Journal of Medical and Public Health Region 4

Relationship between health literacy and related factors with dietary behavior and medication intake of hypertension patients in Banmi District, Lopburi Province

2023-12-19T11:35:07+07:00

This cross-sectional survey research aimed to examine the relationship between health literacy and factors influencing dietary behavior and medication intake among patients with hypertension in Banmi District, Lopburi Province.
The samples comprised 275 hypertension patients diagnosed by physician and receiving services at the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital in Ban Mi District, Lopburi Province, selected through systematic multistage sampling. Data were collected through structured interviews and analyzed using Chi-square test. The results revealed that personal factors, including occupation, sources of information about hypertension, knowledge of hypertension, social support from family members,
public health personnel, village health volunteers (VHVs), the use of social media for health-related information, and health literacy were significantly associated with dietary behavior and medication intake (p<0.05). Specially, areas of health literacy showing a significant relationship were data evaluation and data application (p<0.05). Consequently, primary healthcare services should develop the higher health literacy of patients and family members, considering the patient's context.

Sickness presenteeism, stress and burnout among Thai and foreign teachers, teaching elementary school, Chonburi municipality

2023-09-09T14:57:14+07:00

The objectives of this study were 1) to study the prevalence of health outcomes, including sickness presenteeism, stress, and burnout, 2) to compare of health outcomes between Thai and foreign teachers, and 3) to relationships between various health outcomes among Thai and foreign teachers. The population of 1,055 teachers, the sample size was calculated to be 400 teachers. The tool used as a questionnaire consisted of demographic data, sickness presenteeism, stress, and burnout. The tool passed the index of item objective congruence test with a value between 0.67 - 1.00 and passed the Cronbach's alpha test for the following: sickness presenteeism, stress, and burnout, equal to 0.89, 0.77, and 0.81, respectively. The inferential statistics used were independent t-test and pearson's correlation. The study found that 35.0% of sickness presenteeism in teachers, having the highest level of stress, 5.5%. For burnout, divided into 3 dimensions, 35.0% was high-levels of emotional exhaustion, 16.3% was high-level of work cynicism, and 8.8% was low-level of work efficiency. Thai and foreign teachers had statistically significant differences in work cynicism and work efficiency (p < .05). The results of the correlation study found that sickness presenteeism was associated with stress, emotional exhaustion, work cynicism, and work efficiency with statistical significance (p < .05). sickness presenteeism was high in teachers who emotional exhaustion, 48.6% (95%CI = 40.9 - 56.6). It is recommended that schools should create an online leave system or rapid notification if a teacher becomes sick in order to quickly allocate replacement teachers for classroom teachers, and should be an appropriate mental health promotion program.

Factors influencing mental health of the elderly living in Muang Nakhon Sawan Province

2023-05-24T14:20:28+07:00

This descriptive research aims to study factors influencing mental health of the elderly living in Muang Nakhon Sawan Province. The study was conducted on sampling group of 278 people. Tool was a Suanprung stress test 20, coping scale and Thai mental health indicators, which were proved reliability at 0.903, 0.845 and 0.909, respectively. The statistics used for analysis were percentage, average, standard deviation, Chi–square, Pearson’s product moment and multiple regression. After conducting research, result shows that mental health of the elderly is a general population of 38.1 %, factors of stress and coping styles were at a moderate level of 56.5 % and 69.1%, respectively. Coping styles of the elderly were Palliative coping and confrontative coping at moderate level of 79.1 % and 57.9 %, respectively, emotive coping at low level of 83.5 %. Personal factors such as gender, age, salary, marital status education and diseases have direct related with mental health of the elderly with statistical significance at the .01 level. Coping styles, confrontative coping and Palliative coping correlated with mental health of the sample statistically significant at the .01 level (r = .598, .479, .704 respectively). The factors that are crucial for predicting mental health are coping style, gender and marital status for 66.9 %. Therefore, coping styles in the elderly should be promoted in confrontative coping, palliative coping and emotive coping on individual differences for good mental health.

