Papers by Supasit Pannarunothai
F1000Research, Jul 1, 2019
Information is the only block among the six health systems building blocks that comprehensively d... more Information is the only block among the six health systems building blocks that comprehensively describes the other five blocks of health service delivery, workforce, financing, medicine and technology and governance (WHO 2007). Health management information systems (HMIS) help policy makers develop evidence-based policies and health care providers to achieve the overall health system goal of equity, efficiency and quality. Among stakeholders, few have doubts on the importance of HMIS, but many have enormous doubts on how to create an efficient HMIS architecture.
Asian Biomedicine, Feb 1, 2010
Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the major congenital anomalies among newborn... more Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the major congenital anomalies among newborns. Although many infants with CHD are symptomatic and identified soon after birth, others remain undiagnosed until the disease becomes severe. Objectives: Unravel the number of CHD cases among 7-12 years old students who reported neither clinical complication nor history about cardiac diseases, stressing the importance for regular cardiac examination in children, even if they appeared healthy. Methods: The study selected students without clinical history of heart disease from 1,041 elementary schools in northern Thailand (Tak, Nakhon Sawan and Uttaradit). Certified nurses and health officers examined the students for abnormal heart conditions. Pediatric cardiologists scrutinized the students with suspected CHD for confirmation and characterization of cardiac lesion types. Results: Out of 144,293 students included in the study, 851 students showed atypical heart symptoms, and 87 were verified to have the CHD. This conferred the prevalence rate of unrecognized CHD among the elementary school children to be 0.60 per 1,000. The frequently-detected heart defects were ventricular septal defect (41.4%) and pulmonary stenosis (16.1%). Fifty-one children (58.6%) required surgery for cardiovascular correction. The prevalence of the CHD in elementary school students ranged from 0.41 to 1.05 cases per 1000 study subjects. The greatest number of incidences was found in Tak province where medical resources are inadequate. Conclusion: This study highlights the significance of routine cardiac examination among school-aged students, particularly in the regions with limited medical facilities, providing information essential for appropriate health care planning and managements.
Journal of Mental Health of Thailand - วารสารสุขภาพจิต แห่งประเทศไทย, Apr 4, 2012
«"√ "√ ÿ ¢¿"ae®' µ•Àà ߪ√-‡∑»‰∑¬ ªï ∑' Ë Ò¯ ©∫-∫∑' Ë Û ªï ÚııÛ ∫∑ §-¥¬à Õ «-µ∂ÿ ª√-ß §å ‡ae◊ Ë Õ«... more «"√ "√ ÿ ¢¿"ae®' µ•Àà ߪ√-‡∑»‰∑¬ ªï ∑' Ë Ò¯ ©∫-∫∑' Ë Û ªï ÚııÛ ∫∑ §-¥¬à Õ «-µ∂ÿ ª√-ß §å ‡ae◊ Ë Õ«-¥ª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae¢Õß‚√ßae¬"∫"≈®' µ ‡«™ "À√-∫ºŸ â "À≠à "π-ß°-¥°√¡ ÿ ¢¿"ae®' µ ¢Õߪ√-‡∑»‰∑¬®Ì "π«π 13 •Àà ß «-¥ÿ •≈-«' ∏'°"√ ‡ªì π°"√»÷°…"¢â Õ¡Ÿ ≈¬â ÕπÀ≈-ߪï ß∫ª√-¡"≥ 2551 ª√-°Õ∫¥â «¬ ¢â Õ¡Ÿ ≈ ªí ®®-¬π" ‡¢â " (input) ®"π«π 5 ¥â "π (µâ π∑ÿ π∫ÿ §≈"°√ µâ π∑ÿ π¥Ì " ‡π' πß"π®"° ‡ß' πß∫ª√-¡"≥ µâ π∑ÿ π ¥Ì " ‡π' πß"π®"° ‡ß' π∫"√ÿ ß‚√ßae¬"∫"≈ ®"π«π ‡µ' ¬ß •≈-®"π«π ‡®â "Àπâ "∑' Ë) •≈-¢â