Development of a Primary Health Care System with Quality Standards and a People-Centered Approach in Samut Sakhon Province

Abstract

Objective : To study the development and evaluation of a primary health care system with quality standards and a people-centered approach in primary care units in Samut Sakhon Province

Methods : This action research involved 138 health personnel. Research instruments included questionnaires assessing knowledge of quality development, implementation practices, and participation in the development process. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the paired t-test.

Results : The development of a primary health care system with quality standards was implemented through an integrated quality improvement process following the PDSA cycle. In the planning phase (Plan), key problems identified included: (1) lack of knowledge regarding standard quality development of primary care units; (2) insufficient promotion of participation; (3) absence of a standardized quality primary health care system; and (4) lack of a clear evaluation system. During the implementation phase (Do), training programs were organized to enhance personnel’s understanding of ten aspects of primary care quality development. The study phase (Study) involved sharing experiences and reflecting on the outcomes, followed by the action phase (Action). After the development program, personnel demonstrated statistically significant improvements (p < 0.001) in overall knowledge of primary care quality development, implementation of quality improvement, and participation in the development process. Additionally, service recipients reported a high level of satisfaction with the service providers (3.81±1.26).

Conclusion : The results of this development led to an increased number of primary care units meeting the criteria for quality and standard assessment