Reliability and validity of the Vietnamese version of the Hamilton D-17 scale

BackgroundWhile depression is a common mental disorder, the diagnosis of this condition is still challenging. Thus, there is a need to have a validated tool to help evaluate symptoms of depression. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Vietnamese version of the Hamilton D-17 scale.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive, and validation study was conducted on 183 patients including 139 depressed and 44 non-depressed patients at the University Medical Center of Medicine and Pharmacy University at Ho Chi Minh City. Internal reliability and inter-rater reliability was measured using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate construct validity. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) was used to measure concurrent validity of the Hamilton D-17. Area under the ROC curve was used to measure criterion validity.ResultsBoth Cronbach alpha coefficient and ICC were at good level at alpha = 0.83 and ICC = 0.83. CFA with a second-order model consisting of four factors fitted the data at good to excellent level. The SRMR (Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual) was 0.066, RMSEA (Root Mean Square Error of Approximation) (90% CI) was 0.053 (0.036–0.069), CFI (comparative fit index) was 0.93, TLI (Tucker Lewis index) was 0.92. The Hamilton D-17 and the PHQ-9 had a correlation coefficient of r = 0.77 (p < 0.001). The Hamilton D-17 had a very high level of criterion validity with AUC of 0.93 (0.88–0.98).ConclusionThe Vietnamese version of the Hamilton D-17 scale has a high level of validity and reliability. The scale should be used to assess symptoms of depression among Vietnamese patients

HIV-Associated TB in An Giang Province, Vietnam, 2001–2004: Epidemiology and TB Treatment Outcomes

BACKGROUND: Mortality is high in HIV-infected TB patients, but few studies from Southeast Asia have documented the benefits of interventions, such as co-trimoxazole (CTX), in reducing mortality during TB treatment. To help guide policy in Vietnam, we studied the epidemiology of HIV-associated TB in one province and examined factors associated with outcomes, including the impact of CTX use. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We retrospectively abstracted data for all HIV-infected persons diagnosed with TB from 2001-2004 in An Giang, a province in southern Vietnam in which TB patients receive HIV counseling and testing. We used standard WHO definitions to classify TB treatment outcomes. We conducted multivariate analysis to identify risk factors for the composite outcome of death, default, or treatment failure during TB treatment. From 2001-2004, 637 HIV-infected TB patients were diagnosed in An Giang. Of these, 501 (79%) were male, 321 (50%) were aged 25-34 years, and the most common self-reported HIV risk factor was sex with a commercial sex worker in 221 (35%). TB was classified as smear-positive in 531 (83%). During TB treatment, 167 (26%) patients died, 9 (1%) defaulted, and 6 (1%) failed treatment. Of 454 patients who took CTX, 116 (26%) had an unsuccessful outcome compared with 33 (70%) of 47 patients who did not take CTX (relative risk, 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-0.5). Adjusting for male sex, rural residence, TB smear status and disease location, and the occurrence of adverse events during TB treatment in multivariate analysis, the benefit of CTX persisted (adjusted odds ratio for unsuccessful outcome 0.1; CI, 0.1-0.3). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: In An Giang, Vietnam, HIV-associated TB was associated with poor TB treatment outcomes. Outcomes were significantly better in those taking CTX. This finding suggests that Vietnam should consider applying WHO recommendations to prescribe CTX to all HIV-infected TB patients

MỐI QUAN HỆ GIỮA PHÁT TRIỂN DU LỊCH VÀ QUẢN LÝ DI SẢN VĂN HOÁ Ở ĐÔ THỊ HUẾ: NHỮNG QUAN ĐIỂM ĐA CHIỀU

This study applied the approach method for the relationship between heritage management and tourism development in Hue City by multidimensional perspectives obtained from tourists to managers and experts. We hypothesized that this relationship was not merely a conflict or cooperation but is still more dynamic in reality. Data were collected from in-depth interviews (n = 4), online interviews (n = 14), field observations, and a semi-structured questionnaire survey of 90 visitors at three tourist sites, including Hue Citadel (n = 30), Thien Mu Pagoda (n = 30), and Khai Dinh Tomb (n = 30). The results revealed the dynamic and complicated reality of the relationship between heritage management and tourism development with six different attributes. Accordingly, most managers and experts believed that this relationship was coexisting with a “parallelly independent” state (42.86%), followed by a “parallel symbiosis” (28.57%). The tourists who concerned with cultural heritage values indicated this relationship in diverse states. 25.37% agreed that it could “coexist peacefully”. 17.91 and 16.92% indicat-ed that this relationship was “much conflicting” and “conflicting”. The research results can serve as essential information for managers and policymakers in designing more appropriate strategies for this dynamic relationship, leading to sustainable development.Nghiên cứu áp dụng phương pháp tiếp cận về mối quan hệ giữa quản lý di sản (QLDS) và phát triển du lịch (PTDL) ở thành phố Huế trên cơ sở giả định rằng mối quan hệ này không đơn thuần chỉ là xung đột hay hợp tác, mà nó phức tạp trong thực tế. Dữ liệu được thu thập từ các cuộc phỏng vấn sâu (n = 4), khảo sát trực tuyến (online) (n = 14) và phỏng vấn trực tiếp 90 du khách tại ba điểm du lịch: Hoàng Thành Huế (n = 30), Chùa Thiên Mụ (n = 30) và Lăng Khải Định (n = 30). Kết quả nghiên cứu đã làm rõ được thực tế phức tạp trong mối quan hệ giữa QLDS và PTDL với sáu trạng thái khác nhau. Các nhà quản lý và chuyên gia cho rằng đây là mối quan hệ cùng “chung sống hoà bình” (42,86%), theo sau là “hợp tác một phần” (28,57%). Du khách đánh giá mối quan hệ này ở nhiều trạng thái, trong đó, 25,37% thiên hướng về “cùng tồn tại hoà bình”, tiếp theo sau là 17,91% và 16,92% cho rằng đây là mối quan hệ “xung đột nhiều” và “có xung đột”. Kết quả sẽ là nguồn thông tin tham khảo quan trọng cho các nhà hoạch định chính sách trong việc đưa ra các chiến lược PTDL phù hợp với mối quan hệ năng động này, hướng tới sự phát triển bền vững