The Relationship between Motivation for Health Promotion and Exercise of Public Health Volunteer Thamakham Subdistrict, Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province

Abstract

Objectives: To study health-promoting motivation, exercise behavior, and the relationship between health-promoting motivation and exercise behavior among Village Health Volunteers (VHVs) in Thamakham Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province.

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted. The population consisted of 188 active VHVs in Thamakham Subdistrict, Mueang District, Kanchanaburi Province as of July 2023. Data were collected from all participants using questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for data analysis.

Results: The majority of VHVs had a moderate level of overall health-promoting motivation (75.5%). Most did not meet the recommended exercise guidelines (38.3%) or did not exercise at all (30.3%). Health-promoting motivation was significantly positively correlated with exercise behavior (r=0.173, p-value=0.022). When analysed by component, outcome expectation and self-efficacy were significantly positively correlated with exercise behavior (r=0.238, 0.162; p-value=0.001, 0.032, respectively).

Conclusions: A relationship was found between health-promoting motivation and exercise behavior among VHVs. Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospitals should encourage VHVs to exercise by increasing their self-efficacy and outcome expectations regarding exercise.