Process Analysis of Action Activities in Communities according to the Standard of Primary Health Care Unit Case Study in a Province of Northern Part of Thailand

Abstract

This research aims to study the process analysis of action activities in communities according to the standard of primary health units (PCU) in a province of northern part of Thailand. The samples consist of 3 groups as follows: officers in primary health care units, public representatives and assessors. Study tool was an interview form to evaluate

the experiences and identify the problems and obstacles. Four steps as follows were designed to evaluate the activities in communities: 1) Identify the problem, 2) Planning, 3) Operation and 4) Evaluation. The data was collected from June 1, 2011 - October 31, 2012. Statistics used in the analysis are frequency distribution, percentage, standard deviation and

content analysis. The results showed that most of the PCU officers had the experience in operation step (67.8 %). This result showed that the officers understood the participative work practice and gave an opportunity for the community to get involve. On the contrary, PCU officers have the least experience in evaluation step (43.2 %). This result showed that the officers give less opportunity for the public to examine the work performance. The results from public representatives showed that most of the samples had the experience in operation step (93 %) but only a few had the experience to identify the problem (25.21 %). These result showed that public representatives were alert to get involved in the activities but they were unable to state the problem in their community. The data from PCU officers who passed the evaluation

showed that most of them had the experience in operation step (65.4 %) whereas only a few had the experience in evaluation (48.6 %). These results indicated the more opportunity to contribute in activities in communities but less chance for the inspection. The data from PCU officers who failed the evaluation showed that all of them had the experience in planning and operation step. However, none of them had experience in evaluation step. These results reflected the incomprehension in the concept of participation. The data from the assessors showed that only 28 % of them passed the criteria which showed that the evaluation can not yield the highest benefit to the concept of participation. The opinion survey of PCU officers stated that the major problem and obstacle are the lack of interest and lack of knowledge in planning, management and problem solving. In addition the opinion survey from public suggested that PCU officers

should increase the field activities to encourage the participation from the communities.