The Thai-Australian Alliance: Developing a Rural Health Management Curriculum by Participatory Action Research

In 2006, the Thai National Health Security Office and the Ministry of Public Health, through the Nakhonratchasima Provincial Health Office in Thailand, asked the Thai-Australian Health Alliance to identify competencies and skills for a health management curriculum for health professionals working in primary healthcare in rural Thailand. The study was conducted in Nakhonratchasima province, Thailand, utilizing questionnaires, focus group discussions and an intensive 3-day workshop involving a purposive sample of 35 participants drawn from various sectors in the health industry. Findings identified the core curriculum competencies and skills required by rural doctors, nurses and public health officers. Critical issues regarding continuing education for health professionals in primary healthcare were also examined. This study found that a primary healthcare approach should include the principles of sustainability and capacity building, and incorporate team-based, interprofessional and long-term continuous learning.