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Abstract Improving vaccine coverage among children is crucial to prevent the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infections and the emergence of resistant COVID-19 variants, especially in resource-scarce settings. This study determined factors influencing the willingness to take and pay for COVID-19 vaccine for children among Vietnamese healthcare professionals and the public. A Theory-Based discrete-choice experiment was focused on a different topic related to vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine for children, Monkeypox, the adult COVID-19 booster, the HIV vaccine, and a potential future pandemic. The recruitment period was from April to August 2022, and a total of 5700 Vietnamese individuals aged 16 and above from various regions of the country participated in the study. The data for the sub-study on the COVID-19 vaccination for children was completed by 891 of these participants. Most participants agreed on vaccination for all children. Among healthcare professionals it was 76.2% and 69.3% for the general population. Healthcare professionals were the main source of vaccine information (70.7%). Payment options of 50%, 100%, and full subsidy were the most popular. Concerns about vaccine characteristics were associated with lower acceptance among healthcare professionals and the general public. The burden of historical medical expenses negatively correlated with willingness to pay for vaccination, while service satisfaction positively correlated with willingness to pay. To develop an effective vaccination program among children in Vietnam, providing accurate information and satisfying vaccine services, primarily through knowledgeable and professional healthcare providers, can improve the willingness to vaccinate and pay for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Abstract Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way of life of many individuals, especially those working at the frontlines, such as healthcare workers. Our study aims to examine the impact of COVID-19 on the socio-economic status, quality of life, and sleep quality when Vietnam was experiencing the 4th wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 604 healthcare workers using snowball sampling from October through to November 2021. Our study examined the impact of the government’s COVID-19 prevention policy including personal protective measures (5K measures), directive 15, directive 16, and directive 16 plus. The EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS were used to measure health-related quality of life and a scale of 1 to 10 was used to rate sleep quality of healthcare workers. Results A total of 604 respondents, most people were female (57.9%), and working as civil servants (75.3%). Very few participants were able to increase their earnings during the pandemic. Participants who did not have monthly allowance amounts had the highest proportion (60.1%), followed by those under 2 million VND (21.2%). In the univariate regression model, people with high government policy scores tend to have lower quality of life and sleep quality scores. In addition, in the multivariable regression model, people with high scores on government policies tend to have lower quality of life (EQ-5D) scores. Conclusion The COVID-19 prevention measures had a negative impact on quality of life, sleep quality, and daily demands of healthcare workers. These findings should help guide future policy implementations.

BackgroundUnderstanding childbirth delivery and pain relief method preferences is important as a part of the shared decision-making process between pregnant women and health professionals. This study aimed to examine the preferences for childbirth delivery modes and pain relief methods and factors related to these preferences among pregnant women in Vietnam.MethodsA cross-sectional survey on pregnant women was conducted in two obstetrics hospitals in Vietnam. Face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire were performed to collect information about sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy characteristics, preferences for different childbirth delivery modes, and pain relief methods. Multivariate logistic regression was employed for determining associated factors with the preferences.ResultsOf 576 pregnant women, 34% of participants preferred cesarean section. Most of the sample did not have any preferences for specific pharmacological pain relief methods (70.1%), while support from partner/relatives was the most preferable non-pharmacological method (61.3%), following by water birth (11.1%) and acupuncture (9.9%). Desire to have another baby, relatives’ experience, selection date of birth, and instrumental social support were major drivers of the cesarean section selection. This preference was an important factor in the preference for pharmacological pain relief. Meanwhile, high levels of informational and emotional support were associated with non-pharmacological method preference.ConclusionThis study highlighted a high preference rate for cesarean section in urban pregnant women in Vietnam. Holistic approaches from family, health facility, and policy should be performed to diminish the cesarean rate preference and promote the use of non-pharmacological pain relief methods during birth.

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.

