Journal of Health Science of Thailand

Editorial

Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn — 2025-12-29

Full Issue

Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn — 2025-12-29

Content

Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn — 2025-12-29

Factors Influencing Decision to Use Dental Services of Social Security Users in Government Sector of Nakhu District, Kalasin Province

Watchakorn Permkhuen — 2025-12-29

The objective of this analytical cross-sectional exploratory study was to clarify factors influencing the decision to use dental services of social security users in Nakhu District Government, Kalasin Province. Data were collected from questionnaires of 145 samples. The relationship was analyzed using logistics multiple regression statistics. The results showed that service accessibility factors including adequacy of existing services and acceptance of service quality (p<0.05); and service quality factors including response to service recipients and understanding and knowing service recipients (p<0.05) influenced the decision to use dental services of the social security users in Nakhu District Government, Kalasin Province. Therefore, this research could be used as a guideline to improve dental services in hospitals and increase access to dental services among working people.

Risk Factors and Health Effects of Household Air Pollution: a Case Study of Saiyong-Saiwal Sub-district, Krobburi District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

kornwipa punnasiri — 2025-12-29

Household air pollution is a major global health concern, primarily caused by the use of unclean fuels, indoor smoking, and household cleaning or insecticide products. This study aimed to examine the association between household air pollution factors and health impacts among residents in households located in Saiyong–Saiwal Subdistrict Municipality, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. A total of 330 house holds were surveyed between March and September 2020. Data were collected using household activity surveys and health impact questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis were used. The results showed that most households used chemical cleaning agents (69.7%), had the presence of vector-borne insects (61.8%), smoked indoors (60.9%), and used charcoal or wood for cooking (56.4%). Significant risk factors included indoor smoking, which was associated with chest tightness (aOR=2.31, 95%CI=1.01–5.31) and skin rashes (aOR=1.93, 95%CI=1.05–3.56). The use of mothballs was associated with phlegm (aOR=3.27, 95%CI=1.27–8.40). The use of spray insecti cides was associated with eye irritation (aOR=2.02, 95%CI=1.06–3.87) and skin rashes (aOR=3.00, 95%CI=1.56–5.76). In conclusion, the use of chemical products and indoor smoking increased the risk of adverse health symptoms. Public health communication and education are therefore essential to pro mote the proper use of household products and personal protection. In addition, relevant agencies should establish surveillance and intervention measures to reduce household air pollution and its health impacts.

Health Risk Assessment from Consumption of Arsenic Contaminated Seaweed Products

varangkana visesmanee Le — 2025-12-29

The main objective of this study was to assess the concentration of arsenic contamination in dry seaweed products. The data were to be used to assess health risk along with related secondary data. Thre were altigether 29 samples of dried seaweeds collected, which were divided into 3 groups: (i) finished dry seaweed, (ii) sushi-wrapped seaweed, and (iii) raw dried seaweed. Heavy metals in all samples were analyzed by coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The results showed that concen trations of arsenic in the seaweed samples were found to be in the range of 0.19±0.06 - 3.02±0.62 mg/kg; and 10.34% of samples contained arsenic exceeding the standard suggested by the Ministry of Public Health. In addition, risk assessment from seaweed consumption indicated that such products might affect the health of the consumers both in children and adult groups.

Road Traffic Fatalities under the COVID-19 Situation in Nakhon Ratchasima Province: Trends, Impacts, and Challenges in Injury Prevention

