‘You Just Struggle on Your Own’: Exploring Older People and Their Caregivers' Perspectives About Falls Prevention Education in Hospitals

Background

Providing older patients with an opportunity to participate in individualised falls preventive education, has been shown to reduce hospital falls. However, few studies have explored older peoples' perspectives of hospital falls prevention education. This study aimed to explore older people and their caregivers' knowledge and awareness about hospital falls prevention, including their reflections on the education they received when hospitalised.

Methods

A qualitative, exploratory study with focus groups and semistructured interviews was conducted. Participants were a purposively selected sample of community-dwelling older people (65+ years) admitted to a hospital in the past 5 years and caregivers of older people. Data were thematically analysed using deductive and inductive approaches, and a capability–opportunity–motivation–behaviour model was applied to understand key determinants of implementing falls education for hospitalised older people.

Results

Participants' [n = 46 (older people n = 37, age range 60–89 years), caregivers n = 9] feedback identified five themes: distress and disempowerment if the participant did have a hospital fall or nearly fell, anxiety and uncertainty about what behaviour was required while in hospital, insufficient and inconsistent falls prevention education, inadequate communication and underlying attitudes of ageism. Applying a behaviour change model suggested that older people and their caregivers did not develop falls prevention knowledge, awareness or motivation to engage in falls prevention behaviour. Older people were also provided with limited opportunities to engage in falls preventive behaviour while in hospital.

Conclusion

Older people in our study received sporadic education about falls prevention during their hospital admissions which did not raise their awareness and knowledge about the risk of falls or their capability to engage in safe falls preventive behaviour. Conflicting messages may result in older people feeling confused and anxious about staying safe in hospital.