Effects of Developing Guidelines to Support Private Medical Clinics in Providing Drug Packaging Labels: A Case Study in Mueang Udon Thani District, Udon Thani Province

Abstract

This study aimed to develop support approaches for private clinics to achieve compliant drug package labeling and to evaluate the program's success by comparing labels before and after participation. A participatory action research using the PAOR (Planning, Acting, Observing, and Reflecting) cycle was conducted among 45 medical clinics in Mueang Udon Thani District from August 2024 to November 2025. Data were collected from healthcare personnel responsible for medication dispensing using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The Planning phase involved problem analysis. The Acting phase implemented three capacity-building approaches: a training manual for practitioners, online consultation via LINE Official Account, and in-depth consultation at the Quality Drug Label Clinic. The Observing phase monitored and evaluated drug label improvements at weeks 2 and 4. The Reflecting phase included certification awards for compliant clinics and focus group discussions to assess the approaches.

          Results showed that before the intervention, only 3 of 48 clinics (6.3%) had drug package labels that fully complied with legal requirements. After 4 weeks of capacity building, 44 clinics (91.7%) achieved full compliance. All 43 participating clinics utilized both the training manual and LINE Official consultation service, with the most common inquiries concerning Thai drug names, indications, and warnings or precautions. Only 12 clinics accessed the in-depth consultation service. Focus group discussions confirmed the appropriateness of the approaches, while identifying the lack of comprehensive databases for Thai generic drug names and important warnings as the main barrier. Expansion to other areas is recommended, along with development of comprehensive databases for Thai generic drug names and medication warnings to facilitate implementation by clinic personnel.