Boonsak Hanterdsith — 2025-12-29

The COVID-19 pandemic, declared a global emergency in 2020, significantly impacted road traffic due to venue closures, remote work, and travel restrictions. This study aimed to analyze road traffic fatalities in Nakhon Ratchasima Province from pre-COVID period (October 2017) to post-COVID (December 2023), focusing on trends, severity, and injury patterns. Using a cross-sectional design, data from forensic and hospital records were analyzed, alongside confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province. The study found a slight, non-significant negative correlation between COVID-19 cases and traffic fatalities. During the pandemic, the average monthly fatalities decreased but surged post-pandemic. The 20-29 year age group accounted for the most deaths across all periods. There were no significant differences based on gender, age, or day of the week. Fatalities at the scene of injury declined, but injury severity increased, possibly due to a rise in risky behaviors, such as alcohol consumption. Motorcycle collisions were the primary cause of death across all periods, and alcohol-related fatalities increased, particularly post-COVID. Sub-district analysis revealed mixed trends, with some areas experiencing higher fatalities during the pandemic. The peak time for fatalities remained consistent at 03:00-04:00 AM across periods. In conclusion, although COVID-19 measures helped reduce traffic fatalities during the pandemic, they may have paradoxically contributed to more severe injuries and alcohol-impaired driving. The pattern of injuries also changed during the COVID period and continued into the post-COVID period. This study highlights the need for targeted road safety interventions and suggests further investigation into long-term post-COVID effects on road safety and injury prevention

Effects of Self-Efficacy Enhancement Program on Perceived Self-Efficacy in Palliative Care for Terminally Ill Older Patients with Dyspnea among Registered Nurses in Medical Department, Tertiary Hospital

Sasithorn Chaisattra — 2025-12-29

This quasi-experimental research aimed to investigate the effects of a self-efficacy enhancement program on perceived self-efficacy in palliative care for terminally ill older patients with dyspnea among registered nurses, using Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and authentic learning concept as the conceptual framework.The participants were 45 registered nurses working in the inpatient ward, Medical Department in a tertiary hospital in the Northeastern region of Thailand. They were selected by a simple random sampling method and divided into an experimental group of 21 people and a control group of 24 people. The experimental group received the self-efficacy enhancement program, consisting of four activities over a period of four weeks: week 1: theoretical and practical training; week 2: practical training at the ward; week 3: self-practice training; and week 4: knowledge sharing and summary of learning. The control group did not receive the program. The instruments included (1) the research instrument, which was the self-efficacy enhancement program, and (2) the data collection instruments, which were the demographic information questionnaire and the nurses’ perceived self-efficacy questionnaire. All research instruments were tested for content validity. The content validity (CVI) of all instruments was 1.0 and the reliability value of the perceived self-efficacy questionnaire was 0.95. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and hypotheses were tested using independent t-test and paired t-test. The research findings revealed that the nurses who received the self-efficacy enhancement program had higher perceived self-efficacy in providing palliative care for terminally ill older patients with dyspnea (mean±SD= 100.90±7.15) than the nurses who did not receive the program (mean±SD=74.58±9.55) with statistical significance (mean differences = 26.32, 95%CI: 21.28 to 31.36, p<0.001), and after receiving the self-efficacy enhancement program, the nurses had higher perceived self-efficacy in providing palliative care for terminally ill older patients with dyspnea (mean±SD = 100.90±7.15) than before receiving the program (mean±SD = 69.52±17.33) with statistical significance (mean differences = 31.38, 95%CI: 24.90 to 37.86, p-value<0.001). These findings indicate that the self-efficacy enhancement program in this study increased the nurses’ perceived self-efficacy in palliative care for terminally ill older patients with dyspnea. Therefore, this program should be used as a guideline to promote perceived self-efficacy among registered nurses providing palliative care for terminally ill older patients so that appropriate and quality care for terminally ill older patients with dyspnea will be provided.

A Comparison the Effect of Joint Adjustment Massage with Thai Royal Court Massage to Relieve Pain in Patients with Upper Trapezius Myofascial Pain Syndrome in Thai Traditional Medicine Hospital, Prince of Songkla University

