Development of Health Behavior Promotion Model for Risk Group of Hypertension Disease Based on Knowledge Management Process

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to develop and examine the efficiency of knowledge management in the promotion of health behavior among the groups at risk of hypertension. It was conducted in 3 phases. Phase 1: developed a model from focus group discussion among 10 experts and in-depth interview of 9 experts. The data were analyzed by content analysis. Phase 2: implemented the experimental model for risk groups of hypertension in 5 areas of 2 provinces (Lamphun and Trang), consisted of 3 agricultural lands and 2 industrial lands. The samples were 132 individuals at risk of high blood pressure: 82 in agricultural land areas and 50 in industrial areas. A focus group discussion was also conducted with 10 co-researchers. The data were analyzed by using content analysis. Phase 3: examined and and evaluated the proposed model in 3 domains: behavior risk factors, health behavior, and health status. The assessment was performed by using health status and behavioral survey as well as health check-up. The data were compared between those before and after the intervention. The instruments used for data collection were the health status and health behavior questionnaires. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and content analysis. The results revealed that the health behavior promotion model for risk groups of hypertension disease based on knowledge management process was consisted of three components, 7 primary activities and 18 support activities for agricultural areas and 17 support activities for industrial areas. The assessment of the effectiveness of the model before and after the study revealed that all the study variables were statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Mean scores of health behavior risk factors and health behaviors increased after the intervention. The risk groups had higher proportion of normal blood pressure and a small reduction of waist and body weight index. The results showed that health behavior promotion model was effective. The study group could manage their know-ledge to change the health behaviors and personal lifestyle. This model helped the risk group to maintain stable blood pressure. Thus, this model should be expanded to other areas. Application of the model for other target groups such as employees and government officials was also recommended in order to develop appropriate models for the working people.