Health Communication and Media Literacy in Preparation for an Aging Society among People in Mueang District, Roi-Et Province

Abstract

              This study aimed to 1) examine health communication and media literacy for preparation for an aging society, and 2) investigate the relationship between media use behavior and media literacy skills among adults aged 60 years and above in Mueang Roi Et District, Roi Et Province. The study employed
a quantitative survey design. The sample consisted of 400 participants, and data were collected using
a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test the hypotheses.

              The findings revealed that most participants had used digital media for 1–3 years and were exposed to health information for 4–6 hours per day. Smartphones were the primary device used, mainly for communication purposes. Most health-related content accessed through digital media concerned disease prevention and knowledge about illnesses. The participants were aware that images and health-related content on digital media could be modified before dissemination. LINE was identified as the platform where fake news was most frequently encountered. Participants commonly verified information by considering images, videos, or other supporting evidence before believing or sharing it.

            The hypothesis testing showed that media use frequency and health communication literacy were positively related to media literacy skills at the .05 level of statistical significance. The study suggests that adults aged 50 years and above should be supported in developing critical skills for analyzing, verifying, and evaluating the credibility of health information in order to prepare effectively for an aging society.