Development of health promotion activity model and foot care for the elderly with diabetes in Pathum Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospital

Abstract

Pender’s health behavioral framework and Fetterman's empowerment assessment concept were adopted. The sample consisted of 102 elderly aged 60 years and over with a history of diabetes using purposive sampling. The research instruments consisted of 1) focus group discussions to study the problems and needs of health promotion activities and model development, and 2) trial of health promotion activities through foot care behavior questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient method and the value was .802. The diabetic foot condition assessment had a confidence value of .922. The data were analyzed using frequency distributions, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations. The qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. The results showed that the problem with health promotion activities among the elderly with diabetes was that there was no model suitable for specific individuals or specific groups of the elderly. The sample group wanted activities that were concrete, clear, and continuous. The health promotion activities models were: 1) foot care behavior assessment/ foot condition assessment 2) education 3) demonstration, and 4) procurement of food, exercise, and foot exercise manuals/pamphlets. After applying the health promotion and foot care activities model, it was found that the overall health promotion activities had a high average of satisfaction ( = 3.94, SD = 0.65). The manual/pamphlet had the highest average satisfaction (= 4.10, SD=0.43). This research could be used to plan, promote, support, and develop a process to educate older people with diabetes to enable them to adopt proper and appropriate foot care behaviors and reduce complications. Activities should be organized in accordance with the lifestyle of the elderly in order to create better foot care behaviors.