Abstract
OPD reports from hospitals and health centers in Khamsakaesang District in 2007
showed that 52.78 percent of the outpatients were in the age group 60 years and older; of that
proportion of elderly patients, the cause of their seeking medical care in 62.53 percent of the
cases was improper self-care behavior. The objective of the present quasi-experimental research
study was to assess the effectiveness of the self-care health promotion program for the elderly.
The study samples were selected from the total database population numbering 5,252 persons.
Using multi-stage random sampling, 60 cases were identified for this study. The descriptive
data were analyzed by the STATA program, version 10, to obtain percentages, means and standard deviations; paired sample and independent sample t-tests, with statistical significance at
the 0.05 level, were used for the data analysis. The qualitative data were analyzed according to
the content of the questionnaire interviews on self-care behaviors for health promotion, together
with observations and personal discussions. The results showed increased statistically significant
behavior in the control groupûs test, i.e., the patientsû paired sample t-tests showed mean
differentials of 0.49 ± 0.05, t = 48.00. A comparison between the groups showed that the
control group acted more properly than the comparison group (t=40.32, p value 0.001).
Qualitative data showed that family lifestyles, and economic and traditional beliefs influenced
their behavioral change. The results of this study could be used to integrate and adapt care for
the elderly and other patient groups in primary care or clinic promotions. At least they could be
used to increase efficiency in protecting the elderly against untimely illness and from
developing complications from improper self-care behaviors.
