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This study sought to assess the cost-effectiveness of population-based tobacco control interventions, which included health promotion and education, smoke-free models, cessation programs, warning on package, marketing bans, and raising tax. Standardized activity-based costing ingredient approach was applied with the provider perspective to calculate interventions cost from 2013 to 2017. The potential health impacts of the aforementioned interventions were calculated through a Microsoft Excel-based modeling adapted from Higashi et al and Ngalesoni et al. All six population-based tobacco control interventions were highly cost-effective with ranges from 1405 VND (Vietnamese Dong) to 135 560 VND per DALY (disability-adjusted life year) averted. It was identified that raising cigarette taxes and applying health warnings on tobacco packages are the most favorable, cost-effective interventions. The results from this study provide a robust message that calls for increased attention and efforts in developing an appropriate policy agenda, which jointly integrates both political and community-based interventions, to maximize intervention impact on tobacco use.

Background Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Adults with low income and members of certain racial and ethnic minority groups are less likely to quit, and therefore, they experience profound tobacco-related health disparities. Mindfulness training can increase the rates of smoking cessation and lapse recovery, and telehealth and SMS text messaging have the potential to provide more accessible treatment. Objective This study aims to test the efficacy of delivering mindfulness-based smoking cessation treatment through text messaging (iQuit Mindfully) and telehealth (group videoconferencing), both as stand-alone interventions and in combination. In addition, it aims to examine the underlying mechanisms of mindfulness treatment. Methods In this 2×2 randomized controlled trial, participants are randomized into 1 of 4 groups based on assignment to iQuit Mindfully text messages (yes or no) and mindfulness videoconference groups (yes or no). The primary outcomes are biochemically verified smoking abstinence at 8, 12, and 24 weeks after the start of treatment. Secondary outcomes include the frequency of home mindfulness practice and self-reported levels of mindfulness, emotions, craving, withdrawal, dependence, self-efficacy, and social support. Results Recruitment, treatment, and assessment began in spring and summer 2021, and data collection is expected to continue through spring 2024. Conclusions This project aims to improve smoking cessation outcomes for low-income, racially and ethnically diverse smokers through mindfulness-based telehealth group counseling and text messaging support. We also aim to advance the scientific study of the mechanisms of action of mindfulness treatment, which could inform the development of more efficacious and efficient treatments to reduce tobacco disparities. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT04965181; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04965181 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) PRR1-10.2196/35688

Objectives To examine willingness to use (WTU) and willingness to pay (WTP) for smoking cessation service via text-messaging among adult smokers in Vietnam in 2017; and to identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with the WTU and WTP. Methods A cross-sectional study of 602 adult smokers who had intention to quit in the next 12 months was conducted in Vietnam in 2017. Participants were provided with the information about a mobile health (mHealth) smoking cessation service via text-messaging and asked about their willingness to use and pay for it. The contigent valuation method was used to estimate the WTP for the service, using single bound question format. Discrete choice model was applied to estimate the average WTP and its associated factors. Results Seventy-two percent of smokers expressed willingness to use smoking cessation service via text-messaging if it were available. The average willingness to pay among those interested in using the mHealth cessation service was 82,000 VND (US$3.5). Smoking status and quit attempts in the last twelve months were associated with WTU, whereas age of the smokers and monthly income were significant predictors of WTP. Conclusion A high proportion of Vietnamese smokers with intention to quit were interested in using smoking cessation services via text-messaging. The high level of smokers' willingness to use and pay for the text messaging cessation program indicates the mHealth methods could be a potential option for developing and delivering smoking cessation services in Vietnam.

ObjectivesPhilip Morris has a history of aggressive marketing tactics in its global pursuit of IQOS sales, which extant literature suggests may appeal to non-smokers and young adults. This study was the first to examine point-of-sale (POS) marketing and pricing of IQOS after it entered the US market in October 2019.MethodsTrained field staff assessed 75 retail partner stores selling IQOS/HeatSticks in the Atlanta area in February–November 2020 using an IQOS-tailored, standardised assessment tool. The tool assessed store characteristics, product availability and accessibility, marketing and promotions and pricing for each store.ResultsAll stores assessed sold HeatSticks in at least one of the three flavours (tobacco, smooth menthol, fresh menthol), but did not sell the IQOS device. IQOS/HeatSticks marketing was present inside 98.5% and outside 17.3% of stores assessed. Marketing for other tobacco products was present inside 98.5% and outside 32% of stores. The average price per HeatSticks pack was US$6.40 compared with US$6.08 for Marlboro Red cigarettes.ConclusionOur study revealed a considerable amount of POS marketing and promotion for IQOS/HeatSticks at retail partner locations, visible to all retail consumers, including youth and non-smokers. This study was the first to examine IQOS POS marketing and promotion in the US context and findings add to the extant literature on IQOS global marketing strategies. As additional novel tobacco/nicotine products continue to enter the market, targeted monitoring of the POS marketing and promotion for these new products is warranted.