Factors related to Stroke prevention behaviors among Hypertension patients under aged 60 years old, Tak Province

2023-11-23T09:31:19+07:00

This Cross-sectional analytical study aimed to study factors related to the stroke prevention behaviors among hypertension patients under aged 60 years old, Tak Province. The samples consisted of 338 participants by systematic random sampling. Data were collected by using a self-answer questionnaire. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics
and multiple regression. The results showed that most of the sample had moderate level of stroke prevention behavior (Mean = 74.26, SD = 9.125). Factors that related to the stroke prevention behaviors among hypertension patients under aged 60 years old were the perceived barriers (β = 0.254, p < 0.001), the social support from public health officers (β = 0.199, p<0.001), the social support from family (β = 0.184, p = 0.002), female (β = 0.140, p=0.005), age (β = 0.120, p = 0.025), knowledge of stroke (β = 0.129, p = 0.026) and Universal Coverage Scheme (β = -0.129, p = 0.015). These 7 factors could 37.10% collectively predict the stroke prevention behaviors with statistically significant at 0.05 level. Therefore, public health professional should push for public policy Regarding health-promoting menus, reducing salt and fat in restaurants and food stalls as healthy options. and campaign to provide knowledge about stroke to new patient groups and their relatives. Including the development of media and technology that are diverse and appropriate for patient’s gender and age to prevent stroke.

Factors affected to health literacy in prevention and control of COVID-19 among people living in border areas of Thailand-Laos-Cambodia: Ubon Ratchathani case study

2023-10-26T08:14:12+07:00

The national strategies of covid-19 prevention and control of Thai population have been emphasized on health literacy for daily life, which requires some factors to provide correct knowledge and understanding of Covid-19 disease prevention and control. The study was a cross-sectional, analytical study. It aimed to study factors effected to health literacy in prevention and control of covid-19 of people in border areas Thailand-Laos-Cambodia. The target population was above 15 years of age, living in border areas Thailand-Laos-Cambodia. There were totally 783 persons in Ubon Ratchathani province randomly selected into the study via multi-stage sampling. The questionnaire tool was analyzed via Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.76. All results were analyzed via both descriptive and analytical statistics including, multiple linear regression, adjusted R – squared (R²_adj) with 95% confidential interval. The findings revealed the participants had moderate level of health literacy in prevention and control of covid-19 (62.84%). The factors associated with health literacy of covid-19 prevention included levels of education, lost incomes, and occupations (R² = 0.109, R² _adj= 0.093, p-value < 0.001). All factors could also be used to predict the health literacy around 10.9 percent. Conclusively, we should address how to apply those three important factors including levels of education, lost incomes, and occupations to improve the health literacy in prevention and control of emerging diseases.

Surgical Outcomes of Single Posterior Approach for Spinal Tuberculosis with Neurological Deficits

2023-10-26T10:29:36+07:00

The spine is the most common site for skeletal involvement in tuberculosis (TB). Antitubercular drugs are the mainstay of treatment for spinal TB. Due to controversies surrounding the outcomes of surgical treatment, we conducted a retrospective study aimed at determining clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with spinal TB and neurological deficits who underwent surgical treatment with a single posterior approach. Data were collected from patients treated for spinal TB at Pranangklao Hospital from 2016 to 2022. Ten patients underwent surgical treatment with a 12-month follow-up. The average age was 62.1 years. The most common location was the thoracic spine. Before surgery, one patient was classified as Frankel A, four patients as Frankel B, and five patients as Frankel C. The mean operative time was 167.2 minutes, and blood loss was 883.3 ml. The neurological outcome at 3 months postoperatively was significantly improved compared to the preoperative state (p = 0.03). At the last follow-up, six patients were classified as Frankel D, and four patients were classified as Frankel E. The posterior approach to the spine with decompression and fixation provides good neurological results for patients with spinal tuberculosis.

Factors associated with rabies knowledge according to Rabies Free Zone criteria in people in Public Health Region 4

