Primary Health Care Journal (Northeastern Edition)

Content

2026-08-08T18:55:26+07:00

MODELS AND MECHANISMS OF THE OFFICE OF HEALTH ECONOMICS: LESSONS FOR THAILAND

2026-07-27T10:52:04+07:00

Health systems worldwide face challenges arising from the rising burden of non-communicable diseases, demographic transition, advances in medical technology, and constraints on public budgets, requiring that policymaking draw upon economic analysis alongside clinical evidence. In Thailand, despite the country's success in achieving universal health coverage, the containment and forecasting of long-term fiscal burdens and the equitable allocation of health resources remain policy gaps for which no single agency holds unified responsibility. The purpose of this academic article was to examine the organizational models and operational mechanisms of health economics agencies in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Korea, in order to synthesize lessons for designing an Office of Health Economics in Thailand, using a documentary research approach. The results of this study were as follows: although the three countries differ in their institutional structures, they share several essential features. These lessons led to proposals for four mechanisms: assessing the cost-effectiveness of health technologies, managing national health data, forecasting fiscal burdens, and evaluating policies after implementation. Establishing this agency would help fill policy gaps and support the long-term sustainability of Thailand's health system.

EFFECTS OF THE HEALTH BELIEF MODEL APPLICATION PROGRAM TO ENCOURANGE CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR OF ORGANIC VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AMONG FAMILY HEALTH LEADERS IN KHAO SUAN KWANG DISTRICT, KHON KAEN PROVINCE

2025-09-21T22:29:05+07:00

Exposure to pesticides from consuming vegetables and fruits with pesticide residues has long-term health impacts. This quasi-experimental research aimed to study the effects of a program applying the Health Belief Model to promote the consumption behavior of pesticide-free vegetables and fruits. The sample consisted of 72 family health leaders, divided into an experimental group of 36 participants who attended a 12-week program, and a Comparison group of 36 participants who continued their normal daily routines. Data were collected using questionnaires and blood cholinesterase enzyme level tests. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including the paired t-test, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), and the McNemar’s test. The results revealed that after the experiment, the experimental group showed significantly higher mean scores across all HBM perceptions and safe consumption behaviors compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Controlling for pre-test scores, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher scores in perceived severity, benefits, and consumption behaviors than the Comparison group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the proportion of experimental participants with safe cholinesterase levels increased from 16.67% to 88.89%. In conclusion, the HBM-based program effectively modifies safe consumption behaviors and reduces pesticide exposure risks. Public health agencies should expand this model to other communities.

PREVALENCE, MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY AND ASSOCIATED FACTOR MENTAL HEALTH AMONG PUBLIC HEALTH PERSONNEL IN CHUMPHAE HOSPITAL, CHUMPHAE DISTRICT, KHON KAEN PROVINCE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYTICAL STUDY

2025-09-22T22:16:48+07:00

Stress among public health personnel significantly affects quality of life and service efficiency, with mental health literacy serving as a key protective factor. This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to investigate the prevalence of stress, levels of mental health literacy, and associated factors among 310 public health personnel at Chum Phae Hospital, Khon Kaen Province, selected via stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a mental health literacy questionnaire and the Suan Prung Stress Test-20 (SPST-20), then analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, Pearson's correlation coefficient, One-Way ANOVA, Independent Samples t-test, and multiple logistic regression. Results showed that 49.4% of personnel experienced high to severe stress levels, and 49.4% had problematic mental health literacy. Personnel with inadequate mental health literacy were significantly more likely to experience stress (AOR = 5.93, 95%CI = 1.93-18.22), as were those with problematic literacy (AOR = 4.10, 95%CI = 2.37-7.10), compared to those with adequate levels (p-value < 0.05). Furthermore, significant differences in stress levels were observed based on age, work experience, income sufficiency, work environment, and organizational benefits/compensation (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion, nearly half of healthcare personnel suffer from high levels of stress, with low mental health literacy significantly increasing stress risks. Organizations should promote mental health literacy alongside improving the work environment and employee benefits.

PREDICTORS OF MANUFACTURED CIGARETTE SMOKING BEHAVIOR AMONG RESIDENTS IN PANGWAN SUBDISTRICT, PHATO DISTRICT, CHUMPHON PROVINCE

2025-11-20T16:35:26+07:00

Although overall smoking rates in Thailand have declined, Southern Thailand particularly Chumphon Province maintains high smoking rates, with a lack of studies on predictive factors within rural community contexts. This predictive cross-sectional survey aimed to evaluate levels of knowledge, attitudes, social influence, and manufactured cigarette smoking behavior, and to analyze predictor variables among residents in Pangwan Subdistrict, Phato District, Chumphon Province. The sample comprised 357 residents aged 15 and above, selected through stratified and simple random sampling. Data were collected between September 2024 and March 2025 using questionnaires with reliabilities ranging from 0.636 to 0.809. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Most participants were male (91.60%), aged 31–45 years (42.60%), and agricultural workers (29.10%). Participants demonstrated good knowledge of smoking harms (Mean = 9.15, SD = 2.83), good attitudes (Mean = 2.46, SD = 0.73), high social influence (Mean = 2.18, SD = 0.38), and high smoking behavior (Mean = 2.20, SD = 0.33). Multiple regression analysis revealed that social influence (beta = 0.172, p = 0.002) and knowledge of smoking harms (beta = 0.129, p = 0.022) significantly predicted manufactured cigarette smoking behavior (p < 0.05), accounting for 4.3% of the variance (R² = 0.043, Adjusted R² = 0.038). In conclusion, social influence and knowledge significantly predict manufactured cigarette smoking behavior in rural communities, suggesting that public health interventions should modify social environments alongside promoting health knowledge for sustainable behavior change.