Õ¡Ÿ ≈ªí ®®-¬º≈º≈' µ (output) ®Ì "π«π 4 ¥â "π (®"π«πºŸ â ªÉ «¬πÕ° ®"π«πºŸ â ªÉ «¬"π ®"π«π«-ππÕπ‚√ßae¬"∫"≈ •≈-§à " ‡©≈' Ë ¬πÈ "Àπ-°-¡ae-∑∏å ºŸ â ªÉ «¬"π¢Õß°≈ÿ à ¡«' π' ®©-¬‚√ §√à «¡) «' ‡ §√"-Àå ¥â «¬«' ∏' data envelopment analysis (DEA) º≈ ª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae°"√º≈' µÕ-µ√"º≈µÕ∫•∑π•∫∫ §ß∑' Ë (constant returns to scale: CRS) ∑' Ë • ¥ß∂÷ ߪ√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae°"√¥" ‡π' πß"π‚¥¬√«¡¢Õß‚√ßae¬"∫"≈ (overall efficiency: OE) ¡' §à " ‡©≈' Ë ¬ ‡∑à "°-∫ 0.954 ‚¥¬‚√ßae¬"∫"≈∑' Ë ®-¥«à "¡' ª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae√-¥-∫•π«Àπâ "¡' ®"π«π 9 •Àà ß ¥â "πª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae°"√º≈' µÕ-µ√"º≈µÕ∫•∑π•ª√º-π¥â "π ‡∑ §π' §°"√º≈' µ¡' §à " ‡©≈' Ë ¬ ‡∑à "°-∫ 0.972 ¡' ‚√ßae¬"∫"≈√-¥-∫•π«Àπâ "®"π«π 11 •Àà ß √ÿ ª ‚√ßae¬"∫"≈®' µ ‡«™∑' Ë ¡' ª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae"π¿"ae√«¡®"π«π 9 •Àà ß •≈-¡' ª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae ¥â "π ‡∑ §π' §°"√º≈' µ®"π«π 11 •Àà ß Õ¬à "߉√°Á ¥' ¡' ¢â Õ®"°-¥∫"ߪ√-°"√¢Õß‚√ßae¬"∫"≈®' µ ‡«™´÷ Ë ß"Àâ ∫√'°"√ ‡©ae"-¥â "π §" " §-≠ : ª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae ‚√ßae¬"∫"≈®' µ ‡«™ ª√-' ∑∏' ¿"ae‚√ßae¬"∫"≈®' µ ‡«™¥â «¬«' ∏' data envelopment analysis (DEA) ∫ÿ ªº«√√≥ ae-«ae-π∏å ª√-‡ √' ∞, ª√.¥.* ª√' ∑√√» »' ≈ª°' ®, ae.∫.* Õ≈ß°µ °Õß¡≥' , «∑.∫.** »ÿ ¿ ' ∑∏' Ï ae√√≥π"√ÿ ‚≥∑-¬, ª√.¥.*** *‚√ßae¬"∫"≈ «πª√ÿ ß ** §≥-«' ∑¬"»" µ√å ¡À"«' ∑¬"≈-¬•¡à ‚®â *** §≥-•ae∑¬»" µ√å ¡À"«' ∑¬"≈-¬π ‡√»«√
PubMed, Nov 1, 2011
Objective: The present study provides information from health care providers about sexual practic... more Objective: The present study provides information from health care providers about sexual practices of and preventive and disclosure counseling for People Living with HIVand AIDS (PLWHA). Material and method: A survey of health care providers attending HIV prevention workshops was undertaken using self-administered and anonymous questionnaires. Results: Of 678 respondents, 72% were nurses. Ninety-six percent agreed that they had duty to provide prevention services and measures. However, less than half (46%) had enough time for counseling. Asking health providers to estimate different aspects of sexual practice in their patients, the highest chosen band estimation was 'unsafe sex' (21-40%), 'partner disclosure' (41-60%) and 'abstinence' (0-10%). When patients did not disclose their HIV status to partner most health care providers kept HIV serostatus of patient confidential from their sexual partners. The main reasons for not notifying were patients 'rights and fear of adverse effects on patients. Some (9%) did notify the patient's partner directly or indirectly. The main notification reasons were for preventing HIV transmission and recognizing the partner's right to be informed. Seventy percent agreed that a law should require disclosure of HIV status to husband, wife, or intimate partner. Conclusion: Health care providers supported the 'Prevention with Positives' strategy. HIVstatus disclosure is a continuing ethical dilemma since there are conflicts of principle between confidentiality of patients and right to healthy life of their partner Improved or new interventions are needed to prevent HIV transmission with consideration of both rights of PLWHA and of HIV risk reduction for sexual partner.
