Factors Associated with Access to Health Services in Subdistrict Health Promoting Hospitals among the Elderly in San Kamphaeng District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

 The purpose of this cross-sectional descriptive study was to investigate access to health services among the elderly and factors associated with access to health services in subdistrict health promoting hospitals among the elderly. The research was conducted between the 2 ^nd October - the 31^st October 2025. The samples comprised 371 older adults who had previously received health services at Subdistrict Health Promoting. with simple random sampling. Using a questionnaire The results showed high internal consistency, with coefficients of 0.94 for attitudes toward health services, 0.92 for perception of health benefits, and 0.94 for access to health services. The data were then analyzed by using percentage, mean, standard deviation (SD), minimum and maximum values, median, 25^th  percentile , and 75^th percentile, Chi–square analysis, and Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient statistics. The level of statistical significance was set at 0.05.

 The research findings revealed that the elderly had a high level of attitude (93.53%) and a high level of health benefit perception (94.34%). Their access to healthcare services at  the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital was also at a high level (87.06%). Factors significantly associated with healthcare access among the elderly included occupation (p = 0.040), monthly income (p = 0.013), underlying diseases (p < 0.001), attitude (r = 0.53, p < 0.001), and health benefit perception (r = 0.69, p < 0.001). Based on these findings, accessing healthcare services at the Sub-district Health Promoting Hospital should be promoted among the elderly. This can be achieved by emphasizing the public relations of health benefits through Village Health Volunteers  and community loudspeakers to foster positive attitudes, alongside organizing activities to build confidence in primary care services.