DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY-BASED DIABETES CARE MODEL FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS WITH A VILLAGE HEALTH VOLUNTEERS
Keywords:
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Village Health Volunteers (VHVs), Buddy Care, Empowerment, Health LiteracyAbstract
The objective of this research and development (R&D) study was to develop and evaluate a care model for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients in the community led by Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) in Phitsanulok Province. The research was divided into four phases: Situational analysis using focus group discussions (13 participants), surveys with 397 VHVs, and 407 diabetes patients. Design and development of the diabetes patient care program. Program trial with 32 pairs of VHVs and patients, and the establishment of a Line group for operational support. Evaluation of VHVs' health literacy, knowledge, and skills in diabetes care, along with patients' health behaviors and satisfaction with the care model. Results: The developed VHV diabetes care model was implemented through Psychological Empowerment by providing training on knowledge, promoting health literacy, and conducting skill training and Structural Empowerment by delegating roles and responsibilities, supporting digital tools and technology, implementing a buddy system, and establishing a Line group.
These interventions resulted in: VHVs gaining knowledge of diabetes, improved health literacy and communication skills, enhanced self-efficacy, available communication channels, and trust among buddies. Following the model trial, VHVs showed statistically significant improvements in their scores for health literacy, knowledge, and skills (p<.001). Patients demonstrated better health behaviors and a statistically significant reduction in fingertip blood sugar levels (p<.001). Both VHVs and patients expressed very high satisfaction with the program.
Conclusion: The principle of empowerment, specifically through developing health literacy, training patient care skills, implementing a buddy system, and establishing Line groups, should be applied to the community care of diabetes patients by Village Health Volunteers.
References
กรมควบคุมโรค. (2566). รายงานสถานการณ์โรคไม่ติดต่อเรื้อรังในประเทศไทย. กระทรวงสาธารณสุข. https://ddc.moph.go.th/uploads/files/4155620240314033823.pdf.
ณัฐญา ศรีบุญเรือง และคณะ. (2563). การพัฒนาศักยภาพอสม.ในการดูแลผู้ป่วยโรคเรื้อรัง. วารสารสาธารณสุขชุมชน, 16(2), 45–56.
ภีรกาญจน์ ไค่นุ่นนา, พนม คลี่ฉายา และคณะ. (2566). สถานการณ์โรคไม่ติดต่อและปัจจัยเสี่ยงสุขภาพของคนไทย. กรุงเทพฯ: สำนักวิชาการสาธารณสุข.
ศิริพร ขำดี และคณะ. (2562). ผลของโปรแกรมการให้ความรู้ต่อการควบคุมระดับน้ำตาลในผู้ป่วยเบาหวาน. วารสารพยาบาลศาสตร์, 36(2), 112–120.
สุภาภรณ์ สุดหนองบัว. (2562). คุณภาพชีวิตผู้สูงอายุ: สถานการณ์และการดูแลด้านสุขภาพ (พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 2). กรุงเทพฯ: โอ.เอส. พริ้นติ้ง เฮาส์.
สำนักงานสาธารณสุขจังหวัดพิษณุโลก. (2567). รายงานประจำปี 2566 สำนักงานสาธารณสุขจังหวัดพิษณุโลก. https://cloud.plkhealth.go.th.
Chen, L., et al. (2019). Community health workers’ role in diabetes management in rural China. BMC Public Health, 19, 1471. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7815-2.
Heisler, M. (2007). Overview of peer support models to improve diabetes self-management and clinical outcomes. Diabetes Spectrum, 20(4), 214–221. https://doi.org/10.2337/diaspect.20.4.214
Lee, Y. J., et al. (2018). Effect of peer support on diabetes self-management and glycemic control in Korea. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(4), 710–718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.11.006
Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2008). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Wagner, E. H., Austin, B. T., & Von Korff, M. (2001). Organizing care for patients with chronic illness. The Milbank Quarterly, 79(4), 511–544. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.00214
World Health Organization. (2021). Global strategy on digital health 2020–2025. Geneva: WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240020924
World Health Organization. (2022). Noncommunicable diseases. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases
Yamane, T. (1973). Statistics: An introductory analysis (2nd ed.). Harper and Row.
Zimmerman, M. A. (2000). Empowerment theory. In J. Rappaport & E. Seidman (Eds.), Handbook of community psychology (pp. 43–63). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4193-62
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Primary Health Care Journal (Northern Edition)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
