VCAPS study – strategy for prevention of chronic lung disease and smoking cessation
On November 2, 2022, in Hanoi, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research Vietnam held a workshop to summarise the VCAPS study "An integrated health-sector strategy to combat COPD and asthma in Vietnam" with the participation of the Professor Robyn Ward (Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney), Professors Helen Reddel and Guy Marks from the Woolcock, together with representatives of the Department of Medical Service Administration and the Tobacco Control Fund from the Ministry of Health, representatives of central hospitals, and local partners who participated in the study. The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is predicted to become the third leading cause of death in the world by 2030. Vietnam is a country with a high COPD burden due to high rates of smoking. High smoking rates, coupled with air pollution, also contributes to Vietnam’s high rates of asthma – a respiratory illness that is among the major causes of disability worldwide.
The main objective of the VCAPS program was to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to enhance the management of chronic lung disease and smoking cessation at the primary health care level. According to Dr Nguyen Trong Khoa, Vice Director of the Department of Medical Service Administration, Ministry of Health, “This is a very meaningful project because it focuses on supporting the grassroots health level – at district hospitals and medical centres where there are many difficulties in addressing this disease”.
Research studies have pointed out that there are gaps in Vietnam’s health system when diagnosing and treating patients with respiratory symptoms. Smoking cessation services are still very limited in Vietnam’s health system.
The VCAPS program has helped health facilities integrate COPD/asthma treatment program into their services. The initial results, according to the assessment of patients and medical staff, have shown our approach to be feasible and well supported by local doctors.
At the November workshop, experts from the UNION, GINA, WHO and Bach Mai Hospital also discussed how to maintain and scale up this program’s model.
Dr Nguyen Thu Anh, Country Director of Woolcock Vietnam, said “The Woolcock will strive to support the scale-up of treatments for chronic lung disease within the community. Not only will this research improve the health of people in Vietnam, but results will also contribute to new approaches to control chronic lung disease in many other countries”.