53 results
Vietnamese Americans' level of trust in sources of information and willingness to participate in COVID-19 clinical trials
- Shielene Vargas, Saba Siddiqi, Ben King, Celine Nguyen, Jannette Diep, Lauren Gilbert, Bich-May Nguyen
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 8 / Issue 1 / 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 25 April 2024, e88
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The survey investigates COVID-19 information source trust levels and Vietnamese Americans’ willingness to participate in clinical trials. An analysis of 212 completed surveys revealed that trust in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clinical trial information from university hospitals and drug companies was associated with willingness to participate in clinical trials. Trust in COVID-19 information from federal governments and state governments was also associated with willingness to participate in clinical trials. However, trust in local health facilities was linked to trial participation reluctance. The results suggest that Vietnamese Americans’ participation in clinical trials can be increased by identifying and using trusted sources of information.
E-government service quality, perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty: evidence from a newly emerging country
- Long Pham, Yam B. Limbu, Mai Thi Thu Le, Ngoc Lan Nguyen
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- Journal:
- Journal of Public Policy / Volume 43 / Issue 4 / December 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 06 October 2023, pp. 812-833
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This study examines the relationships between e-government service quality, perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty toward e-government services. Survey data were collected from 340 randomly selected e-government service users in Vietnam. The results reveal that (1) e-government service quality consists of five dimensions: ease of interaction, fulfillment, citizen care, security and privacy, and trustworthiness; (2) among the five dimensions of e-government service quality, only trustworthiness and fulfillment are significantly related to perceived value; however, trustworthiness has a stronger association with perceived value than does fulfillment; and (3) both perceived value and satisfaction are positively associated with loyalty. The results indicate that the e-government can create value for the citizens by improving service quality, which may help satisfy citizens’ needs and build their loyalty.
Strong Shannon–McMillan–Breiman’s theorem for locally compact groups
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- Behrang Forghani, May Nguyen
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- Journal:
- Canadian Mathematical Bulletin / Volume 66 / Issue 4 / December 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 05 May 2023, pp. 1274-1279
- Print publication:
- December 2023
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We prove that for a vast class of random walks on a compactly generated group, the exponential growth of convolutions of a probability density function along almost every sample path is bounded by the growth of the group. As an application, we show that the almost sure and $L^1$ convergences of the Shannon–McMillan–Breiman theorem hold for compactly supported random walks on compactly generated groups with subexponential growth.
Multinational prospective study of incidence and risk factors for central-line–associated bloodstream infections in 728 intensive care units of 41 Asian, African, Eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries over 24 years
- Victor Daniel Rosenthal, Ruijie Yin, Sheila Nainan Myatra, Ziad A. Memish, Camilla Rodrigues, Mohit Kharbanda, Sandra Liliana Valderrama-Beltran, Yatin Mehta, Majeda Afeef Al-Ruzzieh, Guadalupe Aguirre-Avalos, Ertugrul Guclu, Chin Seng Gan, Luisa Fernanda Jiménez Alvarez, Rajesh Chawla, Sona Hlinkova, Rajalakshmi Arjun, Hala Mounir Agha, Maria Adelia Zuniga Chavarria, Narangarav Davaadagva, Yin Hoong Lai, Katherine Gomez, Daisy Aguilar-de-Moros, Chian-Wern Tai, Alejandro Sassoe Gonzalez, Lina Alejandra Aguilar Moreno, Kavita Sandhu, Jarosław Janc, Mary Cruz Aleman Bocanegra, Dincer Yildizdas, Yuliana Andrea Cano Medina, Maria Isabel Villegas Mota, Abeer Aly Omar, Wieslawa Duszynska, Amani Ali El-Kholy, Safaa Abdulaziz Alkhawaja, George Horhat Florin, Eduardo Alexandrino Medeiros, Lili Tao, Nellie Tumu, May Gamar Elanbya, Reshma Dongol, Vesna Mioljević, Lul Raka, Lourdes Dueñas, Nilton Yhuri Carreazo, Tarek Dendane, Aamer Ikram, Tala Kardas, Michael M. Petrov, Asma Bouziri, Nguyen Viet-Hung, Vladislav Belskiy, Naheed Elahi, Estuardo Salgado, Zhilin Jin
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- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 44 / Issue 11 / November 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 28 April 2023, pp. 1737-1747
- Print publication:
- November 2023
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Objective:
To identify central-line (CL)–associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) incidence and risk factors in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
Design:From July 1, 1998, to February 12, 2022, we conducted a multinational multicenter prospective cohort study using online standardized surveillance system and unified forms.
Setting:The study included 728 ICUs of 286 hospitals in 147 cities in 41 African, Asian, Eastern European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries.
Patients:In total, 278,241 patients followed during 1,815,043 patient days acquired 3,537 CLABSIs.
Methods:For the CLABSI rate, we used CL days as the denominator and the number of CLABSIs as the numerator. Using multiple logistic regression, outcomes are shown as adjusted odds ratios (aORs).
Results:The pooled CLABSI rate was 4.82 CLABSIs per 1,000 CL days, which is significantly higher than that reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC NHSN). We analyzed 11 variables, and the following variables were independently and significantly associated with CLABSI: length of stay (LOS), risk increasing 3% daily (aOR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.03–1.04; P < .0001), number of CL days, risk increasing 4% per CL day (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.03–1.04; P < .0001), surgical hospitalization (aOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03–1.21; P < .0001), tracheostomy use (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.23–1.88; P < .0001), hospitalization at a publicly owned facility (aOR, 3.04; 95% CI, 2.31–4.01; P <.0001) or at a teaching hospital (aOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 2.22–3.83; P < .0001), hospitalization in a middle-income country (aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 2.09–2.77; P < .0001). The ICU type with highest risk was adult oncology (aOR, 4.35; 95% CI, 3.11–6.09; P < .0001), followed by pediatric oncology (aOR, 2.51;95% CI, 1.57–3.99; P < .0001), and pediatric (aOR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.81–3.01; P < .0001). The CL type with the highest risk was internal-jugular (aOR, 3.01; 95% CI, 2.71–3.33; P < .0001), followed by femoral (aOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.96–2.68; P < .0001). Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was the CL with the lowest CLABSI risk (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02–2.18; P = .04).
