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Pham -Tram V, Nguyen NM, Heatherley S, Vu Duy K, Vu BH, Pham Thi Huong G, Nguyen Thi Thu H, Huynh Thuy Phuong H, Thi Tuyet Thanh T, Le Phuong C, Nguyen Thi Van T, Dinh The T, Thi Hoai Tam D, Chambers M, Lawson K, Ilo Van Nuil J, Do Van D, Diep Tran T, Kestelyn E, Wills B. Exploring attitudes to research involving human subjects among Vietnamese university students: establishing a prospective longitudinal mixed-methods student cohort at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City. Wellcome Open Res 2024; 8:473. [PMID: 39114816 PMCID: PMC11303948 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.19632.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Research capacity is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with progressive development in the range and complexity of studies being undertaken, often in collaboration with high-income country partners. Although senior local stakeholders are typically involved in ensuring that research is conducted according to accepted standards for ethical and scientific quality, to date there has been little exploration of the views of younger generations around the ethics of research involving human subjects. We present our protocol to establish a longitudinal mixed-methods student cohort at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, that is investigating students' views around the ethics of clinical and public-health oriented research. We use a synergistic approach involving initial deliberative engagement activities ( e.g. science cafes, debates) to inform participants about complex concepts, prior to formal quantitative and qualitative methods (surveys, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews) that are designed to explore the students' views in detail. We focus in particular on dengue research, i.e. research that addresses a locally relevant disease with which the students are likely familiar, and probe their thoughts on such themes as appropriate remuneration for research participants, involvement of vulnerable groups, use of human challenge trials in LMICs etc. A snapshot of the cohort and its activities after one year is also presented; among 429 active students, primarily from the Faculty of Medicine, the proportions of male and female students were similar, the majority were from southern or central Vietnam where dengue is endemic, and available data indicates the cohort to be representative of the expected spectrum of socioeconomic groups. The cohort provides a unique resource to investigate the views of young people on medical ethics, an important but hitherto underrepresented group in such discussions. Feedback indicates a clear interest in contributing thoughts and ideas to the development of clinical research in Vietnam.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vy Pham -Tram
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Nguyet Minh Nguyen
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Susan Heatherley
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Kien Vu Duy
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Bao Hung Vu
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Giang Pham Thi Huong
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Hang Nguyen Thi Thu
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | | | | | - Chi Le Phuong
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Thuy Nguyen Thi Van
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Trung Dinh The
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Dong Thi Hoai Tam
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Mary Chambers
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Katrina Lawson
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jennifer Ilo Van Nuil
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dung Do Van
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Tuan Diep Tran
- University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Evelyne Kestelyn
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Bridget Wills
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Chamberlain J, Watt S, Mohide P, Muggah H, Trim K, Bantebya Kyomuhendo G. Women's perception of self-worth and access to health care. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2007; 98:75-9. [PMID: 17459386 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2007.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2006] [Revised: 03/13/2007] [Accepted: 03/13/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE : Research has shown differences in health status and health care utilization related to culture, economic status, and health care development. This paper reports on a study comparing attitudes of women in three countries, at various stages of development, about their own health and self-worth and asks if these differences account for differences in health care utilization and inequities in health status. METHOD : A questionnaire, administered to 100 women in each of Yemen, Uganda and Canada, explored women's perception of their own health and health care seeking behavior. RESULT : Women's perception of themselves as worthy of care was positively related to utilization. The ability to make one's own health care decisions varied with her country's development level. Implementation strategies must consider women's decision-making capacity. CONCLUSION : To achieve improved health status, policies and programs must commit to encouraging appropriate social and cultural changes, using a 'cross-sectoral approach', involving both gender and development issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Chamberlain
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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