ผลของการส่งเสริมสุขภาพด้วยดิจิทัลแพลตฟอร์มส่งเสริมกิจกรรมทางกายระดับชาติ ที่มีต่อความรอบรู้ด้านสุขภาพกิจกรรมทางกาย ระดับการมีกิจกรรมทางกาย ดัชนีมวลกาย และเส้นรอบเอว

Abstract

            Background: Sedentary behavior and physical inactivity are primary risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Digital health technology has emerged as a crucial mechanism for promoting health on a large scale. Objectives: This quasi-experimental research aimed to compare physical activity literacy, physical activity levels (MET-minutes/week), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference before and after the implementation of the “Kao ta jai” digital platform. Methods: The study was conducted among 701 users of the Kao ta jai platform across all regions of Thailand who participated continuously for three months. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Differences between pre- and post-intervention outcomes were tested using the Paired Sample t-test for normally distributed variables and the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test for non-normally distributed physical activity data. The effect size was determined using Cohen’s d.

            The results revealed that after using the “Kao ta jai” digital platform, participants demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all evaluated areas. Specifically, physical activity health literacy scores increased from a mean of 32.77 to 33.42 (p= 0.03), although the effect size was very small (d = 0.095). Regarding Physical activity levels (MET-minutes/week) rose significantly (Z = -9.82, p < .001), with the median increasing from 2,650 to 2,950 (d = 0.430). Simultaneously, body mass index (BMI) decreased from 23.94 to 23.29 kg/m² (p = 0.03) with a very small effect size (d = 0.144), while waist circumference significantly declined from 81.15 to 80.51 cm (p = 0.05), representing a small effect size (d = 0.314). These findings clearly indicate that the “Kao Ta Jai” digital platform is an effective tool for successfully promoting healthy behaviors and leading to tangible, positive physical changes.

            In conclusion, the “Kao ta jai” digital platform serves as an effective instrument for health behavior modification, particularly in enhancing physical activity levels and reducing waist circumference. However, given the relatively small effect sizes observed for health literacy and BMI, it is recommended that in-depth educational modules be integrated alongside the platform's use to facilitate more substantial and tangible health outcomes in practice.