Conclusions:The following CLABSI risk factors are unlikely to change: country income level, facility ownership, hospitalization type, and ICU type. These findings suggest a focus on reducing LOS, CL days, and tracheostomy; using PICC instead of internal-jugular or femoral CL; and implementing evidence-based CLABSI prevention recommendations.
SG-APSIC1102: Antimicrobial resistance and related factors in an intensive care unit—A study at Hue Central Hospital
- Tan Dang, Mi Ho Thihoa, Vo Dai Quyen, Tran Chi Thanh, Mai Van Tuan, Nguyen Thithanh Nhan, Le Diem Phuoc, Ha Thithuan, Hoang Thiquynh Nhi, Tran Thanh Thuy, Nguyen Van Thanh Toan, Hoang Thilan Huong
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- Journal:
- Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology / Volume 3 / Issue S1 / February 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 16 March 2023, p. s28
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Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major concern in Vietnam, mainly due to the inappropriate use of antibiotics. Appropriate antibiotic management enables us to minimize the likelihood of antibiotic resistance and the spread of resistant bacteria. We evaluated vancomycin and colistin resistance and related factors in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hue Central Hospital, a national hospital in central Vietnam. Methods: Using a cross-sectional descriptive study, we enrolled 362 patients who were prescribed antibiotics and were admitted to the ICU in 2019. Pathogens isolated from 473 routine clinical samples were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing following the recommendations in the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute M100, 28th Edition. Colistin testing was performed using the broth microdilution method. Statistical significance was determined using the Fisher exact test. Results: The most commonly identified microorganisms were Acinetobacter baumannii (31.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (31.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12%), and Staphylococcus aureus (8.9%). All isolates of A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa tested with colistin were nonresistant. Moreover, >65% of A. baumannii isolates were resistant to all antibiotics except colistin. S. aureus had the highest resistance rate to erythromycin (80.6%), but no vancomycin-resistant isolates were identified. Factors associated with resistance to at least 1 antibiotic tested included length of stay (OR, 5.32; 95% CI, 1.47–19.17; P = .017), duration of antibiotics therapy (OR, 5.25; 95% CI, 1.46–18.95; P = .017), and the use of tracheal intubation and ventilator (OR, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.09–8.72; P = .038). Conclusions: These data indicated that although the vancomycin and colistin resistance rate is low, patients with longer length of stay, longer time on antibiotics, and invasive ventilation were at higher risk of AMR infection. Decreasing device use and strong antibiotic stewardship program at the hospital would help to reduce AMR infections.
Multinational prospective cohort study of rates and risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia over 24 years in 42 countries of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East: Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)
- Victor Daniel Rosenthal, Zhilin Jin, Ziad A. Memish, Camilla Rodrigues, Sheila Nainan Myatra, Mohit Kharbanda, Sandra Liliana Valderrama-Beltran, Yatin Mehta, Mohammad Abdellatif Daboor, Subhash Kumar Todi, Guadalupe Aguirre-Avalos, Ertugrul Guclu, Chin Seng Gan, Luisa Fernanda Jiménez Alvarez, Rajesh Chawla, Sona Hlinkova, Rajalakshmi Arjun, Hala Mounir Agha, Maria Adelia Zuniga Chavarria, Narangarav Davaadagva, Mat Nor Mohd Basri, Katherine Gomez, Daisy Aguilar De Moros, Chian-Wern Tai, Alejandro Sassoe Gonzalez, Lina Alejandra Aguilar Moreno, Kavita Sandhu, Jarosław Janc, Mary Cruz Aleman Bocanegra, Dincer Yildizdas, Yuliana Andrea Cano Medina, Maria Isabel Villegas Mota, Abeer Aly Omar, Wieslawa Duszynska, Souad BelKebir, Amani Ali El-Kholy, Safaa Abdulaziz Alkhawaja, George Horhat Florin, Eduardo Alexandrino Medeiros, Lili Tao, Nellie Tumu, May Gamar Elanbya, Reshma Dongol, Vesna Mioljević, Lul Raka, Lourdes Dueñas, Nilton Yhuri Carreazo, Tarek Dendane, Aamer Ikram, Souha S. Kanj, Michael M. Petrov, Asma Bouziri, Nguyen Viet Hung, Vladislav Belskiy, Naheed Elahi, María Marcela Bovera, Ruijie Yin
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- Journal:
- Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology / Volume 3 / Issue 1 / 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 09 January 2023, e6
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Objective:
Rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are several times above those of high-income countries. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors (RFs) for VAP cases in ICUs of LMICs.
Design:Prospective cohort study.
Setting:This study was conducted across 743 ICUs of 282 hospitals in 144 cities in 42 Asian, African, European, Latin American, and Middle Eastern countries.
Participants:The study included patients admitted to ICUs across 24 years.
Results:In total, 289,643 patients were followed during 1,951,405 patient days and acquired 8,236 VAPs. We analyzed 10 independent variables. Multiple logistic regression identified the following independent VAP RFs: male sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16–1.28; P < .0001); longer length of stay (LOS), which increased the risk 7% per day (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.07–1.08; P < .0001); mechanical ventilation (MV) utilization ratio (aOR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.23–1.31; P < .0001); continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which was associated with the highest risk (aOR, 13.38; 95% CI, 11.57–15.48; P < .0001); tracheostomy connected to a MV, which was associated with the next-highest risk (aOR, 8.31; 95% CI, 7.21–9.58; P < .0001); endotracheal tube connected to a MV (aOR, 6.76; 95% CI, 6.34–7.21; P < .0001); surgical hospitalization (aOR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.17–1.29; P < .0001); admission to a public hospital (aOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.35-1.86; P < .0001); middle-income country (aOR, 1.22; 95% CI, 15–1.29; P < .0001); admission to an adult-oncology ICU, which was associated with the highest risk (aOR, 4.05; 95% CI, 3.22–5.09; P < .0001), admission to a neurologic ICU, which was associated with the next-highest risk (aOR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.78–3.45; P < .0001); and admission to a respiratory ICU (aOR, 2.35; 95% CI, 1.79–3.07; P < .0001). Admission to a coronary ICU showed the lowest risk (aOR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51–0.77; P < .0001).
