Levels and Predictors of Proactive Practical Experience to Solve COVID-19 among Public Health Officers in Primary Care Units in the Upper Southern Region, Thailand: An Explanatory Mixed Methods Approach

Suttida Sangpoom, Femi Adesina, Chuthamat Kaewchandee, Kannika Sikanna, Natchima Noppapak, Sarunya Maneerattanasak, Shamarina Shohaimi and Charuai Suwanbamrung ()
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Suttida Sangpoom: Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health: EC for DACH, School of Science, Walailak University, Thasala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Femi Adesina: Department of Biology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Akura 340110, Nigeria
Chuthamat Kaewchandee: Community Health Program, Faculty of Liberal Art and Science, Sisaket Rajabhat University, Muang 33000, Thailand
Kannika Sikanna: School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Natchima Noppapak: School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand
Sarunya Maneerattanasak: Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Shamarina Shohaimi: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Seri Kembangan 43400, Malaysia
Charuai Suwanbamrung: Master and PhD. Program in Public Health Research, Excellent Center for Dengue and Community Public Health: EC for DACH, School of Public Health, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Public Health Officers (PHOs)’ experiences in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic can be based on whether the PHO is active or passive regarding five experience aspects, including knowledge, understanding, opinion, participation, and practice. Therefore, this study’s objectives are to identify the types of experiences and analyse the predictors of proactive practical experiences in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic among PHOs in the southern region of Thailand. Methods: An explanatory mixed methods approach was used to collect data, through questionnaires and online in-depth interviews. This study was conducted from 4 August 2020 to 3 August 2021. Results: The results include 60 PHOs from 60 Primary Care Units in six provinces, with 41 (68.3%) females and an average age of 35.57 years (SD = 11.61). The PHOs’ knowledge, understanding, and participation experience aspects were mostly proactive rather than passive. The factors that significantly predicted proactive practical experiences included sex (ORadj = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.04–2.21), age (ORadj = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.16–2.48), married status (ORadj = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.16–2.48), education level (ORadj = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.02–2.20), and position for work (ORadj = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.16–2.48). The results of quantitative method were confirmed by 12 sub-themes of 8 PHOs’ experiences from qualitative method. Conclusions: The PHOs’ knowledge, understanding, opinion, and participation experiences were significant predictors of practical experience. Primary health care systems should promote proactive experiences in all four aspects to increase proactive practical experiences.

Keywords: public health officer; COVID-19 solution; mixed methods approach; experience; primary care unit; Thailand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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