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Occupational health practice for healthcare workers compared to hospital accreditation criteria in Thai governmental hospital, 2004 |
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| รหัสดีโอไอ | |
| Creator | Wunna Chongchitpaisan, Adul Bandhukul, Pornchai Sithisarankul |
| Title | Occupational health practice for healthcare workers compared to hospital accreditation criteria in Thai governmental hospital, 2004 |
| Publisher | Faculty of Medicine,Srinakharinwirot University |
| Publication Year | 2549 |
| Journal Title | Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences |
| Journal Vol. | 13 |
| Journal No. | 3 |
| Page no. | 234-247 |
| Keyword | Occupatational health practice, healthcare workers, hospital accreditation |
| ISSN | 0859-3300 |
| Abstract | The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the occupational health (OH) practicefor healthcare workers (HCW) in Thai Governmental Hospitals. From August to November 2004, questionnaires were mailed directly to the responsible person of OH practice in 515 hospitals stratify sampled by number of beds. The response rate was 81.4% (n=419). T-test, ANOVA and Correlation were used for statistical analyses. The result of this study revealed that all participating hospitals provided OH service for HCW. Most hospitals were attached to the Ministry of Public Health, provided primary service, had less than 120 beds, and participated in quality improvementactivities. Almost all hospitals appointed a committee in which OH personnel were included ascore component but OH unit was not independent. Most of OH staffs were female nurses withmean age of 38 years old. More than half of OH staffs did not have OH qualification and proper equipment. The OH practices were assessed by 5 rating scales and found in general that the OH practice for HCW was quite low. The readiness of providing OH service comprised of 4 aspects: organization, personnel, policy and resource. For each aspect, approximately 60% of the hospitals were rated as low. "Organization" was rated highest (2.27) while "Personnel" scored lowest (1.93). Comparing between quality accredited and not -accredited hospitals, the readiness OH service differed significantly across all 4 aspects. Factors significantly associated with OH practice for HCW were as followed: "Organization factors" (health service level, number of beds, quality mprovement activity, independent OH unit, proper equipment), "personnel factors" (gender, age, education level, duration of work in OH, studying or training in OH, working full time), and " the readiness of providing OH service factors" (organization, personnel, policy, resource). While some 236 Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University Vol.13 No.3 December 2006 237 hospitals pointed out that under-qualified OH staffs and lacked of independently responsible staffs could potentially impeded OH service. Expert interviews suggested a multidisciplinarycommittee with qualified OH staffs. Occupational health element related accreditation criteria should be developed to attract top manager's attention, and set as a guideline for OH practice. In conclusion, this study revealed that OH practice for HCW in Thai Governmental Hospitals had low score. However, it could be improved through hospital accreditation criteria activity by development of specific criteria for OH service, particularly these for HCW to sustain quality improvement activities in hospitals. |
