The Results of Developing an Educational Model using the Kap Model for Caregivers of Psychiatric Patients at Song Dao Hospital, Song Dao District, Sakon Nakhon Province

Abstract

This was a Mixed Methods research. The objectives were to compare the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice in caring for psychiatric patients among family caregivers, and to study the effect of a knowledge-development model using the KAP model for caregivers of psychiatric patients at Sawng Dao Hospital, Sawng Dao District, Sakon Nakhon Province, under the continuous quality process concept of PDCA. The sample group consisted of 15 psychiatric patient caregivers, selected by purposive sampling, and 6 system developers in the area of Sawng Dao Hospital, Sawng Dao District, Sakon Nakhon Province. Data analysis used descriptive statistics, namely mean, standard deviation, and the Paired t-test.
The results of the study found that after joining the program, the levels of knowledge, attitude, and practice of the caregivers improved with statistical significance (p < 0.05). The knowledge level increased from a moderate level to a high level, with the mean score increasing from 11.53 to 17.80 (t = -22.07, p < 0.001). The attitude level changed in a positive direction, with the mean score increasing from 2.85 to 4.37 (t = -59.18, p < 0.001). The practice level in caregiving significantly improved, with the mean score increasing from 3.00 to 4.59 (t = -67.13, p < 0.001). The caregivers had more confidence in caring for patients, could provide encouragement, social assistance, and follow up on patients' symptoms more effectively. Additionally, their stigmatized attitudes towards patients decreased. Caregivers had a more positive view and could better promote the patients' coexistence in the community. This study shows that the KAP Model is an effective guideline for developing psychiatric patient caregivers by helping to increase knowledge, reduce stigma, and improve caregiving practice for the better. However, long-term follow-up should be done to evaluate whether the results can be sustained, including developing additional learning resources or community networks to make psychiatric patient care more sustainable.