Conclusions:Some identified VAP RFs are unlikely to change: sex, hospitalization type, ICU type, facility ownership, and country income level. Based on our results, we recommend focusing on strategies to reduce LOS, to reduce the MV utilization ratio, to limit CPAP use and implementing a set of evidence-based VAP prevention recommendations.
A Successful Case of Cardiac Arrest due to Acute Myocarditis with COVID-19: 120 Minutes on Manual Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation then Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
- Bui Hai Hoang, Huyen Trang Tran, Tat Thanh Nguyen, Minh Nguyen Nguyen, Anh Dung Nguyen, Giang Phuc Do, Ngoc Tu Vu, Mai Nguyen, Lan Hieu Nguyen, Shinji Nakahara
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- Journal:
- Prehospital and Disaster Medicine / Volume 37 / Issue 6 / December 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 04 October 2022, pp. 843-846
- Print publication:
- December 2022
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Acute myocarditis is one of the common complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with a relatively high case fatality. Here reported is a fulminant case of a 42-year-old previously healthy woman with cardiogenic shock and refractory cardiac arrest due to COVID-19-induced myocarditis who received veno-arterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after 120 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This is the first adult case of cardiac arrest due to COVID-19-induced myocarditis supported by ECMO that fully recovered with normal neurological functions. The success of the treatment course with full recovery emphasized the potential role of ECMO in treating these patients.
An Efficient Method of Observing Diatom Frustules via Digital Holographic Microscopy
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- Makoto Saito, Masaki Kitamura, Yuki Ide, Minh Hieu Nguyen, Binh Duong Le, Anh Tuan Mai, Daisuke Miyashiro, Shigeki Mayama, Kazuo Umemura
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- Journal:
- Microscopy and Microanalysis / Volume 28 / Issue 6 / December 2022
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 20 September 2022, pp. 2172-2176
- Print publication:
- December 2022
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Herein, we propose a convenient method to enable pretreatment of target objects using digital holographic microscopy (DHM). As a test sample, we used diatom frustules (Nitzschia sp.) as the target objects. In the generally used sample preparation method, the frustule suspension is added dropwise onto a glass substrate or into a glass chamber. While our work confirms good observation of purified frustules using the typical sample preparation method, we also demonstrate a new procedure to observe unseparated structures of frustules prepared by baking them on a mica surface. The baked frustules on the mica surface were transferred to a glass chamber with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate solution. In this manner, the unseparated structures of the diatom frustules were clearly observed. Furthermore, metal-coated frustules prepared by sputtering onto them on a mica surface were also clearly observed using the same procedure. Our method can be applied for the observation of any target object that is pretreated on a solid surface. We expect our proposed method to be a basis for establishing DHM techniques for microscopic observations of biomaterials.
Degree of adherence to plant-based diet and total and cause-specific mortality: prospective cohort study in the Million Veteran Program
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- Dong D Wang, Yanping Li, Xuan-Mai T Nguyen, Rebecca J Song, Yuk-Lam Ho, Frank B Hu, Walter C Willett, Peter Wilson, Kelly Cho, J Michael Gaziano, Luc Djoussé
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- Journal:
- Public Health Nutrition / Volume 26 / Issue 2 / February 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 March 2022, pp. 381-392
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Objective:
To examine the association between adherence to plant-based diets and mortality.
Design:Prospective study. We calculated a plant-based diet index (PDI) by assigning positive scores to plant foods and reverse scores to animal foods. We also created a healthful PDI (hPDI) and an unhealthful PDI (uPDI) by further separating the healthy plant foods from less-healthy plant foods.
Setting:The VA Million Veteran Program.
Participants:315 919 men and women aged 19–104 years who completed a FFQ at the baseline.
Results:We documented 31 136 deaths during the follow-up. A higher PDI was significantly associated with lower total mortality (hazard ratio (HR) comparing extreme deciles = 0·75, 95 % CI: 0·71, 0·79, Ptrend < 0·001]. We observed an inverse association between hPDI and total mortality (HR comparing extreme deciles = 0·64, 95 % CI: 0·61, 0·68, Ptrend < 0·001), whereas uPDI was positively associated with total mortality (HR comparing extreme deciles = 1·41, 95 % CI: 1·33, 1·49, Ptrend < 0·001). Similar significant associations of PDI, hPDI and uPDI were also observed for CVD and cancer mortality. The associations between the PDI and total mortality were consistent among African and European American participants, and participants free from CVD and cancer and those who were diagnosed with major chronic disease at baseline.
Conclusions:A greater adherence to a plant-based diet was associated with substantially lower total mortality in this large population of veterans. These findings support recommending plant-rich dietary patterns for the prevention of major chronic diseases.
Multiscale vacancy and dislocation-mediated surface segregation in CuNi alloy up to microsecond timescales with accelerated dynamics
- Richard Garza, Jiyoung Lee, Mai Nguyen, Andrew Garmon, Meng Li, Danny Perez, Graeme Henkelman, Judith Yang, Wissam Saidi
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- Journal:
- Microscopy and Microanalysis / Volume 27 / Issue S1 / August 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 30 July 2021, pp. 2408-2410
- Print publication:
- August 2021
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DO WEAK OR STRONG ACIDS REMOVE CARBONATE CONTAMINATION FROM ANCIENT TOOTH ENAMEL MORE EFFECTIVELY? THE EFFECT OF ACID PRETREATMENT ON RADIOCARBON AND δ13C ANALYSES
- Rachel Wood, Andre Barros Curado Fleury, Stewart Fallon, Thi Mai Huong Nguyen, Anh Tuan Nguyen
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- Journal:
- Radiocarbon / Volume 63 / Issue 3 / June 2021
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 13 May 2021, pp. 935-952
- Print publication:
- June 2021
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In hot environments, collagen, which is normally targeted when radiocarbon (14C) dating bone, rapidly degrades. With little other skeletal material suitable for 14C dating, it can be impossible to obtain dates directly on skeletal materials. A small amount of carbonate occurs in hydroxyapatite, the mineral phase of bone and tooth enamel, and has been used as an alternative to collagen. Unfortunately, the mineral phase is often heavily contaminated with exogenous carbonate causing 14C dates to underestimate the true age of a sample. Although tooth enamel, with its larger, more stable crystals and lower porosity, is likely to be more robust to diagenesis than bone, little work has been undertaken to investigate how exogenous carbonate can be effectively removed prior to 14C dating. Typically, acid is used to dissolve calcite and etch the surface of the enamel, but it is unclear which acid is most effective. This study repeats and extends earlier work using a wider range of samples and acids and chelating agents (hydrochloric, lactic, acetic and propionic acids, and EDTA). We find that weaker acids remove carbonate contaminants more effectively than stronger acids, and acetic acid is the most effective. However, accurate dates cannot always be obtained.
