Thailand Journal of Health Promotion and Environmental Health

Sodium-salt intake assessed through 24-hour urinary sodium excretion: a cross-sectional study in Phatthalung province, 2022

Hataitip Juthong — 2025-02-19

This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the average daily sodium consumption and investigate the demographic factors associated with sodium intake. A stratified two-stage cluster sampling method was employed to select 300 participants. Sodium levels in urine were measured using the Indirect Ion Selective Electrode (Indirect ISE) method. The study was conducted in Phatthalung Province, which encompasses 11 districts, from March to May 2022. The statistical analyses included calculating proportions and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for sodium intake, as well as mean values and 95% CI of the mean for daily sodium consumption. Relationships between variables were examined using the General Linear Model. Results revealed that the average daily sodium intake was 4,880 milligrams, corresponding to an average salt consumption of 12.4 grams per day. Men had a higher average sodium intake than women, with men consuming an average of 5,344 milligrams per day. Elevated sodium consumption was particularly associated with males, individuals aged 20-29 years, single status, living in households with fewer than five members, students, casual laborers, and those with a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 25 kg/m². The General Linear Model did not identify any statistically significant factors associated with sodium consumption exceeding 2,000 milligrams. Base on these findings, it is recommended that relevant authorities implement strategies to reduce sodium intake within the Phatthalung community, especially among high-consumption groups. Measures should include modifying dietary and seasoning practices and promoting healthier eating habits to prevent potential increases in non-communicable diseases in the future

Developing a model for health promotion and health literacy that affects obesity in working adults (15 - 59 years)

Supitcha Wongchan — 2025-02-19

This research is a quasi-experimental research with the objective of studying and developing a model for health promotion and health literacy that affects obesity among working age people. The sample group consisted of working people living in 1 large establishments in Rayong Province, selected conveniently. And the specific random sample must be aged 15 - 59 years with a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or more. The sample group was 186 people of working age in establishments in the Rayong province, divided into an experimental and control group by simple random sampling 93 people per group. Data analysis included mean, percentage, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Research conducted June 2021 – June 2022. The results of the study found that after the experiment, the experimental group participated in health promotion and health literacy through a digital platform in the form of an online digital platform had a body mass index (x̄=26.35 SD=2.92, P<.05) health literacy (x̄=141.97 SD=15.27, P<.05) physical activity (x̄ =1350.66 SD=804.62, P<.05) dietary intake (x̄=32.07 SD=2.54, P<.05) stress (x̄=2.44 SD=2.05, P<.05) and sleep quality (x̄=4.98 SD=2.92, P<.05) were significantly better than the control group. The experimental group had a body mass index, health literacy, physical activity, dietary intake, stress and sleep quality were significantly better than before the experimental periods. It shows that participation in health promotion and Health literacy resulted in body mass index. Health literacy physical activity dietary intake stress and sleep quality improved

Situation, Needs, and Good-Guideline Practices of Family Friendly Workplace (FFW) among Health Promotion Centers, Department of Health

Kittipong Saejeng — 2025-02-19

This study investigates the current situation, needs, and good practices to create a familyfriendly workplace (FFW) among personnel at Regional Health Promotion Centers, Department of Health. A mixed-methods study was employed in two phases. In phase 1 qualitative study, qualitative data was collected through in-depth interviews with 5 directors and focus group discussions with 35 personnel to explore the existing situation, needs, and practices to create the FFW. Five key areas were identified: work flexibility, childcare, parental care, income generation, and child allowance. Some centers demonstrated good practices, such as halving childcare costs, cultivating vegetable gardens or providing income-generating services, and offering members savings and cooperative store benefits. In phase 2 quantitative study, a survey was conducted using Google Forms to collect quantitative data from 234 randomly selected personnel aged 20-49 from all health regions. The majority were females, with an average age of 37.74 years, holding at least a bachelor’s degree. Over half were married, while one-third were single and had mixed feelings about marriage. Economic concerns and lack of childcare were cited as reasons for not wanting to marry. Those who desired marriage sought to have a family and children. Respondents recognized the declining birth rate as a pressing national issue requiring collective action. They expressed a need for support in five areas: work flexibility (e.g., having freedom to work according to government regulations, complete work in time, and online meetings), childcare (e.g., subsidized childcare, indoor playrooms/playgrounds for school holidays, and 15-day paternity leave for both permanent and temporary employees), elderly parent care (e.g., leave for sick care, welfare/funeral funds, and hospital visitation benefits), income generation (e.g., income-generating activities, cooperatives/welfare stores, and off-site service provision), and child allowance (e.g.,scholarships/academic awards, educational loans). Recommended practices to create the FFW include organizing community forums to raise awareness and foster participation, prioritizing possible areas for action such as halving childcare costs, providing children’s accommodation during school holidays, promoting income generation within the organization, and extending paternity leave to both permanent and temporary employees. The findings of this study can serve as a guideline for other government agencies to develop plans to create FFWs, thereby encouraging working-age adults to plan for childbearing and contribute to increasing the country’s population.

