Abstract:
The purposes of this descriptive research were to examine the relationships between self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons with factors related to perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, social support, and depression, The sample consisted of 130 older persons from out patient department, Provincial hospital in North-Eastern region Zone 14, and were selected by multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were collected using five research instruments: demographic questionnaire, perceived susceptibility severity benefits and barriers, social support, self-care prevention for tuberculosis questionnaires and Thai Geriatric Depression Scale. The instruments were tested for content validity by a panel of experts. The reliability of instruments were .76, .84, .88, .92, .86, .76 and .94 respectively. Data were analyzed using statistic methods, including frequency, mean, percentage, Standard deviation, Pearson Product-moment correlation, and stepwise multiple regression at the significant level of .05. Major findings were as follow: 1. Self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons was at high level (X̅= 3.75, SD.= .72) 2. Perceived severity was positively significant correlated with Self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons (r = .18, p < .05) 3. Perceived benefits was positively significant correlated with Self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons (r = .25, p < .05, Beta = .227) 4. Social support was positively significant correlated with Self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons (r = .16, p < .05) 5. Depression was negatively significant correlated with Self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons (r = -.25, p < .05, Beta = -.225) 6. Perceived benefits and Depression variables significantly predicted Self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons. The predictive power was 11.2 percent of variance. The equation derived from standardize score as listed; Z[subscript ^] Self-care prevention for tuberculosis in older persons = .227 Z[subscript 1] Perceived benefits - .225 Z[subscript 2] Depression.