DIFFERENCES IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ELDERLY IN SAMUT SONGKHRAM PROVINCE

Abstract

This study was a survey research that aimed to compare the differences in the quality of life of elderly people by classifying the characteristics of elderly people. Population scope of this research would focus to adults aged over 60 who had been staying in Samut Songkhram province, Thailand. Number of population in this research was 415 adults from 3 districts; 111 adults from Amphawa, 95 adults from Bangkontee, and 209 adults from the main municipality. Research equipment used in this study was a questionnaire which was divided into 2 parts. For the first part, it was personal information in terms of quality of life of elderly people that consisted of sex, age, educational level, status, occupation and income, member quantity in family, relationships and living condition. For the second part, it was the assessment of quality of life namely EQ-5D-5L. The results of this study found that there were the differences in quality of life of elderly people when classified by elderly people’s characteristics. Quality of life classified by sex of elderly people was not significant different, in contrast to quality of life classified by age, educational level, occupation, income, which was mentioned as significant difference by a significance level of .05. Nonetheless, quality of life classified by status, member quantity in family, living condition, and relationships was not significant different.