Manasatchakun Pornpun, Chotiga Pleumjit, Roxberg Åsa, Asp Margareta
School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Eskilstuna-Västerås, Sweden;
Boromarajonani College of Nursing Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2016 Mar 8;11:29463. doi: 10.3402/qhw.v11.29463. eCollection 2016.
Healthy ageing is a concept that concerns older persons' quality of life and is a key factor in promoting well-being. The older population in Thailand is growing. Isan (a region of north-eastern Thailand) has been reported as having one of the most rapidly increasing older populations in the country. In order to care for and promote the health of older people, healthcare providers should understand how healthy ageing is perceived by this target group. Although healthy ageing has been studied in different contexts as well as perspectives, no studies have previously focused on older persons' experiences of healthy ageing from a lifeworld perspective in Isan-Thai. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe older persons' qualitatively different conceptions of healthy ageing in Isan-Thai culture. A phenomenographic approach with an epistemological base in lifeworld theory was used to disclose the various ways to conceptualize healthy ageing. Individual, qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 people aged 60 and above who live in Isan-Thai. The findings of this study revealed three categories of descriptions: "being independent in dependence," "being at peace," and "being a valuable person." This study also found family members, friends, healthcare providers, and religion important to healthy ageing in the Isan-Thai culture. Understanding how older people conceptualize healthy ageing is valuable for healthcare providers. They can apply these findings regarding healthy ageing in their fieldwork when caring for older people.
健康老龄化是一个关乎老年人生活质量的概念，也是促进幸福的关键因素。泰国的老年人口正在增长。据报道，伊桑（泰国东北部的一个地区）是该国老年人口增长最快的地区之一。为了照顾和促进老年人的健康，医疗保健提供者应该了解这个目标群体对健康老龄化的认知。尽管已经从不同背景和视角对健康老龄化进行了研究，但此前尚无研究从伊桑泰语的生活世界视角关注老年人对健康老龄化的体验。因此，本研究的目的是描述伊桑泰语文化中老年人对健康老龄化在性质上不同的概念。采用基于生活世界理论的现象学方法来揭示将健康老龄化概念化的各种方式。对17名居住在伊桑泰语地区的60岁及以上老人进行了个体定性访谈。本研究的结果揭示了三类描述：“在依赖中保持独立”、“内心平静”和“成为有价值的人”。本研究还发现，在伊桑泰语文化中，家庭成员、朋友、医疗保健提供者和宗教对健康老龄化很重要。了解老年人如何将健康老龄化概念化对医疗保健提供者很有价值。他们在照顾老年人的实地工作中可以应用这些关于健康老龄化的研究结果。
