Effects of Health Belief on Fall Prevention Activities of Emergency Room Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze factors affecting fall prevention activities of emergency room (ER) nurses based on their health belief factors (perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, perceived severity, perceived barriers, and cues to action). Methods: The study design was a descriptive survey using questionnaires which were given to 127 emergency room nurses from two regional emergency medical centers, four local emergency medical centers, and two local emergency medical facilities. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA with LSD test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regressions. Results: ER nurses' fall prevention activities had a mean of $3.78{\pm}0.50$. Eight individual characteristics and health belief factors accounted for 30.8% of the fall prevention activities. Fall prevention activities were found to be positively affected by emergency medical facilities, perceived benefits, and cues to action and negatively affected by factors, such as ER career and perceived severity. Conclusion: The results indicate that it is necessary to formulate a plan for enhancing perceived benefits and cues to action to improve fall prevention activities. In addition, fall prevention activities should be encouraged for ER nurses who have worked in local medical institutions for less than 1 year or more than 5 years.

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