Development of a Traditional Thai Medicine Information Database System for Planning and Management in Trang Province

Abstract

Provincial-level management of Traditional Thai Medicine (TTM) data continues to face challenges related to data redundancy and the lack of standardized systems, which limits the effective use of information for planning and management. This study employed a mixed-methods research design under the Research and Development (R&D) process. The objectives were to develop a Traditional Thai Medicine information database system for Trang Province and to explore approaches for integrating data to support management and decision-making. The study was conducted in four stages: problem assessment, system design, system implementation, and evaluation. The sample consisted of 60 participants selected through purposive sampling, including Thai traditional medicine practitioners, information technology officers, and health service administrators. Research instruments included a prototype database system and a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.89. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The results revealed that participants perceived the development of the system as highly necessary (Mean = 4.58), primarily due to data redundancy (78.3%) and the lack of data linkage among agencies. After the implementation of the developed prototype system, overall user satisfaction was reported at a high level (Mean = 4.46), particularly regarding ease of use and data accuracy. These findings indicate that the developed system effectively reduces data redundancy and supports health data reporting. In conclusion, the information database system is an important tool for enhancing the efficiency of Traditional Thai Medicine management. The system should be expanded to health service units at all levels, and standards for data linkage with hospital information systems should be further developed to ensure sustainability and support provincial policy decision-making.