Quality of life and health promoting behaviors among disabled people in two provinces of Thailand.

Abstract

To examine health behaviors and quality of life among disabled people in two provinces of Thailand. 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. 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. 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.