Increase in human immunodeficiency virus and syphilis prevalence and incidence among men who have sex with men, vietnam 2015 - 2020.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed trends in HIV and syphilis prevalence, HIV incidence, related risk factors, and preventive behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vietnam from 2015 to 2020. METHODS: Data originated from the HIV Sentinel Surveillance Plus system, which sampled MSM at venues and hotspots in seven of Vietnam's 63 provinces in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020 (N = 1100-1445 per year; ∼150-300 per province per year). RESULTS: HIV prevalence estimates increased from 6.6% (95% CI 4.5-9.6) in 2015 to 13.8% (95% CI 10.5-18.2, p = .001 for trend) in 2020 overall, and separately in An Giang, Can Tho, Hai Phong, and Khanh Hoa provinces but not in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Kien Giang. Syphilis prevalence increased from 2.7% (95% CI 1.4-5.1) in 2015 to 12.6% (95% CI 8.7-18.0) in 2020 overall (p < .001 for trend), and separately in An Giang, Can Tho, and Hai Phong provinces but not in Ho Chi Minh City or Kien Giang. We calculated time-at-risk from first anal sex to first HIV-positive or last HIV-negative test to estimate HIV incidence. Estimated HIV incidence suggested increasing rates of seroconversion from 1.36 per 100 person-years experienced by participants in 2015 to 2.61 per 100 person-years among participants in 2020 (hazard ratio per year 1.13, 95% CI 1.08-1.18, p < .001). There was a statistically significant increase in HIV testing, STI testing, and receipt of free condoms over the period (p < .05 for trend), and a statistically significant decrease in amphetamine use (p = .043 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: Despite prevention efforts and improvements in some risk indicators, consecutive cross-sectional sampling results provide evidence of increasing incidence of HIV and syphilis among MSM in Vietnam, especially outside the major cities. Aggressive HIV prevention and treatment services can be expanded while conducting deeper investigations into the causes of these increases.

Estimated population size of the people who inject drugs in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam: A two survey capture-recapture study using respondent driven sampling.

To develop an appropriate programmatic response to the concentrated HIV epidemic, program managers require reliable estimates of the sizes of the key populations. This study attempts to estimate the population size of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Thai Nguyen-a province in the northern part of Vietnam. Two source capture-recapture population size estimates were calculated using data from two respondent driven sampling survey rounds conducted in 5 selected districts from May to August 2019. The population size of the PWID was calculated based on the number of PWID recruited in each survey and 'recaptured' during the first and the second survey. Additionally, personal network size data collected in the RDS was used to measure the population of PWID using the Successive Sampling Population Size Estimate (SS-PSE) method. The population of PWID estimated in five selected districts using the two capture-recapture method (CRC) (median = 5,396, 95% CI: 4,011-9,100) was slightly lower than estimated using SS-PSE with RDS survey 1 (median = 5,580, 95% CI: 3,024-9,272) and higher than when using SS-PSE with RDS survey 2 (median = 4,793; 95% CI: 2,310-8,618). The provincial PWID population estimates based on various approaches (e.g. extrapolation based on the prevalence of PWID in the districts) ranged from 6,498 (95% CI: 4,829-10,957) to around 6,807 (95% CI: 5,341-10,527). A provincial estimate of 6,782 PWID, with a confidence interval ranging from 5,312 to 10,527, will help guide planning and resource allocation to support appropriate levels of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services in the Thai Nguyen province.

Population Size Estimation of Female Sex Workers in Hai Phong, Vietnam: Use of Three Source Capture-Recapture Method.

