Family Participation in Supporting Drug Use for Thai Elderly with Chronic Diseases - กระบวนการมีส่วนร่วมของครอบครัวในการเกื้อหนุน ด้านการใช้ยาของผู้สูงอายุทีป่วยด้วยโรคเรื้อรัง

Abstract

             The objectives of this study were to investigate family participation in supporting drug use for Thai elderly with chronic diseases as well as to study the obstacles to such participation. The key informants were composed of two main groups: the elderly with a chronic disease in lower northern areas and their family members. Purposive sampling and in-depth interviews were used for the study. Data collection and content analysis were conducted from October 2013 until l June, 2014. Data saturation was achieved with 50 cases. The results showed that there were nine types of family participation in supporting drug use. Those were (1) taking the elderly to see their physicians, (2) traveling to get medicine for the elderly, (3) tracking physician’s appointments, (4) assisting with correct drug use, (5) assisting with appropriate diet, (6) maintaining correct medication schedule, (7) preparing drugs for each meal, (8) monitoring symptoms of drug use, and (9) building both self-esteem and esteem in others. Moreover, there were several obstacles to family participation in good drug use support. Those were (1) employment outside the family, (2) misunderstandings between family members and the elderly about the capabilities/self-support of the elderly, (3) lack of knowledge about chronic diseases and drug use in the elderly and (4) weak family relationships.

Key words: family, participation, supporting, drug use in elderly, chronic diseases