Background With 15.6 million smokers, Vietnam is one of the top 10 largest cigarette-consuming countries in the world. Unfortunately, smoking cessation programs are still scarce in Vietnam. Mindfulness-based and text messaging–based interventions have been increasingly used in smoking cessation studies in developed countries, with promising results. Given the exponential growth of mobile phone usage in Vietnam in recent years, mobile health interventions could be a potential strategy to increase smoking cessation in Vietnam. However, substantial cultural adaptations are needed to optimize the effectiveness of these interventions among Vietnamese smokers. Objective This study aims to involve qualitative research to inform the development of a mindfulness-based text messaging smoking cessation intervention for Vietnamese smokers. Methods A total of 10 focus groups were conducted with 71 Vietnamese male smokers aged between 18 and 65 years (5-9 participants per focus group). Overall, 5 focus groups were conducted with smokers who had the intention to quit (ie, preparation stage of change in the transtheoretical model), and 5 focus groups were conducted with smokers who did not have the intention to quit (contemplation or precontemplation stage). The focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 12 software (QSR International). Results The major themes included smoking triggers, barriers and facilitators for quitting, the perceptions of text messaging and mindfulness approaches for smoking cessation, and suggestions for the development of a text messaging–based smoking cessation program. Common smoking triggers included stress, difficulties concentrating, and fatigue. Frequently encountering other people who were smoking was a common barrier to quitting. However, participants indicated that concerns about the harmful effects of smoking on themselves and their wives and children, and encouragement from family members could motivate them to quit. The participants preferred diverse message content, including information about the consequences of smoking, encouragement to quit, and tips to cope with cravings. They suggested that text messages be clear and concise and use familiar language. Most smokers perceived that mindfulness training could be useful for smoking cessation. However, some suggested that videos or in-person training may also be needed to supplement teaching mindfulness through text messages. Conclusions This study provides important insights to inform the development of a text messaging–based smoking cessation program that incorporates mindfulness for Vietnamese male smokers. The results could also be useful for informing similar programs in other low- and middle-income countries.

Aim. Diabetes in children is becoming more prevalent in some countries. However, in most countries, little is known about the epidemiology of this disease. This study is aimed at estimating the prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and prediabetes among children in Vietnam and examining factors associated with the conditions. Methods. A total of 2880 students aged 11-14 years old were recruited for the survey, using a school-based and nationally representative sampling frame. Capillary blood samples of participants were collected to measure fasting glucose level, using glucose meter OneTouch Verio Pro+. Diabetes and impaired fasting plasma glucose were initially diagnosed based on the cut-off points of the American Diabetes Association criteria. Diabetes status and type of diabetes of participants were confirmed at a hospital. Additionally, anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were conducted following a standardized procedure. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine the association between outcome and independent variables. Results. The overall prevalence of diabetes among the participants was 1.04‰ (three cases), with 2 cases (0.75‰) diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (one known and one newly diagnosed) and 1 case newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (0.35‰). The prevalence of impaired fasting glucose was 6.1%. Body mass index, place of residence, and age were found to be significantly associated with the impaired fasting glucose condition in participants. Conclusion. The prevalence of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children in Vietnam is lower than that in some other countries reported recently. However, there is a high prevalence in impaired fasting glucose, requiring attention from policymakers to take action to prevent the occurrence of the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in children in the future.

BACKGROUND With 15.6 million smokers, Vietnam is one of the top 10 largest cigarette-consuming countries in the world. Unfortunately, smoking cessation programs are still scarce in Vietnam. Mindfulness-based and text messaging–based interventions have been increasingly used in smoking cessation studies in developed countries, with promising results. Given the exponential growth of mobile phone usage in Vietnam in recent years, mobile health interventions could be a potential strategy to increase smoking cessation in Vietnam. However, substantial cultural adaptations are needed to optimize the effectiveness of these interventions among Vietnamese smokers. OBJECTIVE This study aims to involve qualitative research to inform the development of a mindfulness-based text messaging smoking cessation intervention for Vietnamese smokers. METHODS A total of 10 focus groups were conducted with 71 Vietnamese male smokers aged between 18 and 65 years (5-9 participants per focus group). Overall, 5 focus groups were conducted with smokers who had the intention to quit (ie, preparation stage of change in the transtheoretical model), and 5 focus groups were conducted with smokers who did not have the intention to quit (contemplation or precontemplation stage). The focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using NVivo 12 software (QSR International). RESULTS The major themes included smoking triggers, barriers and facilitators for quitting, the perceptions of text messaging and mindfulness approaches for smoking cessation, and suggestions for the development of a text messaging–based smoking cessation program. Common smoking triggers included stress, difficulties concentrating, and fatigue. Frequently encountering other people who were smoking was a common barrier to quitting. However, participants indicated that concerns about the harmful effects of smoking on themselves and their wives and children, and encouragement from family members could motivate them to quit. The participants preferred diverse message content, including information about the consequences of smoking, encouragement to quit, and tips to cope with cravings. They suggested that text messages be clear and concise and use familiar language. Most smokers perceived that mindfulness training could be useful for smoking cessation. However, some suggested that videos or in-person training may also be needed to supplement teaching mindfulness through text messages. CONCLUSIONS This study provides important insights to inform the development of a text messaging–based smoking cessation program that incorporates mindfulness for Vietnamese male smokers. The results could also be useful for informing similar programs in other low- and middle-income countries.

