Quality of Life and Health Promoting Behaviors among Disabled People in Two Provinces of Thailand
Pimsurang Taechaboonsermsak PhD*, Supachai Pitikultang MD*, Chokchai Munsawaengsub MD*, Phitaya Charupoonphol MD*
Affiliation : * Department of Family Health, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To examine health behaviors and quality of life among disabled people in two provinces of
Thailand.
Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5,352 disabled people selected by multistage
cluster sampling from Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces during April to June 2008. The WHOQOL-
BREF-THAI and health promoting behavior scales were used to measure QOL and health behavior.
Results : Among the health promoting behaviors, exercise and health responsibility of the disabled people
were mostly at the ‘need to improve’ level (46.6 and 52.8%), while their nutritional behavior and stress
management level were mostly at the ‘good’ level (80.8 and 43.8%). Overall quality of life was mostly at
the ‘moderate’ level (79.3%). Exercise and stress management were found to have a significant positive
relationship with the quality of life at low level (r = 0.18, r = 0.12) at p < 0.01.
Conclusion : The results indicated that person who had health promoting behaviors by exercise and appropriate
stress management had a good QOL. Encouraging of family and health authority support in exercise and
stress management may help them having a good QOL.
Keywords : Quality of life, Health promoting behavior, Disabled people
