In silico identification of compounds from Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract inhibit interleukin-6 to prevent rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Medicinal herbs with a phytonutrient background has been applied globally as major alternatives to ameliorate the continuous increase in rheumatoid arthritis cases worldwide. We herein aimed to critically examine the bioactive components of the medicinal herb Piper sarmentosum Roxb leaf fractionated extract for its potential to inhibit the influx of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The Schrödinger platform was employed as the main computational acumen for the screening of bioactive compounds identified and reference compounds subjected to molecular simulation (MDS) for analyzing the stability of docked complexes to assess fluctuations and conformational changes during protein-ligand interactions. Results: The values of the simulatory properties and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the good stability of these phytochemicals in the active pocket of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Discussion: Our findings reveal new strategies in which these phytochemicals are potential inhibitory agents that can be modified and further evaluated to develop more effective agents for the management of rheumatoid arthritis, thereby providing a better understanding and useful model for the reproduction and/or discovery of new drugs for the management of rheumatoid arthritis and its complications.

Psychological Distress and its Association With Job Satisfaction Among Hospital Pharmacists in Vietnam.

Background: No previous studies have examined the relationship between stress, anxiety, and depression among pharmacists in Vietnam. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the correlation between stress, anxiety, depression, and job satisfaction among hospital pharmacists in Vietnam. Methods: The study comprised a 12-month cross-sectional survey in Can Tho City, Vietnam, with 11 conveniently selected hospitals. Out of 305 the distributed questionnaires, 303 were completed (99.3% response rate). The 21-item depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) assessed stress, anxiety, and depression (21 items), while job satisfaction was measured using a 44-item questionnaire. Results: The study revealed a prevalence of 15.5% for stress, 27.1% for anxiety, and 20.5% for depression among hospital staff. Additionally, the majority of hospital staff (72.9%) reported being satisfied with their job. Those with more than 2 children (95% CI = 1.183-14.519) were nearly 4 times as likely to experience higher stress. Female respondents (95% CI = 1.34-5.92) and those who rented (95% CI = 1.05-3.55) were more likely to encounter anxiety. Those living outside Can Tho City (95% CI = 1.32-9.88) were at a 3.61 times higher risk of depression, while individuals who had been working at the hospital for 5 to 10 years (95% CI = 0.17-0.82) had a lower risk of depression. Increased depression (aOR = 0.441; 95% CI = 0.21-0.94) was linked to job dissatisfaction. Conclusion: Depression was significantly associated with job dissatisfaction. The study findings suggest that management agencies should implement prevention and intervention strategies to reduce mental health issues among hospital pharmacists.

A Survey of Pharmacists and Other Healthcare Professionals in Vietnam: Factors Influencing Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Reporting Adverse Drug Reactions.

Background: Knowledge and attitudes of healthcare professionals are significant factors that affect the reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). No previous research has examined the predictors of knowledge and attitudes toward ADR reporting in Vietnam. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the factors (ie, demographic and job-related characteristics) associated with inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes toward ADR reporting in a Vietnamese public hospital. Methods: A survey recruited a cross-sectional sample of 511 healthcare professionals (with a response rate of 92.9%) at a public hospital in Vinh Long province, Vietnam, from December 2022 to February 2023, using a self-administered questionnaire. Factors related to knowledge and attitudes toward ADR reporting were identified using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Pharmacists had significantly lower knowledge scores (mean = 5.86) than medical practitioners (7.24) and nurses (6.72). Additionally, pharmacists' attitudes scored significantly lower (34.61) than those of medical practitioners (37.21) and nurses (36.86). Multivariate logistic regression showed that educational level, healthcare profession, monthly on-call shifts, and number of direct patient interactions were factors associated with a lower level of knowledge regarding ADR reporting. Additionally, age group and healthcare profession were identified as factors associated with negative attitudes toward ADR reporting among healthcare workers. Conclusions: Our study identified several factors associated with lower levels of knowledge and negative attitudes toward ADR reporting among healthcare workers in Vietnam. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and education programs to improve healthcare workers' knowledge and attitudes toward ADR reporting.

Expanded vaccination practice in 2-year-old children and maternal knowledge on expanded vaccination in Tien Giang, Vietnam.

