Views by health professionals on the responsiveness of commune health stations regarding non-communicable diseases in urban Hanoi, Vietnam: a qualitative study

• Published in: BMC health services research 2018-05, Vol.18 (1), p.392-392, Article 392
• Main Authors: Kien, Vu Duy, Van Minh, Hoang, Giang, Kim Bao, Ng, Nawi, Nguyen, Viet, Tuan, Le Thanh, Eriksson, Malin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Analysis; Asthma; Attitude of Health Personnel; Attitude to Health; Budgets; Cancer; Cardiovascular diseases; Care and treatment; Chronic Disease; Chronic illnesses; Commune health station; Communicable diseases; Community Health Services - economics; Community Health Services - organization & administration; Community Health Services - standards; Delivery of Health Care - standards; Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Diabetes; Disease prevention; Female; Global health; Health care industry; Health care policy; Health care reform; Health Planning - organization & administration; Health Planning - standards; Health services; Health Workforce - standards; Humans; Hypertension; Infectious diseases; Information systems; Interviews; Leadership; Male; Medical personnel; Mental health; Middle Aged; Non-communicable disease; Noncommunicable Diseases - economics; Noncommunicable Diseases - therapy; Primary care; Primary Health Care - economics; Primary Health Care - organization & administration; Primary Health Care - standards; Professionals; Public health; Qualitative Research; Respiratory diseases; Responsiveness; Rural areas; Urban; Urban Health - economics; Urban Health - standards; Urbanization; Vietnam; Workforce
• ISSN: 1472-6963; 1472-6963
• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3217-4

Primary health care plays an important role in addressing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries. In light of the rapid urbanization of Vietnam, this study aims to explore health professionals' views about the responsiveness of primary health care services at commune health stations, particularly regarding the increase of NCDs in urban settings. This qualitative study was conducted in Hanoi from July to August 2015. We implemented 19 in-depth interviews with health staff at four purposely selected commune health stations and conducted a brief inventory of existing NCD activities at these commune health stations. We also interviewed NCD managers at national, provincial, and district levels. The interview guides reflected six components of the WHO health system framework, including service delivery, health workforce, health information systems, access to essential medicines, financing, and leadership/governance. A thematic analysis approach was applied to analyze the interview data in this study. Six themes, related to the six building blocks of the WHO health systems framework, were identified. These themes explored the responsiveness of commune health stations to NCDs in urban Hanoi. Health staff at commune health stations were not aware of the national strategy for NCDs. Health workers noted the lack of NCD informational materials for management and planning. The limited workforce at health commune stations would benefit from more health workers in general and those with NCD-specific training and skills. In addition, the budget for NCDs at commune health stations remains very limited, with large differences in the implementation of national targeted NCD programs. Some commune health stations had no NCD services available, while others had some programming. A lack of NCD treatment drugs was also noted, with a negative impact on the provision of NCD-related services at commune health stations. These themes were also reflected in the inventory of existing NCD related activities. Health professionals view the responsiveness of commune health stations to NCDs in urban Hanoi, Vietnam as weak. Appropriate policies should be implemented to improve the primary health care services on NCDs at commune health stations in urban Hanoi, Vietnam.