• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.676-684
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for falls and to suggest data for developing a program for preventing falls. Methods: This was a case-control study in five university hospitals and a general hospital. In total, 216 patients over the age of 18 yr admitted from January 1 to December 31, 2007 participated. One hundred eight patients with experience of falling were matched by gender, age level, diagnosis, and length of stay with 108 patents with no experience of falling admitted on the same unit. A quality assurance coordinator nurse in each hospital examined 35 fall risk factors developed by researchers. Results: In acute hospitals, history of falls, orientation ability, dizziness or vertigo, general weakness, urination problems, transfer/mobility difficulty, walking dependency, impatience, benzodiazepines, diuretics, and vasodilators showed significance on adjusted-odds ratios for fall. Logistic regression analysis was performed to elucidate the factors that influence falls. The probability of falls was increased by dizziness/vertigo, general weakness, and impatience/agitation. Conclusion: This finding can be used as a useful resource in developing nursing intervention programs to predict and prevent the falls of inpatients.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.19-28
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• 2008

Purpose: We analyzed the incidence of falls and the related factors, circumstances, and consequences associated with falls in stroke patients. Methods: We recruited 127 stroke patients and used a self-reported questionnaire to measure fall prevalence rates and the related factors, circumstances, and consequences of falls. The chi-square test was used to establish associations between related factors. Results: The prevalence of falls in stroke patients was 69.3%, and was associated with gender and time since the stroke. Falls occurred 2-5 times (55.4%) poststroke and most subjects first fall in the 2$\sim$6 month (46.5%) after the stroke. Most (55%) falls occurred at the hospital. Walking was the most frequent circumstance for falls (38.5%). Most (54.4%) falls led to consequences such as fractures, ligament strains, bruises, or abrasions. Conclusion: Fall-prevention strategies decrease the number of falls and the severity of fall-related injuries. These data support the concept of preventive strategies for falls in stroke patients who are at risk.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this research was to explore Fall Risk Home Environment(FRHE) and to investigate the association between FRHE and fall experience among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: The data were collected from 299 older adults using FRHE through observation and interview at home of the participants and were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 applying descriptive statistics, χ²-test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of fall experience during the past year was 51.5%. 'No handles beside the toilet or bathtub'(73.2%) was most common FRHE factor, 'thresholds in your room or kitchen'(68.9%), 'wearing socks, outer socks, or slipper when you move in the house'(59.5%), and threshold on the gate (apartment entrance)(55.5%) were followed. The findings of logistic regression of FRHE on fall experiences showed darkness of house had the highest Odds Ratio (OR 9.83 95% CI 3.75-25.71), followed by furniture obstructs your walking in the house(OR 7.07, CI 2.88-17.36), dark kitchen (OR 5.13, CI 2.38-11.03). The group having fall experiences presented significantly higher score of FRHE than the group of non experiences of fall. Conclusion: The community dwelling older adults exposures to various FRHE factors and FRHE might increase the risk of falls. Assessing and modifying the home environment could be a good strategy to prevent fall among older adults.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.29-40
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between metabolic syndrome factor diseases and falls in the elderly aged 65 years or older and use them as basic data to reduce the risk of falls. Methods: The method of this study was to compare the injury-related characteristics of the fall and non-fall groups with a factor disease of metabolic syndrome in Korea over 65 years of age. Data from the 14th National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey in 2018 were used to conduct the study. A total of 7,991 data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Results: Among the total injuries, the fall group with metabolic syndrome factor disease accounted for 69.0% and the non-fall group 31.0%. Falls occurred in 86.3% of households. In the fall group with metabolic syndrome factor disease, the number of females was 1.9~2.1 times higher than that of males. Compared to 65~69 years of age, the incidence of falls was 1.4~1.5 times higher in 70~79 years, 1.7~2.2 times higher in 80~89 years, and 2.5~3.6 times higher in 90-year-olds and older. In NISS, the incidence of falls was 1.7 times higher in moderate compared to mild. In principle diagnosis, the incidence of falls was 2.2 times higher in S40-S99 compared to S00-S19. Conclusion: The elderly with metabolic syndrome factor disease should continue to promote health through light exercise that can strengthen muscle strength to prevent falls.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze risk factors for positional vertigo (PV) and the influence thereof on daily life and subjective quality-of-life (QoL). Subject and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data of the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study population consisted of 1,274 individuals aged >40 years for whom complete dizziness-related data were available. Blood and urine tests were performed, and nutritional intake, QoL, and subjective health status were measured using a questionnaire. The associations between PV and blood/urine test data and nutritional intake were evaluated via multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: A history of PV within the previous year was reported by 98 individuals (7.7%). Advanced age and female gender were both significantly associated with such a history. Serum hemoglobin, creatinine, and triglyceride levels correlated significantly with a history of PV. Carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin B2 intakes were significantly lower in individuals with PV. Multivariate analysis revealed that only age was significantly associated with a history of PV (p=0.003). Although subjective health status score was not significantly lower in subjects with PV, subjective impairments in mobility, self-care, the performance of usual activities, and anxiety/depression were more prominent in individuals with PV. A fall history and limitations of activity were also significantly higher in individuals with PV (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions: Age was a risk factor for PV, which affected most QoL parameters, fall frequency, and the performance of normal activities.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.8-14
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• 2019

