Tạp chí Khoa học Nghiên cứu Sức khỏe và Phát triển

Traditional medication adherence and its related factors among patients with lumbar spine pain at Thua Thien Hue province

Tuyen Hoang Dinh — 2025-11-18

Objectives: This study evaluated adherence to traditional medication and examined its associated factors among patients experiencing lumbar spine pain at Thua Thien Hue province.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out involving 234 lumbar spine pain patients aged 18 and above receiving traditional medicine treatment by using convenience sampling method. The General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) was used to assess medication adherence. Multiple logistic regression model was used to identify factors related to non-adherence to traditional medication among these patients.

Results: Out of the 234 patients included in the study, 51.7% adhered to traditional medicine. Medication non-adherence among inpatients was associated with living in poverty or near-poverty households (AOR: 4.27, 95% CI: 1.62–11.22), a treatment duration exceeding five years (AOR: 10.53, 95% CI: 3.47–31.95), and awareness of medication side effects (AOR: 3.67, 95% CI: 1.54–8.74). For day inpatients/outpatients, being aged 60 or older (AOR: 4.66, 95% CI: 1.17–18.46) and taking medication only once or twice per day (AOR: 9.39, 95% CI: 2.57–34.28) were significant factors. Additionally, in both models, not using the decoction form of traditional medicine was linked to higher non-adherence, with AOR values of 6.81 (95% CI: 2.05–22.58) for inpatients and 6.09 (95% CI: 1.34–27.70) for day inpatients/outpatients.

Conclusion: These findings support developing targeted interventions to improve adherence to traditional medicine in lumbar spine pain patients, aiming to enhance treatment outcomes and patient quality of life.

Evaluation of the Public-Private Mix for Tuberculosis Control in Vietnam (2015–2023)

Thuy Hua Thanh — 2025-11-18

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of the Public-Private Mix (PPM) initiative for tuberculosis (TB) control in Vietnam from 2015 to 2023 and to analyze key factors influencing its implementation.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating a desk review of reports and data on PPM implementation for TB control from 2015 to 2023, alongside qualitative interviews. A total of twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants from the Ministry of Health, the National Tuberculosis Program, provincial Departments of Health, and public and private healthcare facilities. The study was carried out in four provinces/cities: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Nam, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Results: The number of provinces participating in the PPM initiative increased from 24 in 2015 to 63 in 2023. During this period, the number of TB cases detected through PPM rose from 9,182 in 2015 to 26,300 in 2023, accounting for 5.6% to 33.4% of all detected TB cases. The key determinants influencing PPM implementation included policy and governance, financial resources, and human resource capacity. In which, policy and governance factors are the most important influencing factors. Conflicts or discrepancies between certain policies can severely hinder the participation of private healthcare facilities in the PPM program.

Conclusion: The PPM initiative for TB control in Vietnam has made substantial progress, expanding nationwide and significantly enhancing TB case detection. However, addressing policy inconsistencies, strengthening human resource capacity, and fostering greater private sector engagement are crucial to ensuring the sustainability and scalability of the program.

The effectiveness of buprenorphine treatment for people with opioid use disorder in Vietnam

Anh Vu Minh — 2025-11-18

Objectives: This study assesses the effectiveness of BMT using two outcomes: opioid use and treatment discontinuation over a 12-month period among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) in Vietnam.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in Lai Chau, Dien Bien, and Son La provinces during 2019–2020. Information from 505 participants was included. The study assessed treatment effectiveness using two outcomes: opioid use and treatment discontinuation. Mixed-effects logistic and Cox regression models were used to identify risk factors for these outcomes.

Results: About 60% of participants in BMT and 34% in MMT reached recommended dosages. Receiving BMT or MMT was not related to opioid use during treatment (aOR=1.01, 95% CI: 0.83 – 1.23). Retention rate for MMT and BMT were 62.2% and 48.1% respectively. BMT increased the hazard of treatment discontinuation compared to MMT (aHR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.28-2.77, p-value 0.001).

Conclusion: BMT and MMT were both effective in reducing opioid use reducing opioid use among people with OUD in Vietnam. However, BMT was less capable of retaining participants in care, highlighting the need to address retention challenges in future OUD treatment strategies.