Objective We assessed the psychological impact posed by COVID-19 and its associated factors on the healthcare workforce nationwide during the peak of Vietnam’s fourth outbreak.Design A cross-sectional study.Setting Our study was conducted in 61 provinces of Vietnam.Methods A total of 2814 healthcare professionals in 61/63 provinces of Vietnam. An online questionnaire using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4) and Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scales was distributed randomly to a subgroup of 503 respondents.Primary and secondary outcome measures To determine the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological of health workers, we conducted analyses to test a primary hypothesis related to participants based on three main scales including PHQ-9, PSS-4 and GAD-7 scales.Results Nearly half (49.7%) of healthcare workers experienced mild depression symptoms, 34.0% underwent moderate anxiety symptoms and 49.3% reported high-stress levels. Respondents who had a monthly income below 5 million VND (~US$212) and had more than 3 days of duty per week had a higher score on the anxiety scales. Compared with medical doctors, nurses/midwives had lower PHQ-9 (Coef=−2.53; 95% CI=−3.71 to −1.36) and GAD-7 scores (Coef=−2.36; 95% CI=−3.56 L to −1.16). Increased workload and work time was the harmful factor that increase the PHQ-9, GAD-7 or PSS-4 scores. More than half (53.9%) of respondents stated no demand for mental healthcare services.Conclusions Health workers who gained less financial rewards are reported to have higher levels of mental distress than others, implying the need for a raise in basic salary as well as compensation and encouragement schemes. To tackle hesitancy in seeking mental help, integrating online mental health therapy with e-health consultations via social media can be strategically implemented to augment service delivery, and simultaneously enhance the standard of mental health services.

Introduction: Since the early 2000s, there have been extensive investigations into cognitive biases in addictive disorders. The advances in the field have led to the discovery that cognitive bias exists in substance disorders and could in turn be modified. To date, there have been primary studies and meta-analysis demonstrating the existence of these biases and the effectiveness of cognitive bias modification (i.e., whereby such biases are retrained). There remains a lack of understanding of how the field has progressed and the research gaps, in light of the evidences provided by these primary studies. Objectives: A bibliometric analysis of the publications to date was performed to provide a map of the work that has been done so far. This would help researchers to better understand the development of cognitive bias research, the direction of the research, and the recent trends. Methods: For the purposes of this bibliometric research, Web of Science (WOS) was used in the identification of relevant articles. To identify the relevant articles, the following search strategy was implemented, that of ((((((TS = (“cognitive bias”)) OR TS = (“attention bias”)) OR TS = (“approach bias”)) OR TS = (“avoidance bias)) OR TS = (“interpretative bias”))). Bibliometric data analysis was conducted based on the identified articles. Results: A total of 161 citations were eventually included. These citations were published between 1994 and 2022. The average number of citations per documents was 26.73. Of these 161 citations, 122 were articles, 2 were editorials, 3 were corrections to the original manuscript, 5 were reviews, and 29 were meeting abstracts. The analysis of the trend of topics has shown that researchers were focused on understanding and gaining insights into cognitive biases and potentially examining the association between cognitive biases and cravings and aggression in the early days. Over the years, there has been an evolution into examining specific unconscious biases, namely, that of attention and approach biases. In the most recent years, the investigations have been more focused on examining bias modification/retraining. Conclusions: From our knowledge, this is the first bibliometric analysis that has been undertaken to explore all the publications related to cognitive bias in the field of addiction. The insights gained from this article could inform future research.

ObjectivesThe 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.MethodsAn 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.ResultsSix 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.ConclusionThis 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.

BackgroundAntiretroviral 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. ObjectiveThe 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. MethodsWe 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. ResultsIn 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. ConclusionsOur 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 RegistrationThai Clinical Trials Registry TCTR20220928003; https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20220928003

IntroductionLesbian, 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.MethodsPeer-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.ResultsFrom 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.DiscussionOur 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.

IntroductionThis study aimed to evaluate portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device as an adjunct diagnostic tool in Vietnam to assess hemodynamics when people with schizophrenia and healthy controls performed cognitive tasks.MethodsOne hundred fifty-seven participants were divided into schizophrenia (n = 110) and healthy controls group (n = 47), which were recruited by match of age, and gender. Hemodynamic responses in the frontal cortex were monitored with a 48-channel portable device during the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT) and Verbal Fluency Test (VFT). General linear model compared the differences in oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) levels between the two groups. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) graph was generated for each neuroanatomical area.ResultsPeople with schizophrenia did not show significant activation in the frontal lobe during the SCWT and VFT as compared to pre-task. During the VFT, the area under the ROC curve of the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, bilateral frontopolar prefrontal cortex, and bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex were greater than 0.7 (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the right orbitofrontal cortex was maximal during the VFT (AUC = 0.802, 95%CI = 0.731–0.872). The Youden’s index reached a peak (0.57) at the optimal cut-point value (HbO2 cutoff

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.

