Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 12(2), pp. 258 - 265
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2024.120209
Reprint (PDF) (819Kb)

A Health Literacy Initiative: Enhancing Health Behavior and Quality of Life for Socially Bound Aging in Northern Thailand

Somkid Juwa ^1,*, Kamollak Wongnoy ², Taweewun Srisookkum ¹, Busarin Juwa ³, Anukool Manoton ⁴, Suthichai Sirinual ^5
1 Doctor of Public Health Program, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Thailand
² Master of Public Health Program, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Thailand
³ Ban Huai Khian Health Promoting Hospital, Mueang Phayao District, Phayao Province, Thailand
⁴ Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Thailand
⁵ Department of Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Phayao, Thailand

ABSTRACT

Background: Health literacy improves outcomes, especially for socially bound aging (SBA) who become homebound. This study aims to create novel activities to encourage SBA to adopt health behaviors (HB) that improve their quality of life. Method: This action research created and assessed the northern Thailand SBA health literacy (HL) program. Purposive and two-stage cluster sampling selected 10 supporters, 192 participants, and 8 university researchers from 210 participants. Research has three phases: look, think, and act. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, workshops, questionnaires, program evaluations, and post-action reviews. Descriptive, Friedman, and content analysis were used. Results: The look phase showed a society with 42.7% low-level aging and a decline in health literacy. SBA think phases last 6 weeks and include 6 activities. The program's brochure, handbook, and self-regulation form promote health decision-making, media literacy, and health communication and management. Implementing the program significantly increased HL, HB, and QoL scores during the act phase (p-value <0.001). AAR also found that SBA reflected QoL-improving programs and understood the content better. Conclusions: The SBA health literacy program improved HL, HB, and QoL. They should be used by health agencies to plan SBA activities in the study area and similar demographic areas.

KEYWORDS
Socially Bound Aging, Health Literacy, Health Behavior, Quality of Life, Action Research

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Somkid Juwa , Kamollak Wongnoy , Taweewun Srisookkum , Busarin Juwa , Anukool Manoton , Suthichai Sirinual , "A Health Literacy Initiative: Enhancing Health Behavior and Quality of Life for Socially Bound Aging in Northern Thailand," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 258 - 265, 2024. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2024.120209.

(b). APA Format:
Somkid Juwa , Kamollak Wongnoy , Taweewun Srisookkum , Busarin Juwa , Anukool Manoton , Suthichai Sirinual (2024). A Health Literacy Initiative: Enhancing Health Behavior and Quality of Life for Socially Bound Aging in Northern Thailand. Universal Journal of Public Health, 12(2), 258 - 265. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2024.120209.