Showing papers by "Roger C.M. Ho published in 2023"

Preference and Willingness to Pay for the Regular COVID-19 Booster Shot in the Vietnamese Population: Theory-Driven Discrete Choice Experiment

Abstract: Background The COVID-19 booster vaccination rate has declined despite the wide availability of vaccines. As COVID-19 is becoming endemic and charges for regular booster vaccination are being introduced, measuring public acceptance and the willingness to pay for regular COVID-19 boosters is ever more crucial. Objective This study aims to (1) investigate public acceptance for regular COVID-19 boosters, (2) assess the willingness to pay for a COVID-19 booster shot, and (3) identify factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Our results will provide crucial insights into and implications for policy response as well as the development of a feasible and effective vaccination campaign during Vietnam’s waning vaccine immunity period. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 871 Vietnamese online participants from April to August 2022. An online questionnaire based on the discrete choice experiment (DCE) design was developed, distributed using the snowball sampling method, and subsequently conjointly analyzed on the Qualtrics platform. A history of COVID-19 infection and vaccination, health status, willingness to vaccinate, willingness to pay, and other factors were examined. Results Among the participants, 761 (87.4%) had received or were waiting for a COVID-19 booster shot. However, the willingness to pay was low at US $8.02, and most participants indicated an unwillingness to pay (n=225, 25.8%) or a willingness to pay for only half of the vaccine costs (n=222, 25.4%). Although information insufficiency and a wariness toward vaccines were factors most associated with the unwillingness to pay, long-term side effects, immunity duration, and mortality rate were the attributes the participants were most concerned with during the vaccine decision-making period. Participants who had children less than 18 years old in their homes infected with COVID-19 had a lower willingness to pay (odds ratio [OR] 0.54, 95% CI 0.39-0.74). Respondents who had children under 12 years old in their family who received at least 1 vaccine dose had a higher willingness to pay (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.12-3.66). The burden of medical expenses (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.25-0.45) and fear of the vaccine (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86-1.00) were negative factors associated with the level of willingness to pay. Conclusions A significant inconsistency between high acceptance and a low willingness to pay underscores the role of vaccine information and public trust. In addition to raising awareness about the most concerning characteristics of the COVID-19 booster, social media and social listening should be used in collaboration with health professionals to establish a 2-way information exchange. Work incentives and suitable mandates should continue to encourage workforce participation. Most importantly, all interventions should be conducted with informational transparency to strengthen trust between the public and authorities.

Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress during the 2022 Russo-Ukrainian war, a comparison between populations in Poland, Ukraine, and Taiwan

Abstract: Abstract Ukraine has been embroiled in an increasing war since February 2022. In addition to Ukrainians, the Russo-Ukraine war has affected Poles due to the refugee crisis and the Taiwanese, who are facing a potential crisis with China. We examined the mental health status and associated factors in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan. The data will be used for future reference as the war is still ongoing. From March 8 to April 26, 2022, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques in Ukraine, Poland, and Taiwan. Depression, anxiety, and stress were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress (DASS)-21 item scale; post-traumatic stress symptoms by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and coping strategies by the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory (Brief-COPE). We used multivariate linear regression to identify factors significantly associated with DASS-21 and IES-R scores. There were 1626 participants (Poland: 1053; Ukraine: 385; Taiwan: 188) in this study. Ukrainian participants reported significantly higher DASS-21 ( p < 0.001) and IES-R ( p < 0.01) scores than Poles and Taiwanese. Although Taiwanese participants were not directly involved in the war, their mean IES-R scores (40.37 ± 16.86) were only slightly lower than Ukrainian participants (41.36 ± 14.94). Taiwanese reported significantly higher avoidance scores (1.60 ± 0.47) than the Polish (0.87 ± 0.53) and Ukrainian (0.91 ± 0.5) participants ( p < 0.001). More than half of the Taiwanese (54.3%) and Polish (80.3%) participants were distressed by the war scenes in the media. More than half (52.5%) of the Ukrainian participants would not seek psychological help despite a significantly higher prevalence of psychological distress. Multivariate linear regression analyses found that female gender, Ukrainian and Polish citizenship, household size, self-rating health status, past psychiatric history, and avoidance coping were significantly associated with higher DASS-21 and IES-R scores after adjustment of other variables ( p < 0.05). We have identified mental health sequelae in Ukrainian, Poles, and Taiwanese with the ongoing Russo-Ukraine war. Risk factors associated with developing depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress symptoms include female gender, self-rating health status, past psychiatric history, and avoidance coping. Early resolution of the conflict, online mental health interventions, delivery of psychotropic medications, and distraction techniques may help to improve the mental health of people who stay inside and outside Ukraine.

