Effects of the Empowerment of Village Health Volunteers in the Area of Prohibited Drugs Free Quality Groceries

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the empowerment of Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) in the area of prohibited drug free quality groceries. Method: The study was quasi-experimental research with two groups of subjects and pretest and posttest after intervention. The study group was 30 VHVs in Kamphuan Subdistrict, Suksamran District, Ranong Province who attended empowerment program for VHVs in the area of consumer protection in health and drugs (VHVs as volunteered drug experts). The empowerment training consisted of knowledge provision on legal classification of drugs, prohibited drugs for grocery stores under the Drug Act BE 2510 and legal penalties for violation. The training also included practical training in the area. The control group was 30 VHVs in Naka Subdistrict with the usual roles. The study measured knowledge, attitude and practice of consumer protection in drug and health with questionnaires. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group had a significantly higher level of knowledge than the control group (15.47 ± 4.48 and 10.50 ± 2.62 out of the full score of 20, respectively, P <0.001). Attitudes before and after the study of both groups were not significantly different (P=0.950). The experimental group had a significantly higher level of practice than the control group (4.04 ± 0.52 and 3.73 ± 0.59 from the full score of 5, P=0.034). Conclusions: The empowerment program for VHVs in the area of prohibited drugs free quality groceries increased relevant knowledge and practices in the experimental group, but there were no differences in attitudes. Future research should further study in a longer time period and collect the outcome on the number of groceries free from prohibited drugs.