Factors Affecting the Quality of Life among the Aging Population during the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic in Thailand

Authors

  • Plernta Ethisan Kanchanabhishek Institute of Medical and Public Health Technology, Faculty of Public Health and Allied Health Science, Praboromarajchanok Institute, Thailand
  • Nawal Naeem Health Services Academy, Islamabad Pakistan
  • Abdul Jabbar Bhutto Federal General Polyclinic Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Ayesha Khan Health Services Academy, Islamabad Pakistan
  • David Chinaecherem Innocent Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State Nigeria
  • Ramesh Kumar Health Services Academy, Islamabad Pakistan.

Keywords:

Aging Population, Coronavirus Disease, Pandemic, Quality of Life

Abstract

Objective: To determine the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) among aging population during the Corona Virus Disease-19 (COVID-19) crisis.

Methods:This cross sectional study was conducted at Central, Northern, Northeastern, and Southern regions of Thailand from June to November 2021. Elderly persons aged 60 and above with Thai nationality included in the study. The QoL was measured with the WHO Quality of Life (WHOQoL-BREF-THAI) instrument which consisted of 26 items. QoL scores ranged from 26 to 130 points, classified as poor (26-60), moderate (61-95), and good (96-130).

Results:Of total 400 participants, the mean age was 68.32 ±6.93 years. Not good QoL was observed in 3 (0.8%) participants, moderate QoL was observed in 213 (53.2%) participants, and good QoL was observed in 184 (46.0%) participants. A significant association of QoL found with education level (p-value 0.002), alcohol drinking (p-value 0.003), exercise (p-value <0.001), comorbidities (p-value <0.001), and hearing/knowing about COVID-19 (p-value 0.015). The chances of good QoL was 2 times significantly higher in participants who did exercise as compared to participants who did not perform exercise (cOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.07, p-value <0.001).

Conclusion: The study concluded that exercise, higher education, avoiding alcohol, and good health significantly improve the QoL among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, regular exercise notably doubles the likelihood of better QoL.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Cristea M, Noja GG, Stefea P, Sala AL. The impact of pop-ulation aging and public health support on eu labor markets. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:1439. doi:10.3390/ijerph17041439

Somrongthong R, Wongchalee S, Ramakrishnan C, Hongthong D, Yodmai K, Wongtongkam N. Influence of socioeconomic factors on daily life activities and quality of life of Thai Elderly. J Public Health Res 2017; 6:862. doi:10.4081/jphr.2017.862

Vaishnav LM, Joshi SH, Joshi AU, Mehendale AM. The national programme for health care of the elderly: a review of its achievements and challenges in india. Ann Geriatr Med Res 2022; 26:183-95. doi:10.4235/agmr.22.0062

Ratmanee Y, Tongkumchum P. Demographic related quality of life of the aging population Thailand. Int J Community Med Public Health 2024; 11:87-95. doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20234112

Jindahra P, Wongboonsin K, Wongboonsin P. Demo-graphic and initial outbreak patterns of COVID-19 in Thailand. J Popul Res (Canberra) 2022; 39:567-88. doi:10.1007/s12546-021-09276-y

Yorsaeng R, Suntronwong N, Thongpan I, Chuchaona W, Lestari FB, Pasittungkul S,et al. The impact of COVID-19 and control measures on public health in Thailand. 2020. Peer J 2022; 10:e12960. doi:10.7717/peerj

Pekalee A, Gray RS. In-home environment and happiness among older adults in Thailand. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1159350. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1159350

Rajatanavin N, Tuangratananon T, Suphanchaimat R, Tangcharoensathien V. Responding to the COVID-19 second wave in Thailand by diversifying and adapting lessons from the first wave. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:e006178. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006178

Sirisuwan P, Phimha S, Banchonhattakit P. Active aging, health literacy, and quality of life among elderly in the Northeast of Thailand. Indian J Forensic Med Toxicol 2021; 15:2645-50. doi:10.37506/ijfmt.v15i3.15704

Hongthong D, Somrongthong R, Ward P. Factors influencing the quality of life (qol) among thai older people in a rural area of Thailand. Iran J Public Health 2015; 44:479-85

Jeenheng T, Suppapitiporn S. Relationships between activities of daily living capabilities, family support, and quality of life and mental health in the elderly in Laplae District, Uttaradit Province. Chula Med J 2022; 66:107-13. doi:10.58837/CHULA.CMJ.66.1.15

Supasiri T, Lertmaharit S, Rattananupong T, Kitidumrongsuk P, Lohsoonthorn V. Mental health status and quality of life of the elderly in rural Saraburi. Chula Med J 2019; 63:95-101. doi:10.58837/CHULA.CMJ.63.2.5

Ong-Artborirak P, Seangpraw K. Association between self-care behaviors and quality of life among elderly minority groups on the border of Thailand. J Multidiscip Healthc 2019; 12:1049-59. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S227617

Jongudomkarn D, Camfield L. Exploring the quality of life of people in North Eastern and Southern Thailand. Soci Indi Res 2006; 78:489-529. doi:10.1007/s11205-005-1947-2

Chompoowisate P, Laokhompruttajarn J, Laokhom-pruttajarn T. Associations of physical health and social support on quality of life of elderly people in na siew sub-district, mueang district, chaiyaphum province. J Royal Thai Army Nurses 2023; 23:238-47.

Briere J, Wang SH, Khanam UA, Lawson J, Goodridge D. Quality of life and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: associations with loneliness and social isolation in a cross-sectional, online survey of 2,207 community-dwelling older Canadians. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:615. doi:10.1186/s12877-023-04350-x

Suzuki Y, Maeda N, Hirado D, Shirakawa T, Urabe Y. Physical activity changes and its risk factors among community-dwelling japanese older adults during the covid-19 epidemic: associations with subjective well-being and health-related quality of life. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:6591. doi:10.3390/ijerph17186591

Urairat M, & Dhammasaccakarn W. The self-esteem of the early elderly, sub-urban communities in khlong hae municipality, hat yai district, songkhla province. Parichart J 2022; 35:115-28. doi:org/10.55164/pactj.v35i2.186801

Dundar E, Sirzai H. The impact of covid-19 pandemic on the quality of life of the elderly population. J Sur Med 2022; 6:289-94. doi:10.28982/josam 903246

Khorani H, Mohammadi F, Hosseinkhani Z, Motalebi SA. Predictive factors of Quality of Life in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Psychol 2022; 10:176. doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00882-w

Downloads

Published

2024-08-09

How to Cite

Ethisan, P., Naeem, N., Bhutto, A. J., Khan, A., Innocent, D. C., & Kumar, R. (2024). Factors Affecting the Quality of Life among the Aging Population during the Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic in Thailand. Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences (JDUHS), 18(2), 105–111. Retrieved from https://mail.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/view/2158

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Plernta Ethisan, Nawal Naeem, Abdul Jabbar Bhutto, ayesha Khan, David Chinaecherem Innocent, Ramesh Kumar

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Articles published in the Journal of Dow University of Health Sciences are distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/4.0/. This license permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium; provided the original work is properly cited and initial publication in this journal.