Quality of life indicators development using participatory approach

• Main Author: Somsri Sirikwanchai
• Other Authors: Praphaphan Un-Ob
• Language: English
• Published: Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center 2023
• Subjects: Human behavior; Quality of Life
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/88699
• Institution: Mahidol University

This study was to develop quality of life indicators for people living in the housing estate using participatory approach. A broad perspective had been applied as research guide to develop quality of life indicators and integrated research techniques had also been applied, which were the Participatory Action Research (PAR) and the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). The research process had been divided into 5 steps, i.e. 1) general appraisals and data collection of the community, 2) seeking meaning and factors of quality of life, 3) selecting factors and indicators of quality of life, 4) testing factors and indicators of quality of life including developing weighing system, and 5) appraising potentials in developing indicators of the target group. It was found that 1) quality of life in views of the target group was eliminating all problems and turning future life ready in every thing needed including a good social relation. 2) The quality of life indicators contained 6 factors and 16 indicators, which were (1) liability, (2) adequacy of 4 basic means, (3) education, (4) theft and assault, (5) conflicts among family members, (6) a warm family and the presence of parents and children together, (7) public utilities (road, water supplies, electricity), (8) hygienic and expeditious garbage collecting, (9) community groups/ organizations helped suffering members, (10) conflicts among community households, (11) household members regularly helped public interest, (12) household members were accepted/ respected by community members, (13) number of common activities among members/ community, (14) number of addicts/ gamblers, (15) number of mental disorder patients, and (16) annual health check. 3) Factors/ conditions affecting achievements on the process of developing quality of life indicators were title/leading issues of research that were positive and contiguous of participants, process designs and proper activities that fit the community lifestyle. On the contrary, factors/ conditions constraints were time frame, occupational differences and education of participants. It was recommended from the research that both government and private sectors related, including the local administration should readjust thinking techniques of developing the quality of life indicators from previously seeing indicators as outputs of the development to be implemented in appraising the quality of life into employing the process of developing indicators to be as tools for creating learning for the target group. Also, the set of indicators gained from developing process of people should be data for planning to improve affairs of the responsible work units including applying the process of developing indicators to be as tools for creating cooperation in handling other community problems.