Knowledge about Universal Health Coverage among TB-related community-based organizations in Vietnam and associated factors

Mai Pham Phuong — 2025-11-18

Objectives: This study aims to access the knowledge about Universal Health Coverage (UHC) among members of Tuberculosis (TB)-related community-based organizations in Vietnam and several associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 across three provinces in Vietnam: Hai Phong, Gia Lai, and Nghe An. A total of 301 key members of TB-related CBOs.

Results: The majority of participants (79.4%) had heard of UHC, with 63.6% obtaining information through community meetings. Only 34.2% provided a correct definition of UHC. Leadership roles were significantly associated with better knowledge [AOR=0.26, 95% CI = 0.08-0.80]. Misconceptions included equating UHC with free healthcare services or mandatory health insurance. Members aged 41–50 and outreach workers were less likely to correctly define UHC compared to younger members and leaders [AOR=0.40; 95%CI=0.18—0.91 and AOR=0.48, 95%CI=0.25-0.94, respectively].

Conclusions: Although the number of participants having heard of UHC is relatively high, the comprehensive knowledge of UHC remains limited among CBO members, impeding their advocacy capacity. Targeted educational interventions are essential to bridge knowledge gaps, particularly among outreach workers and less-educated members, to strengthen CBOs' roles in advancing Vietnam’s UHC goals toward better support for TB-affected populations.

Stress and associated factors among 12th-grade students of the Hung Yen High School for Gifted Students in 2024

Trang Do Thi Hanh — 2025-11-18

Objective: Stress among high-school students has become a public health concern in Vietnam. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of stress symptoms and its associated factors among 12th-grade students of the Hung Yen High School for Gifted Students in 2024.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among two hundred and seventy-three 12^thgraders from the Hung Yen High School for Gifted Students. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used, focusing on the level of stress measured by the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale and its associated factors including personal, family, school, and peer characteristics. Descriptive statistics described stress status and study population characteristics. Univariate and Akaike Information Criterion-based (AIC) Stepwise Logistic Regression were used to determine the associated factors.

Results: The proportion of students with low, moderate, and severe stress was 24.9%, 63.4%, and 11.7%, respectively. Significantly associated factors of stress included biological sex at birth, educational stress levels, level of care, advice and empathy from parents/caregivers, reluctance to comply with parents' requests, and teachers’ encouragement.

Conclusions: The findings imply the need for high schools to promote mental health awareness and implement evidence-based and gender-tailored stress management programs, and promote collaboration between schools and families in creating a supportive and balanced environment for students.

Financial performance of Anh Quat General Hospital in the period 2021 – 2023

Quat Nguyen The — 2025-11-18

Objective: This study aims to analyze the financial performance of Anh Quat General Hospital from 2021 to 2023.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on annual reports, financial statements, and related documents concerning the hospital's financial management from 2021 to 2023.

Results: The hospital's total revenue increased steadily, from 17,356 billion VND in 2021 to 82,441 billion VND in 2023, with reimbursements from social health insurance accounting for 79% to 82% of the revenue. Total expenses also showed a consistent rise from 20,136 billion VND in 2021 to 82,954 billion VND in 2023. The three largest expense categories were professional operational costs (32%-49%), personnel payments (23%-32%), and fixed asset depreciation (15%-19%). The hospital recorded a negative profit of -2780 billion VND in 2021 and -512 million VND in 2023, while 2022 saw a positive after-tax profit of 935 million VND. The investment return rate reached 21% in 2023, with total investment amounting to 125 billion VND.

Conclusions: The hospital's revenue increased significantly, primarily from social health insurance-covered medical services, but the growth was not consistent between 2021 and 2023. The hospital's profit was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and substantial investments in medical equipment. The hospital should maintain its focus on revenue from social health insurance-related services while diversifying other income sources. It is also essential to establish clear and detailed internal expenditure regulations.

The effect of vitamin D on patients with depression symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hieu Tran Duc — 2025-11-18

Objective: 1- to estimate the effect size of vitamin D on depression symptoms, 2- to analyze and discuss the effect size of different Vitamin D doses, time of intervention, and depression assessment instruments through subgroup analyses.

Method: This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) in search of eligible studies on multiple databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The quality of included studies would be evaluated by the Jadad scale. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were based on PICOTS standards. Meta-analyses were performed using R Studio and presented in the forest plot.