2023-12-08T13:57:20+07:00

This study is a cross-sectional analytical study. from the survey of the people in Public Health Region 4 who answered the Rabies knowledge questionnaire in the Rabies 4 Free Zone information center to evaluate the area. in fiscal year 2022 (between 1 March - 30 September 2022), a total of 1,848 cases. The objective is to study the Factors associated with rabies knowledge according to Rabies Free Zone criteria in people in Public Health Region 4, data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, presenting percentages chi-square test, binary logistic regression analysis and ratio likelihood test for comparing models. The results of the study found that the top 3 highest percentages of incorrect or unknown answers were:
1) Belief that puppies under 3 months of age cannot have rabies (49.13%). 2) Misconception that individuals or animals showing rabies symptoms that cannot be treated will inevitably die (39.12%). 3) Incorrect belief that dogs typically kept by people are unlikely to have rabies (30.41%). Furthermore, the study identified factors influencing the rabies knowledge criteria. Individuals aged 10 to 19 years old were 2.12 times (OR adj = 2.12, 95%CI 1.11 - 4.04) increasing the chances of passing the knowledge criteria compared to those aged 60 years and above. Moreover, Individuals with education up to the were 3.08 times (OR adj = 3.08, 95%CI 1.31 - 7.24), lower secondary school level were 3.87 times (OR adj = 3.87, 95%CI 1.63 - 9.18), upper secondary/vocational school level were 4.12 times (OR adj = 4.12, 95%CI 1.75 - 9.67), diploma/high vocational certificate were 6.14 times (OR adj = 6.14, 95%CI 2.57 - 14.68), and bachelor's degree or higher was 8.01 times (OR adj = 8.01, 95%CI 3.37 - 19.52), increasing the chances of passing the knowledge criteria compared to the level of education below primary school. Additionally, individuals who had received rabies knowledge within the past 6 months increased the chance of passing the knowledge criteria 1.89 times (OR adj = 1.89, 95%CI 1.51 - 2.36). The recommendations: Public health officials Should communicate to the public, such as dispelling the misconception that puppies under 3 months of age can't have rabies and addressing the notion that rabies symptoms cannot be treated and always result in fatality. Communication should be focused on the target group of the elderly and those with a level below a bachelor's degree. Promoting the dissemination of knowledge among the target population for at least 6 months is advisable. including the knowledge of rabies among the people should be surveyed periodically to adjust and enhance appropriate knowledge.

Usefulness of ambulatory ECG monitoring for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients presenting with palpitation

2024-01-17T10:49:44+07:00

In this study, the focus was on exploring the prevalence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients presenting with palpitations, utilizing the method of 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring. The research encompassed 248 participants, predominantly comprising females (75.8%), with an average age of 52.18 years, most of whom fell within the 50 - 59 age bracket. Prior to medical examination, the duration of palpitations ranged from 1 to 3 months for the majority of patients. The study's findings unveiled that 4.84% of the patients exhibited atrial fibrillation, while 1.61% showcased atrial flutter. Interestingly, the youngest individual diagnosed with AF was merely 43 years old. The investigation further delved into factors associated with a heightened prevalence of atrial fibrillation. Notably, advancing age was correlated with an increased risk of AF (odds ratio [OR] 1.064, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.015 - 1.115, p < 0.005), along with the presence of valvular heart disease (OR 19.00, 95% CI 4.23 - 85.37, p < 0.005) and other structural heart diseases (OR 12.56, 95% CI 3.12 - 50.51, p < 0.005). This study underscores the significance of 24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring in detecting a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation compared to standard ECG testing. Additionally, it emphasizes the pivotal role of this monitoring technique in AF detection, particularly among older patients presenting with valvular or structural heart diseases, thus highlighting the importance of timely and accurate diagnosis in enhancing patient care and outcomes.

Model management to change the quality of emergency room of Pranangklao hospital

2023-06-27T19:14:18+07:00

This study is a qualitative research with the following objectives: To examine the situation and problems in managing the emergency room at Phramangklao hospital and proposing a management model for the emergency room at Phranangklao hospital. The study includes: In-depth interviews with 34 relevant individuals to identify real problems and emergency room management, non-participatory observation in the emergency room and focus group with 30 management and emergency room team members. Findings indicate: Key problems in managing the emergency room at Phranangklao hospital include, overcrowding, location, personnel, income, public relations, risk and safety, equipment, treatment duration, services, systems and policies, skills, knowledge, and abilities, complaint management and other impacts respectively. Proposed management model to change the quality of emergency room of Pranangklao hospital corresponds to standard ER quality indicators including; Creating screening processes to reduce overcrowding and improve service convenience and fast, enhancing emergency room staff with appropriate staffing ratios, integrating telemedicine technology and emergency care system networks following the One Province One Hospital approach, and developing mobile emergency rooms to alleviate overcrowding.

