Community-Based Participatory Research to Improve Early Detection and Treatment of Hypertension in a Suburban Community in Thailand

Communities have a significant role in working with health personnel to detect new and previously diagnosed cases of high blood pressure during community BP screening programs. In Thailand there are many people with elevated BP who do not access care. The purpose of this Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) was to build a community partnership following the CBPR approach to develop a health program to improve early detection and treatment of hypertension. Three specific aims were: Aim 1. Using CBPR principles, describe the process of building a community partnership to develop a community health program to improve early detection and treatment of hypertension; Aim 2. Using CBPR principles, describe the process and activities with the community to agree on the problem and to develop a sustainable health program to improve early detection and treatment of hypertension; and Aim 3. Describe elements of a culturally appropriate health program including components and management of the program. The study was conducted from June 2014 to March 2015 in Kokkram sub district, Bangplama District, Suphanburi province, Thailand. Forty-one participants represented four stakeholders’ groups: 1) community representatives, 2) Chief Executives from health care organizations (CEOs), 3) health personnel, and 4) Municipal organizations. Participant observation and document review were the major data collection techniques. The data were summarized in Excel tables. Process analysis was used to find and document patterns, process and outcomes of the data in the ongoing CBPR research cycle. Results show that the study AIMS were met. Applying the process of building a community partnership (approaching; knowing and understanding; acquainting; supporting; and partnership working) in CBPR approach was successful to engage the community to agree on the problem and to develop a health program. Building the partnership will enable future efforts to implement and evaluate the Hypertension Control Program. The developed program is comprised of acceptable objectives, method and activities that account for strengthening capacities through community participation, education and training. Recommendation: Community health nurses working with other community health personnel can use community participation methods to develop and implement a program for hypertension control. Further research should be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the program on screening and referral services, and on hypertension control