Abstract:
The purpose of this quasi-experimental research were 1) to compare HbA1c and quality of life of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus in the experimental group before and after received the program and 2) to compare HbA1c and quality of life of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus between the experimental group and control group. Forty elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from the Diabetes Clinic at Khuankanun Hospital were assigned into experimental and control group by using matched pair with sex, age, duration of illness, and type of medication. There were 20 patients in each group. The experimental instrument was a self-management program and was tested for validity. The instrument for collecting data was Quality of Life Questionnaire and was tested for validity with content validity index of .88 and reliability with alpha of .88 and HbA1c Automated Chemistry Analyzer was tested from producer and was tested by standard solution 2 level before patient, s HbA1c testing. Data were analized by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and t-test. The major findings were as follow: 1. The HbA1c of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus after received the program was significant lower than those before received the program at level of .05. ( = 7.36%, SD = 1.06) 2. The quality of life of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus after received the program was significant higher than those before received the program at level of .05. ( = 134.00, SD = 7.82). Level of quality of life was very good. 3. The HbA1c of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus in experimental group and control group was not significant different at level of .05. ( experimental group = 7.36%, SD = 1.06; control group = 8.15%, SD = 2.49) 4. The quality of life of elderly patients with diabetes mellitus in experimental group and control group was significant at level of .05. ( experimental group = 134.00, SD = 7.82; control group = 115.35, SD = 16.37). Level of quality of life of experimental group was very good and control group was good.