Effects of a Mind Caring Support Program on Depression among Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses Living in the Community in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand
Keywords:
Mind caring support, Depression, Older adults, Chronic illness, Community-based careAbstract
This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of a Mind Caring Support program on depression among older adults with chronic illnesses living in the community by comparing median depression score changes within the experimental group and between the experimental and control groups. The sample consisted of 78 older adults with mild to moderate depression who had chronic illness and were living in primary care unit areas of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Participants were equally assigned to an experimental group (n = 39) and a control group (n = 39). The control group received routine care, while the experimental group participated in a Mind Caring Support program consisting of five sessions, each lasting 40 - 90 minutes, conducted during weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 over a 12-week period. Research instruments included a personal data questionnaire, the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale, a pictorial depression assessment tool, a Mind Caring Support activity set for older adults with chronic illnesses in the community, and a self-assessment and mind caring manual. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze personal characteristics. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann–Whitney U test were used to compare depression scores within and between groups, respectively. The results showed that the median depression score in the experimental group significantly decreased from 14 at pre-intervention to 7 at post-intervention (Z = −5.461, p < 0.001). In addition, the reduction in depression scores (median change = −8) in the experimental group was significantly greater than that in the control group (median change = 0.00) (Z = −7.202, p < 0.001). These findings demonstrate that the Mind Caring Support program is effective in reducing depression among older adults with chronic illnesses living in the community. It is recommended that this program be integrated into routine community-based care for older adults with chronic conditions, and further studies should examine its long-term effects and applicability in other community settings.
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