The effects of the recreational group activity program on depression in the elderly at Ban Tha Kloi Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital Tha Takiab District Chachoengsao Province

Abstract

This single-group quasi-experimental research aimed to study general data characteristics. Compare the depression levels of the elderly before and after participating in the recreational group activity program. The sample group was the elderly in the area of responsibility of Ban Tha Kloi Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital. Tha Takiab District Chachoengsao Province, 20 people, purposive sampling. Data were collected through interviews during the pre-experiment period. During the experiment, after the experiment, and during the 2-week follow-up period after the experiment. Using a depression scale for Thai elderly people. Find the confidence value of the tool using the Kuder Richardson formula. The reliability value is equal to 0.93 and the behavioral assessment form created by the researcher. The content validity value was 0.83. Statistics used in data analysis were frequency, mean, and standard deviation. and one-way repeated-measures variance.

The results of the research found that the majority of the sample was female (64.38%), 63.01% were married couples, were between 70 - 79 years old, 49.32% had completed primary school, 45.21% had regular visits from relatives and after participating in the recreational group activity program, the sample had a lower mean level of depression than before participating in the recreational group activity program statistically significant at the 0.001 level. It was found that before the experiment the average score was 15.20 (SD=1.74) and after the experiment it decreased to an average score equal to 4.80 (SD=1.44).

Suggestions from this research found that using a recreational group activity program can reduce depression among the elderly who participated in this study. This has resulted in a method for organizing recreational activities for elderly people with depression to reduce their depression that is appropriate to the problem and needs of the elderly It also helps personnel working in the area to apply it in taking care of elderly people with depression appropriately. Therefore, it is considered very beneficial in developing care for the elderly in terms of therapy. Using the recreational group activity program.