Perceived balance and self‐reported falls: A retrospective cross‐sectional study using the National Health and Aging Trend Study

• Published in: Journal of clinical nursing 2024-06, Vol.33 (6), p.2190-2200
• Main Authors: Dolan, Hanne, Pohl, Janet, Pituch, Keenan, Coon, David W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: accidental falls; Accidental Falls - prevention & control; Accidental Falls - statistics & numerical data; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitudes; Balance; Cross-Sectional Studies; Falls; fear of falling; Female; gerontology; Health Belief Model; Health psychology; Health risks; Humans; Male; older adults; Older people; Postural Balance; Retrospective Studies; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk Assessment - statistics & numerical data; Self Report
• ISSN: 0962-1067; 1365-2702
• DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16960

Aims To examine how perceived balance problems are associated with self‐reported falls in the past month after controlling for known correlates of falls among older adults. Background Approximately 30% of adults age 65 and older fall each year. Most accidental falls are preventable, and older adults' engagement in fall prevention is imperative. Limited research suggest that older adults do not use the term ‘fall risk’ to describe their risk for falls. Instead, they commonly use the term ‘balance problems’. Yet, commonly used fall risk assessment tools in both primary and acute care do not assess older adults' perceived balance. Design and Method The Health Belief Model and the concept of perceived susceptibility served as the theoretical framework. A retrospective, cross‐sectional secondary analysis using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study from year 2015 was conducted. The outcome variable was self‐reported falls in the last month. Results A subsample of independently living participants (N = 7499) was selected, and 10.3% of the sample reported a fall. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds of reporting a fall in the past month was 3.4 times (p