Healthcare Education Process Adopting the Line Application in Conjunction with Tele-Counseling to Improve Knowledge, Behavior and Satisfaction among Elderly with Diabetes Mellitus during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extraordinary impact on people's life. The elderly, however, suffer unique obstacles and
healthcare providers must recognize and address their unique requirements so that they can be effectively protected and supported
during these trying times. The objectives of this research were to improve the desirable healthcare knowledge and behavior among
the elderly with diabetes mellitus using Line application in conjunction with tele-counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The
sample was elderly with diabetes mellitus in Chiang Mai Province. There were two groups, namely the intervention group (n=30)
and the control group (n=30). The sample was selected based on simple random sampling. After using Line application and telecounseling,
the results showed that the intervention group had a higher mean score of healthcare knowledge and behavior after
using Line application and tele-counseling than before. The intervention group had a higher mean score of healthcare knowledge
and behavior than the control group, with a statistical significance (p <0.001). Overall satisfaction was the average of 4.63
(SD=0.56), indicating that the users had a high level of satisfaction when participated the program. In order to promote the
healthcare knowledge and behavior of the elderly with diabetes mellitus, related personnel should use the study findings by
applying Line application and new networking tools that can also reach the elderly.