BackgroundThe 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. ObjectiveThis 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. MethodsA 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. ResultsAmong 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. ConclusionsA 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.

IntroductionIn the last decade, the technological advances have led to increased usage of the Internet. Internet-based games are now more readily available, and they are also more attractive and engageable for individuals. Previous studies have established university students as vulnerable population with regards to IGD. Despite the unique stressors and demands of the course, there is little information about the pooled prevalence of IGD in medical students.ObjectivesThe current meta-analysis aims to establish the pooled prevalence of IGD among medical students in different countries, and factors affecting the pooled prevalence.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted from 23 May 2021 to 30 May 2021. The following databases were searched: PubMed, PsychINFO, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Science Direct. The search terminologies included permutations of the keywords for IGD and medical students. All statistical analysis was performed with the Comprehensive Meta-analysis Version 3.0 program based on random-effects model.ResultsThree hundred ninety-six articles were identified from the search of the databases. The final data set consisted of 6 studies with a pooled cohort size of 2,236 medical students. The pooled prevalence of IGD in each country is as follows: Egypt had the highest prevalence rate of 10.9% (95% CI: 7.3–16.1%), followed by Saudi Arabia (8.8, 95% CI: 5.7–13.2%), Indonesia (6.1, 95% CI: 0.7–37.5%) and India (3.8, 95% CI: 2.7–5.5%) (p < 0.005).ConclusionsIn conclusion, this meta-analysis reports that the pooled prevalence of IGD among medical students from different countries is 6.2%, which is around twice as high than that of the general population.

BackgroundSmoking is a global health threat. Attentional bias influences smoking behaviors. Although attentional bias retraining has shown benefits and recent advances in technology suggest that attentional bias retraining can be delivered via smartphone apps, there is a paucity of research on this topic. ObjectiveThis study aims to address this gap by exploring the use of attentional bias retraining via a novel smartphone app using a mixed methods pilot study. In the quantitative phase, it is hypothesized that participants in the training group who undertake attentional bias retraining via the app should have decreased levels of attentional bias, subjective craving, and smoking frequency, compared with those in the control group who do not undertake attentional bias retraining. The qualitative phase explores how the participants perceive and experience the novel app. MethodsIn all, 10 adult smokers (3 females and 7 males) between the ages of 26 and 56 years (mean 34.4 years, SD 9.97 years) were recruited. The participants were randomly allocated to the training and control groups. In weeks 1 and 3, participants from both groups attempted the standard visual probe task and rated their smoking frequency and subjective craving. In week 2, the participants in the training group attempted the modified visual probe task. After week 3, participants from both groups were interviewed about their views and experiences of the novel app. ResultsThe results of the quantitative analysis did not support this study’s hypothesis. The qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results yielded 5 themes: ease, helpfulness, unhelpful aspects, barriers, and refinement. ConclusionsFindings from the qualitative study were consistent with those from previous studies on health-related smartphone apps. The qualitative results were helpful in understanding the user perspectives and experiences of the novel app, indicating that future research in this innovative area is necessary.

Abstract Background Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been proven to be effective in treating opioid dependence. In Vietnam, MMT services are provided primarily by public clinics, with only one private MMT clinic established in recent years. Assessing the preferences of patients for different MMT models is important in evaluating the feasibility of these models. This study measured the preferences of drug users enrolling in public and private MMT clinics in Vietnam and examines the related factors of these preferences. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed on 395 participants at 3 methadone clinics in Nam Dinh. Data about the preferences for MMT models and sociodemographic characteristics of participants were collected. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to explore the construct validity of the questionnaire. The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were used for analyzing demographic characteristics and preferences of participants. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with participants’ preferences. Results Half the participants received MMT treatment in a private facility (49.4%). Two preference dimensions were defined as “Availability and convenience of service” and “Competencies of clinic and health professionals”. Self-employed patients were more likely to consider these two dimensions when choosing MMT models. Only 9.9% of participants chose “Privacy” as one of the evaluation criteria for an MMT facility. Compared to public clinics, a statistically higher percentage of patients in the private clinic chose the attitudes of health workers as the reason for using MMT service (34.7% and 7.6% respectively). Mean score of satisfaction towards MMT services was 8.6 (SD = 1.0), and this score was statistically higher in a public facility, compared to the private facility (8.7 and 8.4 respectively). Conclusions The study highlighted patterns of patient preferences towards MMT clinics. Compared to the public MMT model, the private MMT model may need to enhance their services to improve patient satisfaction.

