Public Awareness of Melioidosis in Thailand and Potential Use of Video Clips as Educational Tools

Abstract

BackgroundMelioidosis causes more than 1,000 deaths in Thailand each year. Infection occurs via inoculation, ingestion or inhalation of the causative organism (Burkholderia pseuodmallei) present in soil and water. Here, we evaluated public awareness of melioidosis using a combination of population-based questionnaire, a public engagement campaign to obtain video clips made by the public, and viewpoints on these video clips as potential educational tools about the disease and its prevention.MethodsA questionnaire was developed to evaluate public awareness of melioidosis, and knowledge about its prevention. From 1 March to 31 April 2012, the questionnaire was delivered to five randomly selected adults in each of 928 districts in Thailand. A video clip contest entitled “Melioidosis, an infectious disease that Thais must know” was run between May and October 2012. The best 12 video clips judged by a contest committee were shown to 71 people at risk from melioidosis (diabetics). Focus group interviews were used to evaluate their perceptions of the video clips.ResultsOf 4,203 Thais who completed our study questionnaire, 74% had never heard of melioidosis, and 19% had heard of the disease but had no further knowledge. Most participants in all focus group sessions felt that video clips were beneficial and could positively influence them to increase adherence to recommended preventive behaviours, including drinking boiled water and wearing protective gear if in contact with soil or environmental water. Participants suggested that video clips should be presented in the local dialect with simple words rather than medical terms, in a serious manner, with a doctor as the one presenting the facts, and having detailed pictures of each recommended prevention method.ConclusionsIn summary, public awareness of melioidosis in Thailand is very low, and video clips could serve as a useful medium to educate people and promote disease prevention.Presented in PartWorld Melioidosis Congress 2013, Bangkok, Thailand, 18–20 September 2013 (abstract OS VII-04).

Feasibility and initial outcomes of a multifaceted prevention programme of melioidosis in diabetic patients in Ubon Ratchathani, northeast Thailand

“…The main barriers were categorized into five domains: (i) knowledge, (ii) beliefs about consequences, (iii) intention and goals, (iv) environmental context and resources, and (v) social influence. People have little knowledge of melioidosis, believe that there is little or no harm in not adopting the recommended preventive behaviours, and are not inclined to use boots while working in muddy rice fields [ 8 , 11 ]. People perceived rubber boots to be hot and uncomfortable, and they normally followed the behaviour of friends, family and their community, the majority of whom did not wear boots while working in rice fields and did not boil water before drinking [ 8 ].…”

Systematic review of innovation design contests for health: spurring innovation and mass engagement

“…Six were evaluated with quantitative data,6 43 44 50 52 and one was evaluated with qualitative data 45. Quantitative evaluations included randomised control trials (two studies),43 44 observational cohort studies (two studies)6 50 and observational cross-sectional studies (two studies) 6 52.…”

“…Among the finalist contest entries of quantitative contests with control groups, two were superior to a control,6 44 one demonstrated non-inferiority44 and two had comparable results 43 50. Qualitative evaluation data were based on focus group transcripts, the results of which indicated that crowdsourced contest submissions had strong potential to improve health knowledge, attitudes and behaviours 45. Additional findings from the evaluation of outcome-oriented innovation design contests are presented in table 3.…”

Melioidosis in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

“…Awareness of the disease amongst health professionals has gradually increased in the area in and around Vientiane since the establishment of LOMWRU but is otherwise patchy, although some clinicians in provinces of relatively high incidence (e.g., Salavan and Savannakhet) regularly consider the diagnosis and manage patients accordingly.The disease is not yet considered a priority by the Ministry of Public Health. Although no formal surveys have been conducted, awareness amongst the public is likely to be even lower than that in Thailand [ 15 ].…”