Methodological development and validation of the Thai traditional medicine-based depression care program for older adults

This article describes a detailed, validated protocol for a Thai traditional medicine (TTM) based care program developed for older adults with moderate depressive symptoms. Developed from TTM principles and contemporary evidence, the 7-week program integrates three modalities sequentially in weekly 60-minute sessions: herbal steam therapy (30 min), followed by combined receptive music therapy (slow-tempo, ∼60 bpm) and lavender aromatherapy oil massage (30 min total). The method underwent rigorous validation, including content validity assessment by experts (CVI=0.89), feasibility testing in a community hospital setting (100% completion rate, no serious adverse events), and reliability testing of outcome measures (Cronbach's α > 0.70 the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale (TGDS-30) and WHOQOL-BREF). Preliminary application data from a controlled, quasi-experimental application (n = 32) are presented to demonstrate feasibility and methodological performance. Observed improvements in depressive symptoms and quality of life suggest potential utility; however, these findings are not intended to establish clinical efficacy. This work provides a structured and reproducible 7-week integrative intervention combining herbal steam therapy, aromatherapy massage, and music therapy. Detailed materials, herbal formulations, and procedural steps are specified to support implementation in community healthcare settings. The presented data are intended to demonstrate the feasibility and methodological performance of the protocol rather than to establish clinical efficacy.