A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted in order to identify the need and the use of HIV/AIDS counselling services and real situation at the counselling facilities in Hanoi. Data was obtained using a self-administered questionnaire to 8 groups of people with risk behaviors related to HIV/AIDS. These groups also took part in group discussions. Structured in-deep interviews with counsellors and observation at counselling facilities were also conducted. The need for using HIV/AIDS counselling services was low (45.7%). Only 41.6% of person who have need for counselling had used service. People living with HIV/AIDS and their families were the two main groups using these services. The reason for low utilisation was users' poor perception of HIV/AIDS infection risks. Problems from the providersm as inappropriate organisation and investment, also contributed to limit the services. The main findings suggest that increase of the perception on HIV/AIDS risk for individuals and communities is needed. In order to increase the utilisation of community services, it should be reorganised. At the same time, the counselling activities should be socialised and considered as the key task of the whole society and community, not only that of the health sector.
HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Planning Guidelines

Introduction: Smoking amongst medical students is rather common practice. According to a WHO report in 1989, the rate of smoking among the students of Hanoi Medical University was 38.3%. However, there has not been any investigation aimed at reevaluating the smoking situation among students of this university.\r\n', u'Objectives: To understand the smoking situation and factors that influences the students of Hanoi Medical University. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: A questionnaire on tobacco use among youths, which was documented by the Institute of Global Tobacco Control, is used to collect the data. \r\n', u'Results: The smoking rate is 23.6%, (43.4% in men versus 1.3% in women). Average age of first use is about 19 years of age. Smoking trend increases across the age groups and academic years, while the intention of quitting cigarette decreases across age cohorts. 4 factors affecting smoking are belief, attitude to cigarette control, exposure to family and friends that smoke. The relationship between knowledge and smoking is not statistically significant. \r\n', u"Conclusion: Smoking among medical students in Hanoi Medical University is relatively prevalent. Early impaction is necessary to promote quitting cigarettes. Impact on knowledge is not enough; it also needs to focus on the surrounding environment of students through their family members and friends. Like direct interventions on the students' family and friends as both receivers and providers of intervention. Consolidating beliefs and attitudes to tobacco control also plays a critical part. \r\n", u'
Students ; medical students ; Hanoi Medical University ; Cigarette ; smoking cigarettes

Background: Smoking is a well-known cause of many diseases. The rate of smoking in Vietnam was 38.8%. Smoking among medical students is also common, although they have to set an example for ordinary people. Objectives: To describe the smoking situation among the students of Hue Medical University (HMU) and determine some of the factors relating to their smoking behaviour. Subjects and method: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January to October 2004 on 1470 medical students of HMU in the academic year 2003-2004, using a questionnaire of the Institute of Global Tobaco Control on tobaco use among youth. Results: Overall smoking rate was quite high (35%), predominantly in men (58.4% in men vs. 13.4% in women). The mean age of first use was nearly 19 years old. The trend and extent of smoking increased with age groups and academic years. Older students tended to display a higher intension rate of quitting cigarette. The 5 factors related to smoking behaviours were as followed: knowledge of socioeconomic hazards of smoking; attitudes when a cigarette offered by close friends; attitudes when exposed to a smoking person; having close relatives smoking; and having close friends smoking. Conclusion: Smoking among Hue medical students was prevalent. It is necessary to have early interventional impacts on the environment around them through their friends and relatives, and to encourage the positive attitude of medical students in the cigarette prevention and control. It is also needed to conduct a longitudinal study to assess the trend of smoking and quitting over the time of these students.
Smoking ; medical student

