Conquering Hypertension in Vietnam: Solutions at Grassroots Level

"Đương đầu với bệnh Tăng huyết áp ở Việt Nam: Giải pháp từ Y tế cơ sở (Conquering Hypertension in Vietnam: Solutions at Grassroots level)" (Vietnam Hy-TREC) Background: Similar to other low- and middle-income countries, Vietnam has been experiencing an epidemiologic transition with an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD). The key risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) are either on the rise or at alarming levels in Vietnam, particularly hypertension (HTN). Inasmuch, the burden of CVD will continue to increase in Vietnamese men and women unless effective prevention and control measures are put in place.

Objectives: This project will be evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of two multi-faceted community and clinic-based strategies for the control of hypertension among adults residing in the rural Red River Delta region of Vietnam with uncontrolled hypertension through use of a cluster-randomized trial design.

Study population:Sixteen communities will be randomized to either an intervention (8 communities) or comparison group (8 communities). Eligible and consentingadult study participants with uncontrolled HTN (n = 680) will be assigned to intervention/comparison status based on the community in which they reside.

Methods: Both comparison and intervention groups will receive a multi-level intervention modeled after the Vietnam National Hypertension Program. Components of this program include education and practice change modules for health care providers, accessible reading materials for patients, and a community awareness multi-media program. In addition to the Vietnam National Hypertension Program, the intervention group only will receive three carefully selected enhancements integrated into routine clinical care: (1) expanded community health worker services; (2) home blood pressure self-monitoring; and (3) a "storytelling intervention," previously developed and pilot tested for feasibility and effectiveness by members of the research team. The storytelling intervention consists of interactive, literacy-appropriate, and culturally sensitive multimedia storytelling modules for motivating behavior change through the power of patients speaking in their own voice. Based on preferences that emerged during our formative work with our partnering rural communities, the storytelling intervention will be delivered by DVD, with serial installments at baseline and again at 3, 6, and 12 months after trial enrollment. Differences in changes in blood pressure and other factors will be assessed in both study groups at several follow-up time points. In conjunction with the work done being accomplished during the pilot feasibility study, current efforts by the Vietnam National Hypertension Program, and the proposed investigation, this project addresses a serious clinical and public health problem in Vietnam by implementing the first community-based study using a culturally-literacy appropriate intervention to control elevated blood pressure among the adult Vietnamese population.

Inclusion criteria

• residence in a study commune;
• at least 25 years old;
• presence of uncontrolled HTN based on the screening process described previously and
• willingness to provide informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• participation in another hypertension research study;
• pregnant;
• advanced cognitive impairment; or
• previous participation in developing or having exposure to the hypertension storytelling modules.