Knowledge of common cancers among new-entry health science students in Japan and Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality rates of cancer are rapidly increasing worldwide. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of common cancers among new-entry health science students in Japan and Vietnam, thereby providing insights for implementing appropriate medical educational interventions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among new-entry health science students at Hiroshima University, Japan, and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A printed predesigned questionnaire consisting of eleven questions was distributed to the participants during the freshmen health screening at the beginning of the academic year to assess their knowledge of cancer. RESULTS: A total of 2,748 new-entry health science students participated in the study, including 394 (14.3%) Japanese students and 2,354 (85.7%) Vietnamese students. Most cancer knowledge levels in Japanese students were significantly higher than those in Vietnamese students (p < 0.001), except for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection awareness. For this understanding, only 14.8% of Japanese students selected the correct answer, which was significantly lower than the 22.4% of Vietnamese students (p = 0.001). Both the Japanese and Vietnamese students had limited knowledge regarding the connection between HPV infection and cancer and the link between estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy and breast cancer. Additionally, female students had better knowledge about breast, skin, and endometrial cancers than male students. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese students generally exhibited higher levels of cancer knowledge than Vietnamese students, except for HPV infection recognition. Both groups had limited knowledge regarding the connection between HPV infection and cancer and the relationship between estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy and breast cancer.

Association of mental health conditions and functional gastrointestinal disorders among Vietnamese new-entry medical students.

BACKGROUND: Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), also known as disorders of gut-brain interaction, occur not only in the elderly but also in young adults. This study aimed to evaluate the association between mental health conditions and FGIDs among Vietnamese new-entry medical students. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2022 among new-entry medical students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. A printed questionnaire was distributed to all students on the day of freshmen health screening. Their urine samples were collected to screen for Helicobacter pylori infection using rapid urinary test. FGIDs were diagnosed using ROME IV criteria. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was defined as the presence of typical reflux symptoms at least twice a week. Mental health conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), were identified using Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales, respectively. RESULTS: Among 400 new-entry medical students who participated in the study, the overall prevalence of FGIDs was 10.3% (functional dyspepsia 6.5%, irritable bowel disease 5.5%). The overlap syndrome (OS) of GERD-FGIDs or different FGIDs was present in 3.0% of participants. The prevalences of GAD and MDD were 6.8% and 10.2%, respectively. The urinary test was positive in 180 (45.0%) participants. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, MDD was significantly associated with not only the risk of FGIDs (OR = 5.599, 95%CI: 2.173-14.430, p<0.001) but also the risk of OS (OR = 10.076, 95CI%: 2.243-45.266, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: MDD is associated with FGIDs and OS among new-entry medical students.

Assessment of COVID-19 Preventive Practice and Associated Factors Among Educators in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Educators play a critical role in offering knowledge that is vital to preventing the spread of the COVID-19 in educational settings. This study aims to assess the proportion of preventive practices towards COVID-19 and associated factors among educators in Vietnam. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on educators at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP) using a self-administered questionnaire between June and August 2020. Online surveys and a multivariable logistic regression analysis were used to determine factors associated with practices. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were performed using Stata 14. RESULTS: A total of 779 eligible participants were approached, most of them under 50 years (84.1%), around three-fifth were female (61.0%) and lecturers (61.1%), with only 38.1% of them working at hospitals. Overall, the majority of participants had good preventive practices towards COVID-19 (88.6%). Factors identified as being associated with good practices included participants who are lecturers (AOR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.05-2.97), attending training courses related to COVID-19 (AOR 1.7, 95% CI: 1.05-2.87), working at hospitals (AOR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.28-4.76) and having a higher level of knowledge and attitude relating to COVID-19 (AOR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.52-5.17; AOR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.70-4.48, respectively) (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings revealed that most educators reported a good level of preventive practices towards COVID-19. However, lower levels of practices still exist towards COVID-19 among participants who were administrative staff and have less access to training courses related to COVID-19, who reported that they did not work at the hospital and had a lower level of knowledge and attitude related to COVID-19. Because of the important role of educators in the education system, this study is expected to help education and health authorities implement suitable interventions to fill the gaps in practices between educators.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards COVID-19 Among Healthcare Students in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare students are a force that will aid healthcare workers in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices (KAP) towards COVID-19 for this population in Vietnam. METHODS: An online-based cross-sectional survey was considered with all students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City (UMP), Vietnam, between June and August 2020. A structured questionnaire was used to assess KAP towards COVID-19 with response having considerable data missing in the areas of KAP being excluded from the analysis. All data were analysed by using STATA 14 software, to determine the factors associated with preventive practices, and a multivariable regression analysis was performed, along with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: A total of 2351 eligible participants completed the survey, 65.6% of whom were female, and their mean age was 21.9 years old (SD = 2.7). Almost all had sufficient knowledge (86.6%) and good preventive practice (92.8%) towards COVID-19; however, there was also a rather low level of positive attitude recorded, at 68.8%. The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the female participants, and the receiving of information from the official websites, reported a significantly higher level of good practice. Besides, students who had a high level of sufficient knowledge and positive attitude towards COVID-19 were more likely to have good preventive practices (All p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrated good preventive practice towards COVID-19; however, sufficient knowledge and positive attitude were lower. Therefore, it is an identified requirement to continue with additional education and training strategies to offer a better understanding and positive viewpoint of the pandemic for all students, including healthcare students.