Health Care Access Model Development of Home-bound and Bed-bound Patients by Digital Health Technology in Klung District, Chanthaburi Province

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Home-bound and bed-bound patients need accessibility to digital health technology for care.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the problem situation and develop the model, as well as implement and evaluate the health care access model for home-bound and bed-bound patients by digital health technology.

METHODS: The methodology was divided into 3 steps including 1) seeking the problem step, in which the samples were 36 caregivers and 15 health personnel. The tool was an interview form. Data were analyzed based on content analysis and descriptive statistics. In the 2) model development step, the samples comprised 15 health personnel, and the tool was a questionnaire concerning the feasibility of model implementation. For the 3) evaluation step, the samples and tool were the same as in step 1. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Paired t-test.

RESULTS: This study found that, 1) in seeking the problem step, caregivers cooperated with health personnel minimally, gained benefit from care services at a moderate level, and offered health technology that is easy to use. Health personnel had a care manager who ran the operational center for patient problems, preliminarily evaluated problems, and sent important problems to a physician for decision making. Patient health care access was not systematic and gained service benefit at a moderate level. Further, 2) in the model development step, a bed-bound Digital Health Access Model or BDA Model was developed, which was at a good level in terms of actual im­plementation feasibility. Finally, 3) in the evaluation step, digital health technology for care accessibility was systematic; both groups gained benefit from care services at a level that was higher than before using the BDA model with a statistical significance of (0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: The BDA model is able to create change in digital health learning among health personnel and caregivers in order to join patient care efficiently. This model effectively responds to the 30 Baht anywhere policy by using digital health technology. Thus, organizations should implement the health policy at all levels and in various areas.

Thaiclinicaltrials.org number, TCTR20241231005