Citation

Leiva-Caro JA, Salazar-González BC, Gallegos-Cabriales EC, Gómez-Meza MV, Hunter KF. Rev. Lat. Am. Enfermagem 2015; 23(6): 1139-1148.

Affiliation

Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo)

DOI

10.1590/0104-1169.0331.2659

PMID

26626006

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: to determine connections between competence, usability, environment and risk of falls in elderly adults.

METHOD: correlational descriptive study, 123 elderly adults, both male and female, aged 70 years and older were included. Data was collected via the Tinetti Scale, CESD-7 Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Usability Questionnaire on Housing and Housing Enabler; and sociodemographic and health background certificate data. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used, multivariate linear and logistic regression models were adjusted.

RESULTS: 42.0% of the elderly adults had presented with falls, with a higher prevalence in women, and in the group of 70-75 years. The physical environment of the house, gait, and usability were set as risk factors for falls. A negative relationship between usability and depressive symptoms, cognitive health, balance, gait, the social and physical environment was found, p <0.05; and a strong positive correlation between walking and balance, p <0.05.

CONCLUSION: this study helps to better understand the phenomenon of falling, to find a connection between usability with the risk of falls, and other variables.

Language: es