Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of a Culturally Adapted WHO IPV Training for Thai Healthcare Providers: A...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant yet underreported public health issue in Thailand. This study culturally adapted and piloted the World Health Organization (WHO) IPV training curriculum for Thai healthcare providers, evaluating its feasibility and preliminary effects on attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and screening behavior, guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Quasiexperimental, single-group pilot study.

A structured adaptation process (ADDIE model) localized the WHO curriculum to Thai cultural and healthcare contexts. Twenty-two providers completed a 5-day blended program (12-h online theory, 18-h practice with mentored sessions). Outcomes were measured at baseline, immediately post-training, and 1-month follow-up using validated TPB-based instruments. Analyses employed Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, McNemar's tests, and logistic regression.

Attitudes improved significantly (mean difference = 0.34; p = 0.005), and IPV screening behavior increased from 22.7% pretraining to 72.7% at 1 month (p < 0.001), with no decline between post-training and follow-up. Changes in subjective norms (p = 0.070) and perceived behavioral control (p = 0.416) were not statistically significant. Prior screening experience predicted screening at follow-up (OR = 8.08; 95% CI: 1.53-42.78). Participants identified persistent barriers, including workload, time constraints, and family presence during consultations.

The culturally adapted WHO IPV curriculum was feasible and acceptable and showed promising effects on attitudes and screening behavior among Thai providers. However, sustaining changes in subjective norms and perceived control requires post-training organizational reinforcement.