Knowledge and practices of elderly women about fall prevention

Unveil the knowledge and practices of elderly women about the prevention of falls. Methods: Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive research, developed with eight elderly women from a community group at a Basic Health Unit in the state of Paraná. Data were obtained through individual interviews, submitted to lexicographical analysis through the Descending Hierarchical Classification using the IRaMuTeQ® software, and discussed with the theoretical-analytical framework of Paulo Freire’s Praxis.

Results

Six classes emerged: 1. Experiences, background, and practices of Health Education; 2. Advancing age as a factor for the occurrence of falls; 3. Fall prevention practices; 4. Falls and their consequences; 5. Importance of preventive practices; and 6. Environmental and behavioral risk factors in the elderly’s home.

Conclusion

Knowledge and practices were learned from experiences, background, and educational practices in Primary Health Care, implemented in praxis and mediated by concrete reality and emancipatory dialogue.

Keywords
Accidental falls; Accident prevention; Health of the elderly; Aged; Primary health care; Public health

Classes	Nomination	Lexicographic Analysis
Classes	Nomination	Words (p <0.0001)^*	eff. total^**	X²^***	%^****
Class 6 23% 51 ECU	Environmental and behavioral risk factors in the home of the elderly: scenario for the occurrence of falls	Move up	24	34.83	70.83
		Stairs	11	30.19	90.91
		Smooth	12	26.12	83.33
		Bedroom	7	24.23	100.0
		Non-slip floor	9	23.03	88.89
		Above	9	23.03	88.89
		Chair	20	21.94	65.0
		Inhabit	6	20.68	100.0
		Yard	8	19.53	87.5
		House	57	18.91	43.86
		Clean	7	16.08	85.71
		Wash	7	16.08	85.71
Class 3 18.5% 41 ECU	Fall prevention practices: reducing extrinsic and environmental risk factors	Stumble	22	40.08	68.18
		Look	10	26.33	80.0
		Break	20	25.18	60.0
		Place	23	24.67	56.52
		Wet	14	20.83	64.29
		Flip flops	12	19.57	66.67
		Floor	36	19.25	44.44
		Purchase	4	17.98	100.0
Class 5 14% 31 ECU	Falls can be avoided: recognition and importance of preventive practices	Need	25	49.7	60.0
		Hold	8	37.35	87.5
		Pass through	5	31.52	100.0
		Support	5	31.52	100.0
		Walk	42	30.31	40.48
		Give	4	25.1	100.0
		Face	4	25.1	100.0
		Street	14	23.19	57.14
		Wall	3	18.74	100.0
		Bar	3	18.74	100.0
		Hit	10	18.47	60.0
Class 1 17.1% 38 ECU	Experiences, background, and practices in Health Education: building knowledge and practices about fall prevention	Learn	20	61.26	80.0
		Community_group	9	45.42	100.0
		Basic_unit	19	31.05	63.16
		Watch	6	29.86	100.0
		Guide	30	26.44	50.0
		Explain	7	23.97	85.71
		Know	29	22.83	48.28
		Prevent	17	22.57	58.82
		Good	12	21.95	66.67
		Talk	15	20.85	60.0
		Meeting	4	19.72	100.0
		Television	4	19.72	100.0
		Teach	4	19.72	100.0
		Help	17	16.65	52.94
Class 4 14.4% 32 ECU	Falls - and their consequences - are perceived as one of the main problems for the maintenance of autonomy, independence, and quality of life of the elderly	Tumble	10	36.51	80.0
		Medicine	5	30.37	100.0
		Hurt	7	29.78	85.71
		Day	20	22.56	50.0
		Take	21	20.73	47.62
		Pass	12	19.83	58.33
		Great	3	18.06	100.0
		Hospital	5	17.84	80.0
		Dizziness	13	17.4	53.85
		Take	20	16.67	45.0
		Knee	8	15.55	62.5
		Pain	8	15.55	62.5
Class 2 13.1% 29 ECU	Advancing age as a predisposing factor for the occurrence of falls: intrinsic risk factors	Weak	18	99.17	88.89
		Leg	19	79.42	78.95
		Elderly	44	50.7	45.45
		Weakness	5	34.04	100.0
		Age	4	27.11	100.0
		Stay	55	24.89	32.73
		Easy	7	21.68	71.43
		Break	3	20.24	100.0
		Facilitate	3	20.24	100.0
		Seem	5	20.18	80.0
		Difficult	11	17.54	54.55
		Young	6	15.6	66.67

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Escola de Enfermagem Rua São Manoel, 963 -Campus da Saúde , 90.620-110 - Porto Alegre - RS - Brasil, Fone: (55 51) 3308-5242 / Fax: (55 51) 3308-5436 - Porto Alegre - RS - Brazil
E-mail: revista@enf.ufrgs.br

Acompanhe os números deste periódico no seu leitor de RSS

[1] Corresponding author:
Iara Sescon Nogueira E-mail: iara_nogueira@hotmail.com