The Development of an Operation Model for Village Health Volunteers in Collaboration with the Lee District Public Health Office in the Area Transferred to the Lamphun Provincial Administrative Organization

Abstract

The objective of this action research was to develop an operation model for village health volunteers in collaboration with the Lee District Public Health Office in the area transferred to the Lamphun Provincial Administrative Organization. The research process consisted of five steps: 1) situation analysis; 2) developing the model; 3) improving the model; 4) evaluating the model; and 5) presenting the model. Participants were selected by purposive technique, including the model development team, which included a researcher, representatives from the provincial public health department, representatives from the Provincial Administrative Organization District Public Health, the Administrator of Na Sai Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital, representatives from the Na Sai Subdistrict Administrative Organization, the village headman, the village health volunteer president, and public health academics, totaling 10 people, and the working team, which included 112 village health volunteers in Na Sai Subdistrict. The research instrument was an operation model for village health volunteers that was developed. The collection data tools were a group discussion interview form to analyze the situation, an evaluation form of the model, and a satisfaction assessment form after using the model. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including the mean and standard deviation. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

The results showed that an operation model for village health volunteers had three important elements: 1) coordination and command of public health work; 2) benefits and wages of village health volunteers; and 3) developing the potential of village health volunteers. Evaluation of the development of the model found that overall the mean was at a high level (Mean = 4.27, S.D. = 0.30). Evaluation of satisfaction found that village health volunteers were satisfied at a high level (Mean = 3.79, S.D. = 0.68). Therefore, health personnel can use this model as a guideline to promote the performance potential of village health volunteers under the policy of transferring to the Provincial Administrative Organization.