Results of the health literacy program for preventing complications of diabetic patients at Ban Nong Hin Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital, Nong Hin Subdistrict, Nong Kung Sri District, Kalasin Province.

Abstract

     This research is an action research with a two-group pretest-posttest design, with 30 participants, divided into an experimental group and a comparison group. The study was conducted with diabetic patients at Ban Nong Hin Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital, Nong Kung Si District, Kalasin Province. The research instruments were a health literacy assessment form and a self-care behavior questionnaire for diabetic patients, with reliability values ​​of 0.89 and 0.73, respectively. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, and paired t-test, with a statistical significance level of 0.05.

     The results of the study found that after the experiment, the experimental group had significantly increased health literacy scores (t = 5.162, p-value < 0.000) in all dimensions, especially health communication, health information decision-making, and media literacy. Self-care behaviors were significantly improved (t=5.208, p-value<0.000), especially quitting smoking, abstaining from alcohol, and taking medication on time as prescribed by the doctor. However, exercise and foot care behaviors should still be further promoted. The mean scores of both knowledge and health behaviors of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the comparison group.