Chemical Education Transfer for Safe Practice Improvement Regarding Volatile Organic Solvents among Gasoline Station Workers, Bangkok, Thailand

The cross-sectional study was designed to survey on six gasoline station workers in Bangkok. Forty-one workers were participated to find out prevalence of knowledge (K), attitude (A) and practice (P) before and after 7-day appropriate intervention regarding volatile organic solvents. The results showed that before the intervention the workers had good attitude toward the harmful of using solvents, but they lacked of good knowledge on effect of volatile organic solvents as well as safe practice [using personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand washing]. After a 7-day appropriate intervention of educational training on knowledge of chemical toxicity and prevention was conducted the prevalence of workers had significantly increased in good knowledge (p < 0.001) and safe practice (p < 0.001), but significantly decreased in good attitude (p < 0.05). The safe practice after appropriated intervention was positively associated with good knowledge (p < 0.01) and good attitude (p < 0.05). The study showed that the workers required good knowledge on occupational hazards by engaging in good attitudinal approach toward better hazard prevention at workplace for their safe practice during work-shift. Therefore, making awareness and the regulation of using PPE should be considered to improve proper behavior toward safe practice of gasoline station workers. Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Volatile organic solvents, Appropriate intervention, Gasoline statio

Practice, confidence and continuity of breast self-examination among women in Thailand during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Objective Breast self-examination (BSE) is the most feasible screening tool compared with clinical breast examination and mammography. It is crucial to address the associated factors of practising BSE to develop a targeted BSE promotion programme and improve the BSE quality in Thai women, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design and setting We conducted a cross-sectional study in Thailand’s north and northeast region from March 2020 to November 2022.Participants This study involved 405 women aged 30–70 years old.Variables and outcomes Demographic information, health status and BSE were collected using a modified questionnaire based on the Champion Health Belief Model. The outcomes were ever-practising BSE, BSE practice within the last 6 months, continuity of BSE and confidence in doing BSE. Logistic regression and decision tree analysis identified the associated factors.Results 75.55% of participants ever performed BSE. Around 74.18% did BSE within the last 6 months. Diploma graduates (adjusted OR (aOR) 25.48, 95% CI 2.04 to 318.07), 21–40 reproductive years (aOR 4.29, 95% CI 1.22 to 15.08), ever pregnant (aOR 3.31, 95% CI 1.05 to 10.49), not drinking alcohol (aOR 2.1, 95% CI 1.04 to 4.55), not receiving hormone replacement (aOR 5.51, 95% CI 2.04 to 14.89), higher knowledge (aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.52), attitude (aOR 1.15, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.26) and practice/cues of action towards BSE were associated with ever-practising BSE. Frequent high-fat diet, high awareness of breast cancer, lower knowledge of BSE and lower attitude toward BSE were associated with not practising BSE within 6 months and BSE discontinuation. Only high knowledge of BSE was associated with absolute confidence in BSE (p<0.05).Conclusion Despite having a higher percentage than other studies in different countries prior to the pandemic, it is still crucial to improve knowledge of BSE to encourage BSE practice, confidence and continuity of BSE in Thai women. Moreover, the BSE campaign should target women with prolonged exposure to oestrogen and sedentary lifestyle