The Effects of Health Literacy Development Program and Behaviors For The Elderly, Plabphlachai Hospital, Buriram Province

Abstract

Purposes: To compare the average health behavior scores before and after the experiment of the experimental group, and to compare the average health behavior scores after the experiment between the experimental and control groups.

Study design: Quasi – experimental research.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among older adults aged 60 years and above residing within the catchment area of Plabphlachai Hospital, Plabphlachai District, Buriram Province. Simple random sampling was used to assign 30 people to the experimental group and 30 to the control group. Data were collected between June 1, 2025 and August 30, 2025. The research instruments consisted of: (1) a demographic questionnaire; (2) a health behavior questionnaire covering dietary practices, medication adherence, and physical exercise; and (3) a health literacy enhancement program. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, yielding a value of 0.96. Statistical analyses included frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Inferential statistics were performed using paired t-test and independent t-test, with the level of statistical significance set at .05.

Main finding: The average scores for health behaviors related to diet, medication adherence, and exercise in the experimental group increased significantly after the intervention (p <.001). And after the experiment, the experimental group had significantly higher average scores for health behaviors in terms of diet, medication adherence, and exercise than the control group (p <.001).

Conclusion and recommendations: The health literacy and health behavior development program for the elderly at Plabphlachai Hospital, Buriram Province, helps to modify the health behaviors of the elderly. This suggests that the follow-up period for health behaviors after the program ends should be extended, and the program should be extended to other vulnerable groups.