Development of the Community Empowerment to Well-Being and Health Behaviors of the Elderly in Phetchaburi Province

Samran Charoenphon — 2025-02-19

The objectives of this research and development were (1) to study Well-Being and Health Behaviors of the elderly in Phetchaburi Province (2) to develop the pattern of the Community Empowerment for the elderly in Phetchaburi Province and (3) to study the Community Empowerment to Well-Being and Health Behaviors of the Elderly in Phetchaburi Province. The research was divided into 4 steps including: 1) survey of Well-Being and Health Behaviors for the elderly in Phetchaburi Province. The research instrument used was a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Data analysis included percentages, means, standard deviations; 2) developing of the Community Empowerment to Well-Being and Health Behaviors of the Elderly in Phetchaburi Province. The researcher used the findings from the first step to develop Community Empowerment to Well-Being and Health Behaviors of the Elderly in Phetchaburi Province model namely PHETCHARA Model 3) Study the effectiveness of the PHETCHARA Model. Sample was 60 elderly. The research instruments were the PHETCHARA Model, and the questionnaire Well-Being and Health Behaviors. Data were analyzed by correlation coefficient testing using Pearson correlative and 4) Evaluate effectiveness of the Community Empowerment to Well-Being and Health Behaviors of the Elderly in Phetchaburi Province by Satisfaction Survey. The results revealed as follows; 1) Overall, the elderly in Phetchaburi Province. had Well-Being and Health Behaviors at moderate level 2) The PHETCHARA Model included (1) P:Phetchaburi/Personal (2) H:Health Behavior (3) E:Empowerment/Elderly (4) T:Team/Technology (5) C:Community (6) H:Happiness (7) A:Activity (8) R:Reflection (9) A:Active Aging. After using the PHETCHARA Model, the experimental group had higher Well-Being and Health Behaviors level than before using the model and higher than control group with statistical significance at 0.05 (p=0.01, 0.03). Effective of model at very good level

Public Health Emergency Management Development Plan, Incidence Command System and Emergency Operation Center, Phuket Province

Patomphong Khamvisat — 2025-02-19

This research study is a research and development study. The objectives are to develop the operation of surveillance, prevention and management of public health emergencies. There is an action plan for managing public health emergencies in the event of a medical and public health emergency, disasters and disasters. There is an integrated approach for working together among relevant agencies to respond to public health emergencies through the process of responding to medical and public health emergencies through the incident command system and the provincial public health emergency operation center (Emergency Operations Center, EOC). The study was conducted among executives and personnel of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office network (according to the order to appoint a committee and working group for preparing and responding to medical and public health emergencies according to the public health emergency command system (ICS) for diseases and health hazards and the public health emergency operation center (EOC)). During this research and development, it was conducted during July - August 2024. Data were collected using a questionnaire prepared by the researcher, with a sample size of 112 people. The questionnaire was checked for content validity by 3 experts and checked for reliability. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 1.0. The researcher analyzed and calculated the statistical value using a computer. The results of the weighted scores of internal and external factors are summarized into a radar graph to show the strategic position of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office..

The results of this study found that there were a total of 112 samples, divided into 7 public health office executives, 4 hospital directors, 13 department heads, 3 district public health officers, 21 communicable disease control officers, 18 district public health officers, and 46 hospital officers. Most of them were in Gen Y and Gen X, respectively. Approximately 20 of them were baby boomers (aged 55 and over), accounting for 17.86 percent of the total personnel. As a result, the organization must urgently develop personnel with knowledge and professionalism to replace them. Most personnel have an average age of approximately 40 years. 0.89 percent of personnel hold a doctorate degree, 24.11 percent hold a master's degree, and 75 percent hold a bachelor's degree. Most personnel have basic knowledge in public health and are EOC personnel according to the mission. It was found that the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office has a strategic position that is conducive to the management of the emergency response department in medicine and public health. It has strengths that are in line with opportunities. Therefore, it focuses on proactive strategies and implements remedial strategies. Preventive and reactive approaches are applied in some cases, leading to three strategic issues: (1) Establish policies to promote risk reduction in medical and public health disasters with standards; (2) Integrate systems and provide medical and public health services in emergencies and disasters comprehensively and efficiently; (3) Develop potential and integrated management mechanisms for medical and public health in emergencies and disasters with technology and innovation, totaling three objectives, 13 strategies, and 8 plans.