First-Time Use of Clinical Pharmacists to Improve Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing in a Medical ICU in Viet Nam
- Tuan Mai Van, Nhu Hiep Pham, Thi Lan Huong Hoang, Nhat Tan Dang, Thi Ngoc Anh Pham, Thanh Huy Nguyen, Quoc Tuan Cao, Vu Thuy Hang Pham, Nga Nguyen, Amber Vasquez, Lan Nguyen Thi Phong, Hien Bui, Manh Hung Bui
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- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 41 / Issue S1 / October 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 02 November 2020, p. s236
- Print publication:
- October 2020
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Background: Antibiotic overuse has led to increasing rates of antibiotic resistant infections and unnecessary antibiotic costs. Clinical pharmacists can play a key role in optimizing appropriate use of antimicrobials and reducing antimicrobial resistance. However, the role of clinical pharmacists in antimicrobial stewardship is new and not well established in Viet Nam. Objective: We evaluated the use of clinical pharmacists for improved antimicrobial prescribing. Methods: We assembled an antibiotic stewardship program (ASP) team consisting of a clinical pharmacist and a specialist in infection prevention and control in a 60-bed medical intensive care unit (MICU) at Hue Central Hospital in central Viet Nam. During January–September 2018, the ASP team collected baseline antibiotic prescribing days of therapy (DOT) for all antibiotics administered in the MICU. Then, from October 2018 through June 2019, the ASP team reviewed daily positive clinical bacterial cultures and susceptibility results for all patients present in the MICU. They reviewed medical charts, including antimicrobial prescriptions, during week days and only if patient was still in the ICU at the time of ASP rounds. The team recommended changes to antibiotic therapy verbally to physicians and left the decision to change antibiotic therapy to their discretion. The ASP team documented whether their recommendations were accepted or rejected. Statistical significance was determined using the Student t test. Results: The ASP team reviewed 160 medical charts and made 169 ASP recommendations: 122 (72%) to continue current treatment; 24 (14%) to monitor drug levels or obtain diagnostic tests; 10 (6%) to discontinue therapy; 6 (4%) to de-escalate therapy; 5 (3%) to adjust doses; and 2 (1%) to broaden therapy. Only 8 of the recommended changes (5%) were declined by the clinicians. The average monthly DOT for all types of antibiotics declined significantly from 2,213 to 1,681 (24% decrease; P = .04). Reductions in DOT for the most common broad-spectrum antibiotics included colistin from 303 to 276 (P = .75); imipenem-cilastatin 434 to 248 (P = .06); doripenem 150 to 144 (P = .85). Piperacillin-tazobactam increased from 122 to 142 (P = 0.75). Conclusions: We demonstrated that daily review of cultures and antibiotic use decreased overall antibiotic prescribing. Given that few recommendations included discontinuation of therapy, ASP rounds likely raised awareness for clinicians to optimize antibiotic use.
Funding: None
Disclosures: None
Six-year multicenter study on short-term peripheral venous catheters-related bloodstream infection rates in 727 intensive care units of 268 hospitals in 141 cities of 42 countries of Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, and Western Pacific Regions: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) findings
- Víctor Daniel Rosenthal, Ider Bat-Erdene, Debkishore Gupta, Souad Belkebir, Prasad Rajhans, Farid Zand, Sheila Nainan Myatra, Majeda Afeef, Vito L. Tanzi, S. Muralidharan, Hail M. Al-Abdely, Amani El-Kholy, Safa A. Aziz AlKhawaja, Ali Pekcan Demiroz, Yatin Mehta, Vineya Rai, Nguyen Viet Hung, Amani F. Sayed, Estuardo Salgado-Yepez, Naheed Elahi, María del Rayo Morfin-Otero, Montri Luxsuwong, Braulio Matias De-Carvalho, Audrey Rose D. Tapang, Velmira Angelova Velinova, Ana Marcela Quesada-Mora, Tanja Anguseva, Aamer Ikram, Daisy Aguilar-de-Moros, Wieslawa Duszynska, Nepomuceno Mejia, Florin George Horhat, Vladislav Belskiy, Vesna Mioljevic, Gabriela Di-Silvestre, Katarina Furova, May Osman Gamar-Elanbya, Umesh Gupta, Khalid Abidi, Lul Raka, Xiuqin Guo, Kushlani Jayatilleke, Najla Ben-Jaballah, Harrison Ronald Sandoval-Castillo, Andrew Trotter, Sandra L. Valderrama-Beltrán, Hakan Leblebicioglu, Humberto Guanche-Garcell, Miriam de Lourdes-Dueñas
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- Journal:
- Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology / Volume 41 / Issue 5 / May 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 18 March 2020, pp. 553-563
- Print publication:
- May 2020
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Background:
Short-term peripheral venous catheter–related bloodstream infection (PVCR-BSI) rates have not been systematically studied in resource-limited countries, and data on their incidence by number of device days are not available.
Methods:Prospective, surveillance study on PVCR-BSI conducted from September 1, 2013, to May 31, 2019, in 727 intensive care units (ICUs), by members of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), from 268 hospitals in 141 cities of 42 countries of Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South East Asia, and Western Pacific regions. For this research, we applied definition and criteria of the CDC NHSN, methodology of the INICC, and software named INICC Surveillance Online System.
Results:We followed 149,609 ICU patients for 731,135 bed days and 743,508 short-term peripheral venous catheter (PVC) days. We identified 1,789 PVCR-BSIs for an overall rate of 2.41 per 1,000 PVC days. Mortality in patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 6.67%, and mortality was 18% in patients with PVC and PVCR-BSI. The length of stay of patients with PVC but without PVCR-BSI was 4.83 days, and the length of stay was 9.85 days in patients with PVC and PVCR-BSI. Among these infections, the microorganism profile showed 58% gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (16%), Klebsiella spp (11%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6%), Enterobacter spp (4%), and others (20%) including Serratia marcescens. Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant gram-positive bacteria (12%).
