Aims: To set up and conduct a community based rehabilitation (CBR) in urban area based on significant variables and particular conditions of previous meta-analysis studies.
Methods: This study is participatory action research (PAR). The one particular community in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand was purposively selected. The 13 CBR research participants were purposively and voluntarily recruited including officials of local, regional government and community hospital, volunteers, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their care givers, and researchers. Verbatim of focus groups, participatory observations and field notes were undertaken. Those data were interpreted through thematic coding and analytic induction.
Results: Community based rehabilitation project was purposively set up with four significant independent variables including age, education level, occupation or position, and work experience as characteristics of CBR workers suggested by previous meta-analysis. Participatory action research was still contributive strategy for CBR development in terms of mechanism of consciousness raising, understanding collaboration and addressing CBR matrix. However, uncompleted PAR and CBR cycles, no more sectors of stakeholders and particular services with health focus of CBR matrix were limitation and challenges.
Conclusion: This study proves that PAR with significant characteristics of participants is important CBR development. It will be more successful should other challenges of CBR will be also addressed.