The Impact of Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals Mission Transferring to Provincial Administrative Organizations on the Dental Public Health System in Lom Kao District, Phetchabun Province

Abstract

This mixed-methods research aimed to study the impact of the transfer of Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals (HPHs) to Provincial Administrative Organizations (PAOs) on the dental public health system.

The study consisted of a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews with 30 stakeholders and a quantitative cross-sectional study using questionnaires to survey the satisfaction with dental public health operations among 25 personnel and 138 service recipients who received dental services at the HPHs during May-June 2025. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, and quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean and standard deviation. The study showed that dental public health operations maintained their status as a Contracted Unit for Primary Care (CUP) and continuously coordinated with referral hospitals. The most noticeable changes were in finances and coordination, which then had to go through the PAO system. The transfer had the advantage of more flexible budgets and support for equipment and mobile dental units from the PAOs, as well as improved morale among personnel due to better compensation and career advancement opportunities. However, there was an increase of documentation workload and a lack of clear supervision. Overall, personnel satisfaction with dental public health operations was at a high level (4.37 ± 0.45), while service recipient satisfaction with the dental services received was at the highest level (4.58 ± 0.44).

In conclusion, the transfer of HPHs to PAOs resulted in high satisfaction among both personnel and service recipients. However, the complexity of regulations during the transition and the increased documentation workload remained concerns.