J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs.  2010 Jun;21(2):200-209. 10.12799/jkachn.2010.21.2.200.

The Effects of a Fall Prevention Program on the Low-Income Elderly at Risk of Falls

• Hyeon IS
• Park M
• Park KM
• Kim CN

• KMID: 2292900
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/jkachn.2010.21.2.200

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to determine the effects of a fall prevention program on knowledge, efficacy, and prevention behavior of falls among the low-income elderly.
METHODS
This study used a nonequivalent control group pre and post test quasi-experimental research design. The study was conducted from August to October, 2008 with 20 subjects in the experimental group and 22 in the control group who were registered at the public health center of S District in D City.
RESULTS
Hypothesis 1 "The experimental group that participated in the fall prevention program will show a higher degree of knowledge about falls than the control group" was supported. Hypothesis 2 "The experimental group will have a higher degree of self-efficacy of falls than the control group" was not supported. Hypothesis 3 "The experimental group will report fall prevention behavior more frequently than the control group" was supported.
CONCLUSION
It was verified that the fall prevention program in this study was an effective intervention to improve knowledge about falls and fall prevention behaviors among the low-income elderly. The results can be used as part of an intervention to prevent falls for the vulnerable elderly such as the low-income elderly.

Keyword

Elderly; Accidental falls; Knowledge; Self efficacy; Prevention

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls
Aged*
Humans
Public Health
Research Design
Self Efficacy