Development of A Health Literacy and Health Behavior Model Based on Lifestyle Medicine Principles in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Community Participation, Udon Thani Province.

Abstract

     This study is a participatory action research project with the objective of examining the situation and context of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. It aims to develop and evaluate a model for enhancing health literacy and health behaviors based on the principles of lifestyle medicine among these patients, involving community participation in Udon Thani Province., conducted from June 2024 to November 2024. The sample groups are: 1.Non-insulin-dependent diabetes patients: 1,078 people 2.Primary health network and external primary health network: 100 people 3.Local administrative organizations: 20 people and The research also tested the developed model with 200 diabetes patient target groups. Data collection is divided into 3 phases: Phase 1: Studying the situations and problems of health literacy enhancement and health behaviors of non-insulin-dependent diabetes patients Phase 2: Developing a model for health literacy enhancement and health behaviors based on lifestyle medicine principles through a quality management process (PAOR) and Phase 3: Evaluating the model development and outcomes. Data analysis included:  Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics to compare means using Paired sample t-test statistics, and qualitative data were content analyzed.
     The results revealed that: 1. Overall health literacy was at a very good level at 34.14%. Health behaviors based on lifestyle medicine principles were at an very good- excellent level at 58.91%. Blood sugar control (HbA1c < 7) was achieved by 36.92% of participants. 2. The model for health literacy enhancement and health behaviors based on lifestyle medicine principles consists of 5 steps: 1.Participatory situation study and problem analysis 2.Creating a guide for health literacy in behavior modification 3.Enhancing health behaviors using Lifestyle Medicine theory 4.Promoting network partners to provide social support for diabetes patients and 5.Empowerment visits, knowledge exchange, and follow-up evaluation 3. After implementing the model, the sample groups showed: Statistically significant increase in health literacy and health behavior scores (p-value < 0.05) and Statistically significant reduction in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels (p-value < 0.05)