Introduction: It has been 4 months since the discovery of COVID-19, and there have been many measures introduced to curb movements of individuals to stem the spread. There has been an increase in the utilization of web-based technologies for counseling, and for supervision and training, and this has been carefully described in China. Several telehealth initiatives have been highlighted for Australian residents. Smartphone applications have previously been shown to be helpful in times of a crisis. Whilst there have been some examples of how web-based technologies have been used to support individuals who are concerned about or living with COVID-19, we know of no studies or review that have specifically looked at how M-Health technologies have been utilized for COVID-19.Objectives: There might be existing commercially available applications on the commercial stores, or in the published literature. There remains a lack of understanding of the resources that are available, the functionality of these applications, and the evidence base of these applications. Given this, the objective of this content analytical review is in identifying the commercial applications that are available currently for COVID-19, and in exploring their functionalities.Methods: A mobile application search application was used. The search terminologies used were “COVID” and “COVID-19.” Keyword search was performed based on the titles of the commercial applications. The search through the database was conducted from the 27th March through to the 18th of April 2020 by two independent authors.Results: A total of 103 applications were identified from the Apple iTunes and Google Play store, respectively; 32 were available on both Apple and Google Play stores. The majority appeared on the commercial stores between March and April 2020, more than 2 months after the first discovery of COVID-19. Some of the common functionalities include the provision of news and information, contact tracking, and self-assessment or diagnosis.Conclusions: This is the first review that has characterized the smartphone applications 4 months after the first discovery of COVID-19.

Abstract Background As smartphone becomes increasingly prevalent and affordable, more youths today can own a smartphone device and download applications in various application stores. Smartphone applications have been proven to be useful for youths in various aspects. However, there has been a paucity of data looking into the preferences of Vietnamese youths and adolescents with regards to health-related applications and their receptiveness towards smartphone apps. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the receptiveness and preferences of health-related smartphone applications (mHealth apps) among online Vietnamese youths and adolescents. Methods An online cross-sectional study was conducted between the periods of August till October 2015 in Vietnam. Respondent-driven sampling technique (RDS) was utilized to recruit participants. Participants were asked questions about their history of downloading and using health-related smartphone applications and their receptiveness when using these applications. Moreover, socio-demographic characteristics and health status were also self-reported. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine associated factors. Results Among 1028 participants, 57.4% owned a smartphone and only 14.1% of smartphone users have used a health-related smartphone application, and most of these individuals downloaded the applications for disease prevention (66.3%). 66.4% of the participants who owned these applications reported that health applications were useful and 92.8% reported being satisfied with the functionalities of the applications which they owned. Among smartphone users, people who were employed (OR = 15.46; 95%CI = 4.93–48.47) were more likely to download mHealth apps. Meanwhile, youths with higher EQ-5D index had a lower likelihood of downloading healthcare-related smartphone applications (OR = 0.17; 95%CI = 0.04–0.81). Conclusions This study highlighted a low rate of mHealth apps utilization among online Vietnamese youths and adolescents but a high acceptance of individuals who already used these apps. Developing mHealth apps or interventions towards the disease prevention and quality of life improvement could be feasible to proliferate the benefits of such applications in youths and adolescents in Vietnam. Further research should be conducted to optimize the contents and interfaces of mHealth apps that meet the needs of these populations.

