Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Fall Prevention Strategies among Spine and Hip Post-operative Elderly Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Falls and their consequences are always considered significant public health issue. Fall is considered a major health concern that makes older people more prone to injury and loss of life. Fractures of the hip, trunk, wrist, and neck are among the most common injuries caused by falls. Falls can cause disability, activity restriction, and fear of falling, all of which can affect quality of life and independence. As a result, inquiring about falls and assessing knowledge about falls, near falls, and fear of falling can assist us in identifying and mitigating any modifiable hazards before the next fall and also can help us shorten the rehabilitation period in the immediate post-operative period. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the status of knowledge, attitude, and practices of falls prevention strategy among post-operative hip and spine elderly individuals in Karad. Materials and Methods: From July to December 2020, a cross-sectional investigation was conducted in a rural tertiary care hospital in Karad. In this study, a total of 100 individuals participated who had undergone spinal (n = 33) and hip (n = 67) surgeries. A consent form was filled out by the participants and completed a three-part questionnaire that asked questions about knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding fall prevention strategies. Following that, the data were examined using acceptable statistical procedures, and Excel was used to create various graphs with supplied frequencies and percentages generated using the software. The grade was determined by calculating the score into good/average/poor/very poor. Results: The present study shows that elderly people have poor awareness of how prone they are to falls postoperatively. At the same time, 17% of participants show very poor knowledge regarding fall prevention strategies. When assessed about the prevalence of attitudes and practices of the fall prevention program, 62% of participants exhibited a poor score. Conclusion: Based on the responses, there is a scarcity of knowledge regarding fall prevention strategies among the post-operative elderly individuals in Karad. The awareness regarding the knowledge and practice will thereby reduce the number of yearly falls both postoperatively and the silent falls. This practice would ensure a significant reduction in the post-fall complications and morbidity due to falls, thus leading to an improved quality of health care in the geriatric age group.