A Health Behaviour Knowledge Reinforcement Model to Improve Healthy Living Knowledge in Semi-Urban Communities, Primary Health Dayeuhkolot, Bandung Regency, Indonesia: A Quasi Experimental Study Susanti

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain a leading cause of death globally, driven largely by unhealthy lifestyles and low health literacy, particularly in semi-urban communities. This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a Healthy Behavior Knowledge Reinforcement Model to improve health literacy in semi-urban communities. A quasi-experimental design was applied in Dayeuhkolot Subdistrict, Bandung Regency, involving 138 adults divided equally into intervention and control groups. The intervention included interactive training, independent practice, and modular learning, grounded in reinforcement theory, health promotion, and community-based nursing. Pre- and postintervention assessments were conducted using a validated instrument. The intervention group showed a statistically significant increase in mean knowledge scores (from 53.78 to 56.38; p = 0.005), while the control group experienced a decrease (from 53.26 to 52.68). Significant associations were observed between knowledge improvement and demographic factors such as gender, age, and marital status. These findings demonstrate that the model is effective in enhancing health behavior knowledge and supporting the use of structured, community-based interventions to promote sustainable health literacy improvements in semiurban populations.