Chadsada Saeyang — 2025-12-29

Office syndrome, or chronic pain in the upper musculature, is often observed in people who work in the same posture for a long period of time. Massage is one of the possible treatments, including Royal Court massage, Chaloisak massage and traditional bone bending and traction massage. However, there is no definitive massage treatment model. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of joint adjustment massage to relieve pain. A group of 36 patients who had been suffering from muscle and fascial pain in the shoulder, neck and back area for more than 3 months were randomly divided into two groups. Each group, consisting of 18 people, received treatment using a randomly assigned method lasting 15 minutes per session performed on 3 consecutive days. The scores of Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Trunk Forward Flexion Test (TFFT), Back Scratch Test (BST) and Cervical Spine Range of Motion (CROM) were recorded before and after the treatment period. The results of the study showed that the scores of PPT, VAS, CROM and BST had no statistically significant difference (p<0.05) after the treatment of the 2 groups (the joint adjustment massage and the Royal Court massage); but the efficacy of the 2 treatment methods in relieving chronic upper muscle pain or office syndrome symptoms with PPT, CROM and BST was significantly detected (p<0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease in VAS score (p<0.05).

Development of Guidelines for COVID-19 Funeral Management of Multicultural Context in Yala Province Network

Natthika Saetae — 2025-12-29

This study aimed to assess the situation, develop and evaluate outcomes of COVID-19 corpse management guidelines in a multicultural context of the network in Yala province. As management of deaths from infectious diseases should not be performed as normal death rituals. In addition, in the three southern border provinces, there is a sensitive culture and beliefs of each religion. Therefore, there was a conflict with the rituals of handling the corpse. This research was carried out in 3 steps: study the situation; development, and outcome evaluation of COVID-19 funeral management guidelines in 318 patients who died of COVID-19. Tools used for collection were (1) questions in group discussions. Qualitative data analysis was performed using content analysis and (2) satisfaction assessment. Quantitative data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics. with percentage and frequency. The study found that there were some important issues associated with the management of COVID-19 corpses in the multicultural context of the network in Yala province: nurses did not have guidelines for handling COVID-19 corpses. The relatives of the deaths (Islam, Buddhism and Christian) lacked knowledge and understanding about handling COVID-19 corpses. There were lack of management systems and insufficient equipment to handle COVID- 19 corpses. After the development and the implementation of the guideline, there was no incidents of infection spread in the community. Correct practice according to the guidelines of the network was observed. The network had participated in the handling of all COVID-19 corpses in the three southernmost provinces. The satisfaction of the deceased’s relatives was at 92%; and the incidence of conflicts between personnel and relatives of the deceased was 0. Additional recommendations from this research were that a knowledge manual on COVID-19 corpse management in a multicultural context should be developed to be disseminated to the public and public health personnel to prevent and control the spread of infection in the Yala Province network; and to be developed into a model for further use with emerging diseases.

Effects of Interprofessional Team Care on Type 2 Diabetes Patients at Ban Hua Nong Sub-District Health Promotion Hospital, Maha Sarakham Province

Preedee Yotda — 2025-12-29

Effective diabetes management requires personalized care delivered by efficient interprofessional teams to minimize the risk of complications. This retrospective study aimed to compare treatment outcomes in diabetic patients before and after receiving care from an interprofessional team. Medical records of 32 registered diabetic patients who received services at the Ban Hua Nong Sub-District Health Promotion Hospital, Borabue District, Mahasarakham Province, from 2018 to 2023 were analyzed. The patients’ body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and laboratory test results, including fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), were examined using the paired samples test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The results showed statistically significant difference in blood pressure values after receiving care. Systolic blood pressure increased by 5.22 mmHg, while diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased by 5.50 mmHg (p<0.05). Additionally, when comparing differences among diabetic patients who had poor glycemic control or abnormal test results prior to participating in the study, improvements were observed after receiving care in terms of body mass index and blood glucose levels. The mean BMI decreased by 2.50 kg/m², and blood glucose levels decreased by an average of 19 mg/dL. In conclusion, the findings of this study highlight the vital role of interprofessional teams in effectively managing diabetes and improving patient outcomes. Specifically, the study demonstrates that such teams are instrumental in reducing BMI and blood sugar levels among diabetic patients. These findings underscore the importance of employing interprofessional teams to enhance patient care and overall diabetes management.

