Factors Associated with Quality of Life of the Elderly who Receive Subsistence Allowance in Panna nikhom District, Sakon nakhon Province.

Abstract

       This cross sectional descriptive research aims to determine the factors associated with quality of life for the elderly who received the subsistence allowance in Phanna Nikhom district,         Sakon nakhon province. Systematic random sampling was utilized to select 180 elderly from the population. Data collection was carried out from February to March, 2012 by using structured questionnaire which was tested for content validity by 3 experts and reliability test. Data analysis was performed using both descriptive and inferential statistics including Pearson Product-Moment Correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression.

            The findings revealed that the quality of life for the elderly who received the subsistence allowance in Phanna Nikhom district, Sakon nakhon province was at middle level ( = 77.63 ,  S.D. = 9.70, 95% CI = 76.20 - 79.06). Stepwise regression analysis indicated that there were three statistically significant factors. 1)  occupation (mean dif = -6.14, 95% CI = -9.00 - -3.27,     P-value < 0.0001) 2) having chronic disease (mean dif = 3.31, 95% CI = 0.71 - 5.91,         P-value = 0.013) 3) their selfcare (mean dif = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.31 - 1.58, P-value = 0.004). These three factors together could predict 17.59 % of the quality of life of the elderly who received subsistence allowance. (= 0.1759)

Recommendations from this research is to develop and enhance the quality of life for the elderly allowance should have a better quality of life for advanced eye care profession or occupation that is appropriate for their age. Care in the treatment and care of the elderly in their own health care.