Abstract:
This study is a descriptive research using mixed method focusing on the quality of life among people with physical disabilities living in Khu boua, Don Ta Ko, Don Rae, and Aung Thong sub-districts, Muang, Ratchaburi. The study aimed to examine the quality of life of those and (key) success factors in providing care influencing the quality of life.
The researchers asked 77 disabled persons with level 4 of physical disability to complete the quality of life questionnaires. There were selected 13 disabled people, 15 caregivers, nine community leaders, seven village health volunteers, and five local health providers participating in the in-depth interview and focus group sessions. The tools used were the quality of life questionnaires and interview and focus group guides to collect quantitative and qualitative data.
The researchers analysed the quantitative data and qualitative data using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation and thematic analysis.
The findings show that samples rate their quality of life at good and medium level, most of them at medium level (64.9%). Most disabled persons lived in Ang Tong sub-district (33.8%). Range of age was 21- 89 years. The years of disability occurrence were between five months and 57 years. 62.3 percents of those were disabled when they were from five months to ten years old. 58.4 and 53.2 of those were women and married. Most of them (63.6%) were the members of the families and 54.5 percents of the samples with disabilities were in the extended families. Most disabled people (74.0%) finished primary school study. Most of them (85.7%) did not have the career. 49.4 and 48.0 percents of those earned 1,001-5,000 Baht and had enough, not deposited money. All samples were trained in career training neither from the government nor non-government.
Overalls, the quality of life of disabled people were in medium level. In all items, the samples rated their quality of life at the medium levels ( = 3.41, S.D. = 0.55). They rated self concept and health and function domains at the highest ( = 3.60, S.D. = 0.68) and lowest ( = 3.21, S.D. = 0.80).
The qualitative results show that (key) success factors in caring people with disabilities were individual, family, community, and social factors. Firstly, individual factors were composed of helping themselves and creating the assistant instrument, times of disabilities, accepting, adapting, internal locus of control, self valuing, and having job and earning. Secondly, family factors comprised having family caregivers and living as a family member. Thirdly, community factors were participations of the organizations, officers, community leaders, and other people in communities. Lastly, social factors were the supporting policies, promoting the career for the disabled persons, and care culture.
The researchers found that the most important factor was the individual factors. Particularly, accepting in disabilities occurred could help people to have power, become independent on the disabilities, learn about life, and adapting themselves as disabled people. Also, that they received support from the families helped them in mental health adjustment and living happily. Furthermore, social factor like pensions, career supports, and physical environment adjusted could help the disabled people to have the common living in the community. Other people should view that the disabled can live with non-disabled persons by respecting in dignity, human rights, and disabled rights.