Development of an Operational Model for Improving Quality of Life in Pong Sa Sub-District, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop an operational model for quality-of-life development at Pong Sa Subdistrict, Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province. The participants consisted of 60 stakeholders involved in subdistrict quality-of-life development, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected by using focus group discussions on local problems, community needs, success factors, barriers, and development requirements, along with questionnaires assessing participation and satisfaction with the implementation process. The research was conducted in four phases: planning, action, observation, and reflection. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and t-tests. The findings revealed that;

1. The situation and operational needs for quality-of-life development in Pong Sa Subdistrict involved four major components: driving mechanisms, capacity building, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge exchange. The developed model utilized the Subdistrict Quality of Life Development Committee as the central mechanism to integrate community participation and multisectoral collaboration. The model comprised five steps: 1) committee appointment with clearly defined roles, 2) capacity development and operational understanding, 3) identification of community issues and integrated planning, 4) shared understanding through small-group communication, and 5) development of local leaders for implementation monitoring.

2. After implementation, stakeholders demonstrated significantly increased levels of participation and satisfaction at the .001 level. Key barriers included limited community awareness regarding open burning issues and communication challenges among network partners, while success factors included clearly defined committee roles and strong social measures.

The developed model can serve as a prototype for subdistrict-level quality-of-life development, particularly in remote areas, by strengthening communication channels and coordination across all network levels. It may also be adapted to address complex community health and social issues, such as emerging diseases, mental health problems, and substance abuse.