Conclusions:PVCR-BSI rates in INICC ICUs were much higher than rates published from industrialized countries. Infection prevention programs must be implemented to reduce the incidence of PVCR-BSIs in resource-limited countries.
11 - South Korean Multinational Enterprises and Vietnam SMEs’ Participation in Global Production Networks in the Context of Increased ASEAN and East Asian Regional Economic Integration
- from PART 2 - MULTINATIONAL ENTERPRISE STUDIES
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- By Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Chief Economist, Development and Policies Research Center (DEPOCEN, Vietnam), Nguyen Thi Tuong Anh, Vice Dean, Faculty of International Economics, Foreign Trade University, Hanoi, Nguyen Ngoc Minh, Senior Researcher, Development and Policies Research Center (DEPOCEN, Vietnam), Nguyen Thi Phuong Mai, Deputy Director, Development and Policies Research Center (DEPOCEN, Vietnam)
- Edited by Cassey Lee, Dionisius Ardiyanto Narjoko, Sothea Oum
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- Book:
- SMEs and Economic Integration in Southeast Asia
- Published by:
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Published online:
- 06 September 2019
- Print publication:
- 29 April 2019, pp 514-549
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Summary
Introduction
During the last decade, Asian countries, especially East and Southeast Asia countries, have witnessed an ever increasing trend of regional integration with the dramatic proliferation of regional free trade agreements (FTAs), both concluded and still in the process of negotiation. This process of regional economic integration has been driven by the mutually reinforcing market forces and trade agreements (regional and preferential). According to data from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the number of FTAs involving at least one Asian country has almost doubled, from 124 in 2005 to 220 in 2016. In addition, there are 67 FTAs being proposed and pending negotiation. This phenomenon is referred to as the “Asian noodle bowl” with the economies of ASEAN and East Asia becoming increasingly integrated. According to data from ADB, the 16 ASEAN+6 countries (10 ASEAN members plus Australia, PRC, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand) account disproportionately for over 62 per cent of total FTAs (being in effect and in negotiation) of the total 48 ADB member countries/economies in Asia.
The most important market force that drives international trade in recent years is the rise of global production networks operated by multinationals in which firms slice up a production chain into small production stages and then assigning them each to the most cost effective location across borders (ADB 2010; Helpman 2011). Globally operating firms have been taking advantage of these factors to exploit differences in factor prices (i.e. inputs and low-skilled labour) around the world (Blinder 2006; Baldwin-Edwards 2011) and multinationals are at the forefront of global production networks taking advantage of reductions of trade barriers, rapid advancements in production technology, and a decrease in transport and communication costs as explained by Athukorala (2013). He explains that firstly “rapid advancements in production technology have enabled the industry to slice up the value chain into finer, ‘portable’, components” (i.e. modular production technology with “standard fragments”); secondly “technological innovations in communication and transportation have shrunk the distance that once separated the world's nations, and improved speed, efficiency and economy of coordinating geographically dispersed production process”, and thirdly the “liberalization policy reforms across the world over the past four decades have considerably removed barriers to trade and foreign direct investment (FDI)”.
Strategic Violence during Democratization: Evidence from Myanmar
- Darin Christensen, Mai Nguyen, Renard Sexton
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- Journal:
- World Politics / Volume 71 / Issue 2 / April 2019
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 12 March 2019, pp. 332-366
- Print publication:
- April 2019
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Democratic transitions are often followed by conflict. This article explores one explanation: the military’s strategic use of violence to retain control of economically valuable regions. The authors uncover this dynamic in Myanmar, a country transitioning from four decades of military rule. Fearing that the new civilian government will assert authority over jade mining, the military initiated violence in mining townships. Using geocoded data on conflict and jade mines, the authors find evidence for this strategic use of violence. As Myanmar started to transition in 2011, conflicts instigated by the military in jademining areas sharply rose. The article also addresses alternative explanations, including a shift in the military’s strategy, colocation of mines and military headquarters, commodity prices, opposition to a controversial dam, and trends specific to Kachin State. With implications beyond Myanmar, the authors argue that outgoing generals can use instability to retain rents where plausible challengers to state authority provide a pretense for violence.
Size-controlled Preparation of Alkylamine-stabilized Copper Fine Particles from Cupric Oxide (CuO) Micro-particles
- Tetsu Yonezawa, Jiajia Shi, Hiroki Tsukamoto, Mai Thanh Nguyen
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- Journal:
- MRS Advances / Volume 4 / Issue 7 / 2019
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 February 2019, pp. 413-418
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- 2019
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Size control of copper fine particles is highly important for their application for conductive materials. In this study, easy size tuning of the copper fine particles coated by n-hexylamine was achieved via controlling the ratio of n-hexylamine and the precursor CuO. The obtained particles were stable and had a hydrophobic surface. TG-DTA measurement revealed the formation of thin layer of n-hexylamine on the particles.
Monitor the Growth and Oxidation of Cu-nanoparticles in PEG after Sputtering
- Yuen-ting Rachel Chau, Lianlian Deng, Mai Thanh Nguyen, Tetsu Yonezawa
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- Journal:
- MRS Advances / Volume 4 / Issue 5-6 / 2019
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 24 January 2019, pp. 305-309
- Print publication:
- 2019
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Metallic Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) were obtained via sputtering of Cu target onto liquid polymer, i.e., poly(ethylene glycol), PEG, under vacuum condition. The Cu NPs growth significantly right after the sputtering deposition from 3.1 nm to 4.1 nm in 4 hours as monitored by TEM. There was negligible growth of NPs for longer time and completely PEG acts as the coating material of Cu NPs so no agglomeration was observed for 1 week. The challenge of characterization of Cu NPs was also discussed.
