OPERATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TUBERCULOSIS PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE AREA OF PHETCHAREON HEALTH PROMOTING HOSPITAL

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, Thailand has been ranked as 1 of the world top 14 countries struggling with the outbreak of tuberculosis (TB). This study aimed to establish a model, based on the collaborative operation in the community, for preventing and controlling tuberculosis at the community level. To accomplish the goal, the research objectives were: 1) to design a system to develop a collaborative operation for TB control and prevention in the area of Phetchareon Health Promoting Hospital, Mueang District, Loei Province, and 2) to evaluate the effectiveness of the system for TB control and prevention developed by using a participatory action research approach. The TOP Model and Plan-DO-Check-Act (PDCA) were integratively applied for a brainstorming group meeting. The samples included 22 TB patients, 27 community leaders, 70 village public health volunteers, and 5 public health officers. The qualitative data were analyzed to create a model suitable for the community. The efficiency and the effectiveness of the model were, subsequently, assessed based on the nature of project activities followed by the establishment of a model for developing the community collaboration named “Phetchareon TB Model”. The model implementation revealed that the system effectively managed the problems at the community level. It also helped develop the community cooperation and led to efficient performances of various activities for operating TB control and prevention at the community level.