Effects of a Health Diary Program on Fall-Related Outcomes in Low-Income Elderly Women with Osteoarthritis

Lee, Myung Suk

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to identify the effects of a health diary program on fall related outcomes the low-income elderly women.
METHODS
The study was carried out with a nonequivalent control group with pretest-posttest design. The study was composed of two groups, each made up of 24 subjects: experimental group and control group. The subjects were low-income women aged over 65 years with osteoarthritis and both the experimental and control groups were made up of subjects with the same age profiles. The independent variable was the health diary program, and the dependent variables were fall related outcomes (fear of falling, fall-efficacy, knowledge of fall) difficulty of performing activity, and mood state. The health diary program was performed for 50 minutes each session and twice a week for 8 weeks. Data were collected before the health diary program 10 weeks after the beginning of the program.
RESULTS
The experimental group showed significant differences in knowledge of fall, fear of falling, and mood state compared to the control group. However there was no significant differences in difficulty of performing activity and fall efficacy.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study may be used as part of an education to prevent falls for low-income elderly women with osteoarthritis.