COVID-19 vaccination for the prevention and treatment of long COVID: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract: Empirical evidence addressing the association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and long COVID would guide public health priorities and inform personal health decisions. Herein, the co-primary objectives are to determine the differential risk of long COVID in vaccinated versus unvaccinated patients, and the trajectory of long COVID following vaccination. Of 2775 articles identified via systematic search, 17 were included, and 6 were meta-analyzed. Meta-analytic results determined that at least one vaccine dose was associated with a protective effect against long COVID (OR 0.539, 95% CI 0.295-0.987, p = 0.045, N = 257 817). Qualitative analysis revealed that trajectories of pre-existing long COVID following vaccination were mixed, with most patients reporting no changes. The evidence herein supports SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for the prevention of long COVID, and recommends long COVID patients adhere to standard SARS-CoV-2 vaccination schedules.

The COVID-19 endemic in Vietnam: Contextual considerations and implications

Abstract: COPYRIGHT © 2023 Doan, Le Vu, Vu, Le, Nguyen, Latkin and Ho. 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. The COVID-19 endemic in Vietnam: Contextual considerations and implications

Measuring the suicidal mind: The ‘open source’ Suicidality Scale, for adolescents and adults

Abstract: Clinicians are expected to provide accurate and useful mental health assessments, sometimes in emergency settings. The most urgent challenge may be in calculating suicide risk. Unfortunately, existing instruments often fail to meet requirements. To address this situation, we used a sustainable scale development approach to create a publicly available Suicidality Scale (SS). Following a critical review of current measures, community input, and panel discussions, an international item pool survey included 5,115 English-speaking participants aged 13–82 years. Revisions were tested with two follow-up cross-sectional surveys (Ns = 814 and 626). Pool items and SS versions were critically examined through item response theory, hierarchical cluster, factor and bifactor analyses, resulting in a unidimensional eight-item scale. Psychometric properties were high (loadings > .77; discrimination > 2.2; test-retest r = .87; internal consistency, ω = .96). Invariance checks were satisfied for age, gender, ethnicity, rural/urban residence, first language, self-reported psychiatric diagnosis and suicide attempt history. The SS showed stronger psychometric properties, and significant differences in bivariate associations with depressive symptoms, compared with included suicide measures. The ‘open source’ Suicidality Scale represents a significant step forward in accurate assessment for people aged 13+, and diverse populations. This study provides an example of sustainable scale development utilizing community input, emphasis on strong psychometric evidence from diverse samples, and a free-to-use license allowing instrument revisions. These methods can be used to develop a wide variety of psychosocial instruments that can benefit clinicians, researchers, and the public.

