Oral Health Care Model of Village Health Volunteers of The 50th Anniversary Mahavajiralongkorn Hospital Network

Abstract

This action research aimed to study the oral health care model for Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) within the 50th Anniversary Mahavajiralongkorn Hospital network. The sample group for model development consisted of 12 key stakeholders: public health personnel from Yang Lum, Dong Saensuk, and Tamyae Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals, community leaders, and VHV presidents. The sample group for data collection consisted of 38 village health volunteers working in the community health center area of the 50th Anniversary Mahavajiralongkorn Hospital. Data were collected using a focus group discussion guide and questionnaires between November 2023 and September 2024. General data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The differences in mean scores before and after the intervention were compared using a paired t-test.

The results indicated that the oral health care model for VHVs within the 50th Anniversary Mahavajiralongkorn Hospital network enhanced village health volunteer’s knowledge levels, fostered positive attitudes, and improved oral health practices. It also significantly contributed to the development of the volunteers' overall knowledge and abilities. Post-intervention, mean scores for oral health knowledge and attitudes toward dental health were significantly higher than pre-intervention scores (p < 0.05). These findings confirm the effectiveness of the developed A4C model in achieving its intended objectives. Accordingly, the developed A4C model is recommended for application and scaling up in other areas with similar contextual conditions.