Animal studies have demonstrated anti-diabetic properties of several food-derived polyphenols, but data in humans remains unclear. This study aimed to review and meta-analyse evidence concerning the effect of the intake of several polyphenol-rich foods on gestational diabetes (GDM) risk. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases for observational studies on the association between dietary intake of foods/diets rich in polyphenols and GDM risk. Inclusion criteria were original research articles with full texts published in peer-reviewed English language journals, which investigated foods within the top 100 richest dietary sources of polyphenols and reported odds ratio/relative risk with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The intake of polyphenol-rich foods and dietary patterns in relation to GDM were pooled with fixed- and random-effects models. In total, 12 (10 cohort, 1 cross-sectional and 1 case-control) studies were included for the final systematic review, comprising 124,959 participants and including 5,786 women with GDM. Five studies found a significant, inverse association between the intake of polyphenol-rich foods or Mediterranean diet and GDM, whereas five studies reported no association and two exhibited a positive association. Meta-analyses further showed that the risk of GDM was about halved amongst women with the highest score of Mediterranean diet compared to those with the lowest score. The results suggest that dietary patterns rich in polyphenols may reduce the risk of GDM despite inconclusive evidence for polyphenol-rich food groups.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic may impact cigarette smokers’ behaviors. Among smokers, perceptions about the risks of contracting COVID-19 and the severity of COVID-19 illness likely vary, and perceptions may be associated with individual smoking behavior. Our study measured smokers’ perceptions of COVID-19 risks and their association with smoking and quitting outcomes. Methods: A sample of 1,223 U.S. adult cigarette smokers participated in an online survey in October-November 2020 to assess their COVID-19-related risk perceptions and changes in smoking, readiness to quit, and quit attempts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: More smokers believed smoking could increase the severity of COVID-19 (43.6%, 95% CI: 40.1, 47.3) than believed smoking makes them more susceptible to COVID-19 (20.0%, 95% CI: 17.2, 23.0.). While there were no associations between perceptions of COVID-19 susceptibility and smoking behaviors or intentions, perceptions of greater smoking-related COVID-19 severity were associated with both higher likelihood of smoking increases (aOR: 2.16, 95% CI: 1.19, 3.93) and greater readiness to quit smoking (aOR: 1.65, 95% CI: 1.18, 2.30). Greater perceptions of general COVID-19 severity were associated with higher likelihood of smoking reductions (aOR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.22), greater readiness to quit smoking (aOR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.22), and higher likelihood of making a quit attempt (aOR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.22). Conclusions: Smokers’ perceptions about COVID-19 severity are related to their smoking behavior and likelihood of making a quit attempt. Providing smokers with accurate information on the relationship between smoking and the severity of COVID-19 may alter smoking behaviors.

Animal studies have demonstrated that soy isoflavones exert antidiabetic effects. However, evidence regarding the association between soyfood intake, a unique source of isoflavones, and type 2 diabetes remains inconclusive. This study assessed the relationship between habitual intakes of soyfoods and major isoflavones and risk of type 2 diabetes in Vietnamese adults. A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Vietnam during 2013–2015. A total of 599 newly diagnosed diabetic cases (age 40–65 years) and 599 hospital-based controls, frequency matched by age and sex, were recruited in Hanoi, capital city of Vietnam. Information on frequency and quantity of soyfood and isoflavone intake, together with demographics, habitual diet and lifestyle characteristics, was obtained from direct interviews using a validated and reliable questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between soy variables and type 2 diabetes risk. Higher intake of total soyfoods was significantly associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes; the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the highest versus the lowest intake was 0.31 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21–0.46; P

The association between tea consumption and type 2 diabetes risk remains inconsistent in Asian populations. This case-control study investigated the association between habitual tea consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes among Vietnamese adults.A hospital-based case-control study was conducted during 2013-2015 in Vietnam. A total of 599 newly diagnosed diabetic cases (aged 40-65 years) and 599 hospital-based controls, frequency matched by age and sex, were recruited. Information about frequency, quantity, and duration of tea drinking, together with demographics, habitual diet and lifestyle characteristics, was obtained from direct interviews using a validated and reliable questionnaire. Unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between different metrics of tea consumption and the type 2 diabetes risk.Control subjects reported higher tea consumption levels than the cases in terms of duration, frequency, and quantity of tea drunk. After accounting for confounding factors, increasing tea consumption was found to be associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes; the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.66 (0.49, 0.89) for participants drinking2 cups/day, relative to those drinking1 cup/day. Significant inverse dose-response relationships were also observed for average number of cups consumed daily and years of tea drinking (p0.01).Habitual tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes among Vietnamese adults.