The Relationships Between the Perceptions of Chronic NonCommunicable Diseases and Health Behaviors Among University Staff in Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University

Abstract

This correlational research aimed to examine: 1) the level of perception regarding non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among personnel at Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, 2) the level of health behaviors among personnel at Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, and 3) the relationships between perceptions of NCDs and health behaviors among personnel at Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University. The samples consisted of 88 personnel aged 20 to 65, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a personal information questionnaire, a perception of NCDs questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model, and a health behavior questionnaire. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.

The findings revealed that personnel at Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University had a high level of perception regarding NCDs (Mean = 3.94, S.D. = 0.44) and a high level of health behaviors (Mean = 3.51, S.D. = 0.59). There was a low positive correlation between perception of NCDs and health behaviors, which was statistically significant (rs = .228, p = .032).

The results suggest that promoting health behaviors related to NCDs, providing information to increase awareness of the risk of NCDs, perceiving the severity of diseases, the benefits NCDs’ prevention, and the obstacles of preventing NCDs are very crucial. These will encourage university personnel to adopt health-promoting behaviors, prevent the personnel from the impacts of NCDs, which lead to improving quality of life and safety from the NCDs.