| Keywords |
Elderly ; Fall ; Risk factor |
| Abstract |
The purpose of this study was to identify regarding general, health-related, and environmental characteristics and factors associated with falls among the elderly in community. A total of 129 older adults aged 65 years and over were recruited from three small cities and participated in this descriptive survey after obtaining informed consent. Data were collected from November 22 to December 30, 2007 and analyzed by χ 2 test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, and logistic regression analyses using SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. The results showed that 31.8% of the respondents had experienced fall at least once within recent a year. The older adults who were female (43.2%) and living alone (51.7%) were more likely to have falls compared to male adults (12.5%) and adults living with family (26.0%), respectively (p=.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that significant independent predictors for fall were sex, dizziness, and regular exercise. Health care providers should focus on education and counseling regarding these factors to assess and prevent fall among older adults in community. |