Health Perception Associated with Oral Health Behaviors of the Elders in Phetchabun Municipality, Muang District, Phetchabun Province

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to study health perception in part of perceived susceptibility perceived severity perceived benefits perceived barriers and health perception associated with oral health behaviors of the elderly in Phetchabun Municipiality, Muang District, Phetchabun Province. It was designed as a descriptive study. Systemic sampling technique was used to select of 325 subjects from the elderly in the study site. The instrument used for collecting data was a set of questionnaire developed based on the Health Belief Model. Data were analyzed by using a computer program. The statistics used for analyzing the collected data were percentage, mean, standard deviation, range, and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. The study found that overall health percerception of the elderly was at a moderate level (Mean=2.29, SD=0.45); the health perception on perceived susceptibility was at a moderate level (Mean=2.45, SD=0.5), the perceived severity was at a high level (Mean=2.63, SD=0.5), perceived benefits was at a moderate level (Mean=2.26, SD=0.44), and perceived barriers was at a moderate level (Mean=2.07, SD=0.65). The overall oral health behaviors of the elderly was at a moderate level (Mean=1.90, SD=0.45). There was a significant positive correlation between perceived severity and perceived benefits and oral health behaviors of the elders in the study site (p<0.05, r=0.305 and 0.298, respectively).