Evaluation of health education in the Multi-professional Intervention and Training for Ongoing Volunteer-based Community Health Programme in the north-east of Thailand

This was a survey research conducted in Northestern Thailand during 2009-2010 and designed to evaluate the success of a health education program by comparing levels of health knowledge in the community before and after the launching of a Multi-professional Intervention and Training for Ongoing Volunteer-based Community Health Programme. The survey questionnaire included items about demographic characteristics and health knowledge. The participants were 1,015 members of various communities, who were randomly selected to be included in the survey before launching the intervention, and 1,030 members of the same communities randomly selected to be included in the survey after the intervention was completed. The demographic characteristics of both groups were similar. Overall knowledge and knowledge of all the diseases, except lung and cervical cancer, were significantly higher after the intervention. In conclusion, a Volunteer-based Community Health Programme has advantages for areas where the numbers of health personnel are limited. The use of trained community health volunteers may be one of the best sustainable alternative means for the transfer of health knowledge.