Written by Admin on November 13th, 2018 in

Implementation Research to Improve Scale-Up of Depression Services in Vietnam (IRIS-DSV)

Depression is the leading cause of the burden of disease globally and is prevalent in Vietnam. Inspite of the high prevalence, many people suffering from depression do not receive treatment. Hence, using available community services such as social workers and social collaborators to offer as a primary care to people with depression can help these people with depression receive better, and more appropriate care.
The project “Implementation Research to Improve Scale-Up of Depression Services in Vietnam (IRIS-DSV)” is conducted by Institute of Population, Health and Development (PHAD) and Simon Fraser University (SFU), funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and also conducted in partnership with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). This project continues the previous study called “Mental Health in Adults and Children – Frugal Innovations (MAC-FI)” implemented in period of time from 2016-2018. In the MAC-FI project, the researchers trained commune health workers and social workers to screen patients for depression and offer a community-based mental health intervention called ‘Supported Self-Management (SSM)’. Preliminary results of the study showed that the SSM intervention model has positive results for patients with mild and moderate depression.
This proposed study will identify, retrospectively and prospectively, multi-level barriers and drivers to the implementation and scale-up of a community-based intervention for depression in Vietnam. Specific study objectives are:
Objective 1: To understand the intervention factors influencing the effective implementation of an SSM intervention for depression in community-based settings in Vietnam;
Objective 2: To understand the multi-level contextual factors influencing the effective scale-up of an SSM intervention for depression throughout Vietnam in the long term;
Objective 3: To engage government and other stakeholders through an integrated knowledge translation approach, providing ongoing evidence to support the implementation and scale-up of the SSM intervention throughout Vietnam.

Main activities of project in 2019:

Activity 1: Report the Implementation of Supported Self-Management (SSM) Intervention

SSM Intervention screened 7,498 people in 8 study provinces, found 366 depressors, and cured 157 patients successfully.

Activity 2: Tool Semi-structured interviews with patients, provider, stake holders development validation and translation

Interview tool was developed by English and translated into Vietnam for semantic equivalence and validated by pre-test the interview guides with each participant group (n=5 per group).

Activity 3: Semi-structured interviews with patients, provider, stake holder

Interviewed 31 Key stakeholders, 47 Providers and 48 patients about acceptability of the interventions and demand-side barriers and drivers to participation and adherence.

Activity 4: Analysis and Management of Data

Interview transcripts are coding using NVivo software. Our approach to analysis is informing by the study objectives.

Activity 5: Design a management depression application for Scaling-up SSM model

We are developing a literature review about Digital applications for Depression and designing a new app adaptable for Vietnam context.