Authors (including presenting author) :
Tsang KY(1), Chan R(2), Ng HP(1), ChanYL(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Occupational Therapy, Kowloon Hospital, (2) Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, City University of Hong Kong
Introduction :
A comprehensive understanding of the fall experience of our service users can facilitate development of interventions which respect the individuality, values, lifestyle, and, address cognitive & psychological issues of each client.
Objectives :
This study intended to explore the metacognitive and psychological factors that influence the older individuals of the local community, who suffered from a recent fall with fracture, in accepting and adhering to fall prevention strategies.
Methodology :
It was a qualitative research using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Eligible participants, who were elderly suffered from fall resulting in fractures and requiring hospitalization in recent 3 months, were recruited for a one-off interview by purposeful sampling. Each interview was conducted according to a standardized protocol and audio-taped. The audio-taped records were transcribed verbatim and analyzed based on Smith’s “Six Step” method to review for specific themes about the mechanism of how the fall-related concerns, fear of fall constructs and self-awareness associate with or influence on each other.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 20 eligible participants were recruited, and, the analysis of the interview transcript identified six major emerged themes, i.e. Attribution and Beliefs; Fear of Fall; Low fall self-efficacy; Self Awareness; Avoidance of activity or restriction to sedentary activity; Motivation and values were identified from analysis in the study. Interactions between the themes were also noticed.
Themes emerged in this study provided occupational therapists better understandings on the metacognitive and psychological factors that influence the older individuals’ perceptions towards the effective ways to reduce fall, acceptance and adherence to fall prevention strategies.
