Factors Affecting Fall in the Elderly Wang Sai Phun District Pichit Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research article were 1) to study data on falls in the elderly; and 2) to study factors affecting falls in elderly of Wang Sai Phun District, Phichit Province. This was a cross-sectional descriptive research. Data was collected by using a questionnaire during September-October 2022. Data were collected from the samples using the 1:15 ratio method. The predictive variables studied were the 710 local elderly. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple linear regression analysis using stepwise incremental independent variable method. The results showed that 1) most of the internal factors were normal body mass index 56.3%, had congenital disease 62.5%, used drugs 65.8%, could bathe 96.3%, had no balance problems 89.2%, had clear vision 73.3, had good health status 59.6. Most of the environmental factors found that 54.2% of two-story houses had railings on one side, 56.2% had anti-slip tiles, 68.8% had a bathroom inside the house, 77.1% had a flush toilet, and 95.8%  had bathroom without handrail 85.4%; and 2) factors related to fall of the elderly were age, body mass index, and balance problems. Visibility, health status and railings can be used to predict the fall of the elderly in Mae Ing Subdistrict at the .05 statistical significance level. The prediction equation was fall = 12.443 + 1.228 (age) + 1.958 (balancing) + 2.323 (visibility) - 2.313 (body mass index) + 2.181 (health status) - 3.993 (railing). Prevention of falls in the elderly should focus on care in the elderly who had balance problems, visibility problems, body mass index, health status and railing.