Factors Affecting Competencies in Consumer Protection among Officers in the District Health Networks of Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand

Abstract

Objective: To determine level of competency in consumer protection on health products and factors influencing such competency, and to build a guideline for developing competency in consumer protection on health products among district health networks of Maha Sarakham province. Method: This study used an integrated research method. In phase 1, we performed in-depth interviews on 20 administrators and officers relating to consumer protection selected by a purposive sampling. In phase 2, a survey was done among 268 officers in consumer protection to assess knowledge and attitudes toward the consumer protection using questionnaire with 5-point rating scale. In phase 3, a draft of guideline for development of competency of consumer protection on health products was made. Then it was assessed and criticized by 15 experts and the revision was done accordingly. Results: The score of overall competency was 3.62 out of 5 points. There were five significant factors positively affecting competency namely attitudes toward information technology, leadership of the leader, quality of working life, and the officer job, and knowledge about health products. These factors together explained 60.70% of competency variance (R2 = 0.607, P < 0.05). The guideline for development of competency of consumer protection on health products was assessed and revised successfully. Conclusion: Competency of consumer protection officers on health products in the district health networks of Maha Sarakham province was in a high level and was positively associated with five factors. Keywords: affecting factors, competency of law enforcers related to consumer protection on health products