J Korean Community Nurs.  2003 Dec;14(4):676-685.

A Survey on Activities and Fear of Falling in the Home-dwelling Elderly in Seoul and Gyonggi-do

• Sohng KY
• Moon JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the abilities to act and fear of falling in home-dwelling elderly.
METHODS
This study interviewed 351 home-dwelling elders residing in Seoul and Gyonggi-do using a Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly.
RESULTS
Of the 351 subjects, 203 (57,8%) had activity restrictions. The main three activities that the subjects could not perform were going out when it is slippy, reaching something overhead and walking crowded places outside. According to general characteristics, performable activities were significantly fewer in subjects perceiving that their health status was low that those perceiving that their health status was high. On a scale of 3 points for fear of falling, the average score of the subjects was 1.46. The highest score of fear of falling was 2.62 for the activity of going out when it is slippery, next 1.87 for the activity of reaching something overhead. There was a significant inverse relationship between subjects' abilities to act and fear of falling.
CONCLUSIONS
The significant variables associated with fear of falling were gender (female), educational background, economic status (low-income), and experience of falls during the last one year. Thus further study is necessary, focused on the vulnerable population in order to prevent falls and to reduce fear of falling.

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Humans
Seoul
Vulnerable Populations
Walking