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to analyze risk factors for positional vertigo (PV) and the influence thereof on daily life and subjective quality-of-life (QoL). Subject and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data of the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study population consisted of 1,274 individuals aged >40 years for whom complete dizziness-related data were available. Blood and urine tests were performed, and nutritional intake, QoL, and subjective health status were measured using a questionnaire. The associations between PV and blood/urine test data and nutritional intake were evaluated via multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: A history of PV within the previous year was reported by 98 individuals (7.7%). Advanced age and female gender were both significantly associated with such a history. Serum hemoglobin, creatinine, and triglyceride levels correlated significantly with a history of PV. Carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin B2 intakes were significantly lower in individuals with PV. Multivariate analysis revealed that only age was significantly associated with a history of PV (p=0.003). Although subjective health status score was not significantly lower in subjects with PV, subjective impairments in mobility, self-care, the performance of usual activities, and anxiety/depression were more prominent in individuals with PV. A fall history and limitations of activity were also significantly higher in individuals with PV (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). Conclusions: Age was a risk factor for PV, which affected most QoL parameters, fall frequency, and the performance of normal activities.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was done to identify factors influencing falls in inpatients. A comprehensive analysis of individual, disease, and environment related factors and an assessment of being in a risk factor group were included in the data. Method: The medical records of 325 inpatients were reviewed. Data were collected from January to July 2003. Frequencies, 1-test and $X^2-test$ were used to analyze the data and the SPSS program was used. Results: Individual-related factors for inpatients falls were age, drinking and weakness. Disease-related factors for inpatients falls were diagnostic department, admission from ER or OPD, admission by wheelchair or orther method and activity status. Environment-related factors for inpatient falls were re-education and side-rails. Assessment of the risk factor group related factors were age, history of falls, body balance, depression, communication, medication, chronic disease, urinary condition and total score for risk factors. Conclusion: Experienceing a fall among Korean inpatients was associated not only with individual factors, but also with disease and environmental factors. The findings of this study suggest that broad intervention programs should be provided to prevent inpatient falls.

• Journal of the Architectural Institute of Korea Structure & Construction
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

In order to seek out methods to reduce safety accidents caused by construction machinery and equipment, this study collects data about safety accidents and draws main risk factors by construction from the data, through SNA. It aimed to suggest safety management points to be used in future construction fields, by analyzing risk index of such factors. The finding can be summarized: First, Backhoe Bucket is the risk factor for crash accidents of average workers in earth works; boring machines-maintenance is the risk factor for fall accidents of construction machinery operators in foundation works; bending machine-reinforcing rod processing is the risk factor for jamming accidents of reinforcing rod engineers in frame works; and mobile crane-hook is the risk factor for crash accidents of average workers in lifting works. Second, works can be arranged in turn, according to the risk index: earth, lifting, frame and foundation works. Risk factors can be also arranged according to the risk index: Backhoe in earth works, pile drivers in foundation works, bending machines in frame works and mobile cranes in lifting works. This study has some limits, in that it only analyzed main machinery/equipment, among various kinds of them, for earth, foundation, frame and temporary works (lifting works) and used data collected over three years. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an analysis using big data, by collecting additional data about a lot of machinery/equipment in future construction fields.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.210-228
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• 2002

