A Study of Cardiovascular Disease Health Literacy and the Need to Promote Health Literacy Among Village Health Volunteers in Mueang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to examine coronary artery disease (CAD) health literacy and the needs for health literacy promotion among village health volunteers (VHSs) in Mueang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province, Thailand, during August–September 2025. The sample consisted of 259 village health volunteers selected through cluster random sampling. The research instruments were questionnaires comprising three parts: general information, a CAD health literacy assessment, and a questionnaire on health literacy promotion needs and preferred promotion approaches.  Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation.

 The results revealed that 44.87% of village health volunteers demonstrated an overall coronary artery disease literacy level of good or above. The proportion with good or above scores in each domain, from highest to lowest, was: managing one’s own health conditions (50.97%), knowledge and understanding of coronary artery disease health information (44.78%), access to health information and services (44.01%), decision-making and problem-solving (43.49%), another knowledge and understanding domain related to coronary artery disease (42.86%), and media and information literacy (37.06%). The need for coronary artery disease literacy promotion was generally rated at the highest level across all domains, with an overall mean of 35.26%. These findings suggest that coronary artery disease literacy is still inadequate. Accordingly, all domains of literacy should be strengthened among village health volunteers to improve their literacy to a good level or above, enhance their self-care capacity, and support their role as positive models for coronary artery disease prevention in the community