Abstract
Primary care cluster (PCC) is the public health policy of Ministry of Public Health for improvement in primary care. Perceptions of hospital administrators and primary care practitioners on primary care cluster policy are very important for applying policy to practices. Policy makers can know the feedback information from the practices of the practitioners for making decision, determination and direction of public health policy. The aim of this study was to explore and explain the perception of hospital admin¬istrators and primary care practitioners on primary care cluster policy focusing on their understandings, feelings, expectations, obstacles and suggestions. A qualitative study was conducted at primary care units (PCU) of Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. Using purposive sampling strategy, hospital administrators, family doctors, dentists, pharmacists, family nurses, physiotherapists were chosen. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted to gather data. Content analysis and thematic analysis were employed. Triangulation was used to ensure the rigor of the study. The results showed that the percep¬tions of hospital administrators and primary care practitioners were mostly built up from the messages delivered during official meetings. Their understandings were quite different, but in general, they had good feelings towards this policy because the purpose was to improve health of the people and increased value of the family doctors, so-called “the golden period of family doctor”. In addition to their previous practices, in terms of family care team (FCT), they also felt under pressure with more coming new health indicators from this new policy. From their expectations, they felt strongly agree to continue this policy and with moral and time supports from the policy makers and hospital administrators. Therefore, the organizational communications for effective policy understandings, feelings, expectations among hospital administrators and primary care practitioners are essential.
