DOES CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ENHANCE TRUST AND QUALITY OF WORK LIFE OF WORKERS?

In recent decades, corporate social responsibility has emerged as a crucial goal in business. Several researchers have agreed that it is a win-win business strategy which contributes to the financial well-being of the firm. However, the question of how corporate social responsibility contributes to the well-being of workers is still unanswered, especially in transitioning markets like Vietnam. Realizing this role of corporate social responsibility in business, this study investigates the impact of corporate social responsibility on both trust in organization and quality of work life of workers in Vietnam. Based on a data set collected from 501 employees working for various firms in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the study finds that corporate social responsibility directly and indirectly (mediated by trust in organization)enhances quality of work life of workers. The findings of the study suggest that the government and management should pay close attention to corporate social responsibility and make efforts to communicate its corporate social responsibility mission and activities to their employees

Agricultural trade, foreign direct investment and inclusive growth in developing countries: evidence from West Africa

This study examines how agricultural trade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) influence inclusive growth in developing countries, using the case of West Africa. It engages data obtained from various World Bank sources for 15 West African countries that are members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the period 2000–2019. The study calculates inclusive growth using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and applies the Two- stage Least Squares (2SLS) to resolve the possible issue of endogeneity. The findings show, among others, that agricultural trade is significant in explaining the level of inclusive growth. It implies that a 1% increase in agricultural trade may increase inclusive growth by 0.88% (first stage) and 0.99% (second stage), respectively. In contrast, FDI is insignificant in explaining inclusive growth. Therefore, the study recommends that effective policies such as flexible trade policies to enhance the exchange of goods and services should be implemented, which is crucial given the need for more resilience in post-COVID-19 ECOWAS

Generalizability assessment of AI models across hospitals in a low-middle and high income country

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare systems within low-middle income countries (LMICs) has emerged as a central focus for various initiatives aiming to improve healthcare access and delivery quality. In contrast to high-income countries (HICs), which often possess the resources and infrastructure to adopt innovative healthcare technologies, LMICs confront resource limitations such as insufficient funding, outdated infrastructure, limited digital data, and a shortage of technical expertise. Consequently, many algorithms initially trained on data from non-LMIC settings are now being employed in LMIC contexts. However, the effectiveness of these systems in LMICs can be compromised when the unique local contexts and requirements are not adequately considered. In this study, we evaluate the feasibility of utilizing models developed in the United Kingdom (a HIC) within hospitals in Vietnam (a LMIC). Consequently, we present and discuss practical methodologies aimed at improving model performance, emphasizing the critical importance of tailoring solutions to the distinct healthcare systems found in LMICs. Our findings emphasize the necessity for collaborative initiatives and solutions that are sensitive to the local context in order to effectively tackle the healthcare challenges that are unique to these regions

Wearable devices for remote monitoring of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in Vietnam

Patients with severe COVID-19 disease require monitoring with pulse oximetry as a minimal requirement. In many low- and middle- income countries, this has been challenging due to lack of staff and equipment. Wearable pulse oximeters potentially offer an attractive means to address this need, due to their low cost, battery operability and capacity for remote monitoring. Between July and October 2021, Ho Chi Minh City experienced its first major wave of SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to an unprecedented demand for monitoring in hospitalized patients. We assess the feasibility of a continuous remote monitoring system for patients with COVID-19 under these circumstances as we implemented 2 different systems using wearable pulse oximeter devices in a stepwise manner across 4 departments

Evaluation of awake prone positioning effectiveness in moderate to severe COVID-19

Evidence mainly from high income countries suggests that lying in the prone position may be beneficial in patients with COVID-19 even if they are not receiving invasive ventilation. Studies indicate that increased duration of prone position may be associated with improved outcomes, but achieving this requires additional staff time and resources. Our study aims to support prolonged (≥ 8hours/day) awake prone positioning in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease in Vietnam. We use a specialist team to support prone positioning of patients and wearable devices to assist monitoring vital signs and prone position and an electronic data registry to capture routine clinical data

Optimising diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis infection in community and primary care settings in two urban provinces of Viet Nam: a cohort study

