Village Health Volunteers’ Roles in the Digital Era: A Comparison of Expectations and Actual Practices in Chaina Sub-district, Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed to examine the expected and actual roles, evaluate the gaps between these roles, and compare the differences between the expected and actual roles of Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) in the digital era in Chai Na Subdistrict, Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The population consisted of 63 Village Health Volunteers in Chai Na Subdistrict, Sena District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Data were collected using a multiple-choice questionnaire. Content validity was verified by three experts, with an Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) index ranging from 0.67 to 1.00. The instrument was pilot-tested with 30 individuals who shared similar characteristics with the target population, yielding a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.98. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the differences between the expected and actual roles were compared using a paired t-test.

The findings revealed that the majority of the participants were female (85.71%), elderly (55.56%), had an educational level below a bachelor’s degree (98.36%), and were primarily engaged in agriculture (71.43%). Most had an average monthly income of 5,000–10,000 baht (61.90%) and had served as VHVs for more than 20 years (53.97%). Although 73.02% had never received training on the “Smart OSM” application, 98.41% reported using it. The primary purpose of using applications or social media was to communicate with family or friends (36.51%). Both expected and actual roles received high mean scores, with a Priority Needs Index (PNI) ranging from 0.03 to 0.07. The priorities were ranked as follows: (1) confidence in usage, tool readiness, and support systems; (2) ease of use; and (3) job relevance and image. Furthermore, the comparison between the expected and actual roles of digital-era VHVs showed no statistically significant difference (t = 0.470, p = .640). Therefore, Chai Na Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital should maintain the current level of performance and continuously support VHVs by developing their digital skills and providing resources such as internet access, user guides, and consultation channels with health personnel. A mentoring system and knowledge sharing among VHVs with digital expertise and those who require additional support should also be encouraged.