Promoting Health Literate Health Care Organization (HLHCO) Policy Implementation : A Lesson Learned from Lamphun Hospital, Lamphun Mueang District, Lamphun Province.

Abstract

      This survey research data analyzed by mixed-methods aimed to study approaches to promote the health literate organization (HLHCO) policies implementation at Lamphun Hospital. The sample consisted of 35 service providers (medical and public health personnel) and 50 clients (outpatients with chronic non-communicable diseases, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension). The research instruments included semi-structured interview on promoting HLHCO policy implementation and a behavioral assessment tool to promote health literacy among service providers and clients. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and quantitative data using descriptive statistics to describe baseline characteristics of the sample, including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum.

      The results revealed that health literacy promoting behaviors among both service providers (=3.51, S.D.=0.42) and clients (=4.00, S.D.=0.52) were at a high level. The promoting HLHCO policy implementation includes having a clear policy announcement to drive health literacy, everyone in the hospital adhering to the same direction, there is continuous stimulation and promotion of activities among medical and public health personnel, patients and the general public. There are continuous encouragement and support medical and public health personnel, patients, and the public regarding HLHCO activities. Staff are skilled in communicating health information with patients through Ask me-3 and Teach back techniques as well as using Foto novella and clear visual media. Self-help group and self-monitoring activities were organized to create health literacy among diabetic and hypertension outpatients.