The Development of Nursing CARE Model for Medical Critically Ill Patient in the Intensive Care Unit, Detudom Crown Prince Hospital

Watcharaphan Wongkhamphan — 2025-12-29

This research and development study aimed to develop a care model for critically ill medical patients in the intensive care unit at Detudom Crown Prince Hospital and to compare clinical outcomes of critically ill patients before and after the model development. The study was conducted in two phases with a purposive sampling approach. The sample consisted of 16 professional nurses and 192 critically ill medical patients. The research instruments included: (1) a care model for critically ill medical patients, (2) patient data recording forms, and (3) clinical outcome recording forms. Qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, independent sample t-test, and Fisher’s Exact test. The research findings revealed that: (1) the developed care model for critically ill medical patients, termed “CARE Model” comprised four components: C (Care team) – establishment of a patient care team; A (Activity) – organization of nursing activities to provide care according to FAST HUG protocol; R (Review) – review of FAST HUG guideline implementation in critically ill medical patient care and documentation of work process results according to FAST HUG protocol; and E (Evaluation) – clinical outcome evaluation conducted monthly with feedback provided to the team to continuously improve quality of care and evaluate care outcomes. (2) Comparison of clinical outcomes before and after model development revealed that following implementation of the developed care model, there were significant statistical reductions in the incidence of patients unplanned extubation, ventilator-associated pneumonia rate, incidence of acute delirium, duration of mechanical ventilation weaning, and length of stay in the ICU compared to the pre-implementation period (P<0.05)

A Comparative Study of Mediation of Medical Disputes and Administrative Mediation

Pakchisa Khonsuphap — 2025-12-29

This qualitative research aimed to: (1) examine the general concepts and principles of medical dispute mediation and administrative dispute mediation; (2) compare the differences in the laws, formats, procedures and methods of mediation in medical disputes and administrative disputes, and (3) propose guidelines and promote the application of legal mediation processes in dispute resolution. The study employed documentary research and field data collection, using purposive sampling of 12 participants. Data were collected through in-depth interviews using a semi-structured interview form covering five key issues: understanding and roles of mediators, understanding of medical cases, mediation processes, successes and obstacles, and recommendations. The key informants consisted of experts in medical dispute mediation, experts in administrative dispute mediation, and scholars in peace studies or dispute mediation. The content analysis revealed that both types of mediation serve as alternative dispute resolution mechanisms facilitated by a mediator, emphasizing the voluntary participation of both parties and prioritizing process over fault determination. However, they differed in terms of the parties involved, the nature of the disputes, and systemic impacts. In addition, the laws governing the two types of mediation displayed clear distinctions in legal strictness, the roles of responsible agencies, and the formality of procedures. In conclusion, medical dispute mediation tends to be flexible and relatively informal, whereas administrative dispute mediation is a more formal process operating under the supervision and regulation of the Administrative Court. Therefore, the application of mediation process in accordance with legal procedures is an important approach to increasing the efficiency, credibility, and fairness of the mediation process.

Young Banana Leaf with Herbal Oil and Egg Yolk as Instead Gauze

Paitoon Petkaew — 2025-12-29

Gauze dressings are one of the most common problems associated with dressings which are often found in abrasions burns, scalds wound from motorcycle exhaust pipe and wounds from other accidents. It is caused by lymph that has absorbed the gauze when it dries, it is very sticky and difficult to remove from the wound. Each time the gauze is removed, the patient will feel pain and the wound may bleed again. This causes the growing tissue to be pulled away from the gauze every time of removing. The wound therefore heals more slowly than usual, especially if the wound is caused by a child or young child who will allow very little cooperation in the wound healing. Currently, the general public health service uses Sofra Tulle to cover the wound, these materials are quite expensive and are not available in sufficient quantities. Tambon Huachang Health Promoting Hospital realizes the importance of this problem. This hospital decided to create the innovation: young banana leaf with cold pressed herbal oil, egg yolk (from duck) and old betel nuts as instead gauze by using local wisdom and locally available materials to effectively and safely solve the problem of gauze wounds. This innovation have 3 steps: (1) young banana leaf preparation, (2) herbal yolk production, and (3) sterilization. In the current study, after applying young banana leaf with herbal oil and egg yolk to 32 patients during June 2020 - May 2022, it was found that all patients (100%) expressed satisfaction at high level (100%), and 5 public health staff expressed satisfaction at high level (100%) as well. The young banana leaf with cold pressed herbal oil, egg yolk (from duck) and old betel nuts could solve problem of very sticky. difficulty to remove from the wound, covering the wounds instead gauze and plaster; and there was no complication of wound. The adventage points of this innovation were: low cost, easy to produce, and easy to find materials in local area. However the product had to be kept away from ants and bugs. The product should be used day by day to prevent product contamination. Young banana leaf could be re-steamed to be reused. The innovation product could be kept for several day and steamed every 7 days. The cost of 1 set of this innovation was about 15 Baht (excluded stainless pack).

