Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Falls among the geriatric population, cause frequent morbidity and mortality
OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the Knowledge of elderly clients toward the prevention of fall.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A cross sectional study was carried out on a total of 403 elderly ,aged≥60 years attending geriatric clinic at Baghdad teaching hospital during the period from 6th of February to 26th of June 2017,collection of data by direct interview.
RESULTS:
This study included 403 elderly with mean age (68.5±5.4SD) years, (95%)of them had chronic diseases and (94%) currently on medications,(73.2%) had fall attack previously and (39.3%) of them with ≥5 times attacks of fall. About (52.6%), (60.3%) and (30.8%) had correct knowledge towards risk factors, cause of fall and fall prevention respectively,(56.3%) do not know the intervention to preventfall in elderly while (25.8%) believed that the fall prevention health educationis the best intervention. About two third (65.5%) believed that no action could protect them.
CONCLUSION:
The study concluded that the participants had low level of knowledge and practice about fall prevention in elderly.