IMPACT OF FEAR OF FALL ON FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE AMONG COMMUNITY DWELLING OLDER ADULTS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Fall, Fear of Fall, Functional Independence, Community Dwelling Older Adult
Abstract
Background: Aging, is an inevitable natural process, which brings cognitive decline and muscle weakness, ultimately leading to falls. Falls are the second main cause of elderly deaths globally. Between 28-35% of seniors over 65 experience falls annually, result in fractures, injuries, and a prevalent fear of falling (FOF), affecting a quarter of older individuals in communities.
Objective: To determine the impact of fear of fall on functional independence among community dwelling older adults.
Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in different community settings among older adults of age 64-74 years old. The total duration of study was 6 months from June, 2023 to December 2023. The data was collected from 99 participants, selected through non probability convenient sampling technique, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Fall Efficacy Scale (FES) and Functional Independence Measurement Scale (FIM) were used to collect data. Data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 16.
Results: Out of 99 participants individuals with low FES scores are perceived to have high self-efficacy and confidence in their ability to perform activities without the fear of falling, while high FES scores indicate a significant fear of falling and low self-efficacy in performing activities without the fear of falling
Conclusion: The study concluded that there is a significant moderate to strong negative relationship between the fear of falling and functional independence.
References
2. Khanuja K, Joki J, Bachmann G, Cuccurullo S. Gait and balance in the aging population: Fall prevention using innovation and technology. Maturitas. 2018;110:51-6.
3. Yoshida-Intern S. A global report on falls prevention epidemiology of falls. Geneva: WHO. 2007.
4. Randhawa FA, Mahmud G, Rasheed S, Asad AJRMJ. Obesity in Pakistan A new epidemic. 2021;46(2):446-.
5. Tomita Y, Arima K, Tsujimoto R, Kawashiri S-y, Nishimura T, Mizukami S, et al. Prevalence of fear of falling and associated factors among Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Medicine. 2018;97(4).
6. Zhang L, Zeng Y, Weng C, Yan J, Fang Y. Epidemiological characteristics and factors influencing falls among elderly adults in long-term care facilities in Xiamen, China. Medicine. 2019;98(8).
7. Lawson KA, Gonzalez EC. The impact of fear of falling on functional independence among older adults receiving home health services. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2014;2(3):4.
8. Bahat Öztürk G, Kiliç C, Bozkurt M, Karan M. Prevalence and associates of fear of falling among community-dwelling older adults. The journal of nutrition, health & aging. 2021;25:433-9.
9. Yardley L, Beyer N, Hauer K, Kempen G, Piot-Ziegler C, Todd C. Development and initial validation of the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Age and ageing. 2005;34(6):614-9.
10. Zijlstra G, Van Haastregt J, Van Eijk JTM, van Rossum E, Stalenhoef PA, Kempen GI. Prevalence and correlates of fear of falling, and associated avoidance of activity in the general population of community-living older people. Age and ageing. 2007;36(3):304-9.
11. Yardley L, Smith H. A prospective study of the relationship between feared consequences of falling and avoidance of activity in community-living older people. The Gerontologist. 2002;42(1):17-23.
12. Friedman SM, Munoz B, West SK, Rubin GS, Fried LP. Falls and fear of falling: which comes first? A longitudinal prediction model suggests strategies for primary and secondary prevention. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2002;50(8):1329-35.
13. Gazibara T, Kurtagic I, Kisic‐Tepavcevic D, Nurkovic S, Kovacevic N, Gazibara T, et al. Falls, risk factors and fear of falling among persons older than 65 years of age. Psychogeriatrics. 2017;17(4):215-23.
14. Cesari M, Landi F, Torre S, Onder G, Lattanzio F, Bernabei R. Prevalence and risk factors for falls in an older community-dwelling population. The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 2002;57(11):M722-M6.
15. Liu JY. Fear of falling in robust community‐dwelling older people: results of a cross‐sectional study. Journal of clinical nursing. 2015;24(3-4):393-405.
16. Adam CE. Towards Evidence-Based and Data-Driven Recommendations Promoting Independence in Later Life: Gait Speed, Falls, and Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults: University of Montana; 2021.
17. Greenberg M, Jacoby J, Barraco RD, Yazdanyar AR, Surmaitis RM, Youngdahl A, et al. Analysis of falls efficacy scale and vulnerable elders survey as predictors of falls. Cureus. 2021;13(4).
18. Koç Z, Sağlam Z. Relationship between balance status and risk of falling among elderly patients in Northern Turkey. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation. 2020;36(4):274-84.
19. Tornero-Quiñones I, Sáez-Padilla J, Espina Díaz A, Abad Robles MT, Sierra Robles Á. Functional ability, frailty and risk of falls in the elderly: relations with autonomy in daily living. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2020;17(3):1006.
20. Allison LK, Painter JA, Emory A, Whitehurst P, Raby A. Participation restriction, not fear of falling, predicts actual balance and mobility abilities in rural community-dwelling older adults. Journal of geriatric physical therapy. 2013;36(1):13-23.
21. Schoene D, Heller C, Aung YN, Sieber CC, Kemmler W, Freiberger E. A systematic review on the influence of fear of falling on quality of life in older people: is there a role for falls? Clinical interventions in aging. 2019:701-19.
22. Cappleman AS, Thiamwong L. Fear of falling assessment and interventions in community-dwelling older adults: a mixed methods case-series. Clinical gerontologist. 2020;43(4):471-82.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Amna Naveed
RHO at Ghurki trust and teaching hospital. Contact: 03178731632
Nabeela Safdar
Assistant Professor, Lahore College of Physical Therapy, UBAS, Lahore, Contact: 03315337445
Ume Habiba
Physiotherapist, Dr.Yahya Institute of Medical Sciences, Contact: 0300-3470386
Rahat Ayub
Assistant Professor, University of Management & Technology Lahore, Contact: 0323-4087940
Sumbal Salik
Clinical Physiotherapist, DHQ Hospital, Okara, Contact: 0318-4552151
Raheel Munawar
Clinical Physiotherapist, Johar Pain Relief Center, Lahore, Contact: 03448512211