Telepharmacy Model for Administering Opioids at Home to Palliative Care Patients in the New Normal Era, Yang Sisurat District, Maha Sarakham Province

Supachai Paengkamlai — 2025-12-29

This research aimed to develop and study the effects of a telepharmacy model for home opioid administration for palliative care patients in the new normal era. The research utilized a research and development approach under the seamless care concept, conducted in two cycles between January 2020 and March 2021. The sample consisted of 56 terminal cancer patients, 35 co-developers, and 20 trial participants. The developed model consisted of 11 main components: personnel training, CPG medication manual, medication administration, QR code innovation, VTR heart-healing medication clips, syringe driver medication mixing clips, “Relief Box” medication control, 1st and 3rd week follow-up and evaluation, real-time consultation system via Line Application, fast-track consult remote counseling and remote dispensing channels, monthly lesson debriefing, and the “Punboon Team” network. The research results found that adherence to CPGs increased from 65.00 percent to 80.50 percent, DRP corrections increased from 64.29 percent to 89.29 percent, and adherence to the 6R principles increased from 67.86 percent to 92.86 percent. The average pain score decreased from 7.2 to 3.1 points, patient satisfaction increased from 2.50 to 3.65, and staff satisfaction increased from 2.35 to 3.70 points. Thus, thistelepharmacy model is effective in administering opioids at home, reducing pain, increasing safety, and improving patient satisfaction, making it suitable for patient care in the new normal era.

The Effect of Using Design Thinking Concept in Improving the Inpatient Pharmaceutical Dispensing System to Increase Service Efficiency: a Study at Lampang Hospital

Piyawan Lueangchiranothai — 2025-12-29

The current inpatient dispensing system frequently necessitates an extended period of time to ensure that medications are delivered to patient wards, which results in delayed access to medicine. As a result, healthcare professionals are frequently compelled to work overtime, which has a significant impact on their personal lives and families. Design thinking was implemented as the framework for improving the system to confront these challenges. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the influence of implementing design thinking into the inpatient pharmacy workflow. The initial phase of data collection, which covered from February to May 2022, involved the evaluation of staff requirements and the analysis of the system. This was conducted during official working hours. The second phase, which covered from June to September 2022, was dedicated to the implementation and testing of the redesigned system. The evaluation emphasized three critical components: the duration of medication delivery for continuous prescriptions, the safety of the system (as determined by dispensing errors), and the working hours of the staff. To evaluate performance during the two periods, descriptive statistics, t-tests, and numerous regression analyses were carried out. Period 1 and period 2 comprised 78 and 81 working days, respectively. The average number of prescriptions during working hours was 1,288.8±157.7, and the average number of orders made was 1,293.6±84.3 (p=0.809). There was an average of 468.9±35.2 and 512.8±47.8 orders for continuous prescriptions, which included oral medications prepared by a robotic dispensing system and injectable drugs prepared manually by staff (p<0.001). The time required to process continuous prescriptions decreased from 180.4±34.4 minutes in period 1 to 171.2±24.7 minutes in period 2, indicating a significant decrease of 19 minutes (adjusted p<0.001). Dispensing errors were comparable in number (53 vs. 55). Nevertheless, the total working time from the receipt of prescriptions to the delivery of medication to the wards experienced a significant decrease, from 503.1±21.5 minutes to 492.9±10.5 minutes (p<0.001). In summary, the inpatient dispensing system’s workflow efficiency was significantly improved, overtime labor was reduced, and service delivery was improved through the application of design thinking.

