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Abstract
Capacity Building of Thai Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Upper North of Thai-
land
1,*
Krongkeaw Chankeaw , Patchara Koychusakun 2
1 Environmental Health Science, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University
2 Associate Professor, School of Health Science, Chiang Rai Rajabhat University
* Corresponding author:krongkec@ais.co.th
The objectives of this research were to study factors affecting the careers and the healing
processes and potential development of Thai traditional medicine (TTM) practitioners in upper
northern Thailand’s provinces of Phayao, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The study was conducted
on a sample of 315 selected TTM practitioners in the three provinces. Quantitative data were
collected using a questionnaire whose validity and reliability had been assessed by three experts
and tried out in another group of TTM practitioners with demographic data similar to the sample
(R = 0.8235). Group discussions were used for qualitative data collection from 34 key persons
including certified TTM practitioners and government officials involved in TTM activities. Fre-
quency, percentage mathematical means and standard deviation were used for data analysis.
The results showed that, among the respondents, their average age was 49 years; and most
of them were female (58%), some working as government officials (30%) and TTM healers (25%).
TTM teachers (79.05%) and TTM textbooks (69.84%) were the main sources of their knowledge.
The factors affecting careers were inspiration to act as healers and the social aspect in which they
desired to respond to the community’s health-care needs and to conserve the TTM practice. Their
healing processes were undertaken in accordance with the TTM theory. Regarding their capacity
development, nearly half of them lacked the TTM skill development process in a continual and
systametic manner, especially among those practicing TTM as their main occupation. The results
of this study can be used for designing a TTM continuing education system with an e-learning
channel to enhance the knowledge and service capacity of TTM practitioners in the health-care
system.
Key words: factors; healing processes; capacity development; Thai traditional medicine practi-
tioners or healers; upper northern Thailand