Effectiveness of a Participatory-Learning Program for Aging Preparedness among Adults Aged 55 - 59 Years in Bangpli District, Samutprakan Province

Abstract

Most elderly have encountered with problems that affect their well-being and quality of life. An important care for elderly is enhancing their self-care competency. Therefore, the aging preparedness should be taken into account. This quasi study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the participatorylearning program for aging preparedness. Sixty adults aged 55-59 in Bangphli district, Samutprakan province were purposively selected to an experimental group (30 samples) and a control group (30 samples). The samples in an experimental group were required to participate in the participatory-learning program for aging preparedness; whereas, those in a control group participated in a typical program. Data were collected before and after program implementation using a questionnaire with 6 sections: general information, knowledge about self-health promotion, aging preparation, self-esteem, life perception, and health promotion behaviors. Statistics applied for data analysis included frequency, percent, mean, standard deviation, paired t-test, and independent t-test. It was found that, after program implementation, the experimental group had significantly higher mean scores on knowledge about self-health promotion, aging preparation, self-esteem, life perception, and health promotion behaviors compared to the scores before the implementation and those of the control group (p<0.05). This study suggested that a participatorylearning approach should be promoted as an effective method to increase aging preparedness and quality of life among the elderly in Samutprakan province.