• 한국노년학
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.1577-1589
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was to compare the health status, functional status, and home environment hazards by the fear of falling and explore the factors that contribute to the fear of falling. This was a descriptive study. Data were collected for two years with 973 older adults who enrolled in a health center at A city. Trained nurses visited subjects' home and collected data using Resident Assessment Instrument MDS-HC. The average age of the subjects was 76.8 (±7.6) and female was 74.8%. 20.7% of subjects reported fear of falling. In terms of the fear of falling, two groups were compared. There were significant differences in vision, urinary incontinence, pain that interrupts daily activity, unstable gait, comorbidities, frequency of depressive or anxious sign. The greater the age, IADL and ADL dependency, comorbidities, unstabled gait, the more fear of falling. In conclusion, this study reassured the importance of assessing the major factors related to fear of falling such as age, IADL and ADL, comorbities, gait among older adults. This study will contribute to establish strategies for preventing fall. Reducing the fear of falling through the comprehensive nursing intervention will ultimately improve the quality of life in the elderly.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.10 no.10
• /
• pp.33-41
• /
• 2019

This study aimed to investigate the convergence relationship between kinesiophobia and fear of falling in patients with stroke. A total of 113 patients with stroke participated in this study. Participants underwent inpatient rehabilitation and completed surveys with three different questionnaires including the fall efficacy scale (FES), translated Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia 13 (TSK-13), and activity-specific balance confidence scale (ABC). TSK-13 and FES showed weak negative correlation (r=-0.226), and TSK-13 and ABC showed moderate negative correlation (r=-0.300). FES had a very strong positive relationship compared with ABC (r=0.838). Faller showed significantly low FES and ABC scores compared with non-faller (p<0.05). These results present that patients with stroke had mild kinesiophobia, and kinesiophobia is related to fear of falling. It is necessary to evaluate kinesiophobia in stroke rehabilitation.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.676-687
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of motor function, depression, and fear of falling, and to identify factors influencing fear of falling in patients with Parkinson's disease in the community. The participants were 180 patients with Parkinson's disease who were selected by convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression. There was a significant difference in fear of falling according to gender, occupation, walking assistance device, number of falls, Parkinson's disease stage, duration of illness, antihypertensive drug, motor function, and depression. Fear of falling showed significant positive correlations with motor function, and depression. Depression, number of falls, Parkinson's disease stage, gender, antihypertensive drug, and motor function were significant predictors influencing fear of falling in patients with Parkinson's disease, and these variables accounted for 36.0% of the variance. Depression of the influencing factors was the strongest factor. The results of this study suggest that a variety of intervention strategies for preventing or mitigating depression with systematic nursing assessment of the influencing factors on fear of falling are needed to prevent fear of falling in patients with Parkinson's disease.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.17 no.5
• /
• pp.631-636
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to test the effects of Tai Chi exercises on the grip power, pain and fear of falling in elderly persons. A quasi-experimental design was used. This study included 37 subjects who were living in C city. The subjects were divided into the experiment group (n=18) trained in the Tai Chi technique for 6 weeks and the control group (n=19). The experimental group practiced the 24 posture simplified form of Tai Chi for 6 weeks (5 times per day for 60 minutes each time). The effect of the treatment was measured by determining the grip power, pain and fear of falling before and after the 6 weeks of intervention. The experimental group showed a significant increase in grip power (P<0.001) and decrease in pain (P<0.001) compared to the control group. The fear of falling in the experimental group decreased significantly (P<0.002). Tai Chi exercises may be an effective intervention to prevent falling. The Tai Chi technique would therefore be a good method of improving the pain and body health index in elderly persons.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.37 no.7
• /
• pp.1184-1192
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among fear of falling, pain, anxiety and depression, and to identify influencing factors in elderly women patients with degenerative arthritis living in the community. Method: The subjects of this study were 297 elderly women patients with degenerative arthritis. Data was collected by personal interviews using questionnaires. Data was analyzed by the SPSS(version 12.0) computer program, and it included descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Stepwise multiple regression. Results: There was a significant difference (p= .000) in fear of falling according to the level of pain, anxiety, and depression. There was a significant positive correlation among fear of falling, pain, anxiety and depression. Depression, pain, number of medication, age, and anxiety showed significant predictors (43.5%) for fear of falling. Conclusion: This study suggested that thoroughly assessing predictors making an impact on fear of falling in the initial nursing assessment is the most important for falls prevention of elderly women patients with degenerative arthritis in the community.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.15 no.5
• /
• pp.426-435
• /
• 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an one-to-one fall prevention education on the falls and fall factors of adults who have had a stroke. 17 adults who have had a stroke were recruited and a total of four sessions of weekly one-to-one fall prevention educational program was developed considering the stroke population's cognitive abilities. Each sessions were composed of different fall-related subjects of introduction of fall, fall prevention exercise, fall prevention assistive device, and fall prevention environment modification. Dependent variables were the number of fall and fall danger in the recent month, balance ability, fear of falls, fall efficacy and depression. After four sessions of one-to-one fall prevention education, participants showed significantly positive changes in all dependent variables except for the balance ability(p<.05). An one-to-one fall prevention education to adults with stroke could decrease the number of fall and fall danger, fear of falls, depressive symptoms and fall efficacy. In order for the stroke adults to remain safely in their community and hospital, an one-to-one fall preventive education considering their cognitive level is needed.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.259-273
• /
• 2009

