TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Barriers faced by healthcare professionals when managing falls in older people in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: a qualitative study
JO  - BMJ open
A1  - Loganathan, Annaletchumy
A1  - Ng, Chirk Jenn
A1  - Tan, Maw Pin
A1  - Low, Wah Yun
SP  - e008460
EP  - e008460
VL  - 5
IS  - 11
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To explore the barriers faced by healthcare professionals (HCPs) in managing falls among older people (aged above 60 years) who have a high risk of falling. RESEARCH DESIGN: The study used a qualitative methodology, comprising 10 in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions. A semistructured topic guide was used to facilitate the interviews, which were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and checked for accuracy. Data were analysed thematically using WeftQDA software. PARTICIPANTS: 20 HCPs who managed falls in older people. SETTING: This study was conducted at the Primary Care Clinic in the University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Malaysia. <br><br>RESULTS: Four categories of barriers emerged-these were related to perceived barriers for older people, HCPs' barriers, lack of caregiver support and healthcare system barriers. HCPs perceived that older people normalised falls, felt stigmatised, were fatalistic, as well as in denial regarding falls-related advice. HCPs themselves trivialised falls and lacked the skills to manage falls. Rehabilitation was impeded by premature decisions to admit older people to nursing homes. Lastly, there was a lack of healthcare providers as well as a dearth of fall education and training on fall prevention for HCPs. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: This study identified barriers that explain poor fall management in older people with a high risk of falls. The lack of structured fall prevention guidelines and insufficient training in fall management made HCPs unable to advise patients on how to prevent falls. The findings of this study warrant evidence-based structured fall prevention intervention targeted to patients as well as to HCPs.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2044-6055
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008460
ID  - ref1
ER  -