Perception of Real Condition and Expectation towards Health Care Services for the Older People in Tambon Don Tako, Ratchaburi Province

Abstract

The purpose of this survey research is to determine the perception of real condition and expectation towards the health care services among older people in Tambon Don Tako, Amphoe Mueang, Ratchaburi Province. The subjects were 243 older people selected by purposive sampling techniques. The research instrument for data collection was the use of a questionnaire focusing on the perception of real condition and expectation towards the health care services among older people. The reliability approached by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was .88. The data were then analyzed by using descriptive statistics and a dependent t-test.           The study reveals as follows; the overall perception of the real condition among the older people was at a high level (M =3.51, SD = .66), as for considering in each aspect, the highest was at the aspect of the acquisition of tools/assistive devices (M = 3.62, SD = .64), while the aspect of additional medical/nurse treatment was the lowest. (M = 3.34, SD = .68). The expectation towards health care services was at a high level (M = 3.92, SD = .65), the highest was at the aspect of the acquisition of tools/assistive devices (M = 4.02, SD = .66), while the aspect of additional medical/nurse treatment was the lowest. Moreover, perception of real condition and expectation towards health care services among older people were statistically significantly different at a level of 0.05 (t = 10.01, p = .04).

Therefore, comprehensive and efficient health care services for older people should be accordingly provided with their expectation, particularly in supplying tools/ equipment such as commode chair, hearing aids, wheelchair to be sufficient to meet the needs of them.