Results: Of the total 1274 records identified in multiple databases, ten RCTs were eligible for inclusion, with 60% of them having good quality. The result of our meta-analysis indicated that, compared to placebo, vitamin D supplementation demonstrated a better effect on reducing -0.78 depression points (Standardized Mean Differences (SMD) =−0.78, 95%CI= -1.26; -0.30). Moreover, vitamin D3 was found to relieve depression symptoms among individuals who were assessed by BDI scales (SMD=-1-15), took ≥3000 International Unit (IU) of Vitamin D3 per day (SMD=-1.02), and studied for 8 weeks (SMD=-0.88).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated the clinical implications of vitamin D supplementation by relieving symptoms of depression. Our findings might suggest the use of vitamin D supplements as an alternative to antidepressants or adding vitamin D to current treatment guidelines

The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms among primary and secondary school teachers in Ha Noi, 2020

Thuy Tran Thi Thu — 2025-11-18

Objective: To describe the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among primary and secondary school teachers in Ha Noi in 2020.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 481 teachers from ten primary and secondary schools in Ha Noi in September 2020. The participants' stress, anxiety, and depression levels were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress scale 42 items. The data was cleaned and analysed using Stata 18.0 software.

Results: The most prevalent disorder was anxiety, with 42.4% of study participants showing anxious symptoms from mild to more serious levels. Noticeably, 12.1% of teachers reported severe levels of anxiety. The prevalence of depression and stress was 24.3% and 24.9%, respectively. 16.2% of teachers had symptoms of all three problems.

Conclusion: The prevalence of stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms was substantial among primary and secondary teachers in Ha Noi. It is essential to care for teachers’ mental health in such an emergency as COVID-19, especially those in the initial stages of their careers.

The violation of the bans on tobacco advertising and promotion at points of sale in Vietnam, 2024

Thao Nguyen Thi Bich — 2025-11-18

Objectives: This study aims to describe the violations of tobacco advertising and promotion (TAP) bans at points of sale (POS) in Vietnam in 2024, addressing the lack of nationwide data since 2017.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at 2,414 tobacco POS across eight provinces in Vietnam in 2024. The data was collected by using an observational checklist.

Results: The study showed that violations of tobacco advertising bans were observed at 23.1% of POS, with the highest rate in Hanoi (41.7%). Tobacco promotion violations occurred at 4.9% of POS, with the highest rate in Dak Lak (13%). Additionally, 40.9% of POS violated display regulations, with the highest rate in Binh Duong (53.5%).

Conclusions: Violations of tobacco advertising and promotion bans and display regulations remain common at POS in Vietnam, likely due to low awareness and weak enforcement. To address these issues, comprehensive communication strategies are needed to educate POS owners and sellers on TAP bans, along with enhanced monitoring and stricter enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.

Unveiling Key Determinants for Scaling-up Systems Navigation and Psychosocial Counselling (SNaP) for People Who Inject Drugs with HIV in Vietnam Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research

Hang Linh TH — 2025-11-18

Objective: Systems Navigation and Psychosocial counseling (SNaP) is an evidence-based intervention that was clinically proven to improve HIV-related health outcomes among people who inject drugs living with HIV in a study in Indonesia, Ukraine, and one province in Vietnam. However, whether or not the SNaP intervention is effective when it is scaled up to different regions in Vietnam. This study was conducted in 2 provinces (Hanoi and Thai Nguyen) to explore key determinants for scaling up the SNaP intervention in Vietnam.

Methods: Data were collected via 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) with leaders of provincial and site health departments. FGDs were transcribed, translated into English, and coded using Dedoose software to categorize determinants based on five domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Results: The SNaP intervention's alignment with the country’s current health regulations (outer setting) was most highlighted as the key facilitator for scaling up, followed by the willingness of healthcare leaders and providers to incorporate SNaP into their clinical practices, which was due to the intervention’s strong evidence base and quality (intervention characteristics). The most prevalent barrier was clinics’ limited resources, specifically, time, personnel, and financial support (inner setting).

Conclusions: The reported determinants provided practical implications to inform the development of relevant implementation strategies to scale up the SNaP intervention across Vietnam.

Current compliance with surgical hand hygiene practices among surgical staff at An Giang General Hospital, 2024

Son Vu Thai — 2025-11-18

Objective: To evaluate the compliance with the surgical hand hygiene protocol among healthcare workers directly involved in surgical procedures at An Giang Provincial General Hospital in 2024.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 83 healthcare workers directly participating in surgeries at An Giang Provincial General Hospital. Each participant was observed twice during scheduled surgical procedures, yielding a total of 166 observation opportunities. Surgical hand hygiene practices were monitored via surveillance cameras installed in the hand hygiene area before the operating room. Compliance was assessed using a checklist based on Decision No. 3916/QĐ-BYT.

