Journal of Vongchavalitkul university

Application of Positive Psychology Concepts to Motivate Learning and Lifelong Learning in the BANI Era

Sumonthip Boonkerd — 2024-12-27

The volatile and uncertain global situation, often referred to as the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity) world, has significantly influenced individuals' behaviors, attitudes, emotions, and overall happiness. This shift has transitioned into what is now described as the BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, and Incomprehensible) world, characterized by the emotional and psychological challenges faced in the digital age of unlimited communication. These challenges include increased stress, anxiety, depression, confusion, and difficulties in learning. Positive psychology, which focuses on enhancing quality of life, including physical and mental health, offers valuable strategies for fostering motivation to learn. It enables individuals to adapt effectively to the challenges and changes of the BANI era, thereby cultivating self-learning skills and promoting lifelong learning. The PERMA framework, comprising Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment, provides an effective approach to learning management by fostering positive attitudes and happiness in learning. This framework represents a promising area for future research aimed at optimizing educational practices and outcomes in the context of the BANI world.

The Association between Nurse Staffing and Selected Patient Outcomes in Hospitals in Central Thailand

Rachanee Sujijantararat — 2024-12-27

Objective: This study aimed to examine the association between nurse staffing and patient outcomes in hospitals in central Thailand.

Methods: This descriptive correlational study was conducted in 74 adult inpatient wards within tertiary hospitals in central Thailand. Data were collected from hospital databases. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyze the relationships between nurse staffing variables and selected patient outcome variables.

Results: Statistically significant correlations were observed:

A positive correlation was found between patient severity and both nursing hours per patient day (NHPPD) (r = 0.384, p < .01) and the percentage of registered nurses (%RN)

(r = 0.331, p < .01).

Mortality rate and pressure ulcer incidence showed positive correlations with NHPPD

(r = 0.426, p < .01; r = 0.328, p < .01, respectively).

Readmission rate had a negative correlation with %RN (r = -0.263, p < .05).
Nosocomial infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), exhibited positive correlations with lower NHPPD (r = 0.275, p < .05; r = 0.369, p < .01, respectively).

The findings highlight significant relationships between nurse staffing and various patient outcomes, underscoring the importance of adequate staffing levels and the proportion of registered nurses in improving patient safety and care quality in tertiary hospitals.

Occupational Health Hazards and Factors Related to Work Safety Behavior among Garbage Collectors, Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

witchaya phetliap — 2024-12-27

Objectives: This cross-sectional descriptive research aimed to study occupational health hazards and factors related to work safety behavior among garbage collectors at Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

Methods: Samples were 203 garbage collectors employed by the local government organization. The samples were recruited by using the simple random sampling method. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire from April to June 2023. All data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and chi-square test.

Results: The results showed that most the subjects were male at 98.50 % with an average age of 44.57 year (S.D. = 10.46). The mean of work experience was 8.21 year (S.D. = 6.50). Working policy was at 84.23 %, safety training was at 75.86 %. The level of knowledge (Mean = 10.92, S.D. = 1.74) and safety attitude (Mean = 2.31, S.D. = 0.36) were at a moderate level. The main results revealed the following important occupational health hazards: chemical hazards such as exposure to dust (93.60%), waste odor (93.10%); ergonomic hazards such as repetitive work (93.10%), lifting or moving heavy object (91.63%). The level of safety behavior (Mean = 2.33, S.D. = 0.24) was at a moderate level. Factor of working policy (X²= 5.203, p = 0.023) and safety training (X²= 5.860, p = 0.015) were significantly related to safety behavior at work (p<0.05). Therefore, related government agencies should recognize the importance of risk of occupational health hazards and local government organization should provide policy and safety training. This will encourage garbage collectors to better adhere to safe working behavior.

A Study on Health Belief Models Affecting Health Behavior Modification during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Panida Tepchalee — 2024-12-27

Objective: This study aimed to study the effects of the health belief model on health behaviors in preventing infection during epidemic periods and to suggest guidelines for the design of healthcare promotion measures.

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among individuals aged 18-60 years living in Village No. 2, Muenwai Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Probability sampling was employed to select a sample of 272 participants. Data were collected using an online questionnaire divided into nine sections, with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient greater than 0.7. The relationship was analyzed using Multiple linear regression.

Results: The results showed that the female variable and the self-variable (referring to the role of providing information, advice, or practices to prevent infection) were significantly associated with health behaviors for preventing infection during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.042). The female variable and the self-efficacy variable are significantly related to health behaviors in preventing infection during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.019). The female variable and the social practice variable were significantly associated with health behaviors for infection prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.007). The good health variable and the social practice variable were significantly associated with health behaviors for infection prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.039).

It is recommended to implement activities or programs promoting public health behaviors to prevent infection, particularly targeting males and individuals with poor health, to enhance awareness and improve health behaviors for disease prevention.

Needs, Promoting Factors for Continuing Education, and Desired Graduate Attributes in The Master of Nursing Science Program among Professional Nurses in Public Health Region 9

Sirirat Chatchaisucha — 2024-12-27

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the needs, promoting factors for continuing education, and desired graduate attributes in the Master of Nursing Science Program among professional nurses in Public Health Region 9.

