Factors Related to the Health Behaviors of Elderly People with Hypertension in Thapraja Subdistrict, Cha-uat District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

     This research is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The objectives were to study the health behaviors of elderly patients with hypertension and to examine the relationships between predisposing factors, enabling factors, and reinforcing factors and the health behaviors of these individuals in Tha Praja Subdistrict, Cha-uat District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The sample consisted of 247 participants. The research instrument was a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.88. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Coefficient.
     The results revealed that the majority of participants were female, aged 65–70 years, married, with a monthly income of 2,000–4,999 Baht and a primary education level. Most had systolic blood pressure (SYS) between 140–149 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DIA) less than 80 mmHg. Most participants had been diagnosed with hypertension for less than four years and had a family history of the disease.In terms of the studied factors, predisposing factors (attitudes), enabling factors (access to services and information), and reinforcing factors (support from family, community, and health officers) were all at a high level (80.97%, 84.21%, and 87.45%, respectively). However, the health behaviors of the elderly participants were at a moderate level (57.49%).Correlation analysis showed that enabling and reinforcing factors had a significant positive relationship at a low level with the health behaviors of the elderly (r = 0.231 and r = 0.281, respectively, p < 0.01). Predisposing factors, however, showed no significant relationship. These findings can be utilized to develop more effective policies, measures, and guidelines for health promotion and disease prevention among elderly patients with hypertension.