Health Service Demands of Adolescents in Phattalung Province : Marketing Concept-ความต้องการบริการสุขภาพตามหลักการตลาดของวัยรุ่นจังหวัดพัทลุง

Abstract

      The objective of this survey research was to assess the health service demands of adolescents aged 15-19 years in Phatthalung province according to the 4 items of the marketing mix concept: product/service, place, promotion and price (4 P’s) and collecting data during December 2006-January 2007. The subjects were 400 adolescents selected by the multistage cluster random sampling method. The instrument was a questionnaire tested for validity by five experts and for reliability by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielding a value of 0.85. Descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage was used to analyze general data and demands on the health service. On product service, the subjects preferred convenient, quick and acceptable services delivered by understanding and friendly care providers. The following services, listed with remarkable demand were counselling on personality, exercise and family matters. They also suggested, medical services and music lessons. All should have been provided by professionals. On place, a large number wanted the venue in schools or allowing 11-20 minute access with counselling strictly in private. On promotion, public relation programs should have been broadcast via radio and television. They recommended the following services to be provided free of charge, personality counselling, family planning, educational counselling and music lessons. The results may serve as necessary information for health
care providers to prioritize and improve health service for adolescents as well as to develop the stategy to enhance public participation in health care provision.

Key words: adolescents, health service demands, marketing concepts