Background: Vaccination plays a central role in protecting children against severe diseases and preventing child mortality. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the rate and factors associated with complete and timely vaccination in 2-year-old children, as well as maternal knowledge on expanded vaccination in Go Cong Tay district, Tien Giang province, Vietnam. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 558 2-year-old children and their mothers residing in Go Cong Tay district, Tien Giang province, Vietnam. The study employed a systematic random sampling method from June to September 2021. Results: The rate of complete vaccination in children was 74.7%. Factors associated with the rate of complete vaccination were occupation (OR=0.3; 95%CI: 0.1-0.7; p=0.006), economic status (OR=3.8; 95%CI: 1.7-8.6; p=0.001), and maternal general knowledge on expanded vaccination (OR=1.7; 95%CI: 1.1-2.6; p=0.01). The rate of timely vaccination was 47.8%. Factors associated with the rate of timely vaccination were maternal age group (OR=3.1; 95%CI: 1.6-6.0; p=0.001; OR=3.0; 95%CI: 1.3-6.6; p=0.006) and economic status (OR=0.4; 95%CI: 0.2-0.9; p=0.04). The rate of both complete and timely vaccination was 22.6%. Factors associated with the rate of complete and timely vaccination were maternal age group (OR=3.1; 95%CI: 1.3-7.2; p=0.009; OR=3.3; 95%CI: 1.2-9.1; p=0.02) and maternal general knowledge on expanded vaccination (OR=1.5; 95%CI: 1.0-2.4; p=0.03). The rate of maternal general knowledge on expanded vaccination was 57.5%. Conclusion: The rates of complete and timely vaccination are still low, and various factors influence expanded vaccination. The-refore, it is crucial to continue health education campaigns to improve knowledge on expanded vaccination, remind mothers of vaccination schedules, strengthen confidence in vaccination programs and vaccine safety, attract customers to vaccination services, provide adequate healthcare for children, and ensure vaccination activities during disease outbreaks.

Job satisfaction of hospital pharmacists in a representative province in Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is an important factor affecting job performance and turnover of healthcare workers, especially hospital pharmacists. Nevertheless, limited studies have reported this issue in the context of Vietnam. OBJECTIVES: To help maintain the quality and size of the limited hospital pharmacy workforce in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta area, this study investigated the job satisfaction of hospital pharmacists, and the associated factors, in Vinh Long province, a representative province in the central Mekong Delta. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted, recruiting hospital pharmacists working in all 17 province/district-affiliated healthcare facilities across Vinh Long province, Vietnam, between August and September 2022. RESULTS: Among the 235 survey participants (representing a response rate of 97.1%), 189 pharmacists (80.4%) reported that they were satisfied with their job. Working conditions, leadership styles, and benefits were factors found to significantly influence job satisfaction. Pharmacists who had worked in the field for 3-5 years (OR = 3.752, 95% CI = 1.036-13.595), more than 5 years (OR = 6.361, 95% CI = 2.264-17.875), did not have additional duties besides their primary responsibilities (OR = 2.046, 95% CI = 1.005-4.163), and worked in a private healthcare facility (OR = 12.021, 95% CI = 1.470-98.316), were significantly more likely to be satisfied with their job. CONCLUSIONS: Most hospital pharmacists were satisfied with their current job. To further improve job satisfaction in this population, further improvements to working conditions are necessary.

