EFFECTIVENESS OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE MODIFICATION AND COMPANIONSHIP (HLM&C) MODEL TO IMPROVE HEALTH STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN CHIANGRAI PROVINCE THAILAND

Abstract

Thailand has been rapidly increasing in elderly population. Most of them are suffering from chronic diseases. The study was designed to assess knowledge, perception of illness health behavior of diabetes mellitus (DM) among type 2 DM patients and investigate their health status and quality of life (QOL) using the Healthy Lifestyle Modification and Companionship (HLM&C) model. The HLM&C model was an intervention focusing on DM knowledge, dietary control, exercises and selected buddy. A quasi- experimental design was used in this study with 79 randomly selected participants from Mae Chan district for the intervention group, and 86 participants from Muang district for control group. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in this study using questionnaires at baseline, after intervention, three and six months follow up. Most of participants were female, with an average age of 67.17 years. At the end of the intervention should that there were significant changes in knowledge (P value = 0.006), perception of illness (P value < 0.001) between intervention and control groups. In contrast, no significant changed in quality of life and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) but we found that difference of change between intervention and control significant (P value 0.02). The study also found that good relationship with their friends were shared their knowledge, self-care, practice on DM, exercises and eating behavior were facilitating factor the health improved their status of health. In conclusion, HLM&C model was effective in improving the knowledge, perception of illness and quality of life of participants and focusing on uncontrolled groups. The participation and involvement of family members and community members should be taken into account for programs among elderly people that will continue to sustain healthy lifestyle into the future. The policy maker should be set up the health system for maintain facilities, health care provider and services for patients such as suitable services, referral system, yearly monitoring on chronic diseases, laboratory testing, and medical mobile for chronic patients at the sub-district health center. These are the stronger point on the client center for chronic patients, good controlled, reduce the complication and patient well-being.