The Effects of the “I see right sodium” Program for promoting health literacy regarding sodium consumption among university students in the lower northern region of Thailand

Abstract

Low health literacy regarding sodium consumption has been associated with high sodium consumption behaviors among university students. This study aimed to determine and compare the effectiveness of the “I see right sodium” programs that promote health literacy concerning sodium consumption amongst first-year students. A quasi-experimental study using pre-test, post-test, and follow-up was designed to study two experimental groups and one control group. The program implementation period was September to December, 2020. Experimental group 1 (n=35) was involved in a multiple-activity program that involved both in-class workshop activities and a virtual component via the online application ‘LINE’; experimental group 2 (n=34) participated in the program virtually via online applications, whereas the control group (n=34) did not participate in any of the aforementioned programs. The research instrument was a self-administered pre-test, post-test, and follow-up questionnaire. Repeated Measures ANOVA and One-way ANOVA tests were used to analyze the program’s effectiveness. Results of the study revealed that the mean difference in health literacy regarding sodium consumption among the three study groups was significantly different (p-value < 0.001). The mean difference in sodium consumption behavior between experimental group 1 and experimental group 2 was significantly different (p-value = 0.005). Health literacy regarding sodium and sodium consumption behavior at the collection time (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up) was significantly different between the three different groups (p-value < 0.001, and p-value = 0.015, respectively). The researchers have concluded that the mean difference in health literacy regarding sodium consumption and its effects on sodium consumption behavior at the designated measurement points were influenced by the programs. These findings indicated that the program with multiple platforms was the most effective in promoting health literacy regarding sodium and encouraging appropriate sodium consumption behavior amongst first-year students.