Mulliner Emma, O'Brien Thomas D, Maliene Vida, Maganaris Constantinos N, Mason Rachel
Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science, Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK.
School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Health, Innovation, Technology and Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Jun 2;13(11):1324. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13111324.
Stair falls are a major health concern for older adults, particularly those wishing to age in place. Despite extensive laboratory research on the causes of stair falls and the effectiveness of prevention interventions, there is limited understanding of how acceptable interventions are to end-users and key stakeholders in real-world home environments. This study explored older adults' and professionals' attitudes toward stair-fall prevention interventions, including intervention acceptability, barriers and facilitators to adoption, and priorities for implementation in home settings. This study employed a sequential mixed-method design, including a survey of 359 UK community-dwelling older adults (aged 55+), followed by focus groups with 8 older adults and 11 professionals from healthcare and housing backgrounds. Older adults surveyed perceived home stair falls as a significant risk and priority for prevention but demonstrated less awareness of specific interventions to prevent falls. Focus groups with older adults and professionals established barriers and facilitators to the adoption of 10 specific stair-fall prevention interventions. Barriers included a lack of awareness, financial constraints, reluctance to alter home environments and stigma. Facilitators included raising awareness through education, clear guidance on intervention benefits and installation, practical and financial support, personalised approaches, social encouragement, and endorsement by professionals. Focus groups found the most acceptable stair-fall prevention interventions included education and skill training, improved staircase lighting and additional handrails. Interventions that are low-disruption, cost-effective, backed by empirical evidence, and endorsed by trusted professionals are more likely to be accepted and implemented. Further research should focus on targeted educational strategies to overcome barriers to adoption.
楼梯跌倒对老年人来说是一个重大的健康问题，尤其是那些希望居家养老的人。尽管在实验室里对楼梯跌倒的原因以及预防干预措施的有效性进行了广泛研究，但对于在现实家庭环境中最终用户和关键利益相关者对这些干预措施的接受程度却了解有限。本研究探讨了老年人和专业人士对楼梯跌倒预防干预措施的态度，包括干预措施的可接受性、采用的障碍和促进因素，以及在家庭环境中实施的优先事项。本研究采用了顺序混合方法设计，包括对359名英国社区居住的老年人（年龄在55岁及以上）进行调查，随后对8名老年人以及11名来自医疗保健和住房领域的专业人士进行焦点小组访谈。接受调查的老年人认为家庭楼梯跌倒是一个重大风险且是预防的重点，但对预防跌倒的具体干预措施的认识较少。与老年人和专业人士进行的焦点小组访谈确定了采用10种具体楼梯跌倒预防干预措施的障碍和促进因素。障碍包括缺乏认识、经济限制、不愿改变家庭环境以及耻辱感。促进因素包括通过教育提高认识、关于干预措施益处和安装的明确指导、实际和经济支持、个性化方法、社会鼓励以及专业人士的认可。焦点小组发现最可接受的楼梯跌倒预防干预措施包括教育和技能培训、改善楼梯照明以及增加扶手。低干扰、成本效益高、有实证依据且得到可信专业人士认可的干预措施更有可能被接受和实施。进一步的研究应侧重于有针对性的教育策略，以克服采用过程中的障碍。
