Effectiveness of a Process to Increase Ability in Self Care for the Elderly Living Alone in Rural Areas, Sukhothai Province - ประสิทธิผลของกระบวนการเพิ่มความสามารถ ในการดูแลสุขภาพตนเองของผู้สูงอายุที่อยู่อาศัย ตามลำพังในชุมชนชนบท จังหวัดสุโขทัย

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop and examine the effectiveness of increased ability
processes in self care behaviors (SCBs) for the elderly living alone in rural areas (ELARs). The study
was conducted in 3 phases. The first phase aimed to assess factors predicting SCBs among the ELARs.
The samples were 215 participants recruited by multistage random sampling. A questionnaire was
administered by face to face interviews during December 2012 to March 2013; and analysis by
Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient and Stepwise multiples regression. The result showed
that such variables as being supported by non-family members, perception of SCBs benefit, activities of
daily living, supportive by health care providers, and health status, were found to make a unique
contribution (up to 26%) to this prediction. The second phase was to construct a SCBs process for the
ELARs which consisted of the study on needs and SCBs process suggested by stakeholders through six
focus group discussions; and the content validity which was approved by five experts. The resulting
SCBs process consisted of 3 steps: (1) the learning activities on the benefits of self care to reduce
impact from aging and loneliness; (2) SCB modification; and (3) the activities to supportive SCBs
from non-family members and local governmental organizations. The third phase was to evaluate
effectiveness of SCBs; and it was found that there was a significant increase in the average score of
SCBs after the intervention (p<0.05). Therefore, this SCB model should be applied and implemented
for the elderly living alone in rural areas.
Key words: elderly living alone, rural areas, self care behaviors