ผลของโปรแกรมส่งเสริมการดูแลตนเองด้านการออกกำลังกายด้วยยางยืด ต่อสมรรถภาพทางกายของผู้สูงอายุกลุ่มติดบ้าน

Abstract

This Experimental research aimed to determine the effects of the Self-Care Promoting Program using Stretched Rubber Band Exercise on the physical fitness of homebound older adults. Subjects are 60 homebound older adults residents of Maelan District, Pattani Province. First, two villages were assigned into the experimental or control groups using the simple random sampling method. Then thirty subjects who met the eligible criteria were purposively selected from each group. Both groups received a usual nursing care; nevertheless, the experimental group received the self-care promoting program using a stretched rubber band for eight weeks. Research instruments consisted of 1) self-care promoting program using a stretched rubber band, and a handbook for the home exercise program, 2) a questionnaire including general information, a physical fitness evaluation, and an exercise recoding. The three experts scrutinized the content validity of all the Instruments. The physical fitness evaluation form was tested for reliability using a test-retest method, which yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Wilcoxon signed rank test. The results found of this study showed that the mean scores of muscle strength, muscle flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < .05). These findings indicated that the self-care promoting program using a stretched rubber band improved a physical fitness and should be implemented in homebound older adults. This research could promote health care more effectively. It will be used as a reference source for health care providers or caregivers to apply the self-care promoting program using a stretched rubber band for Thai older adults in the future. This exercise increases physical performance in the elderly.