Development of a model for implementing health behavior change to increase healthy people in Maha Sarakham Province

Abstract

Purposes : To develop a health behavior modification operational model aimed at increasing of healthy individuals and to evaluate its effectiveness.

Study design : Action research.

Materials and Methods : The development of the “Increase Healthy People” operational model in Maha Sarakham Province followed three main steps: Phase 1: Situation analysis. Phase 2: Development of the operational model, consisting of four steps: 1) Planning 2) Action 3) Observation 4) Reflection (conducted in two iterative cycles). Phase 3: Evaluation of the development outcomes. The sample group included personnel from the provincial public health office, district-level public health personnel, and people aged 19–59 years in Maha Sarakham Province. Data collection tools consisted of health record forms, while research tools included: Analysis of public health problems and Design of the operational model to increase healthy people. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency distribution, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The proportion was compared before and after the operation using the McNemar test.

Main findings : The operation model to increase healthy people Maha Sarakham Province, in the first round, there was a health screening system using body composition measurement devices in every district. There was a process of returning individual health data to create awareness and change health behaviors according to individual goals. In the second round, the use of motivation processes was increased, with a target group of 5,043 people. The results of comparing health conditions before and after the operation showed that the average body mass index and waist circumference decreased significantly (p<.001, .003), respectively.

Conclusion and Recommendations: Encouraging health behavior change through the feedback of individual health data enables individuals to address their own health challenges effectively. This process promotes successful behavior modifications, helping individuals achieve their health goals.