2047 Mental illness public stigma, culture, and acculturation among Vietnamese Americans
- Mai Do, Jennifer McCleary, Diem Nguyen, Keith Winfrey
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- Journal:
- Journal of Clinical and Translational Science / Volume 2 / Issue S1 / June 2018
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 21 November 2018, pp. 17-19
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OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Stigma has been recognized as a major impediment to accessing mental health care among Vietnamese and Asian Americans (Leong and Lau, 2001; Sadavoy et al., 2004; Wynaden et al., 2005; Fong and Tsuang, 2007). The underutilization of mental health care, and disparities in both access and outcomes have been attributed to a large extent to stigma and cultural characteristics of this population (Wynaden et al., 2005; Jang et al., 2009; Leung et al., 2010; Spencer et al., 2010; Jimenez et al., 2013; Augsberger et al., 2015). People with neurotic or behavioral disorders may be considered “bad” as many Vietnamese people believe it is a consequence of one’s improper behavior in a previous life, for which the person is now being punished (Nguyen, 2003). Mental disorders can also been seen as a sign of weakness, which contributes to ambivalence and avoidance of help-seeking (Fong and Tsuang, 2007). Equally important is the need to protect family reputation; having emotional problems often implies that the person has “bad blood” or is being punished for the sins of his/her ancestors (Herrick and Brown, 1998; Leong and Lau, 2001), which disgraces the entire family (Wynaden et al., 2005). In these cases, public stigma (as opposed to internal stigma) is the primary reason for delays in seeking help (Leong and Lau, 2001). Other research has also highlighted the influences of culture on how a disorder may be labeled in different settings, although the presentation of symptoms might be identical (see Angel and Thoits, 1987). In Vietnamese culture, mental disorders are often labeled điên (literally translated as “madness”). A điên person and his or her family are often severely disgraced; consequently the individuals and their family become reluctant to disclose and seek help for mental health problems for fear of rejection (Sadavoy et al., 2004). Despite the critical role of stigma in accessing mental health care, there has been little work in trying to understand how stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illness among Vietnamese Americans manifest themselves and the influences of acculturation on these attitudes. Some previous work indicated a significant level of mental illness stigma among Vietnamese Americans, and experiences of living in the United States might interact with the way stigma manifests among this population (Do et al., 2014). Stigma is a complex construct that warrants a deeper and more nuanced understanding (Castro et al., 2005). Much of the development of stigma-related concepts was based on the classic work by Goffman (1963); he defined stigma as a process by which an individual internalizes stigmatizing characteristics and develops fears and anxiety about being treated differently from others. Public stigma (defined by Corrigan, 2004) includes the general public’s negative beliefs about specific groups, in this case individuals and families with mental illness concerns, that contribute to discrimination. Public stigma toward mental illness acts not only as a major barrier to care, but can also exacerbate anxiety, depression, and adherence to treatment (Link et al., 1999; Sirey et al., 2001; Britt et al., 2008; Keyes et al., 2010). Link and Phelan (2001) conceptualized public stigma through four major components. The first component, labeling, occurs when people distinguish and label human differences that are socially relevant, for example, skin color. In the second component, stereotyping, cultural beliefs link the labeled persons to undesirable characteristics either in the mind or the body of such persons, for example people who are mentally ill are violent. The third component is separating “us” (the normal people) from “them” (the mentally ill) by the public. Finally, labeled persons experience status loss and discrimination, where they are devalued, rejected and excluded. Link and Phelan (2001) emphasized that stigmatization also depends on access to social, economic, and political power that allows these components to unfold. This study aims to answer the following research questions: (1) how does public stigma related to mental illness manifest among Vietnamese Americans? and (2) in what ways does acculturation influence stigma among this population? We investigate how the 4 components of stigma according to Link and Phelan (2001) operationalized and how they depend on the level of acculturation to the host society. Vietnamese Americans is the key ethnic minority group for this study for several reasons. Vietnamese immigration, which did not start in large numbers until the 1970s, has features that allow for a natural laboratory for comparisons of degree of acculturation. Previous research has shown significant intergenerational differences in the level of acculturation and mental health outcomes (e.g., Shapiro et al., 1999; Chung et al., 2000; Ying and Han, 2007). In this study, we used age group as a proxy indicator of acculturation, assuming that those who were born and raised in the United States (the 18–35 year olds) would be more Americanized than those who were born in Vietnam but spent a significant part of their younger years in the United States (the 36–55 year olds), and those who were born and grew up in Vietnam (the 56–75 year olds) would be most traditional Vietnamese. The language used in focus group discussions (FGDs) reflected some of the acculturation, where all FGDs with the youngest groups were done in English, and all FGDs with the oldest groups were done in Vietnamese. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Data were collected through a set of FGDs and key informant interviews (KIIs) with experts to explore the conceptualization and manifestation of mental illness public stigma among Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans. Six FGDs with a total of 51 participants were conducted. Participants were Vietnamese American men and women ages 18–75. Stratification was used to ensure representation in the following age/immigration pattern categories: (1) individuals age 56–75 who were born and grew up in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States after age 35; (2) individuals age 36–55 who were born in Vietnam but spent a significant part of their youth in the United States; and (3) individuals age 18–35 who were born and grew up in the United States. These groups likely represent different levels of acculturation, assuming that people who migrate at a younger age are more likely to assimilate to the host society than those who do at a later age. Separate FGDs were conducted with men and women. Eleven KIIS were conducted with 6 service providers and 5 community and religious leaders. In this analysis, we focused on mental illness public stigma from the FGD participants’ perspectives. FGDs were conducted in either English or Vietnamese, whichever participants felt more comfortable with, using semistructured interview guides. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English if conducted in Vietnamese. Data coding and analysis was done using NVivo version 11 (QSR International, 2015). The analysis process utilized a Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) approach, a validated and well-established approach to collecting and analyzing qualitative data. CQR involves gathering textual data through semistructured interviews or focus groups, utilizing a data analysis process that fosters multiple perspectives, a consensus process to arrive at judgments about the meaning of data, an auditor to check the work of the research team, and the development of domains, core-ideas, and cross-analysis (Hill et al., 2005). The study was reviewed and approved by Tulane University’s Internal Review Board. