Hanlin Erin R, Delgado-Rendón Angélica, Lerner E Brooke, Hargarten Stephen, Farías René
Injury Research Center, Medical College of Wisconsin.
Prog Community Health Partnersh. 2013 Summer;7(2):191-9. doi: 10.1353/cpr.2013.0014.
The impact of falls in older adults presents a significant public health burden. Fall risk is not well-described in Latino populations nor have fall prevention programs considered the needs of this population.
The objectives of this study were to develop a needs assessment of falls in older adult Latinos at a community center (CC), determine fall prevention barriers and strengths in this population, determine the level of interest in various fall prevention methods, and provide medical students an opportunity for participation in a culturally diverse community project.
A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a convenience sample of older adult program participants. The survey was developed in collaboration with both partners. CC participants were approached by the interviewer and asked to participate. They were read the survey in their preferred language and their answers were recorded. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
We conducted 103 interviews. We found that 54% of participants had fallen in the last year, and of those 21% required medical care, 81% were afraid of falling again, and 66% considered themselves at risk for falling again. Of all respondents, 52% had 5 or more of the 10 surveyed risk factors for falling; 4% had no risk factors. Of all respondents, 75% were afraid of falling. Talking with health care providers and participating in an exercise class were the preferred methods of health information delivery (78% and 65%, respectively).
Older adult Latinos in this selected population frequently fall and are worried about falling. Risk factors are prevalent. A fall prevention program is warranted and should include exercise classes and a connection with local primary care providers. A partnership between an academic organization and a CC is an ideal collaboration for the future development of prevention program.
老年人跌倒的影响带来了重大的公共卫生负担。拉丁裔人群的跌倒风险尚未得到充分描述，预防跌倒项目也未考虑该人群的需求。
本研究的目的是对社区中心（CC）的老年拉丁裔人群进行跌倒需求评估，确定该人群预防跌倒的障碍和优势，确定对各种预防跌倒方法的兴趣程度，并为医学生提供参与文化多元社区项目的机会。
对老年项目参与者的便利样本进行横断面调查。该调查是与双方合作伙伴共同制定的。访谈者与CC参与者接触并邀请他们参与。用他们喜欢的语言向他们宣读调查问卷，并记录他们的答案。使用描述性统计方法分析数据。
我们进行了103次访谈。我们发现，54%的参与者在过去一年中跌倒过，其中21%需要医疗护理，81%害怕再次跌倒，66%认为自己有再次跌倒的风险。在所有受访者中，52%在10项被调查的跌倒风险因素中有5项或更多；4%没有风险因素。在所有受访者中，75%害怕跌倒。与医疗保健提供者交谈和参加健身课程是首选的健康信息传播方式（分别为78%和65%）。
在这个选定人群中的老年拉丁裔经常跌倒并担心跌倒。风险因素普遍存在。有必要开展预防跌倒项目，该项目应包括健身课程以及与当地初级保健提供者建立联系。学术机构与CC之间的合作关系是预防项目未来发展的理想合作方式。