The management model of long-acting antibody (LAAB) in Nakhon Ratchasima Province

2024-01-08T09:51:05+07:00

According to the policy of Ministry of Public Health, it was recommended to used Long-acting antibody (LAAB) in populations with compromised immunization or those not responding to vaccination to improved immunization for prevention diseases. However, the implementation of LAAB did not achieve its goal in these populations. Consequently, the Ministry of Public Health released strategies to enhance access to LAAB, including providing information and communication to doctors, healthcare workers and target populations. Additionally, opportunities were increased for target populations to receive information and make decisions (Encouraging Decision) in elderly care facilities. It was followed by an increase in the “intent to inject after receiving information” (Opt-out strategy) among target populations to decide on the injection of LAAB. Area Health 9 start these strategies in Nakhon Ratchasima province by cooperated with public health partner and local administrative organization. Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 9 Nakhon Ratchasima cooperated with Office of Disease Prevention and Control, Region 4 Saraburi, to initiate the strategies in 4 districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province including Soeng Sang, Khon Buri, Pak Thong Chai and Chokchai, during 17 July to 22 August 2023. The total number of individuals requiring LAAB injection was 8,492 persons, and the decision to receive LAAB was made by 7,592 persons (96.52%) out of 7,800 persons in the target populations. Three important procedures were utilized, including a service model in health centers, logistics model for efficient transportation of LAAB and a reporting systems model.

The effects of pregnancy protective program by family participation among middle school students in Srimuangmai district, Ubon Ratchathani province

2023-09-28T08:42:51+07:00

This quasi-experimental study employed a pre and post-test using compared groups to investigate the effects of a teenage pregnancy prevention program involving family participation. The sample group consisted of middle school students in Si Mueang Mai District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. The participants were selected and divided into an experimental group (n = 30) and a comparison group (n = 30). The experimental group received an 8-week pregnancy protection program with family participation program, while the comparison group received less training. The instruments consisted of the family participation pregnancy protection program, a questionnaire about teenage pregnancy prevention, self-efficacy perception of teenage pregnancy prevention, expectations for pregnancy prevention, and behavior toward teenage pregnancy prevention. The content validity (IOC) was 1, 1, 0.67 and 0.67, respectively. The Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of the questionnaires was 0.73, 0.75, 0.79, and 0.72, respectively. The data analysis compared the outcomes within the experimental group by a paired sample t-test and between the experimental group and the comparison group through an independent sample t-test with a statistical significance set at 0.05. According to the research, after completion of the program, there was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in scores between the experimental and comparison groups. After the experimental scored higher than before the experimental in terms of knowledge about teenage pregnancy prevention and self-efficacy perception of teenage pregnancy prevention. The intervening variable results in the before-after the experimental score showed no differences in terms of expectation for pregnancy prevention and teenage pregnancy prevention, The comparison group got higher scores in the before experiment than the after experiment in terms of expectation for pregnancy prevention and teenage pregnancy prevention behavior. The experimental group scored higher than the comparison group in terms of knowledge about teenage pregnancy prevention, self-efficacy perception of teenage pregnancy prevention, expectation for pregnancy prevention and teenage pregnancy prevention behavior. Public health personnel or teachers can apply this program as a practical guideline for preventing teenage pregnancy by involving families. It can be developed into a public health policy and encourage families to play a greater role in other activities with students. This will lead to sustainable prevention of teenage pregnancy in the future.

Elderly health care guidelines with herbs in Doi Hang sub-district, Mueang district, Chiang Rai province

2023-12-19T14:01:41+07:00

This participatory action research article aimed to develop guidelines for elderly health care with home-based herbs in the Doi Hang sub-district, Mueang district, Chiang Rai Province. One hundred samples were selected by purposive sampling according to the inclusion criteria to participate in all activities. The results found that elderly people in Doi Hang Sub-district faced health problems when they had the opportunity to use herbs, and more than 30 herbs with medicinal properties were found in this area that can be used to care for elderly health. According to those health problems and the potential of the community, the elderly health care guideline using home-based herbs was developed. Local herbs were selected and divided into 5 groups according to disease groups: 1) Symptoms of bone, joint, muscle, and tendon diseases,
2) Symptoms of wind and blood diseases, 3) Symptoms of gastrointestinal diseases, 4) Symptoms of respiratory diseases, and 5) Symptoms of skin diseases. Educate the elderly about the names, properties, and methods of use, as well as how to make medicine from herbs for use by yourself in the community. Following up on the activities, it was found that elderly people know more about medicinal herbs for treating their illnesses. This can reduce health costs and be an alternative to health care.

