The perception of fall risk factors and fall prevention behavior of elderly aged 60-69 years in the urban community context, Sakon Nakhon Province

Abstract

This research was cross-sectional research. The study aimed to assess the proportion of perceived fall risk factors and preventive behavior and identify the factors contributing to falls. The sample comprised 140 elderly people aged 60 to 69 who live in the That Choeng Chum Health Promoting Hospital in Sakon Nakhon Municipality, Sakon Nakhon Province. The sample was selected using simple random sampling techniques. The research for this study was conducted using questionnaires developed by the researcher to measure perceptions and behaviors related to fall risk factors. The reliability of these questionnaires was 0.79 and 0.82. Descriptive statistics were used for the statistical analysis, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. Binary logistic regression was used to examine fall risk factors perception and fall prevention behaviors related to falls in the elderly. The results revealed that most samples were female (76.43%). The average ages of the elderly were 65.30 years old (S.D.= 2.88).  Elderly people had chronic morbidity (61.42%).  There is a 17.14% prevalence of falls among the elderly.  The proportion of perceived fall risk factors among the elderly sample as inadequate was 50.70% (95% CI 41.72 to 58.28). The elderly sample had fall prevention patterns at a low level of 74.30% (95%CI 66.22 to 81.29). The perception of fall risk factors was statistically related to falls (OR= 3.56, 95%CI 1.32 to 9.63, p = 0.012). These findings suggest that health personnel should implement a program to improve the perception of fall risk factors among the elderly in the community and consider guidelines for controlling risk factors and promoting fall prevention practices to reduce the incidence and severity of falls.