THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CAREGIVING OF ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH ELDERLY CHRONIC DISEASES WITH DEPRESSION USING THE BUDDHIST WAY AT KRANUAN CROWN PRINCE HOSPITAL, KHON KAEN PROVINCE

Abstract

The aim of this study, semi-experimental research, is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Buddhist teaching program on the reduction of depression in elderly patients having elderly chronic diseases at Kranuan Crown Prince hospital community health center. The experiment contained 3 phases; the first phase was depressive patient screening by using 9Q questionnaire and Buddhist teaching program development and its effectiveness evaluation. Thirty depressive patients were found from 90 elderly chronic diseases persons (Before). The second phase, the enrolled patients were learned that program which combined of 3 parts; 1) Prayer in the morning and evening, 2) Mindfulness both sitting position called “Creating rhythm” based on hand movement and walking meditation based on foot movement, 3) Meditation based on inhalation and exhalation then they practiced daily at their home and recorded in their books for 3 months. The third phase was monthly monitor and group focus activity; finally they tested 9Q again after 3 months (After). Descriptive statistics and Paired Samples t-test (SPSS) were used for data analysis. The results showed that the depressive patients mostly were female (73.3%), 70 – 79 years old (60%), DM (56.6%), and HT (26.7%). They almost have been gotten chronic diseases over 10 years. Their depressive levels before practice this program were 10%, 76.7% and 13.3% at low, median and high score respectively. After practicing, their depressive levels decreased significantly (p<0.01); which showed that the Buddhist teaching program strongly has positive results in depressive elderly patients having chronic diseases. Moreover, this program could change body physical, mindful, thinking and intelligence positively.