The Development of Strategic Health Risk Management Knowledge Sets and Assessment Tools for NCDs Prevention: A Case Study of the Ministry of Public Health.

Abstract

This research and development study aimed to: 1) investigate the problems and knowledge needs related to strategic health risk management, 2) develop a strategic health risk management knowledge package and assessment tool for noncommunicable disease prevention within the Ministry of Public Health, and 3) evaluate the effectiveness of the developed knowledge package and assessment tool. The study was conducted from April 2025 to April 2026 and comprised three phases. Phase 1 investigated the problems and knowledge needs through focus group discussions involving 23 experts and relevant stakeholders. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Phase 2 involved the development of the knowledge package and assessment tool based on the COSO Enterprise Risk Management 2017 framework and the Knowledge - to - Action framework, followed by expert review. Phase 3 employed a quasi-experimental, one-group pretest–posttest design involving 30 public health personnel responsible for strategic planning. Data were collected using a strategic health risk management knowledge and skills test and a satisfaction questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, a paired - samples t - test, and Cohen’s d_z effect size.

The findings revealed that: 1) all participants reported limitations in their knowledge and skills related to strategic health risk management. The identified knowledge needs included reviewing relevant information and contextual factors, understanding strategic risk management guidelines and principles, implementing the strategic risk management process, and monitoring and reporting strategic risks. The participants also indicated that the assessment tool should include eight components: objective setting, indicator development, situation analysis, risk and risk - factor identification, risk assessment, risk analysis matrix development, risk treatment, and monitoring and evaluation. 2) The developed knowledge package and assessment tool incorporated knowledge, practical guidelines, and procedures for developing strategic health risk management plans by integrating risk management principles with knowledge application in practice. 3) Following the intervention, the participants’ mean knowledge and skills score increased from 14.17 ± 1.95 to 18.67 ± 1.77, with a mean difference of 4.50 points. The post - intervention score was significantly higher than the pre-intervention score (t (29) = 13.31,
p < 0.001), with a large effect size (Cohen’s d_z = 2.43). Overall satisfaction with the knowledge package and assessment tool was rated at a high level, with a mean score of 4.28 ± 0.50. The findings indicate that the developed knowledge package and assessment tool effectively enhanced public health personnel’s knowledge and skills in strategic health risk management. The package and tool should therefore be promoted and integrated into the strategic planning processes of public health organizations to support systematic risk management and reduce the risk of failing to achieve organizational goals.

Keywords: strategic risk management; noncommunicable diseases; knowledge package; risk management assessment tool; research and development