TY - JOUR

T1 - Fear of falling and changed functional ability following hip fracture among community-dwelling elderly people

T2 - an explanatory sequential mixed method study

AU - Jellesmark, Annette

AU - Herling, Suzanne Forsyth

AU - Egerod, Ingrid

AU - Beyer, Nina

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - PURPOSE: The aims of the study were to assess self-reported fear of falling (FOF) and functional ability among community-dwelling elderly people 3-6 months post hospital discharge after a hip fracture, to investigate the association between FOF and functional ability, and to explore the lived experience of FOF and disability when recovering from a hip fracture.METHOD: A sequential explanatory mixed method design was used in a "face-to-face" survey assessing FOF (Falls Efficacy Scale-International, FES-I), avoidance of activities (Modified survey of Activities and Fear of Falling, mSAFFE), functional ability (Functional Recovery Score, FRS), and mobility (New Mobility Score, NMS) followed by in-depth interviews of four participants. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation.RESULTS: Among the 33 participants 58% had a high degree of FOF and avoided more activities, needed more assistance in activities of daily living, and were less mobile than participants who had a low degree of FOF (p < 0.0001). According to the informants FOF reduced their functional ability and seriously altered their lives.CONCLUSIONS: FOF was common and significantly associated with activity avoidance, disability, and affected the lives of elderly recovering from a hip fracture. Some patients were physically incapacitated by FOF.

AB - PURPOSE: The aims of the study were to assess self-reported fear of falling (FOF) and functional ability among community-dwelling elderly people 3-6 months post hospital discharge after a hip fracture, to investigate the association between FOF and functional ability, and to explore the lived experience of FOF and disability when recovering from a hip fracture.METHOD: A sequential explanatory mixed method design was used in a "face-to-face" survey assessing FOF (Falls Efficacy Scale-International, FES-I), avoidance of activities (Modified survey of Activities and Fear of Falling, mSAFFE), functional ability (Functional Recovery Score, FRS), and mobility (New Mobility Score, NMS) followed by in-depth interviews of four participants. Interviews were analyzed using systematic text condensation.RESULTS: Among the 33 participants 58% had a high degree of FOF and avoided more activities, needed more assistance in activities of daily living, and were less mobile than participants who had a low degree of FOF (p < 0.0001). According to the informants FOF reduced their functional ability and seriously altered their lives.CONCLUSIONS: FOF was common and significantly associated with activity avoidance, disability, and affected the lives of elderly recovering from a hip fracture. Some patients were physically incapacitated by FOF.

KW - Accidental Falls

KW - Activities of Daily Living/psychology

KW - Aged

KW - Aged, 80 and over

KW - Fear/psychology

KW - Female

KW - Hip Fractures/complications

KW - Humans

KW - Interviews as Topic

KW - Logistic Models

KW - Male

KW - Motor Activity

KW - Qualitative Research

KW - Quality of Life

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Self Report

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Surveys and Questionnaires

KW - Time Factors

U2 - 10.3109/09638288.2012.673685

DO - 10.3109/09638288.2012.673685

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22536796

VL - 34

SP - 2124

EP - 2131

JO - Disability and Rehabilitation

JF - Disability and Rehabilitation

SN - 0963-8288

IS - 25

ER -