A PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH FOR A DEVELOPMENT OF HEALTHY PROMOTION MODELS FOR THE AGING IN THAILAND

Abstract

The objectives of this research were: (1) to study the current situation and problems of healthy promotion for aging in Sribunruang village of Wangsapung district in Loei province, (2) to develop models of healthy promotion for aging in Sribunruang village by the public participation approach, and (3) to assess the healthy condition of aging in Sribunruang village after their participation with the proposed healthy promotion activities. Mixed methodologies of mainly with the qualitative approaches and a supported quantitative approach were applied for this study. The qualitative methodology of the research and development (R & D) used in the study comprised the focus group discussion, the meeting for group brainstorming, in-depth interviews and participating observation. About qualitative research, the study used the questionnaire. The target group included aging in the community who could have well - interaction and being able to participate with the proposed activities. The group comprised the leader of the community, public healthy volunteers, the officers from Wangsapung Municipality and the officers from Wangsapung Hospital. The results of the research were as follows: 1. The study of the current situation and problems of healthy promotion for aging found that the village still did have any aging healthy promotion model with the whole dimensions of aging development. 2. The results of developing the models could be showed in 3 categories. (2.1) Firstly, the study formulated 3 models for healthy promotion of aging in Sribunruang village: physical healthy promotion model, social and spiritual healthy promotion model and economic healthy promotion model.(2.2) Secondly, all the formulated models were implemented in forms of healthy development activities for six months. The model of physical healthy healthy promotion included 3 activities: exercising, playing games, attending the trainings for healthy promotion knowledge. The social and spiritual healthy promotion model comprised 5 activities: group meetings on the Buddhist
observance day, visits nine temples for Buddha worships, New Year party, study visits for the aging healthy promotion, and activities on the aging day. The economic healthy promotion model included 3 activities: a training for making the DOK MAI JUN (Sandal wood flower) for the cremation, herb preservation training, and bakery training. (2.3) Lastly, all implemented models of aging healthy promotion were assessed through questionnaires and interviews the aging who joined the activities for the degree of satisfaction, knowledge, and usefulness that the aging received from the activities. The assessment was also done by Healthy Promotional Center at Section 6 of Khon Kaen province. The center studied in terms of the strengthened community contributing healthy promotion. 3. The assessment of healthy condition of aging in Sribunruang village after their participation with the proposed healthy promotion activities found that most aging were generally healthy. Holistically, healthy condition of the aging were at the average level (38%). The assessment also found that the happiness points of aging were at 33 as the lowest and at 54 as the highest. Their highest point was higher than that of the general standard of Thai psychological healthy which is between 27.0 through 32.0 points. The finding of this research showed that the aging who participated with the proposed healthy promotion activities were happier than others in general standard.