The Effectiveness of a Self-Efficacy Enhancement Program in Lifestyle Medicine to Reduce Metabolic Syndrome Among Retired Government Officers in Chonburi Province

Abstract

This research was a quasi-experimental study. Therefore, this investigated the effectiveness of a self-efficacy program for lifestyle medicine in reducing metabolic syndrome among retired civil servants in Chonburi province. This consisted of activities such as assessing self-efficacy behaviors in lifestyle medicine, conducting laboratory and basic physical examinations, describing the situation of epidemiology of metabolic syndrome, and establishing a learning base for enhancing self-efficacy in lifestyle medicine. Importantly, setting lifestyle medicine behavior modification goals categorized by sample group. The line group was established to exchange knowledge about their lifestyle medicine behavior modification. Furthermore, personal group members were followed up on three life goals planning sessions.  This sample group created buddy pairs. Rewards were granted to outstanding individuals who participated in the role models. Later on, the results were expanded to include the creation of elderly leaders in subdistrict health promotion hospitals. Thus, data collection tools included an interview form and a lifestyle medicine behavior modification planning form. Then, data was analyzed using the statistics, including numbers,  percentages, means, and t-test.

      The results of the study found that after the experiments. The sample group had average scores on self-efficacy, perceived benefit expectation of behavior modification according to lifestyle medicine, and behavioral practices in enhancing self-efficacy in lifestyle medicine. These were significantly higher than before the experimental program in statistics (p < 0.001). Then, the laboratory and basic health examination results revealed that only the mean waist circumference and systolic blood pressure were lower than before the experimental program in statistics (p < 0.001). Moreover, the  body mass index (BMI), fingertip blood sugar, and diastolic blood pressure were not significantly different in statistics. There were also skilled role models in lifestyle medicine behavior modification. A buddy line group was established, and coaches were developed to expand the program and develop leaders. The elderly voluntarily 22 people participated in 7 subdistrict health promotion  hospitals. Therefore, this success resulted from the group of retired civil servants from the Ministry of Public Health in Phanat Nikhom district leading the way as  coaches and expanding the program to other leaders at the sub-district and village levels. They served as role models at-risk groups, those with metabolic syndrome and chronic disease (NCDs). This was both elderly and workers. This would lead to reduced medical service costs, lower the incidence of chronic diseases and their complications, and reduce the prevalence of chronic diseases increasing rapidly. In the following year, the program would expand the creation of elderly leaders to cover all sub-districts, health promotion hospitals, and all districts in the province, respectively.