Development of a Behavioral Modification Model for Pesticide Use among Farmers in the Service Area of Ban Nikom Soi Klang Tambon Health Promoting Hospital, Khukhan District, Sisaket Province

Abstract

     This action research aimed to develop a behavioral modification model for pesticide use among farmers in the service area of Ban Nikhom Soi Klang Health Promoting Hospital, Khukhan District, Sisaket Province. The participants involved in the model development process consisted of 13 key stakeholders, including farmers, representatives of local administrative organizations, community leaders, public health academics, registered nurses, public health officers from Khukhan District Public Health Office, agricultural officers from Khukhan District Agricultural Office, and pesticide distributors. The study sample for data collection comprised 30 farmers residing in the service area of Ban Nikhom Soi Klang Health Promoting Hospital. The study period of 16 weeks from February to May 2026. Data were collected using researcher-developed questionnaires. Qualitative data were analyzed through categorization and content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using paired t-tests to compare mean scores before and after the implementation of the developed model.

     The findings revealed that the behavioral modification model for pesticide use, named the NIKHOM Model, consisted of six components: (1) knowledge development, (2) Increasing Risk Perception, (3) ping Self-Protection Skills, (4) Health Social Support, (5) Organization & Community Participation, and (6) Monitoring and Evaluation. Following the implementation of the model, the participants demonstrated significantly higher mean scores in pesticide-related knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, and pesticide prevention behaviors compared with the pre-intervention period (p < .05).