Severity and Longitudinal Course of Depression, Anxiety and Post-Traumatic Stress in Paediatric and Young Adult Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Background: A diagnosis of cancer and treatment may constitute a highly traumatic period for paediatric cancer patients (PYACPs). However, no review has comprehensively analysed how the mental health of PYACPs is acutely affected and the longitudinal course. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines. Comprehensive searches of databases were conducted to identify studies of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms in PYACPs. Random effects meta-analyses were used for the primary analysis. Results: From 4898 records, 13 studies were included. Acutely after diagnosis, depressive and anxiety symptoms were significantly elevated in PYACPs. Depressive symptoms only significantly decreased after 12 months (standardised mean difference, SMD = −0.88; 95% CI: −0.92, −0.84). This downward trajectory persisted to 18 months (SMD = −1.862; 95% CI: −1.29, −1.09). Anxiety symptoms similarly only decreased after 12 (SMD = −0.34; 95% CI: −0.42, −0.27) up to 18 months (SMD = −0.49; 95% CI: −0.60, −0.39) after the cancer diagnosis. Post-traumatic stress symptoms showed protracted elevations throughout follow-up. Overall, significant predictors of poorer psychological outcomes included unhealthy family functioning, concomitant depression or anxiety, poor cancer prognosis or experiencing cancer and treatment-related side effects. Conclusions: While depression and anxiety may improve over time with a favourable environment, post-traumatic stress may have a protracted course. Timely identification and psycho-oncological intervention are critical.

Lifetime Burden of Psychological Symptoms, Disorders, and Suicide Due to Cancer in Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Abstract: Importance A cancer diagnosis and treatment may result in highly traumatic periods with lasting psychological consequences for children, adolescent, and young adult patients with cancer (CYACs). Early identification and management may prevent long-term psychological morbidity and suicide. Objective To analyze risk, severity, and risk factors for depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, and suicide in CYACs and noncancer comparators. Data Sources Literature search of PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and PubMed Central from January 1, 2000, to November 18, 2022. Study Selection Full-length articles in peer-reviewed journals that measured and reported risk and/or severity of depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, and suicide mortality in CYACs and a noncancer comparator group. Data Extraction and Synthesis Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines were followed with prospective PROSPERO registration. Main Outcomes and Measures Risk ratios (RRs) were used for dichotomous outcomes, and standardized mean differences (SMDs) were used for continuous outcomes. SMDs were defined as follows: 0.2, small; 0.5, medium; and 0.8, large. Sources of heterogeneity and risk factors were investigated using sensitivity, subgroup, and meta-regression analyses. Results From 7319 records, 52 studies were included. Meta-analyses revealed that CYACs were at increased lifetime risk of severe symptoms or a disorder of depression (RR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.29-1.92), anxiety (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.14-1.47), and psychotic disorders (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.36-1.80) relative to both matched controls and their siblings. Overall suicide mortality was not significantly elevated (RR, 1.63; 95% CI, 0.78-3.40). The mean severity of depression was found to be elevated in CYACs receiving treatment (SMD, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.13-0.74) and long-term survivors (SMD, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.02-0.33). The mean severity of anxiety was found to be elevated only during treatment (SMD, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.03-0.20). Conclusions and Relevance Findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that CYACs may experience lasting psychological burden long into survivorship. Timely identification, preventive efforts, and psycho-oncological intervention for psychological comorbidity are recommended.

Impact of COVID-19 on the change in work conditions and career choices in general Vietnamese population

Abstract: Objectives The onset of COVID-19 has resulted in both morbidity and mortality. It also has a consequential impact on the Vietnamese economy. Prior studies have examined the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare professionals’ career decisions. However, no study remains to have examined the work conditions and career choices in a general Vietnamese population. Our study aims to identify factors associated with the change in work conditions and career choices in general Vietnamese population. Methods An online cross-sectional study between September 2021 through to November 2021 (during the Omicron COVID-19 pandemic). Snowball sampling method was utilized in recruiting the participants. The questionnaire used in this study included the following questions: (a) Socio-demographic information; (b) impact of COVID-19 on personal habits/daily expenses; (c) Current nature of work and impact of COVID-19 on work; (d) Impact of COVID-19 on career decisions. Data analysis was performed using STATA version 16. Descriptive analysis followed by Ordered logit regression was performed, to identify potential covariates. Results Six hundred and fifty participants were recruited, of which only 645 completed the survey. The completion rate was 99.2%. This study demonstrated the impact that COVID-19 has on finances, as only 32% of those sampled reported that they were able to pay in full. 46.6% of the respondents have had a decrease in their overall household income. With regards to their employment and work characteristics, 41.0% reported a decrease in their work satisfaction and 39.0% reported having reduced motivation for work. Females were less likely to consider transiting from their current job to another field than male participants. Respondents who were married, had a higher level of commitment to their current job, and lower inclination to transition to another field. Respondents experiencing financial difficulties were more likely to consider a transition to another field/work. Conclusion This is perhaps one of the first studies to have examined the impact of COVID-19 on work intentions regarding career choices and transitions in the general Vietnamese population. Future financial policies must take into consideration these factors.

