Abstract:
This research study on “The 3-million 3-year Thailand-wide quit smoking project for King: A case study of Samut Sakhon and Phetchaburi province” has the following two objectives: to evaluate the implementation process (phase 1) of the project, and to study the problems and obstacles in implementing the project. The data was collected through qualitative research, and the information derived from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was analyzed. The main 189 informants that participated in the interviews included the Inspector General of the Ministry of Public Health (Region 5), the provincial public health officers, the district public health administrators, the directors and staff of Tambon Health Promoting Hospitals (THPHs), and village health volunteers (VHVs). The result showed that the process of implementing the project (phase 1) was executed by three top-down levels of authorized agencies: the provincial, district and tambon levels. At the provincial level, the public health offices were instrumental in conducting meetings and public relations campaigns and defining policies for the district health offices. At the district level, the health offices arranged the meetings for policies and carried out public relations campaigns for the staff of the responsible THPHs. This included 55 THPHs in Samut Sakhon and 117 THPHs in Petchaburi. Officials from the THPHs put policies into practice locally thereafter. At the tambon level, the staff of the THPHs were in charge of mentoring and conducting meetings and public relation campaigns for the leading VHVs. The policy campaigns were passed on to the VHVs so that they were able to persuade and educate smokers and their family members about the significance of the effect and the harm of smoking. Those who smoke, subsequently, reduce smoking, quit smoking, and voluntarily participate in “The 3-million 3-year Thailand-wide quit smoking project for King”. The following problems and obstacles in implementing the project were realized. There was no follow-up and supervision over the work of related officials in the ongoing operation. Communication and perception of the project was incomprehensible. There was a lack of integrated involvement with relevant agencies. The transmission of information about the project from authorized training agencies to participants was incomplete. The researcher suggests the following recommendations. “The 3-million 3-year Thailand-wide quit smoking project for King” should be promoted continuously. The meetings for ongoing monitoring and evaluation should be arranged constantly. To accomplish the work and move forward in the same direction, there should be good communication and understanding between the responsible government agencies and the project proprietor.
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