Abstract The size effect on atomic structure of a Cu64Zr36 amorphous system, including zero-dimensional small-size amorphous particles (SSAPs) and two-dimensional small-size amorphous films (SSAFs) together with bulk sample was investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. We revealed that sample size strongly affects local atomic structure in both Cu64Zr36 SSAPs and SSAFs, which are composed of core and shell (surface) components. Compared with core component, the shell component of SSAPs has lower average coordination number and average bond length, higher degree of ordering, and lower packing density due to the segregation of Cu atoms on the shell of Cu64Zr36 SSAPs. These atomic structure differences in SSAPs with various sizes result in different glass transition temperatures, in which the glass transition temperature for the shell component is found to be 577 K, which is much lower than 910 K for the core component. We further extended the size effect on the structure and glasses transition temperature to Cu64Zr36 SSAFs, and revealed that the T g decreases when SSAFs becomes thinner due to the following factors: different dynamic motion (mean square displacement), different density of core and surface and Cu segregation on the surface of SSAFs. The obtained results here are different from the results for the size effect on atomic structure of nanometer-sized crystalline metallic alloys.

ObjectivesThe average alcohol consumption per capita among Vietnamese adults has consistently increased. Although alcohol-related disorders have been extensively studied, there is a paucity of research shedding light on this issue among Internet users. The study aimed to examine the severity of alcohol-related disorders and other associated factors that might predispose individuals towards alcohol usage in a sample of youths recruited online.MethodsAn online cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,080 Vietnamese youths. A standardized questionnaire was used. Respondent-driven sampling was applied to recruit participants. Multivariate logistic and Tobit regressions were utilized to identify the associated factors.ResultsAbout 59.5% of the males and 12.7% of the total youths declared that they were actively using alcohol. From the total sample, a cumulative total of 32.3% of the participants were drinking alcohol, with 21.8% and 25.0% of the participants being classified as drinking hazardously and binge drinkers, respectively. The majority of the participants (60.7%) were in the pre-contemplative stage.ConclusionsA high prevalence of hazardous drinking was recognized among online Vietnamese youths. In addition, we found relationships between alcohol use disorder and other addictive disorders, such as tobacco smoking and water-pipe usage. Our results highlighted that the majority of the individuals are not receptive to the idea of changing their alcohol habits, and this would imply that there ought to be more government effort towards the implementation of effective alcohol control policies.

Uridine diphosphate glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH) plays an important role in biosynthesis of hemicellulose by catalyzing oxidation of UDP-glucose (UDP-Glc) to UDP-glucuronate (UDP-GlcA), a key sugar nucleotide involved in biosynthesis of the plant cell wall. In this study, a UGDH ortholog referred to as LgUGDH was isolated from Larix gmelinii using PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends techniques. Real-time PCR shows that the LgUGDH gene was expressed primarily in larch stems in addition to its roots and leaves, and Southern blot analysis indicates that UGDH is encoded by two paralogous genes in L. gmelinii. Overexpression of LgUGDH increased the content of soluble sugars and hemicelluloses and enhanced vegetative growth and cold tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. These results reveal that L. gmelinii UGDH participates in sucrose/polysaccharide metabolism and cell wall biosynthesis and may be a good candidate gene for enhancing plant growth, cold tolerance, and hemicellulose content.

Co–Cr–W alloys were widely used in the inlet exhaust valve of aeroengine. However, the traditional manufacturing process of Co–Cr–W alloys can not meet the demand for higher comprehensive performance, and an optimum method needs to be developed. Herein, a Co–Cr–W alloy reinforced by exogenous carbides was prepared by the powder metallurgy method. Effect of ball-milling time on the microstructure and wear resistance of the alloy was investigated, and the formation mechanisms of the reinforcing phases were discussed. Results showed that with prolonging the ball-milling time, the uniformity of the reinforcing phases was improved, grain refinement was achieved, the hardness increased, a suitable bonding interface was formed between the matrix and reinforcing phases, and better wear resistance was thus achieved. However, when the ball-milling time increased from 60 h to 70 h, local segregation of the reinforcing phases occurred, the hardness decreased from 64 HRC to 60 HRC, and the friction coefficient increased from 0.53 to 0.58. Based on our experimental results, we proposed two formation mechanisms of the reinforcing phases (carbides): In-situ precipitation from the matrix and in situ autogenic reaction between the elements of the matrix and the added carbides (WC and Cr _3 C _2 particles). Both mechanisms contributed to the formation of M _23 C _6 and M _6 C carbides. Our results underscore the importance of added reinforcing phases and help to optimize the ball-milling process in preparing the Co–Cr–W alloys.

