EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEVELOPING HEALTH LITERACY FOCUSING ON HERBAL AND HERBAL PRODUCT PROGRAM AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH HYPERTENSION AT MAE-CHAN DISTRICT, CHIANG RAI PROVINCE.

Abstract

Abstract

Background: The elderly people have been increasing of the total population and lead to high risk of hypertension, and they needed to continue treatment. They were seeking to other treatment and care such as herbal medicine for control their blood pressure. From the situation the elderly people should be correctly information, knowledge, understand on herbal and supplement used. They needed to health literacy for supporting their self-care. 

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness of the health development program. The use of herbs and herbal products of the elderly with high blood pressure.

Method: A Quasi-experimental study design was used in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control group and 35 participants per group. The intervention program used the herbs and herbal products program for the elderly people with hypertension. The control group received standard treatment for hypertension. Data analysis was used percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent and dependent t-test to compare the difference group and within group.

Result: We found that most of the participants were female, 51.4%, with age average 65 years. They completed educational on primary school 77.1%, within marital status 71.4%. After the intervention program focusing on herbs and herbal products used, found that knowledge on hypertension, knowledge of herbs and herbal products, behavior on the use of herbs and herbal products and health were increase than before the intervention with significantly at the p-value < 0.05. They were decreased risk behavior for high blood pressure. The intervention group was reducing the diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure than the control group after four times follow up. 

Conclusion and Disscussions: The intervention project of herbs and herbal products used of the elderly with hypertension was effectiveness for their knowledge about hypertension, knowledge of herbs and herbal products, behaviors of using herbs and herbal products and healthiness were increased more than the control groups from before and after intervention program, but they were decreased risk behavior for high blood pressure.