Effectiveness of a Health Education Program in Hypertensive Patients with Dyslipidemia and/or Microalbuminuria: A Quasi-Experimental Study in Vinh Long Province, Vietnam.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension, a major health concern, is associated with significant mortality and disease burden worldwide, including Vietnam. Comprehensive interventions targeting medication, lifestyle modifications, dyslipidemia (DLP), and microalbuminuria (MAU) are vital for effective hypertension management and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease complications (CDV). While medication interventions have proven efficacy, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of community-based health education interventions in managing DLP and MAU is limited. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of community health education interventions in reducing hypertension risk factors and achieving hypertension management objectives, as well as managing DLP and MAU among hypertension patients. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 330 hypertensive patients with dyslipidemia (DLP) and/or microalbuminuria (MAU) who were divided into a control group (n = 164) and an intervention group (n = 166). The control group received standard national hypertension management, while the intervention group received additional intensive health education provided by trained volunteers. The effectiveness of the intervention was assessed by comparing outcomes such as lifestyle factors, BMI control, treatment adherence, hypertension control, and DLP and MAU status between the two groups before and after a two-year intervention period. RESULTS: The health education intervention resulted in significant reductions in dietary risk factors, specifically in fruit and vegetable consumption (p < 0.001). There was a lower prevalence of high salt intake in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.002), while no significant differences were observed in other dietary factors. Smoking habits and low physical activity significantly decreased in the intervention group, with a notable disparity in physical activity proportions (p < 0.001). Both groups showed significant improvements in achieving hypertension management targets, with the intervention group demonstrating superior outcomes. The intervention was effective in reducing the prevalence of risk factors, particularly treatment non-adherence, blood pressure control, and low physical activity. Additionally, the intervention group had a higher likelihood of achieving DLP and MAU control compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study underscored the additional positive impact of incorporating health education by non-professional educators in achieving favorable outcomes, including better control of BMI, blood pressure, medication adherence, and management of dyslipidemia (DLP) and microalbuminuria (MAU). Further research is warranted to fully explore the potential of health education in primary healthcare settings and maximize its effectiveness.

Onto the differences in formulating micro-/nanoparticulate drug delivery system from Thai silk and Vietnamese silk: A critical comparison.

Silk fibroin is a natural polymer with physicochemical properties heavily dependent on its silkworm sources and cultivation conditions. Hence, this study critically compared the characteristics and capacity to generate micro-/nanoparticles of fibroin extracted from the Thai silk and Vietnamese silk. Both Thai fibroin (SFT) and Vietnamese fibroin (SFV) were extracted and fabricated into micro-/nanoparticles using the same methods of desalination and condensation, respectively. Firstly, the amino acid compositions of SFT and SFV were determined and found to be similar, suggesting that the different cultivation conditions did not alter the fibroin chemical contents. Secondly, utilizing various analytical techniques, the SFT structure revealed less heavy chains, more light chains and P-25 glycoproteins, and lower crystallinity than those of SFV. Accordingly, compared to the particles formed by SFT, the SFV-based particles were significantly bigger (∼1700 nm vs. ∼150 nm), and possessed less drug (Amphotericin B) entrapment efficiency (64.3 ± 4.4% vs. 79.3 ± 5.1%), higher hemototoxicity, and less biostability in the blood. Conclusively, these differences add more insights for the appropriate applications of each fibroin kind to best promote its qualities and effectiveness.

Preparations and characterizations of effervescent granules containing azithromycin solid dispersion for children and elder: Solubility enhancement, taste-masking, and digestive acidic protection.

Azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotics, is one of the frequently used drugs in the children and elder. However, due to these population difficulty in swallowing and inefficient absorption, and azithromycin inherent poor solubility, bitter taste, and instability in the stomach acidic condition, it is a challenge to reach high oral bioavailability of this drug. To overcome these issues, we developed and characterized the effervescent granules containing azithromycin solid dispersion. Firstly, the solid dispersion was prepared, employing both wet grinding and solvent evaporation methods, with different types/amounts of polymers. The optimal solid dispersion with ß-cyclodextrin at a drug:polymer ratio of 1:2 (w/w), prepared by the solvent evaporation method, significantly enhanced the azithromycin solubility 4-fold compared to the free drug, improved its bitterness from "bitter" to "normal", possessed intermolecular bonding between the drug and polymer, and transformed the azithromycin molecules from crystalline to amorphous state. Secondly, the effervescent granules incorporating the solid dispersion were formulated with varied excipients of sweeteners, gas-generators, pH modulators, and glidants/lubricants. The optimal formula satisfied all the properties stated in the Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia. In summary, the final effervescent granules product could be further investigated in in-vivo and in clinical settings to become a potential azithromycin delivery system with high bioavailability for the children and elder.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of FAM13A Gene in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-A Case Control Study in Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: In 2018, GOLD addressed the issues of genotypes associated with risk factors for COPD. The genome-wide association study (GWAS) demonstrated an association between COPD and several genetic variants of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the FAM13A gene with the risk of COPD. OBJECTIVE: To study the single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2869967 and rs17014601 of the FAM13A gene in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Subjects and research methods: 80 subjects diagnosed with COPD and 80 subjects determined not to have COPD according to GOLD 2020 criteria; the subjects were clinically examined, interviewed, and identified as possessing single nucleotide polymorphisms using the sanger sequencing method on whole blood samples. RESULTS: The male/female ratio of the patient group and the control group was 79/1 and 39/1, respectively. The percentages of C and T alleles of rs2869967 in COPD patients were 50.6% and 49.4%, respectively. The percentages of C and T alleles of rs17014601 in COPD patients were 31.9% and 68.1%, respectively. At rs17014601, the ratio values of alleles T and C in the disease group and the control group were markedly different, making them statistically reliable (p = 0.031). The rate of CT genotype in the group of patients was considerably higher than that of the control group. The TT homozygous genotype had a lower risk of COPD compared with the other genotypes in the dominant model (ORTT/(CC + CT) = 0.441; CI95% = 0.233-0.833); this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: With rs17014601, it is characteristic that the frequency of the T allele appears more than the C allele, and the CT heterozygous phenotype accounts for the highest proportion in rs17014601 and rs2869967 recorded in COPD patients. There is an association between the genetic variant of the SNP FAM13A-rs17014601 and the risk of COPD.