Severity and geographical disparities of post-COVID-19 symptoms among the Vietnamese general population: a national evaluation

Abstract: Abstract Post-COVID-19 symptoms have become a significant global health concern. This study focused on assessing the prevalence, severity, and care preference of post-COVID-19 symptoms, as well as identifying determinants to inform evidence-based policy on post-COVID-19 in Vietnam. A national cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2022 among 12,361 recovered COVID-19 patients, providing the largest dataset on health status after COVID-19 in Vietnam. The study utilized ordered logistic, Poisson regression, Multilevel linear random-effects models, and Multilevel random effects ordered logistic model to identify factors associated with various aspects of post-COVID-19 conditions. Results showed that the average number of post-COVID-19 symptoms was approximately 3, with fatigue and headache being the most common symptoms. The number of post-COVID-19 symptoms varied by province, decreased with age, and was significantly correlated with the duration of infection. Age, infection period, underlying conditions, telehealth utilization, and geographical location were identified as significant determinants of post-COVID-19 symptoms. The study concluded that improving resource allocation and health-seeking behavior in underserved areas could help address differences in health outcomes and improve post-COVID-19 control in Vietnam.

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of English-Speaking Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder During a Verbal Fluency Task

Abstract: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) provides direct and quantitative assessment of cortical hemodynamic response. It has been used to identify neurophysiological alterations in medication-naïve adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Hence, this study aimed to distinguish both medication-naïve and medicated adults with ADHD from healthy controls (HC).75 HCs, 75 medication-naïve, and 45 medicated patients took part in this study. fNIRS signals during a verbal fluency task (VFT) were acquired using a 52-channel system and relative oxy-hemoglobin changes in the prefrontal cortex were quantified.Prefrontal cortex hemodynamic response was lower in patients than HCs (p ≤ ≤.001). Medication-naïve and medicated patients did not differ in hemodynamic response or symptom severity (p > .05). fNIRS measurements were not associated with any clinical variables (p > .05). 75.8% patients and 76% HCs were correctly classified using hemodynamic response.fNIRS may be a potential diagnostic tool for adult ADHD. These findings need to be replicated in larger validation studies.

Efficacy of a Mobile Phone–Based Intervention on Health Behaviors and HIV/AIDS Treatment Management: Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract: Background Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is considered the most important intervention for HIV-positive patients; thus, encouraging the use of and adherence to ART are vital to HIV treatment outcomes. Advances in web and mobile technologies hold potential in supporting HIV treatment management. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a theory-based mobile health (mHealth) intervention on health behaviors and HIV treatment adherence among patients with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. Methods We performed a randomized controlled trial on 425 HIV patients in two of the largest HIV clinics in Hanoi, Vietnam. Both the intervention group (238 patients) and the control group (187 patients) received regular consultations with doctors and then participated in 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits. Patients in the intervention group received a theory-driven smartphone app to facilitate medication adherence and self-efficacy in HIV patients. Measurements were developed based on the Health Belief Model, which included the visual analog scale of ART Adherence, HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale, and HIV Symptom Management Self-Efficacy Scale. We also included the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) to assess patients’ mental health throughout treatment. Results In the intervention group, the adherence score increased significantly (β=1.07, 95% CI .24-1.90) after 1 month, whereas the HIV adherence self-efficacy was significantly higher after 3 months (β=2.17, 95% CI 2.07-2.27) compared to the control group. There was a positive but low level of change in risk behaviors such as drinking, smoking, and drug use. Factors related to positive change in adherence were being employed and having stable mental well-being (lower PHQ-9 scores). Factors associated with self-efficacy in treatment adherence and symptom management were gender, occupation, younger age, and having no other underlying conditions. A longer duration of ART increased treatment adherence but decreased self-efficacy in symptom management. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that the mHealth app could improve the overall ART adherence self-efficacy of patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to support our findings. Trial Registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20220928003; https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20220928003

