam. Data were collected, including demographic characteristics, eHEALS, adherence to preventive behaviors (handwashing, mask-wearing, physical distancing), FCV-19S, anxiety, and depression. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed appropriately to examine associations. Results: The mean score of eHEALS was 31.4 ± 4.4. The eHEALS score was
significantly higher in males (unstandardized regression coefficient, B, 0.94; 95% confidence interval,
95% CI, 0.15 to 1.73; p = 0.019), and students with a better ability to pay for medication (B, 0.79;
95% CI, 0.39 to 1.19; p < 0.001), as compared to their counterparts. Nursing students with a higher
eHEALS score had a higher likelihood of adhering to hand-washing (odds ratio, OR, 1.18; 95% CI,
1.15 to 1.22; p < 0.001), mask-wearing (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.19; p < 0.001), keeping a safe physical
distance (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.25; p < 0.001), and had a lower anxiety likelihood (OR, 0.95; 95%
CI, 0.92 to 0.99; p = 0.011). Conclusions: Nursing students who were men and with better ability
to pay for medication had higher eHEALS scores. Those with higher eHEALS scores had better
adherence to preventive measures, and better psychological health. The development of strategies to
improve eHEALS of nursing students may contribute to COVID-19 containment and improve their
psychological health.
: Having a good understanding of cancer patients’ health literacy in the early stage of diagnosis can help to implement strategies to improve the management process and overall health outcomes. The study aims to describe health literacy and its association with sociodemographic characteristics among newly admitted cancer patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 262 newly admitted patients of a cancer hospital in Vietnam using the Vietnamese version of the HLS-SF12 questionnaire. Descriptive analytics and regression analysis were used to describe health literacy and examine associated factors. Older age, lower level of education, and living in rural areas were associated with lower health literacy while there was no significant relationship between gender and health literacy among newly admitted cancer patients. Many newly admitted patients, especially the older patients have difficulties understanding the different treatment options (54%) and evaluating the reliability of health information on the internet (43%). During the early stage of treatment, strategies should be implemented with regards to patients’ health literacy, to properly educate patients and their caregivers to improve communication, adherence to medication, lifestyle, and overall better quality of life and treatment outcome
Objective The goal of this study was to describe the burden of disease and in-hospital mortality among patients admitted to the critical care units (CCUs) in Vietnam. Design Retrospective study. Setting The whole 1-year data of admissions to CCUs were collected from 34 hospitals from January to December 2018. Participants A total of 44 013 episodes of admission to CCUs were analysed. Primary outcome We used International Classification of Diseases-11 codes to assess the primary diagnosis associated with admissions and in-hospitals mortality. Years of life lost (YLL) measure was further used to estimate the burden of disease. Results The 0–5 years and ≥70 years age groups accounted for 14.8% (6508/44 013) and 26.1% (11 480/44 013) of all admissions, respectively. The most common diagnoses were diseases of the respiratory system (27.8% or 12 255/44 013), followed by unclassified symptoms, signs or clinical findings (13% or 5712/44 013), and diseases of the circulatory system (12.2% or 5380/44 013). Among 28 311 patients with available outcome data, 1681 individuals (5.9%) died during the hospitalisation. The in-hospital mortality rate increased with age, from 2.8% (86/3105) in under 5 years old age group to 23.1% (297/1288) in over 90-year age group. Diseases of the respiratory system was the leading causes of death in term of number of deaths (21.8% or 367/1681 of all deaths). Diagnosis of sepsis was associated with the highest in-hospital mortality (36.8%). The overall YLL under the age of 75 were 1287 per 1000 patients. Conclusions CCUs in Vietnam faced wide differences in the burden of diseases. Sufficient infrastructure and adequate multidisciplinary training are essential to ensure the appropriate response to the current needs of population.
Harm Reduction Journal
Introduction: The emergence of widespread amphetamine-type stimulants (ATSs) usage has created signifcant
challenges for drug control and treatment policies in Southeast Asian countries. This study analyses the development
of drug policies and examines current treatment program constraints in Vietnam to deal with ATS misuse. The aim was
to gain insights that may be useful for national and international drug-related policy development and revision.
Methods: A desk review of national policy documents and 22 in-depth key informant interviews were conducted
from 2019 to 2021. Thematic content analysis was employed to identify key themes and their connections.
