SUPA71 CONDUCTS IHDILL PROJECT TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN THAILAND AND LAO PDR

SUPA71, together with its project partners, successfully conducted research training activities for the project “Improving Health, Digital, and Innovation Literacy Levels among the Older Population in Thailand and Lao PDR (IHDILL)” in Lao PDR, Khon Kaen, and Chiang Rai between June and July 2026. The project is supported by the ASEAN Centre for Active Ageing and Innovation (ACAI) and led by SUPA71, Thailand. The project is implemented in collaboration with the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University (KKU); the School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University (MFU); the Faculty of Public Health; and the Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI), Ministry of Health, Lao PDR. The training activities aimed to prepare the research teams and data collectors for the consistent and effective implementation of the study procedures. The IHDILL research team training was conducted across the three study sites in Thailand and Lao PDR.

The Lao PDR training was held from June 26 to 28, 2026, at the Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute (Lao TPHI), Ministry of Health, in Vientiane Capital. In Khon Kaen, the first training was conducted from June 29 to 30, 2026, at the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, Ban Kho Health Promoting Hospital, and Ban Sam Chan Health Promoting Hospital in Mueang Khon Kaen District. An additional training session was conducted on July 20, 2026, at the Faculty of Nursing, Khon Kaen University, with online participation via Zoom. The Chiang Rai research team training was conducted from July 12 to 14, 2026, at the School of Health Science, Mae Fah Luang University, and in Pa Tueng Subdistrict, Mae Chan District, Chiang Rai Province.

The training sessions covered the IHDILL project overview, research ethics, quantitative research methodology, research tools, data collection procedures, and practical questionnaire administration. It also included qualitative research methodology, the use of discussion guides, field-note preparation, and procedures for conducting qualitative data collection. Discussion and feedback sessions were incorporated to clarify the data collection tools and study procedures before data collection began.

SUPA71 would like to express our sincere appreciation to all project partners, research teams, and stakeholders for their active participation and valuable contributions. These training activities represent an important step towards ensuring consistent, ethical, and high-quality data collection across the IHDILL study sites in Thailand and Lao PDR.