International Journal of Public Health and Health Sciences

Assessing Rainwater Quality Across Regions in Thailand: Implications for Public Health and Water Management

Amporn Chantawibul — 2025-12-15

Background: Recognizing the impact of contaminated water on public health, ensuring access to high-quality water is critical for improving health outcomes. Rainwater, a significant natural resource in Thailand, exhibits varying compositions across regions, directly influencing overall water quality and consequently affecting public health. Therefore, there is a need to conduct comprehensive surveys to assess rainwater suitability for household use.

Purpose: This study aimed to survey the quality of rainwater in Thailand by determining the composition as physical, chemical and biological in accordance with the Department of Health Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (2020) of Thailand.

Methods: From November 2022 to February 2024, 152 rainwater samples were collected from six regions: north, northeast, central, east, southern east coast, and southern west coast of Thailand. The water analysis followed the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (23rd edition). Descriptive statistics were applied to analyze data across 82 parameters, including 21 criteria aligned with the Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality and 61 parameters focusing on pesticide substances.

Results: A comprehensive analysis of the 152 rainwater samples revealed that every sample exhibited at least one parameter failing to meet water quality standards. Key concerns included acidic pH levels observed in 80% of samples and excessive coloration exceeding permissible limits in 20% of samples. Bacterial contamination, predominantly total coliform bacteria, was widespread, detected in approximately 87% of samples, surpassing occurrences of Escherichia coli. Mercury contamination was identified in a single sample from northeast Thailand, highlighting localized chemical risks. Pesticides, such as carbamates, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and glyphosate, were sporadically detected in the southern region. These findings underscore the urgent need to enhance and enforce water quality standards before promoting widespread consumption of rainwater.

Conclusions: A comprehensive analysis of the 152 rainwater samples revealed that every sample exhibited at least one parameter failing to meet water quality standards. Key concerns included acidic pH levels observed in 80% of samples and excessive coloration exceeding permissible limits in 20% of samples. Bacterial contamination, predominantly total coliform bacteria, was widespread.

The Development of Chatbot Intents for Preventing and Controlling Drug-Resistant Bacterial Infections

Sakaorat Muangman — 2025-12-15

The growing threat of drug-resistant bacteria (DRB) constitutes a major public health challenge at both global and national levels, particularly within hospital environments. In Thailand, the increasing prevalence of DRB has been associated with higher mortality rates and significant economic losses, underscoring the urgent need for effective infection control measures. Communication strategies, especially those targeting healthcare personnel, have been recognized as a critical component in strengthening infection prevention and control practices.

This study was undertaken to design chatbot intents for delivering educational content on the prevention and control of drug-resistant bacteria (DRB). The chatbot was developed using Dialogflow and integrated into the LINE application. The educational content was aligned with the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand, and its accuracy and completeness were systematically evaluated through the Google Apps Script platform.

The findings of this study highlight the potential of conversational AI as an innovative tool for enhancing knowledge dissemination and supporting DRB prevention among healthcare professionals, while also offering promising opportunities for further development and application.

A study of Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Among Nursing student and Medical Students of Praboromarajchanok Institute

Thanyawalai Chairat — 2025-12-15

Background: Interprofessional Learning (IPL) promotes collaboration among different healthcare professionals. Yet, there is limited research exploring factors influencing IPL readiness among students from various disciplines.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study compared levels of readiness for IPL among nursing students (n=180) and medical students (n=96) of Praboromarajchanok Institute (PBRI). We used the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) to assess IPL readiness. The questionnaire had a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients of 0.909. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the findings and Independent t-tests were utilized to compare means of readiness for IPL among groups.

Findings: A majority of participants were female (81.4%) and had never experienced IPL before (60.5 %). Overall, the mean score for IPL readiness was high (M=72.26, SD = 5.20). Female respondents had higher mean scores than males (M=72.56, SD = 5.75; M=70.90, SD =6.47; responsively). Medical students had higher level of readiness for IPL than nursing students (M = 72.73, SD = 5.18; M=71.61, SD =5.90; respectively). Students with previous IPL experience had higher mean scores than those without experience (M=73.28, SD = 5.81; M=71.61, SD = 5.90; respectively). None of these differences were statistically significant.

Conclusions: The study found high levels of IPL readiness among participants. However, participants’ gender, academic discipline, and prior IPL experience did not cause significant variations in IPL readiness. Further research could explore additional variables and longitudinal impacts on IPL readiness.