The Development of a Readiness-to-Care Model for People with Psychiatric Problems in the Community of Village Health Volunteers

Abstract

This research and development study aimed to (1) examine the readiness of village health volunteers in caring for individuals with psychiatric problems in the community, and (2) develop a readiness preparation model for community-based psychiatric care of village health volunteers. A research and development approach was employed and conducted in three phases. Phase 1 involved a situational analysis with 20 key informants. Phases 2 and 3 focused on the implementation and evaluation of the developed model among 93 village health volunteers, respectively. Research instruments included a readiness assessment questionnaire, and a feasibility assessment questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent t-test. The findings revealed that the situational analysis identified three key dimensions: (1) individual factors of village health volunteers (skills, attitudes, confidence, and motivation), (2) knowledge related to caring for individuals with psychiatric problems in the community, and (3) support from family and community. After implementation of the developed model, preparedness scores were significantly higher after the intervention compared to before the intervention (p < .001). Moreover, the developed readiness-to-care model demonstrated a moderate to high level of feasibility for practical implementation. The findings indicate that the development of a readiness-to-care model for people with psychiatric problems in the community of village health volunteers is appropriate for the community context.