SRINAGARIND MEDICAL JOURNAL

Volume 36, No. 02, Month MARCH, Year 2021, Pages 157 - 165

The effectiveness of elderly capacity development activity for promoting health behaviors among elderly in ban nonkheng, khumkwang sub-district, warin chamrap district, ubon ratchathani province

Mintra Sararuk, Thitirat Nganchamung, Nantaya Krasuaythong

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Background and Objective: Organizing activities in promoting health in 6 aspects as follow: 1) Health responsibility 2) Physical activity 3) Spiritual growth 4) Interpersonal relations 5) Stress management and 6) Nutrition and promoting mental health including good health behaviors could affect the good health of the elderly. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of elderly capacity and development activities for promoting health behaviors among elderly in Ban Nonkheng vilage, Khumkwang sub-district, Warin Chamrap district, Ubon Ratchathani province. Method: The study was quasi-experimental research. Total of 37 elderly were recruited by the purposive sampling. The study contained 4 activities, such as educating about self -care, physical activity, meditation, healthy elderly contests, healthy food cooking practice. Data were collected by using an interview for health behaviors (Cronbach’s coefficient =0.79) and Thai geriatric mental health assessment tool. Data analysis, descriptive statistics were used such as percentage, mean and standard deviation. Paired t-tests was used at the statistical significance level of 0.05 to mental health score before- and after participating in the activity. Results: Results revealed that after joined the activities, health behaviors and mental health mean scores of the elderly statistically significantly increased compared to those before joined the activities (p <0.001). Before participating in the activity the elderly had Interpersonal relations with the highest mean score of 26.38±3.96, the health behaviors with the highest average scores was eating 3 meals in 1 day and after participating in activities, mean health behavior scores were significantly increase in all aspects. Before participating, the elderly had mental health condition equal to 58.6% of the general population. After the activities, it was found that the elderly had the highest level of satisfaction. Conclusion: The findings indicated that the elderly capacity development activities had the effectiveness to increase health behaviors and mental health in the elderly. Therefore the activities should be provided continually to the elderly and the activities also could be applied to elderly in other areas in order to enhance better health behaviors.

Keywords

Elderly capacity development activity; health behaviors; elderly

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