Factors Associated with Falls Self-Efficacy in Community Dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This thesis will include a literature review and journal manuscript to be submitted to the Australasian Journal on Aging. Accidental falls affect 27% of older Australians each year and cost the government $558.5 million. Falls self-efficacy can be used to understand the concern older people have for falling while doing different activities. AIMS: This paper aims to investigate associations between falls self-efficacy and other health related factors in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted with 560 older adults in the Sydney North Primary Health Network (SNPHN) through completing an interview style questionnaire that included questions about falls history, the Short Falls-Efficacy Scale- International (FES-I), physical activity, social participation, health service use, comorbidities, and medications. The data was analysed through descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Significant factors associated with increased concern for falling as rated by the FES-I were being injured in a past fall, having a walking aid, physical activity, social participation, being hospitalized in the past month, number of comorbidities, and number of medications, though these relationships were all weak (r<0.300 and r>-0.300). Multiple linear regression found that having or using a walking aid, having a higher number of comorbidities, having panic or anxiety disorders, and being concerned about falling were predictors of FES-I score. CONCLUSIONS: Having a healthy level of respect for the risk of falls as people age is essential to healthy ageing. Falls self-efficacy is a valid measure of the concern that community-dwelling older adults have about falling, and understanding falls self-efficacy can be used to implement more effective falls prevention strategies.