FACTORS RELATED TO THE HERBAL USE BEHAVIORS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN THE BAN NASAI COMMUNITY, NAKHON SI THAMMARAT PROVINCE

Abstract

This cross-sectional survey researched the behavior and associated factors of herbal medicine use among an elderly cohort in Thailand. The cohort of 292 participants completed questionnaires, providing data on predisposing factors, facilitating factors, and reinforcing factors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient at a statistical significance level of 0.05. Data showed that the participants were mostly women (76.71%), with an average age of 73.38 years.  Data revealed that the majority of participants had at least one chronic disease (50.68%), were vendors/laborers (46.92%), completed primary education or less (47.60%), and had a monthly income ranging from 10,001-15,000 THB (35.96%). In regard to predisposing factors, knowledge was high (91.44%), but attitude and perception toward the benefits of using herbal medicines were moderate (50.34% and 65.07%, respectively). Enabling factors, such as health-related resources, reinforcing factors, and overall use of herbal medicines remained on a moderate scale (57.88%, 73.63%, and 81.51%, respectively). Variables significantly correlated with overall herbal use behavior were individual factors such as age (p = 0.039), chronic diseases (p = 0.029), occupation (p = 0.041), and income (p = 0.019). Predisposing factors (knowledge), reinforcing factors (family members’ influence, neighbors’ influence, community influence, and access to herbal information) revealed very low associations (r = 0.132, p = 0.025; r = 0.128, p = 0.029; r = 0.115, p = 0.049 respectively).  In conclusion, although the elderly possessed a high knowledge of herbal medicine, attitude and perceived benefits remained on the moderate level. The low correlation between knowledge, influence by family/community, and information worked towards placing the use of herbal medicine behavior on the moderate level. There is a need for action on building favorable attitudes, enhancing perceived benefits, making provisions for channels to obtain information, as well as constructing pathways of influence for families and communities to ensure safe and correct utilization of herbal medicine to increase its adoption.