Novartis Foundation

About: Novartis Foundation is a nonprofit organization based out in Basel, Switzerland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Leprosy & Population. The organization has 99 authors who have published 85 publications receiving 3993 citations.

Knowledge change related to hypertension in the Southern province of Vietnam: a community based, before and after intervention evaluation

Abstract: Background: This study describes the changes in knowledge of hypertension among adults aged 40 and above in four districts of Ho Chi Minh City as a result of the Communities for Healthy Hearts program, which started in 2016 and ended in 2019. Methods: We conducted a baseline and endline cross-sectional study of the Communities for Healthy Hearts program, the former in May 2016, and the latter in July 2019. A combination of multistage cluster random sampling techniques was used to recruit a total of 1296 adults within four districts of Ho Chi Minh City: including District 8, District 12, Go Vap, and Thu Duc. Information on the knowledge of hypertension, sociodemographic characteristics, and health behaviors were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed to estimate the influence of socio-demographic factors on the knowledge of hypertension. Results: In the endline survey, a majority of participants showed adequate knowledge on the identification of normal blood pressure range (64.4%), hypertension risk factors (91.7% for correctly identifying at least three modifiable risk factors) and its symptoms (85.5% for correctly identifying at least three symptoms), which demonstrated a significant increase from the baseline survey. Higher educational levels and those previously diagnosed with hypertension had a significant positive correlation with the knowledge of hypertension in both survey evaluations. Whereas, knowledge was poorer in those who were retired/ unemployed compared to officers (adjusted odds ratio, 0.33; 95% confidence interval, 0.18– 0.61). Besides television, health care professionals, and the project's channels (SMS message and collaborator) become the primary source of information for hypertension knowledge. Conclusion: The Communities for Healthy Hearts Program improved the levels of hypertension knowledge among people in the program areas. However, a lack of knowledge was observed among the uneducated, suggesting a streamlining of educational campaigns in this specific subsection of the population.

Effect of community-based intervention on self-management of blood pressure among hypertensive adults: findings from the Communities for Healthy Hearts Quasi-experimental Study in Vietnam

Abstract: Background: Hypertension is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular diseases and deaths globally. Controlling blood pressure is the key factor to reduce clinical events. The current study aims to evaluate the effects of Communities for Healthy Hearts intervention in improving the self-management of blood pressure among hypertensive patients. Methods: From October 2017 to September 2019 a quasi-experimental study was implemented in the intervention and control districts of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. 2,701 hypertensive adults (1,315 in the intervention group and 1386 in the control group) were interviewed at the onset and for four rounds of follow-up after the intervention. Selfmanagement of blood pressure was assessed via the utilization of self-management tools, including blood pressure monitors, diaries and practical guidelines. Random slope mixedeffects models with propensity matching method were employed to evaluate the effectiveness of the project and identified factors related to self-management. Results: The percentage of hypertensive adults who self-managed blood pressure increased in both intervention and control groups, although the increase in the intervention group was 8.5% higher. Compared to the difference in self-management of blood pressure between the intervention and control group at baseline, significant increase in intervention effects was observed at round three and four of follow-up, with odds ratio (OR), 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24–2.52) and 1.48 (95% CI, 1.00–2.18), respectively. As compared to housewives and non-smokers, freelance workers and current smokers had a lower likelihood of self-management of blood pressure whereas, higher age, higher education, and being obese were protective factors. Conclusion: The Communities for Healthy Hearts intervention improved the selfmanagement of blood pressure among hypertensive adults via the utilization of blood J Glob Health Sci. 2020 Jun;2(1):e10 https://doi.org/10.35500/jghs.2020.2.e10 pISSN 2671-6925·eISSN 2671-6933

Fostering cardiovascular health at work - case study from Senegal.

Abstract: Of the 15 million annual premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 85% occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Affecting individuals in the prime of their lives, NCDs impose severe economic damage to economies and businesses, owing to the high mortality and morbidity within the workforce. The Novartis Foundation urban health initiative, Better Hearts Better Cities, was designed to improve cardiovascular health in Dakar, Senegal through a combination of interventions including a workplace health program. In this study, we describe the labor policy environment in Senegal and the outcomes of a Novartis Foundation-supported multisector workplace health coalition bringing together volunteering private companies. A mixed method design was applied between April 2018 and February 2020 to evaluate the workplace health program as a case study. Qualitative methods included a desk review of documents relevant to the Senegalese employment context and work environment and in-depth interviews with eight key informants including human resource representatives and physicians working in the participating companies. Quantitative methods involved an analysis of workplace health program indicators, including data on diagnosis, treatment and control of hypertension in employees, provided by the coalition companies, and a cost estimate of NCD-related ill-health as compared to the investment needed for hypertension screening and awareness raising events. Senegal has a legal and regulatory system that ensures employee protection, supports social security benefits, and promotes health and hygiene in companies. The Dakar Workplace Health Coalition comprised 18 companies, with a range of staff between 300 and 4′220, covering 36′268 employees in total. Interviews suggested that the main enablers for workplace program success were strong leadership support within the company and a central coordination mechanism for the program. The main barrier to monitor progress and outcomes was the reluctance of companies to share data. Four companies provided aggregated anonymized cohort data, documenting a total of 21′392 hypertension screenings and an increasing trend in blood pressure control (from 34% in Q4 2018 to 39% in Q2 2019) in employees who received antihypertensive treatment. Evidence on workplace health and wellness programs in Africa is scarce. This study highlights how private sector companies can play a significant role in improving cardiovascular population health in LMICs.