The Effectiveness of Public Health Volunteer Engagement Program in Home Care for Stroke Patients in Bo Thong District Chonburi Province, Thailand

Abstract

This research aimed to study the effectiveness of the Public Health Volunteer Participation Program in the home care of stroke patients.

Methods: This was quasi-experimental research; the samples consisted of 30 public health volunteers in each comparison and experimental group by simple sampling. The experimental group participated the Public Health Volunteer Engagement Program that consisted of 1) improving the environment at home and supporting the physiotherapy by increasing movement to improve the body balance, 2) Stress management and social support of stroke patients at home, 3) Taking care the nutritional status among stroke patients at home, 4) Following on a daily within 12 weeks by nurse and public health volunteer. Data were collected by using the knowledge interview form on stroke and care of stroke patients. Data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, pair-sample t-test, and independent-sample t-test.

Results: The results found that the knowledge average score and the home care practice score of the health volunteers were significantly higher than the comparison group (p < 0.001). When comparing the results before and after program implementation, the cerebrovascular disease care in public health volunteers were significantly higher than before program implementation. (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The Public Health Volunteer Engagement Program in Home Care for Stroke Patients was effective. This program was suitable for promoting the public health team to care stroke patients at the community level.