Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of a peer-training program for village health volunteers(VHVs)to improve chronic disease management among older adults in rural Thailand.Methods The study was guid...Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of a peer-training program for village health volunteers(VHVs)to improve chronic disease management among older adults in rural Thailand.Methods The study was guided by community-based participatory research(CBPR).The peer-training program was developed by engaging diverse stakeholders,including community organizations,healthcare services,VHVs,older adults with chronic illnesses,and folk scholars in remote communities with high healthcare needs.The peer-training program comprised a three-day training workshop that convened once a week for three weeks with the following six sessions:knowledge sharing,peer support and empowerment,health literacy and health behavior,the general caring procedure for older adults with chronic illnesses,information sharing and communication,and home visit.From January to April 2021,a total of 28 VHVs completed the peer training program in a rural area in Chiang Rai province,Thailand.The Health Literacy and Health Behavior-3E2S(HLHB-3E2S),the Management of Non-Communicable Diseases Questionnaire(MNCDQ),and a self-confidence questionnaire were used to survey pre(week 1)and post-intervention(week 12),respectively.Then VHVs were interviewed to collect attitudes,and opinions about the intervention.Results After the intervention,the HLHB-3E2S scores(49.39±5.54 vs.52.35±4.26,P=0.001),the MNCDQ scores(44.10±6.27 vs.50.60±4.84,P<0.001),and the self-confidence questionnaire scores(22.28±2.46 vs.23.21±1.81,P=0.01)of VHVs significantly increased.VHVS also reported that the peer-training program enhanced their healthcare services,including health education,chronic disease management,leadership skills,and improving their relationship with healthcare providers.Conclusion Peer training programs are a practical strategy to improve VHVs’capacities.Healthcare professionals should provide a continuous training program for VHVs with their peers to increase capacities,confidence,and satisfaction in caring for the older adults with chronic diseases in the community.展开更多
Currently,there are several newer biomarkers that may be clinically useful in colon cancer. This paper focuses on a few of these biomarkers,namely microsatellite instability,loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 18q(LO...Currently,there are several newer biomarkers that may be clinically useful in colon cancer. This paper focuses on a few of these biomarkers,namely microsatellite instability,loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 18q(LOH18q) and multi-gene assays,and discusses the clinical evidence behind their predictive or prognostic abilities. The results show that although there have been several newer prognostic factors identified,such as LOH18 q and multi-gene assays,none of these factors can predict benefit from treatment. Therefore,ongoing prospective clinical trials are still needed to further assess the role and optimal use of these tests.展开更多
基金This study was funded by National Research Council of Thailand(NRCT106/2562)Mae Fah Luang University.The funders had no role in study design,data collection and analysis,decision to publish,or preparation of the manuscript.
文摘Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effect of a peer-training program for village health volunteers(VHVs)to improve chronic disease management among older adults in rural Thailand.Methods The study was guided by community-based participatory research(CBPR).The peer-training program was developed by engaging diverse stakeholders,including community organizations,healthcare services,VHVs,older adults with chronic illnesses,and folk scholars in remote communities with high healthcare needs.The peer-training program comprised a three-day training workshop that convened once a week for three weeks with the following six sessions:knowledge sharing,peer support and empowerment,health literacy and health behavior,the general caring procedure for older adults with chronic illnesses,information sharing and communication,and home visit.From January to April 2021,a total of 28 VHVs completed the peer training program in a rural area in Chiang Rai province,Thailand.The Health Literacy and Health Behavior-3E2S(HLHB-3E2S),the Management of Non-Communicable Diseases Questionnaire(MNCDQ),and a self-confidence questionnaire were used to survey pre(week 1)and post-intervention(week 12),respectively.Then VHVs were interviewed to collect attitudes,and opinions about the intervention.Results After the intervention,the HLHB-3E2S scores(49.39±5.54 vs.52.35±4.26,P=0.001),the MNCDQ scores(44.10±6.27 vs.50.60±4.84,P<0.001),and the self-confidence questionnaire scores(22.28±2.46 vs.23.21±1.81,P=0.01)of VHVs significantly increased.VHVS also reported that the peer-training program enhanced their healthcare services,including health education,chronic disease management,leadership skills,and improving their relationship with healthcare providers.Conclusion Peer training programs are a practical strategy to improve VHVs’capacities.Healthcare professionals should provide a continuous training program for VHVs with their peers to increase capacities,confidence,and satisfaction in caring for the older adults with chronic diseases in the community.
文摘Currently,there are several newer biomarkers that may be clinically useful in colon cancer. This paper focuses on a few of these biomarkers,namely microsatellite instability,loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 18q(LOH18q) and multi-gene assays,and discusses the clinical evidence behind their predictive or prognostic abilities. The results show that although there have been several newer prognostic factors identified,such as LOH18 q and multi-gene assays,none of these factors can predict benefit from treatment. Therefore,ongoing prospective clinical trials are still needed to further assess the role and optimal use of these tests.
