พฤติกรรมการดูแลสุขภาพของพระสงฆ์ในอำเภอท่าชนะ จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี

Objectives of the study were threefold: (1) to study the healthcarebehavior of monks in Tha Chana district,Surat Thani, (2) to compare the healthcare behavior of monks in Tha Chana district, Surat Thani classified by age, year (ordination) educational level and Sangha position, and (3) to know the suggestions on the healthcare of the monks in Tha Chana district, Surat Thani.

The research was conducted by using Quantitative Researchmethod with a population consisting of 210 monks in Tha Chana, Surat Thaniand 136 Buddhist monks, 14 temples and 10 Sanghaabodes determined by Krejcie & Morgan Table.

 The research instrument used in the research was a questionnaire constructed by the researcher created. The statistics used in the data analysis were frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, F- test and paired difference test byLSD (Least Significant Difference).

Findings were as follows:

1.Overall, Buddhist monks’ healthcare behavior in Tha Chana district is average ( (x̅ = 3.20) with the highest mean ((x̅ = 3.52), followed by the environmental health ( (x̅ = 3.46) and the food ( (x̅ = 3.40) whereas climate is the lowest mean ( (x̅ = 2.55).

2.Result in comparison on Buddhist monks’ healthcare behavior in Tha Chana district, Surat Thani classified by different age showed that their healthcarebehavior did not differ which does not correspond to assumptions set.When they were classified according to the different year (ordination), it was found that theirhealthcare behavior was not different and it was consistent with the set hypothesis. When they were classified by different education levels,there is no difference in healthcare behavior that was not consistent with the set hypothesis set assumptions. There was no difference in behaviors in healthcare when they werecategorized by rank which does not correspond to the set hypothesis.

3.With regard to suggestions on the ways to prevent and solve the problems of  Buddhist monks’ healthcare behavior,  the respondents suggested that knowledge of healthcare, appropriate understanding on healthcarebehavior should be focused and the environment in temples should be clean, fresh and withthe non-smokingarea withoutallurements. Also, Buddhist monks should be provided with an appropriate guideline for healthcare behavior that leads to proper behavior, especiallysmoking behavior, exercises and healthy food.The monks' healthcare centers should be established within temples of ecclesiastical monk dean in each province with mutual agreement between the Sangha and the Ministry of Public Health to find a clear and effective guideline to plan for the development of monks' healthcare behavior.