Effectiveness of self-management support on obesity among Facuty of Medicine, Burapha University staffs

Abstract

Introduction: The 2014, 2015 and 2016 health examination results of staff working for Burapha
University Hospital indicated conditions of increasing risk for metabolic syndrome among its
personnel. Therefore it is important that poor health conditions of staff should be urgently
improved.
Objective: This quasi-experimental research was aimed to study the effectiveness of a selfmanaged support program against obesity among staff at the Faculty of Medicine at Burapha
University.
Methods: This quasi-experimental research studied the effectiveness of a self-managed
support program for obesity among 60 staff members at the Faculty of Medicine of Burapha
University. For this study the participants were divided into two equal groups. 30 participants
were randomly assigned as participants in a control group, while the other 30 participants were
assigned to the experimental group. While the members in the control group were receiving
their ordinary services, those in the experimental group were taking part in the self-managed
support program. The period of treatment took 16 weeks. The research instruments consisted
of 1) a self-managing support program on obesity; and 2) questionnaires and self-regulation
forms. Data was analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics, which were pair t- tests,
independent sample t-tests and repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: The results showed that the average score of the experimental group, including eating
and exercise behavior, was higher than the average score from the control group (p < 0.05 ). The
average scores of waist circumference level, body mass index level, fasting blood sugar level,
systolic blood pressure level, diastolic blood pressure level, triglycerides level, cholesterol level
as well as lower density lipoprotein level showed that in the follow-up period, the experimental

However, in the follow up period the average score of high density lipoprotein level was higher
in the experimental group than the average score of the control group (p < 0.05 ). 

group’s average scores were lower than those of the control group, respectively ( p< 0.05 ).

Conclusion: Thus, the self-managed support program could be an effective program for
Faculty of Medicine staff with obesity. The self-managed program could improve life style with
modifications of eating and exercise behavior.