A Promotion Model for Thai Traditional Medicine Practice among People with Visual Impairment

Abstract

This research and development (R&D) study aimed to: 1) investigate structural and systemic impediments within legal frameworks and curricula; 2) assess priority needs for professional advancement; and 3) develop and validate the UBEST Approach as a strategic framework to elevate Thai Traditional Medicine (TTM) professionalism among visually impaired persons. The study employed an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, integrated with the Design Thinking process. The research was conducted in three phases: Phase I involved qualitative inquiries with 20 key informants; Phase II consisted of a quantitative survey with 322 working-age visually impaired individuals, analyzed using the Modified Priority Needs Index (PNI modified}); and Phase III involved validation of the approach by 15 senior experts. The findings revealed that: 1) structural barriers are rooted in the legal incongruity between the Sanatorium Act and the Professional Acts, compounded by vision-centric TTM curricula; 2) the needs assessment indicated that Sustainability and Systemic Support (S) represented the highest priority gap (PNI _modified = 0.7017), followed by Legal Barriers (B) (PNI _modified = 0.6162), refuting the conventional premise that legal constraints are the sole primary obstacle; 3) the UBEST Approach integrates five critical dimensions: Understanding, Barriers & Bridges, Empowerment, Sustainability, and Technology. The approach was validated with the highest level of appropriateness and feasibility (\bar{X} = 4.64). The UBEST Approach serves as a transformative policy innovation, facilitating a transition for visually impaired persons toward substantive freedom, professional dignity, and sustainable autonomy.