Factors Predicting COVID-19 Infection Surveillance Operations of Bangkok Public Health Volunteers

Abstract

         The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional research was to identify the predictors of COVID-19 surveillance operations of Bangkok Public Health Volunteers (PHVs) by applying the conceptual framework of PRECEDE-PROCEED Model. Three hundred seventy-three Bangkok PHVs, aged 18 and over, were randomly selected using multistage random sampling. A rating scale was used for collecting data from 9-part self-administered questionnaires. The content validity index ranged from 0.93 to 1. The reliability of the questionnaires ranged between 0.72 and 0.92. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences including descriptive statistics, Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression analysis, with the level of significance equal to .05.
            The findings showed that 80.16% of COVID-19 surveillance operations of Bangkok PHVs were at a moderate level. The predicting factors of the COVID-19 surveillance operations of Bangkok PHVs included perceived self-efficacy, occupation, social support, materials and equipment accessibility, prevention policies, age, education, perceived susceptibility, and marital status. These predictors together explained 81.9% of the variance in COVID-19 surveillance operations. Recommendation from this study is that, public health volunteers who work in Bangkok should be periodically prepared in terms of knowledge and skills to enhance their self-confidence in infectious disease surveillance practices in case of future outbreaks. The awareness of policy, materials and equipment support, social support, and perceived self-efficacy should be increased for further effective surveillance operations among people with communicable diseases.