Results of the Development of a Fall Prevention Model for the Elderly in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province

Abstract

This research and development study aimed to: 1) examine the situation, problems, and factors associated with falls among older adults, and 2) develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a fall prevention model for older adults. The study sample consisted of 422 older adults. The research instruments included a questionnaire on factors associated with falls, focus group discussion guidelines, a fall prevention model for older adults, and a questionnaire on fall-preventive behaviors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Pearson’s correlation, and t-test. The research findings revealed that:

1. Factors significantly associated with fall-preventive behaviors were marital status and perceived benefits of fall prevention.

2. After implementation of the model, the experimental group had significantly higher mean scores of knowledge regarding fall prevention compared to before implementation (p < 0.001).

3. After implementation, the experimental group not only showed significantly higher mean scores of knowledge than before, but also demonstrated significantly higher mean scores of fall-preventive behaviors compared to the control group (p < 0.001).

In conclusion, fall prevention in older adults should focus on promoting knowledge, enhancing health preparedness, and managing environmental factors to foster sustainable behavioral changes in fall prevention.