Evaluating the effectiveness of a self-care intervention for fall prevention in older adults residing in Bang Krabue Subdistrict, Sing Buri Province

Abstract

            Falls among older adults constitute a significant problem associated with injuries and dependency. The development of self-care programs is part of the effort to reduce fall rates in this population. This research aimed to compare the mean scores of self-reported fall prevention behaviors and the fall rate before and after a 12-week self-care program for fall prevention in older adults. The study included 25 participants residing in Bang Krabu Subdistrict, Mueang Sing Buri District, Sing Buri Province. Data were collected using screening tools, questionnaires, behavior assessments, and fall logs. Statistical analysis involved Paired t-tests, Z-tests for proportion, and Poisson regression for count data.

            The results revealed that the 25 participants had a mean age of 77.00 years (S.D. = 6.33), with the majority being female (88.0%). Initially, their self-care behaviors were generally at a good level, with only 2 participants exhibiting moderate levels (mean score 1.67 – 2.33). Following the 12-week self-care program, all participants (100.0%) demonstrated good self-care behaviors, with a mean score increase of 5.52 points (95% CI: 3.91, 7.13). When analyzed by domain, general self-care behaviors showed the highest increase (4.16 points, 95% CI: 2.88, 5.44), while self-care related to health deviations showed the smallest increase (0.52 points, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.86). The fall rate among older adults decreased by 28.0% (95% CI: 10.4, 45.6), representing a 2.53-fold reduction in fall risk (95% CI: 1.44, 4.44). This reduction was statistically significant (p = 0.001). However, age and baseline self-care behavior scores were not significantly associated with the reduction in fall risk (p > 0.05).

These findings suggest that self-care programs have the potential to prevent falls in older adults, particularly by improving general self-care behaviors, which are crucial for reducing fall rates. However, further research with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods, and assessment of other potential risk factors for falls is warranted to develop more comprehensive and sustainable fall prevention programs.