Health Promoting Behaviors for Quality of Life of the Elderly in Chawang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

This research article aims to study (1) explore health promotion behaviors of the elderly (2) investigate the quality of life of elderly people and (3) compare health promotion behaviors and quality of life of senior citizens between those enrolling in the elderly school and those without attending it in Chawang district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Health promotion behaviors were examined in accordance with the criteria of 3E 2S 1D of the department of health, ministry of public health. A quantitative research design using a questionnaire was employed in the study to collect information from a sample of 475 elderly people. The data were analyzed and expressed as percentage, means, standard deviations, and independent t-test.

Findings are as follows: (1) The elderly had health promotion behavior practice in all aspects at a moderate level. Considering each aspect, the dental care practice had higher performance scores than other areas with a high level of practice. The 3e practice including eating, exercise, and emotion was found at a moderate level while the 2s practice (stop smoking and stop drinking) was observed at a low level (2) the elderly had a moderate quality of life as a whole. While the quality of life relating to the environment and overall health was found at a high level, and (3) senior citizens who attended the elderly school and those without enrollment had a statistically significant difference in overall health promotion behaviors at the 0.05 level. However, no difference was found between the elderly in both groups on health promotion behavior practice in relation to food, smoking, and drinking. In comparison with the quality of life, senior citizens in both groups had no difference in quality of life.