EFFECTIVENESS OF A WEBSITE AND BOOKLET-BASED HEALTH LITERACY MODEL ON METABOLIC SYNDROME MARKERS AMONG CIVIL SERVANTS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Civil servants are at risk of metabolic syndrome due to sedentary work patterns, unbalanced dietary intake, and low physical activity. Health literacy interventions through appropriate educational media can improve knowledge, motivation, and preventive behavior. This study aimed to analyze differences in metabolic syndrome markers, including waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose after a health literacy intervention using a website and booklet. This study used a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group. The intervention was conducted for 4 weeks. The intervention group received education through an interactive website and monitoring via a WhatsApp group, while the control group received education through a booklet. Data were analyzed using the Independent Sample t-test, Mann Whitney test, Paired Sample t-test, and Wilcoxon test. The results showed that waist circumference in the intervention group increased by 0.90 cm, but the change was not significant (p=0.249). In the control group, waist circumference increased significantly by 3.38 cm (p=0.000), although the difference between groups was not significant (p=0.362). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not change significantly in either group (p>0.05). Total cholesterol decreased by 4.13 mg/dL in the intervention group (p=0.460), while it increased by 5.44 mg/dL in the control group (p=0.203), with no significant difference between groups (p=0.123). Fasting blood glucose decreased by 0.40 mg/dL in the intervention group (p=0.082), while it increased significantly by 12.50 mg/dL in the control group (p=0.000). The difference between groups was significant (p=0.001). The website and booklet-based health literacy intervention was effective in preventing an increase in fasting blood glucose and slowing the increase in waist circumference among civil servants. This integrated educational media has potential as a promotive and preventive strategy in the workplace