Evidence of internal structure of the transactional eHealth literacy among Vietnamese youth: An instrument validation study

Abstract: Background The progression into the Digital Age has brought an array of novel skill requirements. Unlike traditional literacy, there are currently few measures that can reliably measure eHealth literacy. The Transactional Model of eHealth Literacy and subsequent Transactional eHealth Literacy Instrument may provide a feasible option for measuring eHealth literacy. Objective This instrument has yet to be validated, which is the aim of this study. In particular, this article was conducted to validate the TeHLI to see which components of the tool (how many and which components included) would be the best fit statistically and whether the tool applies to groups of different characteristics. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional study among 236 Vietnamese young people. A exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the best fit model of the Transactional eHealth Literacy Instrument. A confirmatory factor analysis tested measurement invariance at four levels: configural, metric, scalar, and strict invariance. Only metric invariance was partially invariant, while the rest tested fully invariant. Even with partial metric invariance, there is reason to assume that functional, communicative, critical, and translational eHealth literacy (the four levels according to the transactional model) are consistently measured when deploying the Transactional eHealth Literacy Instrument across groups. Results The study findings substantiate that the most optimal composition of the TeHLI consists of four factors: functional, communicative, critical, and translational eHealth literacy, with RMSEA = 0.116; CFI = 0.907, and the highest internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.91, 0.92, 0.88, and 0.92 for each factor respectively). After using measurement invariance, that gender, education, marital status, age, location, and household economy do not influence the way participants to respond to the TeHLI to the point that would introduce measurement bias. In other word, using TeHLI across population groups should not produce error margins that substantially differ from each other. Conclusions This study suggests the instrument can be used for comparisons across groups and has the potential to generate high-quality data usable for informing change agents as to whether a particular population is proficient enough to adopt novel eHealth innovations.

Impacts of COVID-19 on career choices in health professionals and medical students

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in not only significant mortalities in Vietnam but has had an impact on its economy. Previous studies have highlighted how the pandemic has had a marginal impact on Vietnamese healthcare workers working at the frontlines. To date, there have been several other studies examining the impact of COVID-19 on intentions to transition between jobs among healthcare professionals, but this has yet to be explored amongst Vietnamese healthcare workers.To achieve the study's objectives an online cross-sectional study was conducted between September to November 2021. Snowball sampling methodology was adopted for the recruitment of participants. The questionnaire that was used for this study comprised of the following sections: (a) socio-demographic information; (b) impact of COVID-19 on work; (c) risk of exposure to COVID-19; (d) career choices/intentions to change job, and (e) motivation at work.There were 5727 completed the entire survey. 17.2% of the respondents have had increased job satisfaction, 26.4% reported increased motivation to work, and 40.9% reported decreased motivation to work. Whilst there were changes in the daily work intensity and the level of work-related stress, more than 60% of respondents we sampled did not intend to switch careers. Demographic variables like gender, whether one was a student or an existing healthcare worker, and income related to work motivation. The community's stigma was a negative factor that declined intrinsic motivation as well as decreased work retention.Our study is instrumental in identifying the impact of COVID-19 on career choices amongst Vietnamese healthcare workers. The factors identified have clear implications for policymaking.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy of medical students answering various item types

