Effects of PNU Salt Talking Application and the Health Literacy Promoting Program on Health Literacy of Sodium Salt Consumption and Blood Pressure Level among Hypertensive Adults in Narathiwat Province

Abstract

Background and objectives A key strategy for controlling hypertension is a restriction of sodium salt consumption. This study aimed to compare health literacy and blood pressure levels among adults with hypertension in Narathiwat province before and after using the PNU Salt Talking application combined with a health literacy-promoting program on sodium salt consumption, between the comparison and experimental groups, and within the experimental group.

Methods This quasi-experimental study with a comparison group included 97 samples (47 in the comparison group and 50 in the experimental group). The samples were adults with primary hypertension in Narathiwat Province. The research instruments consisted of the PNU Salt Talking application, a health literacy promotion program on sodium salt consumption, a personal information questionnaire, a health literacy questionnaire on sodium salt consumption, and a blood pressure recording form. Three experts validated all instruments for content validity, and we tested them for reliability until they met acceptable criteria. Data were collected continuously from the samples over 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, and repeated measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA).

Results 1) The mean scores of overall health literacy on sodium salt consumption between the comparison and experimental groups after using the application combined with the program differed significantly (t = -2.373, df = 95, p < .05). For the experimental group, the mean scores of health literacy on sodium salt consumption after using the application combined with the program were significantly higher than before the intervention (t = 6.279, df = 49, p < .01). and 2) Regarding changes in blood pressure levels after controlling for baseline blood pressure, there were no significant differences in overall systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the comparison and experimental groups (F(1, 93) = 0.036, p = .850, partial η² < .001; and F(1, 93) = 0.000, p = .995, partial η² < .001, respectively). When examined without group separation, time had no significant main effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels (F(2.742, 255.011) = 1.462, p = .228, partial η² = .015 and F(2.922, 271.750) = 0.265, p = .846, partial η² = .003, respectively). No statistically significant interactions were found between time and group for systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels (F(2.742, 255.011) = 0.818, p = .475, partial η² = .009; and F(2.922, 271.750) = 0.803, p = .490, partial η² = .009, respectively).

Conclusions and Recommendations The PNU Salt Talking application combined with the health literacy promotion program on sodium salt consumption can be utilized by nurses as teaching and counseling tool for self-care practices in hypertensive patients. Additionally, clients can use this application to self-monitor their sodium salt consumption and independently control their blood pressure.