<![CDATA[Gastrointestinal disorders are common in the community and are frequently managed through self-medication. Limited knowledge in distinguishing minor gastrointestinal complaints from warning signs may lead to inappropriate medication use or delays in seeking professional medical care. This community service program aimed to improve public knowledge, particularly among members of the Family Welfare Movement (PKK), Integrated Health Post (Posbindu) cadres, and other community representatives, regarding gastrointestinal diseases, preventive measures, treatment options, herbal approaches, and the recognition of warning signs through the GUT SMART (Gut Understanding and Training for Society) program. The program was conducted at RPTRA Kedoya Utara, West Jakarta, involving 31 female community health cadres. The intervention consisted of interactive educational sessions, distribution of educational booklets, and the use of a color-coded screening card based on green, yellow, and red zones. Knowledge was assessed using a 15-item questionnaire administered before and after the educational intervention, while participant characteristics and gastrointestinal health-related factors were collected through a structured questionnaire. The mean knowledge score increased from 12.97 ± 1.11 before the intervention to 14.16 ± 0.78 after the intervention, with a mean improvement of 1.19 points. A total of 23 participants (74.2%) demonstrated improved scores, 6 participants (19.4%) showed no change, and 2 participants (6.5%) experienced a decrease in scores. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test knowledge scores (p < 0.001). Furthermore, 21 participants (67.7%) reported a history of gastrointestinal disorders, 16 participants (51.6%) experienced gastrointestinal symptoms during 2025–2026, and 24 participants (77.4%) reported practicing self-medication. The GUT SMART program has the potential to improve gastrointestinal health literacy and support safer initial decision-making regarding gastrointestinal complaints. Long-term evaluation is recommended to assess knowledge retention and the implementation of the screening card in daily practice.]]>
