Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 11(5), pp. 708 - 715
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110520
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Evaluating the Quality of First Aid Rooms in Rural Primary and Secondary Schools in Northern Thailand

Supakan Kantow ¹, Nattapon Pansakun ^2,*, Punyisa Pudpong ¹, Natnapa Promma ^3
1 Department of Occupational Health and Safety, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Thailand
² Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Thailand
³ Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Thailand

ABSTRACT

Background: Schools play a crucial role in education, health promotion, and students' overall well-being. As such, adequate first aid facilities in schools are essential for student safety and well-being. However, limited research exists on the quality of first aid rooms in rural schools, especially in northern Thailand. Therefore, this study aims to comprehensively assess the quality of first aid rooms in rural primary and secondary schools in the region. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August 2022, involving the quota sampling of 79 participating schools. Data was collected using structured interviews and data assessment forms. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 29.0, and the results were presented via descriptive statistics. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare multiple independent groups, with p-values < 0.05 considered significant. Results: The study revealed that 96.2% of the participating schools had first aid rooms. The most commonly reported health issues were the common cold, headaches, and fever (96.2%), with analgesics and antipyretics being the most commonly dispensed medications (96.2%). Nearly two-thirds (63.2%) of the first aid rooms were classified as having a moderate level of quality. The characteristics and location domain scored high in quality, while the essential equipment domain had a lower quality score. Significant differences in overall quality were observed between the secondary and primary schools (p-value < 0.001). Almost all the subdomains showed statistically significant differences, except for the first aid cabinet subdomain. Conclusions: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of well-equipped first aid rooms in schools for addressing common student health issues. Policymakers and school administrators should address deficiencies in essential equipment to enhance first-aid services. The insights gained from this study can guide decision-makers in prioritizing improvements to first aid facilities, ultimately promoting student health and overall well-being.

KEYWORDS
First Aid Facilities, First Aid Room, Quality Assessment, Rural Schools, School Health Services

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Supakan Kantow , Nattapon Pansakun , Punyisa Pudpong , Natnapa Promma , "Evaluating the Quality of First Aid Rooms in Rural Primary and Secondary Schools in Northern Thailand," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 11, No. 5, pp. 708 - 715, 2023. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110520.

(b). APA Format:
Supakan Kantow , Nattapon Pansakun , Punyisa Pudpong , Natnapa Promma (2023). Evaluating the Quality of First Aid Rooms in Rural Primary and Secondary Schools in Northern Thailand. Universal Journal of Public Health, 11(5), 708 - 715. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2023.110520.