Abstract
The purposes of this action research were three folds: 1) to develop a Health Community via Internet (HCI); 2) to analyze the key success of the HCI; and 3) to propose strategies to develop the HCI The setting selected in this study was located in Nakonpathom province. The study samples were 28 health-work volunteers. The research method consisted of 4 steps as follows: 1) exploring a study setting context regarding health problems and health communication, 2) developing the HCI 3) implementing the HCI for 3 months and 4) analyze key success for developing the HCI. Data collections were used by questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion.
The study findings were as follows:
1. The context of study setting, Nakonpathom is located in central part of Thailand and divided into 7 districts (Amphoe) 106 locally districts (Tambol) and 930 communities (MooBarn). The total population are 828,846. The average income are126,510 baht/year. Most (32.09%) are agriculturist. According to health care delivery, there are sixteen public hospital and 5 private hospitals. There are 195 physicians, 1,259 nurses and 7,462 health care volunteers. A proportion of a physician and population is 1: 4,138 and a proportion of a nurse and population is 1:641.
2. Indicators deciding the project success were as follows: (1) Input and Output indicators, researchers recorded the numbers of membership who accessed to Nakonpathom's web and of health files uploaded to the web. We found that there were 28 members participating in the web and 650 data files disseminated on the web. (2) Process indicators, in the study, a community participation was used by inviting members to analyze SWOT of Nakonpathom's health web, strategies and indicators for measuring product/outcome of the project. After three months of a project implementation, we found that members reported that they were highly satisfied (mean = 4.43, S.D. = .59) with knowledge of health communication via Internet. For the moderate satisfaction (mean = 3.29, S.D. = 1.10)) were the community participation via Internet.
Based on data conducted by using focus group discussion and interviews, we found that factors relating to develop a health community via Internet were 1) Peopleware, health personnel lack knowledge of developing health databases and Internet access time while health care volunteers lack technological skills and computer knowledge; and 2) Hardware, there were lacks of computers and Internet connection in a selected community. According to a problem of peopleware, community members were trained computer uses and Internet skills. After training, the community members practiced computer and Internet use under supervision of researchers. Finally, the members could disseminate and train others to access health information via Internet.
3. The proposed strategies of developing the HCI
Based on a focus group discussion of 12 key persons, They agreed that the HCI concept as a way of health communication. However, the good components of members were important to maintain the HCI activities. According to a sustainability of the HCI, experts suggested that it should build a network with consultants from a public health sector and university located in Nakonpathom. In addition, It should be an autonomous organization managed by a community and get financial support from private and public organization.
