A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world
Background: Falls place a heavy burden on the health system, impacting on an individual's quality of life, often resulting in a fear of falling, reduction in independence and at times admission to residential care. This study aimed to determine health professionals' confidence in discussin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Australian Health Promotion Association
2018
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67321 |
| _version_ | 1848761535227232256 |
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| author | Jancey, Jonine Wold, C. Meade, R. Sweeney, R. Davison, E. Leavy, J. |
| author_facet | Jancey, Jonine Wold, C. Meade, R. Sweeney, R. Davison, E. Leavy, J. |
| author_sort | Jancey, Jonine |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: Falls place a heavy burden on the health system, impacting on an individual's quality of life, often resulting in a fear of falling, reduction in independence and at times admission to residential care. This study aimed to determine health professionals' confidence in discussing falls prevention strategies, topics discussed and the barriers and enablers to falls prevention discussions with clients aged 60 years and over. Method: A cross-sectional self-complete online survey was undertaken with a sample of health professionals (n = 191) who had engaged in the services of the Stay On Your Feet ® programmes delivered by the Injury Matters in Western Australia (WA). Results: The majority of participants were physiotherapists (25.7%), registered nurses (17.8%) and occupational therapists (11%) located in metropolitan (56%) and regional (44%) WA. Most health professionals (80.2%) were "highly" confident discussing falls prevention strategies. Discussion of falls prevention included the benefits of strength and balance exercises (83%), eating a healthy diet (78.7%), regular eyesight checks (64.5%), reviewing medications (54.8%) and exposure to sunlight (50.3%). The main enablers to falls prevention were knowledge (89.7%), skills to identify (77.7%) and implement (66.3%) falls prevention strategies, and access to printed resources (74.9%), while the main barrier was appointment times (14.6%). Conclusion: Health professionals' indicated that they are confident in discussing falls prevention strategies, and although a range of falls prevention strategies were discussed, limited attention was directed at the pharmacists' review of medications, eyesight checks and increasing vitamin D levels. So what?: Health professionals are discussing falls prevention strategies with their clients. A more multifaceted approach should be encouraged with an emphasis on all prevention strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:33:13Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-67321 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T10:33:13Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| publisher | Australian Health Promotion Association |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-673212018-10-18T03:01:30Z A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world Jancey, Jonine Wold, C. Meade, R. Sweeney, R. Davison, E. Leavy, J. Background: Falls place a heavy burden on the health system, impacting on an individual's quality of life, often resulting in a fear of falling, reduction in independence and at times admission to residential care. This study aimed to determine health professionals' confidence in discussing falls prevention strategies, topics discussed and the barriers and enablers to falls prevention discussions with clients aged 60 years and over. Method: A cross-sectional self-complete online survey was undertaken with a sample of health professionals (n = 191) who had engaged in the services of the Stay On Your Feet ® programmes delivered by the Injury Matters in Western Australia (WA). Results: The majority of participants were physiotherapists (25.7%), registered nurses (17.8%) and occupational therapists (11%) located in metropolitan (56%) and regional (44%) WA. Most health professionals (80.2%) were "highly" confident discussing falls prevention strategies. Discussion of falls prevention included the benefits of strength and balance exercises (83%), eating a healthy diet (78.7%), regular eyesight checks (64.5%), reviewing medications (54.8%) and exposure to sunlight (50.3%). The main enablers to falls prevention were knowledge (89.7%), skills to identify (77.7%) and implement (66.3%) falls prevention strategies, and access to printed resources (74.9%), while the main barrier was appointment times (14.6%). Conclusion: Health professionals' indicated that they are confident in discussing falls prevention strategies, and although a range of falls prevention strategies were discussed, limited attention was directed at the pharmacists' review of medications, eyesight checks and increasing vitamin D levels. So what?: Health professionals are discussing falls prevention strategies with their clients. A more multifaceted approach should be encouraged with an emphasis on all prevention strategies. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67321 10.1002/hpja.42 Australian Health Promotion Association restricted |
| spellingShingle | Jancey, Jonine Wold, C. Meade, R. Sweeney, R. Davison, E. Leavy, J. A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world |
| title | A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world |
| title_full | A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world |
| title_fullStr | A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world |
| title_full_unstemmed | A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world |
| title_short | A balanced approach to falls prevention: Application in the real world |
| title_sort | balanced approach to falls prevention: application in the real world |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/67321 |