Management of the Elderly Care System in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province

Abstract

     This research aimed to 1) examine individual perception, job characteristics, and the management of the elderly care system in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province; 2) investigate the factors influencing the management of the elderly care system; and 3) propose guidelines for improving the management of the elderly care system. This survey research using mixed-methods data analysis.. Quantitative data were collected from 240 public health personnel responsible for elderly care using questionnaires and analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Qualitative data were collected from 10 key informants through in-depth interviews and analyzed using content analysis.

     The findings revealed that: 1) Individual perception was at a high level overall (Mean = 4.00, S.D. = 0.43), job characteristics were at a high level overall (Mean = 3.97, S.D. = 0.39), and the management of the elderly care system was at a high level overall (Mean = 3.91, S.D. = 0.42). 2) All dimensions of individual perception and job characteristics had statistically significant positive correlations with the management of the elderly care system at the .01 level. The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that six variables significantly predicted the management of the elderly care system, ranked by influence as follows: job feedback (Beta = .254), self-efficacy perception (Beta = .190), perception of the management system (Beta = .153), task significance (Beta = .150), autonomy (Beta = .142), and task identity (Beta = .131). These six variables collectively explained 64.9% of the variance in elderly care management (R² = .649). 3) The qualitative findings identified key problems, including insufficient staffing and excessive workload, barriers to service accessibility, and redundancy in information systems.