Abstract:
The purposes of these research were to 1)develop an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks, 2)study development results of an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks, 3)analyze factors and condition relavant to the development of an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks,and 4)propose strategy for the development of an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks. The research sample for the study of problems and needs of Buddhist monks consisted of 500 Buddhist monks in Bangkok Metropolitan.The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and content analysis. The major findings were as follows: 1. Most of Buddhist monks had problems in eating food with incorrect nutrition and did not exercise regularly. The top five health problems of Buddhist monks included 1)eating five food groups, 2)correct exercise, 3)health check-up, 4)self-care using the result of health check-up and 5)searching knowledge about health care.The needs of Buddhist monks included health care and searching correct knowledge about health care, as well as need for concrete health problem solving. 2. An informal education process for Buddhist monks to enhance health literacy composed of 1) analyzed problem and need of health care learning , 2) defined objectives and learning goals, 3) designed guidelines for learning, 4) defined guidelines for assessing the success , and 5) created tools for collecting data of health literacy. 3.The subjects means scores of health literacy after participating in the program were higher than before with respect to both knowledge attitude and practice, while the result of interviews with the Buddhist monks showed that all activities were suitable for them,help them know how to take care of themselves, and made them stronger both physically and mentally. 4.The supporting factors in these activities were activities, learners, facilitator ,and learning content while the conditions were places, time, and learners. 5.There were strategy for the development of an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks including:1) identifying goals and objectives of an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks, 2) developing guidelines for informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks, 3) developing guidelines for assessing the success an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks ,and 4) promoting the continuity of an informal education process to enhance health literacy for Buddhist monks.