Results: Of the 166 observations, 156 (93.9%) complied with the surgical hand hygiene protocol. Compliance rates for Steps 1 through 4 were 96%, 93.9%, 95.8%, and 100%, respectively. Among the healthcare workers, scrub nurses exhibited the lowest compliance, while surgeons showed the highest compliance.

Conclusion: Overall compliance with the surgical hand hygiene protocol was 93.9%, ranging from 93.9% to 100% across the four steps

Status of outpatient treatment management of patients with type 2 diabetes at Buon Ma Thuot city general hospital, 2024

Quynh Nguyen Thuy — 2025-11-18

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes is among the most prevalent non-communicable, chronic diseases associated with endocrine disorders. Effective management and treatment of type 2 diabetes patients are crucial for glycemic control. This study aimed to analyze the current status of treatment management of type 2 diabetes at Buon Ma Thuot City General Hospital in 2024.

Methods: A mixed-method study, combining cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative components, was conducted from February 2024 to October 2024. The quantitative sample included medical records of 368 type 2 diabetes patients managed and treated from March 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. The qualitative sample comprised four in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders and one focus group discussion with outpatient type 2 diabetes patients.

Results: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in 2024 was 17.2%. One hundred percent of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had their electronic medical records established and managed, received treatment plans and protocols, and were provided with outpatient treatment adherence monitoring logs. They also received reminders on follow-up appointments with access to health counseling and education information provided by the hospital via videos at the registration counter and direct advice from doctors and nurses.

Conclusion: Outpatient treatment management of type 2 diabetes at Buon Ma Thuot General Hospital have considerably good performance. However, the hospital should ensure the availability of diabetes drug and improve the infrastructure for diabetes testing and communication to support consultation and education on diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.

Nurse practice environment and work engagement among nurses in selected public hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam, 2024

Thu Bui Minh — 2025-11-18

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the relationship between nurses' perceptions of their work environment and work engagement in selected public hospitals in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2024.

Methods: A cross sectional design was utilized in this study with 372 nurse respondents who were randomly selected in public hospitals using the proportional sampling method. The research utilized an open-access and validated structured questionnaires adopted from Nurse Practice Environment Scale and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9 (UWES-9). Research implementation took place between December 2023 and February 2024. The SPSS software version 20 was used for data analysis in which descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic profile, mean, normality and relationship between study variables.

Results: There was a positive significant correlation between nurse practice environment and work engagement among nurse respondents (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). All the dimensions in the nurse practice environment scale positively correlated with all the dimensions of the work engagement scale as manifested by coefficient r ranging from 0.25 to 0.44, p < 0.001). It was noted that the more nurses participated in internal governance and as they improved their relationship with physicians, the more they became dedicated to their hospital work (r = 0.43. and r = 0.44, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: A positive work environment encourages and sustains work engagement. An attractive and supportive work environment has numerous properties that may influence motivation, engagement, satisfaction, and autonomy. Nurses should be more involved in governance and policy decisions to ensure a proactive nursing practice environment and work engagement.

Turnover intention and some related factors of health workers in Vietnam

Xiem Chu Huyen — 2025-11-18

Objective: The study aims to describe turnover intention and some related factors of health workers in Vietnam 2024

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 889 health workers. The questionnaire was administered online during the period from November to December 2024 in Vietnam.

Results: the proportion of health workers who intended to leave was quit their jobs in Vietnam is 17.3%. The overall mean score of turnover intention scale was 2.94 (±1.096) point. Turnover intention has a statistically significant relationship with age, qualification, job position and sector. Turnover intention increased among health workers working in the private sector and those with higher qualifications while it decreased among older health care workers and those holding managerial positions.

Conclusion: This study provided some evidence on turnover intention and some related factors of health workers in Vietnam and and suggested that managers should take measures to increase the retention of highly qualified healthcare workers and future studies should contribute more evidence and expand understanding on the topic of turnover intention and related factors

Job satisfaction of healthcare staff and some influencing factors at Hoa Vang District Health Center, Da Nang city in 2022

Ha Nguyen Thi Thu — 2025-11-18

Objective: Describe job satisfaction of medical staff and analyze some influencing factors at Hoa Vang District Medical Center, Da Nang City in 2022.