Controlled-Release Wedelia trilobata L. Flower Extract Loaded Fibroin Microparticles as Potential Anti-Aging Preparations for Cosmetic Trade Commercialization.

Background: Wedelia trilobata L. (WT), a common herbal plant in Vietnam, is popularly used as a strong antioxidant in Vietnamese folk medicine. However, limited studies have reported the application of WT flower in cosmeceutical area. Purpose: This study explored the potentials of WT loaded fibroin microparticles (FMPs-WT) as a novel anti-aging cosmeceutical product. Methods: The WT flower was firstly extracted by maceration with methanol, ethanol 60%, and ethanol 96%, and its chemical compositions and total polyphenol content were investigated. Then, the FMPs-WT were developed by desolvation method and physicochemically characterized. Finally, the product antioxidant activities were in-vitro determined using DPPH assay. Results: The optimal WT extract was the ethanol 60% extract, which contains polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, glycosides, and organic acids; with a total polyphenol content of 46.47 ± 2.32 mg GAE/g plant powder. The FMPs-WT were successfully formulated, with a distinct silk-II polymorph; varied sizes of 0.592 to 9.820 µm, depending on the fibroin concentrations and the WT extraction solvent; high entrapment efficiencies of >65%; and sustained-release patterns of polyphenol in pH 7.4 for >6 h. Regarding the antioxidant activity, the pure WT flower extracts possessed high scavenging actions with IC50 of 7.98 ± 0.40 µg/mL, comparable with the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 4.23 ± 0.21 µg/mL). Moreover, the FMPs-WT could retain the extract antioxidant capacity, and exert the effects in a timely manner, corresponding to its release profile. Conclusion: The FMPs-WT could be further investigated to become a potential anti-aging cosmeceutical product in the market.

Silk nanoparticles for the protection and delivery of guava leaf (Psidium guajava L.) extract for cosmetic industry, a new approach for an old herb.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a well-known plant containing high levels of natural antioxidants, the phenolic compounds, which have been employed in numerous cosmetic products. However, these molecules are unstable to oxidants, light, temperature, pH, water, and enzymatic activities. Therefore, to enhance their stability and preserve their antioxidant activity, this study investigated the silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) ability to encapsulate, deliver, and heat-protect the phenolic compounds of the guava leaves ethanolic extract. Firstly, the guava ethanolic extract was produced by maceration, which possessed a total phenolic content of 312.6 mg GAE/g DPW and a high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 5.397 ± 0.618 µg/mL). Then, the extract loaded SFNs were manufactured by desolvation method, and the particles demonstrated appropriate sizes of 200-700 nm with narrow size distribution, spherical shape, silk-II crystalline structure, high drug entrapment efficiency of > 70% (dependent on the fibroin content), and a two-phase sustained drug release for at least 210 min. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the antioxidant activity of the guava extract was well-preserved in the extract loaded SFNs. Finally, after being treated with high temperature of 70 °C for 24 h, the guava extract almost loses all of its antioxidant property (5 times decrement), whereas the extract loaded SFNs could retain the extract activity. Conclusively, the SFNs proved much potential to deliver and heat-protect the guava extract phenolic compounds, and preserve their antioxidant activity. Confirmed by this case, SFNs could be further explored in protecting other natural compounds from environmental factors.

