Effectiveness of management skill development program for district leaders to prevent dengue hemorrhagic fever in Health Service Network Region 9

Abstract

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a significant public health problem in Thailand. Prevention and control of the disease require actions of district leaders. However, there is a lack of evidence on the implementation by the leaders. The objective of this quasi-experimental research was to evaluate the effectiveness of the program to improve leaders’ skills in the prevention of DHF in the Health Service Network Region 9 of Thailand during March to June in 2013. In the study, samples were divided in two groups. The experimental group consisted of 45 district leaders and 45 citizens in central district (or Muang District), Chaiyaphum Province who participated in the program. The control group consisted of 45 district leaders and 45 citizens in Central district of Burirum Province who did not participate in the program. Statistical measures include percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pair t-test, ANCOVA and generalized estimating equations. It was found that after the program, the district leaders and citizens in experimental group had improved their capacity, with the mean score higher than the control one (mean diffadj=7.2, p<0.05) and (mean diffadj = 9.3, p<0.05, respectively). House Index in experimental group was significantly reduced at the first followed up (4.5%, p<0.05). It remained the same in the second followed up. In addition, Container Index in experimental group was significantly reduced at the first followed up (4.3%, p<0.05) and steadily reduced in the second followed up (3.5%, p<0.05). In summary, this program is a technique that can be applied for the development of management skills among the district leaders in other areas.