THE DEVELOPMENT OF CAPACITY BUILDING TO PREVENTING AND REDUCING THE EFFECTS CANNABIS ABUSE IN ELDERLY CLUBS IN NAN PROVINCE

Abstract

Abstract

          This participatory action research aimed to develop and evaluate effectiveness of a model for capacity building to preventing and reducing the effects cannabis abuse in elderly clubs in Nan Province. The quantitative sample consisted of 200 elderly club committee members from Santisuk Districts, Thung Chang Districts, Wiang Sa Districts, Pua Districts, and Mueang Nan Districts in Nan Province and the qualitative sample consisted of 20 elderly club members including the chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, and secretaries of elderly clubs in the research area. The research instruments included a questionnaire, group conversation, in-depth interview, observation and field recording. The quantitative data was analyzed using Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and t-test. The qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis.                                                                                                                         The results of this study revealed that 1) the situation, circumstances, and potential of elderly clubs found that the elderly had a level of knowledge and role in preventing and reducing the effects of cannabis use at moderate, the attitudes are at a high level. Factors affecting cannabis abuse include the presence of a medical cannabis policy, exposure to cannabis news from online media, and a lack of knowledge about cannabis abuse laws and penalties. The impacts include wasted costs, risk of illness caused by the use of substandard cannabis products. The strengths and opportunities for development include the emphasis placed by community leaders and elderly clubs on health promotion and their commitment to protecting their members, 2) a model for capacity building to preventing and reducing the effects cannabis abuse in elderly clubs had 4 components consisted of (1) a strategic plan, (2) capacity building to preventing and reducing the effects cannabis abuse in elderly clubs (3) the participation in community and network, and 4) the campaign to prevent and reduce the effects of cannabis abuse. The model effectiveness was found that the elderly participants had a higher knowledge, attitude, and role in preventing before implementation with statistically significant at 0.05. There are activities organized the campaigns and public relations to reducing the effects cannabis in the community, network partners, and organization, incorporation of the model into the curriculum of an elderly school. The communities and network partners were participatory at the highest level. The satisfaction of the model was high level at 90.10 percent. Suggestions from this research found that: Relevant agencies can use the models obtained from this research for surveillance and preventing in teenagers, working-age groups and others.