THE PROCESS OF SMOKING BEHAVIOR CHANGE OF MONKS TO BE LOEI SMOKE –FREE ROLE MODELS

Abstract

The objectives of the mixed-method research were 1) To study the smoking behavior of monks in Mueang Loei district, Loei province 2) To study the demand of monks to be smoke-free role models and 3) To study the process of smoking behavior change of monks to be Loei smoke-free role models. The research was divided into three phrases: the first phrase to survey on the process of smoking behavior change of monks to be Loei smoke-free role models, the second phrase to arrange small group discussion, and the third phrase to analyze/synthesize the ideas on the process of smoking behavior change of monks to be Loei smoke-free role models. The samples of the research were twelve key informants, nineteen informants in small group discussion, and 322 representatives of monks. The instruments of the research were (1) the questionnaire on the smoking behavior of monks in Mueang Loei district, Loei province, (2) the questionnaire on the demand of monks in Mueang Loei district, Loei province, to be Loei smoke-free role models, and (3) the questionnaire on the process of smoking behavior change of monks to be Loei smoke-free role models. The statistics used for data analysis were comprised of (1) the content analysis used to analyze, catch the main idea of, and interpret the qualitative data, and (2) the frequency distribution, the percentage, the mean, and the standard deviation used to analyze the quantitative data. The research findings were as follows: (1) The smoking behavior of monks at the stage of contemplation was found to be at the highest level (2) The demand of monks in Mueang Loei district, Loei province, to be Loei smoke-free role models was found to be at a high level and (3) The process of smoking behavior change of monks to be Loei smoke-free role models should be engaged in the integration of the public sector, the private sector and the provincial Buddhism bureau. In addition, the council of local monks had to demonstrate their awareness to solve such a problem, to have a successive problem-solving plan by invited monks that used to smoke to share their successful experiences on reducing, abandoning and quitting smoking and to be escorts or coaches for monks and other smoking persons, and to cooperate on the covenant or any basic agreement not to allow alcohol drinks and cigarettes in the vicinity of merit-making activities or other traditions and festivals.