Purpose: This research was conducted to determine the effects of a multifactorial fall prevention program applying HSEP(Home Support Exercise Program) on physical balance and gait, leg strength, fear of falling and falls efficacy of the community-dwelling elderly. Method: The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. There were 20 subjects in the experimental group and 21 in the control group. The fall prevention program consists of HSEP and fall related education. The intervention was performed for once a week in the senior citizen center and twice a week at home for 8 weeks. Results: There were significant differences in physical balance and gait, leg strength(hip extensor, hip flexor, knee flexor, ankle plantarflexor, ankle dorsiflexor) and falls efficacy between the experimental group and control group. Conclusion : The fall prevention program applying HSEP used in this study was very effective in increasing physical balance and gait, leg strength and falls efficacy. Finally this study would recommended that a fall prevention program applying HSEP should be extended to community facilities such as elderly welfare center and nursing home.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.676-685
• /
• 2003

Purpose: To investigate the abilities to act and fear of falling in home-dwelling elderly. Methods: This study interviewed 351 home-dwelling elders residing in Seoul and Gyonggi-do using a Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly. Results: Of the 351 subjects, 203(57.8%) had activity restrictions. The main three activities that the subjects could not perform were going out when it is slippy, reaching something overhead and walking crowded places outside. According to general characteristics, performable activities were significantly fewer in subjects perceiving that their health status was low that those perceiving that their health status was high. On a scale of 3 points for fear of falling, the average score of the subjects was 1.46. The highest score of fear of falling was 2.62 for the activity of going out when it is slippery, next 1.87 for the activity of reaching something overhead. There was a significant inverse relationship between subjects' abilities to act and fear of falling. Conclusions: The significant variables associated with fear of falling were gender(female), educational background, economic status (low-income), and experience of falls during the last one year. Thus further study is necessary, focused on the vulnerable population in order to prevent falls and to reduce fear of falling.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.324-333
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore fear of falling in relation to activity restriction of in the community dwelling elderly. Two hundred ninety-nine community dwelling elderly residing in Seoul and Kyonggi-do were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. The results were as follows : 1. Subjects were predominantly women$(70.6\%)$, an average 72.5 years old; the incidence of falls in last one year was $45.5\%$. 2. The highest level of fear found for activity in those who say they do engage and those who do not engage in the activity was 'going out when it is slippery '(m=2.53, 2.81) and 'reach for something over your head'(m=1.66, 2.60). Fear of falling scores were significant lower for those who say they do engage in eight kinds of activities (excluded activities of given were 'go to the store', 'take a tub bath', 'get out of bed') than for those who do not engage in the activities. 3. Among those who did not perform the activity, the three activities, when it is slippy(n=80), reaching overhead(n=70), and walk outside(n=59),were most often avoided because fear alone as well as for reasons in addition to fear. 4. The significant variables associated with fear of falling were female(p=0.0000), 1 educational status(p=0.000l), poor economic condition(p=0.0007), and experience of falls in last one year(p=0.0007). Fear of falling is common in the community dwelling elderly in Korea and is associated with several demographical variables. Therefore, to prevent falls and to reduce fear of falling, further study for development of education program for the elderly is needed.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.14-22
• /
• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the experience of falls, the fear of falling and fall efficacy and identify the predictors of falls in the elderly at senior citizens' centers. Method: The subjects of this study were 106 elders who used senior citizens' centers in Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. Data were collected from May to June, 2006 through a survey using a structured questionnaire. Result: Of the elderly sampled, 35.8% experienced falls during the last 1 year. Of falls experienced by the elderly, 53% occurred indoors, 47% outdoors, 15.8% in the bathroom or toilet. In addition, 57.8% of the elderly had injuries on the hip and waist related with falls. The fear of falling was higher in those with experience in falls than in those without. Factors affecting the elders' falls were age (OR=1.113, 95% CI=1.012-1.224), the number of chronic disease (OR=2.342, 95% CI=1.365-4.019) and the fear of falling (OR=4.279, 95% CI=1.901-9.634). The predictor of the frequency of falls was fall efficacy ($R^2=24.9$). Conclusion: As a result, it is essential to develop fall prevention programs based on the fear of falling, fall efficacy, chronic diseases and medication state. And in senior citizens' centers, fall prevention safety education should be activated as a health promotion program.