Background: There is an increase in HIV/AIDS among rehabilitation practitioners in Centers of social labor education. Objective: (1) to evaluate prevalence of HIV and morbidity model of rehabilitation practitioners with HIV(+). (2) To describe knowledge of HIV-infection and health of rehabilitation practitioners with HIV(+). (3) To determine need of counseling related to test, treatment and care of rehabilitation practitioners with HIV (+). Subjects and methods: 297 rehabilitation practitioners in Centers of Social Labor Education No.1 surveyed using structured questionnaire, group discussion, in-depth interview. Results: There were 103 rehabilitation practitioner with HIV(+) accounting for 36%. Morbidity patterns among HIV(+) carriers: 36.2% had combined diseases; HCV 74%; co-infected with HBV (18%); recurrence of one disease 11.%; still good immunology response (74.3% hadTCD4>500 cells/mm3). \r\n', u'49.5% perceived AIDS conversion time, about 30% understood on preventing HIV transmission. Common practice was self-treatment (46%) or checking in local general hospitals (38.5%). There was a great need of drug users in Centers of Social Labor Education No.1 for counseling, testing, providing information, ARV treatment and referral system, connecting them to their relatives. Conclusion: HIV-CTR (counseling, testing and referrals services) model should be soon developed in the Center)\r\n', u'\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Counseling ; Animal Testing Alternatives ; Therapeutics ;

Background: Smoking in health staffs is a essential issue to be concerned. In Europe, the rate of smoking in male and female doctors were 30 - 54% and 40%, respectively. Because of the high rate of smoking in health staffs, the prevention programs should focus on promoting interventions to reduce smoking rate in healthstaffs because they are people who cause negative effects to patients and community. Objectives: To investigate smoking patterns, compare knowledge, beliefs and attitudes and identify predictors of smoking status among health staffs in Bach Mai hospital. Subjects and method: This was a cross-sectional described epidemiological study by using the questionnaire of a global survey (modified accordance with Vietnam's conditions) on tobacco use among health staffs was adapted for data collection on a sample of 656. Data was analyzed by SPSS 10.0 software. Results and Conclusion: Overall smoking rate is fairly high (~21%), dominantly among males. Physicians and dentists display a greater smoking proportion than nurses, in among over \ufffd?30 \ufffd?year \ufffd?old cohort than among less \ufffd?30 \ufffd?year \ufffd?old cohort. One main predictor of smoking is belief of health staffs on their role as non \ufffd?smoking exemplary.
Medical Staff ; Hospital ; Smoking ;

Background: The phenomenon of smoking in health workers is rather common. In Vietnam, data on smoking in different demographics is quite rich, but research on the medical staff is sparse.\r\n', u'Objectives: To discover the smoking behavior and to identify predictors of smoking status among health workers in Hue Central hospital. \r\n', u'Subjects and methods: The questionnaire of a global survey on tobacco use among health professionals was adapted for data collection on a sample number of 749. \r\n', u'Results: Research participation rates reached 83.2% (65.6% female compared with 34.4% male). Overall smoking rate is just 14.7%, but much more prevalent among male subject (over 20-fold vs female), among physicians than nurses, among over-30-year old cohorts than among under 30 year old cohorts. One main predictor of smoking is the belief of health professionals on their role as non-smoking exemplary.\r\n', u'Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of promoting the belief of health professionals about the no-smoking atmosphere as a good model for patients.\r\n', u'\r\n', u'
Smoking ; health professional

Background: Health professionals set important examples through their behavior to their patients, so they need to have enough knowledge on the harmful effects of smoking. Some studies already exist on smoking among the health professionals in Bach Mai Hospital and Hue Central Hospital, but there were no such studies in the Can Tho Central Hospital. Objectives: To investigate the smoking status and identify several factors relating to cigarette use among health professionals at Can Tho Central Hospital. Subjects and method: Cross-sectional descriptive study using adapted questionnaire from a global survey on tobacco use among health professionals. Results: Overall, the smoking rate was approximately 6%, no higher than the results from other studies. It was predominant among men. Physicians display a greater smoking proportion relation to nurses, with the highest rate in the group aged 30 to 39 years of age. People who do not smoke are more likely to demonstrate a better knowledge base, belief and attitude to smoking than those who smoke. One major predictor of smoking is attitude towards tobacco control; however, a no smoking policy inside the hospital is not significantly associated with the practice of smoking. Conclusion: The smoking rate among health professionals from Can Tho Central Hospital is much lower than that among other professions and among health professionals in Bach Mai and Hue Central Hospital. The findings highlight the importance of promoting a positive attitude towards tobacco control initiatives in order to reduce smoking among health professionals at hospital settings.
Health professionals ; Smoke ; Tobacco control