Involvement of pharmacy students in scientific research activities in Vietnam.

INTRODUCTION: Scientific research is a crucial section of health-related student education to ensure the competence of graduates. This study is the first to explore attitudes on research, willingness and motivation to conduct research, and barriers preventing this amid pharmacy students in Can Tho, Vietnam. METHODS: A cross-sectional online survey was performed on undergraduate pharmacy students (years four and five) from three public and private universities in Can Tho, Vietnam between April and May 2021. RESULTS: Of the 576 respondents, the majority accredited the significance of conducting research to the field of pharmacy (85.9%) with the motivation of improving the profession (81.6%). Public university respondents were more than twice as likely to have a positive attitude toward research (odds ratio [OR] = 2.88, 95% CI = 1.32-6.27) and be willing to conduct research (OR = 5.73, 95%CI = 3.5-9.37) than their private university counterparts. Very good or excellent academic performance was associated with a positive attitude (OR = 3.09, 95% CI = 1.46-6.53), willingness (OR = 3.2, 95%CI = 1.7-6.03), and increased motivation (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.26-4.64) toward conducting research compared to respondents with average or lower academic performance. A lack of experience (63.5%), knowledge and skills (46%), and research training (51.7%) were the most common personal and systemic barriers to conducting research. CONCLUSIONS: Most students reported having a positive attitude and strong motivation toward research. These findings revealed an opportunity for pharmacy policymakers and educators to utilize national strategy to improve pharmacy education and the profession.

Community pharmacy practice related to the COVID-19 pandemic: barriers and facilitators.

BACKGROUND: Community pharmacies provide an important healthcare service. Their significant value has been further highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. OBJECTIVES: To identify and categorize potential barriers and facilitators to the role of community pharmacists during the pandemic and their association with demographic factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of community pharmacists was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire during April 2020 across all regions of Egypt. KEY FINDINGS: Respondents (n = 1018; 98.4% response rate) revealed practical and psychological barriers, including inadequate levels of pandemic preparedness (mean 61.43%; ±SD 0.47), inadequate working environments (mean 56.23%; ±SD 0.49) and uncooperative behaviour from stakeholders (mean 65.3%; ±SD 0.47).The majority of respondents emphasized the universal, region-independent necessity for facilitators, including the availability of timely (94.9%) guidance (97.4%) published by the Egyptian healthcare authority (94.6%), in electronic format (82.1%), through smartphone application (80.0%) and the provision of a dedicated telephone hotline (89.5%). Furthermore, authorities must use the media to manage public perceptions (97.2%) and increase public trust (94.8%) towards the pharmacist. CONCLUSIONS: The barriers and facilitators identified herein could improve service provision in an integrated manner by overcoming the reported inadequate level of preparedness (barrier) through the provision of electronic guidance (facilitator), and the use of the media in managing public perceptions and trust (facilitators) to reduce the panic that negatively affects the working environment (barrier) for pharmacy staff. The varied level of healthcare authority cooperation reported in many regions requires further investigation.

Silk fibroin hydrogel containing Sesbania sesban L. extract for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

