title: Knowledge and involvement of nurses regarding health policy development in Thailand.
abstract: The purpose of this descriptive study was to explain the levels of knowledge about and involvement in national health policy development by nurses in Thailand. The study used quantitative and qualitative means to gather data about the topic from two groups of professional nurses: 2121 nurses who worked in hospitals around the country and 26 nurse leaders who were members of steering committees in nursing professional organizations. A self-administered questionnaire and an interview guide regarding knowledge and involvement in national health policy were used for collecting the data. The content validity and reliability of the questionnaire were assured. The results showed that almost two-thirds of the sample had a high level of knowledge about national health policy development but that almost three-quarters of the sample had no involvement in national health policy development. The interviews of the nurse leaders showed that some of them had been involved directly in formulating health policy but most of them thought that they had not been involved directly. The results demonstrated that it is essential that nurses understand and be actively involved in national health policy development.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. wipada@mail.nurse.cmu.ac.th
authors.forename: Wipada
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kunaviktikul
authors.forename: Raymoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nantsupawat
authors.forename: Udomrat
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sngounsiritham
authors.forename: Thitinut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akkadechanunt
authors.forename: Bunpitcha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chitpakdee
authors.forename: Orn-Anong
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Wichaikhum
authors.forename: Rawiwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wonglieukirati
authors.forename: Ratanawadee
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chontawan
authors.forename: Pongsri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keitlertnapha
authors.forename: Petsunee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thungaraenkul
authors.forename: Kulwadee
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abhicharttibutra
authors.forename: Cattaliya Siripattarakul
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Sanluang
authors.forename: Sumalee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lirtmunlikaporn
authors.forename: Praneetsin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaowalaksakun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011640:Public Policy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand