@article{ref1,
title="Investigating the relationship between reduced self-awareness of falls risk, rehabilitation engagement and falls in older adults",
journal="Archives of gerontology and geriatrics",
year="2016",
author="Mihaljcic, Tijana and Haines, Terry P. and Ponsford, Jennie L. and Stolwyk, Renerus J.",
volume="69",
number="",
pages="38-44",
abstract="The present study aimed to investigate whether self-awareness of falls risk is associated with rehabilitation engagement, motivation for rehabilitation, and number of falls after hospital discharge. The sample comprised 91 older adults (Mage=77.97, SD=8.04) undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. The Self-Awareness of Falls Risk Measure (SAFRM) was used to measure different aspects of self-awareness. The treating physiotherapist and occupational therapist rated the patient's engagement in rehabilitation and the patient reported his/her motivation for treatment. Falls information was collected from the patient and significant other once a month for three months following hospital discharge. Significant correlations were found between physiotherapist-rated engagement and intellectual (rs=-0.22, p<0.05) and anticipatory awareness (rs=-0.24, p<0.05). Occupational therapist-rated engagement and patient-reported motivation for rehabilitation was correlated with emergent awareness (rs=-0.38 and -0.31, p<0.05, respectively) and overall self-awareness (rs=-0.31 and -0.26, p<0.05, respectively). Regression analyses indicated that overall self-awareness provided a unique contribution to occupational therapist-rated engagement when controlling for age, gender, cognition and functional ability. Falls were reported by 29.9% of participants, however, self-awareness did not differ significantly between fallers and non-fallers. The findings suggest that self-awareness of falls risk is associated with rehabilitation engagement and motivation. Therefore, improving patient self-awareness of falls risk may increase engagement in therapy leading to better patient outcomes.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0167-4943",
doi="10.1016/j.archger.2016.11.003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2016.11.003"
}