A Study on the Elederly’s Behavior on Self-Health Care with Thai Traditional Medicine in Four Regions of Thailand

Abstract

The study of health care behavior for elderly people is important for profound understanding in elderly people behavior. These information will be beneficial for national policy to promote health care of themselves without reliance to the others. The objective of this study was to assess health behavior of elderly people in four regions of Thailand. This one-year study was approved by the ethics committee of Thammasat University No. 2 (Faculty of Medicine). It was conducted by using mixed method approach; combined quantity and quality results via survey, in depth interview, and focus group discussion with structure interview. The study samples were enrolled through purposive sampling method. The study sites included Loie province, Suphan Buri province, Chiang-raai province and Nakhon Si Thammarat with 50 participants of each area. Data analysis was performed by using percentage and content analysis. Results showed that the main gender of four regions elderly people was female; and the widest age span was ob­served in Loei province. The general self-care behaviors included the consumption of seasonal vegetables, fruits and fish. The results from in-depth interview and focus group discussion showed that participants used herbs for relieving illness- such as cultivated banana, bitter gourd and others - because they could be both food and medicine. Tradition, culture and belief context were different depended on the region. Concept of self-care followed the Thai traditional medicine and alternative medicine with regard to health care promotion (8 principles for living) which were quite similar except the veiration of food items. The results of this study demonstrated that the health care behaviors for elderly people by Thai traditional medicine were integrated with community lifestyle. Elderly people with good physical health, and good quality of life in physical, mental and environmental aspects would become more self-reliance under the conceptual, belief, tradition and culture of each community.