Factors Affecting Health Self - Management of the Elderly in Khaongu Sub-District Municipality, Mueang District, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

The objective of this cross-sectional analytical research was to determine factors affecting health self-management behaviors among elderly in KhaoNgu Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang District, Ratchaburi Province. The samples were 199 elderly, aged 60 years and over. Questionnaire was applied to collect data. Statistics used for data analysis included Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis. The results indicated that the samples had overall health literacy at excellent level 45.2 percent, self-efficacy at high level 85.9 percent and health self-management behaviors at good level 34.7 percent. Factors having significant relationships with health self-management behaviors of the elderly (p<0.05) were age (r = 0.285), level of education, having underlying diseases, duration of getting underlying diseases (r = 0.212), overall health literacy (r = 0.338) including information and health service accessibility skill (r = 0. 342), health cognitive skill (r = 0.175), communication skill r = 0.329), self- management skill (r = 0.367), information and media literacy skill (r = 0.377). In addition, factors affecting significantly health self-management behavior of the elderly (p<0.05) were having underlying diseases (beta = 0.266) and information and media literacy skill (beta = 0.215) which together could predict 14.5 percent of health self-manage behaviors of the elderly. The findings of this study suggest that agencies responsible for elderly care should promote more health literacy among older adults, with particular emphasis on information and media literacy skills. This will help enhance their ability to engage in effective self-management of their health.