FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HEALTH CARE BEHAVIORS OF MEMBERS OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS' CLUB IN BANG MUEANG SUBDISTRICT, MUEANG SAMUT PRAKAN DISTRICT, SAMUT PRAKAN PROVINCE.

Abstract

     This study is a cross-sectional study aimed at examining the factors related to health care behavior, including leading factors, supportive factors, reinforcing factors, and health care behaviors, as well as to explore the factors associated with health care behaviors among the elderly members of the Bang Mueang Subdistrict Municipality Elderly Club in Samut Prakan City, Samut Prakan Province. The sample group consisted of 213 people, calculated using a proportion estimation based on the known population size. A random sampling method was used from the Krejcie and Morgan table at a 95% confidence level, with a convenience sampling method to ensure the sample group met the required criteria. The research instrument was a questionnaire for leading factors, supportive factors, and reinforcing factors, which had reliability values of 0.89, 0.94, and 0.86, respectively. The study period was from October to November 2024. Data were analyzed using a computer program, and statistical methods such as percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were applied to determine the relationships between the factors.

     The study results revealed that the sample group had a high level of attitude towards health care (Mean=4.56, S.D.=0.52), high engagement with health services (Mean=4.24, S.D.=0.66), and high social support (Mean=4.37, S.D.=0.58). Health care behaviors in terms of food consumption were at a high level (Mean=4.18, S.D.=0.46), exercise at a high level (Mean=4.19, S.D.=0.55), stress management at a high level (Mean=4.03, S.D.=0.61), self-care during illness at a high level (Mean=4.14, S.D.=0.66), and smoking/alcohol consumption at a high level (Mean=4.84, S.D.=0.36). Additionally, the attitude towards health care among the elderly had a positive but weak correlation with health care behaviors (r=0.299, p-value < 0.001). Access to health services was moderately positively correlated with health care behaviors (r=0.419, p-value < 0.001), and social support was also moderately positively correlated with health care behaviors (r=0.554, p-value < 0.001).

      Therefore, the Bang Mueang Subdistrict Municipality in Samut Prakan City and related organizations should continuously provide knowledge and understanding to promote and support the health care of elderly people in the area.