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Components of public stigma related to mental illness. The 4 components of public stigma manifest to different extents within the Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans. Labeling was among the strongest stigma components, while the evidence of the other components was mixed. Across groups of participants, Vietnamese Americans agreed that it was a common belief that people with mental disorders were “crazy,” “acting crazy,” or “madness.” “Not normal,” “sad,” and “depressed” were among other words used to describe the mentally ill. However, there were clear differences between younger and older Vietnamese on how they viewed these conditions. The youngest groups of participants tended to recognize the “craziness” and “madness” as a health condition that one would need to seek help for, whereas the oldest groups often stated that these conditions were short term and likely caused by family or economic problems, such as a divorce, or a bankruptcy. The middle-aged groups were somewhere in between. The evidence supporting the second component, stereotyping, was not strong among Vietnamese Americans. Most FGD participants agreed that although those with mental disorders may act differently, they were not distinguishable. In a few extreme cases, mentally ill individuals were described as petty thefts or being violent towards their family members. Similarly to the lack of strong evidence of stereotyping, there was also no evidence of the public separating the mentally ill (“them”) from “us”. It was nearly uniformly reported that they felt sympathetic to those with mental disorders and their family, and that they all recognized that they needed help, although the type of help was perceived differently across groups. The older participants often saw that emotional and financial support was needed to help individuals and families to pass through a temporary phase, whereas younger participants often reported that professional help was necessary. The last component, status loss and discrimination, had mixed evidence. While nearly no participants reported any explicit discriminatory behaviors observed and practiced towards individuals with mental disorders and their families, words like “discrimination” and “stigma” were used in all FGDs to describe direct social consequences of having a mental disorder. Social exclusion was common. Our older participants said: “They see less of you, when they see a flaw in you they don’t talk to you or care about you. That’s one thing the Vietnamese people are bad at, spreading false rumors and discrimination” (Older women FGD). One’s loss of status seemed certain if their or their loved one’s mental health status was disclosed. Shame, embarrassment, and being “frowned upon” were direct consequences of one’s mental health status disclosure and subsequently gossiped about. Anyone with mental disorders was certain to experience this, and virtually everyone in the community would reportedly do this to such a family. “You get frowned upon. In the Vietnamese culture, that’s [a family identified as one with mental health problems] the big no-no right there. When everybody frowns upon your family and your family name, that’s when it becomes a problem” (Young men FGD). This is tied directly to what our participants described as Vietnamese culture, where pride and family reputation were such a high priority that those with mental disorders needed to go to a great extent to protect—“We all know what saving face means” as reported by our young participants. Even among young participants, despite their awareness of mental illness and the need for professional help, the desire to avoid embarrassment and save face was so strong that one would think twice about seeking help. “No, you just don’t want to get embarrassed. I don’t want to go to the damn doctor and be like ‘Oh yeah, my brother got an issue. You can help him?’ Why would I do that? That’s embarrassing to myself…” (Young men FGD). Our middle-aged participants also reported: “If I go to that clinic [mental health or counseling clinic], I am hoping and praying that I won’t bump into somebody that I know from the community” (Middle-aged women FGD). Vietnamese people were also described as being very competitive among themselves, which led to the fact that if a family was known for having any problem, gossips would start and spread quickly wherever they go, and pretty soon, the family would be looked down by the entire community. “I think for Vietnamese people, they don’t help those that are in need. They know of your situation and laugh about it, see less of you, and distant themselves from you” (Older women FGD). Culture and mental illness stigma, much of the described stigma and discrimination expressed, and consequently the reluctance to seek help, was attributed to the lack of awareness of mental health and of mental health disorders. Many study participants across groups also emphasized a belief that Vietnamese Americans were often known for their perseverance and resilience, overcoming wars and natural disasters on their own. Mental disorders were reportedly seen as conditions that individuals and families needed to overcome on their own, rather than asking for help from outsiders. This aspect of Vietnamese culture is intertwined with the need to protect one’s family’s reputation, being passed on from one generation to the next, reinforcing the beliefs that help for mental disorders should come from within oneself and one’s family only. Consequently persons with mental health problems would be “Keeping it to themselves. Holding it in and believing in the power of their friends” (Middle-aged FGD) instead of seeking help. Another dimension of culture that was apparent from FGDs (as well as KIIs) was the mistrust in Western medicine. Not understanding how counseling or medicines work made one worry about approaching service providers or staying in treatment. The habit of Vietnamese people to only go see a doctor if they are sick with physical symptoms was also a hindrance to acknowledging mental illness and seeking care for it. Challenges, including the lack of vocabulary to express mental illness and symptoms, in the Vietnamese language, exaggerated the problem, even among those who had some understanding of mental disorders. It was said in the young men FGD that: “when you classify depression as an illness, no one wants to be sick,… if you call it an illness, no one wants to have that sort of illness, and it’s not an illness that you can physically see…” (Young men FGD). Another young man summarized so well the influence of culture on mental illness stigma: “Us Southeast Asian, like, from my parents specifically has Vietnam War refugees. I think the reason why they don’t talk about it is because it’s a barrier that they have to overcome themselves, right? As refugees, as people who have been through the war… [omitted]They don’t want to believe that they need help, and so the trauma that they carry when they give birth to us is carried on us as well. But due to the language barrier and also the, like, they say with the whole health care, in Vietnam I know that they don’t really believe in Western and Eurocentric medicine. So, from their understanding of how, like from their experience with colonization or French people, and how medicine works, they don’t believe in it” (Young men FGD). One characteristic of the Vietnamese culture that was also often mentioned by our FGD participants (as well as KIIs) was the lack of sharing and openness between generations, even within a family. Grandparents, parents, and children do not usually share and discuss each other’s problems. Parents and grandparents do not talk about problems because they need to appear strong and good in front of their children; children do not talk about problems because they are supposed to do well in all aspects, particularly in school. The competitiveness of Vietnamese and high expectations of younger generations again come into play here and create a vicious cycle. Young people are expected to do well in school, which put pressure on them and may result in mental health problems, yet, they cannot talk about it with their parents because they are not supposed to feel bad about school, and sharing is not encouraged. The Asian model minority myth and the expectations of parents that their children would do well in school and become doctors and lawyers were cited by many as a cause of mental health problems among young people. “Our parents are refugees, they had nothing and our parents want us to achieve this American Dream…. [omitted] It set expectations and images for us…. It was expected for all the Asians to be in the top 10, and for, like a little quick minute I thought I wasn’t going to make it, I was crying” (Yong men FGD). As a result, the mental health problems get