Phetchabun Medical Journal

The Role of Community Nurse Practitioners in Disease and Health Hazard Surveillance

2025-03-03T10:57:55+07:00

Disease and health hazard surveillance systems are critical mechanisms for monitoring, controlling, and preventing diseases, utilizing data from primary care services such as sub-district health promotion hospitals and family doctor clinics. This data can be employed for detecting outbreaks, planning disease control measures, and supporting research for the development of health systems. Community nurse practitioners play an essential role in this process, ranging from disease screening, providing primary medical care, reporting data into surveillance systems, to offering advice to the public during public health emergencies. Additionally, these nurses can utilize surveillance data to develop health service systems and create disease prevention and control projects tailored to the specific needs of the community context. This article aimsto describe the role of community nurse practitioners in disease and health hazard surveillance at the primary care level through a review of relevant literature and research. The findings reveal that community nurse practitioners significantly contribute to the surveillance of key diseases such as dengue fever and COVID-19 through collaboration with local health networks, including village health volunteers and other public health agencies. The article emphasizes the importance of developing community nurse practitioner curricula that align with the practical roles in the field. Furthermore, it advocates for providing nursing students with opportunities to gain firsth and experience in implementing disease and health hazard surveillance at the primary care level to enhance the capacity of the next generation of nurses to collaborate effectively with health networks and respond to community health issues sustainably.

The Evaluation of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Surveillance System in Phetchabun Hospital, Phetchabun Province, Thailand, 2022

2025-04-23T17:19:26+07:00

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) was a common infectious disease among children and could lead to severe complications, including death. Disease surveillance played a critical role in detecting outbreaks to enable effective control and prevention. This study aimed to assess the reporting process and evaluate both quantitative and qualitative attributes of the HFMD surveillance system, as well as to provide recommendations for improvement. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Phetchabun Hospital using data from 506 surveillance reports and patient medical records collected between January and December 2022, along with interviews of key stakeholders. The results showed that the surveillance system demonstrated high sensitivity (97.63%) and positive predictive value (98.33%), with 100% completeness and accuracy across all relevant variables, full representativeness of the target population, and 100% timeliness in reporting. The system was highly useful for public health practice, well accepted by staff, and user-friendly. Although limited in flexibility regarding variable modification, the system remained stable and adaptable to changing circumstances. However, challenges related to diagnostic accuracy and incomplete ICD-10-TM coding were identified. To improve effectiveness, expanding the scope of disease codes and promoting thorough clinical documentation prior to reporting were recommended.

The Relationship Between Pregnancy BMI on Maternal and Neonatal Complication at Aranyaprathet Hospital

2025-04-19T12:34:36+07:00

Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) in women of reproductive age is a critical indicator of nutritional status. Both pre-pregnancy body weight and gestational weight gain significantly influence the health outcomes of pregnant women and their fetuses. This study aims to investigate the association between BMI and gestational weight gain with maternal and neonatal complications at Aranyaprathet Hospital. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among pregnant women who received antenatal care within 12 weeks of gestation and delivered at Aranyaprathet Hospital, Sa Kaeo Province, between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024. A total of
462 participants were included. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including relative risk (RR) and log-binomial regression. Results of the 462 pregnant women, 131 (28.35%) had a BMI classified as overweight or obese, and 173 (37.45%) exceeded the recommended gestational weight gain. Multivariable analysis, adjusted for maternal age, revealed that BMI classified as overweight or obese was associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (Adj. RR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.21–2.80) and macrosomia (Adj. RR = 4.95; 95% CI = 1.99–12.32). Excessive gestational weight gain was associated with a higher risk of preeclampsia (Adj. RR = 3.95; 95% CI = 1.72–9.06). Pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain significantly impact maternal and neonatal complications, particularly increasing the risks of gestational diabetes mellitus and preeclampsia. Weight control before and during pregnancy is crucial in mitigating these risks.