The Effect of Service System Develop in DM Health Station for the Diabetes Mellitus Risk group and Patients, Pamok Hospital, Angthong Province

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop and examine the effects of a health service system improvement at a health station on health literacy, self-care behaviors, and blood sugar levels among at-risk individuals for diabetes and diabetic patients at Hua Krabue Village, Pamok Hospital, Ang Thong Province. The study sample included 12 members of a multidisciplinary team and network partners, as well as 66 individuals with suspected diabetes and diabetic patients. The sample size was determined using a formula for comparing the means of two dependent populations. The research was conducted in three phases between July and September 2024: (1) preparation, (2) model development, and (3) implementation and evaluation. Data were collected using blood sugar records, health literacy interviews, and self-care behavior questionnaires, with a reliability coefficient of 0.92. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically Paired Sample T-Test.

The findings revealed that the majority of the participants were female, over 65 years old, with primary education, unemployed, and receiving healthcare benefits under the elderly scheme. Post-intervention, the participants demonstrated a statistically significant increase in overall and specific health literacy, as well as in overall self-care behaviors, at a significance level of p<.001. Additionally, blood sugar levels significantly decreased at a significance level of p<.001. Health literacy improved from a moderate level to a high level both overall and in specific aspects. However, self-care behavior varied across different aspects. Therefore, it is recommended to develop a health service system that enhances interactive health literacy, leading to behavioral changes, particularly focusing on behaviors that showed limited improvement.