Integrated Cancer Services in Thailand: A Prototype for Excellence

Cancer is a significant health crisis globally and specifically within Thailand, where it affects more than 122,000 individuals every year and leads to approximately 86,000 deaths. Beyond the physical and emotional toll on patients, the disease creates immense social and economic challenges. In Thailand, cancer treatment costs exceed 26 billion baht (about $800 million USD) annually. Families often face out-of-pocket costs for cancer care that exceed 30% to 40% of their total household income. Furthermore, the aging of Thai society and lifestyle changes-such as "Westernized" diets and sedentary behavior-are expected to drive these numbers even higher. This situation has created an urgent need for new healthcare models that reduce the burden on major hospitals and make care more accessible to the public. The Project Goal: A new model of care to address these challenges: Researchers developed a prototype Center of Excellence in Integrated Cancer Services. The goal was to test whether a specialized cancer unit could be successfully integrated into a local community clinic rather than functioning as a large, separate hospital. The study used Donabedian's model to evaluate quality, focusing on three specific areas: Structure: The physical setting, equipment, and staff. Process: How the services are actually delivered and Outcomes: The results of the care and the satisfaction of those involved. Phase of Development and Implementation The project was a three-year initiative funded by the National Science, Research, and Innovation Fund of Thailand. Phase 1: Focused on the conceptual design of the center. Phase 2: Involved detailed planning and the development of digital information systems. This is at Phase 3: Focused on the actual implementation and testing of the prototype center in Bangkok

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Group 1: Service Recipients

This group included patients and their family members who received services at the prototype center. The criteria for inclusion were the following:

Age: Must be 20 years or older. Capacity: Must be able to express their opinions regarding the comprehensive cancer services.

Consent: Must be willing to participate in the research study. Group 2: Service Providers

This group consisted of 30 healthcare professionals (such as physicians, nurses, and pharmacists) directly involved in delivering care. The criteria for inclusion were:

,Age and Sex: Must be at least 20 years old; there were no restrictions regarding sex.

Professional Status: Must be actively providing services at the Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Excellence or its affiliated network facilities.

Knowledge Base: Must possess specific knowledge of the center's administrative and service systems.

Consent: Must express a willingness to participate in the study. Group 3: Cancer Care Experts

This group included 15 experts (administrators, academics, and researchers) who provided qualitative evaluation. The criteria for inclusion were:

Professional Experience: Must have a minimum of five years of experience in the field of cancer care.

Expertise: Must have the ability to provide deep insights into comprehensive cancer services.

Consent: Must be willing to participate in the research. Note: There were no restrictions regarding the sex or age of these experts.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Group 1 (Service Recipients): Participants were required to be at least 20 years old, have the ability to express their opinions regarding the center's services, and be willing to participate in the study.

Group 2 (Service Providers): Eligible healthcare professionals had to be at least 20 years old, be actively providing services at the prototype center or its affiliated facilities, and possess specific knowledge of the center's administrative and service systems.

Group 3 (Cancer Care Experts): These individuals were required to have a minimum of five years of experience in cancer care and the capacity to provide deep insights into comprehensive cancer services. The sources note there were no restrictions regarding the sex or age of these experts

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