Objectives: To end tuberculosis (TB), the vast reservoir of 1.7–2.3 billion TB infections (TBIs) must be addressed, but achieving global TB preventive therapy (TPT) targets seems unlikely. This study assessed the feasibility of using interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) at lower healthcare levels and the comparative performance of 3-month and 9-month daily TPT regimens (3HR/9H). Design, setting, participants and intervention: This cohort study was implemented in two provinces of Viet Nam from May 2019 to September 2020. Participants included household contacts (HHCs), vulnerable community members and healthcare workers (HCWs) recruited at community-based TB screening events or HHC investigations at primary care centres, who were followed up throughout TPT. Primary and secondary outcomes: We constructed TBI care cascades describing indeterminate and positivity rates to assess feasibility, and initiation and completion rates to assess performance. We fitted mixed-effects logistic and stratified Cox models to identify factors associated with IGRA positivity and loss to follow-up (LTFU). Results: Among 5837 participants, the indeterminate rate was 0.8%, and 30.7% were IGRA positive. TPT initiation and completion rates were 63.3% (3HR=61.2% vs 9H=63.6%; p=0.147) and 80.6% (3HR=85.7% vs 9H=80.0%; p=0.522), respectively. Being male (adjusted OR=1.51; 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.78; p<0.001), aged 45–59 years (1.30; 1.05 to 1.60; p=0.018) and exhibiting TB-related abnormalities on X-ray (2.23; 1.38 to 3.61; p=0.001) were associated with positive IGRA results. Risk of IGRA positivity was lower in periurban districts (0.55; 0.36 to 0.85; p=0.007), aged <15 years (0.18; 0.13 to 0.26; p<0.001), aged 15–29 years (0.56; 0.42 to 0.75; p<0.001) and HCWs (0.34; 0.24 to 0.48; p<0.001). The 3HR regimen (adjusted HR=3.83; 1.49 to 9.84; p=0.005) and HCWs (1.38; 1.25 to 1.53; p<0.001) showed higher hazards of LTFU. Conclusion: Providing IGRAs at lower healthcare levels is feasible and along with shorter regimens may expand access and uptake towards meeting TPT targets, but scale-up may require complementary advocacy and education for beneficiaries and providers

A modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score for dengue: development, evaluation and proposal for use in clinical trials

Background Dengue is a neglected tropical disease, for which no therapeutic agents have shown clinical efficacy to date. Clinical trials have used strikingly variable clinical endpoints, which hampers reproducibility and comparability of findings. We investigated a delta modified Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (delta mSOFA) score as a uniform composite clinical endpoint for use in clinical trials investigating therapeutics for moderate and severe dengue. Methods We developed a modified SOFA score for dengue, measured and evaluated its performance at baseline and 48 h after enrolment in a prospective observational cohort of 124 adults admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in Vietnam with dengue shock. The modified SOFA score included pulse pressure in the cardiovascular component. Binary logistic regression, cox proportional hazard and linear regression models were used to estimate association between mSOFA, delta mSOFA and clinical outcomes. Results The analysis included 124 adults with dengue shock. 29 (23.4%) patients required ICU admission for organ support or due to persistent haemodynamic instability: 9/124 (7.3%) required mechanical ventilation, 8/124 (6.5%) required vasopressors, 6/124 (4.8%) required haemofiltration and 5/124 (4.0%) patients died. In univariate analyses, higher baseline and delta (48 h) mSOFA score for dengue were associated with admission to ICU, requirement for organ support and mortality, duration of ICU and hospital admission and IV fluid use. Conclusions The baseline and delta mSOFA scores for dengue performed well to discriminate patients with dengue shock by clinical outcomes, including duration of ICU and hospital admission, requirement for organ support and death. We plan to use delta mSOFA as the primary endpoint in an upcoming host-directed therapeutic trial and investigate the performance of this score in other phenotypes of severe dengue in adults and children

Winter Refuge for Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus Mosquitoes in Hanoi during Winter

Dengue occurs throughout the year in Hanoi, Vietnam, despite winter low temperatures 14°C, exceeding the developmental zero point of Ae. aegypti. Although jars, drums and concrete tanks were the dominant containers previously (1994-97) in Hanoi, currently the percentage of residences with concrete tanks was still high while jars and drums were quite low. Our study showed that concrete tanks with broken lids allowing mosquitoes access were important winter refuge for Ae. aegypti. We also indicate a concern about concrete tanks serving as foci for Ae. aegypti to expand their distribution in cooler regions