PERSONAL FACTORS AND HEALTH LITERACY AFFECTING HEALTH BEHAVIORS OF SUPPORT STAFF AT BOROMARAJONANI COLLEGE OF NURSING, NAKHONRATCHASIMA

Abstract

This research article aims to 1) study the level of health literacy, 2) study the level of health behaviors, and 3) study personal factors and health literacy affecting the health behaviors of support staff at Boromarajonani College of Nursing, Nakhon Ratchasima. It is quantitative research. The sample group consisted of 60 support staff members who were working in the fiscal year 2023, selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire with an index of item - objective congruence ranging from .67 - 1.00 and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .77. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and inferential statistics, namely, stepwise multiple regression analysis. The research results found that the sample group had an average level of health literacy and a good level of health behaviors. The factors significantly affecting health behaviors at a .05 level were gender and health literacy, which could together predict health behaviors by 38.60 percent (R² = .386). Gender was the factor having the most influence on health behaviors, followed by health literacy (β = .405 and .329 respectively). The predictive equation in standardized score could be written as: Health behaviors = .405 (Gender) + .329 (Health Literacy). Age, education level, monthly income, and body mass index were not affecting factors for the health behaviors of the support staff. Based on the research results, it is recommended to continuously enhance health literacy through the participation of personnel, along with promoting motivation, to improve the level of health literacy and health behaviors of support staff.