THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTH LITERACY PROMOTING MODEL OF THE ELDERLY IN UTHAI THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research and development were 1) to study health literacy of the elderly in Uthai Thani Province 2) to study the situation of health literacy promoting in the elderly, 3) to develop the pattern of health literacy promoting model for the elderly in Uthai Thani Province, and 4) to study the effectiveness of health literacy promoting model for the elderly in Uthai Thani Province. The research was divided into 4 steps including: 1) survey of health literacy for the elderly in Uthai Thani Province. The research instrument used was a questionnaire. The data was analyzed by descriptive statistics; 2) the situation of health literacy promoting among the elderly in Uthai Thani Province. Focus group discussion was conducted among 7 informants. Data were analyzed by using content analysis; 3) developing the health literacy promoting model for the elderly in Uthai Thani Province. The researcher used the findings from the first, and the second step to develop the health literacy promoting model namely SMART model; 4) study the effectiveness of the SMART model. Sample was 42 elderly. The research instruments were the SMART model, and the questionnaire regarding health literacy. Data were analyzed by using Paired t-test. The results revealed as follows; (1) Overall, the elderly in Uthai Thani Province had health literacy at moderate level (2) The SMART model included 1) S: Survey, 2) M: Meeting, 3) A: Activity 4) R: Reflection and 5) T: Time (3). After using the SMART model, the experimental group had higher health literacy level than before using the model and higher than control group with statistical significance (p<.01)