Health Status, Health Needs and Quality of Life of the Elderly in Rangsit City Municipality, Prachatipat Subsidtrict, Thanyaburi District, Pathumthani Province

Abstract

Thailand currently is an aging society. To get basic information of senior citizens, therefore, is important for future benefits. The present research had a cross-sectional study design. Objectives: To analyze health status and health needs of the elderly and to determine association of factors that affect the health of the elderly. Methods: Multi-stage random sampling for the calculated sample size, contacted Rangsit municipality, data collection assistant training, data collection using interviews based on a presently designed questionnaire and quality of life (SF-36), and quantitative data analysis by frequency, precent, mean, standard diviation, minimum, maximum, and Chi-square test.         

Results: the interviews engaged 847 elderly people, mostly female (66.9 percent), at the average age of 69.3 years, had chronic illness (67.3 percent), used to fall (30.8 percent). As regards health behaviours, slept well (58.3 percent), had normal bowel movements (77.7 percent). Some of the subjects exercised (51.2 percent), smoked (0.7 percent) and drank alcohol (6.3 percent). Participated activities in community (52.4 percent).  The health need is to send family member for training (16.9 percent). Agree with the municipality is to health center (74.6 percent).  Quality of life (SF-36) results: the ledery responded that they were in good-enough, good, poor, great, and excellent health equal to 47.1, 37.7, 6.7, 5.7 and 0.9 percent, respectively. Factors statistically significantly affecting the health of the elderly were marital status (P-value 0.022), sleeping (P-value<0.01), exercise (P-value 0.012), anxiety and stress (P-value<0.01), participation in community (P-value<0.01) and food seasonings (P-value 0.002). Suggestion:  The results should be used to plan action for the development of the elderly.