Factors associated with Nutrition literacy in Loei Rajabhat University students

2024-02-16T14:35:31+07:00

The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive research was to investigate the variables related to nutrition literacy among students at Loei Rajabhat University. A sample group of 1,020 people were undergraduate students, years 1 - 4, academic year 2021. Data were collected between October and December 2021 using a questionnaire consisting of 1) personal information and 2) nutrition knowledge, which had a reliability value of 0.92. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics as well as the Point Biserial, Eta, and Pearson correlation coefficients were utilized. According to the study's findings, the majority of them had intermediate nutrition literacy (61.3%), poor nutrition literacy (33.6%), and high nutrition literacy (5.1%). The following variables had a substantial impact on nutrition literacy: gender (r_pb= 0.076, p = 0.016), faculty (ETA = 0.359, p < 0.001), daily food and beverage expenses (r_ps= -0.193, p < 0.001), level of education (r_ps= -0.214, p < 0.001), and number of sources of nutrition-related information obtained (ETA = 0.513, p < 0.001). Based on the study's findings, policies and activities should be established to increase students' nutritional literacy and promote the development of good nutritional health.

Capability of Public Health Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 4, Saraburi Province

2024-04-10T15:11:33+07:00

The objectives of this study were to 1) To understand the situation of the capabilities of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (EOC) of the Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 4, Saraburi Province (ODPC4) 2) To compare the capabilities of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (EOC) ODPC4 between the fiscal years 2019 and 2022 and 3) To provide the recommendations for the capability development of the EOC of ODPC4. These two fiscal years were evaluated by an external assessment team. We used the EOC Assessment Tool which consists of 10 capability elements with 74 indicators developed and improved by the Division of Disease Control in Emergency Situations, Department of Disease Control. The score scale were 4 levels: 1 = No capability, 2 = Limited capability, 3 = developed capability, and 4 = demonstrated capability and can be applied effectively. The assessment results for the fiscal year 2019 (2562) showed that ODPC4 passed the assessment criteria at level 4 for 43 indicators (58.11%). In comparison, for the fiscal year 2022 (2565), the number of indicators at the level 4 increased significantly to 58 indicators (78.38%). This indicates showed an improvement in the capabilities of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center in ODPC4. Notable improvements were observed in Capability Elements 2, Emergency Operations Center (increased from 46.3% to 92.3%), and Capability Elements 5, Critical Information (increased from 12.5% to 50.0%). However, continuous development is needed in certain categories, including Capability Elements 7, Risk Communication and Warning (decreased from 100.0% to 25.0%), Capability Elements 8, Internal Communication within the ICS (decreased from 50.0% to 0.0%), and Capability Elements 10, Training, Exercises, and Evaluation (decreased from 75.0% to 25.0%). Therefore, there is a recommendation to expedite the development plan for the Emergency Operations Center in ODPC4, focusing on three aspects: personnel capacity, resource enhancement, and system functionality. This includes improving staff capabilities, updating emergency response plans, and conducting regular drills to enhance operational efficiency.

The Development of food safety on Natural Farming Model by the quality of life at District level mechanism, Thawung District, Lopburi Province

2024-02-26T13:33:28+07:00

This research is participation action research (PAR) has the objective to study the situation, developed models, and the proposed guidelines for driving in creating food safety according to natural farming methods with a quality-of-life development mechanism at the district level to other areas. It is divided into 3 phases: Phase 1 is a study of the current situation. The population and sample were the District Quality of Life Development Committee, Tha Wung District, with totaling 21 persons and the Chairman of village health volunteers (VHV), with totaling 128 persons. Phase 2 is the development of model and Phase 3 is the lessons learned in Phases 2 and 3; There are 40 co-researchers. The research results found that the situation in food safety chemical residues in farmers' blood and agricultural products was found to be at an unsafe level. The process of creating safety food according to natural agricultural methods with a mechanism for improving the quality of life at the district level in 4 steps as follows: 1) Problem conditions, effects of agriculture using chemicals on people's quality of life, were health, economic, environmental, and social. These problems were found in driving the creation of food safety according to natural agricultural methods that were Integrating plans and participation of relevant agencies, supporting of resource, knowledge and academics. 2) The problem-solving plan consisting: clarification in creating with understanding and cooperation, creating prototypes, implementing, expanding results, monitoring and organizing a forum for knowledge sharing. 3)The plan is Implemented for all activities 4) Evaluation: 100 percent of the results was achieved according to indicators and action plan and the evaluation results according to the UCCARE components were at step 5 ( = 4.61). The proposed guidelines for driving in other areas are working groups who should be created at both the district and sub-district levels covering government agencies, the private sector, and the public.