Khon Kaen University organized the “Joint Field Practices” of 2021, which is hosted this year by the Faculty of Dentistry, with Asst. Prof. Piyachat Patcharanuchat, D.D.S. acting as the Field Director. The event is scheduled from November 30 until December 6, 2021 at 12 sites in 4 districts: Nam Pong, Sam Sung, Ban Fang, and Ban Had. 815 students from different health sciences faculties joined.
November 30, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. – Khon Kaen University held an opening ceremony for the 2021 Joint Field Practices. Asst. Prof. Piyachat Patcharanuchat, D.D.S., the Field Director presided over the opening ceremony. 24 community people attended the ceremony with 14 representative students from the health science programs. The event was under the strict precautions against Covid-19 and was broadcast online for the 815 students who are under the program. The students are from the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Dentistry, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, and General Education Institute of Khon Kaen University, and the Faculty of Nursing of the College of Asian Scholars. After the opening ceremony, there was an activity for the participants followed by the question-answer competition. The event took place at Buddha Chada Monastery, Khu Kham Sub-district, Sam Sung District, Khon Kaen.
Asst. Prof. Piyachat Patcharanuchat, D.D.S. explained, “The 2021 Joint Field Practices of Khon Kaen University has been carried out for 39 years. The practices include learning processes and joint activities of the multidisciplinary majors or what is called IPE Inter-professional Education. It is also under collaboration of 6 faculties of Khon Kaen University and the College of Asian Scholars, totaling 7 programs. The event is under the coordination and support of the General Education Institute – the course GE 153158 Community Lifestyles and Community Learning. Therefore, the Field Practices involve work with the community related to community health. The students of health science fields work together at 12 sites in 4 districts. The local organizations that join this time are: in Nam Pong District – Kud Namsai Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital, Ban Kham Kaen Koon, Ban Muang Wan, and Ban Kham; in Sam Sung District – Khu Kham Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital, Ban Non; in Ban Fang District – Nong Bua Sub-district Health Promotion Hospital, Ban Kaen Tha, Ban Pa Manao; and in Ban Had District – Non Somboon Sub-district Promotion Hospital, Ban Khok Samran, Ban Nong Saeng.”
“This year we are under the spread of Covid-19 and the pandemic is more severe than last year. Therefore, the theoretical part of the course has been done online and the practices run from November 28 until December 16, when a limited number of students and lecturers are working at the site, 14-15 people at each place. The practices include data collection, analyzing community health information, family study, community lifestyle study. The studies are carried out by using 6 types of tools, which have to be designed to match each community. Work can be carried out only in some areas under strict guard against Covid-19. In some areas, students have to be screened to distinguish the risk group. They must already have received vaccination twice. In some places, the students have had to undergo ATK checking first. These are the difficulties that we have to face so that all will be safe, while the objectives have to be attained.”
Miss Pattaramon Khompaengchan (Toei), a 3rd year medical student said, “We are working in Community 6, Project 1, “Knowing and Avoiding Risks of Diabetes”. The objectives are to give information to the community about diabetes. There are 68 members in this project from 6 faculties. Today there are only14 representatives due to the spread of Covid-19. There are many constraints in carrying out the work. We must have had two dozes of vaccination, haven’t been to risk areas, have no fever. We broadcast live by Zoom to the members who are not here. Today there are 20 people of the target group, 4 health volunteers, villagers who have diabetes and some who are under the risk. Obese people are emphasized. For this, we refer to the information from the Ministry of Public Health and BFO for those having BMI higher than 31, which are considered the risk group. We asked them to do the test before the training and after the training and collect the data for analysis later on.”
Miss Panat Chaisawat (Nuk), a 3rd year student of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science said, “Joining this Joint Field Practices enables me to work with friends in the multidisciplinary fields, to know how to work together and share the jobs. Working in the community enables us to learn the ways on living of the people and learn what happens in the community, which include their lifestyles, their problems, making us understand about them more.”
The Joint Field Practices has been organized continuously for a long time until it is classified as one of the Best Practices of Khon Kaen University that answers the University’s philosophy. It is a good practice for learning together in the real community. Besides the people being basically screened in the health checks, they receive more knowledge and become aware of their health. For the students, they learn to work with friends in other fields and with community people. They receive experiences from the problems faced by the community. They practice solving the problems with community leaders and learn the people’s lifestyles. These skills can be of use in their future occupation.
News: Watchara Noichompoo
Photos: Watchara Noichompoo, Sathit Mangkhang, Prathumma Thadaeng
