Development of a Safe Canteen Management Model in Pathum Thani Provincial Hospital

Abstract

           This is participatory action research to study the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food vendors in hospitals in Pathum Thani Province, and to develop a participatory model for a safe and health-conscious canteen (Healthy Canteen). The study is divided into 4 phases: 1) Study of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of food vendors and problems in canteen management; 2) Workshop applying participatory planning process techniques; 3) Study of methods to develop the canteen to meet standards; and 4) Presentation of the safe and health-conscious canteen (Healthy Canteen) development model. Data was collected using questionnaires and interviews, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results showed that after implementation, the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of cooks/servers in the canteen were at a good level. The methods for developing the canteen to meet standards include: 1) Having a Food Safety Hospital policy; 2) Having a food sanitation committee operating in the hospital; 3) Conducting health checks for cooks and servers who come to sell; 4) Selecting safe ingredients for cooking; 5) Having a safe sanitation system; 6) Having cooperation from all parties involved in food sanitation work; 7) Having a network with the municipality/provincial administrative organization; and 8) Having a network with academic centers such as Health Center 4, Pathum Thani Provincial Health Office, Mobile Saraburi Provincial Health Office to participate in food sanitation work. Therefore, there should be activities to educate hospital administrators at all levels on the implementation and use of participatory processes to promote the canteen to pass the standards of a safe and health-conscious canteen.