worse. “If you’re feeling bad about something, you don’t feel like you can talk about it with anyone else, especially your family, because it is not something that is encouraged to be talked about anyway, so if you are feeling poorly and you don’t feel like you could talk to anybody, I think that just perpetuates the bad feelings” (Middle-aged women FGD). Acculturation and mental illness stigma Acculturation, the degree of assimilation to the host society, has changed some of the understanding of mental illness and stigmatizing attitudes. Differences across generations expressed in different FGDs indicated differences in perceptions towards mental illness that could be attributed to acculturation. For example, the young generation understood that mental illness was a health problem that was prevalent but less recognized in the Vietnamese community, whereas a prominent theme among the older participants was that mental illness was a temporary condition due to psychological stress, that it was a condition that only Caucasians had. Some of the components of public stigma related to mental illness seemed to vary between generations, for example the youngest participants were less likely to put a label on a person with mental health problems, or to stereotype them, compared to the oldest and middle-aged participants. This was attributed to their education, exposure to the media and information, and to them “being more Americanized.” However, there was no evidence that acculturation played an important role in changing the other components of public stigma, including stereotyping, separating, and status loss and discrimination. For example, the need to protect the family reputation was so important that our young participants shared: “If you damage their image, they will disown you before you damage that image” (Young men FGD). Young people, more likely to recognize mental health problems, were also more likely to share within the family and to seek help, but no more likely than their older counterparts to share outside of the family—“maybe you would go to counseling or go to therapy, but you wouldn’t tell people you’re doing that” (Young women FGD). The youngest participants in our study were facing a dilemma, in which they recognized mental health problems and the need for care, yet were still reluctant to seek care or talk about it publicly because of fears of damaging the family reputation and not living up to the parents’ expectations. Many young participants reported that it actually made it very difficult for them to navigate mental health issues between the 2 cultures, despite the awareness of the resources available. “I think it actually makes it harder. Only because you know to your parents and the culture, and your own people, it’s taboo, and it’s something that you don’t talk about. Just knowing that you have the resources to go seek it… You want advice from your family also, but you can’t connect the appointment to your family because you’re afraid to express that to your parents, you know? So I think that plays a big part, and knowing that you are up and coming, but you don’t want to do something to disappoint your family because they are so traditional” (Young men FGD). Some participants felt more comfortable talking about mental health problems, like depression, if it was their friend who experienced it and confided in them, but they would not necessarily felt open if it was their problem. Subtle cultural differences like this are likely overlooked by Western service providers. One older participant summarized it well “They [the young generation] are more Americanized. They are more open to other things [but] I think that mental health is still a barrier.” DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This study investigated how different components of public stigma related to mental illness manifest among Vietnamese Americans, a major ethnic group in the United States, and how acculturation may influence such stigma. The findings highlighted important components of public stigma, including labeling and status loss, but did not provide strong evidence of the other components within our study population. Strong cultural beliefs underlined the understanding of mental health and mental illness in general, and how people viewed people with mental illness. Several findings have been highlighted in previous studies with Asian immigrants elsewhere; for example, a study from the perspectives of health care providers in Canada found that the unfamiliarity with Western biomedicine and spiritual beliefs and practices of immigrant women interacted with social stigma in preventing immigrants from accessing care (O’Mahony and Donnelly, 2007). Fancher et al. (2010) reported similar findings regarding stigma, traditional beliefs about medicine, and culture among Vietnamese Americans. Acculturation played a role in changing stigmatizing attitudes as evidenced in intergenerational differences. However, being more Americanized did not equate to being more open, having less stigmatizing attitudes, or being more willing to seek care for mental health issues. Consistent with previous studies (Pedersen and Paves, 2014), we still found some level of stigma among young people aged 18–35, although some components were lessened with an increased level of acculturation. There was also a conflict among the younger generation, in which the need for mental health care was recognized but accessing care was no easier for them than for their parent and grandparent generations. The study’s findings are useful to adapt existing instruments to measure stigma to this population. The findings also have important program implications. One, they can be directly translated into basic supports for local primary and behavioral health care providers. Two, they can also be used to guide and inform the development and evaluation of an intervention and an additional study to validate the findings in other immigrant ethnic groups in the United States. Finally, based on results of the study, we can develop a conceptual framework that describes pathways through which social, cultural, and ecological factors can influence stigma and the ways in which stigma acts as a barrier to accessing mental health care among Vietnamese Americans. The guiding framework then can be validated and applied in future programs aimed to improve mental health care utilization among ethnic minorities.
Strongyloides stercoralis seroprevalence in Vietnam
- NGUYEN THI NGOC DIEP, PHAM QUANG THAI, NGHIEM NGUYEN MINH TRANG, JULIA JÄGER, ANNETTE FOX, PETER HORBY, HOANG VU MAI PHUONG, DANG DUC ANH, LE THI QUYNH MAI, H. ROGIER VAN DOORN, BEHZAD NADJM
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- Journal:
- Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 145 / Issue 15 / November 2017
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 17 October 2017, pp. 3214-3218
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Strongyloidiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the roundworm Strongyloides stercoralis affecting 30–100 million people worldwide. Many Southeast-Asian countries report a high prevalence of S. stercoralis infection, but there are little data from Vietnam. Here, we evaluated the seroprevalence of S. stercoralis related to geography, sex and age in Vietnam through serological testing of anonymized sera. Sera (n = 1710, 1340 adults and 270 children) from an anonymized age-stratified serum bank from four regions in Vietnam between 2012 and 2013 were tested using a commercial Strongyloides ratti immunoglobulin G ELISA. Seroreactivity was found in 29·1% (390/1340) of adults and 5·5% (15/270) of children. Male adults were more frequently seroreactive than females (33·3% vs. 24·9%, P = 0·001). The rural central highlands had the highest seroprevalence (42·4% of adults). Seroreactivity in the other regions was 29·9% (Hue) and 26·0% and 18·2% in the large urban centres of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, respectively. We conclude that seroprevalence of S. stercoralis was high in the Vietnamese adult population, especially in rural areas.
Up and Coming Book from the same Author
- Mai Nguyen-Phuong-Mai
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- Book:
- Intercultural Communication: An Interdisciplinary Approach
- Published by:
- Amsterdam University Press
- Published online:
- 06 January 2021
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- 22 May 2017, pp 289-290
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