Development of a Health Self-Care Model for Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Wichian Buri District, Phetchabun Province, Thailand

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop a self-care model for older adults with diabetes in Wichian Buri District, Phetchabun Province, Thailand. The study employed a Research and Development (R&D) design conducted over a seven-month period, comprising four phases: baseline data collection, model development, experimental implementation, and model evaluation and refinement. The sample consisted of 30 older adults with diabetes, 30 caregivers, and 15 public health officers. The model was developed based on theoretical integration with Orem’s Self-Care Theory to ensure appropriateness within the community context. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires measuring knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behavior. Descriptive statistics and paired-sample t-tests were used for data analysis.  The results revealed that, after participating in the intervention, older adults showed statistically significant improvements in mean scores of knowledge, self-efficacy, and health behavior (p < 0.01). Participants also reported a high level of satisfaction with the model (80.0%).  In conclusion, the developed self-care model effectively enhanced knowledge, motivation, and appropriate health behaviors among older adults with diabetes. It contributed to the reduction of complications, improvement of health literacy, and promotion of sustainable self-care practices.