QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE ELDERLY USING ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE BY ACUPUNCTURE OF PANYANANTHAPHIKKHU CHONPRATHAN MEDICAL CENTER, SRINAKHARINWIROT UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The objectives of this survey research were to assess quality of life in the elderly using alternative medicine service by acupuncture, and study factors that affected to quality of life in elderly using service by acupuncture of Panyananthaphikkhu Chonprathan Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University. The sample was 100 elderly who used service by simple random sampling. The questionnaire was used to collected data with reliability Cronbach,s Alpha Coefficient value 0.91. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics, and analysis statistics by multiple regression. The research results showed that the elderly had average age 69.15, and most below bachelor degree, non working, income between 10,001-30,000 bath per month. The causes to using service were symptom or disease treatment and most of them patient. The quality of life in elderly using alternative medicine service by acupuncture at high level, had mean 3.97 and standard deviation 0.67. The variables of factors affected to quality of life in elderly using were age of personal factor, illness role of health behavior factor, financial status and social welfare of socio-economic factor with statistical significant at p-value < 0.05. The adjust R2 45.9%, and these variables affected to quality of life from in descending order were social welfare, illness role, age, and financial status respectively. The advantage of this study is to develop quality of life in elderly according to government plan for sustainable social management of them and for economic growth.