Results of the enhance ability of village health volunteers to promote the rational drug use in the community, Namkhun District, Ubonratchathani Province

Abstract

Purposes: To analyze the situational context, build capacity, and evaluate the capacity-building outcomes of Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) in promoting rational drug use in the community.

Study Design: Action Research.

Materials and Methods: Key informants included 17 participants for focus group discussions and 55 VHVs for data collection. Data were collected using focus group discussion guides and questionnaires assessing VHVs’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Descriptive statistics and Paired Samples t-test were employed for analysis.

Main finding:  (1) Situational Analysis: Key issues impeding rational drug use in Namkhun District included: Community-level risks: Misconceptions about medication, 53.51% of residents incorrectly identified antibiotics as “anti-inflammatory drugs”, inappropriate drug sources, and limited awareness of health risks.; VHV challenges: Ineffective interagency collaboration, insufficient digital literacy, inability to utilize health applications, outdated knowledge on rational drug use, and poor health resource management. (2)Capacity-Building Process: A 4-phase action research framework was implemented: Planning: Collaborative design of activities with district health networks, Action: Training workshops for 55 VHVs, focusing on rational drug use, Observation: Monitoring VHVs’ community outreach and behavioral changes, and Reflection: Evaluating outcomes and addressing barriers through stakeholder feedback. (3) Post-Intervention Outcomes: Significant improvements (p < .001) were observed in VHVs’: Knowledge: Antibiotics; Attitudes: Rational drug use; Behaviors: Community health promotion.

Conclusion and Recommendations: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a structured capacity-building model for VHVs in enhancing rational drug use promotion.