Development of grocery stores quality for monitoring medicines and health products in the community (G-RDU) in Kalasin Province.

Abstract

      This study employed a Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to examine the situation of community grocery stores participating in the surveillance of medicines and health products (G-RDU) in Kalasin Province and to develop a model for improving the quality of grocery stores in monitoring medicines and health products in the community. The study samples consisted of 1,258 grocery stores that voluntarily participated in the community-based medicine and health product surveillance program (G-RDU) in Kalasin Province. The study was conducted over a 12-month period from October 2024 to September 2025. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Data analysis included content analysis, frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. A Dependent t-test was used to compare the outcomes of the development of quality grocery stores in the surveillance of medicines and health products in the community (G-RDU).

      Results: The findings revealed that the development of quality grocery stores for community-based surveillance of medicines and health products (G-RDU) in Kalasin Province consisted of the following results. First, a total of 1,258 grocery stores voluntarily participated in the project. The district with the highest participation was Kuchinarai District, followed by Mueang Kalasin District and Somdet District, accounting for 22.66%, 21.14%, and 14.86%, respectively. Second, the comparison of health product literacy among grocery store operators and the confidence of consumers and community members before and after the intervention showed statistically significant differences at the .05 level. The mean scores after the intervention were higher than those before the implementation. Third, the results of the safety assessment of medicines and health products in grocery stores showed that 89.43% of the stores met the G-RDU evaluation criteria, while 18.20% met the G-RDU Plus criteria. These findings indicate that the development of community grocery stores as partners in monitoring medicines and health products can enhance health product literacy among store operators and increase consumer confidence, contributing to safer access to medicines and health products within the community.