รูปแบบการมีส่วนร่วมของชุมชนในการส่งเสริมการออกกำลังกายเพื่อป้องกันการหกล้มในผู้สูงอายุ กรณีศึกษา : เทศบาลนครหาดใหญ่ อำเภอหาดใหญ่ จังหวัดสงขลา

Abstract

This descriptive cross-sectional research aimed to provide data describing the model of promoting exercise among older adults in fall prevention through community participation in Hat Yai City Municipality, Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. Data were collected using questionnaires and observations on 145 elderly aged 60 and over in Hat Yai municipality with stratified two-stage and simple sampling from September - December 2022. Descriptive statistics and content analysis then analyzed quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The results demonstrated that 104 (71.10%) of the 145 older adults exercised by walking and balancing (50.31%) with stretching before and after exercise (67.30%). Most (81.40%) knew exercise could help prevent falls. While 41 older adults did not exercise (28.27%) due to inappropriate time in 17 persons (11.72%), underlying health problems in 9 persons (6.20%), and six persons were not interested (4.14%). The possibility to foster an exercise for preventing falls in older people through a community participation model was 1) screening for fall-risk elderly, 2) recruiting and enrolling risk groups to participate in exercise activities, 3) continuing and adhering to those activities, 4) monitoring and evaluation, and 5) exercise public policy formation and expansion. The findings of this study revealed that most older people were familiar with exercise to prevent falls. However, some rarely had access to exercise training due to time limits, no interest, and health problems. Therefore, policy formation at each level, such as local government organizations, must develop a support system to create a friendly environment conducive to physical activity and exercise by promoting community participation. Consequently, all older adults have an awareness and appreciation for accessing suitable opportunities, including having options that are occupied with their physical condition and the context of their lives.