Potential Development among Monks on Disease Protection and Complication of Chronic Disease, NongPhluang Subdistrict, Jakkarat District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

          This action research aimed to develop the monks’ potential in preventing disease and complications from chronic diseases. The study targets were 25 monks. The study was divided into 3 phases: including phase I, studied the relevant situation and way of life, health conditions, and health behavior of monks in community; phase II was the process of monks’ potential development as an action research concept consisting of planning, action, observation, and reflection; and phase III, studied results of the development process in term of health behaviors and health problem managements. The mean scores of outcomes were compared by paired t-test analysis.

         Thereafter, results from monks' potential development were as follows: (1) the monks had a statistically higher mean score of related-health behaviors than before the development, including the knowledge of chronic diseases (t=7.15, p<0.001), the perceived severity (t=2.96, p=0.002), the perceived susceptibility (t=2.96, p=0.002), the self-efficacy (t=3.30, p=0.002), the response efficacy (t=3.03, p<0.001) and the practices of four elements in chronic diseases  management (t=4.22, p<0.001), and (2) the normal level of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased to 68.00%. The level of hyperlipidemia decreased to 44.00%, the risk of stroke was reduced to 16.00%, and (3) All of monks with hypertension and diabetes mellitus had been continuously controlled. There were achieved as the objectives. However, on taking care of the monks is necessary to community participation and stakeholders in the proceeding, as well as the development of self-health care for the monks.