Improving the Competency of the Surveillance Rapid Response Team of Northeastern Thailand

Abstract

This action research aimed to improve the competency of the surveillance rapid response team (SRRT) at a district level in Northeastern Thailand and involved four community hospitals, four District Health Offices (DHO) and eight Health centers. The process of action research improved the competency of the surveillance rapid response team by facilitating and enabling to identify, implement and evaluate a program of public health emergency improvements. Data were collected from two different sources: firstly a self-reflective questionnaire, and secondly focus groups and in-depth interviews with 50 local staffs. Improvements occurred in all skill domains, and the quantitative data supported the qualitative findings for all skill domains for which quantitative data was available. The surveillance rapid response team gained vital knowledge and worked in a more cooperative and proactive manner. The team became better supported by administrators. Action research was found to be a productive process for achieving valuable improvements in the competency of the staff, and represents a promising method for effective community change in general. These learning processes provided an alternative approach to improve the competency of the SRRT which will help to improve public health emergency responses in the future.

Keywords: Surveillance rapid response team, Competency, Action research