NIDA Poll Finds Public Supports Community Nurse Volunteers but Questions Current Selection Methods

Key summary

A survey by NIDA Pol, conducted between October 19-21, 2026, reveals that while the majority of respondents support having community nurse volunteers (อสพ.) in every subdistrict, there is significant skepticism regarding their qualifications and the selection process. Only 48.24% of respondents are aware or understand the role well, with 51.76% admitting they have never heard of or understood the program. Regarding trust in specific qualification profiles, 64.12% expressed high trust in candidates holding a professional nursing license and completing a 30-hour training course. In contrast, only 48.02% trusted candidates with a general health bachelor's degree and 120 hours of training, while 40.23% trusted those with a non-health bachelor's degree and 240 hours of training. Furthermore, 73.43% of respondents disagreed with selecting volunteers based on interviews alone, preferring more rigorous criteria.