Development of Health Literacy and Health Behaviors in Rational Drug Use among Village Health Volunteers, That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom Province

Abstract

              This quasi–experimental study aimed to compare the outcome of development of health literacy and health behavior in rational drug use (RDU) among village health volunteers before and after training. A total of 50 village health volunteers in That Phanom District, Nakhon Phanom Province, were enrolled. The study’s tool was adapted from the questionnaire developed by the Health Education Division, Department of Health Service Support, Ministry of Public Health. It was divided into three parts: general information, health literacy, and health behavior in rational drug use. Data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics and paired sample t–test. The p–value less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

              The results showed that before training, the mean health literacy in rational drug use among village health volunteers was at a good level (x ̅ = 135.40, S.D. = 17.09). After training, the mean health literacy in rational drug use was at a very good level (x ̅ = 145.14, S.D. = 19.89) which was increased significantly compared to that before training (p < 0.01). Before training, the village health volunteers had a good level of health behaviors in rational drug use (x ̅ = 9.92, S.D. = 1.98). After training, the mean level of health behaviors in rational drug use was at a very good level (x ̅ = 11.46, S.D. = 1.05) which was increased significantly (p < 0.01). This health education program could promote the health literacy and health behaviors in the rational drug use of village health volunteers, so it should recommend to be used in other population groups.

                Keywords: Health literacy, Health behaviors, Rational drug use, Village health volunteers