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Yoo, Jeon, and Kim: Effects of a Fall Prevention Program on Falls in Frail Elders Living at Home in Rural Communities
Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2013; 43(5): 613-625.

Published online: 31 October 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2013.43.5.613

Effects of a Fall Prevention Program on Falls in Frail Elders Living at Home in Rural Communities

Jae-Soon Yoo1, Mi Yang Jeon2, Chul-Gyu Kim3

1Department of Nursing, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.

2College of Nursing, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea.

3Department of Nursing, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Kim, Chul-Gyu. Department of Nursing, Cheongju University, 298 Daeseong-ro, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju 360-764, Korea. Tel: +82-43-229-7923, Fax: +82-43-229-7988, cgkim@cju.ac.kr

Received 8 March 2013       Accepted 8 August 2013

© 2013 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted to determine the effects of a fall prevention program on falls, physical function, psychological function, and home environmental safety in frail elders living at home in rural communities.

Methods

The design of this study was a nonequivalent control group pre posttest design. The study was conducted from July to November, 2012 with 30 participants in the experimental group and 30 in the control group. Participants were registered at the public health center of E County. The prevention program on falls consisted of laughter therapy, exercise, foot care and education. The program was provided once a week for 8 weeks and each session lasted 80 minutes.

Results

The risk score for falls and depression in the experimental group decreased significantly compared with scores for the control group. Compliance with prevention behavior related to falls, knowledge score on falls, safety scores of home environment, physical balance, muscle strength of lower extremities, and self-efficacy for fall prevention significantly increased in the experimental group compared with the control group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the prevention program on falls is effective for the prevention of falls in frail elders living at home.

Keywords: Frail elderly, Accidental falls, Accident prevention

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Contents of the Fall Prevention Program
jkan-43-613-i001

*min=minutes.

Table 2
Homogeneity of General Characteristics and Dependent Variables
jkan-43-613-i002

*Fisher's exact test result.

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Table 3
Differences in Dependent Variables between Experimental and Control Groups
jkan-43-613-i003

*Difference=posttest-pretest.

Exp.=Experimental group; Cont.=Control group.

Notes

This study was supported by a grant of Chungcheongbuk-Do in 2012(No. 2012040631).

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