Development of a Health Savings Model through Multi-Program Promotion of Working-Age Health to Support an Aging Society in Thai Communities

Abstract

Objective: This research and development has the objective to develop health promotion and evaluate desirable health savings model through multi-program health promotion and evaluate desirable health behaviors of working-age individuals to support an aging society in the community. Methods: The sample group consisted of 130 health and working age leaders in the sub-district areas of Chiang Mai (Gr.1), Nakhon Sawan (Gr.2), and Phatthalung (Gr.3) Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews, and daily behavioral records for desired health behaviors in 9 activities including food and nutrition, drinking water, exercise, mood, sleep, breast cancer screening, smoking, drinking alcohol and oral health care. Descriptive statistics used to analyze and describe general information. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program between the 3 groups. Results: The mean percentage of desired health behavior patterns of all 3 groups was as high as 83.8% (good level). However, when analyzed according to activities, it was found that 5 activities were below the mean, including oral health care (39.2%), breast cancer self-examination (48.5%), exercise (53.1%), food (53.1%), and managing emotions and stress (69.3%), respectively. The mean scores of the 9 desired health behaviors were significantly different between Gr.1 and Gr.3 (p<0.001) and Gr.2 and Gr.3 (p<0.001), but there was no statistically significant difference between Gr.1 and Gr.2. For health outcomes, waist circumference in Gr.1 decreased significantly (p<0.05) and BMI decreased in Gr.2 (p<0.05). Moreover, both BMI and waist circumference decreased significantly in Gr.3 (p<0.01). The mean of monthly desired health behavior scores were significantly different in Gr.1 (p<0.001) and Gr.2 (p<0.001). However, the scores of Gr.3 did not change because they consistently maintained good health behaviors. Conclusions: Accumulating health behaviors through a multi-program approach leads to a continuous and consistent pattern of good behavior, resulting in the development of healthy habits. The findings suggest that the Ministry of Public Health of relevant Departments, the National Health Security Office and the National Social Security Office should develop systematic welfare and incentives to promote healthy behavior patterns using incentives such as health points, contributions to savings accounts, or diverse rewards appropriate to the economic and social conditions in Thailand.