S54-8_mahidol 28.pmd

Objective: To examine health behaviors and quality of life among disabled people in two provinces of Thailand. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5,352 disabled people selected by multistage cluster sampling from Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces during April to June 2008. The WHOQOLBREF-THAI and health promoting behavior scales were used to measure QOL and health behavior. Results: Among the health promoting behaviors, exercise and health responsibility of the disabled people were mostly at the ‘need to improve’ level (46.6 and 52.8%), while their nutritional behavior and stress management level were mostly at the ‘good’ level (80.8 and 43.8%). Overall quality of life was mostly at the ‘moderate’ level (79.3%). Exercise and stress management were found to have a significant positive relationship with the quality of life at low level (r = 0.18, r = 0.12) at p < 0.01. Conclusion: The results indicated that person who had health promoting behaviors by exercise and appropriate stress management had a good QOL. Encouraging of family and health authority support in exercise and stress management may help them having a good QOL.