Effectiveness of Behavior Change Programs to Prevent Diabetes Mellitus in the Risk working-age group, Khunhan District, Sisaket Province

Abstract

         This study was quasi-experimental research. The objectives were to compare diabetes prevention behaviors and blood sugar levels before and after joining the program in the experimental group and to compare diabetes prevention behaviors and blood sugar levels between the experimental group and the comparison group after using the program. The sample group was 60 working-age people at risk for diabetes in Tambon Krawan, Khun Han District, consisting of 30 people in each experimental group and comparison group. The sample group was selected using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected between March and June 2024. The research instrument was a diabetes prevention behavior modification program developed using the pre-seed theory of Green and Kruter. It was conducted for 8 weeks and used a questionnaire consisting of 2 parts: Part 1 contained general information, and Part 2 asked about diabetes prevention behaviors. The reliability was tested using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, with a reliability of 0.87. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and comparison of mean values before and after using the paired t-test and independent t-test.
         The results of the research found that after using the program, the experimental group had increased diabetes prevention behaviors and lower blood sugar levels than before using the program. Statistically significant at the.05 level 2) After using the program, the experimental group had increased diabetes prevention behavior and lower blood sugar levels than the comparison group, with statistical significance at the.05 level. The research results showed that the diabetes prevention behavior modification program created from the pre-seed model concept by using factors affecting health behavior to design the program, including leading factors, enabling factors, and reinforcing factors, can help increase diabetes prevention behavior and reduce blood sugar levels in the at-risk population. It should be further used or lessons learned to modify behaviors of other chronic diseases in the area.