The Role of Academic Institutions in Participating in a Knowledge Synthesis and Strengthening the District Health Systems : A Case Study of Nong Khai Province

Abstract

    This research aimed to synthesize the knowledge and the key factors that supporting the drive of the district health system using a case study of Nong khai province. Research design was a community-based participatory research using mixed methods both quantitative and qualitative study. The sample consisted of those involved in the district health systems who were 1 cooperator from learning & coordinating center (LCC), 60 people from 5 learning teams (LT), 5 Preceptors (P) and 2 faculties from academic institutions (AI).The exchange of learning process was divided into 3 phases: planning phase, operation, and evaluation phase. The period of operation was from October 2015 to October 2016.

    The results found that the role of AI was assigned to participate in all learning processes. LCC used informal contact and made appointment date with AI first to make sure that AI could continuously participate in 5 workshops. LINE application was used to follow up the project. The three main roles of AI were appreciation, absorption and reflection. The knowledge synthesis was the role of AI and the standardized guidelines for the implementation with District Health System (DHS) that could enhance the district health system's management capacities of learning teams (LT). When 5 LTs had a common interest in the patients of chronic care, it allowed the learners to exchange knowledge on the same issue in multiple dimensions. This situation leads/led the learning teams to establish an assistance fund for helping family that have patient with chronic illness.