Abstract: Background Traditionally, the effect of assessment item types including true/false questions (TFQs), multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answer questions (SAQs), and case scenario questions (CSQs) is examined through psychometric qualities or student interviews. However, brain activity while answering such questions or items remains unknown. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) can be used to safely measure cerebral cortex hemodynamic response during various tasks. Hence, this fNIRS study aimed to determine differences in frontotemporal cortex activity as medical students answered TFQs, MCQs, SAQs, and CSQs. Methods In total, 24 medical students (13 males and 11 females) were recruited in this study during their mid-psychiatry posting. Oxy-hemoglobin and deoxy-hemoglobin levels in the frontal and temporal regions were measured with a 52-channel fNIRS system. Participants answered 9–18 trials under each of the four types of tasks that were based on their psychiatry curriculum during fNIRS measurements. The area under the oxy-hemoglobin curve (AUC) for each participant and each item type was derived. Repeated measures ANOVA with post-hoc Bonferroni-corrected pairwise comparisons were used to determine differences in oxy-hemoglobin AUC between TFQs, MCQs, SAQs, and CSQs. Results Oxy-hemoglobin AUC was highest during the CSQs, followed by SAQs, MCQs, and TFQs in both the frontal and temporal regions. Statistically significant differences between different types of items were observed in oxy-hemoglobin AUC of the frontal region (p ≤ 0.001). Oxy-hemoglobin AUC in the frontal region was significantly higher during the CSQs than TFQ (p = 0.005) and during the SAQ than TFQ (p = 0.025). Although the percentage of correct responses was significantly lower in MCQ than in the other item types, there was no correlation between the percentage of correct response and oxy-hemoglobin AUC in both regions for all four item types (p > 0.05). Conclusion CSQs and SAQs elicited greater hemodynamic response than MCQs and TFQs in the prefrontal cortex of medical students. This suggests that more cognitive skills may be required to answer CSQs and SAQs.

Quality of life and mental health of adolescents: Relationships with social media addiction, Fear of Missing out, and stress associated with neglect and negative reactions by online peers

Abstract: Social networking is proliferating globally and in Vietnam, but this led to several negative aspects of adolescents’ health, including physical activity, sleep quality, and depressive and anxiety symptoms. This study aimed to identify the relationship between social media usage and examine risk factors (Fear of Missing out and Risk of Neglect) on social media usage, and the overall quality of life and mental health among individuals actively using social media networks. An online cross-sectional study was conducted in three cities in Vietnam (Hanoi, Tuyen Quang, and Can Tho) from September through to October 2021. A structured questionnaire assessed for characteristics of social media use and other associated factors. 1891 participants were recruited, with 98.4% having access to social media. s. Factors like “PHQ-9 score”, “Problematic Internet use”, and “Time average used social media per day”, were negatively associated with the EQ5D5L Index. By contrast, “Gender”, and “Using smartphone” were positive factors of the EQ5D5L Index. “FOMO score” and “self-harm and suicide” were positive factors of the PHQ-9 score while “Using smartphone” was negative. In terms of self-harm and suicide, “FOMO score” and “Problematic Internet use” were positive factors, by contrast, “Using smartphone” was a negative factor. This is the first study to examine social media addiction among Vietnamese adolescents, its relationship with FOMO score, stresses associated with rejection and neglect, and the overall quality of life. Our results highlighted there is a relationship between FOMO score and impaired overall quality of life, increased depressive symptoms, and an association between stresses relating to negative rejection and FOMO score.

Professional Preparedness Implications of Workplace Violence against Medical Students in Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract: Workplace violence is an increasing public health concern around the world. In Vietnam, attacks on healthcare workers have become a huge issue in recent years. Our study aims to shed more light on the issue and look at what variables affect acts of violence toward healthcare workers. We conducted this cross-sectional study by surveying 550 medical students from 3 universities in Vietnam. Following this survey on SurveyMonkey’s platform (surveymonkey.com), the participants were suggested to invite their associates who met the selection criteria to join in this online survey. The structured questionnaire included demographics and details on the violence. There were 90.5% of respondents were medical students, the mean age was 23.3, and verbal abuse had a prevalence rate of 29.3%. Women respondents are less likely to suffer from violent experiences than men (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.28-0.84), and those specializing in nurse and technician also faced a lower rate of acts of aggression (physical violence: OR = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.19-0.63, sexual harassment: OR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.15-0.87, and any type of violence: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.37-0.82). Medical students working in Ho Chi Minh City (OR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.34-0.89), and other regions (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.19-0.85) were significantly less likely to face verbal abuse than those working in Hanoi. The workplace culture needs to be changed to make sure that people feel comfortable reporting, especially those who are younger. Protecting medical students also ensures patient safety since victims of assault in the workplace can have severe aftereffects affecting their ability to provide good patient care. Hence, policies need to be implemented at both the government and hospital administration levels to keep health workers safe.