INTRODUCTION: A study was conducted in three districts in Hai Phong province, Vietnam to estimate the population size of the Female Sex Workers (FSW) in June-July 2019. METHODS: The procedures included selection of three districts, compilation of a list of accessible venues where FSW congregate, distribution of first unique objects (first capture) and second unique objects (second capture) to FSW in randomly selected venues and implementation of a Mini-Respondent Driven Sampling (mRDS) Survey (third capture). Population size of the FSW was calculated based on the number of FSW in each round, number of FSW 'recaptured' during the second and the third captures. Additionally, personal network size data captured in the mRDS was used to measure the population of FSW within the three districts using Successive Sampling Population Size Estimates (SS-PSE). RESULTS: The total estimated FSWs in the three selected districts, using Three Source Capture-Recapture (3S-CRC) was 958, which is slightly lower than that estimated using SS-PSE - 1192. The 3S-CRC method yielded a provincial estimate of 1911 while the SS-PSE method resulted in a total of 2379 FSW for the province. CONCLUSION: Two techniques produced different PSE at both the district and the province levels and resulted in estimates lower than ones produced using programmatic data. For planning HIV prevention and care service needs among all FSWs, additional studies are needed to estimate the number of sex workers who are not venue-based and use social media platforms to sell services.

Psychoeducational Intervention for Symptom Management of Fatigue, Pain, and Sleep Disturbance Cluster Among Cancer Patients: A Pilot Quasi-Experimental Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility of conducting a trial of a psychoeducational intervention involving the provision of tailored information and coaching to improve management of a cancer-related symptom cluster (fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance) and reduce symptom cluster impacts on patient health outcomes in the Vietnamese context and to undertake a preliminary evaluation of the intervention. METHODS: A parallel-group single-blind pilot quasi-experimental trial was conducted with 102 cancer patients in one Vietnamese hospital. The intervention group received one face-to-face session and two phone sessions delivered by a nurse one week apart, and the comparison group received usual care. Patient outcomes were measured at baseline before the chemotherapy cycle and immediately preceding the next chemotherapy cycle. Separate linear mixed models were used to evaluate the impact of the intervention on total symptom cluster severity, symptom scores, functional status, depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life. RESULTS: The study design was feasible with a recruitment rate of 22.6% and attrition rate of 9.8%. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed a significant reduction in symptom cluster severity, fatigue severity, fatigue interference, sleep disturbance, depression, and anxiety. Significant differences were not observed for pain severity, pain interference, functional status, and health-related quality of life. The intervention was acceptable to the study population, with a high attendance rate of 78% and adherence rate of 95.7%. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the present study findings, future randomized controlled trials are needed to test the effectiveness of a symptom cluster psychoeducational intervention in Vietnam.

The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions in the management of symptom clusters in adult cancer patients: a systematic review protocol.

REVIEW QUESTION/OBJECTIVE: To what extent are non-pharmacological interventions effective in reducing symptom clusters in terms of presence, frequency and severity, compared with standard care?More specifically, the objectives are to: CENTER CONDUCTING THE REVIEW:: The Hanoi Medical University Nursing Research Center for Evidence Based Health Care: a Collaborating Centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute; and Centre for Evidence-based Healthy Aging: an Affiliate Centre of the Joanna Briggs Institute, School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Australia.

Palliative care knowledge, attitudes and perceived self-competence of nurses working in Vietnam.

AIM: To explore palliative care knowledge, attitudes and perceived self-competence of nurses working in oncology settings in Hanoi, Vietnam. METHOD: The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive survey design. The self-administered questionnaires consisted of three validated instruments: the Expertise and Insight Test for Palliative Care, the Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale B and the Palliative Care Nursing Self Competence Scale. The sample consisted of 251 nurses caring for cancer patients in three oncology hospitals in Vietnam. RESULTS: The responses identified low scores in nurses' palliative care knowledge related to pain and other symptom management and psychological and spiritual aspects. Nurses' responses reflected discomfort in communicating about death and establishing therapeutic relationship with oncology patients who require palliative care. Additionally, nurses reported low scores in perceived self-competence when providing pain management and addressing social and spiritual domains of palliative care. The findings also revealed that nurses who had higher palliative care knowledge scores demonstrated attitudes which were more positive and expressed greater perceived self-competence. CONCLUSION: Nurses working in oncology wards need more education to develop their knowledge and skills of palliative care, especially in the areas of pain management, psychological and spiritual care, and communication.