Study and Development the Model for Thai Traditional Medical Services in Thai Traditional Medicine Demonstrative Hospital by Applying Information Technology to Follow up and Evaluate the Treatment of Skin Disease Patients

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, each country has implemented various disease control measures, especially providing treatment services in modern medical hospitals with information technology to facilitate patients in remote areas and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Thai Traditional Medicine demonstration hospital must adjust its health service model to suit the situation.

This study aimed to investigate and develop the model for Thai traditional medical services by applying information technology to follow up and evaluate the treatment of skin disease patients in Thai traditional medicine demonstrative hospital. The study was qualitative research. The key informants were 7 lecturers of Thai traditional medicine and professional Thai traditional medicines in the Thai traditional medicine demonstrative hospital that had experience and expertise in treatment of skin disease patients. The research instrument was a focus group and then analyzed data.

This study focuses on the services to volunteer skin disease patients who were stay in upcountry or had travel limitations to treatment and follow-up. The results found that the applying information technology for monitoring and evaluating treatment were 2 types of service as following; 1) recording photos of the skin or lesion area and then send to follow up and evaluate treatment via application Line or e-mail, and 2) real time follow up and evaluate treatment (VDO Conference) via application Zoom which had 3 process steps including; (1) diagnosis and treatment at the first time, (2) risk follow up and drug response, and (3) evaluate treatment via application Zoom.

In conclusion, the results of this study can be further developed in monitoring and evaluating treatment of skin disease patients in Thai traditional medicine demonstrative hospital and integrated into the teach and practice experience of Thai traditional medicine students in the future.