Perceived Fall Risk and Functional Decline: Gender Differences in Patient's Willingness to Discuss Fall Risk, Fall History, or to Have a Home Safety Evaluation.

Authors

Marna R. Greenberg DO, MPH, FACEP, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Elizabeth C. Moore DO, Lehigh Valley Health Network
Michael C. Nguyen MD, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Brian Stello MD, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Arnold R. Goldberg MD, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Robert D. Barraco MD, MPH, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Bernadette Gl-Porter BS, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Anita Kurt PhD, RN, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Bryan G. Kane MD, Lehigh Valley Health NetworkFollow
Stephen W. Dusza DrPH

Publication/Presentation Date

6-1-2016

Abstract

The CDC reports that among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death and rates of fall-related fractures among older women are twice those of men. We set out to 1) determine patient perceptions (analyzed by gender) about their perceived fall risk compared to their actual risk for functional decline and death and 2) to report their comfort level in discussing their fall history or a home safety plan with their provider. Elders who presented to the Emergency Department (ED†) were surveyed. The survey included demographics, the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES) and the Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES); both validated surveys measuring fall concern and functional decline. Females had higher FES scores (mean 12.3, SD 5.9) than males (mean 9.7, SD 5.9 p = .007) in the 146 surveys analyzed. Females were more likely to report an increased fear of falling, and almost three times more likely to have a VES score of 3 or greater than males (OR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.17-7.00, p = .02). A strong correlation was observed between FES and VES scores (r = 0.80, p < .001). No difference in correlation was observed between males and females, p = .26. Participants (77 percent) reported they would be comfortable discussing their fall risk with a provider; there was no difference between genders (p = .57). In this study, irrespective of gender, there appears to be a high association between subjects' perceived fall risk and risk for functional decline and death. The majority of patients are likely willing to discuss their fall risk with their provider. These findings may suggest a meaningful opportunity for fall risk mitigation in this setting.

Volume

89

Issue

2

First Page

261

Last Page

267

ISSN

1551-4056

Published In/Presented At

Greenberg, M. R., Moore, E. C., Nguyen, M. C., Stello, B., Goldberg, A., Barraco, R. D., & ... Kane, B. G. (2016). Perceived Fall Risk and Functional Decline: Gender Differences in Patient's Willingness to Discuss Fall Risk, Fall History, or to Have a Home Safety Evaluation. The Yale Journal Of Biology And Medicine, 89(2), 261-267.

Disciplines

Emergency Medicine | Family Medicine

PubMedID

27354852

Department(s)

Department of Education, Administration, Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine Faculty, USF-LVHN SELECT Program, USF-LVHN SELECT Program Faculty

Document Type

Article