• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2006

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to explore the relationships between the fear of falling and daily activities, and physical functioning of older people in community. Method: A descriptive study design was used in this study. 295 people aged over 65 and living in community participated. Data of demographic characteristics, fear of falling, activity daily living, physical functioning were collected. Result: 13.2% of the participants reported that they have falling accident last one year. 75.6% of participants reported fear of falling. 67.7% of them expressed restricting activity because of fear of falling. There were no significant relationship between fear of falling and BADL(Basic Activity Daily Living) but fear of falling and IADL(Instrumental Activity Daily Living) were related. It was also found that older people with higher fear of falling expressed more pain and uncomfortable feelings especially on their lower body and had higher scores of morbidity of neurologic diseases such as neuralgia and cerebrovascular diseases. Conclusion: There were significant relationships between fear of falling and IADL, and physical functioning on lower body, and morbidity of neurologic diseases such as neuralgia and cerebrovascular diseases.

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

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the difference between the faller and the non-faller in the test for balance and fear of falling. This was also done to determine whether the balance and the fear of falling are correlated in the elderly. Method: Forty eight subjects participated in this study, who attended the senior center in Daegu. Prior to the test, demographic data was collected. As for the balance test, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up & Go (TUG), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Functional Reach Test (FRT), and One Leg Stance (OLS) were used. For measuring the fear of falling, Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) were used. Independent t-test and Pearson's correlation was performed using PASW 18.0 for windows. Result: All balance tests, except OLS, and fear of falling could discriminate between the faller and the non-faller. There existed a significant correlation between some balance test and fear of falling (r=0.64~0.86). Conclusion: The findings indicate that assessing the falling in the elderly, there needs to be a consideration of multiple aspects including the fear of falling and not only the balance test.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.215-226
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• 2011

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the fear of falling of stroke patients and identify factors affecting the fear of falling. Method: For basic data, structured questionnaires were used for 137 stroke patients in hospitals in B city sampled for this study from June to August, 2010. Results: A multiple regression analysis used to identify variables affecting the fear of falling of stroke patients indicates that the most affecting variable was activities of daily living (${\beta}$=-.558), followed by self-efficacy of falling (${\beta}$=-.223), primary caregiver (${\beta}$=-.118), perception of health (${\beta}$=-.128) and drunken status (${\beta}$=-.108). Total variance explained by activities of daily living, self-efficacy of falling, the primary caregiver, perception of health and drunken status was 81.2% (F=70.845, $R^2$=.812). Conclusion: As discussed above, the factors significantly affecting the fear of falling in stroke patients were activities of daily living and self-efficacy of falling. Therefore, in order to reduce fear of falling of stroke patients and prevent falling, it is suggested that programs should be developed that will improve self-efficacy of falling and daily living activities.

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

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2013

The object of this study was to investigate the relation between variables that is related to the general characteristics, fear of falling and falls efficacy. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 105 elders. Fear of falling and falls efficacy are measured structured questionnaires each. This study analyzed by SAS program. There was a significant difference of fear of falling according to education level(p=.003), body mass index(p=.016). There was a significant difference of falls efficacy according to gender(p<.001), education level(p=.047), body mass index(p=.019), number of chronic disease(p=.021). Fear of falling and age(r=0.23, p=.018) had significant positive correlations in the elders. Falls efficacy and number of chronic disease(r=-0.26, p=.010) had significant negative correlations in the elders. Fear of falling and falls efficacy are mutually contradictious concept. Also, both are important for the health of elderly. This result can be used for the elderly care and development of the program for the improvement of the falling efficacy.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.91-101
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between a experience of falling, fear of falling, depression, and perceived health status in urban areas. Methods: After obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, a one-time, face-to-face, and private interview was conducted with each participant who was eligible and agreed to participate in this study from May 2007 to August 2007 by trained graduate-level nursing students. The questionnaires consisted of Fall Efficacy Scale, K-GDS, and SF-36. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS/PC 12.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test, and hierarchical regression. Results: The major findings of this study were as follows; 1) approximately 9% of participants had fallen within one year. Study participants reported moderate fear of falling(M=43.80); moderate physical health (M=42.31) and mental health(M=46.05); and low depression status(M=10.38). 2) there were significant differences in fear of falling according to gender, experience of falling, exercise, and depression. 3) significant factors influencing on fear of falling were experience of falling and physical health status. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that nurses working closely with older adults should be taught the impact of previous falls and physical health status on fear of falling and need to reinforce exercise behavior for older adults who are vulnerable to fear of falling.

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

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the influence of fall risk, fear of falling, and social support on older inpatients' fall prevention behaviors. Methods: The participants were 105 older inpatients. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis using the SPSS program. Results: The mean fall risk, fear of falling, social support, and all prevention behaviors were 58.05±28.27, 2.47±0.67, 3.58±0.63, and 2.93±0.48, respectively. There were significant differences in fall prevention behaviors by sex, and fall related to education experience. Fall prevention behaviors were associated with fall risk, and fear of falling. The factors influencing the fall prevention behaviors of the older inpatients were sex, fall related to educational experience, fall risk, and fear of falling. It was found that 21% could explain fall prevention behaviors. Conclusion: The results indicate a need to develop a fall prevention education program, including intervention, to reduce the fear of falling among older inpatients.

• Journal of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2018

Purpose: This study compared factors related to fear of falling among women in the early phase of old age based on hand grip strength. Methods: Researchers obtained data of 1,071 women who had participated in the 4th Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. Data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Results: In both groups, fear of falling was positively correlated with falling experience within two years, osteoarthritis-related leg pain, depression, and instrumental daily life abilities; however, self-rated health was negatively correlated. In the low hand grip strength group, self-rated health, osteoarthritis-related leg pain, and hand grip strength accounted for 21.3% of the variance regarding fear of falling. In the normal hand grip strength group, age, self-rated health, fall experience within two years, osteoarthritis-related leg pain, and depression significantly accounted for 16.6% of the variance regarding fear of falling. Conclusion: In applying interventions to prevent falling in women in the early phase of old age, health care workers must verify if women have low hand grip strength and determine whether to focus on fitness improvement through exercise interventions or consider psychological interventions for depression.