Developing Model for Strengthening Health Literacy on Tuberculosis Prevention and Control by Family Doctors at Sam Sung District, Khon Kaen Province

Abstract

         This study was action research that aimed to develop a model for strengthening health literacy on tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control by family doctors at Sam Sung District, Khon Kaen Province. The target group was 80 people who were representatives of each household in Khu Kham Sub-district. Data was collected by means of health literacy on TB prevention, group discussions, screening for TB, problem situation analysis in TB prevention, and evaluation. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics to compare the health literacy between Khu Kham and Huai Toei Sub-district with independent t-test statistics, with the statistical significance level of 0.05, and content analysis. The results showed that, 1) An analysis of the problems in TB prevention and control revealed that there were problems with knowledge, access to information, communication about TB in the villages, and the people have not been properly practiced regarding TB. 2) Developing plan for strengthen health literacy on TB prevention and control by family doctor has 4 projects, namely 2.1) To develop a “family doctors” 2.2) To strengthen health literacy regarding TB prevention and control 2.3) TB prevention and control communication in the community and 2.4) Surveillance of TB in the community by verbal screening. 3) The results of the development of a model for strengthening health literacy on TB prevention and control by family doctor 3.1) The family doctors have been developed by strengthening health literacy on TB prevention and control by receiving TB information 100 percent, and 786 people were TB verbally screened, 10 cases were referred to the hospital. 3.2) The comparison of TB health literacy between Khu Kham and Huai Toei Sub-district, the mean was 123.12 (S.D.=14.86) and 77.31 (S.D. = 23.62), respectively. The mean difference statistically significant was 45.81 (95% CI: 39 to 51). 4) The success factors; the family doctors have the intention and cooperation, the community has communication and public relations channels, people cooperate with TB screening, community leaders support and continuously monitoring, establish social measures to prevent TB transmission between patients and their household contacts, and feedback data within the community. Conclusion; a model can strengthen health literacy for TB prevention and control at the community level.