PURPOSE: Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic and progressive inflammation condition in the joints, has significantly reduced the patient quality of life and life expectancy. Crucially, there is no complete therapy for this disease, and the current treatments possess numerous side effects. Thus, novel therapeutic approach is necessary. To that end, this study developed novel silk fibroin in-situ hydrogel containing Sesbania sesban L. extract, a plant with high anti-inflammatory actions that are beneficial for rheumatoid arthritis treatments. METHODS: The hydrogels were manufactured using simple method of spontaneous gelation at different temperature. The gel properties of morphology, gelation time, viscosity, gel strength, stability, drug loading capacity, drug release rate, and in-vitro anti-inflammatory activity were investigated with appropriate methods. RESULTS: The optimal formulation had highly porous structure, with a gelation time of 0.5 h at room temperature and bodily temperature of 37 °C, a viscosity of 2530 ± 50 cP, a gel strength of 1880.14 ± 35.10 g, and a physical stability of >6 months. Moreover, the hydrogel contained the Sesbania sesban L. leaf extract with a total phenolic content of 92.8 ± 8.30 mg GAE/g, and sustained the release rate for >20 days, followed the Higuchi model. Regarding the in-vitro activities, all formulations were nontoxic to the RAW 264.7 cell line and demonstrated comparable anti-inflammatory activity to the free extract, in terms of the NO reduction levels. CONCLUSION: Conclusively, the systems possessed potential properties to be further investigated to become a prospective rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Willingness of Healthcare Students in Vietnam to Volunteer During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Healthcare students play an important role in volunteering activity, often addressing staff shortages. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the willingness of students to volunteer in contribution to the pandemic response, especially in Vietnam, has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with the willingness of healthcare students to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. For this, an online cross-sectional survey was conducted, between June 7th and July 6th, 2021, among healthcare students from 10 fields of study at the largest public university of medicine and pharmacy in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Of 2032 respondents, 1473 (72.5%) reported that they would be willing to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of the students reported having a desire to volunteer in non-patient contact activities such as data entry (65.9%) and logistics (57.7%). Whereas less than 50% of the participants were willing to volunteer with activities involving patients. Year of education, study field, educational format, living arrangements, health status self-perception, chronic illness possession, COVID-19 fear level, past volunteering experience in non-healthcare sectors, and COVID-19 prevention and control training course attendance were all associated with a willingness to volunteer. The strongest barriers preventing volunteering included fear for the health of their family and lack of training/knowledge. Conclusively, healthcare students reported a high level of willingness, indicating a positive attitude toward responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adequate training should be employed to increase the willingness among healthcare students in Vietnam.

Use of and attitudes towards herbal medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Vietnam.

Introduction: Herbal medicine has a long and rich history of practice in Vietnam. The use and attitudes towards herbal medicine, during the COVID-19 pandemic was explored in this study. The aims were to examine (1) the prevalence and indications for herbal medicine use, (2) the factors associated with herbal medicine use, and (3) Vietnamese peoples' attitudes towards herbal medicine. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Vietnamese adults aged 18 years and older, distributed equally across the Northern, Central, and Southern regions of Vietnam, between September and October 2020. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to achieve the study objectives. Results: Nearly half of the respondents reported using herbal medicine for common illnesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence was strongly associated with marital status, urbanicity, monthly income, and health status perception. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), honey (Mel), garlic (Allium sativum L.), and perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt.) were the most commonly used herbal medicines, mainly for the treatment of sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, and fever. Nearly 70% of the participants believed herbal medicines to be safe, to have less side effects than conventional medicines, and to be effective for minor health conditions. Conclusion: The use of herbal medicine during the COVID-19 pandemic was a common practice among Vietnamese people. These findings may have implications for future medical research in Vietnam, and for policy-makers and those in the pharmaceutical industry with regard to future regulations and product development.

Development and validation of a scale to measure the quality of patient medication counseling using Rasch model

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the psychometric properties of a scale for measuring the quality of patient medication counseling by using the Rasch model. Methods: In this study, the scale was developed based on the literature review. It consisted of 31 items across five subscales: introduction, problem identification, content, behavior, and conclusion. A convenient sample of community pharmacists was recruited from four major cities in Vietnam: Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh, and Can Tho. Data collection was conducted from June 10 to October 30, 2017. A Rasch analysis for polytomous data was performed to assess the suitability of the item and the reliability of the scale. Results: The research results showed that all items had a positive point-measure correlation coefficient between 0.47 and 0.77. All items had infit and outfit values in the optimal range between 0.5 and 1.5 except for D5, but its value was within acceptable range. Differential item function analysis indicated that all items had no DIF, except for items B4 and E4 containing moderate magnitude of DIF. Response category statistics found that there was a gradual increase in difficulty level from category 1 to 5 and no presence of reversal. Infit and outfit statistics of these categories were also considered good, with their values close to 1. The test result of the item characteristic curve and the person-item map showed that there were some overlapping items. Their appearance, however, might play an important role in measuring different aspects of construct. The overall scale reliability index (0.97) was high and the overall scale separation index (6.11) was good. Conclusions: The developed scale satisfied the requirements of the Rasch model. The scale is a useful tool that could be used to measure the quality of patient medication counseling among community pharmacists

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