Role Structure and Workforce of Provincial Public Health Offices and District Public Health Offices after the Transfer of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals to Local Administrative Organizations

Wilailuk Kuangrattanatrai — 2025-12-29

This mix-method study aimed to review the legal mandates, organizational size and structure; and investigate changes in roles, structure and staffing frameworks of the provincial public health office (PPHOs) and District public health offices (DPHOs) following the transfer of sub-district health promoting hospitals (SHPHs) to the local government office (LGOs). This study consisted of two steps. The first step was a review of law assigning the Minister of Public Health as the legal authority, along with an analysis of workforce data drawn from Human Resources Office of Permanent Secretary System (HROPS). Data were collected using structured data recording forms and analyzed though content analysis, supplemented with descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, and measures of central tendency. Step 2 was a qualitative case study, in which 19 informants were purposively selected. Data were collected though focus group interviews and analyzed using content analysis. Study finding revealed that there were five laws related to the PPHOs, DPHOs, and LGOs. However, the content of these laws did not clearly delineate the specific mandates assigned under each legal provision. Therefore, the central administration of Ministry of Public Health should issue directives or set key performance indicators for implementation. Regarding the human resource situation in the PPHO and DPHO, it was found that both offices did not have fully in line with staffing framework, the roles and responsibilities for, PPHOs and DPHOs could not perform implementation effectively following the transfer of sub-district health promoting hospitals (SHPHs) to LGOs, as they were unable to supervise or monitor performance indicators at the SHPHs level. The staffing of PPHO were not significantly affected after the transfer, However, in some DPHOs, staffing level were not the same as before due to personnel unwilling to transfer and decided to remain in DPHOs in some of which remained and continued to operate and provide medical and public health services. Thus, Ministry of Public Health should prepare and implement regional administration in compliance with the decentralization law, so as to be consistent with the national direction.

Outcomes of Financial Dashboard Development, Warinchamrab District, Ubonratchathani Province

Sathaporn Manee — 2025-12-29

Hospital financial management requires accurate, complete, and timely information to be used for planning, controlling, and evaluating financial performance. This study aimed to investigate the outcomes of developing a financial reporting information system for administrators and practitioners in hospital. This action research conducted at Warinchamrab Hospital, Ubon Ratchathani Province between October 2022 and September 2023, used a design thinking approach with five steps: (1) empathize; (2) defined; (3) ideate; (4) prototype; and (5) test. The financial reporting information system has 9 sub- components: financial status, financial plan, revenue, performance, cost and expenses, total performance score, efficiency, investment, and human resource development budget control. The results indicated that the development of the financial dashboard led to cost reduction, decreased steps and working time, provided online access to data, was customizable to meet user requirement, enhanced security, and supported teamwork. The system performance testing results showed that user feedback from 45 participants, most were female (82.2%), 46.7% in the 31-40 age range, 62.2% being front-line staff, and 68.9% having more than 10 years of experience. The overall score was found to be 82.2%, with ease of use, responsiveness to user needs, efficiency, and safety being 83.3, 83.3, 81.7, and 79.4%, respectively. In terms of usefulness, all participants agreed that the system was beneficial for providing financial information, quality improvement, and data for research. In conclusion, the development of the hospital financial reporting information system for Warinchamrab Hospital improved the efficiency and effectiveness of hospital operations, which led to cost reduction, decreased steps and working time, and enabled transparent online access to financial status for users with overall user feedback indicated high satisfaction.

