The Effects of the Program to Improve Health Literacy on Self-management Behavior of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

This quasi-experimental, two group, pre-posttest design research aimed to study the effects of the program to improve health literacy on self-management behavior of patients with chronic kidney disease. Data were collected from patients with stage III chronic kidney disease who came for follow up at the Wat tai medical care unit at Sunpasitthiprasong hospital, Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand. They were randomly assigned into two groups. The 22 participants assigned to the experimental group received the program of health literacy for 8 weeks  and the 22 participants in the control group received usual care. Data were collected using the health literacy questionnaires  consisting of 6 sections  including 1) health knowledge and understanding skills, tested for reliability using the Kuder-Richardson formula 20  with a reliability value of 0.70, 2) accessing health information and services skills, 3) communication skills, 4) self-management skills, 5) media literacy skills, and  6) decision-making skills and a questionnaire on self-management behavior of patients with chronic kidney disease. Using Chronbach's coeffieciency, the reliability of both instruments were .85 and .87, respectively Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, independent t-test and paired t-test.

      The research findings indicate that after participating in the program, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher scores in both health literacy and self-management behavior compared to the control group. Moreover, the scores before participating in the program showed a statistically significant difference at the .01 level. Research results show that the health literacy promotion program had a positive effect on the self-management behavior of patients with chronic kidney disease. Therefore, health literacy promotion programs should be implemented in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease and patients with other chronic diseases in the community health center.