Effectiveness of the models for strengthening health literacy to prevent the impact on using dietary supplements and cosmetics among Thai adolescents

Abstract

The objectives of this research were 1) to create health leaders strengthening health literacy; 2) to develop the models for strengthening health literacy; 3) to study the effectiveness of the models for strengthening health literacy. The target group was 4 schools in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 13th region. The researcher has developed the capacity of leaders to participate the activities in the school, 10-12 students per school, totally 45 students and 272 students participating in this project, using the participation process in every step. The research instruments were questionnaires on strengthening health literacy to prevent the impacts related to dietary supplements and cosmetics among Thai adolescents. Health literacy questionnaires had a confident value of 0.62 and health care behavior questionnaires had a confident value of 0.65. Statistics used in analysis include frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Paired sample t-test, and content analysis.

The results found that 1) Capacity development for leaders and co-leaders was found that health literacy and health behavior improved with statistically significant at 0.01 (t = -5.20 and -5.52, respectively). 2) Development of the models for strengthening health literacy to prevent the impact on health related to dietary supplements and cosmetics among Thai adolescents consisting of 7 steps as follows: 1. Set the issues and find the solutions together. 2. Draft the health literacy strengthening models. 3. Development of the health literacy strengthening models. 4. Development of assessment tool for health literacy. 5. Conduct health behavior surveillance and monitor the implementation. 6. Evaluate the activities and 7. Health network expansion. 3) Students participating in this project found that students had the average score after the experiment better than before the experiment with statistically significant at 0.01 (t = -8.88 and -20.09, respectively). Suggestions: the activity models developed according to the school context and the involved student leaders have created the innovations in behavior modification that can actually be used and as a guideline for application in other schools.