Adapting to Change: A Mixed-Methods Study on Health Literate Family and Community Development in a New Normal Lifestyle

Vimol Banpoun — 2025-02-19

This research aims to develop a family upliftment model. Health-aware community under the new normal way of life to apply it to suit the context of the family and area. The population consisted of leaders who were volunteers from their families. Local communities carry out project work from 77 communities in every province across the country. The sample group was calculated from the G*Power3 program. The sample selection method was multi-stage random sampling and leaders willing to participate in the project from 11 provinces, 11 communities, divided into an experimental group of 361 people and a comparison group. 436 people, totaling 797 people. The study has 4 phases: 1) preparation phase. It sets the framework for the development of models and manual tools. 2) Implementation phase. It is the step of applying the developed model. There is a quasi-experimental research design in 2 groups by measuring before - after implementing the model, 3) the performance monitoring phase. and 4) reflecting on the performance results. Quantitative data were collected by questionnaire and qualitative data by focus group and in-depth interviews. Data analysis used descriptive statistics and content analysis. Operated between January-December 2023, Results of the study: Develop a family upliftment model. The community is well versed in health under the new normal way of life. In the first phase, they received a set of knowledge on ways to raise the level of their families. Health-aware community under the new normal way of life for family and community leaders, the format is an easily accessible E-book and guideline for selecting prototype areas. Family and community knowledge about health under the new normal way of life for officials to drive the implementation of healthy behavior change the second phase is the experimental phase. It was found that the experimental group that received the family enhancement model Health-aware community under the new normal way of life had higher scores on healthy behavior than before receiving the model Before receiving the model, the mean score x̄ =2.63, S.D.=0.41, after the experiment the mean score x̄ =2.87, S.D.=0.29 p-value<0.001 The difference was statistically significant at 0.05. The experimental group had a higher mean score in health behavior than the comparison group. Mean score x̄ =2.87 S.D. = 0.38 comparison group. There is a mean score x̄ =2.65 S.D. =0.27 p-value .001, which is significantly different at 0.05. Phase 3, performance monitoring and Phase 4, performance reflection. Found that the family leader The community continually applies knowledge. There is integration of good health promotion work by participate in families, communities, and local government organizations. Recommendations: Proposal for developing a family upliftment model Health-aware community under the new normal way of life. It is a format that has a process. Operational guidelines, tools, manuals to make people, families, and communities knowledgeable about health and have desirable health behaviors. Easily accessible training courses should be developed, and the Department of Health should provide certificates to those who complete the training and establish or add policies to promote family and community health

Measurement and Development Program of Digital Environmental Literacy Affecting Behavior of Preventing Health Impacts in women of reproductive age : Mixed-Methods

Kirana Dheva-aksorn — 2025-02-19

This study aims to 1) the problem situation of digital environmental health in reproductive women through a systematic review, and 2) to design and develop the effectiveness of tools and a digital environmental health program for women of reproductive age. This study used a systematic review using the PICO technique to analyze and synthesize research on keywords, a total of 31,982 articles were searched and met the inclusion criteria, and 9 studies were synthesized. The experimental group and the control group were equal to 26 people. Data were collected using the Digital Environmental Health Awareness Scale of Reproductive Women and the Behavior Assessment for women of reproductive age developed by the researcher based on relevant concepts and theories. The results showed that 1) an effective development program should be an online activity along with learning materials to enhance skills in 5 areas, namely (1) Digital environmental health literacy (2) Digital environmental health information skills (3) Social support and networking skills (4) Behavior and feedback improvement and (5) Evaluation and improvement skills 2) Digital environmental health literacy was measured by four components: (1) access to environmental health information (2) understand environmental health information, (3) appraise environmental health information, and (4) apply environmental health information. The results showed that reproductive women who participated in the program had significantly higher digital environmental health literacy and developed competencies at the statistically significant level of .05.

The Application of Lifestyle Medicine in the Management and Prevention of Hypertension

Terdsak Rojsurakitti — 2025-02-19

Hypertension is a condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains consistently higher than normal. It often presents no symptoms in the early stages but has long-term health impacts. Additionally, it has economic implications both globally and nationally. Treatment for hypertension typically involves antihypertensive medication and lifestyle modification. However, treatment approaches largely focus on medication, which can have side effects such as fatigue and dizziness, as well as high costs. Recent findings indicate that lifestyle modification can significantly reduce blood pressure and lower mortality rates from stroke and heart disease by up to 30%. This study aims to explore lifestyle factors contributing to risk behaviors leading to hypertension and to review and provide evidence-based insights into the application of lifestyle medicine principles for controlling and preventing hypertension. This research utilizes a systematic literature review approach to collect, analyze, and synthesize relevant information from credible academic sources, both international and national, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and ThaiJO. This study found that lifestyle factors contributing to risk behaviors leading to hypertension include a diet high in salt, sugar, fat, and low in fiber, lack of regular exercise, chronic stress, insufficient sleep, smoking, high-risk alcohol consumption, and lack of positive social connection. Lifestyle Medicine, a field of Medicine that employs evidence-based practices to manage and prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, has proven effective. Evidence supports that applying lifestyle medicine principles to promote sustainable behavioral changes can effectively control and prevent hypertension. Such interventions include followings: having the DASH diet, engaging in aerobic exercise, managing stress through practices like meditation, improving sleep habits, avoiding smoking and high-risk alcohol consumption, and fostering supportive social networks. These measures help reduce stress levels and lower hypertension risks while enhancing quality of life. Thus, lifestyle medicine represents a novel approach to healthcare services aimed at effectively controlling and preventing NCDs, particularly hypertension. Integrating it into primary healthcare services can increase accessible and equitable care for patients, leading to a reduction in premature mortality and alleviating the economic burden from unnecessary healthcare costs in Thailand