The purpose of this study was to explore diabetes self-management strategies and underpinnings of behaviors among Vietnamese with type 2 diabetes. Using Leventhal's illness representation model, semistructured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 23 participants, 14 women and 9 men. NVivo 8 software was used for content analysis. Data revealed that participants constructed implicit theories of the identity, causes, consequences, timeline, and controllability of diabetes, which were inconsistent with the biomedical literature. Participants labeled diabetes by their symptoms of hypo-/hyperglycemia, and they focused on the relief of these symptoms. However, the participants' focus on symptomatology undermined their use of blood glucose monitoring to manage diabetes as a majority of the participants had diabetes-related complications. Participants integrated the continuum of Eastern and Western treatment belief systems to achieve a balance to create harmony between the two systems.

This qualitative ethnographic study explored barriers and facilitators of diabetes self-management among Vietnamese Americans (VA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 23 VA with type 2 diabetes ages 43 to 83. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. NVivo 8 software was used for content analysis. Data revealed participants face many barriers including: low diabetes literacy, limited English proficiency, unhealthy eating habits, lack of time and motivation, fear of pain, cost of monitoring supplies, side effects of medicines, beliefs of fatalism, and lack of transportation. Facilitators included witnessed sufferings, peer advice, family assistance, and self-reliance.

Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) incidence is rising among Asian Americans, including Vietnamese, and is associated with increasing rates of urbanization, population aging, and overweight/obesity. We examined literature targeting diabetes self-management (DSM) beliefs, practices, and culturally informed interventions specific to Vietnamese adults. Methods Using PRISMA systematic review guidelines, we searched CINAHL, Ovid, and Medline databases for research articles published from 2001 to 2019 examining DSM beliefs, practices, and/or interventions among Vietnamese adults with T2DM and/or family members. Results Of the 971 articles identified, 12 articles representing 11 studies ( N = 2,628) met inclusion criteria. Cultural knowledge and beliefs influence Vietnamese health practices and nutrition-based interventions that infuse traditional dietary norms are common. Two studies incorporated digital technology and community health workers in interventions. Discussion Appreciating unique health beliefs and practices of Vietnamese adults is critical to designing and testing culturally congruent interventions. Further research involving community-centered approaches to enhance DSM is warranted.

The purpose of this review is to summarize the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of interventions that utilize mobile health (mHealth) technology to promote health behavior changes or improve healthcare services among the Vietnamese population. Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science were used to identify studies published from 2011–2022. Studies utilizing mHealth to promote behavior change and/or improve healthcare services among Vietnamese were included. Studies that included Vietnamese people among other Asians but did not analyze the Vietnamese group separately were excluded. Three independent researchers extracted data using Covidence following PRISMA guidelines. Measures of feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy were synthesized. The ROBINS-I and RoB2 tools were used to evaluate methodological quality. Fourteen articles met inclusion criteria and included 5660 participants. Participants rated high satisfaction, usefulness, and efficacy of mHealth interventions. Short message service was most frequently used to provide health education, support smoking cessation, monitor chronic diseases, provide follow-up, and manage vaccination. Measures of feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy varied across studies; overall findings indicated that mHealth is promising for promoting lifestyle behavior change and improving healthcare services. Cost effectiveness and long-term outcomes of mHealth interventions among the Vietnamese population are unknown and merit further research. Recommendations to integrate mHealth interventions are provided to promote the health of Vietnamese people.