Effectiveness of a health literacy intervention based on transformative learning and incorporating positive psychology on health behavior and well-being of Thai families with NCDs risk.

Abstract

Background: Thailand has a higher global non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality rate in comparison to the rest of the world, accounting for 75% and 71% of all deaths. WHO focused increasingly on health literacy (HL) in order to decrease NCDs. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an HL intervention utilizing transformative learning and positive psychology with mindfulness training in terms of changing levels of HL, health behavior (HB), and health outcomes.Design and methods: The study was a randomized control trial from May to September 2019. The participants were a rural Thai population with low levels of HL, living in an area with high levels of NCDs. The 200 participants were cluster randomly allocated to an eight-week intervention, and the control group. The data were collected by Likert questionnaires and physical exams, and analyzed via ANOVA.Results: The intervention group mean scores for HL, psychological capital, HB, and family well-being increased from baseline to post-intervention, but decreased during the follow-up but were still significantly higher than the control group and baseline scores. The increases in HL and HB were matched by improvements in physiological measurement. The BMI scores of the intervention group decreased in each phase, while the control group scores remained largely unchanged. An intervention group had significantly lower fasting blood sugar than the controls at the intervention and in the follow-up. There was no interaction between social support and any other variables.Conclusions: This program demonstrated improvements in HL, HB and the well- being of Thai families at risk of NCDs in rural communities. Significance for public health The WHO highlighted concerns about the rise of NCDs worldwide and tried to establish healthy populations to promote well-being and quality of life. Global conferences on health promotion in Shanghai prioritized increasing health literacy and well-being to decrease NCDs globally as part of a sustainable development agenda. Hence, the improvement in health literacy, family well-being and the good health outcomes of NCD risks were challenge for public health providers as changing health behaviors of individuals and communities. This study confirmed that the most often used health literacy and mindfulness-based intervention via the transformative learning process can provide effective alternative therapies and controlling BMI, blood pressure, and blood sugar for NCD risks worldwide, especially Asian people in endemic areas of hypertension and diabetes. This health literacy intervention can contribute to all health providers for their effective health care services.