PubMed, Aug 1, 2001
Health care reforms in Thailand are looking for a better health infrastructure within the urban s... more Health care reforms in Thailand are looking for a better health infrastructure within the urban setting. The urban health center is one of the models tried in many provinces. This study compared the costs--effectiveness of the urban health center in Nakhon Ratchsima with the Maharaj Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital, using diabetes and hypertension as tracer conditions. The point estimates by a retrospective review and cross-sectional study revealed that the overall costs (provider plus patient costs) of the urban health center for these tracers were lower than the costs of the Maharaj Hospital. The effectiveness of treatment at the urban health center was also better. It was concluded that the urban health center should be considered as a better alternative of primary care institution within the urban area.
PubMed, Oct 1, 2012
Background: Stroke is an important health problem that imposes socioeconomic burdens. Objective: ... more Background: Stroke is an important health problem that imposes socioeconomic burdens. Objective: To explore provider costs and to examine predictive factors for cost of acute and sub-acute inpatient services for stroke patients. Material and method: The present study design was prevalence-based cost-of-illness with micro-costing approach. Subjects were 407 first episode stroke patients. Patient costs were prospectively recorded from July 2008 to March 2009. Results: The average cost per admission was 32,372 Baht. The cost of acute phase was higher than that of sub-acute phase. Moreover; costs were significantly different among disability levels. Predictors of cost in acute phase included surgery, hemorrhagic pathology, and length of stay (adjusted R2 = 0.755; p < 0.001). Additional predictors of costs in sub-acute phase included initial Barthel index, gender, rehabilitation treatment, and the hospital (adjusted R = 0.748; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cost of stroke was influenced by patient characteristics, pathology, treatments, and phases of care that should be considered in reimbursement system policy.
PubMed, Dec 1, 2010
Objective: To compare physical fitness between rice farmers with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and... more Objective: To compare physical fitness between rice farmers with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and a healthy control group. Material and method: Sixty-eight rice farmers with CLBP were matched according to age and sex with healthy farmers. All subjects underwent nine physical fitness tests for body composition, lifting capacity, static back extensor endurance, leg strength, static abdominal endurance, handgrip strength, hamstring flexibility, posterior leg and back muscles flexibility and abdominal flexibility. Results: There was no significant difference between CLBP and healthy groups for all tests, except the static back extensor endurance. The back extensor endurance times of the CLBP group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Static back extensor endurance is the deficient physical fitness in CLBP rice farmers. Back extensor endurance training should be emphasized in both prevention and rehabilitation programs.
PubMed, Aug 1, 2015
Objective: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors of age-related macular degeneration ... more Objective: To estimate the prevalence and associated factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Thailand. Material and method: This cross-sectional survey was undertaken in 2010. Five provinces were selected and people aged 50 years and over were invited for eye examination. Demographic and health behaviors and data from eye examination equipment were registered. Ophthalmologists graded AMD as early or late based on fundus color photograph and image from optical coherence tomography. Logistic regressions were analyzed to establish associationfactorsfor AMD. Results: Of the 7,043 participants, AMD wasfound in 862 people (12.2%), with more than half (53.1%) found in both eyes. Most cases (94.3%) were early dry, 1.8% early wet, 3.4% late dry, and 0.7% late wet AMD. Factors positively associated with AMD were age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03-1.39), and consumption of yellow vegetable (OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.23-4.39). Factors that conversely associated with AMD were consumption of green vegetable (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33-0.79), physical exercise (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51-0.87), high bloodpressure (OR 0.75,95% CI 0.63-0.89), and heavy drinking habit (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.26-0.75). Conclusion: The prevalence of AMD in Thai population age 50 and over was 12.2%. More than half (53.1%) of the cases were found in both eyes, but few at severe stages. The present study confirmed age and DM as positive associated factors, and green vegetable, exercise as negative associated factors. Further research should investigate the effects of hypertension, yellow vegetable, and alcohol drinking on AMD.
