Effects of a Health Education Program on Fall Risk Prevention among the Urban Elderly: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Background: Elderly falls increase dramatically with age and are a leading cause of injury, carrying a risk of loss of independence and death. We studied the effects of a health education program on fall-risk prevention among urban elderly persons in the municipality of Khon Kaen, Thailand.
 Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2 communities. The calculated sample size was 216 individuals: 108 for intervention and 108 for control, all of whom were 60 or older, and registered at the Samlium Primary Care Unit (SPCU). The educational intervention was a fall risk intervention program by an elderly buddy. A structured questionnaire that incorporated questions from the Thai Fall Risk Assessment Tool (Thai-FRAT) was used to collect general and specific information. Data were analyzed using the independent sample t-test and c2, with P<0.05 being statistically significant.
 Results: The response rate was 94.4%. More than half of the respondents were at risk of a fall. The prevalence of risk of a fall among the intervention group was slightly less than that for those within the control group [Intervention group=52.9% (95%CI: 42.85, 62.81, P<0.001); Control group=60.8% (95%CI: 50.59, 70.15, P=0.016)]. After 6 months of intervention, the balance impairment, medicine usage, and overall proportion with risk of fall were decreased. The difference between the intervention and control groups was statistically significant (P<0.05).
 Conclusion: The provision of a health education program designed for fall risk prevention among the elderly would be a useful public health initiative.

The mediating effect of self‐efficacy on the relationship between family functioning and quality of life among elders with chronic diseases

“…Elderly individuals from different communities in Jiangsu Province (eastern China), Yunnan Province (southwestern China), Hunan Province (central China) and Shanxi Province (northern China) were selected by convenience sampling. The inclusion criteria were as follows (Kuhirunyaratn et al., 2019 ): (a) community‐dwelling people aged 60 years and older; (b) the presence of one or more chronic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes or others; and (c) ability to communicate normally and cooperate with investigation and evaluation. The exclusion criteria were as follows: (a) participants with obvious mental disorders or obvious cognitive impairment; and (b) participants with acute respiratory, circulatory or digestive diseases or injuries.…”

Fall prevention education to reduce fall risk among community‐dwelling older persons: A systematic review

“…Thus, fall risk awareness and knowledge indirectly influence older individuals' decision to participate in preventive behaviour change. Contrarily, most FPE studies demonstrated fall risk scores or falls or fall injurious as the primary outcomes instead of fall risk awareness or knowledge and fall preventive behaviour (Chidume, 2021 ; Harrison, 2017 ; Hill et al, 2017 ; Kuhirunyaratn et al, 2019 ).…”

Intervenções para prevenção de quedas em idosos na Atenção Primária: revisão sistemática

“…(13) Para que sejam desenvolvidas intervenções que tenham comprovada eficácia, é necessário considerar os fatores preditores de quedas na população geriátrica. Segundo os estudos identificados, tais fatores estão relacionados a: qualidade do sono ruim, (15,18,25,30) depressão, (15)(16)(17)(18)25,30) dependência funcional, (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) fragilidade, (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)…”

“…Segundo os estudos identificados, tais fatores estão relacionados a: qualidade do sono ruim, (15,18,25,30) depressão, (15)(16)(17)(18)25,30) dependência funcional, (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) fragilidade, (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) perda da autonomia, (15)(16)…”

“…(35,36) Nas intervenções de multicomponentes, verificaram-se diferentes tipos de abordagens, porém com semelhança entre elas. A atividade física foi usada na maioria dos estudos, (15,(17)(18)(19)(20) seguida pela monitorização por intervenção telefônica (15,16,18,19) e avaliação de riscos intrínsecos e/ou extrínsecos para ocorrência de quedas. (16,19,20,26) Tais intervenções multicomponentes são consideradas de baixo custo, o que está recomendado por evidências internacionais recentes que sugerem melhor projetar e implementar intervenções multifatoriais com baixo custo e alta eficácia, adequadas para cada país.…”