Luevanich Chayanit, Kane Ros, Naklong Aimorn, Surachetkosom Prapaipim
Public Health Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Phuket Rajabhat University, Phuket, Thailand.
School of Health and Care Sciences, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln, UK.
Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2024 Oct 9;10:23337214241280422. doi: 10.1177/23337214241280422. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
Thailand's aging population is increasing. While the societal impact of aging is recognized, formal programs to support pre-retirement planning are currently lacking. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a program specifically designed to address this gap and support individuals to prepare for a healthy and fulfilling later life. We employed a quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test/post-test design to evaluate a newly developed program focused on pre-retirement preparation. The program consisted of four, 3-hr modules delivered weekly. Voluntary participants ( = 25) were aged 50 to 59 years, physically active, and committed to attending all modules. Participants' knowledge and self-reported preparedness for aging were assessed before and after program completion. The program led to a statistically significant increase in participants' overall knowledge of aging ( = -2.010, < .05). While specific areas of preparation did not show statistically significant individual differences, mean scores improved across all aspects of preparation. This may reflect the existing health knowledge of some participants and their proactive approach to aging preparation (80% reported some prior preparation). This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a pre-retirement preparation program in enhancing knowledge and self-reported preparedness for aging. Findings suggest that such programs can stimulate middle-aged adults to plan for their future well-being. This study underscores the need for a more holistic approach to pre-retirement preparation. Future programs should consider incorporating content beyond health and finances, potentially including social life planning as identified in this research. Future research could explore program modifications, such as extended formats and content tailored to specific needs.
泰国的老龄化人口正在增加。虽然老龄化对社会的影响已得到认可，但目前缺乏支持退休前规划的正式项目。本研究旨在开发并评估一个专门设计的项目，以填补这一空白，并支持个人为健康充实的晚年生活做好准备。我们采用了准实验性的单组前测/后测设计，来评估一个新开发的专注于退休前准备的项目。该项目由四个每周授课3小时的模块组成。自愿参与者（n = 25）年龄在50至59岁之间，身体活跃，并承诺参加所有模块。在项目完成前后，对参与者关于老龄化的知识以及自我报告的准备情况进行了评估。该项目使参与者关于老龄化的总体知识有了统计学上的显著增加（t = -2.010，p < .05）。虽然具体的准备领域没有显示出统计学上的显著个体差异，但在准备的各个方面平均得分都有所提高。这可能反映了一些参与者现有的健康知识以及他们积极主动的老龄化准备方式（80%报告称之前有过一些准备）。本研究证明了退休前准备项目在增强关于老龄化的知识以及自我报告的准备情况方面的有效性。研究结果表明，此类项目可以激励中年人为自己的未来幸福做好规划。本研究强调了采用更全面的方法进行退休前准备的必要性。未来的项目应考虑纳入健康和财务之外的内容，可能包括本研究中确定的社交生活规划。未来的研究可以探索项目的改进，比如扩展形式以及根据特定需求定制内容。