Development of a Data Reporting System for Monitoring Cannabis-Related Patients in Health Region 8

Pattanarat Putla — 2025-12-29

This research focused on developing a reporting system for real-time surveillance of patients using cannabis in Health Service Region 8. The objectives was to develop a real-time patient surveillance reporting system. The development process was divided into two phases. Phase 1 involved studying relevant theories, laws, impacts, and ICD-10 codes related to cannabis use. Phase 2 focused on studying and developing an information system, divided into two parts: (1) analyzing existing information systems and databases by utilizing data from the Data Center, which stores HIS (hospital information system) data from all hospitals in Region 8, extracting cannabis-related disease data, including diseases caused by cannabis; (2) developing a reporting system as an information system, following the software development lifecycle (SDLC). The reporting system included various features, such as regional patient overviews, province-level data, hospital-level data, daily reports, cumulative patient numbers, trends, age-group data, and gender-based data. The development of this real-time reporting system allows stakeholders involved in cannabis-related Service Plans at the regional, provincial, and hospital levels to monitor trends, forecast impacts and analyze data efficiently. Administrators can utilize the information for effective planning and policymaking. The study also suggests that this reporting system model can be further applied to other disease groups by utilizing specific ICD-10 data to develop tailored reporting systems or dashboards for monitoring various health concerns in real-time.

Comparison of 100-g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Using Venous Plasma and Capillary Blood for Screening Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Sayan Luangchaichaweng — 2025-12-29

The 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) typically uses venous plasma and takes around six hours. Switching to using capillary blood from finger pricks could potentially reduce waiting times and avoid the difficulties associated with drawing venous blood. This research involved 333 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Ang Thong Hospital who had screened positive on the 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT). The study compared fasting and post-ingestion blood glucose levels at 1, 2, and 3 hours using both capillary and venous blood samples. Results showed a significant correlation between the two methods, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.811, 0.852, 0.870, and 0.862 for fasting and at 1, 2, and 3 hours post-ingestion, respectively (p<0.001). However, it was noted that capillary blood glucose levels were consistently higher than those obtained from venous plasma. The diagnosis rate of GDM was notably higher using capillary blood, with 47.4% of participants diagnosed compared to 29.1% using the standard venous plasma method. The sensitivity and specificity of capillary blood testing were 95.9% and 72.5%, respectively. In conclusion, while the 100-g OGTT using capillary blood can be a viable initial screening alternative, especially in settings where venipuncture is challenging or resources are limited, it should not replace the standard method. Due to the higher glucose readings and potential discrepancies, confirmatory testing with venous plasma remains crucial for accurate diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Diagnostic Accuracy and Interobserver Agreement of p53 Immunohistochemistry in Endometrial Carcinoma: Correlation with TP53 Mutation by Next-Generation Sequencing

Anchaleerat Lertsatit — 2025-12-29

p53 immunohistochemistry (IHC) serves as a surrogate marker for TP53 mutation in endometrial carcinoma, but its diagnostic performance requires validation against next-generation sequencing (NGS). This retrospective study evaluated diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement of p53 IHC compared with TP53 mutation status in 60 endometrial carcinoma cases (2020-2022) from the Institute of Pathology, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues with WHO-confirmed diagnosis underwent TP53 mutation analysis using targeted NGS (oncomine panel) and p53 IHC (clone DO-7). The resulting IHC slides were then independently interpreted by three blinded pathologists. TP53 mutations were detected in 12/60 cases (20%) by NGS; p53 IHC correctly identified 7/12 mutation-positive and 47/48 wild-type cases, yielding sensitivity of 58.33% (95%CI: 28.6-83.5), specificity of 97.92% (95%CI: 88.9-99.9), positive predictive value of 87.50% (95%CI: 46.7-99.3), and negative predictive value of 90.38% (95%CI: 78.696.5). Interobserver agreement was substantial (Fleiss’ kappa = 0.71, 95%CI: 0.62-0.80) among the 51 cases deemed interpretable by all pathologists. Notably, all eight abnormal cases achieved perfect consensus, while all disagreements occurred within wild-type patterns. We conclude that p53 IHC represents a reliable rule-in test given its high specificity and substantial reproducibility; however, its moderate sensitivity necessitates confirmatory molecular testing for wild-type or ambiguous staining.

cover

Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn — 2025-12-29

Editorial Board

Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn — 2025-12-29

Introduction

Wiwat Rojanapithayakorn — 2025-12-29