title: Self-care process as experienced by middle-aged Thai women.
abstract: My purpose in this study was to explore the process of self-care actions in promoting health among middle-aged Thai women. Data were obtained from in-depth recorded interviews with 15 middle-aged Thai women living in Bangkok. Findings showed that the process of self-care actions for achieving health among middle-aged Thai women moved through a series of five stages: (1) perceiving health status, (2) developing awareness of the importance of one's own health, (3) finding motivation for self-care, (4) taking control for self-care, and (5) evaluating the consequences of self-care activities. I conclude that the process of self-care actions originated from women's internal demands and the formulation of self-care action is intertwined with women's values, beliefs, and way of life. Specific guidance about self-care and encouragement from nurses are meaningful for women to effectively perform self-care actions resulting in the promotion of long-term wellness in the later years of life.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Nursing Department, Faculty of Medicine at Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, 270 Rama 6 Road, Phayathai, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. ramak@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Manee
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arpanantikul
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D012648:Self Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012945:Social Values; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*