Abstract:
This cross-sectional descriptive study aims to study self assessment of the quality of primary care units (PCU) in Nakhon Ratchasima province based on quality standards set by Ministry of Public Health. The data were collected from 320 PCUs out of total 390 locations (Response rate 82.1%) during December 2004 to March 2005. Differences between 3 levels of PCUs were compared by One Way ANOVA. Differences between self assessment and those conducted by trained assessors were compared by paired t-test. The results showed that the PCUs scored low in the following areas: 1) Service dimension: accessing of safe food project (8.5/20), coverage and used community Folder (9.7/20) and Thai traditional/ alternative medicine (8.1/20); 2) Management dimension: Primary care team usually work (9.3/20), allocation personal for people per physician (8.1/20), Pharmacist (6.8/20) and Dentist (6.9/20). 3) Academic dimension: researching in PCU (8.6/20). The average scores from self assessment and from the audit team were different in 14 items out of 47 items. Lack of personals, budget, tool and knowledge were mentioned as major obstacles. It is recommended that the executives of Nakhon Ratchasima province should review the standards to enable valid self assessment process and should review the standardization audit teams of quality.