Method: A Cross-sectional study, combining quantitative and qualitative research was conducted from February 2022 to November 2022. The quantitative study was conducted on 308 medical staff, using the medical staff. Qualitative data was collected through 10 in-depth interviews.

Results: The overall satisfaction rate of medical staff is 88.3% (4.16±0.46). The component of Work, learning opportunities, career advancement had the highest satisfaction with the rate of 88.0%; the component of directly leaders, colleagues reached 87.0%; the component of working environment was 83.4%, and the lowest rate was the component of Internal regulations, salary, and benefits with 71.4%. The positive factors included: Opportunities for learning and promotion are fair; Fully equipped with protective equipment, fully provided with food, being a priority for vaccination. The negative factors included: colleagues’ lack of constructive contribution, large workload, and continuous working hours.

Conclusion: Maintaining high levels of job satisfaction among health workers is crucial to achieving consistent high-quality health care. Therefore, it is necessary to consider all factors that influence health workers' job satisfaction.

Job motivation of nurses and some influencing factors at Thu Duc Region’s General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City in 2024

Ngoc Vo Tuan — 2025-11-18

Objective: The study is aim to describe the job motivation and analyze the factors influencing the work motivation of nurses at Thu Duc Region’s General Hospitals, Ho Chi Minh City in 2024.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of qualitative and quantitative research was conducted through interviews with 336 nurses, 5 in-depth interview and 2 group discussions from January 2024 to October 2024 at Thu Duc Regional General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

Results: The average job motivation score is 3.70/5, indicating an inaccurate level of work motivation. Among the three groups of factors, dedication has the highest “yes” rate (96.1%), followed by commitment (58.0%), and the lowest is job satisfaction (46.4%). Positive factors include: training policies, a friendly work environment, and support from colleagues. Negative factors include low salary, limited work condition and high pressure work.

Conclusion: It is necessary to improve the payment mechanism, working conditions, tasks assignment, and profession support to enhance the motivation of the nursing staff.

Status of Medical Waste Segregation and Influencing Factors at Buon Ma Thuot City General Hospital, Dak Lak Province, in 2024

Quynh Nguyen Thuy — 2025-11-18

Objective: To assess the status of medical solid waste (MSW) segregation and identify influencing factors at Buon Ma Thuot City General Hospital, Dak Lak Province, in 2024.

Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted, including quantitative direct observation of 190 waste bins across 14 departments and qualitative interviews with hospital leadership and healthcare personnel in 2024. Compliance was evaluated against 7 standard segregation criteria.

Results: Overall compliance with segregation at source was 92.11%. Full compliance (100%) was achieved for high-risk infectious waste and anatomical waste, while sharp waste segregation showed the lowest rate (64.52%). Key facilitators included the availability of formal procedures and internal training. Barriers involved lack of dedicated personnel, multitasking among staff, limited funding for equipment, degraded infrastructure, and nonspecific supervisory activities.

Conclusions: MSW segregation compliance at the hospital were generally adequate, especially for high-risk waste. However, low compliance in sharp waste handling and operational limitations highlight the need for targeted investments in infrastructure, staff training, and dedicated monitoring systems.

Digital tobacco cessation interventions for adults and their effectiveness: A systematic review

Hieu Tran Duc — 2025-11-18

Objectives: 1) To describe digital tobacco cessation interventions that currently being utilized, 2) To evaluate the effective of digital tobacco cessation intervention in comparison to usual treatment/ no intervention.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which, the intervention group received digital tobacco cessation interventions, and the control group received usual treatment only. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Risk of bias 2 (RoB 2) checklist. Effectiveness of the interventions was evaluated through self-reported or biochemically validated point prevalence of abstinence (PPA).

Results: Of the total 1,364 records identified in multiple databases, twelve RCTs were eligible for inclusion, with 41.6% of them having low risk of bias. Overall, 58.3% of the digital tobacco cessation interventions demonstrated superior effectiveness in promoting smoking abstinence among tobacco users compared to usual or standard treatment.

Conclusion: Our systematic review supported the effectiveness of delivering digital tobacco interventions to achieve higher smoking abstinence rates. However, future studies should recruit higher-quality studies and conduct a meta-analysis to better understand the efficacy of digital interventions for tobacco cessation worldwide.