The Administrative Factors Affecting the Performance of Responsible Officers In Health Consumer Protection, Buri Ram Province.

Abstract

Background: Consumer protection in public health involves health products and services oversight. Current challenges include incomplete database systems, limited community network engagement, and increasing online health product fraud complaints. Administrative factors are crucial for achieving efficient consumer protection objectives.
Objective: To study the administrative factors affecting officers' performance responsible for consumer protection in public health in Buri Ram Province.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 92 consumer protection officers, such as pharmacy and public health officials. Data were collected from September to November 2024. Two tools were used: (1) a validated questionnaire (content validity > 0.50, reliability = 0.97) for quantitative data and (2) in-depth interviews with 12 participants for qualitative insights. Data analysis included descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean, SD) and inferential statistics (Pearson’s correlation, stepwise multiple regression) with a significance level of 0.05. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.
Results: The majority of participants were female (52.2%, n=48), aged 30-40 years (37.0%, n=34), married/cohabiting (64.1%, n=59), held bachelor's degrees (68.5%, n=63), and worked as pharmacists (43.5%, n=40). Administrative factors and staff performance in consumer protection operations both showed high overall levels (Mean=3.6, SD=0.4 and Mean=3.9, SD=0.6, respectively). Five administrative factors correlated significantly with staff performance (p<0.05): personnel (r=0.456), budget (r=0.245), management methods (r=0.436), information technology (r=0.231), and time management (r=0.281). Personnel (β=0.296, p=0.015) and management methods (β=0.282, p=0.032) were significant predictors, jointly explaining 27.7% of performance variance in Buri Ram Province's public health consumer protection operations (R²=0.277, F=4.589, p<0.05). In-depth interviews revealed that some districts faced shortages in personnel, budget, equipment, and information technology essential for consumer protection operations.
Conclusions: Administrative factors in personnel management and management methods significantly affect the performance of public health consumer protection officers in Buri Ram Province.