Development of a Process for Driving the Improvement of Older Adults’ Quality of Life in Yan Ta Khao District, Trang Province

Abstract

               This research aimed to 1) develop a process for driving the improvement of older adults' quality of life in Yan Ta Khao District, Trang Province; 2) evaluate the appropriateness, feasibility, and quality of the developed process based on UCCARE criteria; and 3) compare social support and quality of life among older adults before and after implementing the developed process. An action research methodology based on Kemmis and McTaggart's framework was employed, consisting of one cycle of four phases: planning, action, observation, and reflection, integrated with a one-group pretest–posttest design. The study was conducted in Thung Krabue Subdistrict, Yan Ta Khao District, Trang Province. Participants were divided into three groups: 21 members of the District Health Board (DHB), 25 members of the Subdistrict Quality of Life Development Subcommittee, and 301 older adults selected through proportional stratified random sampling. Research instruments included focus group discussion guides, in-depth interview guides, a social support questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.87), a quality of life questionnaire covering five dimensions (Cronbach's alpha = 0.84–0.86), an appropriateness and feasibility assessment form (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86), and a UCCARE quality assessment form (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Paired Samples t-test, and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test at the .05 significance level. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.

                 The findings revealed that the developed process comprised six key components: a driving mechanism through DHB and subcommittee structures, a three-phase operational procedure, quality of life development activities covering five dimensions, an integrated data system, appreciation and resource sharing, and lesson-learned sessions for sustainability. The overall appropriateness was rated at a high level (M = 4.02), feasibility at a high level (M = 3.88), and UCCARE quality at a high level (M = 3.93). After implementation, social support among older adults significantly increased (p < .001), with mean scores rising from 3.56 to 3.71. Overall quality of life also significantly improved (p < .001), with mean scores increasing from 3.66 to 3.77. All five dimensions showed statistically significant improvement, with the social dimension demonstrating the greatest increase (mean difference = 0.21), followed by the technology and learning dimension (mean difference = 0.20).