HEALTH LITERACY IN PREVENTING DENGUE FEVER AMONG PEOPLE IN BAN TANG NGO, KHUAN DON DISTRICT, SATUN PROVINCE

2025-11-20T16:44:11+07:00

Dengue fever remains a major public health concern in communities where environmental conditions facilitate Aedes mosquito breeding. This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed to determine attitudes, health literacy levels, and factors associated with health literacy regarding dengue fever prevention among residents of Ban Tang Ngo, Khuan Sato Subdistrict, Khuan Don District, Satun Province. A total of 200 residents aged 18–60 years were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires validated by three experts, with item-objective congruence values of 0.75–1.00 and reliability coefficients of 0.702 and 0.767. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficient. Most participants were female (64.0%), with a mean age of 39.10 years. Most had a good attitude toward dengue fever prevention (87.0%) and a high overall level of health literacy (73.5%; Mean = 85.19, SD = 8.46). Occupation, age, and attitude toward dengue fever prevention were significantly associated with health literacy at the .05 level. The findings indicate that residents had favorable attitudes and high health literacy regarding dengue fever prevention. Public health agencies should implement age- and occupation-appropriate health literacy promotion activities while strengthening positive attitudes toward dengue fever prevention.

HEALTH IMPACT OF PEOPLE FOR CLEAN CITY POLICY MODEL CITY OF SURAT THANI MUNICIPALITY

2025-11-02T14:24:38+07:00

Increasing municipal solid waste has adversely affected environmental quality and the physical, mental, and social health of communities. Although Surat Thani Municipality has implemented the Clean City Policy to improve environmental quality and residents' well-being, evidence on its health impacts remains limited. This cross-sectional survey aimed to: 1) assess the physical, mental, and social health impacts of the Clean City Policy and 2) identify recommendations for promoting health and mitigating its potential impacts. A total of 398 residents, representing one individual from each household, were selected using multistage random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire with satisfactory content validity (IOC = 0.67–1.00) and excellent reliability (Cronbach's alpha = 0.95). Descriptive statistics and content analysis were employed. The findings indicated that most participants perceived positive health impacts at a high level in the physical (73.62%), mental (78.89%), and social (81.41%) dimensions, with an overall positive health impact of 80.65%. Key recommendations include strengthening sustainable waste and environmental management, promoting community participation, expanding health-promoting public spaces, and implementing appropriate environmental regulations to sustain positive health outcomes and support the development of a sustainable healthy city.

DEVELOPMENT OF A PARTICIPATORY MODEL FOR TUBERCULOSIS SURVEILLANCE, PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN ANG THONG PROVINCE

2026-03-10T13:22:03+07:00

This participatory action research aimed to develop and evaluate a community-based tuberculosis (TB) surveillance, prevention, and control model in Ang Thong province. Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED framework (April-November 2025), the study involved five phases: assessment, strategy development, implementation, evaluation, and reflection. Participants across phases included 37 informants and 436 residents (assessment); 40 stakeholders (development); 55 patients, 55 family members, and 32 volunteers (implementation/evaluation); and 53 stakeholders (reflection). Data collected via secondary records, questionnaires, interviews, and logs were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and content analysis. Assessment revealed incomplete screening, overreliance on personnel, discontinuous data linkage, and stigma hindering access. This led to three strategies: risk-stratified active case finding, community-based Directly Observed Treatment (DOT), and stigma reduction via positive communication. Short-term outcomes showed 85.00% of personnel and volunteers trained, 95.00% of at-risk groups screened, 88.60% of patients having DOT observers, and 91.20% medication adherence. Risk perception and treatment access scores increased significantly, while stigma scores decreased significantly. The model effectively integrated health services with community mechanisms. Long-term post-treatment monitoring is recommended to assess sustainability and success rates.

FACTORS RELATED TO THE JOB PERFORMANCE OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICE SUPPORT, MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH, THAILAND

2026-04-12T17:20:09+07:00

The Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health, faces challenges arising from increased workloads and manpower constraints, which directly affect the quality and promptness of its core missions. This descriptive cross-sectional research aimed to: 1) examine the levels of leadership, organizational climate, individual goal setting, and job performance among personnel in the Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health; and 2) predict factors affecting their job performance. The sample consisted of 319 personnel from the Department of Health Service Support. Data were collected using an online questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression (Enter method). The results revealed that overall leadership, organizational climate, and individual goal setting were at high levels, whereas job performance was at a moderate level. Leadership, organizational climate, and individual goal setting were significantly associated with job performance (p < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis indicated that individual goal setting was the sole significant predictor of job performance (B = 0.519, beta = 0.369, p < 0.001). In conclusion, enhancing job performance within the public health bureaucracy should emphasize translating organizational strategies into clear, challenging, and measurable individual goals, alongside regular performance tracking and feedback mechanisms.

Editorial Board

2026-07-22T15:25:56+07:00

Cover

2026-07-02T13:32:02+07:00