Applying the PDSA cycle to a group activity promoting lifestyle change for the active ageing of older Thai adults - a focused ethnography.

BACKGROUND: The proportion of the older Thai population is increasing rapidly. Lifestyle may impact active ageing in later life. Interventions that empower older Thai adults to initiate and carry out lifestyle changes are needed. This study applied the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, a tool for improving lifestyle changes, with the aim of exploring interactions among older Thai adults when participating in group activities. METHOD: Focused ethnography was used based on participant observations, field notes and video recordings of 15 older Thai adults aged 62-78 years. RESULTS: Older Thai adults faced difficulties at the beginning since they were unfamiliar with initiating and carrying out lifestyle changes according to the PDSA concept. This provided a learning opportunity enabling older Thai adults to reach their individual goals of lifestyle change. CONCLUSIONS: The PDSA cycle has the potential to empower older adults in group contexts to promote lifestyle changes related to active ageing.

Active ageing - perspectives on health, participation, and security among older adults in northeastern Thailand - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Health, participation, and security are the basic pillars of active ageing suggested by the WHO. The concept is used by professionals but requires exploration from the perspectives of older people themselves. This study aims to explore how older adults experience and describe health, participation, and security. METHODS: A qualitative research approach was used based on open-ended interviews with 20 older Thai adults aged 60-92 years. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: The results showed perspectives related to experiences of daily life and local culture. Health while ageing, was described as the absence of barriers to continued daily living, combined with a peaceful and adaptive mindset. Participation was described as maintaining social networks and being a formal volunteer, with an emphasis on the "making of merits", of meaningful activities and being respected. Security was described as manageable living conditions and managing to finalize life well by balancing dependency and independency in relation to children to sustain the traditional value of gratitude between generations. CONCLUSIONS: These understandings will support healthy policy planning by providing resources and activities that relate to older Thai adults' perspectives of health, participation and security and ultimately contribute to a better quality of life.