Background: Opiates, cannabis, and stimulants are highly abused and are prevalent disorders. Psychological interventions are crucial given that they help individuals maintain abstinence following a lapse or relapse into substance use. The dual-process theory has posited that while the repeated use of a substance leads to increased automatic processing and increased automatic tendencies to approach substance-specific cues, in addition to the inhibition of other normal cognitive processes. Prior reviews are limited, as they failed to include trials involving participants with these prevalent addictive disorders or have not reviewed the published literature extensively.Objectives: The primary aim of this review is to synthesize the evidence for cognitive biases in opioid use, cannabis use, and stimulant use disorders. The secondary aim of the review is to determine if cognitive bias could be consistently detected using the different methods. Lastly, this review will narratively synthesize the evidence of possible associations between cognitive biases and other addiction-related outcomes.Methods: A search was conducted from November 2017 to January 2018 on PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Science Direct, Cochrane Central, and Scopus. Articles were included if participants had a primary diagnosis of opioid use, cannabis use, or stimulant use disorder. The selection process of the articles was in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. A qualitative synthesis was undertaken.Results: A total of 38 studies were identified. The main finding is the evidence that cognitive biases are present in the 38 studies identified, except for a single study on opioid use and stimulant use disorders. Cognitive biases were reported despite a variety of different methods being utilized. Synthesis of secondary outcome was not feasible, due to the varied outcomes reported.Conclusions: Cognitive biases have been consistently observed in opioid use, cannabis use, and stimulant use disorders, despite a range of assessment tools being utilized in the assessment for these biases.

Na+/H+ exchanger (NHX)-mediated Na+ and H+ antiport is an important mechanism for salt tolerance in plants. In this study, an Na+/H+ antiporter gene, referred to as NsNHX1, was isolated from the halophyte Nitraria sibirica Pall. using degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The resulting 2 182 bp NsNHX1 cDNA contained a 1 635 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded 544 amino acids and showed striking sequence similarity to tonoplast-localized NHXs from other plants. Subcellular localization analysis confirmed NsNHX1 to be a tonoplast-localized protein. Cis-elements described as being responsive to biotic and abiotic stresses were present in the NsNHX1 promoter region, and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR analysis confirmed that NsNHX1 expression was induced by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), cold, and NaCl. Transcription of NsNHX1 increased sharply 3 h after treatment with 200 mM NaCl revealing that NsNHX1 responded rapidly to the salt stress. Overexpression of NsNHX1 enhanced salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thalliana L. suggesting that NsNHX1-mediated Na+ compartmentalization played an important role in enhancing plant salt tolerance.

Mechanical properties of the cemented soil will be reduced when cemented soils are applied in the MgCl2 corrosive environment to conduct seepage control in hydraulic engineering. The corrosive conditions will inevitably cause serious damage to the cement-soil composite, and further reduce stablity of the whole structure. Therefore, this cementation technique could be commonly used to stabilize infrastructures. More engineering practices regarding the reduction in mechanical properties of cemented soil in the MgCl2 environment are required. To simulate and study the corrosion process, a series of tests including photographing, unconfined compression tests, and measuring Mg2+ and Cl− concentrations of solution were conducted on cured cemented soil blocks with different concentrations of MgCl2 solutions. Results show that the surface corrosion of the sample increases while the compression strength decreases with the increase in solution concentration given the same curing time of the concrete block. Chemical analysis of the corrosive environment indicates that the volumes of new products such as CaCl2 ∙ 6 H2O and Mg2(OH)3Cl ⋅ 4 H2O amount to seven times that of Ca(OH)2 after reaction. The corrosion of cemented soil is a sort of crystallizing corrosion. The Mg(OH)2 takes chemical reactions with 3 CaO ∙ 2 SiO2 ∙ 3 H2O and forms new products such as MgO ∙ SiO2 ∙ H2O, which is a sort of dissolving corrosion. In addition, the authors analysed the relationships between the unconfined compressive strength of cemented soils cured for 28 days and the initial concentrations of Mg2+ and Cl−. Finally, the regression equations of the strength were established.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(tetrahydrofuran)-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PTHF-PEG) triblock copolymer was synthesized by ring-opening polymerization of ethylene oxide using sodium alcoholate of PTHF as the macroinitiator. Its crystallization behavior and formation mechanisms of different crystal structures were studied. The study showed that the molecular weight of PEG-PTHF-PEG exhibited a significant effect on its crystallization: that is, with the increase of the copolymer’s molecular weight, the crystallizability of PTHF blocks decreased gradually, which led to the transition of copolymer from crystalline-crystalline to crystalline-amorphous. By adjusting the total molecular weight of triblock copolymer, the crystallization process can be effectively controlled, and as a result, different spherulite structures were obtained. Particularly, when PTHF blocks became amorphous, novel double concentric spherulites were observed. The morphological structures were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), polarized optical microscopy (POM), and its crystalline process was investigated.

