The Relationship between Digital Health Competency and Literacy among Public Health Personnel in Sub-District Health Promoting Hospital in an Upper Southern Province

Authors

  • Suppanut Phonpichai Department of Community Public Health, School of Public Health Walailak University
  • Kuntida Boonchoodum Department of Community Public Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University.
  • Jiruntanin Paleevol
  • Thayawadee Kaewkhwan Department of Community Public Health, School of Public Health, Walailak University.
  • Kodchamonnakorn Champangoen School of Health Science, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.
  • Sasithorn Thanapop School of Health Science, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University.

Keywords:

Literacy, Competency of public health technical officer, Digital Health, Health Personnel

Abstract

Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals utilize diverse digital technologies in providing healthcare services, necessitating digital literacy and operational competency among their healthcare personnel. This cross-sectional analytical study investigated the relationship between personal characteristics, digital health technology literacy and competency among 257 public health personnel at Sub-district Health Promoting Hospitals in an upper southern province, selected through a multi-stage random sampling process. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with content validity (0.67-1) and reliability (0.97). Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were analyzed for correlation.

Findings revealed that most participants were female (84.4%), with an average age of 38, and 51.3% were public health academics. A notable 61.1% had not received digital health training for the past three years. Digital tool utilization varied by services: 87.5% used the HDC website for health promotion, 80.5% used Line application for disease prevention, and the JHCIS program was used for primary healthcare (89.9%) and rehabilitation (79.0%). Both digital health technology literacy (80.9%) and competency (89.5%) were high. Age and digital health literacy were significantly related to competency.

This study highlights the imperative for provincial public health agencies and primary healthcare service networks to prioritize promoting digital literacy among healthcare personnel across all job positions.

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Published

2025-07-23

How to Cite

Phonpichai, S. ., Boonchoodum, K. ., Paleevol, J. ., Kaewkhwan, T., Champangoen, K. ., & Thanapop, S. (2025). The Relationship between Digital Health Competency and Literacy among Public Health Personnel in Sub-District Health Promoting Hospital in an Upper Southern Province. Public Health Policy and Laws Journal, 11(3), 697–711. retrieved from https://so05.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/journal_law/article/view/281878

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2025): September-December

Section

Original Article

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