Background: Flu and avian flu in humans are events in a number of countries all over the world. In Vietnam, there were some investigations on knowledge, attitude and practice for preventing flu and avian flu on several groups of the population and pharmacists in Tra Vinh province. However, there is no research for this issue in Hanoi city while the evident need for the planning of public health programs is required. Objective: To describe knowledge and identify the requirement of flu and avian flu information among pharmacists in Hanoi city. From that, some recommendations for intervention programs are proposed. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 143 pharmacists in Hanoi city with a structured questionnaire of knowledge and requirement of flu and avian flu information from October, 2007 to January, 2008. Results and Conclusion: Generally, knowledge on flu and avian flu is not yet comprehensive and sufficient. Requirement for flu and avian flu information was quite in demand, especially via television, capacity building training, having more communication materials and experience exchange workshops. Several interventions need to be directed towards: comprehensive communication on flu and avian flu to pharmacists, which aims to help them understand sufficiently and comprehensive about flu and avian flu; capacity improvement for pharmacists should pay attention to several channels such as television broadcasting communication, short-term training, disseminating relevant materials and perhaps experience exchange through seminars.
avian flu ; drug-sellers ; information needs

Background: The combination of dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine is interested because of its efficiency and safety in treating malaria. Objective: To evaluate the influences of the fixed combination anti-malarial drug dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine in constitutions and some biochemical and haematological indices of rabbits. Subject and Method: The sub-chronic toxicity of the fixed combination anti-malarial drug of 40 mg dihydroartemisinin plus 320 mg piperaquine phosphate (DHA-PQP), with the materials produced by Institute of Chemistry, in rabbits was investigated. Rabbits were treated daily by oral route with DHA-PQP at the dose regimens of 64 and 100 mg/kg per day for 28 consecutive days. Result and Conclusion: DHA-PQP did not affect on rabbits' constitutions. Generally, all rabbits had normal ingestions, activities, and defecations. Rabbits' body weights increased regularly along the study period and significantly increased between day 28 and day 0 (P < 0.05). At the dose regimen of 64 mg/kg per day for 28 consecutive days, DHA-PQP did not change significantly rabbits' biochemical indices (including GOT, GPT, bilirubin, creatinine and protein) and haematological. These changes were insignificantly different between the treated and control groups at the same study points (P > 0.05). With the dose regimen of 100 mg/kg, the combination did not affect significantly (P>0.05) on some rabbits' biochemical and haematological indices. But hemoglobin, erythrocyte count and rate of monocytes increased significantly on day 14 comparing to that the control group (P < 0.05) and became in normal limits on day 29 (P > 0.05). Protein concentration also increased significantly on days 14 and 29 comparing to that of day 0 (P < 0.05).
Dihydroartemisinin plus piperaquine combination ; constitutions ; haematological

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary hepatic tumor and one of the most common cancers worldwide. HCC is a primary malignancy of hepatocellular origin. Objectives:The aim of study is to combinate therapy of transarterial chemoembolization and percutaneousethanol injection afterward emerging metatasis caused by fine needle aspiration cytology. Subjects and method: A 50 years old male patient with hepatocellular carcinoma having a diameter of tumor more than 5 cm was treated by combination of transarterial chemoembolization and percutaneous ethanol injection from December 2000. Results & Conclusion: Results of study showed that: Transarterial chemoembolization and percutaneous ethanol injection are the two of non-surgical methods for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma which are most commonly available in applied clinical activities at present. Up to now, the patient's life expectancy after therapy is more than 6 years that means the result of treatment is very good. However, the emerging metatasis into the anterior-right-Iower chest wall that was caused by fine needle aspiration cytology should be reviewed for further evaluating clinical experience, especially in cases with quite clear imaging features of untrasonography and significantly elevated AFP level higher than 200 ng/rnl.
Carcinoma ; Hepatocellular/ pathology ; therapy