A Synthesized Model for Applying Stress Management and Biofeedback Interventions in Research Utilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Stress management and biofeedback interventions have been shown to be effective in improving mental and physical health outcomes. However, previous research studies and synthesized models for applying these interventions in research utilization are insufficient. Objective: This study aimed to synthesize a model for applying stress management and biofeedback interventions in research utilization. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.Multiple studies were used to assess the effectiveness of applying stress management and biofeedback interventions published from 2017 to 2023. The process included identifying the research questions, conducting a comprehensive literature search, assessing study quality, extracting data, synthesizing the data, analyzing and interpreting the findings, drawing conclusions, and making recommendations. Results: The results indicated a significant mean effect size without evidence of publication bias. The effect sizes of the subgroups among the study variables were not significantly different [Q = 4.02, p = .26]. However, there were significant differences regarding the mean effect sizes among the studies [Q = 63.59, p < .001] and also in terms of the test of subgroups among the participants [Q = 8.49, p = .04]. Conclusion: The results emphasize the importance of evidence-based practice and highlight the need for ongoing evaluation and refinement of interventions. The proposed model was supported by related theories and research studies in order to ensure the robustness and reliability to guide practice and future research in the field of biofeedback interventions. By following this model, researchers and practitioners can ensure that stress management and biofeedback interventions are evidence-based and are effective in improving mental and physical health outcomes.

The effects of a biofeedback and music training programme in reducing stress in Thai patients living with cancer receiving palliative care.

BACKGROUND: Stress can physically effect patients with cancer undergoing palliative care and should be targeted for prevention. AIM: To examine the effects of the biofeedback and music training programme (BMT programme) in decreasing stress among patients living with cancer receiving palliative care. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial (RCT) repeated measure study was used to investigate the effects of the BMT programme. FINDINGS: The participants in the BMT programme had the lowest mean stress recorded before, during and after the experiment, while the control group had a higher mean of stress in every measurement period. There were significant differences among groups across the time periods (Wilks' lambda =0.269, F=7.081, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Use of the BMT programme resulted in a significant reduction in patient stress. This confirms that the BMT programme plays an important role in helping patients living with cancer that experience high volumes of stress.

The Factors of the Holistic Health Status of Thai Elders in the 21st Century.

BACKGROUND: Holistic health is important for life, perhaps especially for elders. Focus should not only be placed on illness or the physical part of their lives, but the person as a whole should also be considered, emphasizing the connection of their mind, body, and the environment. ; Objective: The aims of this research were to study the factors of the Holistic Health Status (HHS) of the Thai elderly in the 21st century, and to predict the factors affecting the development of HHS from 3 aspects; physical health status, mental and emotional health status, and the social and environmental health status. ; Methods: The data were collected from 928 Thai elderly aged 60 and over in the central part of Thailand. The research instrument was a questionnaire whose reliability was confirmed using a Cronbach alpha coefficient of .904. Multiple regression analysis was used for predicting the factors of HHS. ; Results: The results indicated that stress, increased age, gender, and social participation can predict the HHS of Thai elders, and stress can predict each of the 3 aspects. Therefore, stress prevention activities are very important for enhancing the HHS of Thai elders. ; Conclusion: The findings of this research can be used to improve the quality of life of elders in the 21st century.

Strategies for Creating Innovators in Thailand's Higher Education.

Thailand has set a goal to produce graduates who have critical thinking and innovative skills that are useful for the industrial sector. The purpose was to apply a strategic management process as the framework of this study consisting of (1) situational analysis, (2) strategic formation, (3) strategic implementation, and (4) strategic control and feedback. This study proposes an innovation program consisting of (1) curriculum goals, (2) continuous teaching and learning, and (3) regular follow-ups and evaluation of innovative projects and their impacts on society. It can be concluded that the country's development of innovators requires the cooperation of all sectors to create a solid, sustainable, and productive system that can produce innovative workers to develop the economy, society, and the nation, and to enhance the national competitiveness in the world.

Mental Health and Mental Disorder Recommendation Programs.

