Model of Health Promotion for the Elderly through Community Participation Process, Ban Waeng Subdistrict, Phutthaisong District, Buriram Province

Abstract

This participatory action research aimed to study the health-promoting behaviors of the elderly and explore community-based approaches for health promotion. The sample consisted of 285 elderly individuals residing in Ban Waeng Subdistrict, Phutthaisong District, Buriram Province. Research tools included an interview form comprising personal data, health conditions, and health-promoting behaviors. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, and inferential statistics, including a Paired t-test to compare mean differences in health behaviors and quality of life.

The results revealed that 46.7% of the elderly perceived their health as good, while 18.6% considered their health poor. The highest mean score among health-promoting behaviors was residential sanitation (mean = 3.64), followed by spiritual health promotion and safety practices (mean = 3.40). The lowest mean score was for social interaction (mean = 3.03). Overall, health-promoting behaviors were rated at good to very good levels. In the second phase, the research concluded that community participation and related processes, such as public health development, empowerment, and collaboration with network partners, were essential for strengthening community capacity to enhance health promotion independently. In the third phase, evaluating the participation model and studying the challenges revealed statistically significant differences in health-promoting behaviors among the elderly before and after participating in the project (p < .05).