A longitudinal assessment of appetite loss and nutritional care among postoperative patients in Vietnam

Abstract: Background Post-operative appetite loss is an important complication affecting surgical outcomes. It has been estimated that nearly 60% of patients having gastrointestinal or major elective surgeries suffer from malnutrition. Appetite refers to the physical desire for food appetite, and losing appetite after surgery may result in a decrease in body weight, impairment of intestinal absorption and eventually, malnutrition among postoperative patients. This study aims to assess appetite status and other relevant factors among abdominal postoperative patients in Vietnam. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 169 abdominal postoperative patients from June 1st to August 30th, 2016 at Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Appetite score was computed by using the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ). This study used GEE to account for the potential correlation of outcomes of the longitudinal assessment, assuming an independent correlation structure. Results The primary and secondary outcome measures: highest average appetite score was recorded in the preoperative day and the score declined throughout seven-day duration. Patients who were female, under general anesthetics and being under open surgery tended to get lower appetite scores. The majority of patients had moderate to good appetite in both the preoperative day and seven days post-operation. Conclusion Women should receive more care and help in regaining their appetite after surgery. Treatment for appetite loss through non-pharmaceutical measures should be prioritized. Interventions that increase the appetite of patients after abdominal surgery should be targeted on patients being under general anesthetic as well as open surgery and be undertaken with caution.

Crucial choices in a global health crisis: Revealing the demand and willingness to pay for a hypothetical monkeypox vaccine – the PREVENT study

Abstract: Background The latent monkeypox outbreak has become the most emergent public health challenge globally. This study was conducted to assess the acceptability, and willingness to take and pay for a hypothetical Monkeypox vaccine among the Vietnamese general public as well as investigate preference for individual vaccine attributes. Methods An online cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball sampling among 842 respondents in Vietnam in 2022. A Discrete choice experiment (DCE) on preference for six major attributes of vaccine: effectiveness, immunity duration, side effects, mortality rate, restriction, and the cost was applied. Results Fear of the impact of monkeypox on public health and the economy, vaccine service satisfaction and responsibility to the community were the most weighted factors in the decision to take a hypothetical monkeypox vaccine. Two-thirds of participants were willing to take the vaccine, while insufficient information on monkeypox and the vaccine were the main reasons for vaccine hesitancy. For vaccine attributes, the mortality rate after seven days of vaccination was the most weighted while cost was the least influential attribute. Factors associated with willingness to take and to pay for the monkeypox vaccine included knowledge of transmission, geographical location, service satisfaction, and risk of infection, while financial burden and fear of vaccine were major drivers of hesitancy. Conclusion Our findings underline an urgent need for effective information dissemination through social media and counseling. The implementation of nationwide monkeypox vaccination requires prioritization and support for high-risk groups as well as consideration for the country’s financial resources.

Characterizing the Development of Research Landscapes in Substance Use and HIV/AIDS During 1990 to 2021

Abstract: Mitigating the impacts of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and substance use requires comprehensive and systematic thinking in designing interventions and developing policies. This study describes the growth of research publications from 1991 to 2021 in the Web of Science database and points out current research landscapes in the fields of HIV/AIDS and substance use. Latent Dirichlet Allocation was used for classifying 21 359 papers into corresponding topics. The most common topics were HIV transmission, HIV infection, quality of life and mental health of substance users, and the biomedical effect of substance use. Emerging research landscapes include vulnerabilities of people who inject drugs to HIV transmission and related health problems. This study found a lack of research on health services, interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral in combination with clinical evaluation and treatment services. Future investment and implementation of HIV/AIDS and substance use programs should focus on research of health services and clinical evaluation, especially context-specific interventions.

