Educational Intervention in Elderly People: Prevention of Falling Down

Introduction: Fall, one of the threatening factors for the elderly which can cause death and disabilities leading high health care cost. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on Health Belief Model on prevention and fear of falling among elderly.Material and Methods: The current study was performed on ۱۴۰ elderly people in Fasa city, Fars Province, Iran ۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۰. The subject sampling method was selection via simple and randomly method which divided into intervention (n = ۷۰) and control (n = ۷۰) groups. In details, the educational intervention for the experimental group included ۹۰ minutes sessions using group discussions, practical demonstrations, video-clips, PowerPoint and booklets. The questionnaire was completed before and three months after the educational intervention. The data analysis was performed via SPSS ۲۲ software through Chi-square, independent t-test and paired t-test.Results: In the current study the mean age of the elderly people in the experimental and control group was ۶۷.۴۰±۶.۱۲ and ۶۸.۰۹±۶.۰۴ years. It was shown before the educational intervention, there was no significant difference between both groups in terms of knowledge, perceived sensitivity, perceived intensity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, cues to action and performance. In contrast, three months after the intervention, the experimental group showed a significant increase in each of the mentioned variables except perceived barriers. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the fear of falling before the intervention, but after the educational intervention the mean score of fear of falling in the experimental group showed a statistically significant decrease.Conclusion: This study showed the effectiveness of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model on the prevention and fear of falling in the elderly. Considering the elderly population is growing, so that good planning is needed to prevent and decrease the fall incidence

Keywords:

Educational Intervention , Health Belief Model , Fear of Falling , Elderly