OBJECTIVES:There are multifaceted views on the use of ketamine, a potentially addictive substance, to treat mental health problems. The past 15 years have seen growing media coverage of ketamine for medical and other purposes. This study examined the print news media coverage of medical and other uses of ketamine in North America to determine orientations and trends over time. METHODS:Print newspaper coverage of ketamine from 2000 to 2015 was reviewed, resulting in 43 print news articles from 28 North American newspapers. A 55-item structured coding instrument was applied to assess news reports of ketamine. Items captured negative and positive aspects, therapeutic use of ketamine, and adverse side effects. Chi-squares tested for changes in trends over time. RESULTS:In the 15-year reviewed period, the three most frequent themes related to ketamine were: abuse (68.2%), legal status (34.1%), and clinical use in anesthesia (31.8%). There was significant change in trends during two periods (2000-2007 and 2008-2015). In 2008-2015, print news media articles were significantly more likely to encourage clinical use of ketamine to treat depression (p = 0.002), to treat treatment resistant depression (p = 0.043), and to claim that ketamine is more effective than conventional antidepressants (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS:Our review found consistent positive changes in the portrayals of ketamine by the print news media as a therapeutic antidepressant that mirror the recent scientific publications. These changes in news media reporting might influence the popularity of ketamine use to treat clinical depression. Guidance is required for journalists on objective reporting of medical research findings, including limitations of current research evidence and potential risks of ketamine.

BACKGROUND:Viral load testing is considered the gold standard for monitoring HIV treatment; however, given its high cost, some patients cannot afford viral load testing if this testing is not subsidized. Since foreign aid for HIV/AIDS in Vietnam is rapidly decreasing, we sought to assess willingness to pay (WTP) for viral load and CD4 cell count tests among HIV-positive patients, and identified factors that might inform future co-payment schemes. METHODS:A multi-site cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1133 HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Hanoi and Nam Dinh. Patients' health insurance coverage, quality of life, and history of illicit drug use were assessed. A contingent valuation approach was employed to measure patients' WTP for CD4 cell count and viral load testing. RESULTS:HIV-positive patients receiving ART at provincial sites reported more difficulty obtaining health insurance (HI) and had the overall the poorest quality of life. Most patients (90.9%) were willing to pay for CD4 cell count testing; here, the mean WTP was valued at US$8.2 (95%CI = 7.6-8.8 US$) per test. Most patients (87.3%) were also willing to pay for viral load testing; here, mean WTP was valued at US$18.6 (95%CI = 16.3-20.9 US$) per test. High income, high education level, and hospitalization were positively associated with WTP, while co-morbidity with psychiatric symptoms and trouble paying for health insurance were both negatively related to WTP. CONCLUSIONS:These findings raise concerns that HIV-positive patients in Vietnam might have low WTP for CD4 cell count and viral load testing. This means that without foreign financial subsidies, many of these patients would likely go without these important tests. Treating psychiatric co-morbidities, promoting healthcare services utilization, and removing barriers to accessing health insurance may increase WTP for monitoring of HIV/AIDS treatment among HIV+-positive Vietnamese patients.