Background: The characteristic differences among the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries in terms of trade and investment, society and cultural values, medical information and technology, and the living and working environment have become major health problems in terms of mental disorders. The purpose of this article is to identify the gaps in those aspects, to propose mental health and mental disorder recommendation programs, and to recommend policies for policy makers and research investors. Methods: A comparative analysis and literature review of existing policy, including overviews of previous research were used to generate a synthesis of the existing knowledge of the mental health and mental disorder recommendation programs. Results: The review results recommend mental health and mental disorder programs for policy makers, research investors, and stakeholders in order to strengthen the directions for implementing these programs in the future. Conclusion: The healthcare provision in each country will not be limited only to its citizens; the healthcare markets and target groups are likely to expand to the neighboring countries in the context of changes in domestic and international factors, which have both positive and negative impacts according to the political, economic, and social situations of the influencing countries.

Determinants affecting the well-being of people in the Greater Mekong Subregion countries.

The aim of this research was to examine the determinants/factors affecting the well-being of the Thai and Lao people, and the factors that predict the well-being of those respective peoples. Eight hundred and sixty participants were recruited from three major regions of Thailand and Laos and were selected using multistage random sampling. A self-reported well-being questionnaire was developed using the theoretical framework of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, and a questionnaire assessing their perceptions/attitudes concerning the factors affecting their well-being was administered. The major findings were the following: (i) the factors affecting the well-being and the self-reported well-being of Thais and Laotians were significantly different; and (ii) the factors predicting the well-being of Thais included the living and working environment and the availability of medical information and technology at their hospitals. On the other hand, one of the factors predicting the well-being of Laotians was their attitudes toward their society and its cultural values. A comprehensive and system-wide review of mental-health policy planning to improve the well-being of people in Thailand and Laos in accordance with those predicted factors is recommended.

The effect of the one-to-one interaction process with group supportive psychotherapy on the levels of hope, anxiety and self-care practice for patients that have experienced organ loss: an alternative nursing care model.

This quasi-experimental research examined the effect of the one-to-one interaction process with group supportive psychotherapy on the levels of hope, anxiety and self-care practice for patients that have experienced organ loss. Eighty patients from the hospital units were selected by matched pairs and paired according to gender, interval of age, type and time length of organ loss. Simple-random sampling was used to allocate each subject in the experimental and control groups, which consisted of 40 pairs. Questionnaires included hope, anxiety and self-care practice assessments. The experimental treatments consisted of the one-to-one interaction process with group psychotherapy. The results showed that the patients that received treatments in the experimental group had higher mean scores regarding the differences in levels of hope, anxiety and self-care practice than those in the control group. This integrative approach is an alternative method for giving patients self-confidence in their self-care practice, in maintaining hope and in reducing anxiety. The method assisted patients in understanding their own problems and corrective actions so that they could be accepted by others by exchanging their feelings, thoughts, opinions and experiences through confrontation and self-exploration both individually and in group.

The growing burden of obesity in Thailand: a review of current trends and policies.

In recent years, there has been a rise in obesity-related diseases in transitional countries. These countries, once plagued with problems related to infectious disease and poverty, now face a dual burden of both chronic and infectious diseases. Thailand has recently experienced significant economic growth, and as a result, the numbers related to obesity and obesity-related diseases have risen significantly. Thailand is an important region to examine the timely issue of obesity-related policy because Thailand has been a model for successful public health interventions and policies throughout Asia. Further, such policies have significant implications for other regions of the world experiencing similar health transitions.

A cross-sectional examination of growth indicators from Thai adolescent girls: evidence of obesity among Thai youth?

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined growth data from adolescent girls in Southeast Asia and almost none have been carried out in Thailand. Thus this study examines growth data from Thai adolescent girls. AIM: Cross-sectional growth data from a sample of Thai girls were compared to reference data from healthy well-nourished girls. It is hypothesized that the reference girls will be taller and heavier than the Thai girls; however, the growth indicators will also indicate that obesity is present among Thai girls. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Anthropometric and age at menarche data were collected from a sample of 319 adolescent girls ages 11-17 years living in suburban Thailand. RESULTS: Thai girls are heavier than the reference girls at ages 11-13 years yet are shorter and lighter than the reference girls at ages 14-17 years. The data also reveal that 18.4% of the girls are overweight or obese as classified by the CDC BMI-for-age percentile growth curves. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest the presence of overweight and obesity among this adolescent Thai population. These data may reflect the impact of the improved economic situation of Thailand as well as the impact of body image concerns among these young girls.