Uncontrolled diabetes is a major health problem in Thailand. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a diabetes self-management program on glycemic control, coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, and quality of life in 147 diabetic patients (aged 56.8 +/- 10.2 years). Type 2 diabetic patients who met the research criteria were randomized into two groups for a period of 6 months: the experimental group received the diabetes self-management program and the control group received the usual nursing care. The findings indicated that the experimental group demonstrated a significant decrease in the hemoglobin A(1c) level and CHD risk, with an increase in quality of life (QOL) compared to the control group. The diabetes self-management program was effective for improving metabolic control and the QOL for individuals with diabetes. Further studies should be replicated using larger groups over a longer time frame.

<blockquote>Because older adults in Thailand frequently lack knowledge about osteoporosis and its prevention, the authors examined a program to provide bone health education in this population.</blockquote> <h4>ABSTRACT</h4> <p>The authors used a one-group pre-test&ndash;post-test design to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an osteoporosis prevention program and the effects of the program on knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy; and osteoporosis preventive behaviors in older adults. Participants included 48 older adults who attended a health center in Thailand. Results revealed that the program was feasible and acceptable. A significant improvement in osteoporosis knowledge, health beliefs, self-efficacy, and osteoporosis preventive behaviors occurred. Findings suggest that the program helps older adults incorporate new knowledge and skills into their daily lives and helps them maintain bone health.</p>

Long-term care for older people with dementia can adversely impact a family caregiver's life. A decrease in their quality of life may compromise the quality of care they provide to older people and their own quality of life. The samples include 76 family caregivers of older people with dementia in Thailand. Six questionnaires and the EuroQoL Five Dimensions Questionnaire were used in data collection. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. The findings revealed that quality

In this cross‐sectional study, we compared preventive behaviors among Thai people aged >60 years of age, with and without stroke risk, in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, and examined the associations between stroke knowledge and stroke awareness with preventive behaviors in these two groups (n = 422). Participants completed researcher‐developed tools, including the Personal Demographic Questionnaire, the Stroke Knowledge Questionnaire, the Awareness of Stroke Risk and Severity Questionnaire, and the Stroke Preventive Behavior Questionnaire. The findings revealed a significantly higher mean score of preventive behaviors in older people with stroke risk than in those without risk. For people with stroke risk, stroke knowledge did not result in a significant association with stroke‐preventive behaviors, while stroke awareness did. For those without stroke risk, both stroke knowledge and stroke awareness were significantly associated with stroke‐preventive behaviors. Although the stroke‐preventive behaviors of both groups were performed appropriately, it is necessary for people with stroke risk to maintain preventive behaviors, and for health professionals to regularly assess them for stroke symptoms and encourage people to be proactive about stroke‐preventive behaviors.

The quality of life (QOL) of older people with dementia may depend on their care environment.  This cross-sectional descriptive study aims to investigate the QOL of Thai older people with dementia in homes for the aged and those living in their own homes in the community, as well as the discrepancy between the QOL rated by the older people and by caregivers. The samples included 342 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Quality of Life-Alzheimer’s Disease Scale (QOL-AD) and the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) Questionnaire Thai Version Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, and Pearson’s correlation. The findings revealed that the overall QOL scores of participants in both groups were at a moderate level. Compared with participants in homes for the aged, those living in the community showed higher scores in 7 aspects of QOL-AD, including physical health, energy, living situation, memory, self as a whole, ability to do chores, and ability to make life fun, but lower scores in the aspects of family/members and marriage/closed persons. Self-rated and caregiver-rated scores were significantly different in the aspects of living situation, memory, relationship with family, and marriage/closed persons. The findings imply that health care professionals can also assess the QOL of older people with dementia through self-rating. Further research to find the most effective method for enhancing older peoples’ QOL is needed.