Health literacy, health behavior, social support and quality of life among socially dependent elderly people, in Phayao Province, Thailand

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the level of health literacy, health behavior, social support and quality of life among socially dependent elderly people , and to investigate correlations and predictable factors for their quality of life. 450 elderly people in Thailand's Phayao province were chosen using a multi-stage cluster sampling method. Data were collected using questionnaires between November 7th, 2022 and January 30th, 2023. Descriptive analysis, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The results showed that health literacy (HL-3ESA) and social support were adequate, health behavior (HB-3ESA) was good, and quality of life (QL) was at a good level. QL differed significantly between groups according to age, occupation, education, BMI, and disease condition. Cognitive function and information on HL-3ESA and emotional support were positively and significant in their correlation with QL, whereas HL-3ESA was negatively significant in its correlation with QL. Multiple regression analysis indicated that seven dependent variables predicted QL; disease condition (β= 3.94), frequency of health information (β=.932), HB-3ESA (β= -.526), occupation (β= -.386), age (β= -.215), HL-3ESA (β= .210),and social support (β= .124) and all were able to predict QL from samples at 27.3%. The findings should be used to help set up activities to promote health care measures for socially dependent elderly in the area under study and similar areas.