PubMed, Sep 1, 2008
Objective: To examine geographical variation of mortality in Thailand. Material and method: Descr... more Objective: To examine geographical variation of mortality in Thailand. Material and method: Descriptive ecological study using the national vital registration data in 2000, age-specific mortality rate and cause-specific standardized mortality ratio (SMR) were presented at district geographic level. Results: Overall mortality was highly concentrated in the middle part of the upper north, as well as mortality of the working age. Clustering of cause-specific SMR in a single region was found for liver cancer (in the upper northeast region) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (in the upper north region). Clustering in multiple regions was found for renal failure (in the upper north and the upper northeast regions). Dispersed pattern of mortality with no regional clustering was found for leukemia. The geographical pattern of cause-specific mortality might be explained by distribution of incidence and related risk factors. Conclusion: Geographical variation of mortality exists and should be used as a target for reducing mortality gap across geographical areas.
PubMed, May 1, 2011
Objective: To determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among rice farmers in a rural commu... more Objective: To determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) among rice farmers in a rural community in Phitsanulok, Thailand. Material and method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 283 rice farmers in Wangnamkhu subdistrict, Muang district, Phitsanulok province, a rural community in Lower Northern Thailand. Face-to-face interviews with a structured closed-end questionnaire were performed to collect information on the presence of LBP in lifetime, within the last 12 months prior to and at the time of the present study. Results: The lifetime, 1-year (12-month) and point prevalence rates of LBP were 77%, 56% and 49%, respectively. No relationship between age and LBP was found. However women (61%) had significantly greater 1-year prevalence than men (51%). Ninety-five percent of LBP rice farmers were chronic (experiencing pain longer than 12 weeks) with a mean duration of 292 weeks (5.6 years). Conclusion: The prevalence of LBP among Thai rice farmers is high. Further research should investigate risk factors among this group of the population to design appropriate preventive measures.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand, Mar 1, 2018
Journal of Community Development Research (Humanities and Social Sciences), Jul 10, 2019
Female inmates are facing higher health risks than males due to physical conditions which cause t... more Female inmates are facing higher health risks than males due to physical conditions which cause them to live harder in limited space like in prison. Many articles pointed out that female inmates would have a higher chance of facing greater health sufferings in prison than male. In Thailand, the number of female prisoners reached forty thousand people and is ranked 5th highest rank in the world. Being a prisoner does not make a person less than human; therefore, their human rights shall not be deprived and must prevail. To lift the living standard for female inmates, the United Nations have adopted "the Bangkok Rules" after a prototype prison for women in Thailand has been tested. However, the accessibility to healthcare for female inmates still needs improvements because of high prisoner density. Lack of budget and limited resources also indicate that expanding or building new standard facilities are an unlikely solution. Rather than spending money, we may need to turn and look around what we have, and later develop medical wards that have sufficient resources, while merging the penitentiary's isolated health care system with the national health services. A medical prison ward should start with the minimum standard requirements in regulating professional services needed, and have these initiated, rather than a mere memorandum of understanding between organizations.
F1000Research, Jun 10, 2019
The World Health Organization in 1978 (WHO 1978) advocated for primary health care (PHC) as a str... more The World Health Organization in 1978 (WHO 1978) advocated for primary health care (PHC) as a strategy to achieve Health For All (HFA) by the year 2000. This abstract goal of HFA was made more concrete at the turn of the millennium when the broader set of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be achieved by 2015 were defined (UN 2000). Subsequently, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enshrined the goal of achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 (UN 2015). Various resolutions from UN General Assemblies and the WHO advocate for progressive realization of UHC by all member states as a vehicle to achieve health related SDGs.
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health, Mar 1, 2006
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Papers by Supasit Pannarunothai