The Study of the Relationship between Personal Health Care Behaviors and Quality of Working Life of Ambulance Drivers in Maha Sarakham province.

Abstract

Objective : to study the relationship between personal health care behaviors and quality of work life of ambulance drivers in Maha Sarakham province.

Methods : This research is descriptive research. The subjects of the study were 94 drivers in general hospitals and community hospitals in Maha Sarakham. The research instruments were general information questionnaire, ambulance safety standard questionnaire, personal health care behaviors questionnaire, and quality of working life questionnaire. Validity of personal health care behaviors questionnaire and quality of working life questionnaire were analyzed by using Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient, and the validity indices of the questionnaires were 0.8 and 0.94, respectively. Data were analyzed by using statistical analyses including frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient.

Results : For general information of the subjects, the subjects were male. 35.1% were between 41-50 years old. 77.7% were married. 57.4% graduated upper secondary school. 74.5% got less than 15,000-baht salary. 31.9% got ambulance driving experience between 11-15 years. 74.47% had never got accident from driving ambulance. For ambulance safety standard, the results revealed that drivers take good care for preparation process before driving such as fastening belt before driving and following the traffic rules (100%), checking alcohol level before driving (70.2%), and driving less than 80 km/hr speed limit (97.9%). For personal health care behaviors, the overall personal health care behaviors was in high level (  = 3.53, SD = .43). Considering each aspect, the personal health care behaviors in food and medication aspect was in high level (  = 3.76, SD = .59) and stress management aspect was in low level (  = 2.29, SD = .77). For quality of working life, the overall quality of working life was in high level (  = 3.79, SD = .69). Considering each aspect, the quality of working life in relationship with colleague aspect was in high level (  = 4.15, SD = .67), work stability and progress aspect was in high level (  = 3.89, SD = .79), and payment and benefits aspect was in moderate level (  = 3.33, SD = .98). The personal health care behaviors and quality of working life showed significant positive correlation (r=0.479, p < 0.01). Considering each personal health care behaviors aspect, the results showed that the first three aspects that showed significant positive correlation were checkup aspect (r=0.458, p<.01), environment management aspect (r=0.454, p<.01), and stress management (r=0.203, p<.05), respectively                                

Conclusion : Personal health care behaviors and quality of working life of ambulance drivers in Maha Sarakham province. were significantly correlated, and the results of the study will be further used for developing ambulance drivers’ operation.

Keywords : behaviors, personal health care, quality of working life