INFLUENCE OF ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES ON SELF - HEALTH CARE BEHAVIORS OF THE ELDERLY IN SAMCHUK DISTRICT, SUPHANBURI PROVINCE

Abstract

The objectives of this research article were to 1) to study the Health service access for the elderly 2) to study the Self - health Care Behaviors of the elderly, and 3) to study the Influence of access to health services on self-care behaviors of the elderly, Sam Chuk District, Suphan Buri Province. The population in the study contains of 383 persons is the elderly, Sam Chuk District, Suphan Buri. The questionnaires using to collect data of Access to health services and self-care behaviors of the elderly. (confidence value .94) By finding the alpha coefficient method. The statistics used in the data analysis are Mean ( ), Standard deviation (S.D.) and multiple regression analysis (MRA). The research result shows that the Health service access for the elderly, overall practice was at a moderate level. (  = 1.81, S.D. = .45168) For the Self - health Care Behaviors of the elderly, overall practice was at a moderate level. (  = 1.87, S.D. = .42590) When considering each aspect, it was found that all aspects, the overall practice was at a moderate level (  = 2.76, S.D. = .53723), drug consumption ( = 1.97, S.D. = .56168), exercise, food and nutrition (  = 1.92, S.D. = .47921), stress management (  = 1.84, S.D. = .47706) and primary health care. (  = 1.84,                S.D. = .44874) For the hypothesis testing, There was an increase in the number of health services received by 1 unit. Elderly self - care behaviors will be changed or increased by 1 unit. At the statistical significance of 0.01. Therefore, the elderly should be encouraged to take care of themselves before entering old age. To reduce the risk of various diseases, and a hospital or health service unit may need to set up a mobile health service unit to provide health checks for the elderly.