Conference paper
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FALL, FEAR OF FALLING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ELDERLY
Nela Petrović
orcid.org/0000-0002-1908-0931
; General County Hospital Požega, Osječka 107, 34000 Požega, Croatia
Renata Đimoti
; General County Hospital Požega, Osječka 107, 34000 Požega, Croatia
Marija Zapalac
; General County Hospital Požega, Osječka 107, 34000 Požega, Croatia
Jelena Kitanović
orcid.org/0000-0002-4580-3486
; General County Hospital Požega, Osječka 107, 34000 Požega, Croatia
Ivica Brizar
; General County Hospital Požega, Osječka 107, 34000 Požega, Croatia
Abstract
Introduction: Falls are the leading cause of death and injury in older people resulting in disability and immobility, which requires permanent medical care and high costs of treatment. The probability that the fall will happen or the risk of falls can be attributed to a personal cause, i.e. characteristics of each individual, but also to the influence of the environment.
Objective: To examine the association between falls, fear of falling and physical activity, and to determine the most common causes of falls in the elderly.
Patients and Methods: The study involved 77 elderly people who live in the community in Požega. The study used a questionnaire which included questions related to the incidence of falls, fall circumstances, physical activity and the presence of the fear of falling.
Results: Tree is a statistically significant difference in fear of falling between patients who had a history of falls and those who had no such history (p = 0.001; chi-square). Respondents who had a history of falls report to a greater extent a moderate to severe anxiety, while those who have not fallen report that they have no fear of falls in the future. Regardless of the actual risks, fear of falling in the elderly can increase the likelihood of an actual fall. It was found that respondents who have no fear or have a moderate fear of falling have not reduced their physical activity, while people who have a strong fear are less physically active (p = 0.002; chi-square). Some elderly people, who have suffered a heavy fall, have lost their self-confidence so they have starting avoiding activities. Weaker physical activity impacts self-esteem even more severely and a vicious cycle is formed that can bedridden an elderly person. The following causes of falling are the most represented: external factors, stumbling over a doorstep or another bulge and stumbling over some other piece of furniture.
Conclusion: The study shows a correlation between falling, fear of falling and physical activity. We believe that it is necessary to pay more attention to researching the perception of elderly regarding the risks and dangers of falls and their non/willingness to change behaviour and an extent in which they are familiar with practical guidelines suggested in the literature regarding reducing environmental risks.
Keywords
elderly; fall; fear of falling; physical activity
Hrčak ID:
173867
URI
Publication date:
16.12.2016.
Visits: 4.549 *