Background: The purpose of this research was to examine the fall incidence rate and its related factors of fall in inpatients. Methods: The data were collected from the 138 fall incident reports in one tertiary hospital in Seoul from April 1st 1999 to September 30th 2001. The Fall Incident Report Form was originally developed based on that of Massachusetts General Hospital revised in 1995. And this was modified for this survey by the collaborating work of QI team including researcher and department of nursing service of this particular hospital. The contents of Fall Incident Form were general characteristics of patient. factors related to fall. types and places of fall. circumstances, nursing interventions. and outcome. Results: 1) The incidence rate of fall was 0.08% of total discharged patients and 0.081 per 1000 patient-day. This incidence rate is much lower than that of several hospitals in USA. This finding might result from the different incidence report system of each hospital. 2) The characteristics of fall-prone patient were found as follows. They were mostly over 60 years old, in alert mental status, ambulatory with some assistance, and dependent on ambulatory device. The types of diseases related high incidence rate were cerebrovascular disease(3.2), hypertension(1.6), cardiovascular disease(1.4), diabetes(1.3) and liver disease(0.6). 3) The majority of fall events usually occurred m bed. bedside(walking or standing) and bathroom in patient room. Usually they were up on their own when they fell. And there were more falls of elderly occurred during night time than day or evening. 4) 63.8% of fall events resulted in physical injuries such as fracture and usually the patients had diagnostic procedures and some treatment(ex. suture) which caused additional cost to the patients and their families. 5) The found risk factors of fall were drugs(antihypertensive drug, diuretics) and environmental factors like too high bed height, long distance of bedside table and lamp switch, and slippery tile of bathroom floor. Conclusion: Considering these results, every medical and nursing staff should be aware of the risk factors of patients in hospital, and should intervene more actively the preventive managements, specially for the elderly patients during night. Therefore, it is recommended that the development of Fall Prevention Programs based on these results.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.600-608
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• 2001

Accidents are the fourth-leading causal factor of death among the elderly, and fall is a major type of accident (53.17%). Many cases of falls in the elderly result in delayed discovery and loss of quality of life. As the number of the elderly grows, falls will be a more important health problem. Most previous research on falls investigated prevalence. mortality, and the related factors. There are many studies proving the effect of rhythmic movements. But few researches considered linking risk factors of fall with rhythmic movements. Purpose: We want to show the changes after performing rhythmic movement program, in risk factors of falls and mobility such as flexibility, balance, muscle power and persistency in the elderly, in order to provide basic information needed for the development of fall injury prevention program for the elderly. Method: The design of this study is quasi-experimental, the equivalent control group, pretest-posttest. The subjects consist of 124 people who lived in Do-Bong-Qu. Seoul, agreed to participate in this study, and were able to follow this rhythmic movement program. About 93 % of them are from 65 to 84 years (Mean${\pm}$sd: $73.7{\pm}5.7$): 64% are female. The rhythmic movement program was designed. and performed by two community health nurses working in the Do-Bong-Gu Public Health Center, regularly twice a week from May, 4 to December, 17. in 10 senior citizens' community centers. Risk factors of fall were measured with RAFS- II (Risk Assessment for Falls Scale II) by asking about each item: mobility was measured by observing their specific movements asked by investigators. Results: 1. After performing the program during 7 months, risk factors score of falls were decreased significantly (paired-t = 4.77. p<0.01). 2. After performing the program during 7 months, flexibility (paired-t = 2.26. p=0.03) and mobility were improved (paired-t = 4.98. p<0.01). but muscle power and persistency did not change (paired-t = 0.33. p=0.74). Overall, mobility affecting the occurrence of falls was improved significantly (paired-t = 5.15. p<0.01). Conclusions: A regular rhythmic movement program can be helpful in preventing falls in the elderly. Further. we can develop a fall injury prevention program using rhythmic movement.