Digitally Inclusive Healthy Ageing Communities (DIHAC) is a cross-cultural study in Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand advocating digital inclusion and healthy ageing. (1) DIHAC study team visited Thailand and exchanged evidence and experience cross-culturally with Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health Thailand and Universities and Institutes in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Lampang. DIHAC study team reported the result of Community Integrated Intermediary Care (CIIC) study and initial findings and progress of DIHAC study to each institution.(2-5) The team consisted of Professor Motoyuki Yuasa, Chair of Department of Global Health Research, Juntendo University, Associate Professor Myo Nyein Aung, Department of Global Health Research who is Principal Investigator of DIHAC study and CIIC study together with students from Juntendo University. (1-5) Professor Yuasa and team paid a courtesy call to JICA Thailand office.

In Bangkok, the team visited (1) ASEAN Institute for Health Development, Mahidol University, (2) Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Thailand, (3) College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, (4) Chulaborn Royal Academy, and (5) Active senior center, Nonthaburi.

In the Northern Thailand the team visited (1) Home care outreach and CIIC center (2) Chiang Mai Rajabhat University (3) Chiang Mai University (4) Boromrajonai Collage of Nursing, Lampang. Altogether Juntendo University team had meetings with collaborators from more than 10 institutions in Thailand.

On 11th January 2023, the team has a whole day long meeting with Department of Health Service Support (DHSS), Ministry of Public Health Thailand. Professor Siripen Supakankunti from WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Economics, Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University who is a member in CIIC project also joined the meeting. DHSS team presented ongoing projects and future programs to three professors and requested advice for implementation and technical details of screening for older persons’ need in Thailand in the new normal era.

Figure1: Juntendo University Professor Motoyuki Yuasa exchanging the souvenir with Ms. Rawadee Russamithat, Adviser to the Minister of Health, and the team of Ministry of Public Health Thailand 11.1.2023

Figure 2: Associate Professor Myo Nyein Aung, PI of the CIIC study explained the model and effectiveness result to Ministry of Public Health Thailand team at the advisory meeting 11 .1.2023

Figure3: PI Associate Professor Myo Nyein Aung, transferring the CIIC care prevention exercise set for Thailand to MOPH Director Dr. Akrapon Kurusattra and the team 11.1.2023

Figure 4:  CIIC result and DIHAC study progress presentation at ASEAN Institute for Health Devlopment, Mahidol University Thailand 10.1.2023

Figure 5:  Exchanging research projects experiences and presentation of DIHAC study interim results and CIIC effectiveness result at College of Public Health, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand 12.1.2023

Figure 6: Together with Karaoke club member at “Quality of Life Development Centre for the Older Persons”, during the observation of activities for life-long learning at senior center Nonthaburi, Thailand 13.1.2023

Figure 7: Cross-cultural exchange of research at Agrarajakumari College of Nursing, Chulabon Royal Acadamy: presentation of DIHAC study interim results and CIIC effectiveness result

Figure 8: Observation with home care team, Maehia City, Study site of CIIC Chiang Mai Thailand at the Primary Health Care Center

Figure 9: Cross-cultural exchange of research at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University: and presentation of DIHAC study interim results and CIIC effectiveness result 18.1.2023

Figure 10: Cross-cultural exchange of research projects and curriculum at Department of Family Medicine, Chiang Mai University 18.1.2023

On 19th January Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Nakhon, Lampang, organized a meeting and invited Dr. Myo to give a lecture about publishing academic publication. In addition, he again presented CIIC results and DIHAC study progress, initial findings to BCNLP faculties in the campus and other schools in BCN network in the Zoom.

Figure 11: Lecture and Cross-cultural exchange of research at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Nakhon Lampang, Thailand

During the trip effectiveness and cost of the CIIC intervention, evidence from the study was informed to academic institutions and Ministry of  Public Health, Thailand. (4) Collaboration opportunities were shared to colleagues in Thailand such as regular international Zoom meeting for cross-cultural exchange and research. We believe that dissemination of research through cross-cultural exchange will lead to interdisciplinary collaboration for healthy ageing communities.

References:

1.Aung MN, Koyanagi Y, Nagamine Y, Nam EW, Mulati N, Kyaw MY, Moolphate S, Shirayama Y, Nonaka K, Field M, Cheung P. Digitally Inclusive, Healthy Aging Communities (DIHAC): A Cross-Cultural Study in Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022 Jun 7;19(12):6976. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19126976

2.Mulati N, Aung MN, Field M, Nam EW, Ka CM, Moolphate S, Lee H, Goto Y, Kweun NH, Suda T, Koyanagi Y. Digital-Based Policy and Health Promotion Policy in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Thailand: A Scoping Review of Policy Paths to Healthy Aging. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022 Dec 17;19(24):16995. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192416995

3. Aung MN, Moolphate S, Yuasa M, Aung TN, Koyanagi Y, Supakankunti S, Ahmad I, Kayano R, Ong P. Community-Integrated Intermediary Care (CIIC) Service Model to Enhance Family-Based, Long-Term Care for Older People: Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in Thailand. JMIR Research Protocols. 2021 Mar 24;10(3):e20196. https://doi.org/10.2196/20196

4. Aung MN, Moolphate S, Aung TN, Koyanagi Y, Kurusattra A, Chantaraksa S, Supakankunti S, Yuasa M. Effectiveness of a community-integrated intermediary care (CIIC) service model to enhance family-based long-term care for Thai older adults in Chiang Mai, Thailand: a cluster-randomized controlled trial TCTR20190412004. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2022 Nov;20(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-022-00911-5

5. Randomized controlled trial to evaluate a model of community integrated intermediary care (CIIC) services for older adults in Thailand [Internet]. World Health Organization, Centre for Health Development. 2018. Available from: https://extranet.who.int/kobe_centre/en/project-details/asean_thailand.