Methods: This descriptive study included 388 professional nurses selected through multi-stage sampling. Data was collected using a questionnaire designed to assess needs, promoting factors for continuing education, and desired graduate attributes in the Master of Nursing Science Program. The questionnaire was validated by three experts achieving an index of consistency (IOC) of 0.93. The reliability of the promoting factors section, assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, was 0.84. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

Results: Among the participants, 29.12% expressed a need to enroll in the Master of Nursing Science Program. The most preferred program specialization was Adults and Elderly Nursing (48.67%), followed by Nursing Management (26.55%). All promoting factors for continuing education were rated at a high level. The top three desired graduate attributes were: 1) nursing leadership, 2) knowledge, skills, and expertise in the field of study, and 3) information technology skills. These findings provide essential data for the development of the Master of Nursing Science Program and offer guidelines for aligning graduate attributes with the expectations of professional nurses.

Comparison of Grade Point Average and Licensing Examination Results for Medical Technology Graduates Admitted Through Different Admission Systems

Tichaporn Poonsawat — 2024-12-27

Objective: This study aimed to compare grade point average (GPA) between graduates who passed and failed the national licensing examination for medical technologists, as well as among those admitted through different admission systems under the Thai Central University Admission System (TCAS 1–4).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over a three-year period with a sample of 148 graduates from the Medical Technology program. Data on GPA throughout the program and their licensing examination results provided by the Medical Technology Council, were collected. The study included graduates who took the licensing examination from the academic years 2020 to 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings, while Independent Sample t-tests and One-Way ANOVA were employed to analyze differences in GPA, licensing examination results, and admission systems under TCAS.

Results: A statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) in GPA was observed between graduates who passed and those who failed the licensing examination. However, no significant differences in GPA were found among graduates admitted through different TCAS admission systems (p > 0.05). Inconclusion, graduates who passed the licensing examination demonstrated significantly higher GPA compared to those who failed. Nonetheless, no differences were found when comparing GPA based on admission systems under TCAS. These findings suggest the need for curriculum improvements, enhanced teaching and learning strategies, and preparatory activities for licensing examinations. These measures may improve the GPA and overall quality of medical technology graduates, which could play a crucial role in their success in the licensing examination.

A Study of Factors Associated with Nutritional Status of Loei Rajabhat University Students by Machine Learning

นรุวรรณ อยู่สำราญ — 2024-12-27

Objective: This study aimed to identify factors associated with the nutritional status of students at Rajabhat Loei University and compare the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in predicting nutritional status.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study involved a sample of 1,020 participants categorized into three nutritional status groups using Body Mass Index (BMI) criteria: undernutrition, normal nutrition, and overnutrition/obesity. Ordinal logistic regression was used to analyze the relationships between independent variables and nutritional status. The prediction of nutritional status using machine learning was conducted using three datasets: training, validation, and testing sets. The algorithms evaluated included Support Vector Machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes (NB), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), CART, C5.0, Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM), Logistic Regression (LR), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN).

Results: The research findings revealed that 13.53% of participants had undernutrition, 60.78% had normal nutrition, and 25.69% had overnutrition or obesity. Factors significantly associated with nutritional status included gender, year of study, perception of weight change, nutritional knowledge, and self-management of nutrition. The effectiveness of nutritional status prediction using machine learning showed that the C5.0 algorithm had the highest efficiency, with a correct prediction of 60.78 percent (S.D.=0.00). However, when considering the efficiency of classification by group using the confusion matrix, the C5.0 algorithm fails to classify the sample class 1 and 3. Therefore, the efficiency of the Logistic Regression algorithm was considered, which had the second highest efficiency, with a correct prediction of 59.51 percent (S.D.=3.03), slightly different from the C5.0. It had the highest efficiency in classifying the groups with the reliability, recall, and counterbalance of 0.31, 0.33 and 0.27 respectively. Therefore, in this research, the Logistic Regression algorithm was considered the most appropriate machine learning method for further development. This study lead to a more effective classification of nutritional status and prevention and correction of nutritional problems.

Design and Development of the Semi-Automatic Banana Stick Production Machine for Community Enterprises

Piyapong Singbua — 2024-12-27

Objectives: This research aimed to study and design a semi-automatic banana stick production machine suitable for community enterprises. The primary objectives were to enhance production efficiency, reduce labor costs, and promote income generation within the community.

Method: The development of the semi-automatic banana stick production machine began with designing its operating system, which comprised three main processes: banana mashing, mixing, and bar forming. In the first process, the banana mashing unit was designed to handle up to 25 kilograms of bananas per cycle, ensuring an adequate capacity for community-level production. The second process involved a mixing unit to add ingredients based on a specified ratio and ensure thorough blending before transferring the mixture to the bar-forming unit. The bar-forming unit utilized a screw extrusion mechanism, enabling continuous production of banana bars. It was equipped with a cutting blade mechanism that allowed the bars’ length to be adjusted between 10 and 15 centimeters. Additionally, a conveyor system was implemented to transfer the cut banana bars to a receiving tray, where they were arranged for subsequent drying.

Results: The semi-automatic banana stick production machine demonstrated a production capacity of at least 12.5 kilograms per hour, or approximately 100 kilograms per day, with only two workers required. The operation was divided into four cycles per day (two hours per cycle), each processing 25 kilograms of pre-mixed banana mash. The amount of banana mash that could not be extruded into bars was minimal at only 0.11 kilograms, resulting in a machine efficiency of 98.26%. Moreover, the machine was estimated to generate additional income of approximately 200,000 THB per year. With a machine cost of 320,000 THB, the payback period was approximately 1.6 years.