Scholarly literature in HIV-related lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender studies: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract: Introduction Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people are marginalized and understudied. Analyzing research activity worldwide is vital to better understand their needs in confronting the HIV epidemic. This study aimed to evaluate the global literature to identify the research collaboration, content, and tendency in HIV-related issues among the LGBT populations. Methods Peer-reviewed original articles and reviews were achieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Country’s collaborations and co-occurrence of most frequent terms were illustrated by VOSviewer software. The Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and the linear regression model were utilized to uncover the hidden topics and examine the research trend. Results From 1990 to 2019, a total of 13,096 publications were found. Stigma, sexual risk behaviors and HIV testing were the major topics in the LGBT research during the study period. Among 15 topics, topics about HIV/Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) prevalence, Outcomes of HIV/AIDS care and treatment, and Opportunistic infections in HIV-positive LGBT people showed decreasing attention over years, while other topics had a slight to moderate increase. Discussion Our study underlined the exponential growth of publications on the LGBT population in HIV research, and suggested the importance of performing regional collaborations in improving research capacity. Moreover, further research should focus on examining the manner to increase the coverage of HIV testing and treatment, as well as implement HIV-interventions with low cost and easy to scale-up.

“Having vaccines is good but not enough”: Requirements for optimal COVID-19 immunization program in Vietnam

Abstract: COPYRIGHT © 2023 Doan, Dao, Nguyen, Dang, Vu, Nguyen, Vu, Le, Latkin, Ho and Ho. 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. “Having vaccines is good but not enough”: Requirements for optimal COVID-19 immunization program in Vietnam

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy of English-Speaking Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder During a Verbal Fluency Task.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) provides direct and quantitative assessment of cortical hemodynamic response. It has been used to identify neurophysiological alterations in medication-naïve adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Hence, this study aimed to distinguish both medication-naïve and medicated adults with ADHD from healthy controls (HC). METHOD 75 HCs, 75 medication-naïve, and 45 medicated patients took part in this study. fNIRS signals during a verbal fluency task (VFT) were acquired using a 52-channel system and relative oxy-hemoglobin changes in the prefrontal cortex were quantified. RESULTS Prefrontal cortex hemodynamic response was lower in patients than HCs (p ≤ ≤.001). Medication-naïve and medicated patients did not differ in hemodynamic response or symptom severity (p > .05). fNIRS measurements were not associated with any clinical variables (p > .05). 75.8% patients and 76% HCs were correctly classified using hemodynamic response. CONCLUSION fNIRS may be a potential diagnostic tool for adult ADHD. These findings need to be replicated in larger validation studies.

A reverse pattern in work motivation among Vietnamese health care workers during the prolonged COVID-19 outbreak of 2021: Determinants and implications

Abstract: Background The workload burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems requires not only financial support but also long-term and contextualized policies. We assessed the work motivation and its determinants among health workers at Vietnamese hospitals and facilities during the prolonged COVID-19 outbreaks in 2021. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 2814 health care professionals across all three regions of Vietnam from October to November 2021. An online questionnaire, including the Work Motivation Scale, distributed by the snowball method to a subgroup of 939 respondents, investigated changes in working characteristics due to COVID-19, work motivation, and occupational intention. Results Only 37.2% of respondents committed to their current job and about 40% reported a decrease in their job satisfaction. The Work Motivation Scale scored the lowest in “financial motivation” and the highest in “perception of work value”. Participants who were in the north region, of younger age, unmarried, and who had a low level of adaptability to external work pressure, shorter experience, and less job satisfaction tended to be less motivated and committed to their current job. Conclusions Intrinsic motivation has increased in importance during the pandemic. Therefore, policymakers should develop interventions that raise intrinsic, psychological motivation instead of only focusing on salary raises. Issues about intrinsic motivations of health care workers such as low adaptability to stress and professionalism in routine work should be prioritized during the pandemic preparedness and control.