Abstract
BackgroundAccidental falls could have severe and far-reaching consequences for older adults, their families and society at large. Healthcare practitioners’ (HCPs) perspectives on fall risk factors in older adults could assist in reducing and even preventing falls. Currently, no universal tool exists for this purpose. The World Health Organization’s globally accepted International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used.AimThis study aimed to (1) describe the perspectives of HCPs on fall risk factors in older adults in South Africa and (2) link these factors to the ICF.SettingEighteen HCPs participated in two focus groups.MethodsUsing a qualitative research design, an inductive thematic analysis allowed for the identification of important themes, which were linked to the ICF.ResultsThe factors mentioned by participants were categorised into 38 themes, which were linked to 142 ICF codes, of which 43% (n = 61) were linked to the Body Function category, 23% (n = 32) to the Environmental Factors category, 18% (n = 26) to the Body Structure category and 16% (n = 23) to the Activities and Participation category. HCPs revealed two relevant factors that were not captured in existing fall risk assessment tools (FRATs), namely ‘muscle-power functions’ and ‘mobility-of-joint functions’, which directly relate to the ability to execute mobility activities. Combining HCPs’ perspectives with other stakeholders and with literature provides a holistic picture of fall risk factors in older adults.
Highlights
Accidental falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths amongst older adults (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control 2019; i.e. individuals older than 65 years of age)
This study aims to fulfil two distinct objectives: firstly, to provide insight into the perspectives of Healthcare practitioners’ (HCPs) in the South African context regarding risk factors associated with falls in older adults, and secondly, to link these factors to the ICF as a universal framework for describing functioning
The focus group participants provided rich insights into their perspectives with regard to the fall risk factors that they considered relevant in older adults
Summary
Accidental falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths amongst older adults (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control 2019; i.e. individuals older than 65 years of age). On the African continent, South Africa has one of the highest proportions of older adults, compared with other African countries, such as Angola, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Uganda. This population is expected to grow from 4 million in 2011 to over 10 million in 2030 (Kelly, Mrengqwa & Geffen 2019). Falls in older adults could have severe and far-reaching consequences, for the person who falls and for their family members – as a third-party disability (Hickson & Scarinci 2007) – and for society at large. Accidental falls could have severe and far-reaching consequences for older adults, their families and society at large. The World Health Organization’s globally accepted International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) was used
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