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Older persons' perception of risk of falling: Implications for fall-prevention campaigns

Author

Listed:
  • Hughes, K.
  • Van Beurden, E.
  • Eakin, E.G.
  • Barnett, L.M.
  • Patterson, E.
  • Backhouse, J.
  • Jones, S.
  • Hauser, D.
  • Beard, J.R.
  • Newman, B.

Abstract

Objectives. We examined older people's attitudes about falls and implications for the design of fall-prevention awareness campaigns. Methods. We assessed data from (1) computer-assisted telephone surveys conducted in 2002 with Australians 60 years and older in Northern Rivers, New South Wales (site of a previous fall-prevention program; n=1601), and Wide Bay, Queensland (comparison community; n=1601), and (2) 8 focus groups (n=73). Results. Participants from the previous intervention site were less likely than were comparison participants to agree that falls are not preventable (odds ratio [OR]=0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.65, 0.90) and more likely to rate the prevention of falls a high priority (OR=1.31; 95% CI=1.09, 1.57). There was no difference between the groups for self-perceived risk of falls; more than 60% rated their risk as low. Those with a low perceived risk were more likely to be men, younger, partnered, and privately insured, and to report better health and no history of falls. Focus group data indicated that older people preferred messages that emphasized health and independence rather than falls. Conclusions. Although older people accepted traditional fall-prevention messages, most viewed them as not personally relevant. Messages that promote health and independence may be more effective.

Suggested Citation

  • Hughes, K. & Van Beurden, E. & Eakin, E.G. & Barnett, L.M. & Patterson, E. & Backhouse, J. & Jones, S. & Hauser, D. & Beard, J.R. & Newman, B., 2008. "Older persons' perception of risk of falling: Implications for fall-prevention campaigns," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(2), pages 351-357.
  • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2007.115055_2
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.115055
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    Cited by:

    1. Meei-Ling Shyu & Hui-Chuan Huang & Mei-Jung Wu & Hsiu-Ju Chang, 2018. "Development and Validation of the Self-Awareness of Falls in Elderly Scale Among Elderly Inpatients," Clinical Nursing Research, , vol. 27(1), pages 105-120, January.
    2. Johanna Wolf & W Neil Adger & Irene Lorenzoni, 2010. "Heat Waves and Cold Spells: An Analysis of Policy Response and Perceptions of Vulnerable Populations in the UK," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 42(11), pages 2721-2734, November.
    3. Meike C. van Scherpenseel & Lidia J. van Veenendaal & Saskia J. te Velde & Elise Volk & Di-Janne J. A. Barten & Cindy Veenhof & Marielle H. Emmelot-Vonk & Amber Ronteltap, 2024. "Reframing Communication about Fall Prevention Programs to Increase Older Adults’ Intentions to Participate," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(6), pages 1-17, May.
    4. Anne Clancy & Marianne Mahler, 2016. "Nursing staffs’ attentiveness to older adults falling in residential care – an interview study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(9-10), pages 1405-1415, May.
    5. Linda A. M. Khong & Richard G. Berlach & Keith D. Hill & Anne-Marie Hill, 2017. "Can peer education improve beliefs, knowledge, motivation and intention to engage in falls prevention amongst community-dwelling older adults?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 243-255, September.

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