Evaluation of a Combined Method of Rapid Survey and Focus Group Discussion to Identify Problems Related to Medicines and Health Products in Community: A Case Study of Non Hua Na Village, Srisook Subdistrict, Si Chomphu District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the appropriateness in using rapid survey technique in combination with focus group discussion to identify problems related to medicines and health products in 4 aspects including 1) community participation 2) self-dependency of community in using the methods 3) use of existing community resources and 4) correspondence with community’s time of activities. Methods: The study was the evaluation of process in a field experiment. Subjects were 22 villagers of Non Huw Na in Srisook subdistrict, Sri Chomphu district, Khon Kaen Province (n=72). The subjects were those leading the design, planning and identification of the problems during October 2017. Prior to the start of the activities, the researchers trained the subjects and distribute manual for problem identification to be used as activity guideline. Evaluation of the appropriateness of the method for problem identification included (1) the completion of evaluation and observation form by researchers, (2) the response of subjects on questionnaires asking their opinion on the survey and focus group discussion. Results: Evaluation of the use of rapid survey and focus group discussion by the researchers and subjects was in agreement on (1) the method attained high degree of community participation (2) community could independently run the process (3) the method relied on the existing resources in community and (4) time span to conduct problem identification corresponded with community’s activities. The aspects of the method that community was not able to execute by themselves were the design of survey questionnaire, analysis and summarization of the survey data. Conclusion:  Rapid survey and focus group discussion were appropriate techniques to identify community problems related to medicines and health products. Primary care pharmacists responsible for community health should explore techniques to strengthen community capacity in questionnaire design and simple data analysis so that the community could independently identify their own problems.