Results: Analysis identifed Vietnam’s 30-year history of developing policies and formulating strategies to reduce
supply, demand, and harm from illicit drugs. With the increasing number of people who use ATS (PWUA), Vietnam
has recently promoted harsh policy and law enforcement to deter drug use and supply. This policy trend prevails in
many Asian countries. The three main constraints in dealing with ATS misuse emerged from punitive and restrictive
drug policies. First, the general public believed that Centre-based compulsory treatment (CCT) is the only appropriate
treatment for all types of illicit drug addiction despite its low-quality service provision. The rigid drug policy has led
to social persuasion with impractical expectations for CCT efectiveness. Second, the emphasis on punishment and
detention has hampered new drug treatment service development in Vietnam. CCT has become monopolistic in the
context of impoverished services. Third, people who use drugs tend to hide their needs and avoid formal treatment
and support services, resulting in declined social coherence.
Conclusion: While new drugs are constantly evolving, the current law enforcement approach potentially constrains
expertise to adopt efective treatment services. This study suggests that the top-down policing mechanism presently
hinders the development of an appropriate intervention strategy for ATS misuse and diminishes social support to
service providers
J Ethn Subst Abuse
Integration of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and HIV care can increase antiretroviral therapy coverage among people with opioid use disorder (OUD). However, implementation of integrated treatment models remains limited. Stigma towards people with OUD poses a barrier to initiation of, and adherence to, HIV treatment. We sought to understand the extent of stigma towards SUD and HIV among people with OUD in Vietnam, and the effect of stigma on integrated OUD and HIV treatment services utilization. Between 2013 and 2015, we conducted in-depth interviews with 43 patients and 43 providers at 7 methadone clinics and 8 HIV clinics across 4 provinces in Vietnam. We used thematic analysis with a mixed deductive and inductive approach at the semantic level to analyze key topics. Two main themes were identified: (1) Confidentiality concerns about HIV status make patients reluctant to receive integrated care at HIV clinics, given the requirements for daily buprenorphine dosing at HIV clinics. (2) Provider stigma existed mostly toward people with OUD and seemed to center on the belief that substance use causes a deterioration in one’s morals, and was most frequently manifested in the form of providers’ apprehensive approach towards patients. Concerns regarding stigmatization may cause patients to feel reluctant to receive treatment for both OUD and HIV at a single integrated clinic. Interventions to reduce stigma at the clinic and policy levels may thus serve to improve initiation of and adherence to integrated care
Nguyen Xuan Binh Minh, R.B. Hershow, N.A. Blackburn, Q.X. Bui, C.A. Latkin, H. Hutton, G. Chander, D. Dowdy, K.E. Lancaster, C. Frangakis, T. Sripaipan, H.V. Tran, V.F. Go
Social Science and Medicine
Aims: This study explores the effects of two evidence-based alcohol reduction counseling interventions on readiness to change, alcohol abstinence self-efficacy, social support, and alcohol abstinence stigma among people with HIV (PWH) who have hazardous alcohol use in Vietnam. Methods: PWH receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) were screened for hazardous drinking and randomized to one of three study arms: combined intervention (CoI), brief intervention (BI), and standard of care (SOC). A quantitative survey was conducted at baseline (N = 440) and 3-month post-intervention (N = 405), while indepth interviews were conducted with a subset of BI and CoI participants at baseline (N = 14) and 3 months (N = 14). Data was collected from March 2016 to August 2017. A concurrent mixed-methods model was used to triangulate quantitative and qualitative data to cross-validate findings. Results: At 3 months, receiving the BI and CoI arms was associated with 2.64 and 3.50 points higher in mean readiness to change scores, respectively, compared to the SOC group (BI: β = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.17–4.12; CoI: β = 3.50, 95% CI 2.02–4.98). Mean alcohol abstinence self-efficacy scores were 4.03 and 3.93 points higher among the BI and CoI arm at 3 months, compared to SOC (BI: β = 4.03, 95% CI: 0.17–7.89; CoI: β = 3.93, 95% CI: 0.05–7.81). The impacts of the interventions on social support and alcohol abstinence stigma were not significant. Perceived challenges to refusing drinks at social events remained due to strong alcohol abstinence stigma and perceived negative support from family and friends who encouraged participants to drink posed additional barriers to reducing alcohol use. Conclusions: Both the CoI and BI were effective in improving readiness to change and alcohol abstinence selfefficacy among PWH. Yet, participants still faced significant barriers to reducing their drinking due to social influences and pressure to drink. Interventions at different levels addressing social support and alcohol abstinence stigma are warranted.
|