Approximately 1.8 million injuries occur annually in Vietnam, which leads to a significantly reduced quality of life. There is a need for rehabilitation services in the hospital to identify and provide support for patients post-discharge (Nguyen et al., 2017). In Vietnam, motorcycle is the main means of transportation, and motorcycle injuries account for two-thirds of road traffic injuries and fatalities. The rate of injured motorcyclists returning to work is low, and the reduction in functional status and pain still lasts over 12 months after the injury. Low-cost rehabilitation services and programs should be established to help patients improve their overall quality of life and increase clients’ abilities to perform daily activities (Doan et al., 2020). This project aims at building and creating resources to help Vietnamese occupational therapists treat patients with upper-body injuries in the rehabilitation phase.
Mission:
To create and provide clinical or educational resources for occupational therapy (OT) programs in Vietnam to promote occupational performance.
Vision:
To create and provide resources for Vietnamese OT practitioners regarding specific injuries in the upper body during the rehabilitation phase.
Areas of focus: Leadership, Program and Policy Development
Areas of practice: Health & Wellness, Rehabilitation & Disability, Work & Industry, Hand Therapy & Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Literature Review:
Because of a shortage in orthopedic services, speech and language therapies, and occupational therapies across the nation, rehabilitation services are currently restricted to basic physical rehabilitation. Typically, in Vietnam, these services are only accessible at provincial-level hospitals with a limited number of beds in relation to the number of patients (Palmer et al., 2015).
Up to 60% of the nation's patients are treated at hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and due to enormous demand, their capacity frequently exceeds 200% (Nguyen & Nguyen, 2023).
Patients in Vietnam endure a considerable decline in the quality of life after injuries, even those with the lowest degrees of severity (Chao et al., 2018).
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nathan Short, Ph.D., OTD, OTR/L, CHT, FAOTA (Left photo)
- Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program, Huntington University
- Assistant Director, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program, Huntington University
- Author of the textbook "Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy"
- American Occupational Therapy Association Roster of Fellows Award 2023
Expert Mentor: Ms. Van Le, Msc.PT (Right photo)
- Head of Rehabilitation Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
- Head of Physiotherapy-Rehabilitation Department, University Medical center No2
- Vice President, Vietnam Physical Therapy Association
- Executive committee member, AWP region, World Physiotherapy
Needs Assessment:
Occupational therapy is a new health profession in Vietnam and is projected to continue developing. There is a high need to bring more resources and materials for training occupational therapy practitioners in Vietnam to serve clients better. Currently, there is no hand therapy society or organization in Vietnam which emphasizes the need for collecting and providing information and materials for occupational therapists when treating patients with upper-extremity-related injuries.
A list of tools or adaptations, websites, or apps that OT programs in Vietnam would benefit from:
"Love cannot remain by itself - it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service. Whatever form we are, able or disabled, rich or poor, it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing; a lifelong sharing of love with others." - Mother Teresa.
Future Implications:
Impact on Occupational Therapy in Vietnam: Increased educational and clinical materials and increased access to these materials for OT practitioners in Vietnam.
Impact on my career: With the knowledge and skills I've obtained throughout this project, I'm motivated and determined to pursue a career in hand therapy. In addition, my dedication to creating instructional and educational videos in two languages will benefit occupational therapy programs in Vietnam as well as recognize me as a significant resource in the global occupational therapy community, opening doors for future collaborations and professional growth.
Acknowledgment:
Thank you so much to my mentors, Dr. Short and Ms. Van, for your guidance and continuous support, to Dr. Rivera (Capstone Director), to my Vietnamese team from Vietnam, including Dr. Dung Pham (Director of MCNV), Yen Phi Tu (Communication and Public Relations Officer - MCNV), Dat Ngoc Pham (Occupational Therapist, Lecturer - UMP), Minh Ngoc Nguyen (Physiotherapist, Lecturer - UMP), Trang Quynh Tran (Teamlead Strengthening Healthcare System - The International Center).
(August 2023)
Contact information
If you need to reach me in the future, you can message me at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwenhfutrell/
References
Credits:
Created with images by hit1912 - "Unidentified Vietnamese merchants wearing traditional Vietnamese style conical hat "non la"." • mtaira - "ベトナムの街角風景" • pszabo - "Bai Dinh Pagoda - The biggiest temple complex in Vietnam, Trang An, Ninh Binh" • TxemaPhoto - "Photograph of a Hanoi street in Vietnam. People selling typical products. Asian life"