Journal of Public Health Nursing

The Effects of an Ergonomic Education Program Combined with Muscle Stretching on Preventive Behaviors, Muscle Pain, and Physical Fitness among Hospital Staff with Work-related Musculoskeletal Pain at Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Prachinburi Province

2025-06-18T12:25:30+07:00

Health problems caused by ergonomic hazards are the most common health issues affecting personnel at Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Prachinburi Province. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of an ergonomics education program combined with muscle stretching on preventive behaviors, muscle pain, and physical fitness among hospital staff experiencing work-related musculoskeletal pain. The intervention was developed based on ergonomic principles and the nursing system theory. A one-group pretest-posttest design was employed, involving 106 hospital personnel selected through simple random sampling. The intervention included an ergonomics education program combined with muscle stretching, conducted once a week for four weeks, together with the provision of the ergonomics and stretching education manual, and the weekly nursing supervision to support correct ergonomics practices. Data collection tools included a questionnaire on ergonomics knowledge, a scale for assessing preventive behaviors, a muscle pain symptom record, and a physical fitness test record. Instrument validity was confirmed by five experts, and reliability coefficients were 0.79 for the knowledge questionnaire and 0.96 for the preventive behavior scale. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to analyze the data.

The results showed statistically significant improvements in participants’ ergonomics knowledge, preventive behaviors, flexibility, and muscle strength after the intervention (t = 26.59, p < 0.001; t = 21.66, p < 0.001; t = 11.70, p < 0.001; t = 12.59, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, muscle pain symptoms significantly decreased (t = -20.43, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that the ergonomics education and muscle stretching program effectively enhanced knowledge, promoted preventive behaviors, reduced musculoskeletal pain, and improved physical fitness among hospital personnel. This program can be adapted for use by healthcare professionals and others in similar occupational environments.

Factors predicting behavior to prevent opportunistic infections among people living with HIV in Samut Prakan Province

2025-08-17T11:54:49+07:00

Opportunistic infections (OIs) remain a major health challenge among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Despite the global expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART), an estimated 39.9 million individuals were living with HIV in 2024, with over 600,000 AIDS-related deaths annually. OIs continue to be leading causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in developing countries and densely populated areas such as Samut Prakan Province, Thailand. This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to examine preventive behaviors against OIs and to identify the associated and predictive factors among people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) at Samut Prakan Hospital, using the PRECEDE–PROCEED Model as conceptual framework. A total of 167 PLHIV were selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire that was validated by experts. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and stepwise multiple regression.

Results indicated that the majority of participants were male (47.3%) and aged 35–60 years (52.7%). Preventive behaviors against OIs were reported at a high level (Mean = 14.22, SD = 3.05). Age, knowledge of OIs, and social support emerged as statistically significant predictors (p < 0.001), which together explained 17.8% of the variance (Adjusted R² = 0.178). These findings highlight the influence of both individual and social factors on preventive health behaviors among PLHIV. The study underscores the need for health promotion strategies that provide age-appropriate knowledge, strengthen social support, and implement individualized counseling programs to sustain preventive behaviors among PLHIV.

Effect of program applying motivational interviewing on smoking cessation behavior among workers in a manufacturing company

2023-05-19T11:14:58+07:00

This Quasi-experimental research aimed to examine the effect of a program applying the Motivational Interview on the smoking cessation behavior of employees in the workplace. The study samples were currently cigarette smoking workers in Samut Sakhon and Samut Prakan provinces. Using purposive sampling, the samples were divided into experimental and comparison groups, 30 people each. The experimental group was given the program consisting of 4 activities; 1) Relationship building and motivation to quit smoking, 2) "The interview to motivate them to achieve their dreams" in smoking cessation, 3) Building confidence, 4) Promoting potential and continuously monitoring smoking cessation behavior. The duration of the study was 7 weeks. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaires and the PiCo + Smokerlyzer to measure exhaled Carbon monoxide levels. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, Chi-square, Fisher's Exact Test, Repeated measured One-way ANOVA, and Independent t-test.

The results showed that after participating in the program for 7 weeks, the experimental group had significant lower the average number of cigarettes smoked per day and better smoking cessation behavior than those before and the comparison group (p<.001). In addition, the exhaled carbon monoxide levels were also significantly better than before and better than the comparison group (p<.05). It was concluded that the program applying Motivational Interview had a better effect on the smoking cessation behavior and number of cigarettes smoked per day of employees in the workplace.

This study can be used as a guideline to motivate smoking cessation and explain the results of assessing breath carbon monoxide levels linked to health conditions. It can be used to plan and find out what hesitates by believing in self-abilities and motivating smoking cessation behavior among the workers.

Mental Health Literacy Among Older Adults in Bangkok

2023-09-05T18:48:31+07:00

This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to examine mental health literacy and its predictive factors among community-dwelling older adults living in the Bangkok Metropolitan area. A total of 370 individuals, including both males and females aged 60 years and above, were recruited from 8 communities in Bangkok using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected by a researcher using a 6-part questionnaire, with CVI value greater than 0.8 and acceptable Cronbach’s alpha of 0.75-0.86.

The findings revealed that most subjects were female (67.6%), aged between 60-69 years old (54.6 %), married (53.5%). Most subjects had primary school education (60.3 %), and got diagnosed of Hypertension (60.5 %). According to Pearson product-moment correlation, a positive relationship between mental health literacy and social support (r = 0.495), access to health services (r = 0.397), and family relationships (r = 0.371). Nevertheless, there was a negative correlation between depression and mental health literacy (r = -0.132). In addition, Multiple linear regression revealed that access to health services and social support could jointly explained 32.1% of the variation in mental health literacy among older people at p-value < 0.001.

The findings of this study can be utilized to develop nursing services that enhance mental health literacy among elderly individuals in Bangkok. Focus should be placed on improving social support and increasing accessibility to health services in order to promote healthy mental well-being.

Management of Violence in the Emergency Department A government hospital in the eastern region

2024-10-17T08:26:32+07:00

The purpose of this descriptive research is to explore the guidelines for managing violence in emergency departments, A government hospital in the eastern region.

The research consists of 3 phases. Phase 1: in-depth interview of ten personnel who in charge of providing services in the emergency department. Phase 2:evaluate the perception nurses about the management procedure of violence in the emergency department of A government hospital in the eastern region. Phase 3: in-depth interview of the head nurse of A government hospital in the eastern region for the policy to manage the violence in emergency department. The questionnaire, developed by the researcher, consisted of 3 parts, 1) general information 2) the management of violence in the emergency department and 3) violence management guidelines. The content validity of the instruments were analyzed by 6 experts. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and content analysis.

The results found that in the past year 100% of the professional nurses of the emergency department, A government hospital in the eastern region have been verbally abused. The incidence was found to be 1-2 times/year at 75%, 3-5 times/year at 16.6%, and more than 6 times/year at 8.4%. The factors that led to the violence were dissatisfaction from having to wait for service for a long time at 30%, followed by the patients being drunk at 27.14%, the patients having mental illness at 21.43%, and insufficient communication between nurses and relatives at 17.14%, respectively. Managing when violence occurs are modified of severity classification criteria and conducting nursing practice guidelines to be different according to severity levels. Establish precise guidelines to care for the personnel who have been subjected to violence. In terms of violence prevention, nursing practices are set by providing information to relatives every 30 minutes. In cases where service recipients are found to be intoxicated or mentally ill, security personnel are assigned to be at the bedside during procedures. Training is also provided to all levels of staff on negotiation, self-defense, violence control, and virtual reality rehearsals.