TY - JOUR AU - Sukwatjanee, Arissara AU - Pongthavornkamol, Kanaungnit AU - Suwaonnaroop, Nantawon AU - Pinyopasakul, Wanpen AU - Low, Gail AU - Chokkhanchitchai, Surachai PY - 2009/07/17 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Enhancing Self-care Ability and Quality of Life among Rural-dwelling Thai Elders with Type 2 Diabetes through a self-help Group: A Paricipatory Action Research Approach JF - The Journal of Behavioral Science JA - J Beh Sci VL - 4 IS - 1 SE - Research Articles DO - UR - https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/article/view/2178 SP - 70-76 AB - <p>The purposes of this study were to investigate the impact of self-help group participation on enhancing self-care ability and quality of life, as well as to explore perceptions about experiences of group participation among rural-dwelling Thai elders with type-2 diabetes. Participatory Action Research (PAR) with an integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches was designed for the study. Critical social theory was used as a guiding framework to emancipate the rural elders with type-2 diabetes from disadvantaged conditions for a better life. Twenty participants were purposively recruited from rural elders with type-2 diabetes living at a rural village of Ayutthaya Province to participate in the self-help group meetings offered twice a month for six months. Quantitative data assessing the participant’s self-efficacy, quality of life, and blood sugar level were analyzed by paired-samples <em>t </em>test. Qualitative data from focus group discussion and observation were analyzed by content analysis. The results revealed that after 6-month group participation, participants reported significantly increased self-efficacy and quality of life while their fasting blood sugar level significantly decreased. In addition, they perceived benefits of group participation in enhancing their self-care ability and quality of life. Culturally-sensitive knowledge and a sense of empowerment that individuals received from the group increased their self-control and power for better managing the disease.</p><p>A sense of self-efficacy fostered them to have competition and conforming to others for improved self-care. The recommendation is that the self-help group as a form of mutual aid that could offer great benefits to rural elders with type 2 diabetes should be implemented in community health sectors.</p><strong><em>Keywords: </em></strong><em>Self-care, Quality of Life, Rural Elder, Type 2 Diabetes, Self-help Group</em> ER -