Purpose Dengue hemorraghic fever (DHF) is a communicable disease that is difficult to manage, especially in tropical countries. Social capital is believed to be able to improve the ability of entire communities to work together to solve a collective health problem. This study aimed to describe the existing social capital in a community and how it was used to fight DHF. Methods Qualitative descriptive methods were used, and in-depth interviews were conducted with 13 participants. This study was conducted in the Sawahan sub-district, Surabaya, Indonesia, an endemic area that combats DHF every year. Findings Results showed that social capital as a community feature provides the main cornerstone of collective action. The creation of social groups, intersectoral collaboration, mutual assistance in cleaning, and voluntary work were visible forms of social capital in the prevention and control of DHF. Support from strong leaders also had significant implications. Conclusions This study showed that social capital was an important feature, which, if managed, used and accessed properly, would be able to provide ideas for solving community problems.

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Objectives This study aimed to describe work and activities of community networks focusing on the improvement of the quality of life (QOL) of older people in Thailand. The understanding of the work can help enhancing the community development and strengthening of local communities and their networks. Methods Qualitative methods including in-depth interview, observation, and focus group discussion were employed to the study. 64 participants participated to the study and were recruited from 4 key actors within the community. Content analysis was used to analyze the obtained data. This study was conducted in 6 local administrative organizations (LAOs) which selected from the outstanding areas of the project. Each LAO represents one sub-district of the regions of Thailand namely; (1) the upper north, (2) the lower north, (3)the upper eastern, (4) the lower eastern, (5) the central and (6) the south. Results The findings of this study were categorized into three main themes: (1) Social capital including people in the community, social groups, and organizations, (2) Mutual help/collaboration activities composed of six sets of activities related to social capitals working on the improvement of QOL of older people, and (3) Impacts of the mutual help/collaboration activities on older people and local communities who help to improve of QOL of older people. Conclusion The findings are important features for the community development. These themes should be recommended for community nurses, health related groups and organizations for the improvement of QOL of older people in the community.

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Background: Competency of nurses is vital to safe nursing practice as well as essential component to drive quality of nursing services. Competency development is a continuous process of improving knowledge, attitudes and skills, and is influenced by a numerous of factors.Purposes: This study aims to explore factors that influence the development of competencies of nurses working in clinical settings in Vietnam.Methods: A descriptive qualitative research was conducted in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with a purposive sample of twenty-seven participants including nurses, nurse managers, administrators, nurse teachers, medical doctors, and other health care providers.  Data collection was by in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Content analysis was used to analyze the data.Findings: The research participants described numerous of factors that influence the journey of developing nurses’ competencies. The identified factors were relevant to nursing education and training system in Vietnam; working environments of nurses; public image and values of nursing profession; characteristics of nurses themselves; Vietnamese nursing profession; sociocultural-economic and political aspects in Vietnam; and global contexts.Conclusion: The derived knowledge would greatly benefit clinical nurses, administrators, nursing educators, health care services managers, policy makers as well as other relevant health care stakeholders in proposing of solutions to promote nursing education, nursing workplace environments, and the appropriate regulations in order to enhance the nursing competency and quality of nursing services in Vietnam.