[O-0302] Performance of Village Health Volunteers in Elderly Care in Urban District, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand
Keywords:Village Health Volunteer, Performance, Elderly care
【Purpose】
Population aging, the process whereby elderly people account for a larger proportion of the total population is a key demographic outcome of population trends in the 21st century, especially in Thailand where the population is rapidly aging. Hence age related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and COPD have become top ranked causes of morbidity and mortality in Thailand.
One serious consequence of declining health and increased frailty associated with ageing is difficulty of independently being able to carry out basic activities of daily living. As elderly functional limitations increase, assistance by caregivers has become necessary. With increasing demand of elderly caregivers, Village Health Volunteers（VHVs）are expected to provide care for elderly in the community. However only few studies have been conducted on the performance of VHVs in elderly care. Therefore this study aims to explore the association between performance levels of VHVs and related factors.
【Methods】
A cross-sectional description study was conducted. A total of 415 self-administered questionnaires were distributed in February, 2014. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were employed to determine significant predictors of VHVs performance.
【Results】
Approximately one-fourth of VHVs（26.2%）were classified as performing at high levels elderly care. When adjusting for other factors, significant predictors were：experience of taking care of elderly（AOR：2.75, 95% CI＝1.00-7.59）, amount of training VHVs completed（AOR：2.28, 95% CI＝1.29-4.02）, job satisfaction（AOR：2.06, 95% CI＝1.11-3.83）, working hours per day（AOR：1.95, 95% CI＝1.06-3.59）, number of absent per month（AOR：1.94, 95% CI＝1.08-3.50）.
【Discussion】
The findings suggested in order to obtain a high level performance it is essential to provide a variety of refresher courses focusing elderly care in chronic diseases and improving the work place support system and incentives to promote job satisfaction of VHVs.
Population aging, the process whereby elderly people account for a larger proportion of the total population is a key demographic outcome of population trends in the 21st century, especially in Thailand where the population is rapidly aging. Hence age related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and COPD have become top ranked causes of morbidity and mortality in Thailand.
One serious consequence of declining health and increased frailty associated with ageing is difficulty of independently being able to carry out basic activities of daily living. As elderly functional limitations increase, assistance by caregivers has become necessary. With increasing demand of elderly caregivers, Village Health Volunteers（VHVs）are expected to provide care for elderly in the community. However only few studies have been conducted on the performance of VHVs in elderly care. Therefore this study aims to explore the association between performance levels of VHVs and related factors.
【Methods】
A cross-sectional description study was conducted. A total of 415 self-administered questionnaires were distributed in February, 2014. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were employed to determine significant predictors of VHVs performance.
【Results】
Approximately one-fourth of VHVs（26.2%）were classified as performing at high levels elderly care. When adjusting for other factors, significant predictors were：experience of taking care of elderly（AOR：2.75, 95% CI＝1.00-7.59）, amount of training VHVs completed（AOR：2.28, 95% CI＝1.29-4.02）, job satisfaction（AOR：2.06, 95% CI＝1.11-3.83）, working hours per day（AOR：1.95, 95% CI＝1.06-3.59）, number of absent per month（AOR：1.94, 95% CI＝1.08-3.50）.
【Discussion】
The findings suggested in order to obtain a high level performance it is essential to provide a variety of refresher courses focusing elderly care in chronic diseases and improving the work place support system and incentives to promote job satisfaction of VHVs.