Participatory Community Communication in the Elderly Club Development for Elderly Health Promotion in Chatuchak Bangkok

Abstract

        The purposes of this research are as follows: 1) to study the elderly health promotion management of elderly clubs; 2) to study needs and participatory communication in elderly health promotion of communities; 3) to study the relation between needs and participatory communication in elderly health promotion; 4) to study assistance for elderly health promotion of communities and welfare from related organizations; and 5) to suggest participatory communication patterns that could be used by elderly clubs for development of elderly health. This research used a mixed methods approach. The quantitative research used multistage sampling. The samples were members of the elderly clubs in communities of Saenanicom 2, Prachareumjai 2, Nakornlaung and Rungcharoen Village. A total of 200 persons were given questionnaires. The statistical analyses were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. The qualitative research used purposive sampling and snowball sampling and consisted of interviews with community elders, community leaders, the elderly club presidents/committee members and state agency employees responsible for elderly clubs, for a total of 12 persons, and a public hearing style focus group discussion with community members and officials numbering 26 persons. The qualitative data was analyzed by group method and inductive content analysis.
        The research results found that 1) elderly health promotion management of elderly clubs was moderately suitable. 2) The demand for elderly health promotion in elderly clubs was at a high level. But the elderly persons’ participatory communication in elderly clubs was moderate level. 3) There was a moderate level positive relation between demand for elderly health promotion and elderly participatory communication. 4) Social welfare provided assistance for elderly health promotion in all aspects. 5) The recommended pattern for participatory communication in elderly club development for elderly health is for elders to participate in every way and for elderly clubs to obtain assistance continuously.