THE LIFE QUALITY OF PEOPLE IN COMMUNITIES AROUND CHANDRAKASEM RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY AT CHAI NAT CAMPUS, AMPHUR SANKABURI, CHAI NAT PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research are to study the life quality of people in communities around Chandrakasem Rajabhat University at Chai Nat Campus, Amphur Sankaburi, Chai Nat province; to identify the problems and obstacles on life quality of people in the communities; and to study guidelines for improvement and development of life quality of people in the communities.  The research sample consisted of 400 people living in communities around Chandrakasem Rajabhat University at Chai Nat Campus, Amphur Sankaburi, Chai Nat province.  The employed research instrument was a questionnaire developed by the researcher covering questions on five areas of life quality of the people, namely, economy and employment; behavior and social way of life; arts, culture and local wisdom; sanitary and occupational health; and family and living.  The statistics employed for data analysis were the percentage, mean, and standard deviation.  The research findings show that the overall and by-aspect life quality of people in communities around Chandrakasem Rajabhat University at Chai Nat Campus were rated at the high level, with the aspect of health and safety receiving the highest rating mean, followed by the aspect of economy and employment; while the aspects receiving the lowest rating means were that of the art, culture and local wisdom, and that of the behavior and social way of life.  Regarding the problems and obstacles, the following were identified: having jobs with insecurity; the lack of participation in community activities; the lack of places for exercises; the social security card not covering hospital expenditures in all diseases; and the inability to spend enough time with one’s family.  As for guidelines for improvement and development of life quality of the people, the following were given: encouraging people to have supplementary occupations; provision of job acquisition service, promotion of participation in community activities; spending more time with one’s family; provision of more exercise places for the community; provision of more thorough welfare services and the social security right for hospital treatment cost that covers all diseases; proactive promotion and public relations concerning arts, culture and local wisdom; and the application of the sufficiency economy philosophy in life, family, community, and the country.  Meanwhile, additional opinions concerning the response to the Project on Conservation of Plant Species as initiated by His Majesty the King, the following was given: everybody must be aware of and participate in conserving and taking care of indigenous plant species in the local area so that they will continue to exist and be inherited by future generations of the Thai people.