Abstract:
Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. This study aimed to describe success factors towards quality of life in caring for people with physical disabilities and movement at four sub-districts: Lhumdin, Pongsawhai, Khok Mhor and Ta-Rhap in Muang District, Ratchaburi. Participants were divided into two main groups. Forty-three people with physical disabilities and movement in level 4 were recruited purposively to find their Quality of Life (QOL) level while the 2nd group included 12 of local organisation authorities, four health personnel, 12 disabled people and their caregivers to explore success factors towards QOL in caring for disabled people.
Data from the 1st group were collected by using questionnaires. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion were used to collected qualitative data from the 2nd group. The study employed the use of a standard statistical analysis and thematic analysis to establish the values.
The results indicated that majority of disabled people had moderate level of QOL ( =3.20, S.D. = 1.17). They satisfied their life the most ( = 3.32, S.D. = 0.34) and dissatisfied in their health and body function the least ( = 2.99, S.D. = 0.49). Considering in each item, those disabled people highly satisfied in their present shelters ( = 4.19, S.D. = 0.63) while their satisfaction of having burden from using assisted devices such as crutches was at the lowest level ( = 2.26, S.D. = 1.05). Results from qualitative data revealed four success factors towards disabled peoples QOL: personal; family; community and social factors. Participants perceived personal factor in term of adjustment of physical; psychological and spiritual. Family factor, being family made caregivers to understand their disabled members deeply and applied their knowledge to support their loved ones physically and psychologically. Mutual co-operating from local authorities was perceived as community factor. It emerged from the same objectives which affected to how they perform their roles and find out any resources to support QOL of disabled people. Social factor was the last factor they mentioned. Disabled people wanted their society to respect as an ordinary person and not put them down.