The effect of self-management program of elderly people with mild cognitive impairment on health behaviors for delaying dementia in Muang District, Yasothon Province

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to study the effect of a self-management program of elderly people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) on brain performance, exercise behaviors, and consumption behaviors of the elderly in the area of Mueang District, Yasothon Province. The means: difference between two independent means; two groups were used. The sample size of each group was 30 people, totaling 60 people. Data were collected through a questionnaire consisting of general information, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and health behaviors with a reliability of 0.89. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics to compare mean brain performance, exercise behaviors, and consumption behaviors in the elderly, both within groups using the paired samples t-test and between groups using the independent samples t-test.

            The study found that most of the experimental group were female, aged between 70 and 79 years, had a body mass index (obese), had high blood pressure along with hyperlipidemia, graduated from primary school, were not employed, and had sufficient income. After the experiment, it was found that the experimental group had a statistically significant improvement in their brain performance (MMSE) (p-value<0.001), with five factors found to have higher scores, including orientation (time), orientation (place), attention, recall, and verbal command (p-value<0.05). While exercise behaviors and consumption behaviors factors, it was found that the average value increased with statistical significance (p-value<0.001). Therefore, the implementation of the self-management program of elderly people with MCI, thus helping to promote and stimulate the potential of the brain, delays symptoms of dementia. This allows elderly to live independently and in society for a longer time.