SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FOR PUBLIC HEALTH:ENHANCING FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS AMONG THAI UNDERGRADUATES THROUGH ECO-FRIENDLY EDUCATIONAL TOOLS

Rising food allergy rates across Asia necessitate urgent improvements in campus safety and public awareness. This study addresses this critical public health challenge by evaluating a novel, sustainable design intervention: eco-friendly felt keychains functioning as portable educational tools. Grounded in the Health Belief Model and Experiential Learning Theory, the research aims to enhance allergy knowledge, safety attitudes, and response self-efficacy among Thai undergraduate students. Employing a rigorous mixed-methods pilot design, the study engaged 32 participants in using these biodegradable keychains, featuring iconography for eight prevalent allergens and emergency prompts, over a seven-day intervention period. Quantitative analysis demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in allergy knowledge and a positive shift in safety-oriented attitudes, whereas confidence gains remained non-significant. Complementary qualitative insights revealed high user satisfaction, highlighting the tool’s visual clarity and ease of integration into daily life. The study concludes that sustainable, low-cost design interventions can effectively bridge health communication gaps within educational institutions. These findings provide a scalable framework that aligns public health safety with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 and SDG 12) and advocates for the broader implementation of eco-conscious media to cultivate safer, more inclusive campus environments.