Factors associated with Falls among the Thai Elderly in Pathum Thani Province
Keywords:
falls, Thai elderly, risky behaviorAbstract
This analytical cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the factors associated with falls among the Thai elderly in Pathum Thani province. The sample group consisted of 90 elderly people selected by purposive random sampling from three sub-district health-promoting hospitals. Questionnaires were used to collect data on physical health, mental health, daily activities, and the risk of falling. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics: Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and chi-square test, with a level of significance of .05. The results showed that age and the fall risk conditions leading to falls were significantly related to the falls of the elderly (p-value .001*). For the health conditions in the community, physical health, mental health, activities of daily living, risky behavior leading to falling, living environment, gender, occupation, income, chronic diseases, and BMI were found not to be associated with the falls of the elderly. The results of the research can be used to set up a policy for sub-district health-promoting hospitals that is focused on the importance of falls in the elderly, especially for enhancing the health of adults in physical aspects and building knowledge on health care for the elderly whose body mass index is higher than normal.
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