Fall history and fall related concerns in community dwelling older Czech adults

Abstract

Falls in the elderly result in injuries of various levels of severity. At present, more attention is devoted to the psychological consequences of the fall, which lead to a reduction in activity and social participation, a reduction in the independence and quality of life, and are collectively referred to as fall-related concerns (FRC). The aim of this study was twofold. First, to study the prevalence of fall-related concern among community dwelling older Czech adults. Second, to describe the impact of fall-related concerns on activities of daily living. The study was designed as a cross-sectional quantitative study that uses the Czech version of the standardized Fall Efficacy Scale-International. The research showed that fall-related concerns are a major health problem among the elderly who live in communities. These concerns are present in the elderly who fell, but also in older women who have not fallen in the last year. The elderly who repeatedly fell in the last year showed a statistically more significant level of concerns associated with the falls in individual activities of daily living, as well as a higher overall score related to falls. A fall is a significant, but at the same time preventable, risk factor for fall-related concerns.