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.
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
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
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.
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.
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected health and well-being worldwide, and its psychological effects are receiving substantial attention in the scientific literature. Research to date shows that the pandemic has increased prevalences of depression, anxiety, and stress. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of mental health symptoms and identify the associated factors among men in a rural area of Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods and findings: During July 15–31, 2020, we conducted a crosssectional survey of 1,085 men from 18 years old in 11 rural districts in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam, and assessed their mental health using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale – 21 Items (DASS-21). Outcomes assessed were have a symptom of depression, anxiety, and stress; risk factors measured included age, religion, marital status, education, occupation, and financial status. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine the statistical significance of associations between risk factors and mental health symptoms. Findings showed that the prevalences of having a symptom of depression, anxiety and stress among participants were 6.39, 9.72, and 5.65%, respectively. Regression model showed being younger (95% CI: –0.030; – 0.004, p = 0.001), men had high school degree (95% CI: –0.671; –0.074, p = 0.014), men living in nearly poor houshoulds (95% CI: 0.067, 1.905, p < 0.05) and poor housholds (95% CI: 0.608; 2.721, p < 0.05) had significantly lower depression scores than others. Conclusion: Prevalences of having symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were much higher than in similar previous research in rural Vietnam, suggesting that mental health problems among men in this setting became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic. Age, religion, level of
education and family income status were statistically significant predictors of
mental health problems. These findings provide useful insights into the impact
of pandemics on mental health.
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.
The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific
Frontiers in Public Health
Dat Tien Nguyen, Tri Minh Ngo, Huong Lan Thi Nguyen, Minh Dai Le, Mai Le Ngoc Duong, Phan Huy Hoang, Ha Viet Nguyen, Kirsty Foster, Tuyen Van Duong, Giang Bao Kim, Tung Thanh Pham
Medical students are known to have higher levels of these issues than the general population but in Vietnam the effects of the pandemic on medical student mental health was not documented
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.
Minh H. Nguyen, Tinh X. Do, Tham T. Nguyen, Minh D. Pham, Thu T. M. Pham, Khue M. Pham, Giang B. Kim, Binh N. Do, Hiep T. Nguyen, Ngoc-Minh Nguyen, Hoa T. B. Dam, Yen H. Nguyen, Kien T. Nguyen, Thao T. P. Nguyen, Trung T. Nguyen, Tuyen Van Duong
Medical students’ health and wellbeing are highly concerned during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study examined the impacts of fear of COVID-19 (FCoV-19S), healthy eating behavior, and health-related behavior changes on anxiety and depression
Nguyen Thu Trang, Giang Thi Hoang, Duc Quang Nguyen, Anh Huu Nguyen, Ngoc Anh Luong, Didier Laureillard, Nicolas Nagot, Don Des Jarlais, Huong Thi Duong, Thanh Thi Tuyet Nham, Oanh Thi Hai Khuat, Khue Minh Pham, Mai Sao Le, Laurent Michel, Delphine Rapoud, Giang Minh Le
Harm Reduction Journal
Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak disproportionally afects vulnerable populations including people who inject drugs (PWID). Social distancing and stay-at-home orders might result in a lack of access to medical and social services, poorer mental health, and fnancial precariousness, and thus, increases in HIV and HCV risk behaviors. This article explores how the HIV/HCV risk behaviors of PWID in Haiphong, a city with high harm reduction service coverage in Vietnam, changed during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what shaped such changes, using the risk environment framework. Method: We conducted three focus group discussions with peer outreach workers in May 2020 at the very end of the frst lockdown, and 30 in-depth interviews with PWID between September and October 2020, after the second wave of infection in Vietnam. Discussions and interviews centered on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives, and how their drug use and sexual behaviors changed as a result of the pandemic. Results: The national shutdown of nonessential businesses due to the COVID-19 epidemic caused substantial economic challenges to participants, who mostly were in a precarious fnancial situation before the start of the epidemic. Unsafe injection is no longer an issue among our sample of PWID in Haiphong thanks to a combination of diferent factors, including high awareness of injection-related HIV/HCV risk and the availability of methadone treatment. However, group methamphetamine use as a means to cope with the boredom and stress related to COVID-19 was common during the lockdown. Sharing of smoking equipment was a standard practice. Female sex workers, especially those who were active heroin users, sufered most from COVID-related fnancial pressure and may have engaged in unsafe sex. Conclusion: While unsafe drug injection might no longer be an issue, group methamphetamine use and unsafe sex were the two most worrisome HIV/HCV risk behaviors of PWID in Haiphong during the social distancing and lockdown periods. These elevated risks could continue beyond the enforced lockdown periods, given PWID in general, and PWID who are also sex workers in particular, have been disproportionately afected during the global crisis.
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