The Roles and Responsibilities as District Health Board : From Perspective to Practice for Community Health.

Abstract

     The purpose of this descriptive study was to study the roles and responsibilities of the District Health Board (DHB). Samples were purposive selected from committees of the DHB at the district level. Total sample sizes were 58 committees.  Data were collected by in-depth interviewed and a survey of attitude toward on roles and responsibilities of the DHB. Data were analyzed by content analysis and descriptive statistics included mean and standard deviation. The study found that the meaning of roles and responsibilities of DHB were the using of “Policy,  Emphasized, Direct, Unit” with the collaboration from service agencies at the district level using the process of “inside” including “Understand, Participate, Engage, Work, Realize”.  The overall mean score of roles and responsibilities of the DHB were at a high level (M = 4.45, SD = 0.36). Moreover, the mean score of 7 items were at the high level as well. The item that has the highest mean score was an integration with government agencies for move forward (M = 4.88, SD = 0.33), followed by the goal setting of operation’s guideline for DHB (M = 4.82, SD = 0.38) and the least mean scores was the role of monitoring and evaluation of operation of DHB (M = 4.26, SD = 0.77). The principle of key success factors was “Adding” included “add knowledge, add competency, add efficiency, and add collaboration. The results of this study show that in order for DHB to work for improve quality of life for the people they have to enhance appropriate knowledge and competency. These include planning, coordinating for the collaborating from other agencies. Further study should be the study of the effectiveness of DHB.