Objective: investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of informal elderly caregivers about falls and its prevention. Method: this is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted with 97 informal elderly caregivers residents in areas covered by five Health Strategy Units (ESF) in Cuiabá. Results: more than half of the participants are aware of falls and identify them as a problem, as well as they identify some risk factors and prevention measures. Regarding attitudes, more than half of the caregivers do not seem to act effectively to prevent falls. Most of them report adopting practices to prevent falls of the elderly, supervising the activities of their daily lives. Conclusion: caregivers know about falls and its prevention, but in a superficial way, and it seems to influence their attitudes and practices regarding the prevention of this event.

Objective: to analyze the frequency of the “caregiver role strain” nursing diagnosis in informal caregivers for the elderly, the defining characteristics and the related factors. Method: a cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out with 99 informal caregivers for elderly residents living in the areas covered by five units of the Family Health Strategy of Cuiabá, Mato Grasso, Brazil. Data collect took place between July and September 2017, through home interviews. A questionnaire elaborated from the literature on the diagnosis A questionnaire elaborated from the literature on the diagnosis caregiver role strain established by NANDA-International taxonomy II was used. A descriptive analysis with relative and absolute frequency was accomplished. Results: the frequency of the “caregiver role stress” nursing diagnosis found in caregivers was 98.0%. The most common defining characteristics were: difficulty in seeing the care receiver with the disease (69.1%); apprehension about the future health of the care recipient (66.0%); apprehension about the welfare of the care recipient, if the caregiver is unable to offer it (61.9%); apprehension about the future ability to provide care (60.8%); apprehension about the possible institutionalization of the care recipient (55.7%); concern with the routine care (55.7%) and social isolation (51.5%). The related factors most frequently found were: duration of care (92.8%); 24-hour a day care responsibilities (75.3%); dependence (77.3%) and alteration in the cognitive function was (73.2%) in the elderly; physical conditions (73.2%) and codependency of the caregiver (61.9%). Conclusion: the frequency of the “caregiver role strain” nursing diagnosis found in this study is high, its defining characteristics concerning mainly the caregiver's apprehension with the elderly and the related factors refer to the demands of the care provided. The nurse and other team’s professionals must pay attention to the caregivers as well as to the elderly being cared of in the health units, helping them to overcome the difficulties involved in performing their role.

Prácticas de enfermeras en la prevención de caídas de mayores hospitalizados asociadas al conocimiento y actitudes Practices of nurses in the prevention of falls of hospitalized elderly associated with knowledge and attitudes RESUMENObjetivo: Analizar la asociación de las prácticas de las enfermeras en la prevención de caídas de adultos mayores hospitalizados con su conocimiento y actitudes. Metodología: Estudio transversal, analítico, realizado con 76 enfermeras en seis hospitales de Cuiabá, estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de entrevista con cuestionario validado y analizados mediante prueba de la χ 2 de Pearson, con un nivel de significación del 5% y regresión de Poisson. Resultados: Se constató que el 89,5% de las enfermeras tienen conocimientos insuficientes, un 52,6% actitud favorable y un 61,8% realiza prácticas preventivas. Hubo asociación entre las prácticas preventivas de caídas realizadas por las enfermeras y el conocimiento suficiente. Conclusiones:La mayoría de las enfermeras tienen conocimiento insuficiente sobre caídas y su prevención; sin embargo, sus actitudes son favorables. Las enfermeras con conocimiento suficiente adoptan más medidas preventivas que aquellas con conocimiento insuficiente.

Analisar a prevalência de práticas de prevenção de quedas de cuidadores informais de idosos e os fatores associados. Estudo transversal, com 97 cuidadores informais de idosos de cinco unidades de Estratégia Saúde da Família. A coleta de dados ocorreu de junho e agosto de 2017, usando questionário validado. Na análise multivariada utilizou-se a regressão múltipla de Poisson. A prevalência das práticas de prevenção de quedas dos cuidadores foi de 26,8%. As medidas preventivas de quedas mais adotadas e referidas pelos cuidadores foram principalmente vigiar o idoso (57,7%), evitar tapetes soltos na casa (28,9%) e piso molhado (23,7%), orientar o idoso a caminhar com cautela (18,6%) e restringir as atividades do idoso (12,4%). As práticas de prevenção foram associadas às variáveis anos de estudo (p=0,027), estado civil (p=0,047) e atitudes dos cuidadores (p=0,037). A prevalência de práticas preventivas de quedas realizadas pelos cuidadores é baixa e necessitam ser estimuladas pelos profissionais.Descritores: Acidentes por Quedas, Cuidadores, Idoso, Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde. Fall prevention practices performed by caregivers of the elderlyAbstract: To analyze the prevalence of falls prevention practices among informal elderly caregivers and the associated factors. Cross-sectional study with 97 informal caregivers of elderly people from five Family Health Strategy units. Data collection took place in June and August 2017, using a validated questionnaire. In multivariate analysis, Poisson multiple regression was used. The prevalence of caregivers' fall prevention practices was 26.8%. The most preventive fall measures adopted and reported by caregivers were mainly to watch the elderly (57.7%), avoid loose carpets in the house (28.9%) and wet floors (23.7%), to guide the elderly to walk with caution (18.6%) and restrict the activities of the elderly (12.4%). Prevention practices were associated with the variables years of study (p = 0.027), marital status (p = 0.047) and attitudes of caregivers (p = 0.037). The prevalence of fall prevention practices performed by caregivers is low and needs to be encouraged by professionals.Descriptors: Accidental Falls, Caregivers, Aged, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice. Prácticas de prevención de caídas realizadas por cuidadores de ancianosResumen: Analizar la prevalencia de prácticas de prevención de caídas entre los cuidadores informales de ancianos y los factores asociados. Estudio transversal con 97 cuidadores informales de ancianos de cinco unidades de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia. La recolección de datos tuvo lugar en junio y agosto de 2017, mediante un cuestionario validado. En el análisis multivariado, se utilizó la regresión múltiple de Poisson. La prevalencia de las prácticas de prevención de caídas de los cuidadores fue del 26,8%. Las medidas más preventivas contra caídas adoptadas y reportadas por los cuidadores fueron principalmente vigilar a los ancianos (57.7%), evitar alfombras sueltas en la casa (28.9%) y pisos mojados (23.7%), para orientar a los ancianos a caminar con cautela (18,6%) y restringir las actividades de las personas mayores (12,4%). Las prácticas de prevención se asociaron a las variables años de estudio (p = 0,027), estado civil (p = 0,047) y actitudes de los cuidadores (p = 0,037). La prevalencia de las prácticas de prevención de caídas realizadas por los cuidadores es baja y debe ser fomentada por los profesionales.Descriptores: Accidentes por Caídas, Cuidadores, Anciano, Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud.