ISSN 1715-7862 [PRINT] ISSN 1715-7870 [ONLINE] www.cscanada.net www.cscanada.org Advances in Natural Science Vol. 5, No. 3, 2012, pp. 28-31 DOI:10.3968/j.ans.1715787020120503.2538 28 Copyright © Canadian Research & Development Center of Sciences and Cultures Improving Primary School Students’ Capacities as Health Promoting Actors Somsaowanuch Chamusri [a],* ; Phatcha Hirunwatthanakul [b] [a] Community Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mahasarakham University, Thailand. [b] Boromarachajonnanee College of Nursing, Nakornpanom University, Thailand. * Corresponding author. Supported by grants from the National Health Security Offce (NHSO), region 7, Thailand. Received 22 June 2012; accepted 4 September 2012 Abstract This study was aimed at strengthening primary school children’s capacities as ‘health-promoting actors’. A participatory action research (PAR) design was implemented in five semi-rural primary schools in Mahasarakham Province. Selected students were identified as health promoting targets and planned for changing themselves by following a health promoting plan with the participatory action of their families and their schools. Quantitative data and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. The qualitative results indicated that to attain the goals of HPS it is important that using student capabilities to generate ways to solve their health- related problems becomes a fundamental strategy such as students communicating with health promotion strategies from the school through the families, building a stronger relationship between teachers-families-students, and students’ capability as ‘health promoting actors’. The possible roles for school teachers and health personnel assisting HPS program can revealed in quantitative analysis. Results showed that the student’s knowledge of health promoting school significantly decreased from before the training course (P < 0.001) The mean score of HPS knowledge after experiment was higher than before the experiment which are the HPS training scores (M = 9.5319, SD = 1.62) was significantly higher than before attending (M = 8.4681, SD = 1.52; t = - 6.173, p = < 0.001) HPS course. The result of this study using Home Visit can increase the participatory actions among Primary School students, teachers, family members. It can lead to more benefts in individual self effcacy and the development of healthcare among societies. Key words: Capacity building; Health promoting actors; Health promoting schools; Participatory action research; Primary school; Mahasarakham Somsaowanuch Chamusri, Phatcha Hirunwatthanakul (2012). Improving Primary School Students’ Capacities as Health Promoting Actors. Advances in Natural Science, 5(3), 28- 31. Available from http://www.cscanada.net/index.php/ans/ article/view/j.ans.1715787020120503.2538 DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3968/j.ans.1715787020120503.2538 INTRODUCTION The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been instrumental in conceptualising and popularising the notion of health promotion and framing international development of the field of healthcare activities (Colquhoun, Goltz, & Sheehan, 1997). Schools are one of the most important settings for health promotion. The health promoting school (HPS) program provides opportunities for action directed at improving school policies and environment, and enhancing links with the family and the wider community to maximise potential contributions to better health. Successful implementation of a setting-based approach to health promotion in the school context, in accordance with the WHO criteria, is not straightforward (Chamusri, 2008). In Thailand, the promotion of health in school settings is an important goal. Sritapa (2008) traced the progress in implementing HPS over a 10 year period in Thailand. A number of barriers to successful implementation of a HPS program have been identified in regional, district and local levels, such as an unclear determination of activities and policy, and lack of coordination between the