The Effects of Health literacy development program through Line application on self-care behavior of patients with coronary artery disease, Thungsong Hospital

Abstract

Background : The global prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is increasing. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 13 million individuals are diagnosed with CVD each year, with 9.2 million deaths. Increasing health literacy and appropriate self-care behaviors can lower death rates and enhance patients’ quality of life.

Objective : This study examined the effect of a health literacy development program provided by the LINE application on health literacy skills, self-care behaviors, and readmission rates among patients with CVD at Thungsong Hospital.

Materials and methods : This quasi-experimental two-group design was a pretest-posttest design. The sample group consisted of patients with CVD who were treated at Thungsong Hospital. The participants were divided into an experimental group of 30 (n=30). They received a health literacy development program that applied Nutbeam's framework eight weeks and eight times. The program consisted of 1) building relationships and setting common goals, 2) developing information access skills, and 3) developing knowledge and understanding skills regarding the coronary arteries. 4) developing decision-making skills; 5) developing self-management skills; 6) encouraging and monitoring self-care behaviors; 7) checking and emphasizing the level of health literacy and correct and appropriate self-care behaviors; 8) summarizing the results of health literacy and self-care behaviors, and a comparison group of 30 people (n=30). Patients in the control group received standard care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Mann-Whitney U test.

Results : The experimental group showed significant improvements in health literacy and self-care behaviors compared to the pre-program scores (p < .05) and the control group (p < .05), and there was no readmission within three months.

Conclusion : The health literacy development program provided by The Line application improved CVD patients' ability to access health information and implement appropriate self-care behaviors, serving as a good model for other patients.